“I oversee all of ATF’s cases and direct field agents in what investigations they should or shouldn’t follow,” Jerod explained. “As much as we want to put the same number of people-hours into everything, we don’t have it.”
“So, your real title is Czar,” Simone said playfully.
“That’s me,” Jerod replied. “Ruler of all things at ATF.”
Their conversation came easy… always did. He talked about his friendship with Peter Hirzog and how Peter had written a great letter of recommendation for his current job.
“I owe him a debt of gratitude,” Jerod said. “It’s great to be back in the DMV, especially connecting with wonderful friends like you.”
She felt the same.
They finished up. Jerod insisted on paying, then suggested they get together again.
“Are you returning to the Bureau?” he asked outside on the sidewalk.
“I don’t think so,” she replied.
“If you change your mind, consider ATF. You’d make a great agent and I would definitely fast-track you for management. You know, paying it forward.”
She thanked him and hurried off. She had four clients she needed to follow up on that afternoon. Two with Secret Service, one with the CIA, and a final check on an employee at the Pentagon.
As the afternoon wore on, her thoughts floated back to Luciano. She missed tailing him, missed staring through her binos at him, and she missed catching glimpses of him as he entered his office building at CityCenter in DC. Just seeing him made her heart flutter.
But their last hookup had ended awkwardly. He’d done the deed, gotten a call, then bolted. Except he’d waited downstairs to ask her out.
He’s hella complicated.Let it go and move on.
Still, she couldn’t stop thinking about him.
It was almost six in the evening when she returned home. She hurried to get the homemade meatballs in the oven before boiling water for pasta. Short on time, she heated a jar of her favorite red sauce on the stovetop. Then, she got busy making Alfredo sauce.
With the broccolini rinsed, she placed it in the steamer. “Broccoli’s tasty little cousin,” she said to herself.
Twenty minutes later, dinner was ready.
Knock-knock.Then, the doorbell chimed.
Simone’s phone buzzed with an incoming text. While pouring the cooked pasta into the colander, she glanced over. It was a text from Luciano.
Can’t stop thinking about you. Dinner Saturday?
Adrenaline powered through her while she hurried to open the front door. After confirming Frederica was outside, she swung open the door.
“Hey, babe. Perfect timing.”
As they walked toward the kitchen, Fred said, “Yeah, mama. Smells goooood!”
Simone eyed the pastry box Fred set on the counter. “Whatcha bring?”
“Six little surprises.” Fred lifted both saucepan lids. “Mmm, red sauceandAlfredo sauce. Homemade?”
“The Alfredo is,” Simone replied. “I got slammed at work. Carrera sent me a bunch of new clients.”
Fred washed her hands, pulled out two plates, got busy setting out silverware.
After filling glasses with water, Simone opened the pastry box. “These look amazing.” Fred had bought six different mini cakes. Red velvet, chocolate, pistachio swirl, tiramisu, white chocolate, and a cheesecake. “We’re going to get fat.”
“We’re not eating themalltonight.”