Behind the Lies (Montgomery Justice #2)(42)

“What am I supposed to tell them?”

“That they trained me well. I won’t die easy.”

The man lugged Brutus’s body over his shoulder and stalked off while Zach covered him. He committed the license plate to memory as the guy drove off. It wouldn’t matter. The plate would be untraceable.

Zach held out his hand to Jenna. “You lost your follow-through with Brutus, but the other guy, you nailed him. Good job.”

Her hand shook as he lifted her to her feet. “Who are you really?” she whispered. “Because I know you didn’t learn that on a movie set.”

“I could have.”

“You killed him,” she whispered.

“It was him or Sam,” Zach said.

“I’m a basket case; you didn’t flinch.” Jenna tugged her hand from his and stepped away. “Please. Who are you?”

He hated the fear on her face, but perhaps it was for the best. “Do you want me to lie?”

She shook her head.

“Then don’t ask me again.”

He clasped her arm and opened the car door so she could slide in. “Everyone buckle up. I’m taking you to the cabin and getting you and Sam on the road as fast as I can. It’s no longer safe here.”

“Are…are you coming with us?” Sam asked, his voice small. “Please come with us, Dark Avenger. I’ll be good. I promise.”

Zach looked at his Junior Avenger, so vulnerable in the backseat.

The boy’s entire body shook. “We need you.”

He was a good kid. With a touch of innocence that would be lost before too long.

“I can’t. I’m sorry.”

Sam flinched, avoided Zach’s gaze, and scooted as far away from the driver’s seat as possible.

With a sigh, Zach closed the car door, rounded the Range Rover, and slid in. Jenna’s hands trembled each time she tried to pull the seat belt across her body to buckle it. Delayed reaction, most likely. She’d tried to kill a man, then she’d watched him die. Zach didn’t know which sent the adrenaline pumping through her. It didn’t really matter.

Gently, he moved her hands aside and snapped the belt closed. He leaned close to her ear. “You’re going to be fine.”

“I’m sorry, I—” She held out her fingers in front of her. “I can’t seem to stop shaking. I thought I could do this. I thought I could protect Sam,” she hissed under her breath.

“You did,” Zach said.

“Brutus…he could have killed Sam. I screwed up,” she whispered. “How do you live like this all the time?”

“You learn,” Zach said, his hand gripping hers until the trembling eased. “You made a mistake. If you’d followed through, he would have gone down, Jenna. You had him right at the Adam’s apple. You’ll do it next time.”

“I don’t know if I can.”

Zach tugged at a small curl of hair that had escaped from behind her ear. “You will when you have to. You’ve got the guts to protect both of you.” He tucked the strand away. “If things were different—”

She pulled away from him. “Like you said, it’s for the best.”

He shifted into gear and headed toward his mountain.

“You’ll be fine, Jenna,” he said with a sidelong glance.

She didn’t respond, but looked out the window, creating a disconnect between them. The separation scraped at something deep within Zach. A little piece of his heart flaked away as he stared at the distance growing larger and wider between them.

For the first time in a very long time, his heart and head were at war.

She was right. Separating was for the best.

He had to believe Jenna and Sam were better off without him.




Jenna’s heart stuttered when the crumpled guardrail came into view. She clutched the armrests, digging her fingers into the expensive leather in the Range Rover. She wouldn’t miss these hairpin curves.

She wished she could just fly off this mountain instead of driving down again. At least it would be for the last time.

Her surreptitious glance swept Zach’s cold and calculating expression. So devoid of emotion since they’d left Hidden Springs, so much like Brad; a quiver prickled the base of her spine. She couldn’t get over the change in his demeanor. As if he were another person entirely.

Too much like her husband.

She missed the mischievous twinkle in his eyes. Jenna shoved aside the regret, the might-have-beens. She glanced at Sam. Her normally talkative son hadn’t said a word the entire drive.

The vehicle pulled in front of Zach’s cabin. A haven, she’d hoped. Now, just another place to say good-bye to on their road to oblivion.

He turned off the engine and rotated in his seat. “Let’s get you guys packed.” Zach circled the vehicle to the tailgate.

She unbuckled her belt and slid to the ground. The nip of chill stung her cheeks. How could snow lace the air in June? Weird.

She stared at the mound of purchases. Guilt overcame her. It was hundreds of dollars, but could have been millions. “I may never be able to pay you back.”

Overladen with bags, he simply shrugged. “Just keep yourself safe.”

Zach hauled the loot into the house. Jenna opened the back door of the Range Rover.