Page 1 of Dangerous Lies

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GINGER

Tim “Ginger” Mueller hoped the beating would stop. He'd lost count of the number of days that had passed, since Carter plucked him from the ocean during a late night swim and stuck him in the cold make shift jail. The only thing he knew for certain was that he was on land because the room hadn’t swayed.

The angelic voice he’d tried to save disappeared into the night.

The concrete cell had no window, so he had no clue when the sun came up or down. His only measure of time was when Carter's man showed up to deliver either a beating or food. The man's fists against Ginger’s bound body seemed to happen more frequently.

Even the thug was out of breath most days as he laid the last punch. Ginger didn't need an X-ray machine to figure out which of his bones the man had broken.

Across the room, the large metal door creaked open, and the thug dropped his fists.

Ginger tried to lift his head toseewho was there this time. He waited for Carter, the man he wanted dead more than anything, to enter.

The clicking heels alerted him that this was someone new. The chains around his wrists and ankles tightened as he tried to move. His team's chances of finding him were slim, and he didn't think he had many more rounds left in him.

“I guess I made the right decision to choose Carter all those years ago.”

Six years had passed since he’dheardBrittany's voice. At one time, he’d thought she was the love of his life and he’d wanted vengeance for her death. She’d faked her death and, even worse, cost his teammates their lives.

“Not going to disagree with youthere,” he said, his throat dry. “I wish I would haveknownyou were a backstabbing bitch before I proposed.”

God, he still couldn't believe he had been so naïve whenitcame to her.

Keys jingled against the metal as the gate to his cell opened.

“Ma'am, you need to stay on the other side,” the thug said.

“Look at the piece of shit. You think that man cangetthe upper hand on me? Furthermore, you're not in charge—I am.” Brittany's red heels stopped a foot away from his head. To prove her point, she propelled the sharp tip of her shoe into his stomach, and he’d expected the kick to hurt more.Itwas like she’d pulled back at the last second.

He really was losing his fuckin' mind. Probably due to the lack of food and no sunlight. He hoped something good would happen. Some days, he even hoped for death.

“Sorry, ma'am,” the thug said and stepped out of the cell. Metal clung as he walked out the main door.

Ginger groaned and laid on his back. “You waited until they had me on death's door before you showed up? Why Brittany, are you going to kill me?”

Nobody had interrogated him since they'd shoved him in the cell. He wasn't sure why Carter hadn't killed him.

A soft hand brushed a curly lock out of his face.

“Iknowyou have no reason to trust me, but everything I did had a calculated plan and risk behind it. Carter won't be back for a month,” Brittany said.

Ginger groaned. “What does his schedule have to do with me?”

When a tear hit his cheek, he was pretty sure he had lost his mind.

“What’s going on?” he asked.

Brittany shifted and unlocked the cuffs around his wrist, followed by the ones on his ankle. Ginger shot to his feet, but too fast. His head spun, and he latched onto the bars.

“Explain,” he said, not taking a step because he would end smacked down on his face.

“We don't have time for me to explain. Here's the plan. You're going to knock me out, take the gun, and kill the guard.” She explained, like they’d run missions together. Except they hadn't. He thought she was a school teacher.

“Why don't I kill the guard, take you with me, and you tell me why you betrayed me all those years ago?” The longer he stood, the weaker his legsfelt. He wasn't sure he would be able to walk out of the room. Even if he madeitout, he’d have to take out a guard andgetpast Brittany because he sure as hell didn't trust her.

Therewas a time he would have done anything she asked without even thinking twice. Now shecouldsay the sky was blue, and he wouldn't believe a word out of her mouth.

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