Sex, Lies and Midnight (26 page)

Eyes wide, she glanced at the man sitting across from her brother. Bluff it was.

“I didn’t mean to interrupt.” In for a penny, in for a pound, if she was going to bluff she was going to do it in style. So she crossed the room, putting just a hint of swing in her hips, and held out her hand. “Hello. I’m Maya. We met last night. You’re apparently friends with my boyfriend.”

“Hunter.” The hand that engulfed hers was hard and sure, just as the man’s face was. Just this side of pretty, he had an intensity that made Maya shiver. Maybe it was being at the jail, or something about this man, but all of her instincts screamed
run.
And the only thing that sent that cry through her was a cop. She heard his phone buzz in his pocket, but he ignored it. Instead he kept those dark eyes on her. Judging.

“I know you went to college with Caleb, but what do you do now?” she questioned.

“I’m in securities.”

Another form of cop.

“Okay,” she murmured, suddenly even more uncomfortable. She crossed her arms over her chest and gave her brother a long look. “Caleb, we need to talk. When will you have a moment?”

His amusement gave away to a slight frown as he inspected her face for some sign of what she wanted. Or more likely, for how much she knew.

Before he could answer, though, the door swung open. Maya shot Caleb a quick glance, noting he looked just as shocked as she felt.

“Dad?” they said together.

Tobias gave his children a nod of acknowledgement, but addressed Hunter directly.

“We’ve got a problem.”

13

HORRIFIED, MAYA WRAPPED her arms wrapped around her middle and watched the EMTs load her father’s manager into the back of an ambulance.

Someone had tried to kill Jason Raines. She remembered him from school. He was Caleb’s age, had spent time hanging with her brother from time to time. Conceited, charming and funny, he’d been a nice guy.

And now he’d had his head bashed in.

“He should be okay,” she heard Caleb say. The words were hazy, though, as if coming from a long distance.

And then there was Simon. Looking more comfortable and at ease than she’d ever seen him, he was huddled up with that Hunter guy. Despite being dressed in jeans and jackets, the two of them had an official air that was unmistakable. A red haze of fury fogged her eyes, pushing its way through the misery. Just what, officially, was Simon?

Caleb joined them, and after a quick argument between him and Hunter, he gave Simon a viscous glare. His gaze cut to Maya, meeting her eyes for a brief second. That look sent her stomach tumbling into her toes and her heart racing. Something was wrong.

“You okay, Pumpkin?”

Her eyes met her father’s worried gaze. Without thinking, she burrowed into his waiting arms.

“I didn’t realize you knew Jason that well,” he said.

“I didn’t.”

“Then why…” His words trailed off as his gaze landed on the three men huddled together.

“Ahh. I take it you’ve met Mr. Hunter?”

“Caleb said they were roommates in college. He left out the rest of what they are.”

“Your brother was recruited by the DEA during college. I suppose there were other recruiters visiting his dorm room,” Tobias mused.

Something in his voice had Maya lifting her head from the comforting curve of his shoulder to look into his face. “You know what Hunter does?”

Tobias smiled.

“Well?” she prodded.

“This is neither the time, nor the place. Nor, actually, is it my information to share.”

She watched Simon take charge of the conversation. Hunter was nodding. Caleb, though still looking furious, finally threw his hands in the air in agreement.

Whatever Hunter did, Simon did, too.

And she was sure what Hunter wasn’t, was an investment broker.

Which meant Simon had lied to her.

Had used her.

But why?

He glanced over, his gaze flashing from her to her father, then back. His expression didn’t change, but she saw something in his eyes, even from this distance.

Regret.

There was only one reason he’d pretend to be something he wasn’t and get her to bring him to her hometown. Only one thing in town anyone in law enforcement would be after in Black Oak.

Her arms tightened protectively around her father’s waist.

Her guts clenched, tight and painful in her belly. Simon had used her to get to her father? Betrayal left a bitter taste on her tongue.

“We should go,” she whispered through the blood roaring through her head. “Dad, let’s go.”

His arms tightened, but he wouldn’t move.

All of her anger, her petty issues, disappeared.

So he was fallible. And human.

He was still her father.

“Let the game play out, Pumpkin.”

“The stakes are too high. You don’t know…” Her words trailed off when she glanced at her father’s face. Implacable. And confident. She drew strength from the latter since she knew she couldn’t get past the former.

She vowed to do whatever she could, use whatever she had, to mitigate any problems she herself had created by bringing Simon to town.

As if he could read her mind, he looked over. He said something to the other men. Hunter pulled out his cell phone, but Caleb glanced their way. Maya tried to read her brother’s expression. She tried to take comfort in the hope that he wouldn’t be in on anything that would hurt their father.

Except she knew that Caleb toed firmly to that legal line he’d chosen when he’d joined the DEA.

Simon said something else and Caleb nodded, then headed down the alley. He didn’t look back. He didn’t stop to talk to his family. He just left.

Maya’s guts turned liquid. Her fingers dug into her father’s jacket so tight, she was pretty sure she could feel his ribs. Simon headed their way.

“Maya, Mr. Black,” he greeted quietly after looking around at the crowd. His eyes were distant, but alert. He carried an air of violence and authority that she’d never noticed before.

Probably because he’d been lying to her before.

“We’re heading to the sheriff’s office,” he said. His words were for both of them, but his gaze was locked on Maya. “Could the two of you join us?”

“Why Maya?” her father asked.

“Safety.”

Her father’s arms tightened around her shoulders for one second. Maya almost whimpered when he unwrapped her from his protective hold. He gave her a long look, as if checking to make sure she could deal with whatever was about to happen. Then he gave a nod.

Like he was sure she could handle anything that was coming.

Why, she didn’t know. Because she sure as hell wasn’t.

“Mr. Black?”

They all turned to face Hunter. He was just as pretty as he’d been before, but now Maya hated him. Hated what he stood for, even though she had no idea what that was.

“Will you walk with me over to the jail? Barton will bring your daughter in a few minutes.”

“Why?” Maya snapped. “Why separate us? What are you planning?”

All three men gave her calming looks. Pacify the drama queen? But she wasn’t about to be pacified.

“Pumpkin,” her father started to say.

“Maya,” Simon said at the same time. He didn’t touch her. Maybe he knew if he tried, she’d bite him. But his tone was just as calming as the sweep of his fingers down her back would have been. “Someone hurt Jason Raines badly. The EMTs say he’ll make it, but only because we found him so quickly. Someone is likely targeting people associated with Black Custom Bikes, which means you and your father both might be in danger.”

“Dad?” she asked, her voice low with fear.

“It’s okay, Pumpkin.”

“Your brother went to secure his office, to make sure the jail was safe. Hunter will walk your father over, protecting him. Once they’re there, we’ll follow.”

Her father patted her shoulder, then gestured with his chin toward the end of the alley. “Shall we, Mr. Hunter?”

Without a word, Hunter turned and left. The younger man was alert, keeping Tobias one step ahead of him, his hand loose, but poised at his side as if ready to grab a weapon.

“Hunter will text when they’re at the jail,” Simon said, his tone soothing.

But Maya had no interest in being soothed.

“Who are you?” she demanded. “I mean, really, who are you? You’re obviously not an investment pretty boy. And given how chummy you are with Caleb’s college roommate, who has a major cop vibe going on, I don’t think it’s too hard to guess what field you’re really in.”

Bottle-green eyes stared into hers but all she could see in those gorgeous depths was an apology. Something she had no interest in. All she wanted from him was the truth.

“Maya—”

“I don’t want to hear any of your bullshit,” she warned in a low growl. Stepping toe to toe, she poked her finger into his chest in a single sharp jab and glared. “You lied to me before. Now I want the truth.”

The conflict on his face was almost as painful for her to see as it obviously was for him to experience. He grimaced, then reached out to take her hand. Not wanting him touching her, Maya tried to pull away. But he wouldn’t let go.

“Look, I don’t want to hurt you. Whatever else you believe, please know that’s the truth.”

She gave him her
whatever
look.

“I promise, I’ll explain everything,” he told her. He shot a quick look around the crowd, then took a deep breath as if he were making a major decision. Before he could act on it, though, his cell phone buzzed.

He glanced at the display. His jaw stiffened like he was clenching his teeth. Then he shoved the phone back in his pocket and looked at Maya.

“Let’s go.”

“Not until you explain everything.”

“Explanations are waiting at your brother’s office.”

“I want to hear them from you. Now.”

He gave her a long look. Like she’d just asked him to choose between cutting off his arm, or his leg. Then he gave a slow, regretful shake of his head. “Let’s go.”

Maya gritted her teeth so hard, she was surprised they didn’t crack. Then she puffed out a breath and lifted her own chin. “Fine. But you and I? We’re not finished with this.”

He tried to put his arm around her shoulder but she shrugged him off. One hand under his jacket, most likely on a gun, he finally settled for taking her arm. She thought about yanking free but the warning look he gave her made her think twice.

Their walk was eventless. People stared, a few pointed, but other than the anger mounting with each stamp of Maya’s feet, nothing happened.

Releasing her arm, Simon opened the door to the jailhouse and gestured for her to precede him. Her father, brother and Hunter were already there. Caleb behind his desk looking all official. Hunter leaning against a wall, observing. And Tobias pouring himself a cup of coffee, looking oddly smug given the enormity of the circumstances.

“Now that we’re all here, we can work together to get to the bottom of this situation,” Hunter said, instantly taking command of the room. “According to the report I’ve received, there is a cache of weapons being ran through Black Custom Bikes. After receiving this information, I ran checks on all of Tobias’s employees and associates.”

Maya gasped, her worried eyes cutting to her father. He didn’t look concerned, though. Why was he not freaking out?

“Before we get into that, why don’t you tell me where you got that report,” Caleb interrupted, his face hard with anger. “I might be new at this sheriffing gig, but I’m pretty damned sure that should have been run past me.”

“I’m running it all past you now,” Hunter said, his words calm and assured.

“Who filed the report?” Caleb prodded.