Lethal Lies

by Rebecca Zanetti

  As she watched, he reached to the top of the fridge and drew out a fighting knife to place near his calf. “Knife, too?” she croaked.

  “Yes.”

  “We do seem to have enough enemies, now, don’t we?” She ran through events. “Besides the Copper Killer and the fake marshals, you think the guy who attacked us at the hotel will find us again.”

  “Yeah. The guy at the hotel could be one of the fake marshals, but I’m not sure,” he returned. “They’re associated with another case, which I can’t tell you about. I’m sorry, but that’s the way it is.”

  She understood patient confidentiality, so she kind of understood this. Her temples twinged with the promise of a migraine, and she brushed it away. If that’s how he wanted it, they’d keep it distant and professional. So much for being friends. Something told her he’d be a good friend to have, but apparently he limited the people he let in to his brothers. And Zara. There had been definite fondness when he’d introduced Zara. As twisted as it was, Anya wanted that trust and loyalty from him. She wasn’t going to get it.

  A lump filled her throat. “Fine.”

  His eyebrows rose. “Many an expression crossed your face for nearly a whole minute for you to end with a good old ‘Fine.’”

  She strode for the apartment door and yanked it open. “It sucks to be on the outside looking in, you know?”

  He reached her in seconds and slid his palm down to clasp her hand, enclosing her with warmth and strength. “I didn’t mean to hurt your feelings.”

  There he went, being sweet. She tried to keep her hand stiff in his, yet her fingers relaxed right into his hold. “I’m trusting you to come up with a plan to catch a serial killer and keep me safe at the same time.” She wasn’t delusional enough to believe she could take on the Copper Killer on her own, and Heath definitely had experience she lacked. “I understand confidentiality for other cases, but this guy came after you with me there, too. Tell me something about him.”

  “All I can tell you is that he’s a hired gun for somebody I’m hunting down, and he’s trained. If he finds us and comes at me again, you have to run away as hard and fast as you can.”

  A shiver wound down her back. “Who are you hunting, and who’s your client?”

  He leaned over and pressed a kiss to her forehead. “Sorry. Confidential.”

  The soft touch warmed through to her heart. He might act like a distant badass soldier sometimes, but Heath Jones sure liked to kiss. At least his cold attitude was warming toward her. “All right. Let’s get something to eat.”

  Denver was waiting for them in his Jeep. “Ryker went early to return your rental.” He smiled at Anya.

  She smiled back while Heath held open the passenger door. She jumped in and buckled her belt. The drive across town took twenty minutes, and Heath remained silent in the backseat. Snowville was an older town with mom-and-pop stores, bigger department stores, and tons of fast-food restaurants.

  Neon lights proclaimed the diner as Hal’s Diner, which sat directly across from another older brick building.

  “Decoy offices,” Denver said quietly as he pulled up to the curb.

  Heath jumped out and opened her door to assist her out. “I’ve never asked.”

  She kept hold of his hand for balance and looked up. “Asked what?”

  “About dietary restrictions. I should’ve asked. I don’t think they have vegan options here.” He led her through the snow to the door. “I haven’t dated in a long time. Not that this is a date. I mean, you know.”

  God, he was cute when floundering. “I like meat, Heath.” Warmth flooded her face. “I mean. Well, you know.”

  He chuckled and opened the door for her. She spotted Ryker and Zara in a back booth and quickly made her way past faded red booths and a fairly quiet crowd to slide in toward the window. “Hi.”

  Zara grinned, and Ryker nodded. “The food here is okay, but it’s a great vantage point and place to plan.”

  Heath slid in next to her while Denver grabbed a wooden chair from another table and sat at the head. “The steak is okay.”

  A gray-haired waitress showed up with glasses of water. “We have wine and beer but no hard stuff.” She tugged out a green order pad.

  “The Wallace pale ale is really good,” Zara said.

  The waitress’s blue eyes sparkled. “I wouldn’t recommend the wine. The box has been kicked a few times and stored outside for a bit.”

  Anya bit back a grin. “I’ll go with the pale ale.”

  “All around,” Heath said.

  The waitress smiled. “Be right back.”

  Ryker leaned in, looking positively hulking next to Zara. “I think we go public tomorrow. The mayor is throwing a gala for new businesses tomorrow night, and there will be press. We can register the business in the morning and finagle an invitation.”

  Heath drummed his fingers on the tabletop. “Are we ready?”

  Denver nodded. “The killer is gonna take another woman soon, so if we’re gonna do this, we have to get going.”

  Heath turned and studied Anya until she wanted to squirm. “Are you sure you want to do this? I’ll try my best to keep you safe, but I don’t like it.”

  “I’m sure,” she murmured, hoping she appeared confident. Her stomach cramped. What if the guy actually found her? He’d been watching her for so long.

  Heath covered her hand with his. “I won’t let him get anywhere near you.”

  “I know,” Anya said.

  “Excellent,” Zara said, smiling when the waitress brought the beer.

  They all ordered and waited until after the waitress had left.

  Zara took a drink. “You’ll attend the gala. The killer will be pissed after the press coverage of you being with Heath, right? We’ll all be at the office the next day, then act like we’re going to bed and wait.”

  “Agreed. The killer won’t like seeing me with Heath.” Anya reached for her glass. Tension rolled across the table, and she looked up, frowning. “The guy will make a move soon. He has to.”

  Ryker nodded. “His compulsion is getting stronger, as you can tell from the crime scenes.”

  Heath grimaced. “He’ll make a move—he has three days, and then we go.”

  Anya sipped the delicious brew. “Why give him just one chance? I mean, shouldn’t we stay here until he makes a move? That’s the entire reason for being here, right?”

  Nobody answered her.

  She leaned back and eyed Zara. “Why did you all leave Cisco?” She understood the need to move, but now questions kept bombarding her.

  “Fresh start,” Zara said with a smile. Somewhat of a smile. “It was time to go.”

  Smooth but not quite the full story. Anya turned toward Heath. “Does this move have anything to do with your other case and the guy who attacked us? Is that why you’ve left Cisco?”

  Heath shook his head.

  More secrets, and she was on the outside of this tight group, peering in through veiled windows. It hurt. Anya forced a smile. “Excuse me.” She waited until Heath slid out of the booth, then, keeping her head high, she went to look for the restroom, finding it past the entrance and the cash register. Once inside, she washed her hands and took several deep breaths.

  Being on the outside looking in really sucked. The group was so tight, so protective. Her father had been like that, and then she’d been alone until finding Loretta. Family mattered. Zara was so lucky. Yeah, Anya understood confidentiality, but still. She patted her hair into place and calmed herself. She’d be with these people just until the case was over, and then she’d go find her own life. Yeah. Good plan.

  Steeling her shoulders, she walked out into the alcove and into a body. “Oh, sorry.” She looked up and gasped. Her knees weakened. “Carl?”

  He smiled and grabbed her arms. He wore a heavy ski jacket, and snow was still evident on his thick blond hair. “I’ve been following you for two days. Finally, we’re alone and can talk.” His gaze darkened. “Please. I rea
lly need your help.”

  That quickly, heat flushed through her entire body until her skin ached. “You are such a dick.” Reeling back, she swung and hit him right in the gut.

  CHAPTER

  19

  Heath’s nape tickled, and he turned around in time to see Carl Sparks stagger into the entryway as if he’d been kicked. What the hell? Heat slammed into Heath’s solar plexus. He sped past the line of booths and grabbed Carl by the coat, steering him easily through the door and out into the chilly night. Keeping his momentum, Heath shoved the bastard down the sidewalk, turned him into the nearest alley, and threw him up against a metal door.

  “What the fuck?” Carl tugged down his coat, his face a mask of fury. “Who the hell—”

  There was only one reason the asshole was in town. Heath swung and punched Carl in the face, sending his head back into the door. It protested with a loud clang. A round red circle appeared on Carl’s cheek. “I pulled that punch, dickhead.” Heath flashed his teeth, anger ripping through him. “The next one’s going to break something.”

  “You don’t understand.” Carl charged him, grabbing him in a bear hug.

  Heath’s ribs protested, and he reacted instantly. He dropped onto the icy snow and threw Carl over his head to crash into the opposite building. Then Heath stood, turned, and strode toward the guy groaning and rolling in the snow. He picked Carl up and planted him against the brick.

  Carl’s eyes narrowed and he kicked uselessly, his boots sliding on the ice. Heath kept his hold strong. The guy needed to learn what happened to men who hurt women.

  “Heath!” Anya skidded around the corner, with his brothers and Zara right behind her. “What are you doing?”

  He released Carl and took a step back. Forcing calmness into his movements, he wiped snow off his hands and took a good look at her. Pale, eyes wide, no bruises. His muscles vibrated down his back, and he reminded himself he was in control. Fully. “Did he hurt you?”

  “No.” She shook out her right hand. “I punched him.”

  They’d have to work on her fighting skills, because Carl had still been standing. “You want to knock them down fast and hard, sweetheart,” Heath said, turning his attention on the bully breathing heavily against the wall. The man thought he could stalk an innocent woman and get away with it. Somebody needed to teach him differently.

  “I tried to knock him down,” she grumbled.

  Heath stiffened. A bully needed to be put down and swiftly—it was the only way he’d stop. If Carl didn’t learn a lesson tonight, he’d never leave Anya alone. “Ryker? Take Anya back inside, would you?” He didn’t think she needed to see any more violence.

  She set her boots in the snow. “I’m not going anywhere.” She stomped toward Carl, and Heath halted her with an arm around her shoulders. “How did you find me? You said you’d followed me, but we didn’t see you.”

  “I had been getting to that questioning,” Heath said, his temper fraying. How had Carl found them? What if the jerk had gotten Anya outside before Heath could’ve intervened? Images of Loretta in death and his mother on the floor filtered through his mind. He gently pushed Anya toward Ryker, who planted a hand on her arm. “Get her out of here.”

  “No.” Anya shrugged off Ryker’s hand. “How did you find me, Carl?”

  Blood dripped from Carl’s lip. Snow slid down his face to mingle with the red. “I need you.”

  Heath pivoted and kicked Carl in the gut. “Wrong fucking answer.”

  Carl fell back, his arms spreading wide before he leaned over with a pained oof. Even then, he chuckled. “You are such a Neanderthal. Anya? You are better than this. We are better than this.”

  Heath kept the entire group in his sights. Denver hissed out breath and looked both ways down the street. “We’re clear.”

  Ryker just studied the scene, even as Zara paled next to him. “I suggest you give a good answer, buddy,” Ryker said calmly. “When Heath starts kicking instead of hitting, usually people end up drinking through straws for the rest of their lives.”

  Heath straightened. Yeah. His brothers had his back. But he needed to calm down.

  Carl straightened and spit out blood. His eyes hardened, and his welling lip curled. “I understand Anya on an intellectual level you’ll never reach.” The absolute tone held as much arrogance as determination. “I’ve decided I will never let her go. She doesn’t want to go anyway. She knows we belong together.” He feigned right and punched left, hitting Heath in the ear.

  More heat rushed through Heath, and he nailed Carl in the chin with a quick front kick.

  Carl’s head cracked against the brick, and blood pooled from his ear.

  “Might want to cool it a little,” Ryker warned.

  Heath’s hands clenched. If the asshole claimed Anya one more time like that, he’d lose all his teeth. “We’re not going to ask you again. How did you track Anya?” Heath knew without a doubt that nobody had followed them. Neither he nor Carl was leaving the alley until the truth came out.

  Carl wiped blood from his chin and set his feet on the ice. His chest puffed out, and his smooth blond hair was matted to his head. Fury and an odd gleam lit his eyes. “You’re temporary, you know that? We share a connection based on psychology and the human mind. You’re all sorts of screwed up, and she knows it. We all know your violence is a mask, whack-job.” He turned toward Anya. “I’m sorry about what happened, but you have to claim some responsibility. There was a reason I turned elsewhere.”

  Anya snorted and moved forward. “You’re such an idiot. Now go home.” She turned for the restaurant.

  “No.” Carl grabbed her arm and jerked.

  She yelped, her arms windmilling as her boots slipped on the ice. Landing with a crunch of ice, she winced and shoved to her feet.

  The pained look on her face snapped the leash Heath had kept on his control. Drums sounded in his head, and his vision went black. He moved then, all muscle, no thought.

  Sounds barely permeated his punches, his kicks, until strong arms wrapped around him from behind and threw him to the side. He grunted and pivoted back to his goal—a predator with no conscious. Images of battered and bloody women flashed through his head, from his mother to Loretta to others he’d tried to save over the years, adding a desperate strength to his hits. His fist plowed into Carl’s gut, and he felt a rib break across his knuckles.

  Even then, he couldn’t stop.

  “Heath!” Denver grabbed him again and yanked him away, while Ryker stepped in front of him, hands out, gaze concerned.

  Heath growled and struggled against his brother.

  “Stop,” Denver murmured into his ear, dragging him across the icy alley. “You need to stop now. Focus and breathe.”

  Heath blinked. Pain exploded in his hand suddenly, and he glanced down at his battered knuckles. Blood flowed over his fist . . . most of it not his. He shook his head. Jesus. He’d lost his mind for a moment.

  Ryker still faced him, blocking Carl, who was on the ground breathing heavily. “Get Heath out of here,” Ryker ordered Denver.

  Heath froze. “Anya?” Slowly, he turned his head to see her next to Zara, her eyes wide and her face paler than the snow around them. Her lips quivered, and Zara put an arm around her shoulders to draw her away from the alley.

  Oh God. What had he done? His body started to shake, and Denver loosened his hold.

  Carl spit blood to the side and shoved to his feet using the brick building behind him. His face was already swelling, and blood flowed from his nose. A cut above his eye also bled profusely. “I hope you enjoy jail, dickhead,” he slurred through purpling lips.

  Heath settled. What the hell had he just done to his entire family? If Carl turned him in, Sheriff Cobb would certainly find him. He partially turned toward Denver, his mind spinning. They barely had enough time to get free. This was his fault, and he’d deal with it. “Phoenix.”

  Denver’s head jerked.

  Ryker snarled. “We’re not to that p
oint yet.”

  “Yes, we are.” Heath shook his head. “You guys go, and I’ll wait for the cops with Carl.” His brothers had only minutes to get out of town, but they could do it. It was the first time he’d given the code word to run and now, and he meant it. He’d take the fall for this, even if it meant facing Cobb and Dr. Madison on his own. Hopefully the psychos had enough pull to get him out of jail before killing him. “Go ahead and call the cops, Carl.”

  Anya shrugged off Zara and moved forward.

  Heath pivoted to halt her. “I’m sorry, Anya. I really am.” He’d give almost anything for her not to have seen him in a violent rage. Carl wasn’t even that dangerous. This was on Heath. Only Heath. The pressure had been building since he’d found Loretta’s bruised and battered body, and now it had just exploded. In front of Anya. “This is rare. I promise I don’t lose it like this often.”

  “Not ever,” Denver said grimly. He reached out and awkwardly patted Anya’s arm. “Honest. He’s usually the one in control around here. Smooth and smart.”

  Ryker nodded, his alert gaze sweeping the alley. “This is new.” Apparently seeing no additional threats, he focused on Anya. “It won’t happen again. Heath won’t ever lose his control like this again.”

  Man. His brothers sounded like they were covering for him with a school principal. Even now, after Heath had put their lives in jeopardy, they had his back. God, he’d miss them, but they had to go. His only options were to kill Carl or let the moron call the cops. “You’re lucky I’m not a killer, Carl,” he muttered.

  Denver shrugged. “I’d be okay with it.”

  Carl sucked in air.

  Heath fought a grin. Denver let spiders go if he caught them inside. Yet the man gave a good bluff. “I guess we could consider it,” he said amenably.

  Apparently Heath didn’t bluff as well.

  “You’re full of shit,” Carl said, glancing from Heath to Anya. “Do you see what kind of man he is? Calmly talking about killing.”

  Heath shook out his smarting hand. “You know we ain’t gonna kill you, dickhead. So go ahead and call the cops.” He cut his gaze to Ryker. “You all need to go. Now.”