Page 62 of Renegade (The Santini Assassins #2)
“But,” Dakota continued, “we don’t want to lose you. We want you to stay with BLACK OPS. You’re a wanted man, Santini.”
Grey smiled. “Those are all good. What about Austin?”
Dakota eyed her. “Caroline Austin, decorated CIA handler and outstanding Intelligence Officer. You, too, are in high demand. The Agency wants you back, but we want you to stay here and work with us in BLACK OPS. You’ve got a few days to think about this.
You’ve worked together for three years, so I’m guessing you’ll want to talk about it. ”
Greystone fixed his gaze on her. “We need to say something.”
She nodded. “You can.”
Greystone’s attention stayed on her and the love in his eyes touched her soul. “Caroline and I got engaged. We haven’t even had time to go ring shopping.”
Caroline perked up. “I’ve been so wrapped up in this case, I didn’t even think about an engagement ring.”
Both men stared at her.
“For real?” Grey asked.
“I know,” Dakota replied.
“Well, it’s not like I’m gonna turn down a diamond or anything,” she said with a playful smile, “it’s just that I was distracted. But, now that you brought it up… I’d go ring shopping.”
“Congratulations,” Dakota said with a smile. “Does that mean you’re staying?”
“Grey and I need to sort out some things,” she replied.
On a nod, Dakota rose. “You have my sincere thanks for your hard work. I’d hate to lose you both.”
He left, shutting the door behind him.
They regarded each other. “What are you thinking?” she asked.
“I’m just gonna say it straight.”
She nodded .
“I want to work with you, but I don’t want to re-up my gig at Langley. I spent three years out of the country. Now that I’m back with my family, I don’t want to leave. I wanna head back to the Navy.”
“I know you love flying,” she said.
“I got a phone call this morning,” he continued. “I’ve been invited to be considered for an instructor position at the Naval Aviation Warfighting Development Center —TOPGUN—in Fallon, Nevada.”
She grinned at him. “That’s huge.”
Despite being immensely happy for him, she couldn’t help but feel disappointed. None of her options included Nevada.
“I don’t want to take it if it means we aren’t together,” he said. “So, I told them I’d consider it in the future.”
“Wait, what? You turned them down?”
“Let’s say we start poppin’ out kids, and we’ve got, like, four little ones?—”
“I’d stay home, you’d work at TOPGUN?”
“It’s an option. What do you think?”
“I’d consider it. Are you sure you don’t want to accept that position now?”
“Not if it doesn’t work for us both, Bella.”
She smiled at him. “Four kids, huh?”
“I’d have six with you, but that might be a lot, even for us.”
She laughed. “So, what are you thinking?”
“I think it would be great to be in BLACK OPS with you , but still fly for the Navy.”
“How do you see that working? Aren’t you deployed for months at a time on an aircraft carrier?”
“There’re always loopholes. It’s all in who you know.” He leaned back, crossed his ankle over his thigh. “Do you want to stay with the Agency?”
She shook her head. “BLACK OPS has been my first choice since I started here. I love the work and the close team. ”
On a nod, he said. “Lemme see what I can do.” He pulled out his phone, made a call.
“Hey, Greystone,” Evelyn said. “How are you and Caroline doing?”
“We’re good. Caroline’s here, and you’re on speaker.”
“How are you, Caroline?”
“Great, Evelyn. You?”
“We’d love to have you for dinner this weekend. We have a lot to celebrate this Memorial Day.”
“We’d love that,” Caroline replied.
“Mom, the President told me that if I ever needed anything, I could ask him for a favor.”
Evelyn chuckled. “That didn’t take long. Whatcha need?”
“I want to fly for the Navy, but I’m thinking of accepting a position with BLACK OPS. I’m hoping President Garrison could override my deployment, even if just for the first year.”
Silence.
Then, she broke it by saying, “Greystone, why do you always— always —have to push the limits?”
Caroline laughed.
“It wouldn’t be me if I didn’t,” he replied.
“So true,” Evelyn said. “The President’s in meetings all day. I’ll ask him later and let you know. See you Saturday. Love you.”
“Love you.” He hung up, pushed out of his seat, extended his hand to Caroline. “Let’s go ring shopping, fiancée.”
They found the team working in their offices, and Greystone called everyone into the hallway.
“We’re engaged, we’re takin’ the afternoon to ring shop,” he announced. “See you tomorrow.”
Addison broke away and hugged Caroline. After handshakes and congratulations from the enthusiastic group, the two left. In the hangar, they jumped into Greystone’s SUV.
As he drove out, Caroline glanced around. “Do you think Muhammad Haqazzii is hiding in Boston or he’s still here, watching us?”
Greystone glanced over. “He failed. His cousin’s dead. My gut tells me he’s paired with that monster up north. Teddy’ll hunt him down.”
Caroline opened the sunroof and breathed deep.
The past two months had been intense. She needed to pass the lead to someone else.
Dakota was right. They’d been brought in to stop the Day of Destruction.
They’d done that, and a national disaster had been averted.
It was time for someone else to run with the mission.
She was ready to start building her life with Grey.
She clasped his hand as he headed onto the main road.
They drove in a comfortable silence to the boutique jewelry store, parked, and killed the engine.
“I love you, Grey.”
“I love you , Bella.” He brought their clasped hands to his mouth and kissed her finger. “F is for Forever.”
“Forever sounds perfect to me,” she replied with a smile.