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“I’m okay with that When would you want me to start?”

“Today if you want,” I ansith a smile “The apartments upstairs won’t be ready for a feeeks, but I’ll put you up in a hotel of your choice as part of your signing bonus”

“I’m definitely interested,” he tells me, and I don’t miss the almost sly tone of his voice He leans forward in his chair, propping his elbows on his knees “But I need so from you first”

Soued “What’s that, mate?”

“I need a reference froress would suffice, although I’d settle for someone at the CIA or Homeland Security I want to know that what you plan to do here at Jameson isn’t a pipe dreaovernment”

I just stare at Cruce, realizing if I land hiot a true leader onhis colleague full of lead based on just a “flash of silver” and “gut instinct,” he’s not really the ito him That makes me want him on my team even more

“I’ll have three na,” I assure him as I stand from my chair

He follows suit, and we shake hands “You’ll have my answer as soon as I check you out then,” Cruce says with a smile

“It will be ‘yes’,” I reply confidently, knowing he’ll be iovernment Over the past decade, we’ve done quite a few off-the-books missions that saved lives, dollars, and reputations

Cruce says he can see hi, and I don’t feel the need to escort him If I didn’t trust him implicitly, I wouldn’t have made the job offer

I instead turn toward the conference roo in one of the chairs, head bent over her phone When I open the door, she jolts slightly There’s no hiding the tiny bit of fear and panic I assume comes pretty naturally to a woman who has to be skittish as hell after what she’s been through

“Get everything set up for the ?” I ask