Behind the Lies (Montgomery Justice #2)(66)

Before he spoke with John, though, he had to discover who had planted the bomb that could have killed his mother—and John. Whether it was Brad or someone connected to the CIA, they’d invaded his territory.

Mercy wasn’t an option.




Brad Walters shrank into the shadows, his body disappearing from view. The last of the Montgomery family members had left the hospital. Finally.

The reporter and the sniper. An odd combination to be holding hands. He’d considered taking them out, just to prove a point, but he was too smart for that. Besides, there was no money in the deaths of Luke and Jazz Montgomery.

Brad glanced at his watch. Visiting hours had ended an hour ago. The glowing numbers moved too slowly. But he had learned to be patient.

The graveyard shift change would be his prime opportunity to complete the job. Part of him wanted to let the SWAT captain live mainly to annoy his most demanding client, but Brad’s father’s words rang through his mind.

Unfinished is failure.

Imperfect is failure.

To fail is to be powerless.

Nothing in his life resembled perfect these days. Brad’s search for safety deposit boxes, mailboxes, lockers. Nothing had turned up in Jenna’s name.

He had to find that evidence.

The phone in his pocket vibrated. He cursed at the number but didn’t avoid it.

“Walters.”

“Garrison isn’t dead yet. You failed.”

The staccato words tapped his mind like a perpetually leaky faucet. “He will be.”

“Your performance is not up to par, Mr. Walters. I am not pleased.”

A slight shiver scurried up Brad’s spine. The words were businesslike, pleasant—and deadly.

“The job had a small hitch. Have I ever let you down?”

“Not yet. Which is why, instead of calling in other resources who are less, shall we say, fastidious, I am offering you an opportunity.”

Brad didn’t speak. He didn’t want another job. He had to find Jenna and her evidence.

“By your silence, I assume you accept the assignment,” the cold voice said.

“Of course.”

“I’m glad you understand that you have no choice in the matter.” Drumming sounded through the phone, the cadence scraping Brad’s nerves. He fisted his hand, wanting nothing more than to slice off the fingers irritating him. “Kill Garrison, then stand by. Do not leave the Denver area. You will hear from me when you’re needed.”

The phone clicked.

Brad swallowed deeply. He didn’t like being on the end of the puppet master’s string. He gripped the phone. He hated not making his own choices.

Failure. Failure. Failure.

Brad stuffed his phone into his pocket and entered the hospital. He’d find a way to extricate himself from his client’s hold. He just had to think and plan.

He excelled at planning. Despite what his father believed.

For now, he had a job to finish.





* * *





Chapter Thirteen




* * *





ERIE SHADOWS FILTERED across the deserted parking lot. Jenna stared at the door Zach had disappeared into. Separated for the first time in days, she missed his presence. Not a good sign. The side door of the hospital swung open, the jamb framing a large male figure. Jenna’s heart skipped a beat in recognition. Zach.

He shoved a hand into his jeans and his shoulders hunched. His boots scuffed the asphalt in the parking lot. She slid closer to the window and placed her hand on the glass. He wasn’t being careful enough.

When he strode under the parking light, she winced. The tension and worry painting his face hadn’t eased with seeing his mother. The fingers of her left hand dug into her jeans.

Had his mother taken a bad turn? Oh God. What if Brad had destroyed Zach’s family?

Her breath caught; she bit down on her lip hard.

“You care about him.” Gabe’s whispered voice echoed in the vehicle.

Jenna’s focus stayed pinned to Zach, soaking in his suffering figure. “He’s a good man.”

“He doesn’t take anything too seriously.” Gabe let out a slow stream of air. “You seem like a nice woman, Jenna. Be careful.”

She twisted in her seat and shook her head at the brother with whom Zach had traded barbs since their arrival in Denver. “I thought maybe this thing,” she waved her hand in the air, “between you two was a brother deal, but you really don’t know him at all, do you? How can you not recognize how much he feels?”

The car door opened and Zach slid in the front seat. He cleared the emotion from his throat. “Let’s go.”

“How’s Mom?” Gabe asked, setting the SUV into motion. He maneuvered out of the parking lot and started down the road, but not without glancing at his brother time and time again as if he’d never seen Zach before.

Clearly, Gabe hadn’t. Maybe none of Zach’s brothers had.

“Bruised and battered.” Zach bit through the words, his tone laced with a gruffness Jenna had never heard, a near break in his voice. Jenna leaned forward and rested her hand on his arm. He stiffened beneath her touch, and with a subtle movement avoided the contact.

Uncertain whether Zach had directed the rebuff at her or didn’t want to make himself vulnerable in front of his brother, Jenna sank back into the supple seats. Her chest ached with disappointment. Either way, why would he need her—the woman who had brought a man like Brad down on his family.