Page 13 of Avenging Angel
Angel grins and then flags down the server. “He still calls me ‘Kid.’ Vinny refers to Faith as ‘Squirt,’ and my three brothers, Jordan, Benjamin, and Seth, as WIPs.”
“WIPs? As in ‘whippersnappers?’”
Vinny smiles, a juxtaposition from the serious CIA agent our team has worked with before. There’s a carefree attitude about him that wasn’t there when we first met. “Not ‘whippersnappers.’ ‘Works in progress.’”
“Aren’t we all?” I say as the server comes over to take our order and introduces herself as Dottie.
“Hey, Hon. Now that your kids are here, are you ready to order?” she asks Vinny.
“They’re not my kids,” he tells her. “Not biologically. I’ve never been married except to my job.”
Dottie cocks her hip and flashes her pearly whites. “That’s a right shame. You seem like the kind of guy with the protective gene rather than a possessive one. Add in that handsome and trustworthy face, you’re sure to have broken many hearts without even knowing it.”
Vinny blushes. “I’m not sure how you can tell all that from me ordering a cup of coffee, but thank you for the kind assessment.”
“I’m the owner of this fine establishment and have been working here for 45 years. When you’ve been doing this as long as I have, watching people come and go, you get a sixth sense and a fine ability to read people.”
Angel jumps in and throws Vinny under the bus. “My uncle is retiring soon. He won’t be married to the job much longer. He’s available to take you out to dinner.”
“Who’s matchmaking now?” I ask under my breath, trying not to laugh at Vinny’s discomfort. I haven’t known him for long, but in the short time I have, he’s been composed, steady, and reliable. Seeing him flustered absolutely makes my day.
Not missing a beat, Dottie says, “I get off at five. There’s a barbeque restaurant 15 minutes down the road. Do you like ribs?”
Vinny’s eyes flick toward Angel before he turns back to Dottie, the tension easing from his shoulders. “I love ribs.”
Chapter five
Angel
Dottie leaves and returns with our beverages, and there’s a bounce in her step that wasn’t there before. As soon as she takes off to help other customers, Daisy leans forward and begins her interrogation.
“When was the last time you went on a date?” she asks Vinny.
“I’ve dated women,” Vinny replies, almost offended. “I was even engaged once. But having to lie to the woman I loved; to keep a part of myself closed off took its toll on the relationship. Eventually, the secrets led to her thinking I was cheating, which I wasn’t, by the way. I was merely keeping classified details from her.”
I sip on my water, a pang of sorrow for my mentor and close family friend settling over me after hearing how much he gave up for an organization that primarily operates in secret. I lower my voice even though there’s no one around in the immediate vicinity to explain.
“Most CIA officers can tell their significant other about what they do, just not the details of what they’re working on due to classification. Covert operations are a different story. It’s like living a double life.”
Daisy tips her head in understanding. “I’ve seen True Lies. I get it.”
Vinny chuckles. “That’s not an accurate depiction, but close enough for you to get the point.”
“At least with retirement, you can settle down with a nice woman and have an honest relationship,” Daisy says. “Are you retiring because of what happened in Colombia? Is it a punishment like what they did to Angel?”
Drumming his fingers on the table, Vinny takes a moment before answering. “Yes, and no. I should have been taken out of the field years ago, but I’m very good at what I do and hold the paygrade of SIS-4. However, I’m turning 65 in a few months and am required to retire. No exceptions, especially not after my failure in Colombia.”
“Are you sad to leave?” Daisy asks.
Vinny’s mouth tightens before he looks down at his coffee. “I’ve spent decades of my life taking down terrorist cells, human-trafficking rings, and drug smugglers. However, I’ve also done my fair share of supporting them if it fits neatly into the CIA’s agenda. The organization has a bad rap because not everything they do is above board. Some of it is downright shady. Obviously, I can’t tell you any details, but what I can say is that there were several times in my life where I nearly lost my soul. It’s not all black and white, Daisy. The CIA operates in the gray area.”
“The charcoal gray area,” Daisy retorts.
“Yes,” Vinny says. “They operate in the shadows, which means there is more darkness than light. Yet, it was all for the greater good. Or so I chose to believe.”
My brows knit together. “It is for the greater good. It’s why I followed in your footsteps.”
“The end goal is about control, Angel. At least that’s what I’ve learned over the years. The CIA isn’t above doing unscrupulous things to gain that control. Case in point, the debacle down in Colombia. My job was to groom a cartel leader, allowing shipments of drugs into the States. All of that was to keep stability in a region that isn’t ours and give the United States government the ability to control Colombia from behind the curtain. The cost was an American life every time someone overdosed because I stood by and allowed drugs to enter our country. I tried to rationalize it as it being their choice to take those drugs, but it doesn’t change anything. I have to live with that every day.”
