Behind the Lies (Montgomery Justice #2)(36)

He shoved aside the jealousy he had no right to feel and pasted on a fake and shallow smile. “The movie’s in the player in the living room. Give me a half hour to shower and shave and we’ll meet downstairs.” He snagged three strips of bacon and bit down hard. “Man, that’s good.”

“What are we going to do while Sam’s watching your movie?” she asked, her voice slow and cautious.

He could smell the caution lacing her words; he abhorred the fear in her eyes. He’d like to castrate Brad Walters just for that. “I’m going to teach you a few ways to crack my balls—and anyone else’s.”




Jenna hovered at the top of the stairs in trepidation. She glanced over her shoulder. Sam mimicked the Dark Avenger’s moves in front of the television, his little body twisting and kicking. His tongue stuck out in concentration. The familiar expression tugged at her heart. Focused, and without fear. When he tumbled onto his backside, he laughed, stood, and kept right on going. She could learn from her son.

“Are you just going to stand there, or do you have the courage to venture into my lair?” Zach challenged, using a line from his movie.

“I have the courage,” Jenna countered. “Do you have chocolate ice cream?”

He laughed and looked up the stairs at her. “Not bad. You could be an actress.”

At his words, she paused at the bottom of the oak steps. “I’ve learned to lie and keep secrets for the last year. I didn’t like it.”

Zach’s smile faded away. “You’ll have to get used to it. Lies can be wearing, but they can also save your life.” The form-fitting black T-shirt hugged Zach’s torso. He didn’t have an ounce of fat on him. His muscles rippled. He had to spend hours a day working out.

He crooked his finger at her from the doorway of a room with blinking lights and toys. He did have a superhero’s lair down here. She crossed the spongy mat he’d laid out on the floor.

“How’s your head?” he asked, probing at the cut just beneath her hairline.

Surprised that his touch didn’t hurt, she pressed against her wound. “I thought I’d have a headache, but I didn’t even need a pain pill this morning.”

“Good,” Zach said with a prying gaze. “I don’t want to hold back.”

She shifted in discomfort. As a distraction, she pointed to the desk, littered with electronics. “What is all this stuff?”

“A few toys.”

He pulled out a folder and slapped it down on the wood. “Before we start, are you certain you want to disappear, Jenna?”

“Do you have a better idea?”

“The best option is for you to give me the proof that Brad Walters is an assassin. I’ll find an honest government official and Brad goes to prison for the rest of his life.”

The words sounded good, something from a happy ending, but she knew better. “I tried that with Agent Fallon. I trusted him, but he lied to me. He’s acted really strange ever since they tied Brad to the Chameleon.”

Zach stilled and faced Jenna. “Your husband is the Chameleon?” He shoved his hand into his hair.

“That’s the same reaction Fallon had. That’s why he wanted me to stay with Brad until they had proof.”

Zach kneaded the back of his neck. “Holy hell, Jenna. That guy’s on every agency’s wanted list from here to Istanbul. No one’s been able to catch him. They don’t even know how many people he’s killed. He’s that good. He has no regular modus operandi. The man is an encyclopedia in methods to murder.”

“I know,” Jenna said, swallowing the churning her stomach. “And he’s killed one hundred and seventy-eight people in the last decade.”

A long, low whistle escaped from Zach. “You have names, dates, the works?”

She shook her head. “I have dates, initials, and dollars. A few travel receipts.”

“And they didn’t run the bastard in.” Lines narrowed on Zach’s forehead. “Right. No FBI.” He faced Jenna, his expression troubled. “You were right not to trust them, Jenna.” His hand stroked her cheek. “If I had more time, I’d work this differently, but I don’t have a choice. Come here.” He reached for a small electronic gadget on the table. “You’ll need communication. Use prepaid phones. Switch them out once a month.” He turned the small device over in his hand. “Hook this to the power source when you’re making a call. It will jam any tracking.”

Zach set down the phone attachment and picked up a small box. “This will turn your phone into secure Internet access without you ever having to sign up.”

“That’s not possible,” she said.

“Really?” He quirked a brow.

Heat rushed into her cheeks. “How’d you get all this? Brad loves his gadgets, and I’ve never seen anything like these,” Jenna said, turning over the items in her hands.

“Being in high-tech movies gets me access to lots of gizmos,” Zach said, meeting her gaze with his own steady look.

She recognized the unflinching, deceitful stare, and she hated it. She’d seen it too much after her father died, and now realized how often Brad had pulled it on her, but she’d been too in love to notice. No longer. She placed the items on the table. “You’re lying. Please, Zach. Don’t lie to me. If you can’t tell me, say so, but don’t lie.”