I'm halfway through Oath of Loyalty by Kyle Mills, the continuation of A Mitch Rapp Novel Series created by Vince Flynn. With that in mind this round of Fan Fiction is probably coming to an end. The timing for this mini-story of the woman I've created for Mitch Rapp comes well after Oath of Loyalty takes place. Since the new Mitch Rapp novel has just released this week, it's probably time to stop the "fantasy" of Raven Christine Wilson. Hope you've enjoyed it because I've had so much fun writing these snippets. We'll conclude for now with this short entry and a brief recap from last week.
His final words confirmed what she’d suspected but had never admitted to herself prior to reading them: he suspected he might be heading into a potentially deadly situation. That 21st birthday celebration where he’d taken her to dinner, made a concentrated effort to listen to everything she probably babbled about that night, presented her with the engraved ring she wore on her right ring finger with a stunning birthstone sapphire arranged between two diamonds on a platinum band: Forever, Dad.
She placed the letter on her desk and stared away into her memories as the tears dried.
When she heard the knuckle tap on her door again, she pushed away from her desk and quickly covered the distance once again to see Rapp on the other side.
After she quickly pulled it open, he leaned against the jam, folded his arms, and with that almost smile in place, he said, “I figured you might need a friend.”
She outright laughed and losing all sense of decorum, she put her arms around that solid body and embraced him. “I do.”
Realizing quickly how presumptuous she’d been, she pulled back. “I’m so sorry, Rapp.”
“You said you had the rest of the day,” he said without reacting to her hug or her apology.
“Yes.”
“I know a place. You want to go?”
The gratitude she experienced from his offer threatened tears again. She forced herself to get control. “I’ll get my purse.” Pull yourself together now! She grabbed it and walked out the door in front of him.
Rapp knew better than to start something he never intended to finish. Why he’d come to her office in the first place was still a mystery to him other than to placate Irene. He and Irene had survived some treacherous things through the years but not without the residual pain and scars.
As a tribute to Daniel Wilson, he would help Raven if ever she got in over her head, but why was he inviting her now to do this? Hadn’t those scars and that pain been enough in his life? Hadn’t the regrets piled up to an untenable pile of memories he couldn’t seem to diffuse?
These useless thoughts assaulted him as they walked to his car. As he opened the door for her, she looked directly at him and spoke quietly.
“I can almost physically feel the conflict you’re experiencing with having invited me to go with you. I won’t be insulted if you want to withdraw your invitation, Rapp. I don’t want to contribute in any way to your adding unnecessary relationships or infringing upon your hard-earned freedom from the weights of this life.”
He returned her direct stare, noticing the blue of her eyes and the sincerity they divulged.
“Not a lot gets by you, does it?” he finally said.
“More than I care to admit, I’m afraid.”
“Get in,” he said gently.
Father, you know it all, everything. You know. Thank you for rescuing me from myself. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.