Page 4 of Punished
“That you're choosingto be with a criminal rather than uphold your duties as a sworn officer of the law? No, I don't understand. Was his dick that good?”
“Crude.”
“Was it? Because whatever they did to you in there, clearly, you weren’t strong enough to endure it,” Perry said. “You weren’t the man or agent I thought you were.”
Ajay scoffed. “I've been compromised. I told them that I was a Secret Agent and I fell in love. I know that I can't keep my career and be with Tim, so yes, I'm issuing an official notice of resignation. I'll follow this up with an official letter.”
“I can't believe what I'm hearing. I had held out hope that you just had a lapse in judgment, or that you were somehow using your body to gain information, but this... this is simply pathetic,” Perry said.
“If that's all, sir, I'd like to clear out my desk,” Ajay said. Then he stepped over to Perry's desk and placed his badge on the varnished wood. The one that Markum had given to him on the long car ride over in hopes it would remind him of which team he was playing for.
“You've worked this hard towards advancing your career, you were on your way to becoming a damn GS-13, and this is what you're doing?” Perry tried again to see if he could talk some sense into the promising agent, who'd obviously messed up significantly but wasn't a lost cause. “What if we offer Tim Davis immunity? You can use your position to your advantage. Both of you can give us the intel we need.”
Ajay laughed then and shook his head. “Are you serious, sir?”
“I wouldn't have made the offer if I wasn't.”
“Then you don't know the men of the Lords of Chaos if you think any of them would betray their brothers and club,” Ajay said.
Perry snorted and put his hands on his hips. “Jesus Christ, just listen to yourself. You're sounding like one of them. Please tell me that you don't respect them now. They're a bunchof fucking gun runners, drug dealers, and traffickers. God knows what else they're into and what they're about to be into now that they're with the Castiello family. We know they've murdered people and will commit more, and these are the sons of bitches you're trying to protect? Get your fucking head on straight.”
“I'm not your way in and Tim Davis won't help you. He'd rather die than betray his oath to the club. If it were easy to take them down, you wouldn't be offering him immunity,” Ajay said.
“So, what are you planning? To join them? To be a criminal too?” Perry lowered his hands from his hips and stepped up to Ajay, poking his chest. “Don't think we won't arrest you and put you in jail... for real this time.”
“Duly noted,” Ajay said.
“So, this is it? You're actually quitting?”
Ajay nodded. “I'll clear out my desk and deliver my letter tomorrow.”
“What about your husband?”
Ajay smacked his lips. “What about him?”
“Don't you think you're disrespecting him and your marriage?”
“That isn't any of your business, sir. But since you brought it up, he cheated on me first. That's why I'm demanding a divorce,” Ajay said and got a bit of satisfaction when he saw Perry's shocked expression for just a flash of a second. The man was known for keeping his temper in check. This was one of the few times he'd experienced ASAC Perry this emotional, so to speak. Probably because this was a situation he couldn't control. “If that's all.”
“We'll be watching you,” Perry said.
“I know.” Ajay left the man's office and as soon as the door closed behind him, he felt some weight lifted from his consciousness. He'd beenwondering about this day since the moment he knew he'd fallen in love with Tim. How would he say goodbye to the life he knew, the one he'd cultivated since he was eighteen? It was easier than he thought it was going to be.
Markum had been waiting outside the office, sitting in one of the chairs, and when he saw Ajay exit, he approached him. “How did it go?”
Ajay began walking toward the supply room where he was sure to find an empty box. He didn't have much to pack up, as he'd taken most of his stuff home before going deep cover. But what was left, he did want to keep. He found a box quickly, then began walking toward his desk.
“So, are you going to answer me?” Markum asked.
“I quit.”
Markum grabbed Ajay's arm, stopping him and turning him to face him. “What the fuck do you mean you quit?”
“I mean that I'm no longer a DEA Agent and that I'll be turning in my letter of resignation and firearm tomorrow, but I turned in my badge today,” Ajay said with a smile. He shook Markum's hand off his arm and began walking toward his desk. He put a few items into the box as other Agents looked at him. Several approached him and asked about him, wondering if he got fired. Just like he told Markum, he told them.
When the protests came, Ajay held his hand up. “I have already made my decision. And I don't regret it.”
“You will,” said Markum. “Especially when we're dragging your boyfriend's club to jail to join him. I can't believe you allowed yourself to fall so low.”
