Page 26 of Dangerous Lies

Megan picked up Zeke’s arrest record from the coffee table. His piercing glare sent a tremble of fear down her spine. It was instinctive, a visceral reaction she couldn’t entirely suppress, and she hated herself for it. “A part of me hopes that when Dawson and Noah find Zeke, they learn he’s turned his life around.”

“People like Zeke don’t change.”

The cynicism in Jax’s tone landed like a stone between them. Megan tilted her head, studying him. “I suppose working in law enforcement means you’ve seen the worst in people.”

“Repeatedly,” he said grimly. “Money, drugs, power, and greed are powerful motivators.” He jerked his chin toward Zeke’s picture. “Someone like him… he’d turn on his own mother to get ahead. All that matters to Zeke is getting what he wants.”

“There was a time someone might have said the very same thing about me.”

Her voice was quiet, but the words hung heavy in the air. Megan felt Jax stiffen, saw the way his jaw tightened as if he were bracing himself for what she might say next. She didn’t want to ruin the fragile understanding they’d been building, but if Jax was going to attend the NA meeting tonight, he needed to leave his cynicism at the door.

“When I was on drugs,” she continued, “I did horrible things. Shameful things. Things I knew were wrong, but I didn’t care. All that mattered was my next fix.”

“Are you comparing yourself to Zeke?” Jax’s voice sharpened as his gaze snapped to hers. He jabbed a finger at the arrest record in her hand. “He’s a bully, accused of domestic violence—against his own mother, no less—along with a litany of drug charges. According to you, he hit Oliver and used intimidation to get whatever he wanted. People like that don’t change, Megan. If anything, they get worse.”

“We’re all sinners, Jax.” Megan’s voice was calm, but her words carried the weight of conviction. “We hurt people. Make bad choices. But we’re also all children of God. He never stops reaching out to us, no matter how far into the darkness we go. With His guidance, we’re capable of change. You’ve seen the worst in people, but I’ve seen what happens when they let God into their lives. It’s not easy. It’s messy and painful, but it’s possible.”

He was quiet for a long moment. “If Zeke is behind these attacks on you, if he murdered Oliver, then he should be held accountable.”

“I don’t disagree, but right now, we don’t know that he is responsible. And even if he is, that doesn’t make him beyond redemption.” Megan gently placed a hand on Jax’s knee. “If you discover Wesley is behind these attacks on me, would you believe he was beyond forgiveness? Or would you recognize that he’s in pain, lost and separated from God?”

He didn’t respond. Megan started to pull her hand back, but to her surprise, Jax took it in his. His skin was shockingly warm, his touch gentle as his thumb caressed the edge of her forefinger. Butterflies took flight in her belly. She did her best to quell them down, but it was impossible. The man had an effect on her that couldn’t be ignored, no matter how illogical or reckless it was.

“People rarely surprise me.” Jax lifted his attention from their hands to meet Megan’s gaze. “My dad taught us to be discerning and withhold trust, two things that I carried with me into law enforcement. Working undercover meant making quick judgments. My survival required it. But investigating this case… being around you… I didn’t realize how jaded I’ve become.”

Heaven help her, the look in his eyes… her heart skipped several beats. Desperate to hide her true feelings, she lightly pushed his shoulder with her own as her mouth quirked up. “Careful, Detective. It almost sounds like you like me.”

He laughed, a low rumble that shifted his features from striking into downright breathtaking. “You know what, Megan?” Admiration sparkled in his eyes when he looked at her. “I think I might, but let’s keep that between us for now.” Jax winked. “I don’t want to ruin my tough-as-nails reputation.”

This time, it was Megan’s turn to laugh. “Don’t worry. I think we’re a long way from that.” She glanced down at Zeke’s criminal record again and the laughter died on her lips. No matter how much she wanted to avoid the truth, someone was hunting her. Either Zeke. Or Wesley. Or a complete stranger. It was terrifying.

How far would the person go to kill her? And why? Megan still didn’t even know the real reason she was being attacked.

As if he sensed the train of her thoughts, Jax released her hand and slung an arm over her shoulder, pulling her against him on the couch. His chest was hard and the strong beat of his heart soothed her. One of his hands still held hers, while the other gently ran up and down the length of her spine.

“It’s going to be okay,” he murmured, his voice a low rumble that resonated through her.

Megan inhaled deeply, catching the faint scent of Jax’s cologne. It wrapped around her like a comforting blanket, slowing her racing pulse. With him, she felt safe. But it couldn’t last. The budding friendship they’d formed would melt away as soon as this case was over. There was too much history between them, too much pain, to let it become permanent.

One way or another, this would all end. The only real question was: how?

FIFTEEN

Prince of Peace Church stood in the heart of Knoxville, across from the main square and just down the road from the police department. The building, painted a pristine white, glowed warmly under spotlights that illuminated its steeple, crowned by a simple cross. Behind the church, a smaller building, connected by a covered walkway, housed the conference rooms and pastoral offices. Jax’s family attended the Catholic church on the west end of town, but he’d been to a few events here. The pastor, Simon Graham, was Dawson’s father.

Jax parked at the curb in the fire lane, positioning his vehicle to face the exit. He’d purposely arrived ten minutes late, hoping to keep a low profile. Judging by the number of cars crammed into the parking lot, there was a decent crowd attending tonight’s NA meeting. The thought sent a pang of sadness through him. Addiction touched so many lives. “I didn’t realize NA was so popular.”

Megan undid her seat belt. “It’s the only open meeting for fifty miles, so we get people from out of town too. There are online meetings, but they’re not the same. Being here, with other people, makes a difference.” She brushed a strand of hair off her forehead, glancing at him with curiosity. “I take it you’ve never been to a meeting?”

“No.” Jax shifted in his seat, his hands tightening on the steering wheel. “Someone suggested Al-Anon when Oliver started using, but…” He let the words trail off, his jaw tightening as shame prickled at the back of his neck. The admission was harder than he’d expected. “I didn’t go. Foolishly, I thought Oliver was the one in crisis, so why should I attend meetings to understand addiction? He was the one who needed to fix things. Then…”

Oliver died. And Jax was left wondering if his stubbornness, his pride, and his anger had gotten in the way of helping his brother. The thought gnawed at him, an ache he rarely let surface.

Jax exhaled sharply and stepped out of the vehicle, circling around to the passenger side. Instincts on high alert, his gaze swept over the parking lot before he opened Megan’s door. She slid from the seat, hooking her purse over her shoulder. Her bright red coat highlighted the natural flush in her cheeks and complemented her warm brown eyes, but it also stood out like a beacon against the dark night. He placed a protective hand on the small of her back, steering her toward the main doors of the annex.

The sensation of being watched tickled the space between his shoulder blades. Jax stopped and glanced over his shoulder, his hand instinctively brushing the holster at his hip.

No one was there. At least, no one he could see.

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