Page 109 of The Alias Agenda
As he said it, I realized I was looking at an official death certificate—my own death certificate. According to the dates, I’d died the night of the gala heist.
“Word has it you jumped off a bridge trying to land on a freight barge but fell into the water instead. Recovery efforts never found your body or the diamond,” he said with a shrug. “Tragic.”
I lifted the certificate and held it up to the sun. The proper watermarks were in place, the stamped seal from the county where I’ddied.
“I understand why you did what you did that night, and I’m hoping we can have a fresh start. This means no one will everlook for you,” he said and nodded down at the table. “Erin Daniels doesn’t exist anymore.”
I was still struggling to form words. He’d erased my past for me. Even after I’d chosen my future over him the night on the bridge, he’d done everything to find me and hand me my freedom. Officially.
“Bray …” I whispered, still unable to fully speak.
He stuck his hand out over the table. “Call me Cal. Please.”
I startled at his abrupt movement but caught the smile on his face. It pulled me in like a pair of arms. I smiled back and stuck my hand out to slip my palm in his.
“Call me Katherine.”
“Nice to meet you, Katherine.”
“It’s a pleasure,” I said with a bubbly laugh. Joy was shooting out of me like it had burst inside and needed to escape. “So, what do you do now that you’re not a secret agent hero anymore?”
“I’ve been trying out a few things here and there. Might get back into music.”
“Playing the cello?”
“Sure, why not. Or maybe I’ll take up teaching. I’ve always liked school, and I want to do something with my heart in it, for once.”
“This is a good school,” I said, hinting he could stick around.
“It is. Nice town too.” He smiled at me.
I smiled back, still unable to fully believe he was here. It seemed too good to be true. “What about your mom? Won’t she—?”
He shook his head to cut me off. “Don’t worry about her. She has come around to letting me follow my heart. In all ways.”
A swell of relief hit me. He’d even removed the obstacle of his mother knowing the truth about me. The woman maynever fully approve of me, but at least she couldn’t send me to prison anymore.
“So, do you have any plans tonight?” he asked.
I shook my head with a hot burn in my cheeks. “Just some homework I have to finish.”
He slid out from his side of the table and joined me on mine. His eyes were glued to me, as if nothing else in the world existed. “Good. And after that?”
“I’m free,” I said, and bit my lip.
He used his thumb to pull it from my teeth and watched my mouth as he spoke. “For how long?”
I looked into his gray eyes and knew in my bones all was forgiven, we could have a fresh start, and I was one kiss away from having everything I wanted.
“Forever,” I said.
“Good. Me too,” he said, and then he kissed me like it was the first of many to come.
