Game of Fear (Montgomery Justice #3)(93)

“Good luck with that. From what I’ve seen, your mother doesn’t take any prisoners,” Deb whispered.

“Yeah. I don’t know what she’ll do.”

Deb could finish the sentence for him. About me keeping a secret for all these years. She moved her hand to stroke his arm with a comforting touch. “She loves you. She’ll forgive you.”

“Yeah. Probably. No matter how much we hurt her. She’s like that.”

His words said it all. The guilt ate at him, probably had been all these years. His back stiffened as he tried to shake off too many thoughts.

“At least Neil Wexler’s been cleared,” Deb said, a not-so-subtle attempt to change the subject and get him out of his head. There would be time for that. Later. “Tower kept good records and they were able to tie him to Menken’s so-called suicide. They also arrested two more deputies. I’m so relieved for you.”

“I’m just sorry I couldn’t sit in a courtroom and watch Tower go down. The SOB is dead,” Gabe informed her.

Deb couldn’t stop her jaw from dropping in surprise. She’d thought they’d have another battle with the sheriff once they returned to Denver.

“Yeah, Nick just told me,” Gabe said. “One shot. Assassinated. Hand cut off.”

“Gasmerati.”

“Once we find Ashley, we’ll bring Gasmerati down. Luke and his family will be out of danger.”

He didn’t mention failure, as if he wouldn’t entertain the notion. Deb prayed he was right. Because if Gasmerati was eliminated, Gabe would be safe, too.

“I’ve got bad news.” Seth’s voice sounded through their communication devices. “Really bad.”

Deb’s entire body tensed. She dug her fingers into Gabe’s arm. “Tell us,” he said. “We need to be prepared.”

“Fresh digging on the east side of the building. Our radar shows human remains. At least a half dozen.”

Deb couldn’t move, or breathe. “Ashley?” she asked quietly.

“I don’t know,” Seth said. “We won’t know until we dig.”

Deb didn’t fall apart. She couldn’t. Gabe pulled her close to him and rubbed her arms. The chill taking over every fiber of her being begged for heat.

“It’s probably not her.”

Deb’s jaw clenched and she nodded, but everything inside seemed to shatter. First Ben, now Ashley? God, none of it could be true.

Gabe turned her to face him. “Look at me, Deb.”

She stared at his chest. She didn’t want to look. She didn’t know if she could hold her emotions back if she saw the least bit of sympathy in his eyes.

He lifted her chin. All she saw was determination and fury lighting his eyes.

“We’ll find Ashley, honey.”

Deb nodded again, unable to respond to the unexpected endearment. She looked back at the warehouse. She just prayed they found her sister alive, and not her body.




Step by step, Ashley closed in on the computer room. She couldn’t stop her heart from slamming against her chest. Only a few more feet.

Niko slowed the pace as he and Ashley approached the corridor to the computer room. “Go check the rooms,” he ordered the guard. “We want no mistakes.”

The man nodded and methodically opened door after door. Once he’d moved far enough away so he couldn’t hear their conversation, Niko drew her close to the wall.

“Shut up and listen. We’re between cameras. Act like you feel nauseous in case the guard comes back.”

Ashley clutched her stomach and bent a little at the waist, one hand on the wall as if she needed support.

Niko moved in closer. “It has to be today. They’ve planted gas canisters in the basement. They’ll take everyone down there, then destroy the building. By tonight, this place will be gone.”

Shocked, she stood again, though the pain cramping her stomach was now real. “Why are you telling me this?”

Niko stared at her in frustration. “You’ve got guts like I’ve never seen, Lansing. The worst part, you’re who I used to be. Who I thought I could be before . . . You’re like Shannon coming back to remind me—” He stopped. “Never mind.”

“Are you coming with us?”

“I’ve done too much.” Niko’s voice was resigned. “I don’t deserve to escape.”

“You helped us. I could tell them . . .”

“There’s no time. As soon as our important guests arrive, the Warden will be distracted. I’ll disable as much of the security system as I can to help you and the others escape.”

“Can we make it?” Ashley asked. “There are so many guards.”

“Justin and Dave made it. The Feds have them. I’ve never seen the Warden so furious. I thought he might shoot someone just for fun.” Niko shrugged. “He has before.”

Relief flooded through her. “Then help could be on the way. Justin was going to contact my sister.”

“The Admiral? The one you sent the game to?”

Ashley blinked in surprise. “You knew about that?”

“I told you. I followed every keystroke you made.”

“Then I was lucky it was you watching me.”