Deadly Lies (Deadly #3)(100)

He’d said what Frank would have told his son. So easy, really.

“I wanted to show those bastards that life wasn’t perfect! Daddy couldn’t always bail their asses out!” Quinlan’s face reddened.

Couldn’t or wouldn’t?

“Did Beth beg?” Max asked because he had to. They were watching. He just wanted this over. Wanted it all over. Staring into Quinlan’s eyes now… I don’t see the same man. A stranger stared back at him with eyes that were too bright.

“Hell, yeah. She begged, she pleaded, and she promised me any damn thing I wanted.” His lips twisted. “But I just wanted the bitch to die. This was my show, and she tried to screw with me—”

“A show?” Max’s stomach tightened. “Is that all this was?” A show to prove that he was the best.

Quinlan’s left hand slammed onto the table. “The cops couldn’t catch me. The Feds couldn’t stop me. Those *s begged for their lives, but they weren’t worth enough.”

And how much was enough?

“What did you do with the money?” Max kept his eyes on Quinlan.

“I’ll never tell.” Quinlan slowly lowered back into the chair. Some of his rage seemed to have cooled just that fast. “I’m going to get out. The shrinks will say I’m crazy, and I’ll get out.” A wider grin spread on his face. “I’ll get out, I’ll get my money, and I’ll be looking for you, brother.”

And he realized that Quinlan had a plan. Had always had his plan. “All those times you cut yourself…”

“Ah, good, they know about those already.” Quinlan inclined his head toward the mirror. “I’m just a poor, sick boy, never given enough attention, always having to compete with the killer in my own home. A killer.” He shook his head and pointed at Max. “Not a very good role model for a guy, huh? I wonder…” Quinlan licked his lips. “Do you think your kids will be as screwed up as me? I mean, with you as—”

The door flew open. “Enough.”

Samantha stood there, breath heaving and fire raging in her eyes. “We’re done here.”

Quinlan laughed. “Knew the bitch was there. I was hoping she’d come out to join us.”

Max’s vision went red. “Don’t even f*cking look at her.”

“I’ll do more than that,” Quinlan promised.

I’ll get out….

“We’ve got everything we need, Max. It’s over.” She came toward him and took his hand. “It’s time to go.”

His fingers locked around hers. He rose, pulling her close. Her sweet scent filled his nose. Life. Hope.

So much more.

Love.

“Don’t trust him, sweetheart,” Quinlan taunted. “He’s playing innocent, but he knew what I was doing. Why do you think he was at The Core that night? He was there to meet Veronica, to set up the next vic. He might have been screwing you, but it was just so he could cover his own ass. He didn’t—”

Her fingers brushed Max’s cheek. “He’s not worth it,” she said, and the words were clear, strong.

Silence.

Then Quinlan’s face mottled, and he yelled, “Fucking bitch! You f*cking bitch, I’ll slice you open! I’ll make you beg, make you scream, and I’ll make him watch!” Spit flew from Quinlan’s mouth.

Max took her hand and pressed a kiss to her knuckles. Then he looked back at Quinlan. Veins bulged from his brother’s neck and his eyes were wide, wild. “You’re not going to see daylight again,” he told him.

Quinlan glared at him, hate twisting his face.

“They’re going to throw you into a ten-by-eight room. They’ll keep you locked up like a dog, and you won’t get out.” He’ll never touch her. “But if you do somehow worm your way out of prison,” and Max moved, deliberately shifting his body so that Quinlan couldn’t see Samantha, “if by some stroke of the devil, you get out, I will find you. And trust me, Quinlan, you’ll be the one who begs because I will never let you hurt anyone else I love.”

Max held Quinlan’s stare, needing to break through the madness and make sure his brother understood. “If I see you again,” he said, “you’re dead.”


When Sam and Max walked outside, the wind blew her hair, tossing it around her face. She shoved it back and stared at Max, aware that her fingers were trembling. “Max, the case is over now. We’ve got enough evidence to keep Quinlan locked up for the rest of his life. You’re clear; you don’t have to worry.”

Silence.

“Kenton’s going to give a press conference with Hyde later today. They’re planning to tie up the loose ends.” She stepped closer. “It’s over.”

“The case might be.” He caught her left wrist and chained her to him. “We’re not.”

The knot in her stomach seemed to ease. “What do you want from me?” As direct as she could be.

Those blue eyes, so intense, searched her face. Then… “Forever. I want forever, baby.”

And the fear melted away. Her lips lifted into a trembling smile. “So do I.”

His mouth took hers. Desperate hunger, need, lust. Love.

Max.