Deadly Lies (Deadly #3)(78)

“Bastard!”

He lunged for her. Beth spun away, running for the door and screaming as loud and as long as she could.

Someone had to be there. Donnelley. He never left. He’d be there. He’d be—

Quinlan grabbed her hair, but she kept running for the door. Blood droplets flew into the air, spraying from her wound.

“You’re making a damn mess,” he muttered, “one I’ll have to clean up.”

She twisted the knob and jerked open the door. Her feet sank into the thick carpet.

“Not so fast, bitch.” His fingers closed around her neck.

“Help me!”

“No one will,” Quinlan told her as he wrapped his arm around her and wrenched her tightly against him. He pulled her back into the room. She kicked and twisted but he held her too tightly. Why hadn’t she ever realized how strong he was?

Or maybe she was just getting weak. Because the room was starting to spin, and her face felt too hot, then too cold and—

A hot slice of pain burned her right wrist.

“Have to make it deep enough,” he muttered.

Beth blinked and shook her head. She glanced down at her wrists. Nausea rolled in her stomach at the long, thick slits. This wasn’t supposed to happen to her. She was gonna have a big house. A driver. Everyone was gonna envy her.

Beth swung out with her hand. She tried to hit him, but her fingers wouldn’t work. The drumming in her ears was so loud. But not so quick now.

“You’re a fast bleeder, Beth.”

Her legs gave way.

“Wonder how long it will take for you to die.”

Tears tracked down her cheeks. “I-I… killed for… you.”

His smile broke her heart. “And now you’re dead, Beth.”

No, not yet. She pulled in a deep breath. Not yet. Beth kicked out with her leg, aiming hard for his knee.


The sound of sirens filled Sam’s ears. The shrill screams made her head ache even more.

“You all right?” The question came from Hyde. He was right beside her and driving too fast. Max was in the back of the SUV, quiet, tense.

Sam nodded then realized that she should speak. “Fine.” She’d had to fight the EMTs for her freedom, but no way was she going to miss this.

A caravan of FBI agents and cops raced toward Frank Malone’s residence. Going as fast as they could, shooting through intersections, racing over the streets.

“Why?” Max finally asked. It was the first word that he’d spoken since jumping into the SUV. “Why would Beth try to kill me?”

Money.

“The way I see it,” Hyde said, “you’re the only person standing between Beth’s lover and one hell of a lot of money.”

Sam glanced back at him and saw Max’s jaw tighten.

“Why’d she go after Scott Jacobson then?” he demanded. “He wasn’t standing between her and anything!”

“That’s a question I’m going to ask her.” The caravan made a sharp right turn. Hyde drove behind the lead car. “As soon as I have your stepfather’s assistant in custody.”


She’d been a fighter. Quinlan stared down at Beth’s still body as he stripped off his clothes. She hadn’t gone down easy. Beth had fought for every breath.

Not that he’d given her much time to fight.

Naked, he stalked toward Frank’s hidden safe. Still hidden—he’d made sure not to reveal its location as he trashed the room. The safe would make the perfect hiding place for his bloody clothes. No one would get inside for a while. His father had made sure to get a crack-proof safe.

But his father had made the mistake of giving Beth the combination.

Quinlan spun the dial easily and heard the soft snick as the lock opened.

And Beth gave it to me.

He shoved his clothes inside. He’d come back for them later, and he’d burn them. For now, he had to get clean, fast, before the cops showed up.

Thanks to Beth, Quinlan knew they’d be coming. The cops and the dicks from the FBI.

He stepped over Beth’s body. She’d f*cked things for him, but he could still finish his plan. Would finish. Nothing, no one, would stop him.

If anyone tried, they’d die.


“Do you think she was part of it all along?” Max wanted to know. “Was she part of this whole sick plan to kidnap them? To take Quinlan?”

Sam wet her lips. The seatbelt bit into her shoulder, rubbing against the same bruised spot that had crashed into the pavement. “Too early to say.”

God, I nearly lost him. She hadn’t been able to move fast enough. Hadn’t been able to get to him. As soon as she’d found out about Jacobson, she’d been terrified for Max. Then she’d heard that peal of sound. Just a cell phone, just a ring…

But Ramirez had told her about his time in the Middle East: how so many bombs were linked to cell phones. One call and the world exploded, thanks to an electronic trigger.

If Sam hadn’t heard that stupid little sound…

I would have lost Max. She’d never forget the sight of him, his eyes intense as he stared at her and fire exploded behind him.

Sam swallowed. Before, she’d feared for her own life. Feared death would come for her—and then that it wouldn’t. But tonight, she’d feared for Max.