Page 22 of Dangerous Lies

He met her gaze. Held it. Buried in those dark blue orbs was a warmth that sucker punched her right in the stomach.

“I appreciate that, Megan. More than you know. But I need to do this. By keeping you safe, I give Chief Garcia, Noah, and the rest of the team the ability to focus on finding the man behind this. It’s possible the person responsible for these attacks on you is seeking vigilante justice, but my heart and my gut say it’s a lot deeper than that. I believe whoever killed Oliver is after you now. The quicker Chief Garcia finds him, the safer everyone will be.”

Jax’s gaze dropped to his coffee. “And the sooner my family will have the answers—and the justice—they need to put this all behind us.”

THIRTEEN

An icy breeze slid down the collar of Jax’s coat as he paced the shoreline between Megan’s house and the lake. Police boats bobbed on the water, their lights casting faint ripples against the surface. Divers in black suits pitched themselves off the larger vessel, disappearing into the still, murky depths. They were searching for the drone Jax had shot down yesterday. It wouldn’t be an easy recovery. The lake was deep, its bottom tangled with weeds and silt, but finding the device was critical. It could hold the key to identifying the perpetrator.

Jax’s phone buzzed in his pocket. He pulled it out, glanced at the screen, and his stomach tightened. Swiping to answer, he said, “Hi, Mom. Have you heard anything about Wesley?”

“Nothing yet. Your dad drove to Ridgewood this afternoon. One of Wesley’s old buddies started some kind of private investigation firm last year. He’s hoping they might help.”

Jax pressed his thumb and forefinger to the bridge of his nose. Filing a missing person’s report had crossed his mind more than once, but it was a last resort. Law enforcement already had their hands full, and there wasn’t proof that Wesley was in any real danger. Not yet, anyway. But if his brother stayed off the grid for a few more days, that might change. Wesley had never disappeared for more than a week before.

“Mijo, I should warn you,” his mother said, her voice hesitant. Jax could picture her chewing her lip nervously, the way she always did when delivering bad news. “Your dad heard rumors this morning. He thinks you’re acting as Megan Ingles’s bodyguard. He nearly drove over to the house to confront you about it, but I convinced him finding Wesley was more important.”

The pounding in Jax’s head intensified. Dropping his hand from his face, he let the wind coming off the lake cool his skin. This wasn’t how he wanted to have this conversation with his parents. He’d planned to explain things in person, but with everything happening so fast, there hadn’t been time.

“Someone is trying to kill her,” Jax said, his tone low but firm. “I think it’s connected to the night Oliver died. It’s a long, complicated story, and I can’t tell you much since it’s an active investigation, but I need you and Dad to trust me. I’m trying to do the right thing.”

He turned to glance back at Megan’s house. He’d left her in the kitchen, baking cookies with her grandmother, gospel music softly playing on the radio. Spending the day with the Ingles family—with Megan—had revealed a lot. They were warm and funny. It had reinforced what he’d already realized: he’d made a terrible mistake. Prayer and careful reflection had shifted his perspective. Megan hadn’t deserved the blame they’d heaped on her. She certainly didn’t deserve to be stalked and nearly killed by a madman.

The trouble was, Jax still didn’t have solid proof of her innocence. He could only hope the investigation would uncover enough evidence to convince his family—and himself—that she wasn’t responsible for Oliver’s death.

“I promise to explain everything when I can,” Jax said, shifting his attention back to the conversation with his mother.

“Mi amor…” Her voice wavered, and for a moment, Jax could hear her struggling to find the right words. Then she prayed in Spanish. She asked for wisdom and guidance, her words steady and reverent. Jax’s heart twisted. Oliver’s death had changed his mother forever. Now, with Wesley missing and Jax protecting Megan, he knew she was carrying a heavy burden of worry.

When her prayer ended, Valentina sighed. “Of course you should do what you believe is right. I raised you to be independent and strong. I can’t be angry with you for following your convictions, even if I don’t understand them. When your dad comes back, I’ll explain to him what we’ve discussed. I can’t promise he’ll see it my way. He’s his own person. But I’ll try to convince him not to rush to judgment.”

If anyone could get through to his dad, it was his mother. Jax wanted to reach through the phone and give her a hug. “Thanks, Mamacita. I love you.”

“I love you too,mijo. Stay safe.”

As Jax hung up, a branch snapped behind him. He turned, half-expecting it to be Jason Gonzalez. The former Marine was a member of the Special Forces. Jason, along with Nathan Hollister, had taken the first shift guarding the Ingles property. But to his surprise, it was Megan’s grandfather. Clay hadn’t said more than five words to Jax all day. It was strange that he’d sought him out now. Then again, maybe it was time the two men hashed out their differences.

Jax nodded in greeting and then turned back to check on the divers. It didn’t appear they’d found the drone yet, judging from the way everyone was peering overboard.

Clay joined him. “You screwed up yesterday. I told you it wasn’t a good idea for Megan to go out to the boathouse and you ignored me. She’s strong, but everyone has a breaking point. The mannequin… she didn’t need to see that. And by taking her outside, you put her in harm’s way.”

“You’re right. I made a bad call. No one could’ve expected Megan would be attacked by a drone with a flamethrower attached, but…” Guilt gnawed at him. “That doesn’t matter. She was almost killed. I take responsibility for that.”

“And what about everything else?” Clay’s tone was bitter. “The accusations you’ve leveled against her have caused more pain than you can imagine. My granddaughter has made her fair share of mistakes, I won’t deny that, but to be called a murderer?” He shook his head. “Megan was stone-cold sober when the accident happened. The survivors' guilt, town gossip, and constant judgment drove her away. Leaving was the right decision, for her and for her sobriety, but it was hard on Rose and me. We missed having her near. Coming back to Knoxville wasn’t easy for Megan, but when Rose got cancer…”

He paused, seemingly overcome with emotion, before he cleared his throat and continued, “When Rose got cancer, Megan didn’t hesitate to move back. She helped us get through a difficult time, and I’m so proud of the woman she’s become.” Clay turned to face Jax, his expression hard and unyielding. “I won’t have you, or anyone else, threatening to destroy the life she’s built for herself.”

Jax felt the heat of the older man’s anger, but it didn’t spark his own. Clay was protecting Megan. That was his job as her grandfather, and it was a position Jax respected. He wasn’t sure there were any words he could offer that would calm Clay’s ire. But maybe that wasn’t the point.

He drew in a breath and let it out slowly. “You’re angry and you have every right to be, but don’t let that cloud your judgment. Megan’s life is in danger and she needs protection. I can provide it.” Jax met Clay’s glare. “I don’t know who is after her, or how it’s connected to Oliver’s death, but it’s my intention to get to the truth. That’s all I’ve ever wanted.”

Clay was quiet for a long moment, assessing him. Then he turned to face the lake again. “I know what it’s like to feel a grief so deep it turns you inside out. Rose and I buried our only child, Robert, nearly thirty years ago, but there are some days, it feels like he just passed. Megan is all we have left. I’m protective. But I’m wise enough to realize we aren’t the only ones hurting.” He tucked his wrinkled hands into the pockets of his corduroy jacket. “I’m sorry about Oliver. I hope you find the answers you’re looking for.”

The unexpected kindness caused a swell of emotion in Jax. Tears burned his eyes, catching him off guard. He blinked them back. “Thank you, sir.”

Clay turned and headed for the house. The conversation hadn’t solved things, but it’d brokered a temporary peace. That was enough.

Jax stood on the shore, watching the dive team, until his rolling emotions settled. Dark clouds hovered in the distance. An arctic front was headed their way. It would drop the temperatures below freezing. There might even be snow, a rare occurrence for this part of Texas.

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