Deadly Deception (11 page)

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Mallory sat at the bar, a pack of ice in her left hand, a shot of whisky in her right. She’d already had four rounds, and had no intentions of stopping until she’d drained the rest of the bottle. The stool beside her scraped back, and she shifted her gaze just enough to see Cole slide in next to her, a bottle of beer fisted in one hand. She cursed. She’d already made it clear to both men she wasn’t in the mood for company, though they’d ignored her for the most part and had accompanied her to the bar just the same. But that didn’t mean she had to like it.

He took a long pull, staring at the label for what felt like forever before finally acknowledging her. “How’s your jaw?”

She stared at her own glass, trying to ignore the way her face pulsed to the beat of her heart. That first punch had split her lower lip and bruised her cheek, turning her skin a deep shade of purple. It’d started to swell before the paramedics had left the scene and not even an hour’s worth of icing it had been enough to lessen the pain.

She shrugged, finishing the rest of her shot. “Fine.”

Cole scoffed, banging his beer down on the table. “Fuck, Mallory! Pulling off a dumbass move is one thing. Brushing off the fact you damn near got your ass kicked, let alone raped, is another.”

Mallory glared at him, not willing to back down. “I didn’t get my ass kicked, Cole. I was chasing down a suspect when that bastard popped out of nowhere and caught me by surprise. The creep landed a lucky punch, nothing more. And in case you didn’t notice, I sent all four of those thugs to the hospital, so don’t even start with me.”

“Oh, that’s right. I forgot. You went all
Jackie Chan
on them, so that makes it okay.”

Anger burned through the hurt and she turned, groaning when a sharp pain stabbed through her jaw. “There’s another body lying in the morgue bearing all the markings of John Davies.” She waved at her face. “So this is getting off easy.” She raised the ice pack to her cheek, staring back at her empty drink. “If you only sat down to lecture me, you can find somewhere else to sit. As I already told you, I’m not really in the mood.”

Cole cursed beside her, shuffling around as if he couldn’t sit still. When she chanced a look his way, he handed her a new pack of ice, taking the old from her and giving it to the bartender. His lips had tensed into a fine line across his face as the muscle in his jaw jumped.

“You are one stubborn SOB, you know that?” He sighed and eased back onto the stool. “So…you sure you saw what you said you saw?”

She snorted, shaking her head. “I’m not sure I was even there at this point. But yeah, it sure as hell looked like Davies. What I saw of him. God knows how that’s even possible, but…”

She didn’t finish, knowing Cole would draw the same conclusions she had. Either Davies was part of some elaborate, cover-up scheme, or she’d simply seen a ghost.

Or she’d finally lost her mind, which she suspected was Cole’s first choice.

She placed the ice against her face, enjoying the numbing coldness. She didn’t really care if it was Davies or his ghost, or her mind playing tricks on her, all she wanted was for the pounding in her head to stop. And for that, she needed another shot.

She held up her glass, ignoring the heavy sigh Cole gave her.

“I think you’ve had enough, Mal.”

“It still hurts.”

He laid his hand across her arm, cupping, not clenching. “The whisky won’t fix that. You should go home. Get some sleep. In fact, take a day off tomorrow.”

“Is that an order?”

“Fuck, you don’t give an inch, do you?”

“I’m only this stubborn when my partner thinks I’m crazy…or are you speaking on Sawyer’s behalf?”

Cole chuckled. “I wouldn’t presume to speak for him. Besides, I doubt he’ll do anything that doesn’t involve yelling.” He leaned in closer. “So tell me. How long have you two been sleeping together?”

She shifted just her eyes to focus on him. “I only said that to shut you up.”

“No you didn’t. You both put up a pretty good front, but there’s no doubt that you’re doing the nasty. I just wondered if it’s recent or since that first night a week ago?”

She raised her eyebrow, hoping it didn’t start off a chain reaction of pain. “What makes you so certain?”

He nodded over her shoulder. “The way Sawyer’s watching you. He hasn’t taken his eyes off you since you basically told us both to fuck off and marched over here.”

She gritted her teeth against the pain and took a quick glance over her shoulder. The look in Sawyer’s eyes stole her breath. It was nothing short of lethal.

She shrugged, slowly turning back to her drink. “He’s just pissed. That doesn’t mean I’m having sex with him.”

“Mallory. I’ve seen that look on his face before. He might be pissed, but that’s fear in his eyes. You scared the shit out of him tonight, and he wouldn’t be that upset if he wasn’t invested intimately in your wellbeing.” Cole took another pull. “And you’re lying to yourself if you think it’s just sex.”

Mallory sighed. Her head hurt far too much to keep up any pretence with Cole. Besides, she had yet to lie successfully to the man. That was how he knew about the marriage. “I had a nightmare that first night he was going to stay in the spare room and…” She raised one side of her mouth into a grin. “He was kind enough to take my mind off of it.”

Cole stayed strangely quiet, nodding his head as he downed the rest of his beer. Then he scraped back his stool and threw some money on the bar. “You sure that’s wise?”

She laughed. “Hell, no. But…” She forced herself to swallow past the large lump suddenly lodged in her throat. “Damn. You know I’m still in love with him.” She waved it off. “I’ll be fine.”

Cole patted her on the arm. “Sure. Just know this. If he hurts you again, you’ll have to get in line if you want to kill him.”

She gave him a smile, holding up her glass to the bartender as Cole walked away. She’d worry about Sawyer later, once she was too numb to care. The bartender shook his head, but filled her glass, giving her a hard look. She nodded her thanks, sliding it across the polished wood until it rested in front of her. The brown liquid gleamed in the overhead lights, mirroring the row of glasses above her in the small circle. She closed her eyes, lifting the shot to her lips. A hand closed around hers, stopping the glass an inch away.

Her eyelids snapped open and she twisted her head. Sawyer stood beside her, one hand palmed on the bar as the other curled around hers. He held her stare, daring her to challenge him as he gently removed the glass and set it on the bar. Then he tossed down thirty bucks, his gaze never leaving hers.

“It’s time to go. Grab your coat. We’re leaving.”

“I didn’t finish my drink.”

He blocked her from reaching the glass. “Trust me, darling. You’re done. We’re leaving.”

He pulled her off the stool, grabbing her jacket as he headed for the door. She stumbled behind him, caught between trying to keep up and wanting to yank herself free. She waited until they’d cleared the door, stepping into the light rain still blanketing the city, before digging in her heels and pulling her arm away.

Sawyer stopped and turned, the anger on his face more than obvious. “I’m not in the mood to argue with you, Mallory. Now get your ass in the car before I pick you up and carry you there.”

Mallory glared at him.
Of all the arrogant
… “Fuck you.”

Sawyer growled and moved closer, using his size in an attempt to intimidate her. He stared down at her, close enough to touch her but not moving his hands. “We already tried that, but it hasn’t seemed to improve your attitude any. You’re as reckless as ever.”

“And you’re still an arrogant prick who thinks he can waltz into my life after missing in action for two years and tell me what to do.” She crossed her arms on her chest, praying she didn’t fall on her face as the pain in her head blurred her surroundings. “I’ve managed to survive all this time without you. I think I can make it another night.”

Sawyer’s expression changed slightly, something akin to guilt flashing across his face. “So that’s what this is about? Of all the times, you’re picking now to have it out? Fine. What do you want from me? To have me say I’m sorry? Fine. You’ve got it. I am sorry, Mallory. Sorry I didn’t stick around and pressure you some more when you sat up in your bed and screamed at me to get the hell out of your life!”

His words were laced with pain, but she didn’t let it stop her. He wasn’t the only one hurting.

She held her ground, not backing down when he stared at her, hair wet across his face, his eyes like two dark pools. “I’ve told you. I don’t remember any of it.”

“How fucking convenient for you…
darling
.”

She scowled at the endearment, inching closer. “What’s
convenient
, lover, is how over the past week, I’ve managed to tell you I love you, yet I haven’t heard anything remotely resembling those words from you.”

A broken sob bubbled free as the truth of the statement hit home. That was what was really killing her. That he hadn’t reciprocated her feelings and just the thought of him walking away again was destroying what little sanity she’d salvaged.

Sawyer’s eyes bulged wide for a second then narrowed as he watched her through lowered lids. His expression didn’t soften as he leaned in, grabbing her shirt on her good side. “The only reason I haven’t told you I love you is because you’re not ready to hear it. And don’t furrow your brow at me like you think I’m crazy, because you know it’s true.” He shook his head, looking at his feet before meeting her gaze again. “Damn it, Mal, you’re so close to the edge, Cole carries a straitjacket around in the back of his truck…just in case.” He took a quick breath, blowing it out slowly. “Besides, if you can’t tell how much I love you with every touch, every kiss, every bloody smile then that’s the real fucking problem here. Now I’ll ask you again. Get in the car.”

Mallory stared at him, stunned. Was she really riding the line that closely? Cole had made his concerns known on more than one occasion, but she’d never thought he was serious.

The sudden realisation zapped the last of her strength, and she didn’t fight when Sawyer curled his fingers around her arm again and led her to her Jeep. She slid boneless into the seat, closing her eyes as he shut her door, opening his moments later. He mumbled something to her, but she didn’t reply, too lost in thought to notice. A distant hum prickled her consciousness followed by the steady drone of wheels along the road.

The slap of the wiper blades finally roused her slightly, and she looked out of her window, watching the dark landscape rush past the vehicle in a hazy fog. The odd car beamed a circle of light into the interior, but it only served to add to the distance between them. Sawyer kept his gaze focused on the road, nothing more than the occasional shift of his eyes to signal he was watching her.

His words tumbled over in her head, releasing emotions she hadn’t realised she’d buried. It felt as if he’d opened a hole in a dam, and nothing she did could stop the steady flow of water through the break. Even as he turned into the driveway, slamming the vehicle in gear, tears gathered near the surface, threatening to unleash at any moment. She bit her lip, hoping the combined pain would give her just a small measure of control.

Sawyer fidgeted in the seat beside her, apparently confused by the way she just sat there, staring at the house as if it she’d never seen it before. She knew he could see the tears pooled in her eyes, and she suspected the sight made him feel uneasy.

The man sighed, slapping one hand against the steering wheel. “Mallory. Look. I know you’re royally pissed at me, but…let’s just get you inside and into bed. Then I’ll sleep in the spare room, or on the couch. Fuck, I’ll sleep out here in the Jeep if you want, but…” His words trailed off, as if he didn’t know what else to say to convince her to move.

She tried to will her body out of the car, to stop herself from baring the last of her soul to him, but her head wouldn’t listen. Instead, she took a deep breath, unable to stop the words from spilling forth. “Do you know why I became a federal agent?”

There was a moment of silence as Sawyer stared at her, his lips slightly parted, his eyes rounded in shock before he slowly shook his head. “Not exactly. But after everything you confessed that first night, I have a feeling it has something to do with your father.”

She chuckled, but the sound was hollow and sad. “I wasn’t strong enough to stop him. To help my mother.”

“You were a kid. That wasn’t your job.”

“Maybe not, but I could have tried. I could have done something.” She turned to look at him, no longer caring about the tears slowly tracking down her face or the broken feeling radiating from her. “I could have told someone. Gotten her help. But I didn’t. I just hid in my room, secretly thankful it wasn’t me he used as a punching bag.”

Sawyer reached over, resting his fingers across hers. He seemed to sense she was too raw for stronger contact and kept his distance. “It wasn’t your fault. Your father was a sick man. And your mother had a choice. She just chose to expose you to him.”

“After his death, I promised myself I’d never stand by and watch someone get hurt again. That next time, I’d save them.” She sighed. “It took a while to understand what that meant, but being a Fed used to make me believe in that promise. I thought I could handle myself…that I could deal with any situation.”

She paused, wishing her mouth would just squeeze shut, but knowing she needed to talk as much as she wanted Sawyer to listen. “That night in the alley. When Davies stabbed me…” She closed her eyes, releasing the small sob tightening her chest. “It was the first time since my father died that I realised I wasn’t in control. That despite all the training, the gun, I was still that scared, ten-year-old girl hiding under her bed, praying the monster outside wouldn’t find me.”

“Davies had the upper hand. There wasn’t any way for you to try and save that woman and yourself. You chose to sacrifice yourself. Hell of a choice to have to make.”

“But I didn’t. She still died and I…I lost you.” She took a shaky breath, looking out her window again. “I know you and Cole think I’m reckless, but that’s not it. It’s a choice. A need to feel that I’m strong enough. I don’t expect you guys to understand, I mean, fuck, just look at the two of you. You morons can bend steel with your bare hands. I’m not like that.” She blew the breath out. “But I am sorry about tonight. I shouldn’t have put the two of you at risk like that. It was selfish of me. And I’ll do my best to be a better partner in the future, if Cole doesn’t wrap me up in that straitjacket first.”