Behind the Lies (Montgomery Justice #2)(62)
Jenna laid her hand on Zach’s right shoulder and squeezed the tense muscles. He turned to her. “You need to duck down to protect yourself.”
She leaned forward, her lips against his ear. “You’re a good man, Zach Montgomery. Whether you accept it or not.”
Heat rose up his neck.
Gabe let out a snicker, and Zach shot his brother a withering glance, but not before Jenna had had enough.
“I don’t think you understand who your brother is. He’s the most unselfish person I’ve ever met. You have no idea what he’s given up for me and my son.”
Gabe glanced over his shoulder, slack-jawed.
“So, before you go needling him, Mr. High and Mighty Montgomery, you might want to get to know your brother a little first.”
Gabe shot Zach an irritated glare. “I might if he’d let me, ma’am.”
* * *
Chapter Twelve
* * *
THE LUXURIOUS AMERICAN plane landed on a runway. Still under the watchful eye of his guard, Farzam looked out the side window at the mountain range, its tops dusted with snow. Through the opposite window, buildings stretched as far as he could see. No hovels, no decay.
This was an American city. Wealthy. Opulent.
So-called freedom existed here, but Farzam knew better. Appearances were deceiving. The shine of this grand place simply covered the decay beneath. The country had purchased liberty in exchange for its soul.
To survive, Farzam would have to be smarter than Pendar, smarter than the agents who brought him here.
The American woman emerged from the private room she’d vanished into as soon as the plane took off. His bodyguard stood. Farzam sneered at the respect. Another sign of weakness he filed away for later use.
The woman sat across from him, still appropriately covered in her chadri, the man poised at her side. “You are in Denver, Colorado,” she said.
Farzam had heard of the city, vaguely. Somewhere in the middle of the large country, if he recalled. “Where is Zane Morgan?”
“Zach Montgomery,” she corrected, ignoring his question. “Retrieve the bag from the compartment above you.”
Farzam bristled at the order, but he could play her game. For now. He retrieved the satchel and unzipped it. A passport, a list of addresses, maps, and several weapons lay inside, along with a series of pictures including Zane…no…Zach Montgomery with several men who resembled him.
He flipped to the next photo—a house on a quiet neighborhood street.
The woman snatched the picture. “Don’t bother going to his mother’s home. Her house was destroyed.”
“Did you do it?”
She didn’t respond.
“Using a man’s family is an efficient means of control,” Farzam said through his teeth. “I should know.”
The woman didn’t respond. He studied the images. If he found the brothers, he would find—
“Don’t get detained by the local police. If you do, your trip home won’t be on this plane. I can’t guarantee you won’t end up in the hands of…a very different OGA.”
“OGA?”
“Other government agency,” she said tersely. “Trust me, you don’t want to know.”
“You mean I’m really going to be taken home?” Farzam asked, cocking his head.
“I keep my bargains,” the woman snapped.
“Like you did with Zane Morgan?” Farzam said.
She stood. “Once Zach Montgomery is dead, your son will be returned to your wife. If you fail…” Her voice trailed off.
She exited the plane, her bodyguard following. This woman might wrap herself in the trappings of civilization, but Farzam knew the truth. She was more like Khalid than she knew.
Gabe maneuvered the SUV on the street in front of the hospital. Zach closely scanned the area. They hadn’t been followed, but that didn’t mean the building wasn’t under surveillance.
If he’d been stalking a target, he’d set himself up on high ground near the hospital parking garage. “Circle the building,” Zach ordered Gabe. “I need a safe way in. Maybe a staff entrance,” Zach said, staring at the hillside across from the main entrance.
Gabe followed Zach’s line of sight, his expression impressed. “Good spot for a sniper.”
“Yeah.” Zach continued his perusal.
“I recognize the advantages of the location because I was SWAT for five years. How do you? And don’t tell me you learned during a lecture in Action Hero 101.” Gabe straightened his shoulders, his gaze narrowed. “I’ll find you the best entry point,” he said as he perused their surroundings. “But, Zach, we’re having a conversation when all this ends.”
If it ends. Zach’s teeth ground together. He didn’t want to involve Gabe. His baby brother had almost died less than a year ago when a gang member’s knife had sliced way too close to Gabe’s femoral artery. He’d been forced to leave SWAT. He’d bought the bar and said he was happy. Zach wasn’t too sure.
But now, he couldn’t stop the avalanche. His family was being propelled down the mountain by too many unknown forces.
Gabe pulled the vehicle to a stop under a shade tree in the shadows. “See that door? Smoking area. We won’t have to wait long before someone comes out. You can follow them in.”