The Deception

by Kat Martin

  Hector glanced nervously around the bar. “These people...they have no conscience. They will kill you like a fly on the wall.”

  “Some of the women have a tattoo behind their left ears,” Jase continued. “A red lipstick kiss.”

  Hector’s eyes darted left and right, searching for any threat. He nodded.

  “Give me something,” Jase pressed. “I need a place to start looking.”

  “What about your woman? You are willing to risk her life?”

  Jason’s jaw clenched. He shot Kate a look, as if he could will her to make the right choice.

  “Those men killed my sister,” Kate said. “I want them stopped.”

  Jase slid the bills closer. Hector eyed the money. “These people...they pick up women off the street, young, not so young. Some they take from homeless shelters. They smuggle women across the border. These are powerful men, senor. The whores are only a small part of their business.”

  Jase moved his hand away from the cash. “There’s more money in drugs.”

  “Sí.” Hector picked up the bills, folded them and stuffed them into the pocket of his shirt.

  “How do I find them?” When Hector didn’t answer, Jase laid down another hundred, then another.

  Hector swallowed. He wet his lips as if his mouth actually watered, eyeing the money, weighing the risk. “The women...they move them around. Their customers know the schedule, what day they will be in the area.”

  “How do they move them?”

  Hector glanced around and Jase’s gaze followed. The bar was full now, boisterous, the customers getting bolder with every drink. From the frown on Jason’s face, he didn’t like the looks of the crowd.

  “Trucks,” Hector said.

  “Like vans or pickup trucks?”

  “That is all I know.” Hector reached out and picked up the money. “Do not trust the police.” Rising to his feet, he slipped silently into the throng and disappeared out the front door.

  Jase rose and so did Kate. She felt his warm hand at her waist, easing her closer to his side as they moved through the unruly crowd. Two men were arguing in Spanish, both lean-muscled and wiry, one with black hair shaved on the sides and combed into a peak, the other with a thin mustache and lip whiskers. They were both heavily tattooed, arms, necks, everywhere skin was exposed.

  Jase kept moving. They had almost made it past the skirmish when the guy with the mustache pulled a gun and pointed it at the guy with the pointed hair. In a blink, the other guy had his weapon in hand. More guns appeared.

  Jase seemed to have a sixth sense. He pushed Kate to the floor a second before the first shot rang out, and rolled on top of her. Kate bit back a scream at the barrage of gunfire that followed, shattering the mirror behind the bar, knocking chunks out of tables, drilling holes in the wooden floor.

  Men yelled obscenities and bolted for the door, a stampede that would have run right over them if Jason hadn’t managed to pull her behind an overturned table. His .380 was out of his jeans pocket, in his hand, but he didn’t fire.

  At the first break in the violence, he grabbed her arm and hauled her up, and they both raced for the door. Just outside, gunfire erupted again, loud blasts back and forth from both factions. Dirt kicked up around their feet as Jase gripped her arm and dragged her off the porch, and they ran together, trying to reach some kind of cover.

  More shots blasted through the air. Jase grabbed the side of his neck as they ran, and fear slammed into Kate so hard for an instant, she froze. “Oh, my God, you’re hit!” Jase tugged her forward, blood running between his fingers, soaking into his T-shirt.

  “Get down!” He pushed her behind a battered pickup, and they ducked beside the front wheel.

  “How...how bad is it?” She was shaking, her head spinning. Fear for him made her heart hurt as if someone had hit her in the chest with a fist.

  Jason reached up and carefully probed the wound. Fresh blood covered his fingers. “It’s only a graze. I’ll be okay.”

  Okay? she thought. Jase had been shot and it was all her fault. It was not okay.

  He checked their surroundings, then urged her toward the Rover, which thankfully was parked away from most of the gunfire.

  They crouched next to a faded blue Toyota with the body lowered just inches from ground. The lot was almost empty, car engines firing, tires screeching as vehicles shot out of the parking lot and took off in different directions.

  They made it to the Rover, which Jase had left unlocked, and now Kate understood why. Clicking the locks and flashing the lights could have been deadly. He opened her door, but no light went on—another precaution—and shoved her inside. Kate kept expecting to hear the scream of sirens, thought maybe she did, but they were a long way away.

  Then Jason was behind the wheel and the engine roared to life. The Rover shot backward, jerked forward and screeched out into the street. Neither of them said a word all the way back to the apartment.

  But something had changed for Kate tonight. Her sister was dead. Nothing Kate did was going to bring her back. It had never occurred to her that in trying to find Chrissy’s killer she could lose someone else she cared about.

  Someone else she loved.

  She looked over at Jason. Blood still seeped from the long gash beneath his ear. It made her stomach roll to think what could have happened. She refused to risk getting him killed, maybe getting both of them killed in order to get revenge.

  It was finished.

  She was quitting.

  An odd sense of relief filtered through her.

  It vanished in a heartbeat. Because the minute she told Jason the hunt was over, it would also be over for them.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

  He’d nearly gotten her killed. Jase swore foully. It was still dark outside, but dawn wasn’t far away. Lying beside him in bed, Kate slept soundly, curled trustingly against him. He had taken her hard tonight. Needed to reassure himself that she was alive, unhurt, okay. She seemed to feel the same pressing urgency.

  He had nearly gotten her killed. The thought wouldn’t leave him. He had known the neighborhood had a lot of gang-related crime. He hadn’t expected a gunfight to break out between 18th Street and MS-13, or Surenos or the Latin Kings or whoever the hell they were.

  He was lucky to get out of there with only a scratch.

  It could have been worse, the voice in his head reminded him. The bullet could have been a little higher and he would be dead, leaving Kate to face a bunch of vicious gangbangers who would show her absolutely no mercy. Men who raped and killed as if it were no different from pulling into McDonald’s and ordering a burger.

  He’d worried about it the entire time she’d helped him clean and bandage the crease on the side of his neck with gauze and adhesive she found in the medicine cabinet, a butterfly bandage that would hold together but still leave a scar. Not that he gave a damn.

  Then, by some miracle and the grace of God, she had told him she wanted to stop the search. She had told him she wasn’t willing to risk either of their lives for revenge. It just wasn’t worth it.

  Jase had felt a sweeping sense of relief.

  It was followed by a deep sense of loss. Because last night had reminded him that continuing their relationship wouldn’t be fair to Kate.

  For him, what had happened wasn’t particularly unusual. It was the kind of situation that came with the job. It could happen at any time, in any place, and likely would again.

  He’d seen the grief Kate had suffered over the death of her sister. If they were in a relationship and something happened to him, she would suffer again.

  He didn’t want that to happen. He cared too much for Kate.

  Jase closed his eyes. With Kate snuggled against him, he finally managed to nod off for a while, wound up getting a couple of hours of sleep.

  Kate was in the kitchen w
hen he wandered in bare-chested in his jeans, scratching the roughness along his jaw, feeling the bandage she’d put on his neck last night, reminding him all over again the danger they’d been in. He poured himself a cup of coffee and eased down in one of the kitchen chairs across from her.

  “Are you okay?” Kate asked, catching the look on his face but reading it incorrectly.

  “Yeah, I’m okay. We’ll fly back home as soon as you’re ready.” He took a sip of coffee, trying to steady himself.

  Kate stared at him until he glanced away. “All right, what’s going on?”

  He rubbed a hand over his face. “I’m just tired, is all. Neither of us got much sleep.”

  “I did just fine—thanks to you. Why didn’t you sleep?”

  He sipped his coffee, his eyes meeting hers over the rim of the mug. He wished she wasn’t so damned perceptive. “I could have gotten you killed last night.”

  “We both knew the risks when we went there. Nothing that happened was your fault.”

  He set the mug on the table, dreading what he had to do. “Maybe not. The thing is, once we get back home, I think we should cool things down a little. Take a break from each other.” He didn’t want to do it. He loved every minute of being with Kate. His chest tightened. Loved every minute? Dammit, had he actually thought the L word? Christ, he really was in deep.

  “Take a break?” she repeated. “I can’t believe you just said that. You sound exactly like Andrew.”

  Jase came out of the chair so fast it crashed over onto the floor. He gripped her shoulders and hauled her to her feet. “Don’t say that. Don’t ever compare me to that wormy bastard. I’m not good for you, Kate. After what happened last night, can’t you see that?”

  “Actually, I see just the opposite.”

  He refused to listen, didn’t want to hear something that would justify doing what he wanted to do but knew would be wrong. He left her standing there and stormed back into the bedroom to get ready for the flight back to Dallas.

  Couldn’t Kate see he was trying to protect her?

  Or maybe he was trying to protect himself.

  * * *

  God, she missed him. Kate couldn’t believe how much. She was back at work, her apartment stripped of anything Jason had been keeping there, any reminder that he had ever been there. He had picked up his things as soon as they got back to Dallas.

  The emptiness she felt without him ached like a hole in her heart.

  His invisible presence was everywhere. He was so big and powerful, so much larger than life, it was impossible to forget him. She was more than half in love with him. Way more, if she were honest.

  But she had known from the start this was how it would end, so she was at least somewhat prepared.

  She immersed herself in work, made it a point to keep herself busy. She spent the days catching up and trying to drum up new business. She called Stan Weiner, CEO of Solerno Engineering, the potential client Andrew had mentioned. Weiner hadn’t hired a consulting firm yet. She had an interview with him at three o’clock that afternoon.

  Lani called a little before noon and suggested they meet for a quick lunch. She needed to eat so she said yes. The Blue Cottage café was just down the block. She and Lani arrived at the same time and sat down at a table in front of the window.

  Lani grabbed a menu, ran a hand through her short black hair as she perused the contents. She glanced over at Kate and smiled. “Okay, no use wasting time. What’s going on with Mr. Hot?”

  Kate sighed and closed her menu. “We decided to stop the investigation. Well, actually, I decided. Mr. Hot decided that since his investigative services were no longer needed, neither were his services in the bedroom.”

  “Wow.” Lani folded her menu, and set it on the table next to Kate’s. “I didn’t see that one coming.”

  “Fortunately, I did. Jason isn’t a relationship kind of guy. I knew that from the start. It doesn’t make me feel any better.”

  “I liked him. And I could swear he was really into you.”

  The waitress, a plump, silver-haired woman whose name tag read Betty, came to take their orders.

  “Cobb salad with blue cheese and a glass of iced tea,” Kate said.

  “Same for me,” said Lani. Betty collected the menus and walked away.

  “So what happened with the investigation?” Lani asked.

  “It got too dangerous. I almost got Jason killed. I figured revenge wasn’t worth it.”

  The iced tea arrived and Lani took a drink. “What happened?”

  While they waited for their food, Kate filled her friend in on the flight down to Houston and the shootout that had convinced her to stop looking for Chrissy’s killer. “I didn’t really want to quit. I feel like I failed my sister again.”

  “You did the right thing,” Lani insisted. “Your mom wouldn’t want you getting killed, too.”

  The salads arrived, which gave Kate a chance to change the subject. She forced herself to eat. Lani made her laugh, then it was time to head back to work.

  At one fifteen, she had a meeting scheduled with Jim and Vera Lockwood to review the package they were putting together. An outline of next year’s budget for New Hope, as well as the cost of expansion. Kate had spoken to Harper about it, and, as promised, Harper had arranged a presentation with the head of the Garrett family charities.

  Kate checked her watch. She needed to get on the road if she was going to be on time. Her phone pinged as she rose from the chair behind her desk.

  “Kate, it’s Vera. I’m afraid I have to cancel. I’m at the hospital. Holly’s in labor.”

  A rush of excitement poured through her. “That’s great! Which hospital is she in?”

  “Texas Presbyterian. She’s been in labor nearly six hours. First babies can take a while, you know. But the doctor thinks she’s going to deliver fairly soon.”

  “Good, I’m coming down.”

  “Really? Holly will be so thrilled. Jim’s on his way, too. I’ll have him bring the proposal so you can take a look at it while we’re waiting.”

  “Perfect. I’ll see you soon.”

  Holly’s baby was born an hour after Kate arrived. While they waited, she drank too much coffee and went over the proposal Vera and Jim had put together, which looked very good. With a few tweaks here and there, it would be ready to present to the charitable foundation.

  Excitement poured through her as she and the Lockwoods followed a young dark-haired nurse down the hall to see the baby. Through the plate-glass window, they oohed and ahhed over the pretty little baby girl, then the nurse led them down the hall to see Holly.

  “You can all go in,” Nurse Susan said with a smile. “Just don’t stay too long.”

  Holly was beaming as they walked into her room. Vera and Jim both hugged her. A tired smile bloomed when she spotted Kate. “I can’t believe you came,” she said.

  Kate returned the smile. “I wanted to be here. I saw your daughter through the nursery window. She’s beautiful.”

  “Yes...and so sweet...like an angel. I named her Angela. I’m going to call her Angie.” Holly’s dark eyes suddenly glistened. “Angie wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for your sister.”

  Kate’s throat tightened. Chrissy had sacrificed her life for her friend. Now her killer was going to get away with cold-blooded murder.

  She managed another smile. “I know Chrissy’s up there watching over you and Angie right now. She would be happy for you, Holly.”

  “I know.” Holly was tiring, her eyes drifting closed. It was time to leave.

  Kate said goodbye, and told the Lockwoods she would call them with the results of her presentation. She tried to keep her thoughts focused on business, but after seeing Holly, all she could think of was how, once again, she had failed her baby sister.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

  Jase s
at at his desk at The Max, his laptop open in front of him. He had tried to convince himself to leave the Gallagher case alone. Kate had finally come to her senses, and he didn’t take Hector’s dire warning lightly.

  Still, he found himself searching the Houston area online news for information. He didn’t like the idea of a killer getting away with murder, but deep down, he knew he was doing it for Kate. Leaving her alone was the right thing to do. Kate deserved a stand-up guy who would make a good husband and father. Not a guy who would make her afraid every time he left the house that her man wouldn’t be coming home.

  Now that he’d made the decision, he wanted Kate to remember him. She wouldn’t forget the guy who had found her sister’s killer. Why it was so important, he couldn’t say. He just wanted to make things right for her.

  Earlier that morning, he had left a message for Tony Castillo, a friend in the Houston PD, a detective in the homicide division, guy he trusted, a former marine. Maybe Tony could give him something.

  Jase checked his cell, returned a couple of text messages, then glanced up as Chase crossed the office in his direction.

  “What’s up?” Jase rose from his chair.

  “I talked to Harper this morning. She was at a meeting with Kate and Charles Stanton in regard to that charity Kate’s involved with, New Hope Rehab. I take it you two aren’t seeing each other anymore.”

  Jase’s chest tightened. It happened every time he thought about her. “She decided to drop the case. Since she doesn’t need me anymore, I figured it was better for both of us if we ended things now, before it got complicated.”

  “So Kate didn’t need you anymore. What about you, Hawk? Don’t you need her anymore, either?”

  Regret and something else sifted through him. He refused to call it despair. “I wasn’t good for her, okay? Not long term. I’m a bounty hunter. Kate needs a settled-down kind of guy.”

  “You think so? Because I didn’t see it that way. I don’t know many women who would have gone with you to roust Eli Zepeda, but Kate did. She was with you on the case from the start.”