Behind the Lies (Montgomery Justice #2)(16)

Sam scuffed the toe of his tennis shoe against the floor. “But I’m not the Dark Avenger yet. I’m just a little boy.”

He refused to meet her gaze. Jenna ruffled his hair, then put her finger against her lips. “Stay here, Junior Avenger. Don’t move. I’ll be right back. Promise you’ll be very quiet? Truth?”

He nodded and sat in the corner, arms wrapped around his legs, and placed his small finger against his lips.

Her heart swelled with love for him. She prayed she could protect him. “Good boy.”

Shoving down the tension pulsing through every muscle in her body, Jenna cracked open the door and peered into the darkened kitchen. A slice of light cut across the floor.

A door slammed, followed by a muttered curse.

Zach Montgomery wasn’t happy about something.

Footsteps came her way. She ducked behind the island in the center of the large room and held her breath. A loud thud sounded in the hallway. The steps came closer and closer. He headed toward the closet where her son hid. Fool. Why had she left Sam alone?

Please don’t come out, Sam. Please.

Her son wanted so much to meet the Dark Avenger, and she didn’t want to ruin his childhood fantasy. Too much of his innocence would be stolen over the next few weeks.

Zach veered right and headed through another door. She caught sight of a truck’s hood as the door closed behind him. The garage.

Was he leaving?

She held her breath, then crawled from behind the corner of the island.

The door squeaked open.

She dove back behind the butcher block.

Zach muttered to himself and raced up the stairs, two at a time.

She had no time left. As soon as he disappeared off the landing, she ducked into the pantry, a desperate plan formulating in her mind. They had to find a way to get out of the state unnoticed. She couldn’t walk away from the chance.

Sam sat there, still as can be. “I was quiet, Mommy. Can we meet the Dark Avenger, now?” he begged. “Please.”

This time, she took stock of the shelves more carefully. Canned Vienna sausages, juice boxes. A kid’s dream. Odd. She filled a grocery sack with some of Sam’s favorites and set them beside him.

“Wait here.”

She didn’t have much time. Zach could come down the stairs any minute. She darted into the living room and snagged an afghan and pillow off the sofa, then headed back to her son.

“What are you doing, Mommy?”

“We’re taking a little trip, Sam.”

She grabbed the supplies and blanket and opened the door to the garage. The room was huge. Her stomach dropped. Four vehicles. A Range Rover, a Corvette, a small Jeep and a pickup.

A quick scan of the cars revealed a layer of dust on all of them. Then she noticed the swipe near the truck’s door handle.

An itch to reach under the steering wheel, tug a few wires, hotwire the car, and make a run for it tingled in her palms. It would be too easy. Those years of hell after her father had died might actually be worth something now, except she couldn’t risk it. Not with Sam by her side. Her chances of getting through Zach’s security system, off the property, and out of the city before the cops tracked the stolen car were slim. Especially with GPS. Zach’s car would have been outfitted with all the bells and whistles. He didn’t skimp on the luxuries—that was for sure.

She couldn’t go back. She’d burned her last bridge with Brad. She had to be smart. Get as far away from her husband as possible. Then she’d figure out what to do next.

The vehicle had a black cover over the bed. She wrestled with the latch and peered inside. A toolbox, a tarp, and not much else.

No time to debate. She had to take a chance. Pray Zach didn’t look in the back before he left. Pray he’d leave California far behind and she could sneak out before he ever knew they were there.

Jenna grabbed Sam’s hand and helped him into the truck. She tucked the blanket around her son then climbed in after him. She poked a straw into a juice box, handed it to him, and slid the cover back into place before throwing the tarp over them both.

The world went dark.

“Mommy. I don’t like this game.” Sam squirmed against her.

She settled him in the crook of her arm. He snuggled in. “I know, honey. But we’re going to be fine.”

“Hasn’t Daddy been in time-out long enough? I wanna go home. I want my house, and my baseball mitt and my Dark Avenger movie.”

The door to the garage slammed open. The truck shifted under Zach’s weight as he got in.

She’d guessed right.

And he hadn’t looked in the back. Was her luck finally holding?

“Shhh,” she said, kissing Sam’s cheek. “See how quiet you can be, Junior Avenger.”

She couldn’t make out his expression, but her son sighed and cuddled against her. The fear around her heart didn’t ease. Her heartbeat raced as she focused on the sounds around them. Relieved Sam couldn’t see the apprehension on her face, she held him tight.

The garage door opened. The truck roared to life and started forward.

Almost there. Almost on the road.

The truck drove down the driveway and paused. They must have reached the gate.

She held her breath.

The purr of the engine accelerated, then stopped.

“Wait!”

The shout punched Jenna in the belly. Her stomach roiled.