Emotionally Compromised (Emotionally Compromised Series) (29 page)

"You're missing the point, Derek!"

"Jeez, what the hell is the point, then?"

"Remember how I ratted you out to Alvarado about sleeping with that girl?" I raise my eyebrows at my last words.

T
he lines around his eyes tense. "Oh yeah, Alvarado threatened to suspend me, but that chick wanted me so bad, and she was hot. Didn't realize she was the daughter of—" His eyes bug out of his face as the memory floods his brain. "Moradi? Did you say Adessa Moradi? As in Sharif Moradi's daughter?" A smug grin fills his face. "In all fairness, she just blew me in the bathroom."

I shove Derek away, catching a few people's attention. "I do not want to hear this."

He grabs my hand, swinging me back so I am flush against his body. "Turner, why the hell are you so pissed?" He really is confused. I clamp down on my bottom lip, brimming with embarrassment and a desperate sort of anger. "Tell me, Turner. I am forgetting something big, aren't I? What did I do? I must have hurt you, didn't I? I hurt your feelings back then?"

I shake my head, realizing his words sting. "That was a long time ago, and I am embarrassed for bringing it up."

"Then why are you acting so mad?"

The answer slips through my lips before I have time to edit it. "Because it is more proof that I never meant as much as you meant to me. You dicked me around. It's stupid and in the past, and I don't want to get into it. I don't know why it bothers me, seeing that stupid bitch's face. You never treated me the way you should have. That is why we will never work. And even now, hearing that you don't remember pisses me off. But like I said, I am being dumb. I don't know why every bit of layered jealousy I have in my life is creeping back to me tonight.
”

Derek's eyes widen in shock. "Turner, what the hell?" he whispers with concern, and I feel his arms wrap around me in a tender, friendly embrace. "Why didn't you tell me that when all that shit went down? You never tell me how you feel!"

I pull away, smiling now. "Derek, you never wanted to know how I felt."

"Bullshit." A lost look flits over his face.

I chuckle, cupping his rugged face. "It's fine, and this is dumb. It's all right that you didn't see the signs. I needed someone to guide me through that part, and we didn't know enough to teach each other. We are much better off as friends."

He seems offended by my words. "But if you would have been clear about how you felt
, we could still be—”

I place my fingers over his mouth
, and shake my head. "Derek, no, that is not how it would have been. We are too much. We would not still be together." I sigh. "I don't want to have this conversation right now."

Still teetering back and forth to the music, he whispers, "Well, obviously we needed to have this conversation. Weeks ago would have helped. I thought you didn't care."

I roll my eyes, sighing. "I needed someone to show me how."

"Like Hunt?" His face withers with annoyance and hurt.

I clamp down on my lip and manage a confirming nod. Thinking of Jeremy sends butterflies fluttering in my stomach. I glance upward to see Jeremy staring right at me as he tries to hold a conversation with another elderly couple. He still hasn't made it to Marcus.
Thank God.

"I'm sorry it wasn't me, Turner. I should have known better."

I shrug, realizing how off track we got. "Don't be sorry. This is a dead end topic. The point of all of this is Adessa Moradi. The bitch is here, and now I don't have to dance around why I don't like her."

"Turner, we don't have to talk about this anymore, but I need to say one more thing, because I don't know when I will get another chance."

I stifle a laugh. "Derek, you always say that."

"I don't like the idea of unknowingly hurting you
, you mean too much to me, and I hate that asshole, Hunt. However, I can tell he is getting you to open up, even to me. I wish I could have been the one, but regardless, you deserve to be happy, and you deserve to be able to tell me how you feel. I am glad Hunt can give you that, but because you’re all I got, I will destroy him if he hurts you."

I can feel my eyes glistening. "Derek, you can be awfully sweet sometimes."

He nudges my chin with his fist. "Is that pansy Hunt teaching you how to cry too? Don't do that."

I laugh and wipe under my eyes. "I cannot believe we had this conversation. Seems inappropriate under the circumstances."

He chuckles. "Yeah, but it was a long time coming, I think."

"Well, considering we are on company time, do you mind getting back to why we are here?"

He shrugs. "You brought up old baggage, not me."

"It's good to know you can't be sweet for long periods of time." I laugh, which makes him smile. I realize that a weight has been lifted off my shoulders
, and I want Jeremy's arms around me.

Darting my eyes back up, I notice his heated stare locked on me again. This time, he seems to be placating another blonde. He looks angry.

I shoot him a seductive glance, and then look at Derek. "What was your alias in Dubai?" I whisper for my earpiece, "Surveillance unit, pull case number D516, and find out Agent Matthews's alias during that time. Also, pull everything we've got on the Moradi family. If I remember correctly, they mainly dealt with weapon sales, but who knows what they have their hands in now."

I hear a rounding
ten-four, and nod toward Derek to confirm that this conversation is near over. "I am going to go try and talk to Marcus. Stay near me and follow me outside if I go."

"What about Adessa? Where is she?"

"Oh, hoping for a quickie in the bathroom again?" I tease.

He rolls his eyes. "If you don't mind."

I grin, holding back my laugh. "Forget it. I am going to use Jeremy for Adessa."

Derek looks shocked. "That's clever of you, and kind of stupid. That seductress will eat him alive."

The image of Adessa blowing my boyfriend in the bathroom comes unbidden to my mind, and I feel irate as I lock eyes with Jeremy. This time I notice the anonymous blonde has her paws on his arm.

I lean into Derek to whisper, "I do have a confession, best friend. This case has tested my nonexistent patience to no end." With that, I leave Derek's grasp. I can feel Jeremy's icy eyes on me as I approach him.

The blonde notices him staring at me, and lucky for me, she meanders out of my view, knowing her time is up.

Jeremy pulls me close to him. I meet his penetrating gaze. "I have never been more angry and jealous in my entire life."

Both our bodies seem tense, but with more sexual frustration than actual anger.

"That makes two of us, babe. But be prepared to get even angrier."

His brow furrows in trepidation. "I don't like the sound of that. I have half a mind to take you—"

"Now is not the time
," I cut him off. "I need you to do something, which I will, heaven forbid, never have to ask you to do again, and you also have to let me do my job."

"Again, I do not like the sound of this."

"I need you to go and flirt with Marcus's date Adessa. She is leggy, beautiful, and in a skanky red dress. Ask her to dance or something. I need you to capture her attention for a bit."

"Excuse me? Are you asking me to flirt with another woman?"

I clench my teeth, letting my eyes heat. "Yes. But if you do anything stupid, I will flip the fuck out."

Obviously,
my last statement is a little irrational, and I see the corners of his serious, sculpted mouth twitch in amusement. "And you are going to be fine with this?"

I shake my head. "Of course not, but time is of the essence, and you happen to be easy on the eyes."

He takes a deep breath, holding back a chuckle, though his eyes still look angry. "What are you going to be doing?"

"I am going to go and get Marcus's attention."

Jeremy's face tenses. "No. I don't want you to do that. He wants what's mine."

I laugh, rolling my eyes at his adolescent tone. "I think I should be a little more worried about Adessa than you should be of Marcus. Adessa is known for her trysts. Marcus, on the other hand, won't know what to do with me."

"Is that supposed to make me feel better?" Jeremy fumes.

"I guess not. Let's trust each other for now, huh?"

I look over his shoulder and see that Marcus seems too preoccupied with his friends to take notice of our presence. I also see Adessa slink away for another glass of champagne.

I shake out my shoulders, forcing my words out. "Babe, now's your chance
. She is near the landscape artwork." I point off to his right, and we both take in the sight of Adessa Moradi. Unfortunately, she is quite the looker, and my stomach does summersaults.

I shut my eyes, feeling like a fool for getting Jeremy involved. I remember Adessa clearly now. Her lukewarm accent and sexy,
catlike demeanor had Derek eating out of the palm of her hand. He likes to say it was he who did the convincing, but to be honest, I think she was the one getting what she wanted.

Adessa and I
are matched as masters of manipulation, but I do not want to think about that right now.

I feel strong hands on my face, and Jeremy's lips come crashing into mine, hard. He commands my lips without causing a scene, and lets me go. His heated glare
blazes out of control, and I'm having a hard time reading it. "I hope this is what you really want, but just know, I am absolutely crazy about you. And if Marcus lays a hand on you, I don't know what I'll do."

Still out of breath from his most recent assault on my mouth, I give him a smile. Sure enough, he gives me his special one too.

I sigh, and jokingly push him away. "Now go, before she gets distracted."

I watch him strut toward her
, and I have to do myself a favor and turn around.

Marcus isn't standing with his friends any longer. I frantic
ly search, knowing I don't have much time.

I spot Marcus
exiting through one of the open balcony doors. The large floor-to-ceiling glass windows give me a clear view of the veranda. It is mostly empty since a chill set in around eight.

Following him outside, I see him pull out a pack of cigarettes from his blazer pocket.

"Mind if I bum one off you?" I ask quietly. A cigarette sounds nice right now.

Swiveling around with the cancer stick bobbing between his lips, he makes eye contact with me. I give him my most seductive smirk, and let my eyes blatantly drag over his body.

He whispers, "Alex? Where's Jeremy?"

He seems happy to see me, but he sounds shocked. He is trying to calm his frantic stare, because he thinks Jeremy is dead.

"He's around." I smile sweetly. "But let's have this be our little secret, yeah?" I grab for the cigarette from between his lips and the lighter out of his available hand, lighting it for myself, and take a drag.

The
nicotine feels good, calming; it is so needed right now.

Be cool. Be cool.

Marcus grins as he watches me. "Your secret is safe with me."

I've got this
.

Unfair Jealousy

ALEX TURNER

I try to soften my expression and unclench my fists as I stand before Marcus. The deep-seated hatred I feel for this man is indescribable, but I keep my cool. I don't have a choice.

Marcus's eyes feel heavy as they drag down my body and then back up, bouncing as they catch my eyes. His demeanor is harsher than I remember of the pleading boy I first encountered at the club. Despite his transformation, I feel like the man could show a little, I don't know
, remorse? Decency? There is no shame in his salacious expression. I'm tempted to comment on his audacity.

Bravo, sir. You have made me feel incredibly uncomfortable in under thirty seconds.

Although, this might be my angle. I take another drag from my cigarette, smiling but eyeing him suspiciously. He lets the silence hang, and my patience wanes.

Fine, have it your way, Marcus.
"I hope you don't mind my intrusion." I pout.

He shrugs, and I worry that he either knows my secrets, or is hiding his own.

I'll take option two, please.

"Glad to have some company, actually. What's your excuse?"

I raise an eyebrow, and I let my lip twitch, pondering his question. He doesn't seem too attached to his date. Thinking about that horrid woman, my eyes dart to the glowing windows. I spot Jeremy's towering, broad frame on the dance floor. My heart skips a beat. He is already dancing with her. He's smiling; she's smiling.

It's all going according to plan, isn't it? I feel my stomach plummet with jealousy. I take a deep breath, feeling the crisp night air burning an icy path where the cigarette smoke once was, trying to regain my focus.

"So, I see even you aren't immune to the Jeremy Hunt effect." Marcus interrupts my reverie. He takes a long drag, not taking his eyes off me.

Marcus is either entirely driven by his drug habit, or he has managed to accrue a substantial amount of confidence between now and our front door encounter almost a week ago. It’s in his eyes. Before he couldn’t even hold my gaze,
but now his eyes are determined, teetering on piercing
.
I want to be impressed, but instead, I see it as another opportunity to work to my advantage.

I peruse the veranda, checking for any familiar faces. There is only one
other couple out here canoodling, which means few observers. As my eyes swing back around, Derek makes his entrance onto the balcony through the double doors.
Perfect timing, as usual.

Derek's lips don't move
, and he doesn't make eye contact, but my earpiece buzzes with his disapproving tone. "Are you really smoking right now?"

The corner of my mouth twitches with a lingering smile. I take a defiant stance and take a long drag, bringing my eyes back to Marcus.

He watches me like a science project. I can't tell if he is calculating something or creating a methodology of how to approach me. Derek sighs at my blatant disregard for his concern.

I have been letting Marcus's question hang too long, and I recall his words about the Jeremy Hunt Effect. I find
myself getting lost in Marcus’s serious, jade-green stare. I try to regain my focus. "What do you mean by that?"

"Well, you're his date, and he already seems to be moving on to mine. It's typical, really." He shrugs and purses his lips. It's slight, but it definitely bothers him.

I am beginning to wonder why I am not noticing any intense reaction to Jeremy’s presence other than a reflexive distaste for his supposed friend. How can he be so contained? Shouldn’t he be frantic? Again, I am tempted to be impressed by his demeanor.

My face remains unchanged as I digest his words, not because he's right, but because I wonder what history backs up a statement like
that. What is wrong with me? I've never had an assignment become so personal. These things aren't relevant to the case at hand. I need to let it go.

Seeing my stoic reaction, Marcus back peddles as a safety precaution. "I didn't mean to offend you. I shouldn't be judging what you and Jeremy have."

His embedded manners surprise me. I thought he didn't have a shred of decency left, and I wonder if growing up with the Hunt family is what shaped this quality.

Although,
I notice a little flicker of desperation in his look, as if telling me it might actually take strategic effort to try to be decent. A part of me wants to like him. A part of me wants to feel sorry for him, but I can't and I won't.

He goes for a different approach, changing the subject entirely. "You look beautiful tonight. If it's any consolation, I think Jeremy is an idiot."

I force myself not to look at Jeremy, and clamp my teeth over my bottom lip. Marcus looks to be brimming with something I can't describe. Lust doesn't do it justice, because it seems to be driven by something darker.

In that moment
, I begin to understand the depravity of Marcus Gibbs. He's lost. He's confused, and he seems to be driven by his hatred of Jeremy. Is it possible that he wants what Jeremy has?

Bingo. This is it. This is my way in, of course. He wants what Jeremy holds precious
.

I am exhausted with this madman, and I want this done with! My impatience eggs on all of my other erratic emotions. Marcus's eyes devour me like a meal, and I can feel my emotional and professional barriers fracturing.

However, I restrain myself, going through a full-fledged internal battle of deciding what the right thing to do is. My earpiece buzzes once more. "Make a move, Turner, dammit, sooner rather than later, please."

Is Derek really rushing me right now?
But I know he's right.

"Thank you," I whisper at Marcus's previous comment, worrying that I have let the silence
linger too long. But, the lunatic he is, he confidently moves his hand toward my face and moves a long strand of my hair away from my eyes, behind my ear.

It takes every fiber in my body not to end him right here, right now when I feel his skin brush against mine. I could easily break his neck and throw him over the balcony unnoticed, and dammit, it is tempting. So, tempting
.

Let's get things straight. The man before me, eyeing me like a dessert, attempted to have Jeremy murdered. Anger doesn't do justice to what I am feeling. The man I care the most about is inside that room dancing, smiling
, and letting that God-awful witch touch him. I am beyond jealousy. My partner lurking in the corner is shouting in my ear for me to make a damn move, and he is already getting on my last nerve. I am anxious with the mounting pressure
.

I want this done. I want this case over. I am exhausted with this!

My eyes dart back toward the dance floor, and my heart plummets. Jeremy is gliding and laughing with the temptress. Her hands are strategically placed around his neck to bring him as close to her as possible. Her lips rise to whisper something to him, and I fight the urge to listen in.

Suddenly
, I have the need to show those glacial depths how awful I feel.

Why do I want to take this out on Jeremy? It's childish, but I can't help myself
.

That is when I lock eyes with Jeremy, and his smile stills as I watch that disgrace of a woman's red, luscious lips skim over his ear.

I've met jealousy once or twice before, but never have I felt so out of control and vengeful.
We all have to do what is necessary. Maybe I should let this one go.

"Easy, Turner," Derek whispers in my ear, and for once I am annoyed at his ability to sense my mood shifts. I am finishing this right
now; I don't care what it costs anymore.

I swivel back to Marcus, who is finishing off his cigarette. I flick my own into the darkness over the balcony's edge,
knowing how I can get Marcus's phone, make Jeremy angry, and practically wrap this case up in one swift move.

Finally, just end this, Agent Turner!
My subconscious is bored, exhausted with my mood swings.

Even Marcus notices my mood shift. "The Jeremy effect isn't nice, is it?"

His smirk pisses me the fuck off, and I can feel my insides overflowing with an anger that could be dangerous if not handled with care.

I have Marcus's full attention as my tongue skims over my bottom lip. "Do you want to kiss me, Marcus?" I ask in a hushed tone. I know it's a little brash
.

He stiffens as he tries to understand, but his eyes heat with excitement. Boys are predictable. "What about Jeremy?" he quips.

Our eyes look through the windows for a brief moment to see his date and mine celebrating on the dance floor with their bodies flush against one another.
Ugh.

Bringing Marcus's eyes back to mine, I try to hide my glare as I say, "That is not the question I
asked you, Marcus."

I know that Marcus's only motive right now is to piss Jeremy off. It's obvious in his tone when
Jeremy is mentioned, and I see it in his eyes. Marcus knows that if he can get his grimy paws on one of Jeremy's possessions, he would feel like he is winning some battle. It's a sad little game.

The idea of being Jeremy's possession heats my blood
, and I can’t decide if the feeling is driven by lust or something undefined, but I realize Jeremy is as much mine as I am his, and that alone makes me happy.

I force myself not to stare at Jeremy again. I take a step forward, closing the gap between Marcus and me. His breath catches in his throat with my close proximity. I cannot hold back my
catlike grin. If this was a normal case, I would get downright giddy at this kind of manipulation: the hidden skill, the structured lies, and the fun chase. However, right now, I am ready for a new assignment. Where I can still feel all those things without having it be personal. How did I think I could get away with all this and not have it affect me? It's a rookie mistake, and even that thought makes me angry. I am no rookie, but I've been careless.

T
ossing my scattered thoughts aside, I focus on my seductive glance, locking eyes with Marcus, whose eyes keep darting to my lips. I reach up to adjust the bowtie of his tuxedo, and his body stills as he watches my every move, waiting to see if I will pounce. In a way, it's funny that moments ago I thought of him as the predator eyeing his prey. He is nothing but a lamb in wolf's clothing.

My lips make contact with his. He welcomes the touch as he presses harder against mine, and I know I have won.

His lips don't feel warm and inviting like the lips I wish they were, but I push through my heart's resistance and command his lips with mine. He moans into my mouth, and my stomach does a somersault. His hands move to cup my face. They aren't the soft, sensual hands I wish so badly they were, but calloused and rough instead.

I drag over his chest to distract him. As my hands glide over his ribs, his mouth coax
es mine open. Knowing I have no time and need this to go off without a hitch, I let his tongue twist around mine. He tastes like ash from his cigarette.
I never want to smoke again.
I pretend to moan, but it's to hold back my gag. I've kissed many horrible men in my line of work to get the job done, but this one really makes my skin crawl.

I focus on the
task. Hearing Derek is going to make a swift move by us, I slip my hands into his jacket pocket and grab his phone. I place my hand behind my back, letting my other hand distract him by tangling in the back of his hair; yet another reminder that this is not Jeremy's soft, short hair.

I have my eyes so tightly shut that I don't notice Derek's proximity or movement, but feel the phone slip from my grasp
.
I know Derek has it, and I know he will do what is necessary. I cannot take this man's lips against mine any longer.

I pull away and open my eyes. I let a grin spread as we make eye contact. I am smiling because it's over
. Well, it will be soon anyway
.

Marcus speaks first. "Wow."

I hold back from rolling my eyes and smirk devilishly instead. "I should probably be getting back to the party, Marcus." His eyes widen in surprise.
Yeah, buddy, I want to get far, far away from you.

"Excuse me, sir?" Derek's deep, gruff tone catches me off guard. I turn to see him ambling toward us.

Marcus shakes off his surprise and shoots Derek an unwelcoming glare. "Yes?" he asks.

"Sir, is this your phone? I found this near the door over there." I pretend to eye Derek as he speaks with Marcus.

Marcus's facial expression shifts to confusion as he eyes the familiar device and reaches for his breast pocket, realizing it is empty.
Ha.
He eyes Derek. "Didn't realize I dropped it."

Derek shrugs
. "When I found it, I figured it must belong to someone out here. I asked that couple over there, and they didn't recognize the phone, so I figured it must be yours. You a Red Sox fan?"

Marcus
, seemingly distracted, looks away in a daze toward the end of the balcony as he rubs his swollen lips. It is Derek's deep, throaty chuckle that catches his attention again. "Your iPhone case, it has the Red Sox on it."