ATF Universe
Midnight found the weary men still hard at work. They had just gathered all the information on all of the unsolved assassinations, and Josiah was organizing the information into their profile. They just hoped it gave them a way to stop the Panther from killing Ezra."Okay, this is what we have." Josiah looked up to make sure he had everyone's attention.
All of them stopped what they were doing, and gave him their full attention. "He is an organized offender with above average intelligence. Socially competent, he has complete control over his emotions in every aspect of his life, but especially during the crime. He follows his crimes in the news and media; takes immense pleasure in his victims' pain, both physical and emotional. Thrives on challenges. He blends into his environment." Josiah stopped to make a few adjustments in his notes.
Nathan had listened quietly until now. "So if he's been watchin' Ez for so long then he also has been watchin' us, right?"
Josiah nodded.
"If he likes a challenge then he is no longer just after Ezra. As a team, we pose an even bigger challenge to him. His plan to distance Ezra from us has worked, but the fact that we didn't let him go has to have made the challenge even greater. Can't we use this against him?"
Everyone was lost in thought when JD remembered something in the files. "I can't believe I forgot about this!"
His fingers flew across the keyboard. "Dustin's grandmother got this package in the mail from the police department. At least that is what it said on the return address, but I checked with everyone involved with the case. Nobody sent it. It was his grandmother's stolen brooch - the original one. When that happened, I went back through all the cases I had figured were the Panther's and checked with all of the people involved in the case. First, the family to see if they had received anything saying it was from the police station. Then with the detective in charge of the case. Nothing. Nobody in the police departments knew what I was talkin' about. The families just thought that the police had found and returned it. Most of the returned items had been missing over five months; there were a few that had been missing over a year. The brooch was the first one that didn't belong to the victim."
Vin felt a chill that swept through his soul at the thought of how close the assassin had gotten to his Mate. "Ezra lost his derringer five months ago. He was tearing up his condo, the Jag, and his office. He said that he was positive that he had left it on his nightstand, and then it was gone the next day. That was right before the Boxell case."
Josiah looked at JD, beaming with pride. "JD son, I think you have missed your calling. For your first profile, you've surpassed most veterans in this field."
JD, glowing and blushing at the compliment, said, "Thanks, Josiah, but I had an incentive for this one."
Buck, grinning and beaming with brotherly pride for his best friend, slapped him on the back.
Chris had been silent, taking in all the information. "JD, you really did a good job. I'm proud of you. You just gave us a way to take care of our Panther problem."
The others glanced at their leader with some skepticism.
"Think about it. He loves a challenge. Like Nathan said the bigger the better. What would he do if the challenge suddenly disappeared?" He and the others turned to Josiah for the answer.
Josiah, catching on, said, "If we left our black sheep defenseless, then he would be discouraged enough to move in for the kill, so to speak."
"I ain't leavin' him by himself, Chris," Vin stated in his soft Texas drawl.
"I didn't expect ya to, Cowboy. In fact, if you left, I have a feeling he would know it was a trap. If he has watched us for so long, I'm sure he's figured out how you and Ez feel about each other. We are going to hold back on this plan for a week, at least. I want to see if we can get Ezra to trust us again."
Chris looked at his men seeing the crack ATF team he had put together that now was his family. He felt a warm sensation in his chest that had been slowly replacing the cold and empty space that had been his heart since his family had been murdered. When he looked at his family, he only felt pride and love. Knowing his Sarah would approve of every one of them, he would almost bet that Ezra would have been her favorite.
"Now here's the plan."
+ + + + + + +
Chris stood looking out the window but not seeing the beautiful sunrise that was taking place in front of him. His mind was going over the last three days with Ezra. When Ezra had awakened the next time, he wasn't as angry towards them, and his anger seemed to be lessening each time he did wake up. It would only take Vin talking to or touching Ezra to calm him. He was starting to respond better to Vin for those few minutes he was awake. Of course, Nathan did have him pumped full of painkillers the whole time. Vin had refused to leave Ezra's side, having decided that he needed to be there every time Ezra woke up. Josiah had agreed, saying that it could only reinforce what Vin had been telling Ezra. It did seem to be working. He just prayed it was so. They were running out of time.
In two days, the final phase of the plan would be put into action. It was risky, but what else could you do faced with this kind of predator. While Vin and Nathan had taken care of Ezra, the rest of the Team had been covering the island looking for the assassin and setting traps that might be needed for the plan. They had located his lair, full of surveillance equipment, but no sign of the Panther. He had the Team go over the house with a fine-toothed comb looking for listening devices. It was decided that the bugs would be left where they were, since none of them had made it upstairs. If anything it had helped in their plan. Besides, he didn't want to tip the Panther off to the fact that they were on to him. Buck and JD had found were he had tied his boat and watched till it had returned. That gave them their first glimpse of the assassin. JD, using a computer program that sketch artists used, made a composite drawing and then ran it through the system. The check turned up nothing. When they caught him, then they might get a hit using fingerprints.
They had found out, that first night, that they had no communication with the outside world when he had tried to call the Judge. JD had rigged what had been a phone and managed to get a message out through his computer, but he had no way to confirm that it was received. Not to mention what they had turned up going through the house. Enough arms to keep a third world nation in war for a good eleven months. The Team had been relieved, though, as they now had plenty of firepower to take care of their Panther problem. The Judge's friend would have a lot of explaining to do. Chris was having his doubts about this being the house that belonged to the Judge's friend. He would have to wait until they got back to be sure.
Chris was brought out of his thoughts when a glare from something in the trees caught his attention. 'Good, he's watching us,' he thought as he turned to wake his team. They needed to keep the show up for their audience.
+ + + + + + +
When Ezra awoke, the sun was just rising. He looked around to get his bearings. Head cradled on crossed arms and resting on the side of Ezra's bed, Vin Tanner slept. Ezra tested his muscles to see if any of them worked. He stifled his groan when he tried to move his arms and realized they had him tied to the bed. He was going to have to invest in some lessons on untying knots; this was ridiculous. He found he was extremely sore in his side, and he had a headache that could rival an eruption from Mt. St. Helen's. Other than that, he was just peachy.
'Okay Ezra, extremely too early for the sarcasm,' he thought to himself. 'At least without anyone to be able to appreciate your charm anyway.' He could move his arms from the elbow down. 'The Team must be getting a big kick out of this one,' he thought. Ezra remembered all that had happened since the Team had been called to the Judge's office. He remembered what Vin had said about this happening the minute the Team had left him totally alone since the threats had started. The more he thought about it, the more things were becoming clearer, but he wasn't sure if he really believed that the Team still trusted him. The FBI had believed in the rumors. That was with only the Jag as their evidence, and that had been his mother's doing. The Team had been given doctored up documentation and photographs.
He watched the sharpshooter that was resting so close to him. Ezra moved his hand over to the sleeping man's head. He stopped within a hair's breadth of the soft sienna locks. He felt so vulnerable right now. His emotions were so raw. How could he possibly open himself up again, after all this? Ezra was still angry, but not nearly as angry as he had been. He felt lost.
Ezra laid his hand on the tracker's hair, softly stroking it. He watched as Vin's breathing changed, indicating that he was waking up.
Vin felt the soft strokes that were petting his hair. He almost was afraid to break the spell, but he turned his face into the gentle strokes. When Ezra was about to pull his hand back, Vin grabbed it, holding it to his cheek. He could see that the fever had broken as he looked into the clear emerald eyes of his heart mate.
"Mornin'. How ya feelin'?"
Vin saw Ezra licking his lips. Getting the glass of water that was on the nightstand, Vin stood so he could help Ezra rise up and take a drink.
"Thank you," Ezra whispered turning away from Vin, not being able to look him in the eye.
It broke Vin's heart that Ezra couldn't face him. "Ez, please look at me," Vin softly pleaded. Ezra turned to Vin, but still wouldn't look him in the eye. Vin sighed. Sitting down next to Ezra, he leaned down, gently cupping his face. "Baby, look at me, please?" Startled emerald eyes, full of hope, met the loving sapphire gaze.
"Ezra Standish, I love you. You're my heart and soul."
Not giving Ezra time to doubt his declaration, Vin bent down and took his Spirit's lips gently. His tongue traced his gambler's lips, asking for permission to enter. Ezra moaned and his lips parted welcoming the sharpshooter's tongue into his mouth, the wet tongues gliding, rubbing against each other, dueling for dominance. Vin deepened the kiss, exploring every delicious inch of the willing mouth. Groaning, he released the sweet mouth and pulled back enough to let Ezra see into his soul. "God, Ez, I love you. I know you can read the truth in my eyes, in my heart. All you have to do is believe in me, in us. Trust what your heart is telling you." Leaning back, he waited for his con man to say something.
Ezra was stunned at what he was seeing. The love he had given up all hope of seeing was a burning blue flame of endless love and desire that shone brightly in the handsome Texan's vivid sapphire eyes. Taking a deep breath and swallowing past the lump in his throat, he said, "God, how I've dreamed of you saying you love me. Vin Tanner, I have loved you since the first time I saw you, and it has only become stronger as our friendship grew. I love you, Vin." Ezra went to touch Vin, but the rope stopped him. He looked at Vin with a pleading look. "Could we dispense with the restraints, please?"
Vin got a mischievous gleam in his eyes as he purred, "I don't know Ez, I kind of like ya like this. Having you at my every whim, at my mercy." Then he turned serious, all playfulness gone. "Will you behave?" Ezra nodded. "Do I have your word that you won't try to escape or do anything stupid that could get ya killed?"
"Vin, I give you my solemn word of honor that I will do nothing to endanger myself. Now," Ezra indicated that he was ready to be released.
Vin could hardly refuse his soon-to-be-lover's pleading gaze. He leaned down and kissed Ezra ever so slowly and very sensually as he undid the knots that were binding him. When Ezra felt the ropes give, he brought his hand up and tangled it in Vin's hair, pulling Vin to him. He plunged his tongue deep into the hot, moist cavern of Vin's mouth, ravaging as he went. Vin growled deep in his throat as he felt Ezra's hand traveling up underneath his shirt, searing his skin as it went. Vin pulled away when the need for air became too great. He rested his forehead on Ezra's, both panting from the lack of oxygen. Vin sat up and, never breaking physical contact with the man he loved, said, "We have to talk first." Seeing Ezra nod, he continued, "Let me get the others. Sooner we get the plan in motion, the sooner I can have ya all to myself."
Ezra grabbed Vin's arm as he pulled away. "Vin, I'm not ready to face the others. They still think-"
Vin put a finger to his lips effectively cutting off the rest of the sentence. "No Ezra, they don't think that. Just hold on and we can explain everything. Trust me?"
Ezra never hesitated. "Yes, I trust you, without reservation. I'm not sure about the others. They may not believe-"
Once again, Vin stopped his words. "Ezra, listen to me." He waited till he was sure Ezra was listening this time. "We didn't know what money you were talkin' about. Would you just hold on a minute? Let me get the others, so we can explain everything at once. Okay?" Ezra nodded.
After Vin left, he got up and stretched his sore muscles, gasping when he pulled on his stitches. He slowly sat back down so as not to further irritate his side. Ezra couldn't believe that Vin loved him. Him. Ezra Standish. Con man. Gambler. Undercover agent for the ATF. Maybe he was hallucinating. If that were the case, he would gladly stay in this state of mind forever. The pain in his side and that kiss proved beyond a doubt that he was awake and that Vin's kiss had been just as real. Vin loved him. He loved Vin. He couldn't help the smile that lit his whole face. Vin actually loved him. 'Okay Standish, get a hold of yourself. Yes, Vin loves you, but first you have to deal with the Team. No matter what Vin said, you don't honestly think they would believe you that easily, do you?' Ezra shook the negative thoughts out of his head and started to prepare for the upcoming confrontation.
SIX
Vin Tanner was in seventh heaven. Ezra believed him. Actually believed him and loved him back. And that kiss…. It had taken possession of his soul and pulled it into Ezra's, leaving no doubt that they were truly soul mates. When he walked into the kitchen with a brilliant smile on his handsome features, the Team knew they were almost home free.Chris snarled when he saw the tracker, "So the traitor awake yet?"
Vin grabbed Chris and threw him against the wall, holding him by the throat. He growled out, his voice like ice, "He ain't no traitor, asshole." As the others were pulling him off of Chris, Vin snarled, "Ya'll don't care what happens to him anymore. Do us all a favor and leave." Grinning, Vin looked at Chris, mouthing, 'He's awake. Need to see him together.' Chris nodded his understanding, as did the others. All but JD, Vin and Chris left the room.
Staying with the plan, Chris said out loud, "Fine, Tanner. You trust him so much. You love him. You can stay here with the traitor. Alone. He's your problem now. I wash my hands of the turncoat and anyone who takes up his side. We're out of here in two days." Chris said this with a smile, but his voice held nothing but contempt. Not aimed at Ezra, but at the Panther. They all knew he was listening to every word.
JD, true to form, stuck up for the Southerner. "Chris, we can't leave them out here alone. Maggiono might find them here. And Ez ain't a traitor. He would never do anything to hurt us."
Chris looked at the young agent, still smiling, but his voice was still full of hate. "You sure about that, JD?"
"Yes, I'm sure. You leave, you do it without me." With that he went into the other room where the others were waiting quietly.
"Larabee, I should have known you were no good. Ez ran once, but he came back. But you want to desert him while he is unconscious and defenseless. What does that make you?" With that, Vin slammed the swinging door into the wall and joined the others with Chris right behind him. Vin led the way to the room and opened the door. They all stopped when they didn't see Ezra on the bed or in the room.
Chris swore and looked at Vin, who was casually leaning against the doorframe. "Did you let him go?"
Vin nodded.
"You let him go and then left him alone?"
Vin nodded again.
"Want to tell me why?"
Ezra came out of the bathroom and answered for him. "Because, Mr. Larabee, I gave him my word of honor that I would do nothing to endanger myself. Therefore, I'm still here." Pushing away from the doorway, Vin went and helped Ezra to the bed as Nathan came back into the room carrying his medical bag.
"Hey Ez, good to see ya awake. Lay back. I want to see how those stitches are doin'." He was still holding Vin's hand, as he did as he was told. "Does it hurt to breathe?" Nathan asked as he was listening to Ezra's heart.
"No, I'm just sore." Ezra tightened his hold on Vin's hand. Looking at Chris, he said, "I need for you to know I-"
Just like before, Vin silenced him by putting a finger on his lips and shook his head no. "Baby, let us tell you everything we've found out so far. 'Kay?"
Then he nodded to Chris to start talking, "Ez, we never got anything, ever, pictures or documents, showing that you were on the take, trading information or a traitor. It was all a setup. The phone call was a setup to get you not to trust us." Chris could see that Ezra was listening to him and let out a sigh of relief. "Ezra, do you remember Carson Maggiono?"
Ezra had paled at the mention of the name. "Yes, I remember Maggiono. I could never prove that he was behind the rumors and the little mishaps that continued to plague me, until I was transferred here. He's still in prison. Why?"
Vin had noticed his Mate had lost all coloring and was gripping his hand tighter. "Ez, what aren't you telling us?"
The normally calm, unemotional gambler was fidgeting and finally gave into the impulse to move. He let go of Vin's hand, sat up, swung his legs over the side, stood up so fast that he became dizzy and started to fall. Josiah caught him right before he hit the floor.
Vin came around the bed and pushed past Buck and Chris. "Damn it, Ez, what were you thinking?" he growled.
Nathan had pushed Josiah out of the way so he could get to the gambler. "You should know better, by now, than to move too quickly. Does anything hurt?" Nathan asked as he checked his pupils.
Ezra's southern accent was thick, as he said, "No, just my pride. I need to move if I'm going to tell you all this." Nathan and Vin stood up and offered their hands to him so they could pull him up.
The southerner went to leave the room. "Thank you. May I suggest we go downstairs and discuss this?"
Josiah blocked his path at the door. "Sorry Ezra, you can't go down there. If you'll hold off on the explanation until we explain what's going on…."
The con man stood there for a minute then turned, went and sat down on the bed, crossed his arms over his chest and waited expectantly. "All right, gentlemen, explain."
"I think we should let JD explain. He did do most of the work," Josiah said.
Bright red with embarrassment, JD said, "Thanks, but it's your field, Josiah."
"Josiah's right. You should tell him about it; you know all of it by heart. Jist tell him," Buck stated, giving his roommate and best friend a gentle shove.
Ezra was starting to feel like a ball at a tennis match, going back and forth between the competitors, which wasn't helping his growing headache. Rubbing his temples, he said in a stern voice, "Gentlemen, please! That is enough! Mr. Dunne, it would seem that you are the most knowledgeable, so please tell me."
Everyone had been surprised by the outburst. Vin looked at Nathan, and Nathan mouthed "headache."
Still with a stern voice, not without some irritation and without even raising his head up, he said, "Mr. Tanner, Mr. Jackson, it is extremely rude to speak of someone while they are still in the vicinity. Before you ask, yes my head hurts, and no, I don't want anything. Now, will everyone be quiet and allow our young friend to explain what has brought us to this impasse."
"Pard, looks like someone’s after your job." Buck elbowed Chris in the side. Ezra glared Buck into silence, a glare that even Chris had to admire, which only set off the other men. The tension they had all been feeling eased some at the reality that they really had their lost brother back. For good.
Vin could tell his gambler was getting tired, so he sat, leaning back on the headboard. Then he pulled Ezra between his outstretched legs, settling Ezra with his back to him and wrapped his arms around him, cuddling the owner of his Spirit protectively.
"We need to tell him before he falls asleep," Nathan said as he pulled a throw blanket over the two men.
JD sat on the bed facing Ezra and Vin. JD told Ezra everything about Maggiono getting out early and putting a contract out on his life; his time in Boston and his partner Dustin; how the Panther got his name and his M. O.; what they had concluded was the Panther's plan. JD and the others waited as Ezra thought all this over.
Ezra was too tired to move, but he couldn't help the nervous energy that was making him restless and that only left him more exhausted. Vin snuggled the restless man closer, hoping to give him some comfort with his touch. Ezra couldn't help but think that this was just getting more bizarre by the moment.
"You said this - Panther?"
JD nodded.
"This Panther, knew my weaknesses and tried to alienate me from my family and friends. Right?"
JD nodded again.
"That would indicate he has watched me longer than five months. He knew to alienate me from you, but he would not have known to go as far as to assume that I would automatically take the phone call at face value. No, Maude trained me too well for that. He would have to know me intimately to know that that could devastate me." Ezra was thinking aloud, putting things in order. "How did you arrive at the conclusion that he had been watching for five months?"
Vin didn't like where this was going, but answered his question. "You derringer. It went missin' five months ago. Panther always takes somethin' from his victims before he…" Vin wouldn't finish that thought. He knew that Hell would freeze over before he or the others would let that happen.
Something in the back of his mind was trying to make itself known. "Yes, it went missing then, but all of you have known me for two years. We have been through hell together. Can any of you say, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that you can predict how I will react to any given situation?"
That got everyone's attention. None of them had ever been able to really read Ezra. He would allow them to see what he wanted them to and that was it. Sometimes they had caught glimpses, but they were quickly covered up. They had only gotten to know him as he slowly allowed them into his heart, but up until then, it was just a guess as to what the man was feeling or thinking.
"That would mean that it's a friend of yours, Ez. That doesn't make sense." Buck's confusion was showing on his expressive face.
"You're wrong, Mr. Wilmi-" Ezra gave one of his rare smiles that showed his gold tooth. "You're wrong, Buck. You gentlemen are the only ones that have ever fallen into that category. The only ones that have proven to me that it was worth the effort of having a friendship, or better yet, the effort of having a family. You definitely have proven that we are more than friends, but a very strong family. For that, I owe this Panther a debt of gratitude." Vin tightened his hold at the mention of the assassin.
Josiah walked over and put a hand on the con man's arm. "About time you figured that out, son." He gave Ezra's arm a squeeze and, smiling, said, "Now, I'm going to go down and start something for us to eat before Buck and JD take it into their heads that they can cook."
"Hey! I can cook. It's Buck that can't." JD ducked as Buck took a swipe at his head and took off out the door with Buck hot on his heels.
"The hell you can! Last time, I almost had to have my stomach pumped."
The others laughed as they listened to the friendly banter. Nathan got up from the bed. "I better go help Josiah with those two. You need to get some more rest. I'll bring something for ya to eat after your nap," the dark healer said sternly, and then his face softened as he said, "It's good to have ya back, Ezra."
Ezra tensed as the dark clad leader approached them after Nathan had left. Vin, sensitive to his Mate, used one hand to hold him and the other to lightly massage the tense shoulders. Sitting down on the bed, Chris gave Ezra one of his patented Larabee glares. "Standish, you ever do something like that again, and I'll shoot you myself. Is that clear?"
Ezra relaxed saying, "Crystal." He took a deep breath, "Chris, about the gun…."
Smirking, Chris looked at their undercover agent. "Don't worry about that. We all know that you would never hurt any of us, no matter how angry you were. But you ever point a gun at me again, be prepared to shoot."
Ezra couldn't help the devilish grin. "Not a problem, Mr. Larabee." Chris just shook his head, laughing at the cocky gambler, just glad to have his family back together.
Chris got up to leave. Looking at his two men, his family, he couldn't help but say, "I'm happy for you both. We all are. It's about damn time, too." With that, he left.
After Chris shut the door, Vin put his lips to Ezra's ear and whispered, "Are you okay?" Vin smiled when he felt his southerner shiver and nod. "C'mon, let's get comfortable. Nathan'll have my head iff'n I don't let ya get some sleep." Vin nudged his gambler into moving.
Ezra groaned at having to leave the embrace, but complied. "As long as he leaves the other one for me," he quipped after Vin had moved from behind him.
"Oh Ez, that was bad, real bad. You've been hangin' 'round JD way too long." Ezra just grinned up at his tracker with an innocent look on his face.
Vin just smirked at his gambler. "Now, lay down and rest," Vin said as he moved to sit in the chair so he could watch over his Mate.
"On one condition, Mr. Tanner," Ezra said.
"And what would that be?" Vin asked, not really wanting to have to tie the stubborn man back up but would if it proved to be necessary.
Ezra pulled the blanket back and made room for Vin. "If you join me." Simply put, how could Vin refuse? He couldn't. He gracefully moved to the bed and lay down, pulling Ezra down with him. Vin cuddled the smaller man to his side, with Ezra's head on his chest. Soon both men were sleeping peacefully, safe in the knowledge that they had found their Soul mate and were protected by their family.
+ + + + + + +
The Panther had been enjoying his game with the "Magnificent Seven." He had intercepted Judge Travis's phone call to his friend about the use of the friend's cabin. That had been a stroke of genius on his part. He had sent Team 7 to one of Maggiono's places that the FBI had missed. He had barely gotten the downstairs bugged before the Team had arrived. That had been disappointing, but he could make do with that. The first night had been quiet. The next day had been a revelation. He had never made this many mistakes since he had started in this business. It would seem that he was losing his touch, acting like an amateur. How he could have mistaken the Team's feelings for Standish was beyond him. Maybe he needed a break? No, he would just lay off the tough cases for a while and do some easy ones. That way, he could sharpen his skills. Yeah, that's what he would do.
First, he had to take care of Standish and the two that were going to stay with him. He could, at least, still have some fun with them. He was really disappointed in Larabee. Not much of a challenge now. Oh well, this would be over in two days, or at least the wait would be over, but the fun will have just started. He couldn't wait to see the look on Standish's face when they came face to face.
+ + + + + + +
The two days had gone by fast for the ATF's Team 7. They had used their time wisely. Following the plan, they had kept up the staged arguments with Vin and JD. They only saw Ezra when Nathan checked his bandages or brought him food. Chris saw him when he went upstairs to go to bed. JD tried to get a message out to someone, hoping they could bring in reinforcements. Chris and the others had searched the house for anything they could have missed. Josiah and Nathan found a tunnel in the master office, which led out to a cove on the other side of the compound. That had been the only part of Chris's plan they hadn't finalized - how to get back up to and into the house without tipping their hand. They would take the boat because it would be the easiest to leave and swim back. The assassin would be watching and would see Nathan flying the chopper into the compound. By playing up Vin's time in the army to their advantage, they now could take the boat without the Panther becoming suspicious.
Vin spent his time with Ezra. He was enjoying the open and honest emotions that Ezra was sharing with him. They talked about anything and everything, except what was happening with the assassin. He had tried to get Ezra to talk about Maggiono, but Ezra had realized how easily Vin could be distracted and used it. Not that the soft-spoken Texan was complaining. It was just getting harder not to give into his desires and make love to his charismatic gambler. The soft, sensual kisses, the heated caresses and the emerald eye's glazed over with passion were almost his undoing, but he was hellbent on waiting till this was all over before he and Ezra took their relationship to the next level. Ezra seemed to have taken that as a challenge, trying to break his control, and Vin enjoyed every minute of it.
+ + + + + + +
Now in six hours, they would finish what Maggiono had started when he had hired the Panther to kill their brother. All weapons had been double and even triple checked. The tunnel had been checked, and they had made easy-to-feel markers along the cave wall so there would be no light. They wanted no possible mistakes, as the end was so close.
As the final day ended, they brought up all their dinners so they could all eat together and take comfort in their family before tomorrow. Now that everyone was through eating, Chris needed to know something; he had waited long enough. He cleared his throat to get everyone's attention. "Ezra, you haven't told us why Maggiono wants you dead. Most criminals don't go after cops with this kind of a vengeance."
Ezra was sitting between Vin and Buck, on one of the couches they had moved into the room. Chris was sitting on the only chair, Nathan and Josiah took up the other couch, and JD was lying on the bed. Ezra knew this was coming and had been able to distract Vin from pursuing the answer. With a heavy sigh, he stood up and started pacing. He hadn't actually had to think of what had happened all those years ago.
"Well…. Aw hell!" How could you explain something like this and have these men understand?
He stopped pacing. Leaning against the wall, he took a deep breath, held it then slowly released it. He did this a few more times till he could picture it in his mind, like it was yesterday.
"It was my second assignment with the FBI: Carson Maggiono, Sr., an old-timer from the Old Country. His beliefs were no drugs and killing of innocent people was absolutely never tolerated. He earned everyone's respect. Even mine. It had taken me months to get into his inner circle, but I did manage to get next to him. I started out as his accountant and, in a matter of weeks, moved to being his right-hand man." They could all hear the smugness in his voice at the accomplishment. "No one had ever gotten this close before. I had access to everything. Only problem was his son didn't like that he had been replaced. I knew I was being watched so I couldn't get any information out. I had no back up. I knew going in that I would be alone. That was fine by me, that's how I worked, but it also meant that I had no go-between. If I needed to get the information to someone, I had to take it in myself. So, when I couldn't get away without a shadow, I started writing to my old friend, Ezra Standish out of Atlanta, Ga." He had to stop his narration at the outburst from his friends.
"What the hell were YOU thinking?" Ezra's eyes flew open at that. It had come from Vin and Chris simultaneously.
"Son, that was not one of your brightest ideas." Josiah let his anger show in his voice.
Ezra was surprised that they thought him that stupid. "Excuse me, gentlemen, did you or did you not ask to hear this story?" This was said with just enough venom to get their attention. At least the others had not voiced their opinions, but it wasn't hard to read their thoughts.
Buck, hoping to break the glaring contest going on between Ezra and Chris, asked, "Ezra, why'd you go and do a fool thing like that for? You could have been caught."
"Nice to know what you gentlemen truly think of my talents and skill," Ezra replied his southern accent thicker with irritation. He raised his hand to silence any further comment. "Save it, I don't want to hear it."
He then closed his eyes, effectively blocking them out. Again taking a deep breath and holding it, he counted to ten then released it. He did this several times. He detested the technique but it had never failed him. He used it to bring any kind of emotion he needed to the surface or to squelch an unwanted emotion. It was why his "poker face" was so solid. He could always use a painful experience if the emotion was needed in an assignment without any problems. He had a million of them. He never had need of joyful ones. When he was in the right frame of mind, he started his narration again.
"I have never trusted anyone and certainly not the FBI Director that had recruited me. I was told that I would be assigned to the Chicago Division. I had been in the process of moving to Atlanta before I was hired. Well, since I was already moving, I simply set up a house and a job, but as a civilian, Ezra Standish. I knew I had to trust one person to pull this off. I chose the only ex-husband of Maude's I had liked. He owned businesses all over the world and had enough politicians in his back pocket to keep himself out of trouble if this blew up in my face. Trenton put Ezra Standish, civilian, on the payroll as an International Investment Agent. The very nature of his title would explain why he was never in the States long enough for someone to figure out he didn't exist. His paycheck went to various charities to keep up with the image. Trenton knew that if Ezra Standish ever received mail that something was wrong and to put the letters into a safety deposit box in his bank. If or when I turned up dead, he would hand over the letters to a friend of his in Washington, neither of us trusting the Director of the FBI then.
"For a month, I kept the letters boring and as longwinded as possible." He stopped at the laughter that that statement brought from his friends. Ezra had his eyes closed, but allowed them to see the smile that their laughter caused, and then continued, "Jr. was not the brightest offspring one would want. He became bored in a week, but I kept the letters like that and set up regular outgoing letters to Ezra Standish for over a month. Then I started slipping information into them. I did that for over three months. Every now and again I would see the surveillance team and would give them the agreed upon sign that everything was fine. Everything was fine, until Jr. decided he had had enough of me and hired someone to kill me. What Carson Maggiono, Jr. didn't realize is his father had been watching him, long before I came along. The Sr. knew about the drugs and kept an account of every transaction Jr. had done, every person he had killed because of the drug dealings." Ezra stopped and for the first time since he had started the story, he looked at his family, his eyes swimming with unshed tears and emotion. His accent thick with emotion, he let them see everything he had never shared with another human being, and continued, "The Sr. also knew about the hit. He allowed the hit to continue as planned."
"We were all at a public function: Carson Maggiono, Sr., Jr., the FBI, and me. I thought the Sr. had found out who I was when he tackled me to the ground. It wasn't until I heard screaming and had to push the Sr. off of me that I rolled him over and saw the blood on my hands. I held him, screaming for someone to call an ambulance. He grabbed a hold of my hand, getting my attention. He told me..." his voice cracking, Ezra tried to swallow around the lump in his throat. Ezra's head jerked up at the feel of the hands on his shoulders and he looked up into the cobalt blue eyes of his Heart.
Vin's heart broke at the haunted look in his gambler's eyes. He pulled Ezra into his comforting embrace and held him. After a few minutes, the sharpshooter led him back over to the couch where he was once again placed between he and Buck.
"Thank you, JD," he said as he took the glass of water that was handed to him. JD sat down next to Nathan on the arm of the couch as he waited for his friend to finish the story.
Vin prompted the reluctant con man when he didn't continue. "What did he say to ya, Ez?"
Ezra let out a heart-heavy sigh. "The Sr. knew I was FBI; he said he'd known for a while. He said that he wished we could have met under better circumstances because he would have been proud to have me as his heir, his son. That he had found what he had been missing with his own son, in me. Then he asked me to do him a favor, to consider it as last request from a father to a son. He told me the location of the evidence that would put his son away for life. He wanted me to be the one to put his son behind bars and keep him there. Then he surprised me when he said he had one last thing to do before he could die with honor.
"The Sr. waved off the paramedic when he had tried to look at his wound. He demanded we help him stand and then sent the paramedic to get his son, who was conveniently not around when the shot had been fired, and still had not made an appearance. When the medic came back with Jr., The Sr. pulled away from me. He then backhanded Jr. and told him 'You are no longer my flesh and blood; you are dead to me.' Then he spit at Jr.'s feet. He then turned to all of his people who had come back from looking for the hit man, who no one had found, and said, 'This man, Ezra Standish, is family. He speaks for me, you will cooperate with him on my last request, and then my lawyer will take care of you through my will. From this day forward, no harm will come to him. He has the Maggiono family's protection, just as Carson Maggiono, Jr., is no longer my son and has no protection.'
"I held him as he died in my arms. Let me tell you, that speech shocked me and everyone there. It didn't help when the rumors started at the FBI. Everyone remembered that statement and forgot the time, the effort, the evidence, the many crimes that were solved because of The Sr., and the year-and-a-half trial. All forgotten at the hint of a rumor and that damn Jag Maude gave me. So there is the whole sordid tale, Mr. Larabee, as to why Carson Maggiono, Jr., wants me dead."
Chris frowned as he thought this over. It suddenly hit him what was bothering him. "Ezra, why isn't any of this in your file?"
Ezra just looked at him and replied without emotion, "Simple. I was tainted and a reminder of what an incompetent job the Director did. Leaving me in a compromising and deadly situation that could have turned disastrous, they sent me back to Atlanta after the trial. The rumors followed me there, and when you approached them about the transfer, they jumped at it. If they had put that in my file then you, or whoever, might not have taken me."
"Ezra, what did you do with the letters you wrote to yourself?" Josiah was stunned at the sheer genius of the ruse.
"The letters were the only thing that kept the Bureau from filing charges against me." He smiled at their obvious confusion. "They didn't file charges for assaulting a superior, and I didn't release the letters to the press, letting the nation know what an imbecile we had for an FBI Director. The letters are still in the safety deposit box."
JD's enthusiasm showed as he asked, "So who'd ya hit, Ez?"
Ezra's grin turned wicked as he told them, "The Director, of course."
Laughing, the others said together, "Of course, who else!"
Nathan was the one to call an end to the evening when he saw Ezra stifle a yawn. "Time for bed, Ez, and no arguments." He included the others in his statement. "That goes for the rest of ya'll, as well. C'mon, git goin'." Nathan made shooing motions with his hands as everyone got up to leave. "We have only four hours till this starts, and we all need some sleep."
"This will be over soon, Ezra, then we can get back to normal," Chris told him as he was leaving, and then he turned around, smirking, and added, "Well, what passes for normal for us, anyways. We're not going to let you down, not now, not ever. We are a family. No one will tear us apart." The others let Ezra know the feeling was unanimous.
"Get some rest." With that, he left pushing the rest his family out of the room, leaving Ezra to Vin's care.
Vin turned away from the closing door and looked into passion-filled emerald pools. Backing away from the advancing con man, Vin groaned, saying, "Now, Ez, you know that I want to wait till this.... Ooof." He landed on the bed with Ezra on top of him. He barely caught his breath when Ezra stole it back with a passionate, soul-searing kiss. They parted both breathing heavily from lack of oxygen. Ezra rose up with a mischievous twinkle in his eyes and said, "I know you want to wait, Love. Doesn't mean I'm going to make that wait easy on you." He winked at Vin's disbelieving look and rolled off his would-be lover. Getting off the bed, he started stripping his clothes off, ever so slowly. Vin was astonished at the lengths Ezra was going to just to test his willpower, which was rapidly reaching its limits with each piece of clothing Ezra removed.
Ezra knew he was pushing his sharpshooter, but Vin had thrown out the challenge, whether he knew it or not. Of course, he had no intention of making Vin lose his control. He wanted their first time to be special too. He just never could resist a challenge though. Ezra stopped his hands at the waistband of his boxers and, looking at Vin, gave him an impish grin, saying, "Well, since you wanted to wait, I guess it's time to go to sleep." Pulling back the covers, he slipped under the blankets. Arching his eyebrow, he asked, "Care to join me?"
Still lying on the bed, Vin decided sleeping on top of the blankets, fully clothed, would be the wisest choice. Grinning, the soft-spoken Texan leaned over giving Ezra a chaste kiss on the lips. "When this is over, I will get you back for all this."
The charismatic southern gambler gave him a Cheshire cat grin, asking, "Is that a promise, Mr. Tanner?"
"Oh, yeah, Mr. Standish, that is a promise." Vin sealed this with another kiss then tucked Ezra against him. "Now, go to sleep. We have a big day ahead of us." Both men fell asleep praying that everyone would come out unharmed and safe.
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