Twisted Truths

  Denver stuck his gun inside his jacket. He took her gun and tucked it into his jeans before grabbing her by the waist. “Up and over,” he said urgently.

  Her hands scrambled on the top of the next icy fence, and she tried to balance herself, but she tumbled over and landed on her back in the snow again. Cold permeated her freezing legs, and her hands hurt as she shoved to her feet. Her entire body ached. It took a minute to balance herself in the snow that reached above her knees. Denver landed gracefully at her side, sinking into the snow.

  Her shock made the night surreal.

  Sirens trilled in the distance. Fire crackled into the sky, even as a light snow began to fall. She looked around a back alley. Rough fences divided small lots and homes across from her. Two had cheerful Christmas lights twinkling. She shook her head.

  He leaned down to her ear. “Keep to the fence line and right behind me. I’ll clear a path.” Without waiting for a nod, he moved in front of her and started running, dragging his feet.

  Shouts came from behind them. There were still men with guns. Panic took her and she sped up, trying to keep up with him. He moved silently, gracefully through the snow, his gun in his hands again. Even though it was one of those that could shoot a lot of bullets like the guys chasing them had, he’d only shot once or twice each time.

  How many men had he just killed?

  She gulped. He’d done it to protect her. She had yet to fire. Her hands closed into freezing cold fists, and she ducked her head against the chilling wind and followed him. They reached the end of the fence line and a quiet street. Denver hustled over to an old muscle car parked near a cottage with snowmen littering the front lawn and forced open the door.

  “Get in,” he said, sliding into the driver’s seat and leaning across to unlock her door.

  She opened it and dropped into the seat. Pain flared along her back. Wincing, she leaned forward and shuffled out of her pack, setting it on the floor before shutting her door.

  Denver drew a pocketknife from his back pocket, ripped a bunch of wires out from beneath the steering wheel, cut the plastic insulation off some of them, twisted two together, and rubbed two others together. The engine flared to life. He shut his door and pulled out into the street. “Belt.”

  She scrambled to put on her seat belt, noticing he didn’t do the same. “Yours?” she gasped.

  “May need to jump out and shoot.” He checked the rearview mirror.

  She turned and looked to see emergency vehicles, three cop cars, and a fire truck, whiz by on the crossing road, their blue and red lights cutting through the strengthening snowstorm. Their ominous glow contrasted oddly with the happy Christmas lights. “You had bombs in the house.”

  He took a sharp left turn, and the car slid on the ice. Correcting, he got them back to the middle of the road. “Explosives. I’ll miss that truck.”

  The truck? He was worried about the truck? Tears of pure terror clogged her throat. “Are you sure that was Richie’s gang?”

  “Yes. Or allies of them.” He took another sharp turn, not decreasing his speed any. “How did they find us?” he muttered, his hands relaxed on the steering wheel. “Somebody must’ve followed me from the hospital, but I didn’t see a thing.” He hit the steering wheel this time. “Why didn’t I see them?”

  “I’m sorry.” She gulped, the tears filling her eyes. “This is because of me. Because I put up our picture.”

  He didn’t turn her way. “No, baby. This was retaliation because I shot three of them in Greenville and then tortured the same guys in the hospital. But how did they find us?”

  But he wouldn’t be involved if she hadn’t plastered his picture all over the net. She shook her head as he turned another way, her stomach churning. Her body felt like it was on fire with pain. Warmth started to creep into her freezing feet, and icy pinpricks ran along her ankles. She bit back a whimper at the agony of it.

  He drove into the main area of town, which was lit with bright Christmas lights on every storefront. Their cheerful colors nauseated her. Less than a mile away, bodies had piled up. She forced down bile.

  “Grab the phone out of the front of my pack, would you?” he asked, slowing down.

  She reached for his pack in the backseat and pulled out a nondescript black phone to hand to him.

  He shook his head. “Find the group ‘Pizza Restaurants,’ and send a text that says ‘Large pepperoni, home address.’”

  Her fingers fought her, shaking and tense, but she followed his instructions. “What does that mean?”

  He stopped at a stoplight and visibly scanned the entire area around them. “It tells my meddling brothers to stay exactly where they are. That I’m safe but can’t talk yet.”

  Pepperoni meant safety? She slid the phone back into the pack, her voice trembling. “What pizza means ‘Get here now’?”

  “Pineapple,” he said, his shoulders relaxing as the light turned green.

  Of course. What else would it be? She let her head fall back against the seat and shut her eyes. Dizziness slammed into her, so she reopened her eyes and took several deep breaths.

  “You okay?” he asked gently.

  “No.”

  He nodded. “You will be. Trust me.”

  The man had just successfully fought off a bunch of gangbangers. Ones who had Talia. Trust him? Yeah. She could do that. He was her only hope of saving the baby, and he was tough enough to do it. “What now?” she asked quietly.

  Chapter

  9

  Denver pulled the car into a grocery store parking area, remaining off to the side and out of view of the security cameras. “I hate to do it, but we need to walk from here.” He had to ditch the stolen car. “We’ll be there soon.”

  Noni didn’t argue and instead grabbed her pack. She’d been silent most of the drive, no doubt dealing with shock. Her adrenaline would be ebbing, and he had to get her into a warm shower to combat the shock and the wet clothing they were both wearing. Later he’d worry about her feelings after seeing him kill without blinking. He grimaced. He’d shot three men. How many had he blown up in the explosion?

  Getting out and coming around the car, he opened her door and helped her out. “You okay?”

  Her eyes were glassy. She shivered in the cold. “What’s our plan?”

  “Main plan? I’ve been monitoring the dark web for any auction. If nothing comes up by tomorrow night, I’ll hunt down more gang members and take the fight to Richie. I promise we’ll have the baby back soon.” Denver would hit the hospital the next day. No doubt several gang members would be available there after the explosion.

  Noni stumbled and then righted herself, looking around the snowy area. “Where are we going right now?”

  He kept his face calm. They were about to take the biggest risk of the entire night. “Three blocks south.” He’d had to leave the automatic weapon in the car because it didn’t fit in his pack, and he couldn’t very well walk through neighborhoods with it. But his Sig was at his waist, so he didn’t feel completely naked. He took her hand. “We need to look like we’re out for a holiday stroll in the snow to look at Christmas lights. This neighborhood is nicer than the one we just left.”

  “Okay.” She fell into line beside him, her boots sliding on the icy sidewalk.

  He took her through a small subdivision called Apple Orchards, to a cute brick bungalow with cheerful fluorescent lights strung perfectly across every eve. Three glowing reindeer stood over to the right, their lights flickering merrily. He truly hadn’t expected this. “Come on, baby.”

  She stumbled next to him but kept pace. When they reached the door, he set her to the side just in case and then he knocked.

  Nothing.

  Another knock. The door slowly slid open, and a Glock was immediately pointed at his face. “Sorry to wake you,” Denver said evenly.

  The door opened farther, and Detective James Malloy stood there in ratty green sweats, his surprisingly cut chest bare. His brown eyes were pissed. “Wha
t the fuck are you doing here?” Then he caught sight of Noni shivering next to Denver. The cop’s eyes flickered, a multitude of expressions crossed his face, and then he sighed. “Come in.” He moved to the side.

  Denver drew Noni in front of him and nudged her into the warm home. A Christmas tree took up the far corner of a living room decorated in soft black leather, and a dying fire glowed in the brick fireplace. Christmassy knickknacks adorned every surface. The room was much cozier and friendly than Denver would’ve thought.

  Noni looked around as if not sure what to do.

  “Jamie?” a female voice asked tentatively.

  Denver jolted and turned. A stunning black woman stood in the hall, her long hair mussed and her brown eyes wide. She wore a bright pink camisole with very short shorts, her long legs smooth and her toenails painted a soft red.

  Malloy sighed. “Honey, put on the coffee, would you? Apparently we have visitors. I’ll introduce you if I decide not to arrest them.”

  The woman looked them over and then gave a short nod. “I’ll make it strong.” She crossed the room and pushed open a newly painted cream-colored door, disappearing into what must’ve been the kitchen. While Malloy was probably in his midforties, the woman had to be thirty, tops. Interesting.

  Denver cleared his throat and toed off his boots. “Noni, this is Detective Malloy.”

  She jolted and swung wide eyes at him.

  “Yeah. He’s a cop.” Denver helped her out of her boots and then her coat, scattering snow on the entryway tile.

  Malloy moved and set his gun on the mantel. “Tell me you’re not the one who blew up a house tonight. I heard it on the scanner.”

  Denver winced.

  “Damn it, Denver,” Malloy snapped. “I thought you guys were leaving town. You know, for good this time?”

  Denver put their packs near the door. “We were. We still are, I think.” Trusting the cop was one of the most dangerous things he’d ever done, but Malloy had come through more than once, and Denver had no choice. He hung Noni’s coat on a hook. “Can we stoke the fire?” He turned to pull her toward more warmth, and his gaze caught on the bright red covering her right arm. “Noni,” he breathed.

  “What?” Her head lifted, her pupils seriously dilated.

  “Baby, you’ve been shot.” His entire world screeched to a halt, and he turned her to pull up her sleeve. The bullet had passed completely through her forearm, but it was still bleeding.

  Her breath hitched, and she slowly turned her head to see the wound. “Shot? I’ve been shot?” She wavered, her voice shaking. “It doesn’t hurt yet.”

  That was because she was in shock. “You’ll be okay.” He’d need to stitch her up, and fuck, that was going to hurt.

  Malloy was instantly at her side, peering at the wound. “Ouch.”

  She wavered in place, and her eyelids fluttered closed. Denver caught her before she came close to hitting the floor.

  Malloy swore beneath his breath. “Tina?” he called out. “We’re gonna need bandages and your steady hand.” Clapping Denver on the back, he turned. “My lady is a veterinarian. You have the time it takes her to sew this girl up to convince me not to arrest you. Or shoot you,” he added as an afterthought.

  Denver’s entire chest compressed. He’d let Noni get shot? When? It had to have been in the kitchen. So far he was doing a piss poor job of protecting her, and now he’d landed her with a cop. If Malloy went party line with them, Denver would be in deep trouble. If Richie was the father, Noni might not get to keep Talia.

  If he kidnapped the baby then, they’d be on the run forever.

  He carried Noni through the happy living room into a newly renovated kitchen complete with a wide wooden table. Setting her down on the table, he brushed hair away from her too-pale face. He nodded at Tina. “I’m Denver, and this is Noni. She’s everything important in the world to me.”

  Tina had already taken out a large first-aid kit and, spotting the blood, quickly grasped scissors to cut Noni’s shirt. “I’m Tina.” She looked toward Malloy. “Looks like you’re making the coffee, babe.”

  Malloy kept his gaze on Denver. “We might not need it. Start talking. Now.”

  * * *

  Noni came to as she was being lifted from a hard wooden surface. She jolted.

  “You’re okay,” Denver said, his breath brushing her temple. “I need to get you into a warm shower, baby.”

  Warmth and shower sounded fantastic. She sighed and closed her eyes, resting her head against his hard chest. Heat surrounded her. Her shoulder ached and her head hurt, but the feeling had returned to her extremities, so she’d avoided frostbite. “I feel better.”

  “Tina gave you a local and sewed you up,” he rumbled, walking somewhere.

  Tina must’ve been the pretty woman in the cute pajama set. “She’s a doctor?”

  “Close enough.”

  Lights flickered and they leaned in somewhere, but Noni didn’t open her eyes. Water turned on, and she was put onto her feet. She swayed and let Denver tug her wet clothes free. Chilled air brushed her, and then she was under the steam. Moments later, Denver joined her.

  Her eyelids flipped open, and her body went on full alert.

  She faced the spray, and he gently nudged her beneath it. Good lord. Denver was naked behind her. Even though the steam was warm, he was hotter. A presence with power. Okay. She had to clear her head. Ducking it, she let the soothing water wash over her hair and slide down her back. Her groan filled the small space.

  He gently tugged her back toward him, and then his magical fingers rubbed coconut-scented shampoo through her hair. He helped her to rinse off.

  Fully awake now, she glanced down at the wet bandage on her arm.

  “We’ll change it before going to bed,” Denver said, his breath against her hair.

  She was fully awake now and turned around to see him. Did his body look the same as it had a year ago? Did he have any more scars than before? The edge of the tattoo on his shoulder caught her eye. A dangerous looking bird rose out of the fire, its wings spread. Two intricate Bs combined in the center. She’d traced it with her fingers so many times. “Your tattoo.” She touched the only portion visible from the front.

  “Yeah. My brothers have the same tat.”

  So it wasn’t a reminder of an odd case he’d once solved. That’s what he’d told her. Now it made so much more sense. She wanted to keep touching him, but she was such a chicken. And she definitely didn’t look below his chest. “We’re staying here?” she asked, her voice echoing off the tiles.

  “Just for the night. I don’t want to cause problems for Malloy.” Denver placed a soft kiss on the top of her forehead.

  All she had to do was take a step forward and she’d be flush against him. Her body tingled, this time not from the cold. Man, she needed to think. “Sounds good.” Edging to the side, she pushed open the curtain and moved into the chilly room without looking at him.

  He sighed. “The guest bedroom is the second door on the left. I’ll be there in a minute.”

  She grabbed a towel, quickly wrapping it around herself. Then she tiptoed into the long hallway and all but ran for the right room. Moving inside, she found another cute nightie set, this one purple, lying on the bed. After drying off, she put it on and jumped into what looked like a queen-sized bed covered with a handmade wedding-band quilt.

  The room was cute and definitely had a woman’s touch. Pretty vases covered the wide dresser near the door, and matching lamps adorned the heavy wooden end tables.

  Somebody knocked softly on the door and Noni jumped. “Come in.”

  Tina came in, bandages in her hands. “We can’t let that stay wet.” The woman’s movements were gentle as she sat and removed the first bandage. “You feeling better?”

  Noni nodded automatically. “Thank you for, well, everything.”

  Tina grinned, showing a dimple in her left cheek. “Not a problem. Part of dating a cop.”

  “Even so, I ow
e you.”

  Tina sprayed antibacterial ointment over the wound. “Who’s after you?”

  Noni couldn’t blame her for being curious. “I’m pretty sure I can’t tell you. We don’t want to get Malloy in trouble.”

  “That sounds ominous.” Tina sat back. “So you’re a cop or detective?”

  Noni snorted. “No. I make lotions.” She looked closer at her new friend. The woman was stunning. Tina’s skin was flawless and smooth. “Speaking of which, if you don’t mind my asking, what do you use on your face?” Maybe she should compare some other products in her work.

  Tina’s dark eyebrow lifted. “Just hand soap.”

  Horror filled Noni, the real kind, and she gasped. “You do not. Just soap?”

  “Yep.” Tina sat back, her eyes twinkling.

  “Oh, girl. I’m sending you a care package the first chance I get. I make lotions.” Just soap? It was a travesty. “What’s your favorite scent?”

  Tina chuckled. “Dog fur usually.” She cleared her throat. “I’m a vet. I guess I like vanilla? And gardenias are my favorite flower.”

  Perfect. Noni could totally make a facial cream as well as a body lotion with those scents. As a thank-you. “Expect a box of goodies…sometime.” When, she had no clue.

  “I look forward to it.” Tina stood and handed over a hairbrush. “Jamie is out of conditioner, so good luck with this. You need sleep to deal with the shock of the night. This place is safe. I promise.”

  Noni grimaced and took the brush. “Thank you again.”

  “See you tomorrow.” The long-legged beauty left the room.

  “Hand soap,” Noni muttered, yanking the brush through her long hair. Ouch. Yeah, she could’ve used some conditioner.

  The door opened, and Denver strode inside wearing only boxer briefs, their packs in his hand. “We both have clothing for tomorrow but nothing for tonight.” He took in her purple cami, and his eyes flared. “I hope you get to keep that.”