Breaking Free: A Colorado High Country Crossover Novel, Pamela Clare [i can read book club .TXT] 📗

“We’ll see.” Jason had expected to be nervous, but he wasn’t. Some part of him had already accepted that this was his last day in uniform.

His mind was fixed on the future—and Winona.

She had sent him a text message wishing him luck. It had included a photo of her blowing him a kiss, her hair tousled from sleep.

If he got fired, he’d pack up, head to Scarlet, and sort out his life from there.

“You seem worried, brother.” Ellio cracked open a can of soda. “But you know we’ll stand with you, no matter what happens.”

“It’s not that. I’m not worried.”

“Then what is it?” Dale asked.

Jason knew he shouldn’t tell them. They were his brothers, which meant that they could be true pains in the ass. But some part of him couldn’t hold back. “I met someone in Colorado, a Lakota woman. She’s special.”

That shut them up—for a moment.

Six sets of eyes stared at him, blinked.

Then they all spoke at once.

“You got pictures? I want to see.”

“Yo, man, I knew you’d get over Elena.”

“You think she’s the one?”

“You in love again, bruh?”

Jason shook his head. “I shouldn’t have mentioned it.”

“Come on. Just show us a photo. You took photos, right?”

Jason knew they wouldn’t give up. He took his phone out of his pocket, scrolled to his favorite photo, and held it up for them.

Ren leaned closer. “Whoa. She’s … hot.”

Ellio grabbed his phone. “Does she have a sister?”

Milo took the phone next and began to scroll through Jason’s other photos. “She is fine. What’s her name?”

Jason took back his phone, locked it. “Winona.”

He was saved from further idiocy when the door opened, and he was called back inside. He drew a breath, got to his feet, and went to face his fate, the Pack following him inside and taking their seats, while Jason remained standing.

Cal Milford, their division director, sat, hands folded over Jason’s file, looking grim. Jason’s supervisor, Resident Agent-in-Charge Mick Nez, sat beside Milford, his expression giving nothing away.

It was Milford who spoke. “Agent Chiago, we’ve carefully reviewed the details of this incident, along with your service record. Crossing the border while on duty and in uniform was a clear violation of our regulations and resulted in considerable and avoidable risk to your life. Further, this infraction caused conflict with our neighbor and ally, the United Mexican States.”

Yeah, this was it, his last minutes as a Shadow Wolf.

Milford went on. “However, there are several mitigating factors that we took into consideration. In light of years of meritorious service, this committee has decided that you be reinstated to the Shadow Wolves at your current paygrade.”

Jason stood there for a moment, stunned, the Pack cheering behind him.

Nez stood, a broad grin on his face. “It’s good to have you back, Chiago.”

“Thank you, sir.” Jason knew he ought to be smiling like everyone. Instead, he felt … disappointed.

You honestly thought it would be this easy, that they’d fire you, and you’d have an excuse to pack up and go back to Scarlet?

Now he would have to make a choice—keep a death-bed promise to the grandmother who had raised him or claim happiness with the woman he loved.

Remember that Creator doesn’t lead us to dead ends. We do that to ourselves. Creator gives us choices.

Sometimes Jason hated it when elders were right.

Ren slapped him on the back. “Come on back to my place. Have a beer and join us for supper. Teresa is making cemait and stew for dinner. You look like a man who needs to talk.”

Jason tossed back his fourth and final shot of whisky. “Then her grandfather held a sweat lodge to pray for her and Naomi, her sister-in-law.”

“The one who had the baby.”

Jason nodded. “He said, ‘A promise is a sacred thing. So is the love of one’s half-side.’ Then he said it was time for me to break free from my anger toward my sisters so my resentment toward them wouldn’t color my decision.”

“He sounds like a wise man.”

“What does that even mean? How does the fact that my sisters left their people and their culture behind influence my decision?”

“Maybe they hurt you, and you’re just determined to show them that you’re not like them.”

Well, that made too much sense.

“Have you prayed about it?”

“What do you think? Of course, I have.” Jason knew he’d had a bit too much to drink, but that was no excuse for snapping at Ren. “Sorry, man.”

“Don’t worry about it.” Ren took a sip of his beer. “Help me understand. Your grandma made you promise not to abandon your O’odham people, and you think that means you can’t leave Sells to go live with your Lakota hottie. Am I right?”

“Yeah.”

“How does living in another place mean you abandon the O’odham?”

What was Ren’s problem? What didn’t he understand?

Jason spoke like he was talking to a child. “I wouldn’t be here, on the reservation.”

Ren laughed. “Being O’odham isn’t about where you are. It’s who you are. You’re an O’odham man through and through. If you leave, you won’t be abandoning us. You’ll be taking us with you. We’re inside you. We’ll always be a part of you.”

“That’s just semant… seman… just word games.” Jason wished there was more whisky in his glass. “What about the O’odham kids I coach in basketball? What about the Pack? What about passing on our himdag to the next generation?”

Then Teresa stepped out of the kitchen, corn flour on her hands. “You’re like a brother to us, Chiago. You know that. You’ve always had Ren’s back. So listen to your sister’s advice. You met the woman you believe is your soul mate, and you’re going to throw away your happiness and hers to keep a promise.”

“It’s a promise made on my grandma’s death bed.”

“Yeah, I got that part. Look at your arm. Does the Man in the Maze stay where he started? Does he just stand there, looking confused like you do right now?”

“Um…” Jason was actually drunk enough to look at his tattoo.

“Life isn’t about standing still