“Everybody makes mistakes, Meg. I’m sure they don’t hold it against you.”
She stared at the firm chest she was leaning against. “I thought they did. But my mom’s voice sounded unbelievably sad when she said they missed me.” Her voice cracked and she cleared her throat.
“I didn’t even tell them I was leaving with Eddie until the night before. My brothers tried to talk me out of it. They said I was being stupid and it’d end up costing Mom and Dad more money like before. I told them if I made any mistakes I’d make sure to fix them myself, then I left anyway.”
Chris ran his thumb over her cheek and she turned into his hand.
“Is that why you decided you’d pay off Moreno on your own without your family’s help? So they didn’t say, ‘I told you so’.”
She closed her eyes attempting to keep the tears from falling. It didn’t work. Thankfully he let her cry. Yes, she’d done too much of it this morning but she must not have gotten it all out yet. Maybe she finally had and could stop being such a baby.
He leaned his head next to hers whispering words of consolation. She let him. Let him comfort her and give her what she’d been missing. Finally it registered what he was saying.
“Moreno doesn’t have your phone. He never did. Now you can go home. Say the word and I can get you on a plane.”
But what about the picture Moreno had? You couldn’t tell much from a picture, could you? She could still go home. Chris would make up some story for Moreno and, and what? Try and get the evidence against her boss by himself? Well not exactly by himself. They had tons of people working this case. But she was the best bet to actually get any evidence that could be useful.
The memory of Eddie’s pale face with a hole in it returned full force. Eddie had been a scum bag to leave her high and dry like he did. But did he deserve a bullet in the brain? He’d been as scared as she was. He just had more guts than she did and actually got away. Plus, he didn’t have any family to worry about. And no family to mourn him either.
She pushed herself away from the blue t-shirt she’d blubbered on twice today and swept a hand over her wet cheeks looking at Chris with determination. “No. I promised to help you and I will. Someone needs to make sure Moreno pays for what he did to Eddie. What he’s still doing to all the women who work at his club.”
He shook his head. “I’m sorry about Eddie. But are you sure? You don’t have to worry about your family. You can go home right now. You probably wouldn’t make it for your mom’s birthday.” He checked his watch. “But you could be home tomorrow and make her a great cake.”
She took a deep breath. “I’m sure.”
He gave her a tight hug then opened the car door for her. A moment later, he got in and started it up, then pulled onto the road.
She’d done the right thing. Yes, she missed her family and the sound of her mother’s voice had reminded her how much she loved them. But if she left now and Moreno got away with all he’d done, killed more people, she’d never forgive herself. She blew out a big breath and leaned back against the seat.
Chris looked her way and she gave him a big smile. A real one. At least she still had him to make things easier on her. She could do this.
They stopped at a red light and he smiled at her again then threw her his lopsided smirk, his eyebrow raised. “Ballet lessons, huh? Never figured you for the tutu kind of gal.”
The light turned green and he eased back into traffic. She narrowed her eyes at him and swatted him playfully on the shoulder. He always knew how to get her out of the dumps.
“Shut up and drive.”
* * * *
“Read ‘em and weep, Martin,” Salazar Moreno boasted as he threw down five cards, all hearts. A flush. Chris hadn’t expected a flush. He knew the man might have three of a kind but he was hoping they’d be lower cards than his three nines.
“Damn!” He threw his own cards face down looking at the pot of bills Moreno pulled toward him. He didn’t have a whole lot of cash left tonight. The Bureau only gave him a certain amount each day and he had to be frugal. But poker wasn’t one of those things you could predict perfectly.
“You look like you could use a little good luck charm,” Barone said as he picked up the cards to shuffle. “Perhaps when Katie gets back she’ll give you some.”
Chris didn’t want Meg back in this room, not with the way Barone and Moreno leered at her. They were as bad as salivating wolves looking at the three little pigs. He knew she’d be back soon though since she’d left a few minutes ago to get them fresh drinks.
And as Barone dealt the cards for the next hand she pushed open the door, loaded tray balanced on her shoulder.
“Your drinks, gentlemen.”
She leaned over to place the glasses on the table and Chris tried to keep his hands from clenching into fists. The outfits the waitresses were made to wear were obscene. The tops were too low and the bottoms too high with way too much skin showing every time they bent over. Meg seemed a little skittish tonight. He couldn’t blame her after seeing Eddie with a bullet hole in his head recently. And knowing Moreno had done it.
“Katie,” Moreno purred softly, his hand resting on Meg’s backside briefly. “Your gentleman friend here is having a terrible losing streak. Perhaps you could give him a kiss for good luck. I’m afraid he’ll be leaving us soon if he doesn’t win something.”
She glanced at him briefly as if wanting some direction. Playing his part, he held out his hand and slurred his words like he’d had too much to drink. The others got looser lips if they thought he wasn’t in complete control of his faculties.
“Yeah, babe, come give me a kiss. I need some luck.”
