Behind the Lies (Montgomery Justice #2)(63)

Zach gave his brother a nod. “Not bad, Gabe.”

“I have my moments.”

“Is everyone in your family a secret agent or something?” Jenna grumbled.

“Let’s see.” Gabe grinned. “I was SWAT…now, I own a bar. Luke and Caleb are former Army. Luke’s a reporter, Caleb’s a doctor, but the others…” Gabe gave her a wink. “If I tell you, I have to kill you.”

“You can’t hurt Mommy!” Sam yelled from the backseat. “The Dark Avenger will stop you.”

Zach slapped the back of Gabe’s head. “Good job, idiot.”

Gabe turned to Jenna’s son, his look pure chagrin. “I’m sorry, kid. I was just teasing—again.”

“Oh.” Sam bit his lip and looked at his shoes. “I didn’t understand.”

“That’s because my brother isn’t very funny, buddy.”

Gabe shot Zach a dirty look.

He would have a few choice words for his brother after… A movement snagged his attention. The side door to the hospital opened. A guy in a white coat stepped outside and looked around. Then he held the door wider and a woman ventured out. The man tugged her into his arms.

“Great. Can’t they get a room?” Gabe muttered.

The doctor’s hands clutched her butt and he shifted her hips toward him.

Zach twisted in his seat, placing himself between Sam’s view and the couple. “Buddy, I was thinking we could stay with Gabe while we’re here. What do you think?”

“I don’t know.” Sam gave Gabe a suspicious glare. “He was mean to you.”

Zach chuckled. “Sometimes brothers tease each other.”

“I wish I had a brother,” Sam said.

Zach looked over at Jenna. Her face flushed. He could picture her holding another child. A brother for Sam. A perfect family.

A dream that could never be his.

Gabe cleared his throat. “The heat’s dissipating a bit. Out here, at least. Get ready, Zach.”

He turned to Jenna. “I won’t be long. I just need to see Mom.”

She squeezed his uninjured shoulder. “Take as much time as you need.”

Zach exited the car, his emotions swirling. He didn’t like the link that had developed between him and Jenna. He’d tried to fight the feelings for so long. He was losing the battle. They barely knew each other and yet he felt more comfortable with her than with anyone he’d been with…in…maybe ever.

So not good.

Zach eased toward the hospital door, staying out of sight of the two staff members.

“You know I can’t leave my wife,” the doctor said softly.

“I can’t do this anymore.” The woman sniffed and cuddled against him. “I love you too much.”

He cupped her cheek. “I love you, too.” He pressed a gentle kiss against her lips.

“Maybe someday…”

Someday. The word reverberated in Zach’s mind. Even if he stopped Brad, Zach’s world would never be safe. There would be no someday for him and Jenna. She would be the woman he helped disappear.

The woman he remembered and dreamed about, wondering what might have been.

A beeper sounded. “Dry your eyes, sweetheart.” He sighed. “Maybe I can find a way.”

She went through the door, and the doctor ran his fist into the side of the building. “Son of a bitch!”

He slammed open the entrance and stalked through.

“You and me both, doc,” Zach muttered under his breath. He blasted from his hiding place and stopped the metal from clicking shut before slipping into the corridor.

The scent of antiseptic burned his nose. He hated this place. He hadn’t been inside since his father died. Gabe had spent a couple of weeks here last year, but Zach had been on assignment when his brother had nearly lost his leg.

He worked his way to the elevators and pressed the up button. The lobby was deserted since visiting hours were over, the flower shop closed.

His entire body tense, he waited until the steel doors slid open. Luke and his wife, Jazz, were locked in a hot embrace when the ding sounded.

Just what he needed: another up-close-and-personal view of what he couldn’t have with Jenna.

His brother looked up, his eyes glazed, then just as quickly the satisfaction turned to irritation. “So, you finally decided to show up.”

Zach shoved into the elevator and blocked them from leaving. “Stow it, Luke.” Everything within Zach urged him to take his younger brother by the scruff of the neck, but he couldn’t afford to let his emotions rule.

Jasmine leaned over to Zach and kissed his cheek. “I’m glad you’re home,” she said. “They were worried.” She gave her husband a challenging glare. “They just won’t admit it.”

“Don’t cut him any slack, Jasmine.”

She studied Zach’s face, and he squirmed under her penetrating stare.

“Look at your brother, Luke. Take a hard look.”

As a sniper, Jazz’s eyesight was keen, but for the first time Zach recognized how much more she saw than the obvious.

Damn her.

Luke let the elevator door close and leaned against the metal. Fighting to meet his brother’s gaze, Zach ignored the twinge in his shoulder, crossed his arms, and faced the brother who had been through hell as an Army Ranger.