For Wrath, page 17
John regarded her for a long moment, his gaze flickering between Morgan's desperate eyes and the trembling form of Harriet. Finally, he gave a low, humorless chuckle.
"Nice try, Agent Cross," he sneered. "But you've already proven that you're not as smart as I thought you were. You think I'd let her go just because you ask nicely?"
"John, please," Morgan whispered, her stomach churning with dread. "She's innocent."
"Are any of us truly innocent?" he mused, the scalpel pressing tighter against Harriet's throat, drawing a thin line of blood. "No matter. I'll deal with you later, Morgan."
Inwardly cursing her failure, Morgan's mind raced, searching for a way to save Harriet without putting them both in even more danger. She had come so far, but now she was out of time and options. Her best bet was to play with his twisted mind.
"Fight me instead, John," Morgan challenged, her voice firm and unwavering. "Leave Harriet out of this. John, if you kill Harriet like this, you'll destroy her essence. What good will that do for you? Face me instead."
John hesitated, his grip on the scalpel tightening. The crazed look in his eyes flickered momentarily as if he was considering Morgan's proposition.
"Alright," he finally agreed with a sinister grin. "Let's see just how good you really are, Agent Cross."
As he slowly backed away from Harriet, Morgan's gaze swept the room, searching for any advantage she could use against him. That's when she noticed the unusual décor – all the mirrors and shiny surfaces in the room were covered in white sheets. A realization struck her like lightning: John hated his own reflection.
Her eyes darted around until they landed on a small hand mirror lying face-down on the floor. An idea began to form in her mind, but she needed to play it cool.
"Fine, let's do this," Morgan said, her heart pounding with both fear and determination. She stepped away from the table, keeping her movements slow and calculated. As she moved closer to the discarded mirror, she silently prayed that her plan would work.
"Are you ready?" John taunted, brandishing the scalpel menacingly. "Or is the great Morgan Cross too afraid to face me?"
"Bring it on," Morgan replied, her voice steady despite the turmoil raging inside her. She had faced countless horrors in her time, and she wasn't about to let this monster win. Not today.
As John stalked toward her, Morgan forced herself to remain calm, calculating the distance between them and the hand mirror lying face-down on the floor. She only had one chance at this – she couldn't afford to miss.
"Is this your idea of being a man, John?" she taunted, watching his every move. "Hiding behind innocent women and torturing them to make yourself feel powerful?"
"Shut up!" John snapped, his rage only fueling Morgan's determination. "You don't know anything about me!"
"Maybe not," Morgan countered, inching closer to the mirror. "But I know enough to see that you're nothing more than a pathetic, twisted monster."
With a roar, John lunged at her, his fingers outstretched and grasping for her throat. Just as he reached her, Morgan sidestepped, quickly bending down to snatch up the hand mirror in one swift motion. Before he could react, she thrust the mirror into his face, forcing him to confront his own grotesque reflection.
"Take a good look at yourself, John," she hissed, holding the mirror steady even as he writhed in agony before it. "This is what you are – a hideous abomination."
"NO!" he screamed, the sound raw and guttural, his hands clawing at his face as if he could somehow rip the ugliness away. Morgan watched him, her heart pounding in her chest, but she refused to let herself feel pity for the man who had caused so much pain and suffering.
"Face it, John," she said softly, her eyes never leaving his tormented figure. "You can't escape what you've become."
As John sobbed uncontrollably, Morgan knew that she had won. She had exposed the truth and, in doing so, had stripped him of his power. It was time to put an end to this nightmare once and for all.
Morgan's grip on the mirror tightened, her knuckles turning white as John's anguished cries filled the sterile room. She knew she had to act quickly before he could regain his composure and lash out again.
Taking advantage of John's momentary vulnerability, Morgan lunged forward, grabbing a coil of rope that lay discarded on a nearby table. Her heart raced as she rushed towards him, the weight of the rope heavy in her hands.
"Enough!" she shouted, wrapping the rope around his wrists, binding him. John struggled against her, but the pain he was feeling from seeing his own reflection weakened him, allowing Morgan to secure the knots tightly.
As John writhed on the floor, his face contorted in agony; Morgan stared down at him with a mixture of disgust and pity. "You think you're some kind of artist," she spat, her voice laced with contempt. "But all you've done is destroy lives."
"Please... please stop..." John whimpered, unable to look away from his grotesque reflection in the mirror Morgan still held.
Morgan's gaze hardened, and she leaned closer to him, her voice cold and unforgiving. "You'll never hurt anyone again, John. I'll make sure of that."
With a sudden surge of determination, Morgan yanked the mirror away from John's line of sight, leaving him gasping for breath on the floor. As he shook with sobs, she couldn't help but feel a grim satisfaction knowing that he would never escape the reality of what he truly was – a monster.
"Listen closely," she told him, her voice barely above a whisper. "When you're locked away, I'll make sure your cell is filled with mirrors. You'll be forced to confront your ugliness every single day, just like your victims had to endure the horror you inflicted upon them."
John's eyes widened in terror, and he began to sob even harder. Morgan knew she had gotten through to him, and the thought filled her with a cold satisfaction.
"Goodbye, John," she said, turning away from the broken man on the floor. As she walked towards Harriet, Morgan couldn't help but feel a sense of relief wash over her; it was finally over. The monster would be caged, and the women he had tormented could be avenged. And as for herself, maybe now she could start to put the past behind her and find some semblance of peace.
EPILOGUE
Morgan stepped into AD Mueller's dimly lit office, the glow of the city skyline casting shadows across his face. She had never liked the man; perhaps it was the condescending tone he always seemed to reserve for her or the lack of trust that hung like a dark cloud between them. As she moved closer to his desk, she couldn't help but feel the weight of her recent triumph on her shoulders.
"Agent Cross," Mueller greeted her, his gruff voice betraying a hint of surprise. "I must say, I didn't expect to see you here tonight."
"Neither did I," Morgan replied, her voice steady and confident. "But I've got news about John Pesci."
"Ah, yes," Mueller leaned forward in his chair, the light catching his graying hair. "You managed to apprehend him, as I understand it. Quite impressive, considering your... history."
"Is that your way of saying 'good job,' sir?" Morgan asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Let's just say I'm glad you proved me wrong," Mueller admitted, bitterness tinging his words. "I didn't expect much from you after what happened ten years ago. But you've shown me that you're still a capable agent."
"Thank you, sir," Morgan said, biting back a retort. "Harriet Holland is safe now, and Pesci won't be hurting anyone else."
"Good," Mueller replied. "That's what we need - agents who can get results. We want you back on full-time, Cross. You've earned it."
"Really?" Morgan asked, taken aback. "Just like that?"
"Of course," Mueller said, studying her closely. "You've proven yourself, even if our trust in each other isn't fully restored. You have my apologies for misjudging you before."
She wasn't sure how to feel about Mueller's sudden change of character toward her. Was he just acknowledging that she was a capable agent, or was it another trick? It was in Morgan's best bet to keep the FBI at a close reach. But she also needed to gauge Mueller.
"Sir, there's something I need to ask you," Morgan said, her voice steady despite the nerves knotting in her stomach. She fixed her gaze on Mueller, searching for any signs of deceit in his face.
"Go ahead," he replied, his brow furrowing slightly as he leaned back in his chair.
"Derik," she began, swallowing hard. "Do you know anything about what he's been hiding from me?"
Mueller's expression shifted from curiosity to confusion. "I'm not sure what you're talking about, Cross."
"Are you sure?" Morgan pressed. "Because Derik admitted he's been hiding things from me--he just hasn't told me what."
"Cross, I assure you, I have no idea what you're talking about." Mueller frowned, clearly thrown off by her question. "As far as I'm concerned, Derik is a loyal and reliable agent. And he cares about you, Cross. Are you sure you want to push him away?"
Morgan studied his face, trying to discern whether he was telling the truth or simply playing dumb. After a moment, she decided it didn't matter; either way, she couldn't trust him completely.
"Alright," she said finally, her voice betraying a hint of disappointment. "Thank you, sir."
"Is there anything else?" Mueller asked, his eyes narrowing ever so slightly.
"No," Morgan replied, her jaw set. "That's all."
"Very well," Mueller said with a curt nod. "Goodnight, Agent Cross."
"Goodnight, sir," she echoed, turning to leave his office.
As the door closed behind her, Morgan couldn't shake the feeling that she had just walked away from a potential ally - or perhaps an unwitting pawn in a much larger game. It was impossible to tell which side of the line Mueller fell on, but one thing was certain: she would have to tread carefully in the days ahead. Trust, after all, was a luxury she could no longer afford.
***
The darkness of the parking lot enveloped Morgan as she stepped outside, her heels clicking against the pavement. The cool night air was a welcome relief from the oppressive confines of the FBI office. She took a deep breath, trying to clear her mind and shake off the uncertain tension left in Mueller's wake.
"Morgan."
Morgan stopped in her tracks, recognizing Derik's voice coming from somewhere behind her. He stepped out of the shadows, his expression unreadable beneath the dim glow of the streetlights.
"Derik," she said, her voice colder than she intended. "You've got some nerve showing up here."
"I owe you an explanation," he admitted, running a hand through his hair. "I should have told you sooner."
"Damn right, you should have," Morgan snapped, anger surging through her veins. "So, what is it? What's going on?"
Derik hesitated for a moment, looking down at the ground before meeting her gaze. "It's complicated, Morgan. But I promise you, everything I did was to protect you."
"Protect me?" Morgan scoffed, folding her arms across her chest. "By keeping me in the dark? By hiding things from me? That's not protection, Derik. That's betrayal."
"Look, I know how it seems," Derik pleaded, taking a step closer to her. "But there are things you don't understand. Things I couldn't tell you."
"Try me," she challenged, her eyes narrowing. "I think I deserve to know the truth after all this time."
Derik sighed, the weight of his secrets pressing down on him. "Alright," he conceded. "But not here. Let's go somewhere we can talk privately."
"Fine," Morgan agreed, her jaw clenched with determination. "But this better be good, Derik. I'm done with lies and half-truths."
As they walked side by side towards her car, Morgan's thoughts raced with anticipation and trepidation. She had given Derik a chance to come clean, but she couldn't help wondering what his explanation would reveal - and whether it would be enough to repair the trust that had been shattered between them.
Morgan slid into the driver's seat of her car, and Derik eased himself into the passenger seat. The dashboard cast a dim glow over their faces as they sat in silence for a moment, the air between them heavy with unspoken words.
"Alright," Derik began, his voice cracking slightly. "You remember Darren La Roux, the guy whose file you found at my place?"
"Of course," Morgan said tersely, her hands gripping the steering wheel tightly. "I've been trying to figure out why you had it ever since."
Derik exhaled slowly, rubbing the back of his neck. "After you were framed for murder, I was approached by the people responsible. They knew I was close to you, and they tried to use me to get to you."
"By threatening me?" Morgan's voice was ice-cold, her expression unreadable.
"Yes," Derik admitted, his gaze flickering away from hers. "They threatened to hurt you again, lock you up if I didn't drop the case. I couldn't risk putting you in more danger, so I complied."
"Then why did you keep the file?" Morgan asked, her eyes narrowing.
"Because they mentioned something about Darren La Roux being involved, and I wanted to find out why. I kept digging into his past, trying to piece together what he had to do with your framing," Derik explained a note of desperation in his voice. "But I couldn't tell you, Cross. I couldn't risk them finding out I was still looking into it."
Morgan stared at him, her mind racing with anger and confusion. She wanted to yell, to scream at him for keeping this secret, but instead, she forced herself to remain calm. "Names, Derik. Give me names."
"I can't," Derik said quietly, his eyes filled with regret. "I just... can't."
"Convenient," Morgan muttered under her breath, her fingers drumming against the steering wheel.
"Cross, I'm telling you the truth," Derik insisted, his eyes pleading with hers. "I've been trying to find out who's behind this, but they've covered their tracks too well. I couldn't risk telling you until now when we finally have a lead."
Morgan clenched her jaw, battling the storm of emotions raging inside her. She wanted to believe him, but trust was not something she could easily give anymore. Not after everything that had happened.
And all the affection he'd been showing her--the kissing, the romance... it was all fake, wasn't it? Emotions he'd faked to manipulate her. He was a liar, and she couldn't trust a word he said. But part of her believed there was some truth to his story, that he really did talk to the people who had framed her--and that he knew who they were.
But it didn't help her because he wasn't telling her anything.
Morgan stared at Derik, her eyes narrowing into slits as she processed his words. The moonlight cast flickering shadows on the pavement, painting a picture of deception and betrayal that mirrored her thoughts. Her voice was laced with ice as she spoke.
"You're a coward, Derik. You should've told me the truth from the beginning. But you didn't, and now... I'm done with you."
"Please, Morgan, reconsider," Derik's voice cracked with desperation. "I did this to protect you. I couldn't bear the thought of them hurting you again."
"Protect me?" Morgan scoffed, her anger bubbling up like lava ready to explode. "By keeping me in the dark? By letting me think I was crazy for believing someone was still after me?"
"Cross, please," Derik pleaded, reaching out to grasp her arm. She jerked away, her gaze never leaving his tormented eyes.
"Get your hands off me," she hissed, stepping back. "From now on, I work alone. I trust no one." With that, she turned on her heel and stormed away, her footsteps echoing through the empty parking lot.
NOW AVAILABLE!
FOREVER
(A Morgan Cross FBI Suspense Thriller—Book Five)
Victims of a new killer found drowned in mysterious ways. An ex-con FBI agent unwilling to play by the rules. A killer who will stop at nothing….
“A masterpiece of thriller and mystery.”
—Books and Movie Reviews, Roberto Mattos (re Once Gone)
FOREVER is book #5 in a long-anticipated new series by #1 bestseller and USA Today bestselling author Blake Pierce, whose bestseller Once Gone (a free download) has received over 7,000 five star ratings and reviews.
Superstar FBI Agent Morgan Cross was at the height of her career when she was framed, wrongly imprisoned, and sent to do 10 hard years in prison. Finally exonerated and set free, Morgan emerges from jail as a changed person—hardened, ruthless, closed off to the world, and unsure how to start again. When the FBI comes knocking, desperately needing Morgan to return and hunt down a killer who seems to be obsessed with drowning, Morgan is torn.
Morgan is not the same person, no longer willing to play by the rules, and will stop at nothing this time. In a non-stop thriller, it will be a deadly cat and mouse chase between a diabolical killer and an ex-con FBI agent who has nothing left to lose—with a new victim’s fate riding on it all.
A page-turning and harrowing crime thriller featuring a brilliant and tortured FBI agent, the Morgan Cross series is a riveting mystery, packed with non-stop action, suspense, twists and turns, revelations, and driven by a breakneck pace that will keep you flipping pages late into the night. Fans of Rachel Caine, Teresa Driscoll and Robert Dugoni are sure to fall in love.
Future books in the series will be available soon!
“An edge of your seat thriller in a new series that keeps you turning pages! ...So many twists, turns and red herrings… I can't wait to see what happens next.”
—Reader review (Her Last Wish)
“A strong, complex story about two FBI agents trying to stop a serial killer. If you want an author to capture your attention and have you guessing, yet trying to put the pieces together, Pierce is your author!”
—Reader review (Her Last Wish)
“A typical Blake Pierce twisting, turning, roller coaster ride suspense thriller. Will have you turning the pages to the last sentence of the last chapter!!!”
—Reader review (City of Prey)
“Right from the start we have an unusual protagonist that I haven't seen done in this genre before. The action is nonstop… A very atmospheric novel that will keep you turning pages well into the wee hours.”
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