a voice called from the other side of the door.
Opening the door, I saw the Deputy Administrator sitting behind his desk, riffling through papers. “Sir, I need to speak with you for a moment.”
He stopped moving, looked up, and stared at me. Slowly, a smile spread across his face as he stood. Then he walked toward me with his hand held out.
“Thomas, good to finally see you again.”
There was no way in hell this paper-pushing fucker remembered me. I was sure he’d been briefed on the entire situation and knew about the case.
Shaking his hand, I said, “You too, sir.” I was lying my ass off, but by now, it had become second nature. “I needed to speak with you about something important.”
He backed away, motioning toward the chair in front of his desk. As I sat, I took a moment to look him over. He was wearing an expensive suit, and he had perfectly combed and gelled hair, a clean-shaven face, and probably not a day out in the field under his belt. He was a just a suit. He’d never put his life on the line, living a lie each day and trying to pretend to be someone he wasn’t. He didn’t understand how the lines blur and the small pieces of you get muddled to the point where you’re not the same person anymore.
“I’ve dedicated over a year of my life to this mission—”
“We owe you a debt of gratitude for all your hard work.”
“Please let me finish, sir.” I held up my hand and his mouth snapped shut. I was pissed off that he’d interrupted me. Sitting forward, I rested my elbows on my knees before I spoke again. “I’ve given more to this agency than most people do. I’ve put my life in danger as well as my family. Without my work, the Sun Devils would still be on the street with no inroad to bring them down. Without me, you’re nowhere.” I paused, letting him absorb my words.
He nodded, placing his hands together and resting his index fingers against his lips. He was studying me much the same way I had him when I’d sat down.
“There’s someone I can’t just leave behind from my time working undercover with the MC. I’m here asking permission to contact her.” I leaned back in the chair and crossed my arms over my chest.
“Absolutely not.” He didn’t move or blink as he uttered the words from behind his fingers.
“Sir,” I started, not willing to just accept that and walk out. I’d fight for her. “I respectfully ask you to please consider me in this equation. I’ve already suffered and sacrificed enough for this job.”
“I’m respectfully declining your request, Agent Gallo. It’s too risky. As a member of the DEA, you are not to have contact with any person who was part of your undercover work.” He looked at me with his lips set in a firm line. “No. I’m sorry and I wish I could help you in some way.” Unfuckingbelievable. Just a flat-out denial of my request without even putting thought into it.
“I’ll have my resignation on your desk before I leave today,” I replied without thinking. “I’ve given enough, most likely too much, to this agency. I’m no longer willing to put my life or those I hold dearest in jeopardy. I only have one life to live and I’ve sacrificed enough.” I stood, glaring at him. “I respectfully quit, sir.”
He shot out of his seat, rounding the desk to stand toe to toe with me. “That’s unacceptable, Agent Gallo.”
“Sir, I’m done. The months I spent undercover kicked my ass. I can’t do it anymore. I’ll be here to help with the investigation when called upon, but I no longer wish to be a DEA agent. It’s time I reconnect with my family and find another path in life. A course where I don’t have to give up so much of myself to do good in this world.”
His face came closer to mine. I almost wanted to laugh. Did he think he scared me? Honestly, I could puff out some air and the man would fall over. He wouldn’t know how to handle my fist connecting with his face.
“If you obstruct this investigation
Opening the door, I saw the Deputy Administrator sitting behind his desk, riffling through papers. “Sir, I need to speak with you for a moment.”
He stopped moving, looked up, and stared at me. Slowly, a smile spread across his face as he stood. Then he walked toward me with his hand held out.
“Thomas, good to finally see you again.”
There was no way in hell this paper-pushing fucker remembered me. I was sure he’d been briefed on the entire situation and knew about the case.
Shaking his hand, I said, “You too, sir.” I was lying my ass off, but by now, it had become second nature. “I needed to speak with you about something important.”
He backed away, motioning toward the chair in front of his desk. As I sat, I took a moment to look him over. He was wearing an expensive suit, and he had perfectly combed and gelled hair, a clean-shaven face, and probably not a day out in the field under his belt. He was a just a suit. He’d never put his life on the line, living a lie each day and trying to pretend to be someone he wasn’t. He didn’t understand how the lines blur and the small pieces of you get muddled to the point where you’re not the same person anymore.
“I’ve dedicated over a year of my life to this mission—”
“We owe you a debt of gratitude for all your hard work.”
“Please let me finish, sir.” I held up my hand and his mouth snapped shut. I was pissed off that he’d interrupted me. Sitting forward, I rested my elbows on my knees before I spoke again. “I’ve given more to this agency than most people do. I’ve put my life in danger as well as my family. Without my work, the Sun Devils would still be on the street with no inroad to bring them down. Without me, you’re nowhere.” I paused, letting him absorb my words.
He nodded, placing his hands together and resting his index fingers against his lips. He was studying me much the same way I had him when I’d sat down.
“There’s someone I can’t just leave behind from my time working undercover with the MC. I’m here asking permission to contact her.” I leaned back in the chair and crossed my arms over my chest.
“Absolutely not.” He didn’t move or blink as he uttered the words from behind his fingers.
“Sir,” I started, not willing to just accept that and walk out. I’d fight for her. “I respectfully ask you to please consider me in this equation. I’ve already suffered and sacrificed enough for this job.”
“I’m respectfully declining your request, Agent Gallo. It’s too risky. As a member of the DEA, you are not to have contact with any person who was part of your undercover work.” He looked at me with his lips set in a firm line. “No. I’m sorry and I wish I could help you in some way.” Unfuckingbelievable. Just a flat-out denial of my request without even putting thought into it.
“I’ll have my resignation on your desk before I leave today,” I replied without thinking. “I’ve given enough, most likely too much, to this agency. I’m no longer willing to put my life or those I hold dearest in jeopardy. I only have one life to live and I’ve sacrificed enough.” I stood, glaring at him. “I respectfully quit, sir.”
He shot out of his seat, rounding the desk to stand toe to toe with me. “That’s unacceptable, Agent Gallo.”
“Sir, I’m done. The months I spent undercover kicked my ass. I can’t do it anymore. I’ll be here to help with the investigation when called upon, but I no longer wish to be a DEA agent. It’s time I reconnect with my family and find another path in life. A course where I don’t have to give up so much of myself to do good in this world.”
His face came closer to mine. I almost wanted to laugh. Did he think he scared me? Honestly, I could puff out some air and the man would fall over. He wouldn’t know how to handle my fist connecting with his face.
“If you obstruct this investigation
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