Shattered Lies (Web of Lies #3)(49)

“That’s the connection we needed, though,” Dalton said, pulling out his phone. No service. “Let’s check on Sandra and hear what she has to say about it. Then I think it’s time to renew our acquaintance with the colonel.”

Dalton followed Jason down the hall. Jason stopped at the door and then rushed to get it open. “Fuck!” he yelled, flinging the door open so hard it echoed off the metal wall. Dalton saw what it was the second he got through the door. The cot was leaning partially upright against a wall as if it had been stood on its end lengthwise and then kicked over. Sandra was hanging from the exposed beam by her bra a couple feet away. She’d found a place where a bolt had fallen out and slid her bra through making a noose. She’d shoved her cot upright and climbed up, kicked the cot away and hung herself.

“When did you last see her?” Dalton called out as he raced over to try to lift her in case she wasn’t dead.

“Right before you arrived. I took her pantyhose. Dammit, I didn’t think of her bra.” Jason moved the cot and took Dalton’s place, holding Sandra’s body so Dalton could climb up and cut her down.

Dalton cut the bra and Jason laid Sandra down on the ground, feeling for a pulse. “She’s dead.”





20





Valeria woke with her body pressed against Grant’s. She didn’t know how, but she’d somehow fallen asleep as they watched over Gene’s girls from their cabana. Grant was reclined with one arm behind his head and the other around her back and resting on her hip.

“I’m so sorry. I’ve never fallen asleep on a stakeout before.” Valeria made a move to sit up, but Grant kept her pinned there.

“It’s okay, lass. Rest. We leave in a couple hours for our red-eye anyway. They’ve just been swimming and sunning. We had a long night last night.” He leaned down and kissed her upturned lips, reminding her of the pleasures of staying up late with a man like Grant.

She rested her head back onto his chest and watched the girls being handed strawberry daiquiris. Since her time with Anthony, Val had been a one-night kind of girl. She didn’t trust. She didn’t want to have to decide ever again between love and the law. Instead, Val preferred no-strings-attached dates. However, she wasn’t ready to shove Grant out the door. Somewhere, over the rescue in Mexico, the rescue in California, the night in the desert, and time together at the resort, she had begun to trust him. And trust was dangerous in her book. It gave Grant power over her and that was something she didn’t know if she was ready for.

“You’re thinking so hard I can hear it,” Grant said softly as he began to absently stroke the curve of her hip with his thumb.

“Just trying to plan out our next step.”

“Of the operation or of us?” Grant asked, knowing her better than Anthony ever did. Not since Brock had any man really known her. Valeria had never thought she’d have those feelings again. Trust, affection, love.

“Both,” she said honestly.

“I know you’re blown away by my animal magnetism. It’s scary and intimidating, but as long as you don’t look deep into my eyes, you’ll be okay.”

Valeria burst out laughing. Maybe it was time to take a risk with her heart along with the mission. Grant smiled at her as she leaned up and kissed him.

“Hmm,” Grant said, pulling back. “Phone. It’s Dalton.”

Valeria sat up as Grant answered. She had enjoyed their moments together, free from the reality of their mission. But reality had a way of never really going away. The more you fought it, the harder it picked you up and slammed you back to earth.

“Fuckin’ A,” Grant cursed, sitting up quickly and looking at Valeria as Dalton continued to talk. “Yeah, we’re still here. We leave in a couple hours. Sure, we can catch an earlier flight. Tell Alex to get the girls on the same one. I don’t want to leave them here alone. I think they’re safe, but I don’t want to risk it until we’re out of the country.”

Valeria took in Grant’s hand as it opened and closed as if he were trying to remain calm. He finished his phone call and Valeria knew reality had just slammed them yet again.

“What is it?” she asked as he stared out over the open water, searching for signs of trouble.

“Have you ever met someone so evil they scared you to your core?”

Valeria thought about it. “Angered me, worried me, threatened me, sure. But scare me that deeply? No.”

“You will. Retired Colonel Brandon Locke. He’s the owner of CBL Services Group. Private security of the worst kind,” Grant told her. The more he told her, the colder Valeria felt. It didn’t matter she was in the hot summer sun. To know that kind of evil was out there chilled her,but sadly didn’t surprise her.

“Dalton wants me to go with him and Jason to see Locke. They believe he’s with Mollia Domini and will be used by them as their own private army.”

“Where are their offices?”

“New York City.”

“We’ll all go. Lizzy and I certainly aren’t ones to sit back keeping the home fires burning.”

Grant shook his head. “Locke will talk even less if you’re there. He finds women worthless. He’d order you taken out the second we have our backs turned because no matter how hard Dalton and I hide it, he’ll see we care about you both.”