Page 36 of Dangerous Lies

Megan chuckled, setting her legal pad and pen on the small table in the seating area. “You know, in action movies, the hero never sleeps. What if something happened while you were napping?Iwould’ve had to saveyou.”

“Trust me, sweetheart, my eyes were closed, but no one would get past me to you.”

Megan’s breath hitched.Sweetheart?She turned, but Jax had already disappeared into the hall.

They’d both been dodging the elephant in the room since she’d recklessly kissed him yesterday, but obviously, he was thinking about it too. That knowledge both exhilarated and terrified her. She didn’t want to survive these near-death incidents, only to have her heart broken by Jax.

And broken is what it would be.

There was no future for them. Megan was a part of the worst day of his life. That fact couldn’t be erased, no matter how much she might wish otherwise.

A shadow filled her doorway. Quinton. His long-sleeved shirt strained against his broad chest and muscular arms. Mud peppered the bottom of his jeans, and his scuffed boots suggested he’d paid little attention to where he’d been walking. His ball cap was turned backward, dark hair curling at the edges. And, just as Stacey had said, his complexion looked rough—eyes red, jaw tight.

Despite his imposing size, Quinton reminded her of a broken little boy.

Megan waved him toward the couch and shut the office door. “What’s going on, Quinton?” She sat down across from him. “You seem upset.”

He wouldn’t meet her gaze.

Megan let the silence stretch, giving him time to gather his thoughts. Finally, he swallowed hard. “If someone asks you to do something… something wrong… but also right… what should you do?”

Megan settled back in her chair. “That sounds complicated. Can you tell me more?”

He licked his lips, nervous. “I…” His eyes flicked up to hers, then away again. “Maybe this isn’t right. I was hoping to talk to Tess.”

“Tess is out sick with the flu.” Megan offered him a reassuring look. “I know you were expecting her, and I’m sorry she’s not here to help. But I am. It’s clear something is weighing on you. Let’s talk about it. Maybe we can figure this out together.”

He trailed a finger across the stitching of her couch. “That guy out there… he’s a cop, isn’t he? He’s protecting you. I heard about the attacks. Everyone in town is discussing it.”

I’m sure they are.Megan hadn’t been out and about town since the first drone attack, but her imagination filled in the blanks. Gossip about her had run rampant before all of this. It would take months to die down, but eventually it would. Right now, the rumor mill was the last of her concerns.

No, her primary aim at the moment was Quinton. Clients sometimes latched onto irrelevant topics to avoid discussing what was troubling them. “We aren’t here to talk about me, Quinton.” She kept her voice calm but firm, setting a boundary. “I want to understand what’s bothering you, but you have to tell me what’s going on. If you don’t want to talk, we can end the session now.”

His gaze snapped to hers. “That’s rude.”

Anger colored his words. Goosebumps prickled across Megan’s skin, and her gaze shot to the closed door. Jax was right outside.

Calm down.There was no reason to be afraid of Quinton. He was struggling with whatever he needed to say, and she was just on edge from the recent attacks.

“It’s not my intention to be rude,” she said evenly, her patience thinning. Maybe he needed to ease into the conversation. “Why don’t we start with what you did today?”

Quinton’s leg jittered. “I bought a gun,” he blurted.

She stilled. “What kind of gun?”

“Does it matter?”

“I suppose not.” Megan once again glanced at the door. She resisted the urge to get up and open it. “Why did you buy a gun?”

He swallowed hard, his leg bouncing even more. “I’ve been asked to do something, and I don’t know if it’s right.” His breath hitched. “I…” Quinton shook his head and abruptly pushed to his feet. “This was a mistake.”

“Wait.” Megan replayed their conversation in her head—his tears, his hesitation, his anxiety. Dread churned her stomach. “Quinton, has someone asked you to do something illegal?”

He shook his head quickly, but the gesture wasn’t convincing. “I shouldn’t be talking to you?—”

“Why not?”

He didn’t answer. Before she could utter another word, Quinton bolted for the door.

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