Chapter 19
Morgan glared at Ezra, at the manager of the strip club. She didn't say anything as the music thudded out a rhythm and Ezra forced himself to hold her gaze, a look of amusement on his face even as he felt ill.
It only took two long-legged steps to cross into his personal space and Morgan put her hands on his shoulders and shoved him back so he was reclining back in his chair slightly. The force of her shove knocked the air from Ezra with a grunt.
She had been told to dance and Ezra had forced himself not to join in her protests that she wasn't a dancer. That would have been suspicious enough to cause problems for both of them. Instead, he had sat there, leaving her alone to argue with her boss.
An argument she had lost.
Morgan moved closer, leaning her face down so it was level with his. Ezra had expected her to avert her eyes, maybe purse her lips with embarrassment. Instead she looked him straight in the eye. She moved closer, her hair falling forward over one shoulder and brushing against Ezra's face.
The dance was more of an attack than a seduction, the fury in Morgan's eyes clearly driving her.
"You got a blonde dancin' for you, Ezra?" Buck's voice came through Ezra's earpiece. "Maybe you could tell her about your friend, Buck, and next time—"
Ezra put one hand on Morgan's side, felt her muscles tighten under his fingertips and saw her eyes glance down at his hand. He pretended to be pulling her in closer and even though her eyes narrowed, she followed the pressure. Using her as a shield from Blitz who was watching the dancer on stage, Ezra quickly removed his wire from his ear and popped it open to remove the battery before shoving it in his pocket.
Morgan's amber colored eyes watched the movement and as soon as he had the wire tucked safely away, she leaned in even closer, her lips within a breath of his ear. "If you try to pay me for this, I'll break every bone in your hand."
Ezra cleared his throat. "Noted," he said. He looked over her bare shoulder and saw Vin across the club. Even from this distance, he could see Vin's anger at what Morgan was being forced to do.
Ezra was pretty sure he would be just as furious later, when it wasn't taking every fiber of his will to keep his eyes away from Morgan and avoid thinking about her proximity.
Thankfully the song ended and Morgan stood, tossing her hair back over her shoulder.
"Anything else?" she asked, as if she hadn't just been nearly draped across Ezra.
"Get back to work," Blitz said, his attention returning to Morgan with a dismissive flick of his eyes. "We have business to discuss."
Morgan narrowed her eyes at the manager and for a second Ezra found himself holding his breath, thinking Morgan may blow up the deal in her anger.
Instead she trailed a hand over Ezra's shoulder. "We'll have to do that again," she said with a humorless smile.
Not if Ezra could help it.
Without another look at him, Morgan turned and headed back to her section of tables, leaving Ezra to try to gather himself and focus on the business at hand.
#
Morgan couldn't believe Blitz had made her do that. She couldn't believe she had let herself do that.
"Hey," Vin's quiet voice carried to her as she stormed past his table.
She whirled on him, knowing there was nothing he could say to make things easier. Knowing her brother and Chris were no doubt listening in to anything Vin said.
A new song started and Morgan felt the bass beating in her chest. She stared at Vin, at the worry in his eyes. She didn't want his worry. She didn't want his pity.
She approached him the same way she had Ezra. But this time it was her decision. She wasn't going to let anyone force her into anything again. She would call the shots.
She got as close as she could, not caring if Buck or whoever was listening in heard what was happening. All she could think of was striking out, making what had happened her own decision.
Not being a victim ever again.
She brushed her lips against Vin's ear, heard his sharp intake of breath. She moved closer and then his hand was loosely encircling her wrist.
"Don't," he said.
There was no pity in that one word.
Morgan pulled back, meeting his eyes, seeing his own anger at the situation she was in, at her lashing out like this. He held her wrist loosely for a beat before letting her go.
Morgan took a step back, everything in her shattering as soon as Vin let go of her.
She looked around her at the lights, at Ezra in conversation with Blitz up in the VIP section, back to Vin. And she saw the pity in his eyes then.
She needed to get out of there.
"Wait," she heard Vin call behind her, but she wasn't stopping. She pushed open the door to the locker room, slamming it against the wall when it banged open, and grabbed her things from her locker. She pulled on her sweatshirt and leggings, tossing her sequined outfit onto the floor of her locker.
She made it outside and to her car without Vin or Ezra, but she wasn't taking any chances that she'd have to face them. She couldn't. Not after what had just happened.
Morgan jammed her key into the ignition and drove off, no idea where she was going. She just knew she needed to get away. As far away from the club as she could.
She couldn't go to Buck's. There was no telling when he or JD would get off their surveillance detail and show up. She turned out of the neighborhood the club was in, away from going toward Cobra. She wasn't going to crash on his couch for another night and listen to him and his friends take over Spike's apartment.
She just drove. She pressed her foot down harder on the accelerator, wishing she could outrun the loneliness that chased her. The guilt and shame over every bad decision.
She wished her mom was still alive.
She wished Sarah was here.
With a sob, she clenched the steering wheel tighter. She didn't have anyone left who would understand. She thought of how Sarah had been there, like an older sister, always making her feel welcome, fixing up the spare room at her and Chris' ranch so Morgan had somewhere to stay when she visited Denver while Chris and Buck were working for the Denver PD.
Her heart feeling like it might actually break, Morgan drove on instinct. To the last place that had felt like home.
Chris' ranch was dark. As much as she worried about Buck or JD turning up at Buck's townhome after their late night job, she knew Chris wouldn't be home. He would go straight to his office, sleep there if time allowed, and be ready for the next step of the job. His house would be empty and stay empty until he finally called it a day long after everyone else did.
Morgan turned off her car, the night oppressively silent without the noise of her engine. Her keys jingled in her hands, rattling her already frayed emotions further. She found the right key and unlocked the kitchen door, going inside and right to the keypad for Chris' security system.
She hesitated, then punched in the code. She set her keys on the counter, even that small noise too much in the silent, dark house.
She made her way toward the room that used to be hers. She paused at the doorway. It was too much like trying to go home. She sniffed and scrubbed at the tears that were hot on her cheeks.
She went back out to the living room and curled up in a ball on the couch. She squeezed her eyes shut. She tried to pretend the past six months hadn't happened. That she hadn't driven Chris away. She wasn't avoiding Buck. She was someone who deserved Vin.
#
Vin watched Morgan storm off toward the back hall of the strip club. He started to push his chair back, wanting to stop her from leaving.
"Vin, we still have you? We lost Ezra," Chris' voice came through the small speaker in his ear.
Vin wasn't going anywhere. He had a job to do. "I'm here," he said. He glanced toward where Morgan had gone and was relieved she didn't seem to be coming back. He wanted nothing more than her out of the club.
"What's going on with Ezra?" Chris asked.
Vin had to be satisfied with the knowledge that Morgan was clear and focus on the task at hand. He picked up his beer, covering his mouth to give Chris an update.
"He's getting something from the manager," he reported. He watched the manager write something out on the back of a business card and slide it over to Ezra. "Looks like maybe he'll get details for a buy."
Ezra stood then, tucking the card into his pocket and laughing at something Blitz said.
"He's headin' out," Vin said. "
Vin took a long drink from his beer then. He'd give Ezra a good five minute head start before he left. And they'd both be sure to go to their debriefing. There was no way Chris would give them another pass.
Vin pretended he cared about what was happening on stage as he nursed his only beer of the night. Finally he had passed enough time to stand, toss money on the table for a tip he knew wouldn't go to Morgan.
He went out the back door to his Jeep and got in. He put it in gear, but hesitated. Keeping his foot on the brake, he pulled out his phone.
You ok?
He didn't expect to hear back from Morgan, but he needed her to know she wasn't alone.
Ezra was in the parking ramp when Vin pulled into the nearly empty structure attached to the federal building.
"I never intended for that to happen," Ezra said as soon as Vin got out of his Jeep.
Vin could see the tension in Ezra, the way he ran a hand through his hair, the tightness in his jaw. For someone who made a career of not looking rattled, Ezra was closer to losing control than Vin had ever seen him.
"I know that," Vin said.
"She shouldn't have had to—"
"She didn't have to," Vin said. And that's what made him angrier than anything. Morgan didn't have to be working there. She didn't have to put herself through any of this.
"She's a waitress, not a dancer," Ezra muttered. "If I hadn't been watching her too closely…" he turned away and hit a fist against his car.
"It ain't your fault," Vin said. "It's the senator, and that manager." And Morgan's ex who was driving her to prove something to herself and everyone around her. Vin rubbed his face, feeling more tired than the job warranted.
He watched his friend and teammate visibly pull himself together.
"You good?" Vin asked.
Ezra let out a long breath. "Perfect," he answered wryly.
They used their badges to unlock the after hours entrance and took the elevator to the seventh floor.
Vin was ready for Chris' barely contained anger as soon as they reached the bullpen.
"You want to tell me why your wire cut out?" Chris demanded without preamble.
Vin had seen Ezra's sleight of hand to remove it. He didn't blame him one bit. Not when Morgan was on his lap and Buck was running a commentary in Ezra's ear.
Ezra pulled the small microphone and earpiece from the pocket of his pants and made a show of studying it. "Some sort of malfunction," he said without concern. He handed it over to JD who immediately took it and started taking it apart, looking for anything that could be wrong.
Chris looked between Vin and Ezra, his face growing darker with each second of silence from his undercovers.
Chris took a step closer and Ezra shifted back a step, but he didn't react with any emotion more than a raised eyebrow.
"I have no idea what is going on with you two, but it stops now," Chris said through gritted teeth. "You're done going in and losing contact. Next time, Buck goes in with you."
"No," Vin said.
"That's not necessary," Ezra protested.
Chris stopped their arguments with a look. His eyes were hard. "There a reason you don't want anyone else under with you?"
Vin couldn't think of any believable reason. He glanced at Buck and could see the concern on Buck's face at Ezra and Vin's behavior.
"It will be good to have you there," Ezra finally said with a nod for Buck.
Chris waited, studying Vin, but Vin didn't say anything more. "You two are lucky I don't pull you off this assignment. When Ezra goes in again, Buck will be with him."
Vin nodded once, acknowledging the decision, and the mistrust behind it. He glanced at Ezra. They were going to have to tell Buck before they went back to the club.
"Sit down," Chris ordered the team. "Let's get our heads on straight, find out what Ezra has for us."
Vin took the chair behind his desk, keeping his thoughts on Ezra and the deal he was working toward. Anything to keep from giving everything away to Chris right then.
#
Chris stayed at his desk after he heard the door close behind Josiah. The profiler had been the last one to leave for the night. Chris glanced at his watch. Or the morning.
The psychologist had clearly been concerned about Chris, but also Vin and Ezra. It was a relief to know Chris wasn't the only one seeing something off with the undercover agents. He had given Josiah a nod, assuring him that he was fine and Josiah had headed home for a few hours of sleep before he had to be back in the office.
He looked down at the notes he had taken. Ezra was getting close to breaking open the senator's arms business. But Chris wasn't sure if whatever Ezra was keeping hidden was going to blow up in their faces first. He half expected the secrecy from Ezra. But not Vin.
Frustration growing too big to keep up the pretense of work, Chris shoved his notes aside and grabbed his keys.
He would normally grab some shut eye on the couch in his office, but not today. He needed to get back to his ranch, take a break from wayward agents and this case.
He didn't bother taking any of the case files with him. He would be back later. He just needed his own bed and the solitude of his ranch.
He fought against drowsiness as he made the drive out of the city to his ranch. As he came around the bend in his long driveway, his headlights caught a car parked near the house.
He quickly looked for anything else out of place before he recognized the car.
Morgan.
He pulled in behind her car and killed the engine. The house was dark, no sign of her.
He quietly unlocked the front door and looked at the keypad for his alarm. Morgan must have turned it off. He thought back to when she was a teen. He had tried to impress upon her the importance of turning it on if she and Sarah were home alone. A lesson Morgan had rolled her eyes at while Sarah smiled and promised they would remember to set the alarm next time.
With a heavy sigh, Chris tossed his keys aside, heading to check the room he and Sarah had both thought of as Morgan's. He made it as far as the living room when he saw her on the couch.
Curled up on the heavy overstuffed couch, she was sound asleep. Her make up was too heavy on her face to lend any sort of air of innocence to her sleep, but Chris could see how exhausted she looked in spite of the heavy eyeliner and colors across her closed eyes.
Her phone blinked to life on the coffee table and Chris didn't bother pretending he would ignore it. He picked it up. A text from Vin telling her they needed to talk.
Chris closed his eyes and rubbed his forehead. He didn't want to know what she and Vin could have to talk about. He set the phone carefully back on the table and looked down at Morgan again.
Grabbing the fleece blanket draped across the back of the couch, he unfolded it and settled it over her. Morgan responded by snuggling in under the blanket in her sleep and rolling over, her hair covering her face.
Chris turned and headed toward his room, hoping Morgan would still be there when he woke up. He had no idea what he was going to say to her, but for whatever reason, she had come to his place and he would do what he had to do to try to make sure she knew he was here for her.
#
Buck didn't bother heading home. He wasn't going to be able to sleep. Not with his worry about Morgan. Not with the question of what was going on with Vin itching at him.
Buck pulled his truck up to The Saloon, then looked at the clock on his dash. Five am. Inez wouldn't be opening for several hours. A car pulled in and in spite of the dim lights in the parking lot, Buck could see Inez behind the wheel.
He got out of his truck as she got out of her car, her face drawn in question.
"Buck?" she asked. "What in the world are you doing here?"
Buck opened his mouth to answer, then realized he had no idea what he was doing.
Inez' face softened with concern. "Come inside."
Buck took the box she was getting out of her backseat and carried it to the back door for her. She unlocked the door and held it for him.
"Set it on the bar," she said. "It's just new dishware samples."
Buck followed her directions and deposited the box where she motioned.
Inez raised her eyebrows at him. "Were you planning on waiting in the parking lot for breakfast?"
Buck started to shake his head before he stopped. He had no idea what he had been doing. "Just…" he ran a hand over his mustache before he caught himself and shrugged. "Just lookin' for a friend, I guess," he said.
Inez scooted onto one of the bar stools and Buck followed suit. He looked at Inez in the dim security lights of her bar. Her eyes were soft and she looked like she actually cared about what Buck was feeling.
"Things ain't goin' good," Buck admitted.
Inez frowned with concern and reached a hand over to rest on Buck's. Buck looked down at her hand, small and delicate, giving him comfort.
"Is it your sister?" she asked without judgment.
Buck knew Morgan was intimidating at her best and downright ornery at her worst. Inez asking about her without disapproval coloring her expression was a gift not many people gave Morgan. Buck felt his respect for Inez grow.
"It's…yeah. She ain't willin' to tell me nothing and I know she's in some sort of trouble. But she won't tell me."
Inez listened without comment. Buck heaved out a sigh. "I know I ain't much of a replacement for our ma." Saying his biggest failure out loud wasn't easy.
"No," Inez said. "I don't suppose you are."
Buck let out a snort. Inez wasn't going to pull any punches.
"But," she said, leaning forward to catch his eye, her carmel colored hair falling forward over her shoulder. "I think you're a very good brother." Her full lips curved in an encouraging smile. "And that may be what Morgan needs right now."
Buck had his doubts about his success as a brother, but he appreciated Inez saying so.
Inez's hand moved from his hand to his cheek. Her palm was warm against his skin and his eyes flew to hers.
Inez looked as surprised as he was by the move, but she didn't take her hand away.
Buck moved his hand to her hair, brushing the silky strands back from her face. When his hand stopped, trailing his fingers along the side of her neck, she leaned in. She didn't shy away when Buck leaned forward to meet her.
Her kiss was everything he had thought it would be. Only better. She was confident and passionate and didn't hesitate.
Buck didn't want it to end.
As he deepened the kiss, Inez pulled back, though she kept her hand on his face.
"You should go home and get some sleep," she said.
Buck grinned. "I think you're doin' me a world of good I couldn't get from sleep."
She returned his smile, but pulled back farther. "I have invoices I came in early to take care of."
Buck looked at her pretty face, so familiar to him after the months of coming to her restaurant, but completely new after what they had just shared. He got down from his stool, giving Inez a hand down from hers, but not letting go of her hand after.
"Buck," she said with a small smile, looking down at where he held her hand.
"I'm goin'," he said. "But I'll be back after closin' tonight."
Inez let out a light laugh. "We will see," she said.
Buck clutched at his chest like she had scored a direct hit to his heart.
"Go home, Buck," she said mildly, her amused expression taking any sting from the words.
Buck headed back out into the gray dawn. But this time his step was lighter, Morgan not weighing as heavily on his thoughts. Inez and what had just happened filled his mind and his senses.
Letting out a cheerful whistle, Buck thought maybe he would be able to work things out with Morgan after all. Whatever she was into couldn't be anything more than he could handle.
#
