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Chris woke to the sound of the shower running. He lay there for a moment, thinking of what they´d learned the night before. The Bertolli case and the upcoming operation had taken on a whole new intensity with that late night phone call.He levered himself from the bed and stretched before making his way into the bathroom. A cloud of steam enveloped him and he closed the door quickly to keep as much as he could inside. He removed his boxers and hesitated only for a moment before sliding the shower door open and stepping in to join the other man.
“You could have waited for me,” he murmured, pressing himself against Vin´s back and slipping his arms around the trim waist.
Vin smiled and leaned back, knowing he´d be fully supported by the hard body there. “Wanted ta think,” he replied. “Never seem ta get a whole lotta that done when yer in here with me.”
“Want me to leave?” Chris asked, placing a soft kiss on his partner´s shoulder. He would if Vin asked him to. He knew the other man sometimes needed his space, especially when faced with something as important as the upcoming undercover operation and all that it might entail.
Vin turned easily in his arms, laying a hand gently on each of his lover´s hips. “Naww,” he replied, looking into the green eyes he´d come to love. “Reckon I´ve done thought all I need to.”
“And?” Chris prodded gently, searching the deep pools of blue.
“I meant what I said, Chris,” Vin answered in a quiet, but sure voice. “I ain´t havin´ second thoughts about goin´ under if that´s what it takes.”
Chris tightened his embrace unconsciously at the words. Knowing Vin as well as he did, they didn´t exactly come as a surprise.
“Only diff´rence now is, it ain´t just about findin´ a way ta nab ‘im for the guns,” Vin continued, still holding the other man´s gaze steadily. “Even if he ain´t the one killed Mike Stewart, there´s people dyin´ out there and they´re gonna keep dyin´ till somebody stops him. I don´t much care what the charge is now, or whether FBI or ATF gets the credit; we gotta get him off the street, Chris, one way or another.”
Chris held his lover´s gaze for a moment. “Yeah,” he sighed wearily, lowering his eyes.
Vin took his chin gently in one hand and raised it until their eyes met again. “That´s gotta be our focus, Chris.” He waved his free hand casually, taking in their current surroundings. “Ain´t none of this gonna work any other way.”
Chris sighed again. He knew Vin was right. From the beginning, they´d known it would sometimes be a struggle to balance their personal lives with the responsibilities of their job, and never was that more apparent than at this moment. As his lover, Chris wanted to hold him in his arms and promise to always keep him safe. As his team leader, he knew he had to let him do the job he´d been trained for. The moment he compromised one, he´d lose the other. If he allowed his personal feelings to cloud his professional judgement, it would put a strain on their relationship that would fester until there was nothing left but the bittersweet memories of what they´d once had.
“I know,” he finally replied, his tone stronger, his eyes clear and focused on Vin´s. “I´m not going to pull you, Vin. Not for the wrong reasons.”
Vin smiled, his relief evident that they hadn´t had to delve further into the nuances that made their relationship so complicated and yet so simple. “Reckon I know that, Chris. Just had ta hear ya say it.” He paused for a moment. “In the office, on the job, I´m just any other agent, trying to do what I´s trained ta do.”
Chris accepted that, knew it, even while he realized they both needed the verbal reinforcement from time to time. “And in the shower?” he teased, eyes twinkling.
Vin´s expression melted into the cocky grin that never failed to set Chris´ blood to boiling. “Well now,” the smaller man drawled, tracing one finger lightly down his lover´s bare chest. “Reckon in the shower I get a chance to exercise my other talents. Ones them trainin´ courses don´t cover.”
“You don´t say,” Chris mused, running his hands up over the Texan´s sleek back. “Feel up to a little demonstration?”
Vin cupped a hand behind Chris´ neck and brought his head closer to share a deep kiss. “Reckon I could,” he whispered once they pulled apart. “If ya think we got time.”
“We´ll make time,” Chris replied, tightening his embrace to hold the other man closer. “I just want you all to myself for a little while longer.”
“Ain´t goin´ nowhere,” Vin murmured, allowing his hands to trail down Chris´ back to the firm cheeks waiting there. With a small squeeze, he added, “´M yours for as long as ya want me, Chris.”
Chris gasped slightly as Vin´s fingers teased their way into the willing crevice, dancing lightly over his puckered entrance. “Forever,” he breathed. “Want you forever.”
Vin moved his hands up to bracket his lover´s face. Looking into the green eyes brightened by desire, he whispered. “Then you got it, Cowboy.” Without another word, he leaned in for a breathtaking kiss, one that held the promise of a lifetime filled with love.
Chris released a contented sigh into the warm mouth. This was all that mattered. Later he´d be forced to deal with the rest, but right now, at this moment, he held his entire world in the circle of his arms. Deepening the kiss, he stroked his hands over the warm, wet flesh of his lover, down his back and over the globes of flesh that molded to his hands. When one finger brushed against the hidden entrance, he detected an almost imperceptible flinch from the smaller man. Always mindful of his lover´s comfort, he pulled back, seeking out the blue eyes with concerned green. “You OK?”
Vin grimaced regretfully. “Reckon I mighta overdone it a tad last night ´s all,” he offered in reassurance. “I´m fine.”
Chris studied the Texan´s face for a moment before placing a gentle kiss on the broad mouth. Reaching down, he grasped his lover´s semi-hard shaft and stroked it, bringing it to full arousal.
“Oh, Chris,” Vin moaned, leaning forward into the intimate caress. In response, Chris moved his lips to nuzzle at the tender flesh of his partner´s neck, gently laving and kissing one of the marks he´d made the previous night. When he heard Vin´s breathing grow more erratic under his ministrations, he moved to place another sweet kiss on the panting lips before turning around and bracing his hands on the shower wall.
The silent invitation was acknowledged in the same way, Vin moving in to press his body along the length of his lover´s back. Reaching around with one hand, he stroked the hardness he found there, then moved on to fondle the taut sacs below. Breaking away for only a few seconds, he reached out of the shower to the small drawer nearby. After planting a row of gentle kisses across the other man´s shoulders, he opened the tube and filled his hand with the clear gel.
Chris shivered in anticipation as he felt the feather-light kisses raining down his spine. When one finger slipped between his cheeks, he gasped slightly, tilting his hips in invitation.
Vin circled the small opening gently before pushing slowly inside, using his other arm to encircle the blonde´s chest and pull him closer.
“You feel so good, Chris,” he murmured into one ear.
“More,” Chris breathed.
Vin obliged, inserting another finger and moving them carefully inside, stretching and searching for the hidden pleasure spot there. When he found it, he stroked gently, tightening his hold on the other man´s body as it bucked in sheer pleasure. “Easy, pard,” he whispered.
Chris began to pant as a third finger joined the other two, gently twisting and opening until he felt his knees would buckle from the sensation. “Please, Vin,” he moaned, thrusting his hips back onto the digits to underscore his need. “Now.”
Vin placed a wet kiss on the blond´s shoulder before removing his fingers, using his other hand to stroke his lover´s chest in reassurance upon hearing Chris´ groan at being abandoned. “Shhhh,” he soothed. “Ain´t leavin´ ya, pard.”
Quickly, he coated his throbbing shaft with lube and positioned the head at the prepared entrance. Reaching around again, he pressed his hand flat against his lover´s muscled stomach, his other hand steadying Chris´ hip as he slowly pushed past the ring of muscle.
“Oh, Viiiiin,” Chris emanated in a low groan, as he was slowly, tortuously filled. “Soooo good.”
Vin could only close his eyes and lower his forehead to Chris´ back in agreement. “God, Chris,” he panted as he waited for their bodies to adjust. When Chris moved slightly to indicate his readiness, he lifted his head and proceeded to slowly pull out until only the head remained embedded. With a pleasured groan of his own, he pushed in again, meeting the thrust of Chris´ hips as they quickly settled into the slow rhythm.
As their desire mounted, the pace picked up, but only slightly. It seemed neither was in any rush for the moment to end. Vin exercised an almost uncanny control, stroking long and deep into his lover and eliciting small gasps and groans of pleasure with each movement.
For his part, Chris could only give himself over to the slow lovemaking, their physical joining rivaled only by the entwining of their souls as one. With each thrust, they reached further into one another, comforting, reassuring, loving with every fibre of their beings. When he felt Vin´s hand close around his aching cock once more, he couldn´t help the gasp that escaped. He never wanted it to end, but at the same time, he couldn´t deny the physical need coursing through his veins. He rocked first into the fist that stroked him, then back onto the cock that filled him, the twin sensations overwhelming him with sheer ecstasy.
Vin felt his lover´s body tightening and knew it wouldn´t be long until they reached the summit of their shared desire. Grinding his hips in a circular motion, he stroked Chris´ prostate with unerring precision.
“I´m… I´m gonna…” Chris gasped at the unexpected move.
Snaking one arm around Chris´ waist to help support him, Vin thrust in once more, using the same technique and shooting the same shards of white-hot heat through his lover´s body.
“Vin!” Chris screamed as he was flung over the edge, his cock spurting thick streams of cum into Vin´s hand, his ass clenching spasmodically around the shaft buried deep within him.
The sound of his name and the feel of Chris tightening around him proved to be Vin´s undoing. The blond was still spurting into his hand when he felt his own release explode within him. He continued to stroke his lover´s cock gently, milking him for every drop, while he filled the velvet channel with his own seed.
When both were finally spent, Vin collapsed against Chris´ back, the blonde´s trembling arms supporting their combined weight. “That was amazing,” he breathed in wonder.
Chris took a moment for his breathing to approach something resembling normal before he turned to face his lover, a contented smile gracing his handsome face. Enfolding Vin in his arms, he leaned in for a gentle kiss. “Always is,” he murmured against the warm lips. “Every damn time.”
“Reckon we love each other too much for it to be anythin´ but,” Vin replied on a happy sigh as he snuggled more deeply into his lover´s arms.
Chris closed his eyes and rested his head against Vin´s, drinking in this moment that was just for them. “Reckon so, pard.”
They stood like that for just a minute before they uttered a resigned sigh simultaneously, then snickered at the uncanny timing.
They exited the shower, dried each other with thick towels and made their way into the bedroom to get dressed. Both were pleasantly surprised to see that they weren´t even running late, the uneasy sleep they´d shared causing them to awake before the normal hour.
“Even got time for breakfast,” Vin pointed out. “Less´n ya want ta stop on the way in.”
Chris considered the question for a moment. Yesterday, he, Travis, Johnson and Collings had decided on basic covers for the two younger agents, but, at his insistence, they´d left it up to the FBI profiler to work out the infinite details. Depending on what he´d come up with, this could be their last morning together for a while. “How about both,” he finally suggested. “I´ll whip us up the Larabee special and on the way in, we´ll stop for a box of those heart-attacks-waiting-to-happen that you like so much.”
Vin offered a lopsided grin. He realized Chris was being unusually accommodating and knew the reasons behind it. And if the extra concern translated into something as benign as a box of donuts, he sure as Hell wasn´t going to object. “Sounds like a plan,” he nodded. “You get cookin´ and I´ll go feed the horses.”
On his way out of the room, he paused to deposit a quick kiss on his lover´s waiting lips. He was about to continue on his way when a hand grasped his wrist and pulled him back into a tight embrace and a much deeper kiss.
“What was that for?” Vin asked breathlessly once he´d been released.
“Just want you to know how much I really love you,” Chris answered, one thumb stroking over the freshly shaved jaw line of his partner.
“A little something to hold on to?” Vin asked with a knowing smile.
Chris nodded once. “Something like that,” he murmured, slightly embarrassed at his sudden need to be reassured.
“I´ll do that,” Vin assured him softly. “I´ll hold onta it nice´n tight, keep it real safe fer ya, then when this is all over, I´ll give it back.”
Chris couldn´t help but smile at the offer. Vin would no doubt do just that, hold onto the love they had and return the kiss when it was all over. His heart, on the other hand, he knew he´d never get back and he wouldn´t want it any other way. “I´ll hold you to that, pard,” he promised.
Vin winked and swatted him lightly on the ass. “Now git on out there and start breakfast ‘fore I have to go eat with the horses.”
+ + + + + + +
They were a few minutes late getting to the office, but this time the car trouble was legitimate. They´d decided to drive separate vehicles again, not knowing what changes in their schedules the day might bring. Chris had followed Vin in the Ram until the jeep pulled off to the side of the highway seconds before the engine died a slow, sputtering death.
“Any idea what the problem is this time?” Chris smirked after pulling over and joining Vin at the open hood.
“Damned if I know,” Vin sighed. “Maybe if´n ya´d pave that road´a yers…”
“First, it isn´t my road,” Chris pointed out. “And second, no one else seems to have a problem with it.”
“Well, maybe no one else drives such a sensitive vehicle,” Vin retorted. “Have ta treat her with a little respect, s´all. She gets downright ornery when she has ta rattle along that road´a yers every damned day.”
Chris shook his head and pulled his cell phone out of his pocket. After calling for a tow, he motioned toward the Ram. “Come on, I´ll give you a ride.”
Vin slammed the hood in frustration and grabbed the packed duffle from the passenger seat. “Well I should think so,” he muttered. “Seein´ how it´s yer fault in the first place.”
“Yeah, I know, that damned road´a mine,” Chris intoned in his best imitation of his lover´s drawl. “Just get in.”
They rode in silence for a few minutes, Vin still annoyed and wondering how much the repairs were going to cost, and Chris knowing better than to offer false reassurance. It was just a matter of time before the dilapidated vehicle was beyond repair and would have to be retired to greener pastures. But that wasn´t something Vin wanted to hear, even though he knew it as well as Chris did.
After a while, Vin slid his hand across the bench seat toward his lover. “I ain´t mad, Chris,” he sighed. “I know it ain´t yer fault.”
Chris took the hand and squeezed it gently, offering the younger man a teasing smile. “Guess we both learned a lesson, huh, pard?”
“And just what lesson would that be?” Vin asked, entwining his long fingers with those of the blonde.
Chris turned his head and winked. “Car trouble isn´t always so much fun.”
Vin had to snicker at that. “Given the choice, I´d take our last bout of ‘car trouble´ over this one any day.”
“You and me both, pard,” Chris replied with a grin. “You and me both.”
+ + + + + + +
Collings had spent the better part of the night piecing together plausible covers for the two agents. After going over them with Johnson and Larabee, they called the two younger men into the office.
“Well,” Vin ventured as he took a seat. “What´s it going to be this time?”
“Tanner, you´re new in town,” Collings stated without preamble. “With that drawl of yours, I don´t imagine that´s going to be too hard to pull off.”
Vin raised an eyebrow, but his amiable expression didn´t change otherwise.
“Name´s Vincent Haines, college dropout. You´re looking for a job, hopefully one that pays well but doesn´t require too much effort. In the meantime, you´re living off the inheritance from your dead mother. She was a real bitch by all accounts and some in your hometown weren´t altogether sure you didn´t have something to do with her demise.”
Chris noticed the colour leave Vin´s face briefly and narrowed his gaze at Collings. “That part wasn´t in the prelim,” he grated.
Collings looked up from his notes, baffled by the reaction. “Excuse me?”
“´S´alright, Chris,” Vin interrupted, forcing a smile. “Just part´a the job.”
Chris caught his gaze and held it a moment, then nodded. “Go on, Collings,” he stated gruffly.
Steve looked from Vin to Chris and back again before continuing. “Yes… well… like I was saying, while some may have suspected your involvement, the local authorities had no reason to believe it was anything other than an unfortunate accident. Seems the brakes failed on her car at a most inopportune time.”
“Got anyone in my so-called hometown who´ll back that up?” Vin asked.
“Got a guy working Dallas PD homicide who´s been briefed on the situation should anyone call asking questions,” Collings nodded.
“These folks think I killed her for the money?” Tanner questioned further, his tone leaning more toward snide than he´d planned.
“No,” Collings answered. “Otherwise, you wouldn´t be so hard up for a job right now. She was a controlling woman and you have a short fuse. A deadly combination far too often. You´re staying at the Howard Johnson´s on Adelaide for now. Haven´t had time to find an apartment yet.”
Vin nodded, glancing down at where his arms were folded across his chest. “All right,” he said, once he´d had a chance to process it all and felt comfortable enough to pull it off.
Chris barely heard the words that followed as Collings rattled off Eckhardt´s proposed cover. His mind was on his own agent and what this job might mean to them all.
“Piece of cake,” Tyler was saying, having heard the profiler´s plans. His role called for him to be more established with a job and a fairly upscale condominium. It sounded like he was actually looking forward to the assignment, despite suspecting that they were now dealing with a murderer rather than just a shady businessman.
“Good,” Collings concluded. “Then I think you should both hit The Silver Pagoda tonight. Mingle a little. Get to know the regulars. Hopefully it won´t be too long before Bertolli takes an interest in one of you.”
“And until then?” Chris asked, hoping Vin would be able to remain in the office for the day.
“I think it´s important that as many people as possible see them in and around their current homes,” Collings replied. “Haines should be at the hotel, Greenwood at the condo.”
Both young, undercover agents tried to get used to hearing the names they´d be using for the next little while.
“Any other questions?” Steve asked the two men and their leaders.
Chris was about to reply when his phone rang. “Excuse me,” he muttered, grabbing for the handset. “Larabee.”
He propped his elbow on the desk and leaned his forehead into his hand, rubbing across the lined brow as he listened. “Yeah,” he finally sighed. “Thanks.”
When he hung up, his eyes went straight to Vin´s. “They found a body in a dumpster on Bryant. It´s Baxter.”
Everyone in the room took a moment to digest the information. Now two of the missing three men were unfortunately accounted for.
“Shot and throat cut?” Vin asked directly.
Chris nodded, then turned his attention to Collings. “Still think this is a good idea?” he asked, making it a point not to look at Vin while he waited for an answer.
“I think it´s our only hope,” Steve replied. “Who knows how many more he´ll kill if we don´t stop him?”
Larabee did look at Vin then, but didn´t see any anger, only understanding. “Then I guess we´ve got a job to do,” he muttered, getting to his feet.
+ + + + + + +
Since Vin was without his own vehicle, Collings offered to fix him up with a rental.
“In the meantime, I´ll drive you over to the hotel,” Chris offered. “I want to check this place out myself.”
Vin hid a small smile at that. He knew Chris would do the same for any member of the team, but he also realized that Chris´ concern wasn´t wholly professional. While they both knew the importance of keeping their personal life separate from the job, they couldn´t exactly turn off their feelings at the door.
Collings agreed, making arrangements for the rental company to drop the car off at the hotel.
“Here you go, Vin,” JD announced, handing him a new cell phone. “Registered to one Vincent Haines.” He then produced a small slip of paper. “Here´s the number.”
“Thanks, kid,” Vin murmured. He studied the paper until he´d committed the number to memory, then threw it into the nearest wastebasket. “Guess I´m ready.”
“Carry that phone with you when you go in tonight,” Collings instructed needlessly. “But don´t use it to call here. I don´t want this number showing up on there. And whatever you do, don´t use the land lines.”
Vin had to stifle the urge to roll his eyes. “Ain´t exactly my first undercover job,” he said instead. “I know the routine.”
Chris could see the tension coiling in his best friend and thought it best to get him out of Collings´ presence before the Texan´s temper made an appearance. “Let´s go,” he said simply, guiding Tanner toward the door.
When they got to Vin´s temporary home, they did their best to look casual, the whole time scanning the area to see just who was watching, if anyone. They weren´t worried about Bertolli, not yet, but in their line of work, it paid to be aware of your surroundings.
Once inside the room, Vin let out a long breath. “This is it,” he murmured absently. “Home, sweet home.”
“You still OK with this?” Chris asked. “If Haines´ situation with his mother is going to be too difficult, we can rework that angle.”
“Naww, it´s fine, Chris,” Vin assured him, going to the window and looking out. “It´s just a role, right?”
Chris nodded, even though the sharpshooter couldn´t see him. After a moment of consideration, he prodded, “What is it then?”
Vin chuckled, shaking his head and turning to face his partner. Chris always knew when there was something up. Knew also, that it wasn´t the danger or fear. Sobering, he took a deep breath. “I dunno,” he finally admitted. “Somethin´ just don´t seem right.”
Chris took a seat on the edge of the bed, leaning over to rest his elbows on his knees. “How so?”
Vin paced for a moment while he gathered his thoughts. “DEA´s been on Bertolli´s back for six months. They know he´s running drugs and couldn´t get a damned thing on ‘im. And we´ve had the same problem with the guns. The man just ain´t that easy ta pin down, Chris.”
“But now we´ve got more to go on,” Chris supplied. “Witnesses saw the missing boys at his place and at least one of them talking to Bertolli himself.”
Vin shook his head. “He talks ta prob´ly a dozen folks at his place near every night.”
They knew this to be true from the investigating they´d done. There was absolutely nothing to directly link the missing men to Bertolli. Had they questioned him on the disappearances, they would have tipped their hand and he´d once again manage to squirm out of their grasp. They´d most definitely lose any chance they had at getting to the gun operation. They needed something concrete and they needed it now.
“It´s the only connection,” Chris reminded him. “It´s got to have something to do with The Silver Pagoda.”
“Maybe,” Vin mused thoughtfully.
“You don´t sound like you really believe that,” Chris pointed out, one eyebrow raised.
“Just seems like a funny time for Bertolli ta get sloppy,” Vin replied. “All these months dodging DEA and us, then FBI gets involved and suddenly he´s leavin´ bodies in dumpsters all over Denver? Don´t seem right.”
Chris had the same fleeting thought at one point, but Collings seemed so sure. Even Josiah, their own resident profiler, seemed convinced that the disappearances were somehow connected to Bertolli and thus, to the guns and drugs.
“For a profiler, Collings sure did seem to come in and take over, didn´t he?” Vin mused thoughtfully.
“I´m still in charge here,” Chris corrected calmly. “Travis wanted Collings in on this; he values his talents and thought he could help. But his job is to give us some insight into Bertolli and to make recommendations. Travis would back us if we didn´t think they were sound.”
“You trust ‘im?” Vin asked simply.
Larabee took a moment to really think about what was being asked. “Yeah,” he finally answered. “I do. He was a good cop. More natural instinct than I´d ever seen. Since he´s been with the FBI, Johnson says he´s helped solve enough tough cases to make your head spin.”
Vin nodded once but said nothing.
“You don´t?” Chris asked.
Vin looked uncharacteristically uneasy then, turning back to the window.
“Vin?”
“Buck didn´t seem so sure,” the Texan finally said.
“Yeah, well, Buck worries too much,” Chris muttered, running a hand through his hair. He really didn´t want to get into this, not now.
Vin turned again. “What´s he worried about?” he pressed, eyes narrowing slightly, indicating that he wanted to know and wasn´t going to be put off.
Chris got to his feet and paced a little himself. “Steve took Buck´s place as my partner when he got hurt,” he explained wearily. “In Buck´s mind, he should have been the one in that alley, not Collings. When we learned it was probably going to end his career, Buck had a hard time dealing with that.”
“Blamed hisself,” Vin surmised quietly.
Chris nodded reluctantly. “Probably wouldn´t appreciate me telling you that, but yeah. He couldn´t stand to be around Steve after that. I used to have him out to the house as much as I could after the operations; I thought the fresh air would help him get well sooner.”
One side of Vin´s mouth turned up at the corner. How often had Vin himself been invited to recuperate at the ranch, even before their relationship had escalated beyond mere friendship? “And?” he prodded.
“Buck didn´t like it much,” Chris sighed. “At first, he seemed to make an effort, but after a while, it was like he just couldn´t take it anymore. He made it a point to be there when Steve was, but for the life of me, I don´t know why. He barely spoke a civil word to him, just scowled mostly.”
“Don´t sound much like Bucklin,” Vin pointed out.
Chris allowed a sad smile. “Sarah kept saying that, too. Kept insisting that I try to talk to him. And I was going to,” he explained, “but then when Steve moved to New York, Buck went back to being … well, Buck. Didn´t seem like it would be in his best interest to dredge it all up again at that point.”
Vin nodded in understanding. “That the last you saw of Collings ‘fore yesterday?”
“Me? Yeah. Buck, too, far as I know.”
Tanner took another moment to process all he´d heard. “Figured it was somethin´ personal,” he finally said. “Didn´t think Buck would go along with ‘im if it was otherwise.”
“And you should know damned well, I wouldn´t,” Chris retorted, a little more sharply than he´d intended. “Jesus, Vin, you think I´d let you do this? Let Collings set it all up if I had any doubts about how he did his job?”
Vin crossed the distance between them in two strides. “I know ya wouldn´t, Chris,” he said softly, placing a hand on his lover´s arm. “Ya asked what was botherin´ me. I told ya.”
Green eyes showed regret at the words. “I´m sorry, Vin,” Chris sighed, snaking his arms around the Texan´s waist. “This whole thing has just got me wound a little tight. I don´t want you going into this if you´re not sure about Collings or anything else. I trust your instincts, you know that.”
Vin smiled. “Yeah, I know that. Still ain´t sure Bertolli has anythin´ ta do with them dead boys, but we know damn well he´s responsible for those guns. Collings´ plan gets us in there and if you trust him, that´s good enough for me.”
“You sure?” Chris asked, watching the blue eyes closely.
“Yeah, I´m sure, Cowboy,” he replied with a quick kiss.
Chris pulled him close for a moment and sighed. “Much as I hate it, I´ve got to get back to the office. I want all the surveillance stuff worked out before you go over there tonight.”
“Feels good knowin´ you´ll be there, Chris,” Vin admitted quietly.
“I´m always gonna be there, Vin,” Chris promised, pulling back to look into the handsome face. “There isn´t a place on this earth you can go that I won´t follow, you got that?”
“Yeah, I got it,” Vin replied with that cocky grin of his. “Now you´d best get outta here ‘fore I get ideas ‘bout putting that there bed ta good use.”
“Hold that thought,” Chris winked. “This´ll be over before you know it.”
After sharing a brief but heartfelt kiss, Vin walked the team leader to the door.
“Ezra is bringing over some clothes,” Chris informed him, unable to keep a small smile of amusement from showing itself. “Says he knows just what you need to fit in at The Silver Pagoda.”
“Can´t wait,” Vin muttered, rolling his eyes.
“Just be thankful it isn´t a strip club,” Chris teased. “From what I hear, it´s a fairly trendy place.”
“Yeah, well, I´ll let ya know,” Vin chuckled, opening the door. “See ya later.”
“I´ll see you, ya mean,” Chris winked. “I´m the one on surveillance, remember?”
“I remember,” Vin said with a small smile.
“But I´ll call you when you get back,” Chris promised. Glancing up and down the hallway, he leaned in for another quick peck before turning and heading for the elevator, leaving Vin to close the door.
Tanner moved slowly around the room, familiarizing himself somewhat with the dreary décor. After a few moments, he flopped down on the bed on his back. It was depressing, that´s what it was. Not a single personal item, not one thing to indicate that Vin Tanner had even been there.
Then again, Vin Tanner wasn´t supposed to be. It was Vincent Haines´ room. With a resigned sigh, he got up and headed for the door, wanting to do something more productive. He´d explore the lobby, then head for the bar. If Collings wanted people to see him there, he was damned well going to do his part.