With a Pull of a Trigger

Chapter Twenty-Three

“But what about Eena’s death? How can I avenge her death now?” blurted Reini.

“You will not do anything of the sort,” said Harold, his voice stressing finality. His voice softened, and his face had become gentler. “Look, I am sorry about your friend’s death, but we cannot let you compromise the safety of the nation. Until we sort out this mess, or rather, until they sort out this mess, you cannot be involved.”

Reini nodded slowly, looking down on her lap.

“You have three months to sort out this mess before we step in.”

Catherine sighed, already knowing that she had to make sure the timeline was followed. “Yes, sir. Thank you, sir.”

Catherine stood up and left the room with Amrie. Reini looked up after a few seconds of staring into space, and upon realizing the two women were gone, she stood up, walking towards the door.

“Agent Saunders?”

Reini turned to face the man seated at his desk, and raised an eyebrow in silent query.

“We fight battles for the worn and weary. It might seem inhumane, making the tired fight, but it’s what we do, and that’s what we will do—what we’ll keep on doing—until our very last breath. They might be battles for the worn and weary, but with every battle we go through, we prove that even the worn and weary have courage and strength.”

Reini nodded.

“What happens when the courage and strength runs out?”

Harold smiled a bitter smile, and sighed.

“Then you are no longer a warrior.”

“You have to stop working so hard.”

Greg looked up from his desk with tired eyes, blinking twice before smiling at Joshua who was standing by the table, a smile on his face and a steaming cup of Starbucks’ coffee in one hand. Greg took the cup with both hands, a grateful smile on his face. Joshua playfully put the cup out of reach for a moment, making Greg pout, and he gave it back with a chuckle.

A moan made its way out of Greg’s lips as he sipped the deliciously warm coffee. “You might just be the best boyfriend ever,” Greg said once he had separated himself from the cup and its addicting scent for long enough.

A light dusting of red made its presence known on Joshua’s cheeks and he smiled softly, his eyes twinkling with love and fondness. “The sentiment’s returned, you know.”

Greg chuckled. “I’m the first boyfriend you’ve had.”

“Doesn’t make it less true,” said Joshua with a shrug, smiling fondly at Greg.

Greg chuckled and shook his head in a manner showing his boyfriend just how besotted he was with him, and sipped his delicious coffee, the bittersweet flavor filling his mouth.

Joshua walked over to Eena’s desk and rolled the swivel chair near Greg’s desk, sitting down. “Anyway, as I’ve said, you have to stop working so hard.”

Greg glanced at the chair Joshua was sitting on and sighed, looking back on the papers scattered across his desk. “I can’t. You’re a lawyer and you know as well as I do how justice isn’t something that comes to those who don’t work for it. I have to do this.”

Joshua sighed. “I know. I just wish you weren’t wearing yourself thin over this.”

“What does that mean? You wish I weren’t such a good friend?”

Joshua shook his head. “That’s not what I mean. What I meant was that I just wish Eena wasn’t killed.”

“We all wish that,” said Greg, looking over the papers again, rubbing his tired eyes with closed fists. “Wishes don’t just come true, though.”

Joshua sighed. “Look, Greg, I’m all for letting you search for the justice Eena deserves, but you’re wearing yourself thin over this! You haven’t come home in three days, and you’ve been pulling triple shifts after triple shifts. You have to sleep!”

“I sleep!” Greg protested meekly.

“I meant you have to sleep at home and not on your desk. You have to rest.”

Greg sighed. “I know. I just can’t let this go, though.”

Joshua stood up and rolled the swivel chair back in its supposed place. “Look, fix your things and I’ll take you home.”

“I have to work,” said Greg.

“You have to rest,” said Joshua with a tone that provided no excuses. “I’m taking you home.”

Greg sighed tiredly and stacked his papers, putting them in his matte black briefcase. He stood up, stretching his arms and bending his strained back, sighing in pleasure when the bones popped back into place. “Fine.”

Joshua smiled.

“I worry about you.”

Christian sighed. “I know. I can’t tell you where I am, though.”

“I know.”

“How’s the baby?”

“She’s fine.”

A sigh.

“Come home, Christian.”

“I will when it’s safe enough. I can’t harm you because of myself, Nikki.”

“Just promise you’ll be alive.”

“I can’t promise anything. You know that.”

“I know.”

“Catherine?”

Catherine looked at Gil with wide eyes, a million emotions running through her face and a million memories running across her mind. The moment she realized just why Gil was in Egypt—much less in the same desert as she was—was the moment when she let out a loud yell and kicked Gil in the stomach.

Gil let out a pained moan as he fell to the ground. “What the hell?”

“You complete and utter bastard!” said Catherine, picking Gil up with surprising strength and pushing him back to the desert floor.

“What did I do?” asked Gil with surprise. It was almost like the days back when they still disliked each other, but not quite. This time, Gil sensed Catherine hated him for a valid reason, though he didn’t know what. “You’re the one who kicked me twice!”

“You left me! That’s what you did!” said Catherine in an enraged voice, sobs shaking her body as she tried to hold in the tears. “You leave me and you join the enemy and you have the gall to ask me what’s wrong? You! That’s what’s wrong!”

Gil couldn’t stand the sight of Catherine crying, but he knew he couldn’t comfort her. “I’m not with the enemy! I’m with the CIA!”

“No you’re not!” said Catherine, angry that Gil was lying. “Even now, you continue to lie to me, Gil, and I won’t have it. You don’t work for the CIA because you’re my target and I’m the one who works for them. Check again, Gil, because you work for The Alliance, not the CIA.”

“Catherine! Stop!”

But Catherine was already walking away, the metallic briefcase in her hands.