Behind the Lies (A Montgomery Justice Novel) (30 page)

“Leave the bandage, but everything else—take it off,” he said, his voice husky with acceptance, his gaze hooded.

She nodded and slipped her hand beneath his shirt until she encountered several butterflies against his skin. Carefully, she eased up the right side of the material and peered at the healing cut slicing across his chest with the strategically placed bandages holding his skin together. “How did this happen?”

“Occupational hazard,” he shrugged.

She bent down, lowering her mouth, and kissed his ribs next to the injury. His blue eyes glazed over and a low groan escaped, starting deep and rumbling in his throat.

“You’ve sacrificed too much for me and Sam already,” she said, gently caressing the mottled bruises over his chest. “And everyone else. Let me take care of you for a change.”

Jenna could see in his eyes he wanted to protest. She didn’t give him the chance. Leaning over him, she let her mouth hover over his. She wet her lips. A strangled groan escaped him. He reached up, claiming her, holding her captive with his kiss.

He tugged her to him, gripping her hair, and she let him take over. She fell into his embrace as he caressed her back. His tongue begged entrance and she gladly succumbed. Her hands roamed the strong muscles of his biceps, and Zach returned the favor, exploring her back, then slipping beneath her shirt.

His rough fingertips against her skin sent a shiver through her. His lips left hers and she nearly whimpered at the loss until he nipped at her collarbone, tugging at the shirt that scraped against her sensitive skin. As if reading her greatest wish, one by one by one he unbuttoned the cotton. She shrugged out of the top and threw the garment aside.

He cupped a silk-covered breast in his hand. With a flick he released the front clasp of her bra. He stared at her, unmoving, for what seemed like ages.

She squirmed under his unwavering gaze, shifted, and covered herself with her hands.

“Don’t,” he whispered.

Suddenly shy and uncertain, she lowered her gaze. “You’ve been with the most beautiful women in the world. How can I compete?”

His hand moved hers aside, then trailed down her curve, cupping its weight. “None of those women were real. Took me hours to make five minutes look easy, and, Jenna, none of those women made me shake with want the way you do.”

She couldn’t look away. Cobalt flecks of fire burned in his eyes, now hooded with passion.

“You’re the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen,” he said, his voice husky.

“You promised not to lie,” she said, unable to keep the hurt from her voice.

He clutched her waist, his gaze capturing hers. “You’re strong. You fight for your son.” At the dancing of his fingertips across her belly, a tremor fluttered through her. “You’re unbelievably responsive. That makes you more than beautiful. That makes you perfect in my arms.”

The muscles in Zach’s neck corded as he strained his hips against her. His burgeoning length pressed against his zipper. “I’ve never wanted anyone more. I promise.”

He pulled her down toward him and teased her nipple, triggering shocks of utter pleasure. She clutched his head closer. “Please don’t stop,” she gasped.

With a gentle push, he rolled her onto her back and unfastened the buttons of her jeans. Her body swelled in anticipation of his touch. His fingertips toyed with the lace encircling her hips.

His mouth skirted the shell of her ear and he nipped at the sensitive skin. “You want me, but not more than I want you. Can I have you, Jenna? Now? Tonight?”

She shivered at his low tones, and nodded her head.

With a groan, he slipped beneath the satin and found the center of her heat. Passion pooled low between her thighs, nerves begging for attention. He stroked her softness, toying, tempting, teasing the tiny nub of nerves. She gasped and her body hovered over a precipice. She held her breath, and then he backed away.

“Please, please.” She nearly sobbed with want. She lifted her hips toward his touch. “Don’t leave me like this,” she panted.

“I have no plans on going anywhere anytime soon,” he purred. “Lift up.”

She didn’t know how she made her quaking body obey, but within seconds, her jeans and panties had vanished and she lay open to him.

He kissed her belly, her hipbone, then tasted her center.

“Zach,” she begged, straining for heights she’d never known. Her entire body quaked with want. “I need you.”

“As you wish,” he growled.

He struggled to remove his clothes. Hurriedly, she pushed his hand away, carefully unbuttoned, and lowered his zipper. He shucked off the garment, rose above her, and shifted between her thighs. She clutched at his shoulders, pulling him closer, shifting her hips to relieve the tension growing, building, wanting.

She scraped along his back and Zach groaned at her touch. “Make me feel, Jenna,” he growled. “Make me burn.”

Trembling, she reached down and took him in her hand, squeezing his hard length.

“Stop,” he moaned. “I can’t take it.”

She stroked him, and he surged against her.

Her lips parted, and she nipped at the corner of his mouth. “Who’s torturing who now?”

Shuddering in her arms, he bit back a cry and shoved her hands away. “No more.”

He pressed her back against the bed and thrust into her. He filled her to the hilt and then stopped, his breath quick, his body slick with sweat. He throbbed inside of her. “Home,” he whispered. “Home.”

She wrapped her legs around him and bucked up against him. “More. I need more.”

With a low groan, Zach moved against her, driving her to the edge over and over again. She clung to him, wrapping her body and heart around him.

He was hers, just as she belonged to him.

His movements quickened. She met him thrust for thrust. Her heat coiled around Zach, tight and straining.

An explosion of pleasure rocketed through her.

The entire world disappeared. Her heart slammed against her chest, and she gasped, stunned at the intense emotions pouring over her, wave upon wave, in time with the tiny pulses at her core. Somewhere inside, the soul that had been shattered at Brad’s words and fists began to heal.

Zach sagged on top of her, his breathing sporadic. She cradled him close, stroking his hair. She’d never felt safer, warmer, or more protected.

He shifted, still buried inside her. She hugged him tighter. She couldn’t let him go. Not yet.

A tear escaped down her cheek.

She felt complete for the first time in her life. It would also be the last.

Sirens screamed in the distance. Brad stumbled through the revolving door of the hospital, ignoring the shouts for him to stop. Blood dripped into his eyes, and he pressed the makeshift bandages he’d created against the head wound to staunch the bleeding.

His temple throbbed, but he pressed harder, using the pain to stay alert. He tripped over a cement barrier and slammed to his knees on the pavement. “Damn it.”

Stupid boy. Get up and run.

His father’s voice competed with the shouts from the hospital.

“Find him!” a voice yelled.

Quickly, Brad clawed his way up an embankment then slid down the other side to the abandoned parking lot in the doctor’s offices adjacent to the hospital. He rolled the last few feet, coming to a stop on the asphalt. Sucking in a deep breath, he wiped away the sticky fluid pooling on his forehead.

His plan had gone to hell. He shoved himself to his feet, swaying slightly when the west wind whistled down from the mountains, and stumbled to his car. Brad tugged the keys from his pocket, opened the door, and slid inside.

He gripped the steering wheel tight and stared into the night.
Impossible. This couldn’t be happening
.

He’d failed.

He couldn’t fail.

He didn’t fail.

Unacceptable.

“Bobby’s got no smarts,” his father screamed, shoving his wife against the stove. “He’ll never amount to anything. Just like his stupid mother.”

He punched her face until she curled up on the floor.

The words had seared themselves in Brad’s mind. His mother had died for being stupid. Now Brad had let that Montgomery bitch hit him.

His blood was everywhere. They’d track the DNA. They’d find him.

He turned the engine on and eased toward the street.

Suddenly, a large pickup screeched past him into the hospital parking lot. He leaned forward and watched three large men race
into the building. Part of the Montgomery clan. He hated that family.

His fists spasmed.

Cursing, he hit the steering wheel, then couldn’t stop. He pounded and pounded until his hands hurt. He heaved in a breath, then another, then another until he regained control. He could do this. He had to maintain control.

The phone on the passenger seat rang. He glanced at the screen, but ignored the call from the puppet master.

He refused to play that game any longer.

He had to win his own battles.

He knew what Jenna wanted—her son. He knew what he needed—the evidence against him. Only one of them would be satisfied in the end. And it wouldn’t be Jenna.

He picked up the GPS monitoring device from the seat. The southern California coast was outlined on the screen. A red dot pulsed in movement on the freeway.

Maybe his luck had changed.

Brad pulled a small device from his pocket. He zoomed in on the map.
A couple of miles ahead, the perfect spot.

He dialed a number.

“Johansson.”

“I need contact information for one of the Montgomery brothers. I don’t care which one.”

“You don’t ask for much. I’m kind of busy right now.”

“It’s urgent.”

“Fallon, it’s the office calling. Give me a minute.” His FBI contact’s voice filtered through the car. A few seconds later, Johansson rattled off a number.

“Which one does it belong to?”

“Reporter,” Johansson said, his voice short and staccato.

As if the man could hide his duplicity.

“I won’t say it’s been a pleasure, Johansson, but our association is over.”

Brad pressed the button. Johansson shouted out. An explosion erupted. The phone went dead and the red dot vanished from the map.

One loose end obliterated
.

He set aside the GPS tracker, picked up his phone, and dialed.

“Luke Montgomery,” the voice barked.

Brad gripped the cell. “Tell Jenna that if she wants to keep the kid, she can have him, but I want the evidence, the tapes, everything. I’ll be in touch for a meet.”

He hung up. What a mess.

“Can’t the kid even clean up after himself? All he does is leaves shit everywhere. Clean up his mess.”

His father’s voice echoed in Brad’s memory.

There’d be no more messes this time. He’d make sure everything was perfect, then he’d vanish. He would become someone new. And stronger. And better. And perfect.

He’d start again. Not alone, though. Not this time.

He’d take his son and teach him how to do things right.

A chorus of crickets chirped their muffled song of joy outside the closed window. For one brief moment, Zach wanted to join in. Despite the chaotic world around him, he held perfection in his arms.

He
should
move, but he didn’t want to let Jenna go. He eased his weight from on top of her, but she clutched at his shoulders.
“No. Don’t. I want to remember,” she whispered, and wrapped her legs around his hips.

God
, so did he.

Her softness pressed against him and he groaned. He could get used to this. He kissed her temple.

If things were different.

They lay together until slowly her breathing evened and she fell asleep.

They’d have to talk, but he didn’t want to ruin the moment. It would have to last a very long time. If this was anything like what his mom had felt for his dad, Zach didn’t know how she’d survived losing her husband.

When Seth and Luke introduced Jenna to her new life, his own would become a colorless reflection of the possibilities.

A soft knock sounded on the door. “Zach. We got trouble,” Luke said under his breath.

As quietly and quickly as possible, Zach slipped away from Jenna, slid on his jeans, and opened the door. He half expected some wiseass comment from his brother, but Luke’s gaze didn’t contain a glint of humor, only low-burning fury.