Page 2 of Dangerous Lies

“Why do men have to be so frustrating?” Brittany grumbled. “I don't have time to explain.”

He hadn’t endured months of torture to notgetat least one answer. “I deserve an explanation. Was any of what we had real?”

God, he sounded like a pussy.

Brittany ran a hand through her hair and let out an aggravated sigh. “From the first time we met at the bar in DC, you were a calculated move to my goal. Did I plan to fall for you? No, but your—”

“Nope.Getback to the part where our relationship was nothing but a lie.”

Brittany pulled open her purse and handed him a protein bar. “Eat. You need strength. Carter has been my mission for years. My goal in life is to take down the men he works for and him. Nobody realizes Carter is just one of the puppets in a larger puzzle. I've worked years togetclose to him and togetwhat I need.”

“And what isityou need?” Ginger asked, not sure what the hell to believe anymore.

“To find my husband.” She winced.

Out of all the things he’d expected her to say, to find her husband, wasn't one.

“Before we met, Seth was working on a secret project for the CIA. My husband is a genius whenitcomes to building state-of-the-art technology. Carter took him in the middle of the night.” They'd spent months together, and all ofitwas a mission for her. He wanted to hate her but at the same time, he understood the lengths a person would go for a loved one. He'd gone years chasing a vendetta because he’d thought Carter had killed her.

“Why not release me sooner?” he asked, wondering if she’d just told him more lies.

“I had no clue you were here. Carter had me on another project. I intercepted a communication he had with one of his men. The woman in the ocean is in danger. Carter's about to go after her. He's making moves, and I can't blow my cover...I'm so tired of people dying.”

“You don't think he'll suspect something is up when you fake my escape?”

Heknewhewouldn't be able to simply walk out the door.

Brittany pulled a gun from her purse and handeditto him. “If you makeitlook good, he won't think twice. I'll stageitlike the escape was Gavin's fault.”

Funny how on his last day he’d found out the name of the man he planned to kill on his way out the door.

“I'm supposed to let you go, and then what? Hope he doesn’t attack my friends again?” Ginger asked.

Sometimes he wished he'd gone to school and become an accountant like his father. Nine to five boring job, with nobody shooting at you, nobody double-crossing you, and they sure as hell spend months being tortured.

His mother had begged him numerous times over the years to retire. Now his mom would have beaten him with a frying pan if she had any clue to the shit he went through in the cell or how close he came to death. Hell, he still wasn't out of this situation andcouldvery well end up in a gutter or the river.

“Here.” She pushed a cell phone into his hand. “I'll reach out after I find my husband, but I need you to protect my sister Rose and her son. Don't let anything happen to that boy.”

Ginger took a step toward the cell door. He had everything he needed. Hecouldleave Brittany in the cage, walk out, and never turn back. Excepttherewas a slim chance everything she said was true.

“Was there any time we were together you hadn’t lied? I did get my head knocked around a lot, but you clearly said you had no siblings and your parents died.”

She winced and looked away. “I’ll never apologize for looking for my husband, but are you going to let another innocent person be hurt because of me?”

He would probably regret his decision. “How do I find Rose?”

“Remember the apartment I kept while we dated?” She paused until he nodded. “At the back of the building near the dumpster has a loose brick. The key isthere. Inside the apartment, you will find Rose's information.”

Ginger wondered if this was all a dream. “Why would Carter go after Rose?”

Brittany glanced at the closed door. “She has something Cartercoulduse against me.”

He tried to be patient with her, but he was at his wit's end. “Tell me where Carter is, and she won't have to worry about danger.”

“In time, I'll give you information,” Brittany said. “For now, you're going to have to trust me.”

“I'll never trust you.” He didn't care if the words hurt her. She’d used him togetto her husband. God, he was so dumb that he’d fallen in love with a married woman.

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