Chapter 19: Chapter 19

Jerome wiped crumbs from his hands, smiling broadly at the news that had just been delivered. He then questioned, "And my testimony?"

"Before I brought it up, he had already been sold. This morning, Dean got a call from a man whose name was Phil. Tell him that if you were still alive, we really needed you.

Jerome took a breather as he approached his mouth with a tumbler of orange juice. He replaced the glass in its original position. Why would Phil pick up the phone instead of Jack? If my assumptions about this Phil are correct, he has been working for a narcotics task force in the Houston area and his sole responsibility has been to assist in the capture of Pedro. No direct involvement."

Anna proceeded to relate the rest of their chat. Dean remarked something about the history of how that came to be. Jack was shot in the shoulder and had to spend the night in the hospital after the incident. Because of this, you were unable to get in touch with him. Therefore, Phil relocated to the Austin office and took over his responsibilities there.

The food that was currently in his stomach was literally rolling about. "Wait one freaking minute. Subbing for Jack or taking his place permanently?"

There was a brief pause. Dean used the word "replace" in his sentence. I must say, that does strike me as weird."

"You are free to reiterate that statement." Jerome scratched the back of his neck, and he immediately felt a weight shift to his shoulders. Once, when he and several other members of the Pedro gang were being held in custody, he had the opportunity to speak with Phil. He was aware of Jerome's true identity but had kept the essential secrecy throughout the procedure. But he was unable to put his faith in him. Not so long as there was a sleazy character on the inside.

After moving the breakfast cart out of the way, Anna turned around so that she was facing him with one knee on the bed and one foot on the floor. "I am aware that you have faith in Jack; nevertheless, may this be an indicator that others do not? That they believe he is the source of the leak?

He really wanted to deny it, but he knew it would be a lie to do so. Either that, or they are looking for a scapegoat in the event that things go awry. You are familiar with the progression of events. This has received a significant amount of media attention. If the procedure is unsuccessful, there must be a casualty.

The scrutinizing glance that she cast in his direction was a little too inquisitive for his comfort, so she refrained from responding right away.

He repositioned himself so that he was leaning against the headboard and then he lowered his legs onto the bed. He allowed his head to slowly fall backward, drooping his lashes as he withdrew into himself in order to better process the information he had just acquired. The ramifications of what she had said sent his thoughts careening uncontrollably.

A little later, Anna appeared and insisted on not being kicked out. She sat across his lap, straddling him as she did so. As her hands settled on his chest, his head sprang up in surprise.

In spite of his state of mind, he was immediately hard, the thin shorts that they both wore acting as a barrier between their bodies but not between their minds. He was nearly able to sense the steamy warmth that emanated from her body. Was she donning a pair of pants?

By hugging herself, Anna was able to successfully bring his attention to her face while still concealing her breasts. She demanded to know, "Are we all right?" Should we get up and go? What was her response?"

He resisted touching her and fought reaching for her on all levels, keeping his hands at his sides the entire time. He had learned through experience to keep his guard up. Because we cared, we suffered. Loss. However, she had given him insights into her life that he could not have gotten from a file folder, and he wanted to learn more about her. And at this moment, he couldn't care less about the fact that he'd have to talk about his own emotions in order to get to hers.

Who was it that sold you out?

She inquired, "Is it of any consequence?"

Yes. "It is significant."

As the seconds passed, he started to get the impression that she wasn't going to answer him and her eyes began to cast shadows. Then she remarked, "My former partner. It was my ex-boyfriend. But not in the way that you may expect it to be. It had nothing to do with the other women. I allowed him to engross me in his world and make me believe that it was mine. In the end, it was his, and anything I desired didn't make a difference because he already had it. I was used as a means to have access to my father. Ironically, he never required my assistance in any regard. He is still considered to be my father's protégé. A moment of agony flickered across her face before she refocused on him, her palm lightly brushing against his jaw. "So you see. I really hope that Jack didn't sell you out. It is very evident that you do not extend trust lightly.

He did not contradict the truth in any way. He did not even mention the similarities between them in that regard. Instead, he found himself grabbing her hand, bringing her knuckles to his lips, and then looking up at her from where his lips were getting ready for another taste. He did this several times before finally deciding to kiss her. "Had you feelings for him?" He had no idea what the hell had prompted him to ask the question, nor did he understand why the significance of her response was so apparent to him. But it did.

Her physique gave out a hint of stress all on its own. He kissed her knuckles once more before moving on to her wrist. Her countenance changed as well, becoming more relaxed along with her muscles. "I suppose it depends on how you characterize love," she said. I was the one who spoke them. I believed you to be referring to them. Now…now I don't know. My love for my family, and particularly for my sister, is the only love I can truly claim to have. We're not far off at all. The relationship is tense since my parents disapprove of the way I live my life. It was clear from the tone of her voice that she deeply regretted what she had just admitted, and she immediately followed it up with a question for him. "Have you ever been married? Are you in love?

Jerome examined her face and noticed the sadness that was reflected in her eyes. He realized at that moment that a significant element of their relationship was the solitary lives they had both led. He put his palm against hers and thought about how small she was and how frail she seemed, but how courageous she was both in her acts and in her spirit.

In addition, when he was in a position to deflect this question from another person, he found that he was answering it in an honest manner. "No, to both of those!" Because of the lie that he'd uttered in the cave, guilt began to knot in his stomach. When they were in that pub, the only way to stay alive was to lie to her. Being a coward and hiding out in that cave had been his method of avoiding something that he didn't want to deal with. He made an effort to push it to the side and concentrated on telling her the information that she requested. "I am 35 years old and have spent every waking moment of my adult life working for the FBI. The fact that I have this employment does not exactly transform me into Prince Charming. He dithered, realizing that he had an innate requirement to set the record straight. "I have deceived you." She flashed him a look that was meant to frighten him, and he reacted by charging ahead and carrying on before he could talk himself out of it. There is a brother in my family. Before he had the chance to correct himself, he had already made the statement in the present tense. However, it upset him when others talked about Antonio as if he was no longer alive.

“What? You said—"

"I am aware of what I have stated. It's a response that comes to mind instantly. It's less difficult than confirming that he has passed away.

She took a deep breath as the dawning of comprehension began to show in her expression. “How?” She uttered the query in a hushed tone.

"He arrested a man whose name was Martini. Martini was not as heavy an operator as Pedro, but he was still a huge fish. Located in San Antonio, Texas, for the most part."

After a moment of hesitation on his part, she remarked, "I recall hearing about that case."

He continued, wanting to get this off his chest as quickly as possible. Martini was let go because of a procedural error, and..." His voice gradually became softer. "I'll let you figure out the rest."

Her eyes became wide. "Oh, God." Her voice shook. "He is the one who murdered your brother."

Jerome felt a knot forming in his stomach. Even after all those years, this continued to tear him apart. Because he was unable to communicate, he simply nodded.

She knelt down in front of him and cupped his face with her hands tenderly. The act of kindness itself squeezed his heart. Since the beginning of time, he had not discussed his brother with anyone else, and it had been years since he had had a touch that was as compassionate and understanding as this one.

"That's why you threatened to kill Pedro and Randy," she whispered, her eyes searching his, pouring into his, and reaching into his soul. "That's why you threatened to kill Pedro and Randy."

Somehow, he was able to find his voice and admit the sin that had been eating away at his sanity each and every day of his life. "At the time of my brother's passing, I was quite involved with Pedro. Unfortunately, I was unable to attend the funeral. To his horrifying surprise, his voice broke. "I apologize for not being there." He covered his eyes with his hands. "He was the younger brother I never had. It was my fault; I should have helped him.

"Oh, Jerome," the man said. She lightly grazed his lips with her own. "Don't do it to yourself," the speaker said. I am aware that it is excruciating, but you cannot bear the responsibility for the rest of your life. It's going to rip you to shreds."

He was taken aback to see that she had tears in her beautiful blue eyes. "It's much simpler to say than to do. We both know that you blame yourself for letting a killer who committed another crime go free. I've seen how your life has been completely transformed as a result of that case.

"That's a unique take on it." Her lashes twitched, and her eyes lowered to his chest before she turned her sight away from him. "There is absolutely no connection between you and the passing of your brother. Being the most successful defense attorney in Texas gave me a rush because it meant that I was the greatest at what I do. Her eyes welled up, and she let a few tears run down her cheeks. "Because of my selfishness and avarice, another person had to pay the ultimate price."

She dabbed at her eyes as she cried. She said the words "I'm sorry" "I'm worn out and feeling emotional."

Regret filled Jerome. He had no right to bring this subject up at any time. He did not hold it against Anna that she was successful as a defense attorney, nor did he hold it against her that she was a defense attorney. He was frustrated with the system despite the fact that it had not changed. If they had met in the past, it's possible that his opinion of her might have been different. But in the end, what they both wanted was the same thing: justice for the people who had been wronged by Pedro and others like him. He was well aware that Anna's regret over the past was tearing her apart from the inside out. In the same way that his history had worn a hole in his stomach. He expressed his sorrow by stating, "I'm sorry." "I had no idea how raw this was for you," the speaker says.