Fight For Me by Claudia Burgoa
Chapter Thirty-Seven
Luna
I filemy first report with The Organization. They give me a badge and credentials to sign in to the computer system which “has more security protocols than the Pentagon,” Mason’s words. I received a laptop and a big payment. As of today, my checking account balance is at its highest ever, and that was only for this week’s job. I have money now. Not that I didn’t have any before, but my salary with the FBI is nothing compared to what The Organization offers to pay if I accepted the job.
Mason and Harrison give me a tour of the corporate offices, the gun range, the training installation, and the cafeteria. We have a meeting, and they update me on Esteban’s condition. He’s out of the hospital and at home with his parents. He doesn’t remember much of the events, and I can’t help but think that he’s a lucky boy indeed. The job offer came after the good news.
I promise to think about it. After that, I go to therapy.
My counselor, Thea Decker, isn’t like the psychologists in the Bureau. She’s tall. Her hair is all the colors of the rainbow, she has butterfly tattoos on her arms and wears the most beautiful dress I’ve ever seen. And she wants to talk about my case instead of chatting about the heart-shaped crystal pendant she wears.
Can we be best friends?
“We’ll discuss your last assignment.” She looks at her tablet and then at me. “You’re new to the team.”
“No. This was a consulting job,” I answer. “I work for the FBI.”
She frowns. “Oh, then you have to report to them, don’t you?”
I shake my head. “They don’t know I’m here. Actually, I don’t think they know where I am. They think I’m working undercover in New York.”
“But you’re not?”
“No. The Organization had a case in Mexico and it involved the case I was working on. In theory, my brother, Luc, solved it. In practice, I was part of the team that helped the FBI resolve it. Now that it’s over, I might quit The Bureau.”
She scratches the tip of her nose lightly. “Why is that?”
I give her a brief history of what’s been happening with my job: the rocky relationship I have with my boss, the reasons I left Alexandria, and how I went from missing my family to finding a home.
“It’s not only Harrison but his brothers, and the Beesley girls who are like his sisters,” I continue. “Then, there’s this mission. And the job offer. They took my ideas and actually let me be the one leading. Mason was supportive and helped, but he let me do most of the work.”
She gives me a knowing smile. Her look encourages me to continue.
“Though, I feel that by leaving the FBI I’m letting them win.”
“What are they winning?”
I sigh, thinking about what they’ll win if I go.
She re-words her question, “What are you losing with this new job?”
I toy with my bracelets, missing the four that I had to use on Wilson. The pay is better, the opportunities to do what I love are right in the palm of my hand, and I will be working with Tiago. Maybe even both of my brothers, since Lucas is thinking about the offer too. “Actually, I win a lot. Is it bad that I don’t feel any remorse after killing a guy?”
“Did you have to?” Her question is simple, but weighing the answer isn’t just that simple.
“To save my brother,” I respond, nodding, then pulling out my chopstick and showing it to her. She tries to hide the smile. “I’m not saying it felt good, but I was relieved that he’s okay and that this guy wouldn’t kidnap another kid.”
She nods.
“If you have to do it again?”
“I would do it, but I hope I don’t have to.” I heave a sigh. “I just don’t know how my father is going to feel about me leaving the FBI and moving out of the house. Though I guess I shouldn’t care. He lied to me for years.”
The timer goes off while I’m telling her about my mother and everything that happened to her.
“As parents, we make mistakes,” she says, turning off the alarm. “But it’s because we love our children. With time, you can work things out with him. Even if you are away from home.”
She clears her throat.
“I feel like you can go out in the field today if you wanted to. But, if you want to talk more, here is my number. My Skype information and my email address—they aren’t the same.” She hands me a card. “We can also discuss your father and how you adjust to all the changes you’re experiencing. Seems like you’re doing all right but it’s always good to have an outsider listen to you.”
“Thank you.” I’ve never liked going to counseling while working for the Bureau. It felt like I was being judged and if I said the wrong thing I might lose my job. Here, well I have nothing to lose.
“I hope this helped.”
I put the card inside my wallet. “It did, and I might call you soon.”
