Game of Fear (Montgomery Justice #3)(45)

“What are you saying?”

“That you have a duty to protect your family, and I won’t be the cause of tragedy ruining your life. I’ve done that enough in my life.”

“Deb—”

“Ashley is my responsibility. I’ve had to take care of my own for a long time. I’ll take it from here.” She rose up on her tiptoes and kissed his cheek. “You’re a good man, Gabe Montgomery. Be safe.”

Deb turned her back on him and started down the street.

What just happened? Gabe rushed after her. “I can help.”

“I don’t need it. I already called a cab.” She pocketed her cell phone. “Look, things between us got out of control. I mixed up my desperation for . . . something else. Today was a reminder. You go back to your undercover investigation. And your family. As for me, I have to stop keeping secrets from mine and face up to my mistakes. Again.”

He’d seen that look before. Just a few minutes ago on his mother’s face. Deb wasn’t going to budge. She’d given him an out, but he had a bad feeling everything he was trying to do was about to come crashing down around him. “Well, you’re not standing out here alone.” His jaw set.

“Fine. You have no coat on. Freeze.” She rubbed her gloved hands together and looked over at him. “This gallant sticking-around bit is ruining my dramatic exit, you know. I thought I’d done quite well.”

He laughed. “You did. It was Oscar-worthy.”

A yellow cab turned the corner.

Gabe shoved his hand in his coat. “Your ride is here.”

Her smile turned wistful. “I am going to miss you, Gabe, even though I shouldn’t say it. Guess it wasn’t meant to be.”

His heart tripped in his chest. She was saying good-bye. She didn’t need or want his help. The words hurt, because they were so very true.




Every time Niko walked Ashley to the computer lab, he took her a different route. Was he purposely trying to confuse her? Or something else? She hadn’t been able to ask Justin if the maze treatment was standard operating procedure.

Whatever the case, Niko’s attempts at obscuring the layout of this prison wouldn’t work. Her innate sense of direction and memory logged every twist and turn. She’d learned several alternate routes to the lab. She’d spotted a few loading platforms and exits along with a seemingly endless series of white corridors and doors. She’d memorized corridor names and numbers.

At some point, she and Justin would have enough information to escape.

Niko shoved her forward. “Quit daydreaming,” he growled.

The man confused her. Sometimes, he seemed so nasty and threatening. Other times, it was almost like he wanted to reach out to her. Physically and emotionally.

Yeah, girl. You’re crazy. Niko softening? Not likely.

She touched her cheek, still bruised from where he’d backhanded her. Still, she wasn’t as afraid of him as she was the other guards, especially that redheaded guard. She never wanted to be alone with him. Or the Warden.

“I need to stop and get some materials from the storeroom,” Niko said. “Stay right beside me,” he warned, “and don’t touch anything.”

He stopped in front of a door, a stylized bomb with erupting flames painted on it. Very P.O.E.-like. Niko keyed in a pass code on the control panel and they walked inside.

Holy crap, it was an armory. Ashley froze, staring at shelf upon shelf of weapons. Why would he bring her here and let her see all this? He had to know what she was capable of doing, of breaking into.

She could barely breathe as he grabbed some ammo clips off the shelves and shoved them into his pocket. Ashley wished she dared knock him out and try to run now. Deb could do it. She could take this guy down in a heartbeat.

Damn it, if she lived through this, she’d learn to protect herself better.

“Time to go.” Niko took her arm and shoved her into the hall, then swiftly locked the door.

She scanned the surrounding area. C5. C6. C7. If the room they’d just left was a munitions room, what was in these other ones?

He walked her past a corridor that branched off to the side. Far down that hall, a reinforced door read C2. “Don’t even think of trying to escape through that door right now. Remember what I’ve told you.”

He held her gaze a moment too long, and a strange thrill coursed through her.

Was he saying don’t try now? But maybe later?

He glanced up at the camera in the hallway and frowned. “Move it.” He shoved her harder and didn’t speak again until he’d sat her at her computer station. “Do what you’re told and don’t mess up,” he said coldly. “Two more kids were replaced today.”

He walked away.

His iciness had Jack Frost beat, but she still couldn’t shake the sensation he was trying to tell her something. Maybe even help her. Was she succumbing to Stockholm syndrome, had she lost her mind, or was he playing games with her?




Gabe stood in front of Sammy’s Bar, the mid-high sun in the sky above him. He shoved through the doorway determined to find a way to push this investigation forward. Until Tower and Gasmerati were behind bars, his family was at risk.

Hawk manned the bar, talking to a customer, his tone low. Zach and Jenna sat on two bar stools, while their son, Sam, had taken over a corner table, digging into an ice cream sundae. That wouldn’t do. Once Gabe started poking at hornets in the sheriff’s office, they could come back and sting.