Deadly Lies (Deadly #3)(30)

Not Max.

Max kept a strong hold on her hand. Almost too tight. His fingers threaded with hers, keeping her close.

He had his job to do. She had hers. “Excuse me, gentlemen,” she murmured. “Could you please direct me to the ladies room?”

The bank manager pointed to the left.

She offered him a wan smile, then she stood and walked down the narrow hallway and toward the restroom. The dress she’d borrowed from Beth shifted easily as she walked. Within moments, her hand pushed open the women’s restroom door.

As she headed toward the sink, a woman turned around, reaching for a hand towel. They bumped into each other.

The purse Sam had borrowed slipped to the floor.

“Sorry,” the woman said, her blue eyes wide. She bent, her curtain of black hair sliding around her face as she picked up the purse. “Didn’t see you there.” Her grip on the bag was firm.

Sam inclined her head. Special Agent Monica Davenport always had perfect timing. “No harm done.” The finger and the box were inside that purse, covered by a plastic bag.

The exchange was made in less than ten seconds.

When Sam walked back out, her head was up, the bag was hanging on her arm, and Max waited for her, a duffel bag gripped in each of his hands.

Her gaze darted to the bags.

“Let’s get out of here,” Frank said.

A guard stepped forward and led them to the door. Sam’s borrowed heels—way too tight—clicked on the floor. It seemed like every eye was on them.

Frank had his personal guard with him. Jared Kinney doubled as his driver and his bodyguard. Sam had learned that Jared lived at the Malone house, in an apartment above the garage.

Jared pushed open the door. Bright sunlight hit Sam in the eyes. In another hour, the sun would be setting. It had taken so long for the bank manager to get that money ready. Too much daylight had already been lost.

But another phone call had to come that day. If the kidnappers followed their established routine, they would contact Max again soon.

They walked down the steps, slow and steady, not saying a word. Jared opened the door of the Cadillac for Frank. When the older man was inside, Max handed off the duffel bags. Max’s Jeep waited on the other side of the road. He turned away.

But Frank grabbed his hand. “You’re coming back to the house?”

Max stared down at him.

“I need you. You have to stay ’til this mess is over.”

“I’ll be back.” Max eased away. Jared slammed the door. She and Max watched as the long car pulled away.

When the light changed, she and Max began to walk across the street. A slow, direct stride as—

A car’s engine roared to life.

Sam’s head whipped to the right. A small, black BMW headed straight for them, coming fast, so fast…

What the hell? Her heart slammed into her ribs in a split-second of understanding. “Run!” The damn car was aiming right for them. Coming closer, faster, turning to follow them as they rushed across the nearly deserted street.

No, not them. The car wasn’t aiming at them.

She shoved Max forward and felt the rush of air behind her as she launched after him. Sam slammed into Max, and they crashed onto the cement. The smell of burnt rubber and blood filled her nose. She pushed upright as quickly as she could and turned back to see the taillights on the car vanish as the BMW took a hard right and disappeared.

“What the hell?”

Sam glanced at Max. He was up on his knees and brushing off hands that dripped blood.

Just like hers did. The cement could be a real bitch. “We need to get off this street. Now.”

“Because some * ran the light?”

“No.” She grabbed his arm and all but jerked him toward the Jeep. “Because I’m pretty sure some * just tried to kill you.”





CHAPTER Six


The angel in the red dress came up to him in a cloud of perfume and sex. Adam Warrant blinked at her, took another long look, and enjoyed the view. “Baby, where have you been all my life?”

She smiled at him and reached for his beer bottle. Pretty fingers. Long and pale. Blood-red fingertips traced the mouth of his beer. “You wouldn’t believe me if I told you.” Those fingers circled the mouth of the beer again. “But I’m here now, Adam.”

His brows furrowed. The music was so damn loud. He could barely hear her. He leaned in closer and caught more of her scent. Just like sex. His cock throbbed. The top of her dress nearly showed her nipples. “Who are you?”

One more slow slide of her fingers around the top of the beer bottle, then down the neck, a caress, almost a pump.

He gulped. Jesus.

She handed him the beer, and her fingers pressed against his chest. “I’m the woman who’s going to give you a night you’ll never forget.”

Adam smiled at that, then he drained his beer. “Promises, promises…”


Near hit and run. Almost took Max out. New game?

Luke shook his head as he read Sam’s text. “Kim, we’ve got a problem” A big problem. A hit and run wasn’t part of the MO.

“Hey!” Her voice came, high and tense, from right beside him. She had her phone pressed to her ear. “Ramirez is on the line. He says a BMW nearly clipped Sam and Ridgeway at the bank on Pines!”