Behind the Lies (A Montgomery Justice Novel)

by Perini, Robin

  Gabe positioned himself a few feet away from the SUV, his body on alert. Once SWAT, always SWAT. Thank God. Zach unbuckled his seat belt and walked to the backseat. “Come on, buddy. Let’s get you and your mom inside.”

  Taking Sam’s hand, Zach helped the boy out. Jenna gave him a tentative smile, but he had a hard time returning the expression. His mother’s words kept twisting around in his mind.

  Don’t let love slip away.

  How had she known? Had he been so obvious?

  How could he let himself feel anything?

  And yet, as Jenna stepped into the cool Colorado night, his entire body tensed at the ready. He wanted to whisk her away, protect her, and take care of her. For now. Forever.

  Searching for anything out of place, Zach peered into the night. A small man sprinted from around the bar toward them. He skidded to a stop, but not before barreling into Gabe. The man gripped his brother’s collar. “You gotta hide me, Gabe. I got nowhere to go.”

  “He went this way,” a deep voice yelled.

  Pounding footsteps grew louder. Zach handed off Sam to Jenna. “Get inside the house. Now,” he ordered.

  For once she didn’t argue or question. She carried Sam into Gabe’s small house and slammed the door closed behind her.

  Arms crossed, Gabe faced the mouse of a man. “You led them here, Ernie. I should beat the crap out of you. Get behind the truck. Stay out of sight.” He glanced at Zach. “Follow your girlfriend in. I’ll take care of this.”

  “The hell you will. Not alone.”

  Gabe shot Zach a deadly glare. “I can still take care of these yahoos—” Gabe’s voice trailed off.

  A man of at least six foot six thundered around the corner, his face red and twisted. Unfortunately, the giant’s three buddies, who obviously spent most of their time in the gym as opposed to porking on pizza and beer, raced behind him.

  “Shit,” Gabe cursed under his breath.

  “Ya think?” Zach muttered.

  The giant stopped and folded his arms. “Lookie what we got here, boys. The gimp cop who’s trying to horn in on the boss’s business and a banged-up pretty boy. We get a three-for,” the man snickered. “If you don’t want to get really hurt really fast, send out the sniveling snitch and forget you ever saw him.”

  Ernie scrambled farther under Gabe’s SUV and peered out, eyes wide, hands trembling. At least the man was out of harm’s way. Zach edged slightly to one side to improve his angle. Even with his arm in the sling, he could take the three pretty quickly. They might be able to hold their own on the streets of Denver, but Zach had a few moves he doubted they’d seen.

  Zach glanced at Gabe. His brother’s knee remained an unknown. He’d never admit it, but that knife had done a real job on the muscles. No way could Gabe move like he had before the injury. Zach refused to see his little brother hurt.

  “If you’re smart, you’ll mind your own business and let me take care of Ernie.” The guy flicked open his knife.

  Gabe chuckled. “You should’ve at least brought a gun, Tiny.”

  “Don’t like guns. And I get my way just fine with this.” He lunged forward.

  With a quick step left, Gabe avoided Tiny, and Zach took his opportunity to take out Tiny’s goons. He jumped in front of Gabe, swept a leg around, and shoved his foot square into the first goon’s chest. One kick and the man crumpled. In a smooth move with no hesitation, Zach shifted and blasted his fist into the second guy’s nose. He fell to the ground. Before the final man had even pulled back for a punch, Zach cut the guy at the knees, grabbed his hair, and slammed his forehead into the asphalt.

  All three men lay at his feet. Unconscious.

  Gabe’s mouth gaped open.

  Tiny took a step back.

  Footsteps thundered toward them. Four Montgomery brothers raced out of the house to help. Tiny took one look at the Montgomery brothers and broke off running into the distance.

  Ernie ran in the opposite direction.

  “So much for gratitude,” Zach groused.

  His brothers skidded to a stop.

  “What the hell?” Nick muttered.

  “Ask Gabe.” Zach frowned. “He’s the one running a halfway house for petty criminals.”

  “I don’t think Nick was talking about Gabe, big brother.” Seth crossed his arms and eyed the three bodies still lying in the parking lot.

  Zach shrugged. “I learned a bit of self-defense on set.” He turned and strode to the screen door of Gabe’s house. He didn’t need the Montgomery family inquisition. Why couldn’t they leave him alone?

  Sam stood just inside the door, his eyes wide, his mouth gaping in awe. “You scared them away, Dark Avenger. Just like before.”

  Jenna placed her hands on Sam’s shoulders. Her eyes twinkled with a secret knowledge. “How about something to eat?” She stared pointedly over his shoulder.

  Zach turned around. His five brothers stood shoulder-to-shoulder, open-mouthed. Great. Just great.

  He pushed into Gabe’s kitchen. “I’d love something to eat.”

  “How’s the shoulder?” she asked.

  Zach shifted his arm. “Let’s just say my little exercise class didn’t help the healing process.” He dug into his pocket and popped the last of the ibuprofen.

  Jenna shook her head. “Men.”

  She opened the refrigerator and emerged with an armload of ingredients. Within minutes she’d dumped them into a skillet. Soon a whiff of amazing scents permeated the room and had Zach salivating. Bacon and spices wafted at him. His stomach rumbled. If only he could have a meal with Jenna and Sam and then hold her in his arms tonight and not talk. Just be. With no one after them, no knives or guns or explosions.

  He sat down at the kitchen table facing the door, preparing himself for an onslaught, expecting any second his brothers to shove their way in. They didn’t. “What do you think they’re doing out there?” he asked Jenna.

  “Talking,” she said. “Wondering who you are, and if they’re anything like you, trying to figure out the answers before they ask the questions.” She bent to check the oven, then wiped her hands on a dish towel. “Why don’t you go to them?”

  He let out a sigh and rubbed his temple. He’d been the one to push them away; maybe he should make the first move. It had been much easier to avoid them, losing himself in the excitement of battling the bad guys, than reaching out.

  Before he could decide, Gabe limped into the house. “You’ve got some ’splaining to do, my brother.”

  The rest of the Montgomerys filed in after Gabe. “Damn straight,” Nick grumbled, tugging at the US Marshal badge clipped to his jeans.

  “Kid,” Zach murmured and ruffled Sam’s hair. The boy sidled up next to Zach, complete trust in his eyes.

  Jenna placed a plate in front of her son, then Zach. “Chili and cheese?” she asked.

  “Yes, yes, yes,” Sam hooted.

  “You heard him,” Zach said, thankful for the distraction. Anything not to look at the row of condemnation—too much like his father.

  She ladled chili over the hot dog and sprinkled cheese on top. Sam eyed Zach and took a bite exactly when Zach did.

  He groaned at the heaven hitting his tongue. “Jenna, you are magic in the kitchen.”

  Gabe’s throat cleared.

  Zach wiped his mouth and finally chanced a view of his five brothers. Gabe and Nick scowled. Caleb looked puzzled. Luke’s and Seth’s gazes had narrowed in speculation.

  “What?”

  “You’re unbelievable,” Luke said. “Fine, you want to play it this way, I’ll start,” He picked up a chair, turned it around, and straddled it. “Those moves weren’t movie research. I recognize the training.”

  “And you all are just learning this?” Jenna broke in.

  “Jenna—” Zach began.

  “I’ve known you for three days, and I figured out you’re some kind of secret agent guy. Even Sam knows. Why don’t they?”

  Zach glared at her. “Junior Avenger and
I are eating. You need to eat, too. As for the rest of you,” he stared down his family, “either join us or go into the other room to speculate, but quit hovering.”

  Sam glowered at them.

  Luke raised his hands in surrender. “I’d love a hot dog.”

  The oven chimed. Jenna pulled a tray of hot slices of thick potato still in the skins. Cheese bubbled and bacon bits decorated the tempting morsels.

  “Count me in. I’ve died and gone to heaven,” Caleb said. He took a seat next to Zach and grabbed a plate.

  One by one, the Montgomery brothers joined Zach at the table and shoveled down everything Jenna could put in front of them.

  That hadn’t been the plan.

  He frowned at all of them as they ate, and Sam imitated his look. Luke choked on a bite of hot dog. “The kid could be your twin. We can’t introduce him to Joy or we’ll be ruled by two kids under the age of six.”

  All of the brothers stared between him and Jenna, then focused more intently on Sam.

  “No,” Zach said, his voice low. He couldn’t keep the slight tinge of regret from his voice. He wished they belonged to him.

  Caleb’s phone broke the uncomfortable silence. “Doctor Montgomery.” His face paled. “They’re stable?”

  As Caleb listened, his frown deepened. “I’ll be right there. Have security call Detective Neil Wexler. He’s in charge of the case.”

  He pocketed the phone. Silence held the room, a cricket from outside the only noise. Even Sam seemed to know this was no time to talk.

  “What happened?” Zach asked through gritted teeth.

  “They almost lost John. Someone dressed as a doctor put a stimulant in his IV and sent him into V-fib.”

  “English, please,” Nick begged.

  “His heart went crazy fast,” Caleb said. “They were able to stabilize him because not enough drugs made their way into John’s system.” Caleb rubbed his beard. “Mom pulled out his IV just in time. She saved his life.”

  “What was she doing out of her room?” Zach jumped out of his seat. “When I left her she was zoned out on morphine.”

  “Obviously she woke up. She sneaked down the hall to see him and interrupted the killer.”

  The men rose as one, a wall of strength. This was what he’d missed. Being part of not just any family—but his family.

  “She’s all right?” Gabe bit out.

  “Whoever tried to kill John shoved her down. She hit her head against the bed. She’s still unconscious.”

  Zach paced the kitchen, his mind whirling. “It doesn’t make any sense. Why John?”

  Jenna cleared her throat and tugged at a nodding-off Sam. “Now’s a good time for this guy to go to bed,” she said, sending Zach a warning message. “Where should I put him?”

  “Second door on the right,” Gabe said. “Bathroom’s across the hall. And Jenna, thanks for dinner. You rock,” he added, wiping his mouth. “If you ever want a job—”

  “She won’t be calling you,” Zach muttered.

  Jenna took Sam’s hand, but he jerked away. He ran to Zach and hugged his legs. “Will the bad men come back, Dark Avenger?”

  Zach knelt down. “No one will get you, Sam. I promise.”

  “Not even Daddy?”

  “Not even your daddy.” Zach ruffled Sam’s hair. “See those guys—all of them will help protect you.”

  “’Kay.” He nodded, but his eyes were blinking hard. “Thanks, Zach. Mommy said I could call you that, ’cause there are so many Mr. Montgomerys.” He looked around the table. “You all kind of look alike.”

  Luke swallowed back a laugh.

  Zach chucked Sam under his chin. “Have a good night, buddy.”

  He followed Jenna out of the room. Gabe closed the sliding doors to shut off the kitchen from the rest of the house.

  The brothers waited until they heard a door’s lock click and water start to run. Then they pounced.

  “What the hell is going on?” Nick demanded.

  “What do you know about Mom’s house?” Caleb asked.

  Resigned, Zach sank into the chair and stared from brother to brother. They were all so different, but right now they shared identical determined expressions. Zach didn’t blame them.

  “Don’t even try with the lies,” Seth said. “This is Mom we’re talking about.”

  “What I thought doesn’t matter anymore.” Zach methodically folded the napkin on his plate, half by half by half. “I had two theories since my cabin near Hidden Springs exploded just like Mom’s, but neither one falls in line with an attack on John.”

  “Whoa, brother,” Gabe said. “Start from the beginning.”

  Zach sank into the chair, then brought them up to speed. “I don’t know what to tell you. If John hadn’t been the target, I’d say that my…colleagues aren’t very happy with me and they’ve gone way too far—”

  “You think?” Seth muttered, shaking his head. “Your name popped up on the CIA’s list of potential traitors. I assume that’s who you’ve been working for. They’re setting you up, big brother.”

  “Then why not just wait until he was in his cabin to blow it up?” Luke offered. “That’s what I’d do if I wanted to get rid of him.”

  Zach grinned. “You’ve got an evil mind, Luke. Ditto.”

  “Except you don’t just have the CIA after you, do you? There’s also the Chameleon,” Luke offered.

  “Jenna’s husband,” Zach clarified at Caleb’s confused look. “I planned to help her start a new life.”

  “Why didn’t you call me?” Nick said. “I could have put her in touch with WitSec.”

  “I have two words,” Jenna said, opening the door. “Joseph Romero. My husband killed him, and he was in WitSec.”

  “Why would your husband try to hurt Mom or John?” Caleb said, his face skeptical.

  “I thought he might be using Zach to draw me out so he could take Sam.”

  “An assassin doesn’t kill indiscriminately. It’s bad for business,” Seth said. “Unless he’s gone psycho or it’s personal.”

  “Zach’s right about one thing,” Nick added. “The speculation doesn’t matter. We have two sets of targets. We need to split up until we figure out exactly what’s going on. Three of us need to watch Mom. The others need to do a little…sensitive research.”

  “Agreed. Nick, Caleb, and I will head to the hospital,” Gabe said. “Seth and Luke are the info guys. Zach…I’m guessing the news is wrong and you’re not AWOL on your big comeback break and having fun with your boyfriend in the Bahamas, so you better hang with the spy guys on this.”

  Zach threw up a third-finger salute then rubbed his chin. “Let us know if there are any changes in Mom’s condition.”

  The mirth in Gabe’s eyes vanished. “Hopefully she’ll wake up soon and can tell us who attacked her and John.”

  With an agreement on communication and weapons doled out, Gabe, Nick, and Caleb left. Zach locked the door behind them. The kitchen had closed in on him. He turned and faced Luke and Seth—the brothers who understood more than anyone exactly what he was up against. “First things first. I had a plan in place for Jenna and Sam to start over. I need to recreate all the documentation. Can you help me?”

  Jenna laced her fingers through Zach’s. He gazed down into her eyes, knowing once more they’d have to say good-bye. He couldn’t ignore the twinge in his heart at the thought.

  “Do you want to disappear with Jenna and her son, Zach?” Seth asked quietly.

  “I can’t until I stop whoever wants me dead,” Zach said, struggling between what his heart longed for and what his head knew should happen. He scribbled down the addresses, bank account numbers, and the identification numbers of the new identities he’d created for Jenna and Sam. “I won’t risk their lives.”

  “And I won’t take you from your family,” Jenna said. “They love you. We both know what has to be. Brad will never stop, not until he kills me and has the evidence. As my husband, if he ever found me and the locatio
n of the safety deposit box, he could gain access to it once I’m dead.”

  “Um, Jenna. That might not be quite accurate,” Luke said, opening a file folder and flipping through the papers.

  A small hitch of hope simmered within Zach.

  “I dug into Brad Walters’s life and found some very interesting information.”

  Leaning forward in his chair, Zach tugged the file from Luke’s fingertips.

  “Brad Walters isn’t his real name. In fact, Jenna, your husband isn’t who he pretends to be.”

  Jenna sank into the chair next to Zach. “What are you saying?”

  “Brad Walters has no claim on you. You were never legally married.”

  * * *

  Chapter Fourteen

  * * *

  IF JENNA HADN’T been sitting, she would have keeled over. She struggled to take a breath. A vise clamped around her chest.

  Not married. Not married. Not married.

  The words echoed in her head.

  Her life with Brad had been nothing but a lie. A horrible thought occurred to her. “Did the feds know all along?”

  Luke averted his gaze. “I can’t be sure. When the FBI convinced you to stay to gather evidence, my guess is some cowardly prosecutor wanted a certain conviction. Brad can’t argue against his own words.”

  “You mean, yes, they knew,” Jenna said, struggling to stop the bevy of emotions from spilling all over the place. “So Sam and I were expendable—just part of a twisted game to catch Brad? They already had the evidence I’d given them. Why use us like that?”

  “I’m sorry, Jenna.” Zach lifted her from the chair next to him to his lap and pulled her close, cradling her, rocking her, hugging her against his warm body.

  She sagged in Zach’s arms, her entire body limp. “Get me out of here,” she whispered. “Please.”

  “I will.” Zach tightened his hold. “Seth, Luke, I want those documents ready. Get her and Sam a new life. Then we go hunting. For Walters and the truth.”

  Jenna had no idea how Zach’s brothers responded. Her emotions swirled around her—battered, angry…and strangely relieved. She wanted the world to disappear. She buried her face into Zach’s shirt and breathed in the pine scent of his clothes.