Page 5 of Dangerous Lies

Megan whimpered as the wound in her scalp blazed with fiery agony. Her vision blurred. Blood flowed from the gash, coating her skin and soaking into her sweater. Her legs shook with fear and exhaustion. She sucked in a deep breath, trying to loosen the vise around her midsection and relieve the cramp at her side. The road, and her vehicle, were nearby. Weren’t they? She’d gotten turned around in her frantic desire to escape. Megan scanned the thick brush. There… up ahead. She had to keep moving.

A branch broke behind her.

Dear heaven, he was close.

A fresh dose of terror shot through Megan. She shoved away from the tree and bolted for the road. Her heart thundered in her chest. Tree limbs slapped her face and more roots threatened to trip her. She glanced over her shoulder, half expecting a bullet to pierce her. Though she couldn’t see him, she sensed him in the dark. Megan willed her legs to keep moving.

A looming shape appeared ahead of her. She cried out in horror and attempted to slide to a stop, but a set of arms grabbed her. Every muscle in her body went rigid. Megan couldn’t use her hands to protect herself—they were trapped next to her body—so she thrashed in a wild attempt to save herself.

“Stop.” The command was harsh and authoritative. “It’s Jax, Megan. Stop.”

The words sliced through her panic. Tossing her hair out of her face, she glanced up. Moonlight filtered through the trees and highlighted half of Jax’s face. It painted the curve of his left cheek and the fine line of his brow in an ethereal light. The other half was cast in shadow. His focus was locked on the woods behind her.

Relief, sharp and nearly overwhelming, weakened her limbs. Jax pulled her into the shadows. Only when he released her did she notice the gun in his hand.

“Who’s chasing you?” The words were whispered but urgent. His focus never left the woods.

“I don’t know.” Her breath was shallow, her heart still racing. Despite the frigid weather, sweat coated her hairline. She shivered. “He has a gun.”

Jax went still, holding a finger to his lips to silence her. Megan tensed, her gaze following his to the woods. Nothing moved, but she sensed a presence nearby. The hair on the back of her neck stood on end. Trembles began coursing through her body, and she hugged herself to keep from shaking.

Jax gently pushed her farther into the shadows until Megan’s back bumped into a giant pine tree, and then he took a position in front of her. Shielding her. Feet planted, he stood close enough for her to feel his body heat. His broad shoulders blocked her vision and the scent of his cologne enveloped her like a blanket.

An indescribable feeling of safety washed over her. There was a killer nearby, but Megan had no doubts Jax would defend her. With his life, if necessary. It was a humbling and confusing realization. He hated her. And right now, he was protecting her.

A twig snapped. Jax’s head swiveled, but he didn’t shift an inch away from her. Megan placed her hands on his back. The move was instinctive. Her head throbbed, and with her vision swimming, she feared she might collapse. Unlike her tense form, his muscles were loose and fluid. He reached back and placed a reassuring hand on her arm. That small gesture of comfort, amid this terrifying experience, nearly broke her. She bit her lip to keep the tears at bay.

Leaves rustled. Closer this time. Megan could feel the killer’s presence. Did he know Jax was protecting her? Could he see them? Or was he searching the woods for her? It would be harder to find Megan now that she’d stopped moving, although he’d successfully uncovered her previous hiding spot.

If he found them, he’d shoot them both.

Please, God, help us. We need you.

FOUR

Moonlight filtered through the trees overhead, casting deep shadows across the woods. Jax couldn’t see the assailant, but he could sense him. The man was close. It was tempting to call out—to order him to surrender—but doing so could put them in even greater danger. Megan had said the attacker had a gun. Jax wouldn’t risk drawing attention to their hiding spot, not with a civilian in the line of fire. His priority had to be her safety.

He adjusted his grip on his gun while keeping a protective stance in front of Megan. Her breaths were shallow, her muscles trembling as she clutched the back of his jacket, but she remained mercifully quiet and still. Life-and-death situations elicited an array of reactions in people—from sheer panic to complete immobilization and everything in between. Megan was terrified but hadn’t lost her head. Jax was grateful for that. This situation would have been infinitely worse if she’d frozen in fear or succumbed to hysteria.

Nearby, leaves rustled. Jax’s pulse jumped as he shifted his stance, scanning the shadows for the attacker. There—a darker shape, almost indiscernible against the thick brush. Could he see them? Jax wasn’t sure. His muscles tensed as he raised his weapon. Behind him, Megan’s breath hitched, and her body went utterly still.

The distant wail of sirens pierced the silence, faint at first but growing louder. A momentary blip of relief coursed through Jax. Finally. Backup was coming. He didn’t lower his weapon or shift from his protective stance. The next few seconds were critical. Desperation could make the attacker reckless, causing him to shoot wildly in an attempt to eliminate witnesses.

Time slowed as the seconds ticked by. Jax could feel the other man weighing his choices. Then, as if spurred by the approaching sirens, the assailant bolted. Jax glimpsed a shadowy figure darting through the trees, the crunch of underbrush trailing behind him as he headed for the lake. Moments later, the sound of a motor filled the air. Not a car or a motorcycle. A boat.

Jax let out the breath he’d been holding and lowered his weapon. He turned to face Megan. She was completely hidden in the shadows, her shape barely distinguishable from the large pine tree he’d used to protect her flank. “Are you hurt? Can you walk?”

“I’m okay.” Her voice trembled slightly. “I want out of these woods.”

He gently took her elbow, and together, they headed for the road. As they broke away from the tree line, two patrol cars arrived. Jax lifted his hand in a wave as Tucker Colburn exited from the first vehicle, his weapon already drawn. Former military, he’d joined the police force around the same time as Jax. The two men had formed a friendship over the last year.

“One perpetrator,” Jax said, in lieu of a greeting. “Escaped on a boat. There’s an old ramp about a mile through those trees. Make sure you secure the area all the way from the road to the lake.”

Tucker nodded, his sharp gaze shifting to Megan. “Paramedics are on the way.”

Jax glanced at Megan, and his breath hitched. Blood coated the side of her face, matting her silky blonde hair. In the strobing red and blue lights, her complexion looked waxy. Her torn jacket hung awkwardly on her shoulders, twigs and mud clinging to her clothes. Jax was still holding on to her elbow and felt her tremble, but she tried to offer Tucker a weak smile.

“I’ll be fine.” Her teeth chattered slightly. “Just need to sit down for a minute.”

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