Deadly Lies (Deadly #3)(18)

Max spun around and nearly slammed into Samantha. Her hands reached up and locked around his shoulders. “Tell me what’s happening.”

“Family issue. That’s all.” Max pulled away from her. He hurried into the hall and scooped up her shirt, then he tossed it back to her. “Playtime’s over.”

Her eyes narrowed at that, and he knew he was being a bastard, but he had to get away from her. Can’t let this touch her. “The next time you’re looking for a fast f*ck, baby, give me a call, but—”

“Stop it!” Red stained her cheeks. “I heard you. You know I did!” She took a step toward him, a furrow between her brows. Her voice lowered as she asked, “Someone has your brother? Someone has kidnapped Quinlan?”

He just stared back at her.

“What do they want?” Whispered now. Afraid.

That same fear was in his heart, twisting and turning along with a fury that flamed too hot. “I don’t know yet.” His mouth had gone bone dry.

Samantha pulled the shirt over her head. Her soft curls tangled around her face. “They’ll call you again, right? If we stay here, they’ll call…” She hurriedly finished dressing.

He shook his head. Wasting time. “I have to get to my stepfather’s.” He swung away from her. “The * on the phone said there’d be a message….” But when would it come? And just what would he want?

Money, obviously, but how much? Frank Malone was worth so damn much money. Malone’s first wife had been one of those rich, old-money types, and when she died all of her fortune had gone straight to Frank.

No matter how much the bastard wanted, Max would make sure that Frank paid. Max wasn’t going to let his brother wind up like Briar. “I think it’s the same ones,” he muttered, not looking back. “Like that guy in the paper.”

“You don’t know that for certain,” her voice came with a fast, hard snap, and he stopped in surprise.

Samantha circled him, forcing him to stare at her. “You don’t know anything about these people. This could just be a hoax, a trick, somebody who saw the story in the papers and who wants to screw with you.”

If only. “The guy on the phone—he saw us at The Core.”

Her lips parted in surprise.

“He was there, baby. He saw you, he saw me, and he took my brother while I was so distracted by you I could hardly breathe.” He stared into her deep eyes, eyes so wide and open, and for a second, a dark suspicion twisted in his soul.

They’d met so suddenly. She’d come on so strong.

Then she’d just appeared at the D.C. party. With me and Quinlan.

And she’d been at The Core, with me and Quinlan.

Samantha had been there last night, and tonight…

Frank Malone would pay nothing if Max disappeared. Max wasn’t real flesh and blood, so the old man wouldn’t give a shit about him. The money—the family money—was all tied to Quinlan.

“The guy said he’d been following you?” Real surprise flashed over her delicate features.

He grabbed his keys. “Go home. I don’t have time for—”

“I’m coming with you!” Fast, tumbling words. “Wherever you’re going, whatever you’re doing, I’m coming.”

He glanced up in time to see Samantha snatch up her shoes. “I’m not letting you do this alone,” she told him.

Max shook his head. “You don’t know what—”

Her fingers wrapped around his. “You don’t know what’s coming either. But you don’t need to be alone.”

His jaw clenched.

“Either you let me come with you or I’ll follow you, so just accept—”

“They could still be watching. Shit, they are watching. That * on the phone, he told me if I went to the cops, I’d get my brother back in pieces!”

She flinched. “Max, you should—”

“Did you read the headlines? Did you see what they did to that other poor bastard?” The guy had suffered for a long time. “They’ll do it.” His eyes squeezed shut for an instant. Worry and guilt ate at him. “I was right there, and I didn’t even see them take him.”

“This isn’t your fault!”

“I’m getting Quinlan back. I don’t care what I have to do, but I’m getting my brother back.” His gaze met hers.

Samantha just stared at him, her expression worried. She doesn’t think I’ll ever see him again.

And deep down, he was afraid of the same damn thing.


Max drove fast. Too fast. The seatbelt cut into Sam’s shoulder as he rounded a too-sharp curve, and her breath hissed out. Her fingers were shoved in her purse, and she was sending the text on her phone as quickly as she could.

And she was hoping like hell that Max was so focused on the road and so distracted by his brother’s abduction that he wouldn’t notice what she was doing.

Hurry, hurry. Her fingers tapped quickly even as her stomach twisted.

He told me if I went to the cops, I’d get my brother back in pieces! Max’s words wouldn’t stop playing through her head.

If he knew who she really was… If he knew what she was doing…

No choice. This was her job.