Behind the Lies (Montgomery Justice #2)(25)

She clutched at the hood of the Range Rover to steady herself. As much as she wanted to walk away, she couldn’t take care of Sam. Not like this.

And her son clearly idolized the man. She prayed Zach wouldn’t disillusion her son. He didn’t need any more disappointments.

Zach’s strong hands settled on her waist. He helped Jenna into the vehicle, his touch lingering on her back. She shivered. Try as she might to not be impacted by him, he was more handsome in person than on the big screen. His pecan-colored hair, highlighted with strands of ginger, glimmered in the billowing light of dusk.

He’d been younger when he’d played the Dark Avenger, but she’d fallen for that mischievous glint in his eyes that made the superhero oh-so-sexy.

She didn’t admit it to Sam, but she’d relished watching the movie as much as he did. She’d thought him harmless eye candy. Had believed she’d married her very own superhero. Not the supervillain.

As with every time she remembered all of Brad’s lies, nausea rose deep within her. If her husband had risked searching the neighborhood, he was desperate. Just because they were sixteen hours away from La Jolla didn’t mean they were safe. Ever since she’d approached the FBI, they’d drilled Brad’s skills into her. According to law enforcement, her husband had avoided detection by both American and international police for over a decade. That meant he not only knew how to fly under the radar, he also knew how to manipulate systems.

He didn’t just have money. He had powerful connections.

She sent a sidelong glance to the man who hadn’t hesitated to help. He had money, but he was still just an actor. She couldn’t let herself mix up the hero he played on screen and the real man. Even if he’d saved her life.

Still, something didn’t quite fit. Those instincts from her childhood had started pinging. With everything in the press, she’d thought Zach Montgomery was a soft playboy who looked good. Now, studying the hard line of his jaw and his intelligent gaze, she recognized she’d made too many assumptions. The story of her life.

She let out a small sigh.

“Are you ready to talk yet?” he said, his deep voice smooth as milk chocolate.

She glanced at Sam, who stared eagerly at the back of his hero’s head. How had her life gotten so complicated?

“Why steal my truck?” he persisted.

“I would have left it for you somewhere,” she said. “I’m no thief.”

“I have a perfectly good vehicle in pieces at the base of a thousand-foot cliff that says differently.”

“I’ll pay you back.”

“I’ll take a check.”

She blanched. “Someday.”

“You’re running,” he said.

She looked at Sam. “Later,” she pleaded.

“Fine,” Zach said. “Once you’re safely at the cabin.”

Jenna placed her hand on her temple. “We’ll never be safe,” she muttered.

In another half hour, Zach pulled into the front of the house. He opened the car’s back door for Sam then walked around the vehicle to help Jenna out. He stuffed the car keys in his pocket. “I’m going to trust we don’t have a repeat. I really like the Range Rover.”

She flushed and slid to the ground. Zach swept her into his arms.

“What are you doing?”

“Keeping you from falling on your face,” he said.

He marched up the steps, Sam trailing behind like an eager puppy, awestruck by every gesture, every word, every movement Zach made. Too much like Sam’s reaction to Brad at one time. Jenna’s gut lurched with concern. Sam had idolized his father…when Brad was home.

Until the last few months, Jenna had been able to protect Sam from seeing the darker side of her husband. She hadn’t seen the darker side until the last eighteen months.

She’d thought he’d been having an affair.

She couldn’t have been more wrong.

Her son didn’t know it yet, but he’d lost his father today.

She’d lost her Prince Charming the moment he’d hit her for the first time. She’d taken a bite of the apple the moment she’d discovered she’d married a killer.

Zach jostled her a bit and she wrapped her arms around his neck. Brad had never carried her this way…not since he’d carted her over the threshold. It was part of the honeymoon—part of an act, she recognized now. After one night and day of bliss, he’d received a phone call and left for a job. She’d been disappointed, but proud. He was her provider.

What a fool she’d been to believe in him.

Zach cradled her securely as he walked through the living room and down a hallway. The walls were made out of logs, and the large stone fireplace took up an entire wall. If you dreamed of mountain cabins, this would be the one.

He pushed open the door to a large bedroom and gently laid her on the quilt. “You’re staying in here tonight.”

Sam skipped behind her holding a football in his hand. “Look, Mommy. Can I play ball with the Dark Avenger?”

Zach winced at the name but didn’t correct Sam. The kindness warmed Jenna from the inside. Clearly the role that had made Zach famous also made him uncomfortable, and yet no matter what Sam said or did, Zach was nothing but patient.

“Tell you what, buddy,” Zach said. “How about I put on a movie for you?”