Return of a Hero Read online

  “No, sir, I didn’t,” Morgan rasped.

  “And Young, who was already a general, had his tail in a sling because he’d approved your company’s move to Hill 164. The documentation ties the three of them together, that’s all I can say.”

  Laura leaned back. Jim Woodward had turned out to be Morgan’s friend, not foe. She could hardly wait to throw her arms around the marine captain and thank him for his thorough work on Morgan’s behalf.

  “So,” Tyler went on, “I’m calling a secret investigative committee hearing tomorrow morning.”

  “Wait a minute,” Morgan said, rising. “Why secret? If I’m going to be exonerated of these charges, I want it public, Senator.”

  “Morgan—” Wendell protested.

  “No!” Eyes blazing, Morgan looked at both men. “You don’t understand. My family has gone through hell. My father was forced to retire. My brother Noah’s career with the Coast Guard has been jeopardized. People treat him like a leper, and he’s had to bust his butt to get assignments that should have come a hell of a lot easier.” His breathing became hard with feeling. “And my sister, Alyssa, has been castigated at the Naval Academy and Pensacola. She was given the silent treatment all those years.” Morgan braced his hands on the senator’s desk and stared at him. “Do you have any idea what that’s like? Frankly, I don’t see how Aly stood it. How would you like to be ignored for four years, Senator? No friends. No one to talk to. No one to study with.” He straightened, anguish in his tone. “This hearing goes public or not at all, Senator. If you won’t agree to that, then I’ll have Mr. Wendell pursue my case through civil court proceedings. It might take longer, but I intend to vindicate myself and my family publicly. Anything less than that isn’t acceptable.”

  Tyler slumped back in his leather chair and eyed Morgan. “You’ve got your father’s fighting spirit, you know that?”

  “I don’t have a choice in this matter,” Morgan grated. “My family’s honor is at stake. My life is at stake. And to be honest, Senator, I’m fed up with running and hiding.”

  Laura bowed her head, fighting back the tears that flooded her eyes at Morgan’s pain.

  “There are senators and congressmen who will shred you if you go public, Trayhern.”

  With a sharp laugh, Morgan straightened. “What the hell can they possibly do to me that hasn’t already been done?”

  “Your family will be put through more public scrutiny,” he warned. “Do you want Noah and Alyssa to take more pressure from their peers?”

  Morgan snarled, “If they’ve made it this far, they’ll hang tough the rest of the way. Our family was bred to win, Senator, not lose. We don’t give up.”

  Rubbing his pronounced chin, Tyler muttered, “That’s obvious.” He stared down at his desk for well over a minute, then said finally, “You realize that if the inquiry were in secret, General Young and Hadden would be more apt to come clean. In a public hearing, they’re going to hire the best criminal defense lawyers they can to appear before the television cameras.”

  “America believes I’m a traitor,” Morgan said fervently, “and they believe my family is little better than that. If I can’t clear my name in front of the public, no one in my family, including me, will ever have a decent life. It’s bad enough my life has been screwed up. But to see my brother and sister, not to mention their children continue to carry this burden, is asking too much.”

  Tyler shot Wendell a grizzled look. “He’s right, you know.”

  Wendell nodded. “Will you contact someone over at the Justice Department? Warrants will have to be served on Young and Hadden.”

  “I’ll make that call as soon as you leave.” Tyler looked over at Lenny. “Mr. Miles, you will be given protective custody by my committee. They’ll make sure you have a place to stay during this hearing. Does that meet your requirements?”

  Lenny nodded, unable to meet the senator’s piercing gaze. His brow was beaded with sweat, and he squirmed uncomfortably in the wing chair. “Uh…yes, sir.”

  Laura stood. “Wait a minute,” she pleaded. Everyone quieted and looked at her. “I’m sorry for barging in, but I have a question, Bill.”

  “Well…sure. What is it?”

  Nervously Laura said, “If Morgan were to have a wire placed on him and he went back to Young and Hadden to force them to admit their part in the coverup, could that possibly cut short a long hearing? I mean—” she licked her lower lip, glancing at the senator “—if Morgan got their admission, how could they refute it in a public hearing?”

  “Young lady, you’re right,” Tyler agreed with a grin. “That’s something neither of us thought of, Bill.”

  Wendell nodded.

  Hope shone in Laura’s eyes as Morgan went to her side. He gave her a tender smile. “You’re something else,” he told her.

  “I’ll call the Justice Department and talk to them about that possibility. Morgan, would you be prepared to try it?”

  He turned, slipping his arm around Laura’s waist. “Yes, sir.”

  “It might be dangerous,” Tyler warned. “If Young and Hadden can throw your life away to protect theirs, to say nothing of the threats made to Mr. Miles, they might resort to more physical means of getting rid of you this time.”

  Gravely Morgan nodded. “It’s a risk I’m willing to take.”

  “Fine. I’ll have someone from the Justice Department contact you shortly. Planning will have to be done on how we can lure Young and Hadden into meeting you.” He waved his hand at them, already picking up the phone. “Nothing we’ve talked about leaves this room, understood?”

  Everyone nodded.

  Outside, after Lenny had left with Bill, Morgan drew Laura to a halt.

  “That was a good idea,” he congratulated her.

  “I’m not so sure now,” Laura said, frowning. “What if Young or Hadden think that killing you is the best way to solve the problem?”

  “That,” he whispered, leaning over to kiss her wrinkled brow, “isn’t going to happen. Come on, let’s go home. I don’t know about you, but I’m hungry.“

  Laura poked at the food on her plate, unable to eat. Things were moving too quickly to suit her. She had barely gotten the meal on the table when Ken Phillips from the Justice Department had called. He would be coming over shortly to discuss Morgan’s meeting with Young and Hadden.

  “You okay?” Morgan asked, looking across the table at Laura.

  “Yes and no.”

  “I never realized what a worrywart you are, Laura Bennett,” he teased gently.

  Rallying beneath his cajoling, Laura forced a slight smile. She put her fork aside, her stomach tied in knots. “I guess I’m not cut out for all this cloak-and-dagger stuff.”

  He reached out, catching her hand and giving it a squeeze. “But here’s the lady who gave us the idea.”

  She met his deep gray gaze, needing to be held by him but knowing that was impossible right now. “If this will force Young and Hadden’s hand, then it’s worth it, Morgan.”

  The doorbell rang. “That must be Phillips,” Morgan said. Releasing Laura’s cool, damp fingers, he rose and went to answer the door.

  Laura cleared the dishes away so that Ken Phillips and Morgan could sit and plan. She liked Phillips immediately. He was in his mid-thirties, with military-short black hair and intelligent hazel eyes. And it was apparent that Morgan liked him, too. Both men were basically military types who appreciated cutting through red tape and getting to the heart of a matter.

  “We’ve placed a tap on Young’s and Hadden’s residential and office phones,” Phillips told him. “Tomorrow morning you’re going to call Young and demand a meeting. Tell him you’re getting tired of your Legion job and want another assignment. When you meet Hadden and him in person, try to get them both to admit to their parts in the affair.”

  Morgan nodded, studying the wire he’d wear tomorrow morning. “And you’ll have your men in a truck, taping the conversation?”

  “Yes. We’ll a
lso be providing you protection. If things start going bad, use the code word ‘Brazil’. We’ll come on the run.”

  Laura shivered as she placed the plates in the sink. Why wasn’t either man particularly upset over the possibility that Young or Hadden could pull a gun?

  Phillips grinned. “I don’t think they’ll wait long to have a meeting with you once that call is placed.”

  Morgan shook Phillips’s thin but strong hand. “Thanks.”

  “I’ll be here at eight in the morning. You’ll make the call to Young’s office at nine. By then I’ll have the wire on you, so you can go directly to the meeting, if necessary.”

  “Sounds good,” Morgan said. He rose and walked Phillips to the door. Ambling back into the kitchen, he saw how upset Laura had become.

  “How you doing, little swan?” he asked, bringing her into his arms.

  Closing her eyes, Laura slipped her arms around his waist, resting her head against his shoulder. “Okay.”

  “It will be over soon, sweetheart. I promise.”

  She stirred at the endearment. “I don’t want to lose you, Morgan. Not after all this,” she whispered, fighting back tears.

  “Shh, you aren’t going to lose me.” He chuckled and held her tightly, rocking her gently back and forth. “I’m too mean to die. And look at me. I’ve got everything to live for.”

  Battling to gather her strewn emotions, Laura choked out, “Just be careful, Morgan.”

  He released her enough to place a finger beneath her chin. Her blue eyes, once sparkling with hope, were dark with despair. The urge to kiss that trembling lower lip tore him apart. “I’ll be very careful,” he promised her huskily. If he didn’t let Laura go, he was going to carry her into her bedroom and love her. How many times, just before a battle, had he wished to be in a woman’s arms, safe and loved?

  “Come on, it’s almost midnight. Let’s turn in. We’ve got a big day ahead of us tomorrow.”

  It hurt to move away from Morgan. Swallowing her pain, Laura mutely agreed and left the kitchen to go take her bath. Tonight she wanted to be with Morgan, no matter what he thought or wanted. She shut the door to the bathroom and leaned tiredly against it. Her world as she knew it had suddenly grown bleak. The possibility of losing Morgan to a bullet tore a sob from her. Covering her mouth with her hand, she sat down at the vanity, trying to cry quietly so that Morgan would never hear her.

  Chapter Twelve

  Morgan had just turned out the light in his bedroom and was getting ready to remove his terry-cloth robe, when there was a knock on the door. He opened it. Laura stood uncertainly before him, dressed in her floor-length cotton gown.

  Laura’s throat constricted as she raised her gaze to meet his turbulent gray one. Placing a hand against her breast where her heart beat wildly, she whispered, “Don’t send me away, Morgan….”

  The hesitation, the longing, were all Morgan heard in her low, unsteady voice. Her fragility broke his iron-clad grip on himself, and he offered his hand to her. “Come here,” he said thickly.

  Stepping forward, Laura reached out, sliding her hand across his cheek where the scar lay in silent testimony to the pain he’d borne alone for so many years. She heard the swift intake of his breath. “Tonight,” she murmured, “is for both of us. I don’t know what will happen tomorrow. I’m afraid, Morgan….”

  With a groan, he swept Laura into his arms, violently aware of the softness of her breasts, of her willowy length sinking against him. “I am, too,” he admitted, cradling her face, looking deeply into her lustrous blue eyes.

  “Love me?”

  He ran his mouth lightly across Laura’s parted lips. “Yes,” he rasped. “You’re so sweet and kind, my little swan.” He gathered Laura into his arms, carrying her to his bed. The moon provided just enough light to see her features as he set her gently on the bed. Sitting next to her, he watched as she raised her hands.

  Her fingers trembling, Laura unknotted the belt at his waist, then pushed the robe away from his shoulders. His chest was broad and deep, tapering to a flat, hard stomach. Her breath caught, and her eyes filled with anguish. “Oh, Morgan…” and she stared at the terrible scars that ran vertically down each side of his heavily muscled chest. “I didn’t realize,” she cried, touching them, feeling the puckered flesh beneath her fingertips.

  He tunneled his fingers through her damp hair, inhaling her sweet scent. “It’s all right,” he said thickly, trailing a line of kisses from her temple, across her cheek, to seek and then find her lips. Lifting her chin, Morgan imprisoned Laura’s face within his hands. “Don’t cry.” He kissed away the silvery tears that had beaded on her lashes.

  “How much you’ve suffered.” Laura wept, kissing him hungrily, wanting to absorb his pain and loss—to replace them with joy. Their joy.

  Laura was lush as he plundered her mouth, and he heard her moan with pleasure. Just the gentle touch of her hands against his chest took away all his memories. Laura was his present, his future. Her breath came rapidly, sweeping across his face as he devoured yielding lips that drove him beyond every wall he’d ever hidden behind.

  Breathing hard, too, Morgan ran his hands across her slim shoulders, pushing aside the straps to her gown, pulling the fabric downward. Her flesh was so soft, yet firm, as she was. He watched her flushed face fill with delight as he cupped her small breasts in his hands. Each was a proud crescent, curved and firming under his. As he grazed each expectant nipple, a little cry broke from her and she swayed in his arms.

  “Beautiful,” he groaned, pressing her back against the bed. She was so small and yet so exquisite as he undressed her. In the moonlight, her skin was translucent ivory, her eyes dark with invitation as he skimmed his hand from her hip back up to her awaiting breasts.

  The instant Morgan’s mouth captured the first nipple, Laura cried out, pressing herself against his naked body. His flesh was taut, the muscles powerful against her yielding form. His callused fingers incited blazing fires wherever he touched her. Her world dissolved beneath his knowing, exploring hands. The tight knot of need deep within her grew, the moist heat building between her thighs, telling him of her need for him.

  “Easy, my little swan,” Morgan coaxed thickly, bringing her beneath him. She was fire and water, hot and liquid, as he parted her curved thighs. The pleading look in her eyes grew as he slid his hand beneath her hip. He was shaking with need. She was so small, but so incredibly fiery, burning through all his control. The sheen to her flesh emphasized her beauty as he brought her to him.

  Morgan’s name was on Laura’s lips as he thrust deeply into her. A little cry of pleasure, of triumph, slid from her exposed throat. She moved her hips upward, bringing him deep within her, wanting nothing more. Morgan’s body moved slickly against hers and she gripped his shoulders, calling out his name as the heat built, then erupted within her. Sunlight burst within her as she closed her eyes, feeling his lean, powerful thrust. A softened smile pulled at her lips as she felt Morgan stiffen, then grip her hard against him. In that rainbow moment, Laura cried out with him, glorying in their untrammeled union, their love indelibly stamped on each other.

  A rivulet of sweat traveled down Morgan’s left temple. Laura leaned upward, kissing it away. She fell back into his arms, smiling weakly. “I love you,” she whispered.

  The words, softened heartbeats to his ears, made him want to hold Laura forever. He smiled down into her shining blue eyes, which were filled with love for him alone. “How long have you known?” Morgan asked huskily, running several damp strands of her hair through his fingers.

  Laughing weakly, Laura murmured, “Forever, I think….”

  He moved his hips slightly, seeing the desire rekindle in her eyes. She was so small and tight, yet able to accommodate him. Hadn’t she been able to deal with him in all ways and all levels from the beginning? “I used to dream about the woman who would one day be my wife,” he told her, kissing her temple, then her cheek, his mouth finally coming to rest against her sm
iling lips. “She would have the courage to hold me when I was weak. And she would have the fire to stand on her own without me.” He nibbled at her lower lip, running his tongue across the yielding texture of it. “And most of all, she would love me and love the children I’d want to share with her.”

  Tears gathered in Laura’s eyes as she held his tender gaze. Despite the terrible atrocities committed against him, Morgan was able to unveil and share his gentle inner core with her. Sliding her hands up across his cheeks, she whispered, “You’re my dream come true, darling. I don’t think I fit all the requirements of your dream, though….”

  He chuckled, kissing each of her fingers in turn. “Nonsense. Inside that little frame of yours is a backbone of pure steel.” Morgan drew her index finger into his mouth, biting it gently, watching the flame of need grow brighter still in her lustrous blue eyes. “And fire—” He groaned, releasing her fingers, “Little swan, you’ve got all the fire a man could ask for.” Sweeping his hand down across her damp form, he angled her hips upward. “I see the fire right now….”

  A moan tore from Laura as she felt his returning power filling her once again with throbbing life. She closed her eyes, bringing him into pulsing rhythm with herself. Each thrust, each groan from him, drove her to new, dizzying heights. His mouth ravished her lips, setting her free, coaxing her to become wanton within his arms. It was so easy giving her heart, her soul, to Morgan. The sunlight burst once more within her, and she fused with him, accepting his love, his need of her as they climbed and reached that pinnacle of beauty simultaneously.

  Morgan fell against Laura, his head next to hers. They were both breathing hard, their flesh slick and heated against each other. He rolled off her, then brought her on top of him. Her lips were swollen from the demands of his kisses, but they were beautifully pouted as she smiled down at him. He moved his fingers through her golden hair, glorying in the wonderful smile in her eyes. “You’re the woman I want to carry my children, Laura.”

  The words, filled with raw emotion, made Laura’s heart contract with happiness. She closed her eyes, reveling in his fingers as they gently massaged her scalp. “I will,” she promised huskily. As she moved her hands across his chest, she once again felt the ridges of those scars. Leaning down, she kissed the length of each one, wanting to take away the memories of years filled only with agony and loneliness.