Dangerous Lies(40)

“Jake Cooper is a pen name,” he said. “A lot of people call me Jake, including my mum. It’s my middle name. Colton is my father’s name.”

I narrowed my eyes at him. “Why wouldn’t you tell me this? I told you Kart wasn’t my real last name. Wouldn’t that be a good time to say, oh, yeah, by the way, Jake Cooper isn’t a real person?”

“I understand why you’re upset. Just, hear me out,” he pleaded.

I shook my head, the urge to cry ugly tears rushing through me. I was so angry and upset, feeling betrayed and like an idiot. Not knowing what to do, I marched out of his bedroom, needing space, keeping the set of keys firmly in my balled-up fist.

“I couldn’t tell you my real name. Only a very few people know it,” he said, following me into his living room.

“Like who? Because the more and more I think about it, you don’t have any other friends you talk about. You clammed up when I asked about your family. Was it all some weird ploy to get me here and trap me?”

He cocked his head and glared at me. “Really? You actually think I’d kidnap you?”

I threw my hand toward his bedroom door. “Didn’t think you’d have a stash of guns to take out a small island, what’s to stop you from targeting in on me?”

“It’s for my other job,” he said through gritted teeth.

“What are you? Some secret spy?” I mock laughed.

He swallowed and I watched the lump running down his strong neck. “Yes.”

My mouth opened, but snapped closed. I was at a loss for words.

“I wanted to tell you, but the time was never right. I didn’t want to scare you away.”

Losing my strength, I sat down on the couch. I rubbed my eyes, my mind spinning in a million directions. How did he trick me so well?

“Cora, I have a shit load of baggage I was too afraid to share with you.”

Tears welled in my eyes. “You think it was easy for me to share how fucked up my life became?”

Jake frowned, his eyes filling with sympathy. He cautiously walked toward me, falling to his knees in front of me. “I know it wasn’t. You’re braver than I am. I put on a front because I don’t know how to deal with it.” Carefully, he tested me, setting his hand on my knee. I was too mixed up to shove him away. “You make my darkness turn into light, Cora.”

“What darkness? You’re the happiest person I’ve ever met.”

He stared at his thumb stroking my knee. “I’m good at hiding it.”

“Yeah, you’re good at hiding a lot of things,” I snapped, nudging his hand from my knee and crossing my legs along with my arms. He fell back on his heels, setting his hands on his own knees.

“I am. Which is why I’m good at my job. I’m retired military, and was offered a job with a private operations company.”

I shook my head. “What does that even mean?”

He took a deep breath. “I catch very dangerous men in action.”

“So, you work for the police?”

He shook his head no, and every bone in my body shook.

“Please, don’t be afraid. I turn them into the police, most of the time.”

“So bad men hire you to find other bad men who have fucked them over. Is that what you’re telling me? You use those guns to hurt them?”

He bobbed his head. “They aren’t all bad men who hire me. Most of the time they want revenge from bad business deals. I’m good at finding men who hide. I’ve spent a lot of time in the desert searching for men. The weapons are my tools, yes, but I rarely use them for more than target practice. I’m a bit of a collector.”

I huffed. Why anyone would need that many guns was beyond me. All it did was scream crazy killer. “This is a lot.”

“I know, and I understand you being upset.”

My eyes widened. “Well, that’s a relief,” I deadpanned.

He rolled his eyes. “It’s not safe for people to know as much as I’ve told you. I have a lot of enemies, Cora. I can’t put you at risk”

I raised my brows. “So, you never intended for us to become anything, you only wanted some quick screw by a woman you’ve been toying with on the internet. I get it, Jake, or Colton, or whoever the fuck you are,” I spat, throwing my arms to my sides in frustration.

He shook his head drastically. “I’m Jake. I wasn’t toying with you, you’ve been my only friend for a long time. I trust you more than anyone!” His voice cracked, and he set both his hands on either side of me on the couch, coming up onto his feet. He was in my face now, and I was doing my best not to wither in his presence.

“ You know me, Cora, the real me. Better than anyone else I talk to. I’m a front for everyone else besides you. Don’t let this wedge between us.”

I glared at him. “I’d say it’s more than a wedge, wouldn’t you? I mean, up until an hour ago I thought you were a writer living happily on a lake, now I know you work for some private company searching and intimidating dangerous people.”

He took a deep breath, his eyes narrowing at me. He was frustrated as well, which pissed me off. I’d been nothing but honest with him, sharing my weaknesses toward a fuck head ex-husband that I let destroy me for way too long. “Cora, please, don’t let this ruin what we have.”