Mason.”
“All right, all right,” Mason walked over, avoiding Calvin’s glance as he sat down on the bed next to Jasmine. He took a deep breath. “I’m not supposed to tell anyone about this, but my cover has been compromised since someone has recognized me, so I’ll be pulled off of the case anyway.”
“What do you mean?”
“My name is Matthew Graham. I was a soldier in the army and I worked alongside Calvin, who became one of my best friends.” He looked less and less pale, as if he were happy to finally get everything off of his chest. “When he was shot by the hidden attackers, I was so angry that I took all of them out. My actions gained the attention of the Central Intelligence Agency – the CIA. I was recruited to become an agent in training with the CIA. I trained for many months until I received my first mission. Here, in Rootsville.”
“Why here?” she choked out. He grabbed her hand and kissed it gently.
“There is a very dangerous gang here who is setting fire to places, as you have seen. We’ve managed to keep some of the violence away from the media, but the events at The Italian Grill slipped through. Of course, The Morning Bell did as well. The gang is comprised of ex-military members who have committed treason by using military grade weapons to cause massive fires. We have been attempting to find the leader of the gang, hidden here in Rootsville. As far as why they chose this small town? I’m not sure. It’s probably a very easy and shocking target.”
“So…” Jasmine sighed. “You are an agent with the CIA? All my chefs are insane!”
Calvin laughed loudly, then caught himself. “Sorry, that was funny and true.”
Abby remained silent, but alert, allowing everyone to speak and resolve the unbelievable situation. Mason – whose name turned out to actually be Matthew – shot a mischievous look at Calvin.
“I am a bit insane, aren’t I, Cal? I mean, would you have ever pegged me as someone who would join the freaking CIA?”
Jasmine spoke up. “I’m sorry to interrupt your reunion, but I have some questions. What is this, ‘Matthew'? What is going on between you and me?”
Matthew looked back at Jasmine, meeting her eyes. “Everything between us was real. I only left yesterday because I was afraid of putting you in danger with my job. Once all of this insanity with the gang finalized, I was going to decline the offer from the CIA and come back to you.
“I’m not supposed to be in a romantic relationship, but I couldn’t resist you. I know it looked like I was leaving you, but I was actually choosing you over the job; I had to keep you safe. I feel pulled toward you like a magnet, Jasmine. I couldn’t let you go, and I will never. I’ll always be here for you and for the baby.”
Her heart jumped. “You know about the baby?”
“Well,” his eyes flickered slightly.
“Oh, my god,” she gasped. “You are ‘Anonymous?’”
“I had to talk to you. I couldn’t talk to you as me because I would have blown my cover and compromised your safety. You needed to know that The Morning Bell was a potential target so that you could take measures to protect yourself, though it did not seem to matter anyway. I figured it would happen when you least expected it, so I decided to stand guard outside each night that you were not spending with me.”
“So, you were there tonight?” she asked, feeling overcome with a sudden realization that maybe she was not as crazy as she originally thought. “Anonymous” had said he pulled her from the fire, meaning it truly was her love who carried her out of harm’s way and to safety.
“Yes, I was there. I told you to trust me,” he looked deep into her eyes, not flickering for even a moment, confirming that he had been the one to save her.
“If I’m going to trust you, I need proof that you are telling me the truth. Tell me something about
“All right, all right,” Mason walked over, avoiding Calvin’s glance as he sat down on the bed next to Jasmine. He took a deep breath. “I’m not supposed to tell anyone about this, but my cover has been compromised since someone has recognized me, so I’ll be pulled off of the case anyway.”
“What do you mean?”
“My name is Matthew Graham. I was a soldier in the army and I worked alongside Calvin, who became one of my best friends.” He looked less and less pale, as if he were happy to finally get everything off of his chest. “When he was shot by the hidden attackers, I was so angry that I took all of them out. My actions gained the attention of the Central Intelligence Agency – the CIA. I was recruited to become an agent in training with the CIA. I trained for many months until I received my first mission. Here, in Rootsville.”
“Why here?” she choked out. He grabbed her hand and kissed it gently.
“There is a very dangerous gang here who is setting fire to places, as you have seen. We’ve managed to keep some of the violence away from the media, but the events at The Italian Grill slipped through. Of course, The Morning Bell did as well. The gang is comprised of ex-military members who have committed treason by using military grade weapons to cause massive fires. We have been attempting to find the leader of the gang, hidden here in Rootsville. As far as why they chose this small town? I’m not sure. It’s probably a very easy and shocking target.”
“So…” Jasmine sighed. “You are an agent with the CIA? All my chefs are insane!”
Calvin laughed loudly, then caught himself. “Sorry, that was funny and true.”
Abby remained silent, but alert, allowing everyone to speak and resolve the unbelievable situation. Mason – whose name turned out to actually be Matthew – shot a mischievous look at Calvin.
“I am a bit insane, aren’t I, Cal? I mean, would you have ever pegged me as someone who would join the freaking CIA?”
Jasmine spoke up. “I’m sorry to interrupt your reunion, but I have some questions. What is this, ‘Matthew'? What is going on between you and me?”
Matthew looked back at Jasmine, meeting her eyes. “Everything between us was real. I only left yesterday because I was afraid of putting you in danger with my job. Once all of this insanity with the gang finalized, I was going to decline the offer from the CIA and come back to you.
“I’m not supposed to be in a romantic relationship, but I couldn’t resist you. I know it looked like I was leaving you, but I was actually choosing you over the job; I had to keep you safe. I feel pulled toward you like a magnet, Jasmine. I couldn’t let you go, and I will never. I’ll always be here for you and for the baby.”
Her heart jumped. “You know about the baby?”
“Well,” his eyes flickered slightly.
“Oh, my god,” she gasped. “You are ‘Anonymous?’”
“I had to talk to you. I couldn’t talk to you as me because I would have blown my cover and compromised your safety. You needed to know that The Morning Bell was a potential target so that you could take measures to protect yourself, though it did not seem to matter anyway. I figured it would happen when you least expected it, so I decided to stand guard outside each night that you were not spending with me.”
“So, you were there tonight?” she asked, feeling overcome with a sudden realization that maybe she was not as crazy as she originally thought. “Anonymous” had said he pulled her from the fire, meaning it truly was her love who carried her out of harm’s way and to safety.
“Yes, I was there. I told you to trust me,” he looked deep into her eyes, not flickering for even a moment, confirming that he had been the one to save her.
“If I’m going to trust you, I need proof that you are telling me the truth. Tell me something about
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