Page 30 of For Wrath

The fresh air hither like a slap in the face as she burst out of the clinic, her gaze sweepingthe area for any sign of the masked man. But he had vanished, swallowed up bythe shadows that lurked just beyond the reach of the flickering streetlights.

"Son of abitch," she cursed, clenching her fists in frustration. Her heart stillhammered in her chest, but the adrenaline was beginning to ebb away, leavingher with nothing but an overwhelming sense of helplessness.

Who the hellwas that? she wondered, her mind racing as shetried to piece together the puzzle that had just unfolded before her eyes. Hewasn't Steve Blanchard – or whoever Blanchard really was – but he had to beconnected somehow. And now, he was gone, slipping through her grasp like waterthrough a sieve.

She'd failed yetagain.

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

With the maskedman gone and the abandoned clinic yielding no useful information, Morgan hadnowhere to turn, so she found herself going back to Derik. They had crackedseemingly impossible cases before, and even though she didn't trust him rightnow, he was also all she had.

Morgan's heartpounded in her chest as she hesitated outside Derik's hospital room. She couldfeel her anxiety rising like static electricity before a storm. Every time shewanted to talk to him, she felt this way; on edge but also vulnerable.

Taking a deepbreath, she pushed open the door and stepped inside. The sterile scent ofdisinfectant filled her nostrils, bringing back memories of her time in prison.She shook off the sensation, focusing on Derik instead. He looked pale, almostfragile, propped up against the pillows. Morgan felt a twinge of guilt seeinghim in such a vulnerable state.

"Hey,"she said softly, forcing a smile onto her face. "How are youfeeling?"

"Like I gotstabbed," Derik answered with a weak grin. "But, considering Iactually did, I guess that's to be expected. Just thought the weakness wouldstart to wear off by now, you know?"

Morgan hesitatedfor a moment, unsure how to broach the topic she'd come to discuss. "Ifound something," she began, taking a seat in the chair beside his bed.Derik raised an eyebrow, curiosity piqued.

"Anabandoned clinic," she continued, her voice low and urgent. "Therewas a plastic surgeon working there under a fake name – Steve Blanchard. He'sconnected to our case. I broke in to track him down, but all I found was amasked intruder in the building. I couldn't tell who he was, but he wasn't Blanchard."

"Damn it,Morgan," Derik sighed, running a hand through his messy black hair."You shouldn't have gone in there alone."

"I couldn'tjust sit back and do nothing while you were stuck in here. I had to try."

"Trying isone thing, but risking your life is another." Derik's tone was gentle yetfirm. "You're a great agent, Morgan, but you can't keep doing this. Youneed someone watching your back."

Morgan clenchedher jaw, fighting the urge to snap at him. She knew he was just trying to help,but his concerns felt suffocating. Instead, she focused on the facts, pushingher own emotions aside.

"SteveBlanchard, or whoever he really is, could be the key to solving thiscase," she said resolutely. "We need to find out who he is and whathe knows before anyone else gets hurt."

Derik's greeneyes flashed with anger. "You should have called for backup, Morgan."He jabbed a finger in the air to emphasize his point. "The killer could'vebeen there! What would you have done then?"

Morgan bristled,her hands balling into fists at her sides. Was he still on this? Now, it wasstarting to tick her off. "I can handle myself, Derik. I don't need you tobabysit me."

"Handleyourself?" he scoffed, pain in his voice. "You're putting your lifein danger like this again after everything we've been through? You can't keepvisiting these locations without a partner, Morgan."

"Back off,Derik," she snapped, frustration boiling over. "I never asked you tovouch for me to the FBI. I never even wanted this case!"

"Then whythe hell are you on it?" Derik shot back, his voice strained andvulnerable.

"Because youinsisted!" Morgan's voice cracked, her eyes stinging with unshed tears."You were the one who said I needed to take it, and now you're throwingthat in my face?"

"Look,Morgan..." Derik sighed, closing his eyes and pinching the bridge of hisnose. "I just want you to be safe. I can't lose you, not after...everything."

She bit her lip,feeling the weight of their shared history bearing down on her. Her heart achedas she looked at him, lying there in the hospital bed, battered and bruisedfrom his own brush with death.

"Derik, Iknow you care," she whispered, her voice thick with emotion. "But Ican't let you hold me back. I have to see this through, no matter what."

"Even if itkills you?" His voice was barely audible, and the vulnerability in hiseyes tore at her heart.

Morgan's handstrembled as she clenched them into fists, her nails digging into her palms. Theanger that had been simmering beneath the surface finally boiled over, and shecouldn't contain it any longer.

"Derik,"she said, her voice cold and sharp as ice. "I found something in yourapartment when I was looking for your damn clothes to bring here for you. Whydo you have files on Darren La Roux?"

Derik's eyeswidened, and for a moment, he looked like a deer caught in headlights. Hismouth opened and closed as if he were struggling to find words to defendhimself. "Morgan, I can explain—"

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