Game of Fear (Montgomery Justice #3)(46)

Gabe forced a cheerful expression on his face and rubbed Sam’s head. “Looks good, buddy. I may have to have one myself.”

“It’s awesome, Uncle Gabe.” Sam gave him a trusting smile.

The knife in Gabe’s heart twisted deeper. He had to protect them.

He knocked fists with his brother Zach and smiled at Jenna. “You keeping this joker under your thumb and out of trouble?”

Jenna turned on her bar stool, her pregnancy obvious, and a serene grin on her face. “Always.”

Gabe laughed. “He’s a lucky man.”

“Ask him about the helicopter pilot who’s got him turned inside out,” Hawk piped up.

Jenna’s eyes lit up. “Really?”

Gabe sent Hawk a quelling look. “Yeah, but we have to take a short break for a while.”

Zach stepped closer. “Because of a certain problem of dirty cops on the payroll? I heard you might need some backup.”

“And exactly how would you know that?” Gabe turned on Hawk. Damn it, for a secret op, he might as well have it announced by the town crier. Everyone seemed to know anyway.

“Don’t yell at Hawk. Luke called,” Zach said. “And before you say anything, little brother, he’s worried about you. You’ve got circles under your eyes, you’ve lost weight, and you forgot to limp when you walked in here.” Zach gave Gabe a knowing gaze. “That kind of oversight can get you killed.”

Oh my God, he had. His leg hurt, but, against all odds, it was still improving. He needed to play the part of an injured failure in the bar. He obviously wasn’t thinking straight anymore, if he’d forgotten.

Gabe glanced at Hawk. “Can you keep an eye on everything while I talk to my brother out back for a minute?”

“And me?” Jenna queried. “What do I do?”

“You get to distract Sam,” Gabe said without a regret. No way was he putting her in danger.

Zach followed Gabe out the back. He turned to his brother. “I assume Luke told you that I’m still on the force?”

“Oh, yeah.” Zach let out a low whistle. “Mom’s pissed, and John’s sleeping on the couch, but he should count himself lucky. She kicked Dad’s ass out.”

“What are you talking about?” Gabe asked.

Zach leaned against the brick wall. “That’s right. You were a baby. Maybe not even born yet, when things were at their worst. I was in the first grade, I think. Dad was drinking. Mom was weepy. They fought all the time.”

Gabe froze. This had to have been around the time Whitney was born. Did his mother know about his father’s affair? Was that why she’d kicked him out? “How come I never heard of any of this?”

“Because, by the time you were old enough to know what was going on, they’d patched their marriage up. Things were rough for a while, but Dad never drank again after she kicked him out. Looking back, she probably had postpartum depression. Maybe Dad couldn’t handle it.” Zach glanced at the back door. “I gotta tell you, hormones aren’t fun. Sometimes I just hold Jenna while she cries, and I take it on the chin when she gets upset, ’cause I can’t do a thing about it.”

Gabe kneaded his temple, the headache moving from the back of his head to the front. “Look, Zach. Keep Jenna and Sam away from this place. I’ve got a bad feeling.”

“Already ahead of you,” Zach said. “She’ll ream me for putting her under house arrest, but with her pregnancy, I won’t risk it.”

“Who’s going to guard her?”

“Seth. I contacted him last night. He just returned stateside. He’s flying here tomorrow.”

“It’s a family reunion. Everyone’s here but Caleb and Nick.”

Zach grew serious. “And we can help. Don’t be as stupid as I was and try to go it alone.”

“Just keep your family safe,” Gabe said, opening the door and striding into the kitchen. “I’m going to end this. And if Deb Lansing comes in, keep an eye on her. She’s got it rough right now.”

“She’s the one you meant when you said that you’d met your match?”

“Maybe. Yes. No. Hell, I don’t know.” Gabe’s cheeks flared with heat. “I just feel different around her. Like life isn’t as dark and ugly as I thought. Which is weird considering what’s going down.”

They walked into the main bar.

“Yeah, I get that,” Zach said, his warm gaze settling on his wife. “If the lady makes you feel that way, don’t let her go.”

Gabe frowned. “I’ll do whatever it takes to protect her. Especially let her go.”




The cab maneuvered through the snow-lined streets leading to the grocery store down from Deb’s apartment. She needed the distraction. She didn’t want to spend any more time than she had to thinking about the man she’d left standing in the street. He was the first man to comfort her since . . . she couldn’t remember when. She’d stood alone and strong for so long, she’d almost forgotten . . .

Shoving the thoughts aside as quickly as she could, she filled a few bags and started her trek home. Her entire body was chilled, and not just from the November weather. She could be strong, she could fight, but sometimes, God, sometimes she just wanted to be loved.