On Her Master's Secret Service (Masters and Mercenaries #4)(96)

He flushed again, running a hand through his hair. “I’m so sorry to hear that. I…I wouldn’t wish that on anyone. I would think you would stay away from it.”

“That was what he wanted. He wanted to take something precious from me, and I wouldn’t let him.” A well of strength seemed to have opened up inside her. She’d been a psychologist studying the human mind for most of her life, but she’d learned that while she could empathize, sometimes things had to be experienced to be fully understood.

She was only his victim as far as she allowed herself to be. She hadn’t been in control of what Evans had done to her, but she was in control of how she reacted. She’d let that monster take too many years from her. She wasn’t going to allow him to take her husband, too.

He nodded and seemed to come to a decision. “Why is your husband doing this?”

Was it time for honesty? “He’s been searching for the man who hurt me for years.”

Jesse’s fists clenched, his eyes tightened. “And this man is here?”

Yes, it was definitely time for honesty. He was on the hook. She just had to reel him in. He could be turned. She could make him an ally instead of an enemy. He could possibly lead them right to Evans. “Yes, Jesse. Your boss kidnapped me and raped and tortured me. Michael Evans did that, and he’s hurt a lot of women. I don’t know what he’s told you, but he’s lying. Alex was the FBI agent who took him down. He’s working in the private sector now, but he still has connections. When we catch Evans, if he’s alive at the end of it, we’ll turn him over.”

Jesse stood up, staring down at her. “That’s impossible.”

“No. Just read the news on him, Jesse. It’s so simple. Look him up on the Internet. Michael Evans is a monster. He’s a rapist and a terrorist, and he’s running drugs through the club we’re working at.”

“I know. That’s exactly why I’ve been hunting him. He’s not my boss. I work for the FBI. Do you understand? I’m not the bad guy. I’m a fed, and you’re a liar.”

Her whole body went cold. “You’re working for the SAC?”

He was working for Petty. Petty, who had called her half an hour before Michael Evans had kidnapped her. He’d told her he was bringing Alex home.

Petty, who had known where she was and how many guards were watching her. He’d selected them himself.

Petty, who knew their house as well as his own. She’d always wondered how they had known exactly which windows to go through and how to move through the house.

There was a knock on the door. Jesse straightened up and took a long breath. “Now you’ll see. That’s Special Agent Petty. He’s going to clear this up, and you’re going to find out your husband has been lying to you.”

The truth was almost too much to bear, but she couldn’t question it now. She couldn’t come up with a reason for Jesse to lie. But she could come up with one reason for Petty to lie. Carmen Garcia.

How far had their old friend gone?

“Does he know I’m here?” She practically hissed the question. He’d set Jesse on them, ordered the hit on Alex. “Does he know Alex isn’t dead?”

He looked toward the door. “He knows I brought you in. I wasn’t going to lie. He knows I was going to try to take McKay out earlier. I have to tell him now. I’ll make him see reason about you.”

“Don’t answer that door, Jesse. He’s done with you. He’s about to have everything he wants and he won’t need you anymore. Please don’t answer it.”

He shook his head as he approached the door. “We’re the good guys.”

The door opened, and Warren walked through. She hadn’t seen him in years, had thought he was out of her life. “I just got your message. You didn’t kill the woman?”

Jesse shook his head, moving deeper into the loft. “No, sir. I wanted to talk to you about that.”

All of his attention was focused on Jesse. He didn’t bother to look at her. Warren followed Jesse’s every move. “But you carried out the attack on McKay? And now you have his woman prisoner?”

“Yes,” Jesse began.

“Excellent.” Petty reached into his coat and pulled out a nasty-looking gun. “Then your job is done, son.”

“What?” The question came out on a shout. Jesse’s hand went to his coat pocket, but he wasn’t fast enough.

A little ping rang through the air, the silencer on the end of the gun doing its job. Jesse’s big body jerked and then he looked over at her, his eyes going so sad as he fell to his knees and then forward. He hit the ground with a little quake.

“Eve, you really should have left well enough alone.” Warren Petty finally turned his attention to her, stepping around Jesse’s body. “Oh, well, at least I can now pay a debt that’s been hanging over my head for years. Evans still wants you, dear. I think it’s time he had you again.”

He raised the gun, pointing it right at Jesse’s head. A bullet to the heart obviously wasn’t enough for Warren. Before he could fire, Eve ran at him, knocking him off guard. They tumbled together against the wall.

Eve jerked her body up. She had to get out the door.

“Not so fast.” Warren put the gun to her head. “We’re going to play this my way. Move. We’re getting out of here.”