Then they all spoke at once.
“You got pictures? I want to see.”
“Yo, man, I knew you’d get over Elena.”
“You think she’s the one?”
“You in love again, bruh?”
Jason shook his head. “I shouldn’t have mentioned it.”
“Come on. Just show us a photo. You took photos, right?”
Jason knew they wouldn’t give up. He took his phone out of his pocket, scrolled to his favorite photo, and held it up for them.
Ren leaned closer. “Whoa. She’s … hot.”
Ellio grabbed his phone. “Does she have a sister?”
Milo took the phone next and began to scroll through Jason’s other photos. “She is fine. What’s her name?”
Jason took back his phone, locked it. “Winona.”
He was saved from further idiocy when the door opened, and he was called back inside. He drew a breath, got to his feet, and went to face his fate, the Pack following him inside and taking their seats, while Jason remained standing.
Cal Milford, their division director, sat, hands folded over Jason’s file, looking grim. Jason’s supervisor, Resident Agent-in-Charge Mick Nez, sat beside Milford, his expression giving nothing away.
It was Milford who spoke. “Agent Chiago, we’ve carefully reviewed the details of this incident, along with your service record. Crossing the border while on duty and in uniform was a clear violation of our regulations and resulted in considerable and avoidable risk to your life. Further, this infraction caused conflict with our neighbor and ally, the United Mexican States.”
Yeah, this was it, his last minutes as a Shadow Wolf.
Milford went on. “However, there are several mitigating factors that we took into consideration. In light of years of meritorious service, this committee has decided that you be reinstated to the Shadow Wolves at your current paygrade.”
Jason stood there for a moment, stunned, the Pack cheering behind him.
Nez stood, a broad grin on his face. “It’s good to have you back, Chiago.”
“Thank you, sir.” Jason knew he ought to be smiling like everyone. Instead, he felt … disappointed.
You honestly thought it would be this easy, that they’d fire you, and you’d have an excuse to pack up and go back to Scarlet?
Now he would have to make a choice—keep a death-bed promise to the grandmother who had raised him or claim happiness with the woman he loved.
Remember that Creator doesn’t lead us to dead ends. We do that to ourselves. Creator gives us choices.
Sometimes Jasonhatedit when elders were right.
Ren slapped him on the back. “Come on back to my place. Have a beer and join us for supper. Teresa is makingcemaitand stew for dinner. You look like a man who needs to talk.”
* * *
Jason tossed backhis fourth and final shot of whisky. “Then her grandfather held a sweat lodge to pray for her and Naomi, her sister-in-law.”
“The one who had the baby.”
Jason nodded. “He said, ‘A promise is a sacred thing. So is the love of one’s half-side.’ Then he said it was time for me to break free frommy anger toward my sisters so my resentment toward them wouldn’t color my decision.”
“He sounds like a wise man.”