Lie by Night: An Out of Darkness novel (Entangled Ignite) Read online

They approached the empty desk and rang the bell.

  He turned to her. “Are you okay?”

  “Of course I’m okay.” She pulled her hand from his. “What…?”

  “Bonjour, may I help you?” An elderly matron with bright red hair and sparkling green eyes greeted them with a wide smile.

  Despite the adrenaline rushing through him, Cole bit back a grin as Emma’s what hung in the air yet again.

  …

  Unbelievable. Cole couldn’t have cut off her questions more effectively if he tried. Emma forced a smile.

  “Your place is beautiful.” She gestured to the spacious combined sitting and dining room. The chintz patterns and hand-carved molding reminded her of a simpler, more genteel time. A time when crazy men didn’t drag women in and out of speeding cars.

  “Why thank you, mademoiselle.” The plump woman beamed with delight.

  “My wife and I are hoping you have a room. A private one with a private bath would be ideal.” He reclaimed Emma’s hand, squeezing gently.

  She glared at him. Preferring not to continue the what game, she saved her protest for later.

  “You are in luck. We have the honeymoon suite. Not only is there a full bath, but also a fine Jacuzzi. Perfect for young love.” The woman winked at him.

  Was there a woman in the world who didn’t flirt with the man?

  “Perfect, indeed.” He signed the register and handed over some Euros from his endless supply of cash.

  The woman handed him the key. “It’s the only room on the third floor.”

  Tired of being dragged around, Emma started for the stairs, this time pulling Cole behind her. “Come along, hubby. The Jacuzzi sounds glorious.”

  By the time they climbed two flights of stairs, anger had returned full force. If the stomp of their feet was any indication, a fight—and a big one—was about to break out once the door to the honeymoon suite closed.

  Cole opened the door and blocked Emma’s path when she would have brushed past him. Treading stealthily ahead of her, he checked the bathroom and bedroom. He returned to the main room to close and lock the door before making sure the window was secure as well.

  For a moment, he rested his hands on the window sill while she examined the room. Rich, dark paneling showcased an inviting love seat and captains’ chairs seated in front of a stone fireplace. The door to the right opened onto a spacious bathroom. A marble Jacuzzi held the place of honor beneath a skylight. Under other circumstances, she’d have been thrilled to stay here—just not right now.

  She watched Cole inhale deeply and turn to face her.

  Warily—determinedly—they faced off in the middle of the room. Emma prepared for battle.

  …

  Cole stared at her. When he’d chosen this place, he’d looked forward to her reaction to the decadent bath. Now, he no longer cared. He simply waited to see how she’d tackle the disagreement simmering between them.

  She attacked, but under the semblance of calm.

  “My brother is not in league with Alistair Forrester.” Composure quickly gave way to passion. “He’s not his partner, not his friend, not his lackey.” She pointed at him. “You’re an idiot to believe anything Cherise says.”

  “I would be an idiot to believe everything Cherise says, but the best lies have an element of truth. When you took off, I was trying to determine what bits of truth she had to offer.”

  “Because you’re trained to detect truth from lies.” Emma shoved her hands in her pockets, watching him carefully—examining him as if she could discern what truth he had to offer.

  It annoyed the hell out of him. He wasn’t the liar in the room. He might not have shared everything he knew, but he hadn’t lied. “Apparently, I am an idiot. I suspected there was more to your story, but treason? I didn’t see that coming. That’s not an accusation you just pull out of the air. Why would you say that?”

  She remained stubbornly silent. Despite his anger and frustration, the fear in her eyes tugged on his heart. “Look, I’ll do what I can to help you, to help Jacob, but I need the truth. Do you suspect Jacob of treason?”

  Red suffused her cheeks. “I have never, will never, suspect Jacob of treason.” She placed a barely discernible emphasis on Jacob.

  Just enough that Cole could not believe the implication. “Is it Cherise you suspect?”

  “Yes.”

  This sounded like the truth, but there’d been the slightest hesitation. He felt the tic in his jaw begin to pulse. He forced his voice to remain even. “Do you suspect me?” Even to his own ears, the placating calm he’d intended sounded deadly.

  Color drained from her face.

  “You do suspect me!” He ran his hand roughly along his jaw, the sandpaper sound of whiskers loud in the silent room. “Why would you suspect me? Why do you suspect anyone of treason?” When she remained silent, he added. “Don’t you think it’s past time we told each other the truth? That’s the only way we’re going to find your brother.”

  Emma bit the inside of her lip. He watched indecision war with the desire to confide.

  “Look, I know you have reasons to doubt me, but I never wanted to betray Jacob, never wanted to like him. I may have arranged to meet him because of my investigation, but I liked him. I liked him, and I wanted the truth. It would have made me very happy to discover he was not in league with Alistair. And I didn’t intentionally betray him with Cherise. I don’t even remember that night.” Finally, he’d said it.

  Not that claiming he’d suffered a blackout made him look better—even if it was the truth. Although, now that he suspected her of being in league with Alistair, that night took on new significance. Again, he wondered if he’d been drugged, and, if so, how.

  Emma stared at him, doubt evident. He saw the moment when she chose trust, not willingly, but resignedly, as if he was the best of her bad options.

  “You don’t trust me.” Her words weren’t an accusation, merely a statement of fact.

  “I want to be able to trust you.” He hoped there was no mistaking the ring of truth in his words.

  “And I want to be able to trust you.”

  Even though he knew she’d suspected him of playing for the bad guys, it surprised him how much her quiet response hurt. The sword of truth cut both ways.

  He softened his voice. “It’s time, don’t you think? Time to lay everything on the table.”

  Emma bit the inside of her cheek. She took a deep breath and nodded.

  They stood in silence. One of them had to go first.

  “Forrester—”

  “Jacob—”

  They spoke at the same time, reluctant half-smiles lightening the mood between them.

  This time, Cole spoke first. “Let’s sit down.”

  They moved toward the antique table near the window. He reached her chair first and pulled it out.

  “Thanks.” She sat, pulling her hands from her pockets. Her right hand unclenched to reveal her hot pink Mace. She unhooked the clasp that anchored it to her coat. The canister fell to the table.

  He shook his head as he sat. Pepper spray on a string. The woman needed a better self-defense plan.

  “I’ll go first.” Emma waited for his nod before proceeding. “Jacob took on a special assignment a little over six months ago. He wasn’t supposed to tell anyone, but…” She shrugged.

  “The two of you are close.”

  She nodded. “We’re all we have.” She rolled the Mace back and forth with one finger, until he couldn’t stand it anymore.

  He reached out to still her movements. She turned her hand over to clasp his. He fought the urge to caress her soft skin with his fingertips, greatly fearing that, whatever the truth, she had him now. She just didn’t know it.

  “There were men attempting another 9-11 type of attack, and they needed an elite group of carriers to deliver information. Jacob traveled around the world. I don’t think he ever knew much about the packages he delivered. It was very hush-hush. And a huge honor to be t
rusted with such important work.”

  Cole struggled to control his mounting anger. He’d heard similar stories before.

  She paused, worrying her lip with her teeth. “Two weeks ago, Jacob was on another mission. He calls every Sunday, no matter what. This time, he didn’t call.” She inhaled a shaky breath and looked into his eyes. “The following Wednesday, a package arrived. Not at home. At the office. It was a funny little poem from Jacob. Something about a goat and a boat in a big castle moat.” Her hand trembled in his. “If you read it, it wouldn’t mean anything to you.”

  He squeezed her hand reassuringly. “But it meant something to you.”

  She nodded and withdrew her hand. “It was a code Jacob and I created as kids. We were always playing spy, saving the world.” Emma stared at the hot pink pepper spray. “After 9-11, we sometimes used the code for fun when sending packages or birthday messages. Memories of our youth.” She shrugged.

  “That’s how you knew the letter was really from Jacob and not someone trying to pass himself off as your brother.” He felt her relief that he understood, that she and Jacob were no longer in this alone.

  “Yes.” She nodded again. “It said we were in danger. To trust no one. That he suspected treason.”

  Treason. The ugly word hung in the air between them.

  “What exactly was his message?”

  “Treason. Be careful and trust no one. I’ll be back by Sunday. He sent the message in a package along with this hot pink pepper spray.” She offered a half smile. “My annual birthday present—designer pepper spray.

  “When you showed up on the island and destroyed my only clue to Jacob’s location, I thought…well, maybe you knew something about his disappearance. Then, suddenly, Homeland Security was granting you clearance to carry a concealed weapon on the plane, and I thought someone who was connected like that…” She reached out to touch his hand. “I had to consider it might be you.” She pulled back, her fingers trailing across his skin as if reluctant to break contact, and clasped her hands in front of her. “Or maybe someone you trust.”

  The helpless taste of her anger and uncertainty engulfed Cole. Jacob had left her in a hell of a bind. Trust no one was a very specific instruction, and yet, impossibly vague.

  He read remnants of reluctant doubt in her wide, brown eyes. Although she trusted him, no, wanted to trust him, her uneasy faith did not extend to everyone he relied on. They still had a problem; he just didn’t know yet how big a barrier it would be.

  Chapter Thirteen

  Emma had left off the last part of Jacob’s message. Keep this safe. She wasn’t ready to share the information about the microchip. It was her only leverage, and while she’d chosen to trust in Cole’s good intentions toward the Weston’s and the United States, she hadn’t decided yet if she could trust him—and his confidants—with Jacob’s life.

  She traced the grain of the well-polished, oaken table while she waited for Cole to begin, hoping he wouldn’t sense her lie of omission. She lifted her eyes as he began to speak.

  “After I graduated college, I went to work in Army intelligence.” He hesitated. “Four years ago, I was on a reconnaissance mission. We embedded in a small town in the Middle East. I befriended a young man.” A pained look crossed his face. “I thought he wanted to help the people of his village. I vouched for him. He was just a kid, growing into a man too soon.”

  He looked out the window at the setting sun. Fingers of orange and gold crept across the sky. She suspected the beauty was lost on him.

  He laughed. A harsh bark, devoid of humor. “It turned out I invited a bona fide traitor into our team. Almost got us all killed. One of the security contractors, Zach, tried to warn me. But I wouldn’t listen.” Restless fingers tapped against the wood. “I insisted he was wrong. Right up until the moment the kid pulled a gun and shot me. Zach saved my life that day.”

  He looked directly at her. “When I mustered out, Zach tracked me down, and I jumped at the chance to work for him. Last year, Zach and his infant son were kidnapped. His wife disappeared a few days later. We searched for weeks and nothing.”

  He paused. Clearly, the fruitless search still haunted him. She fought the urge to reach out and comfort him.

  “Finally, they outsmarted the crazy, old man who kidnapped them and escaped.” His eyes turned hard. “They outwitted the bastard even though he’d drugged Zach and erased his memories.”

  “Forrester.”

  “Yeah, he’s Zach’s uncle. There couldn’t be two more different men. Zach’s smart, loyal, a man of integrity. The only thing he had in common with that maniac is intelligence. And looks. They look so much alike, Forrester was able to convince Zach they were father and son. He followed Zach and Lizzie to New York, but we caught him.” He continued his relentless drumming, and she again quelled the desire to still the staccato beat.

  “Isn’t he in prison?” She frowned. He was awfully worried about a guy who was already locked up.

  “They put him in a damn psychiatric hospital.” His eyes blazed with fury, but his words remained deadly calm. “When I spoke with Zach, he told me that while we were escaping the island, Forrester was escaping the institution. He’s out there, and I have no doubt he’s plotting revenge.” The temperature in the room seemed to drop at his words.

  Despite her attempt to remain detached and analytical, an icy frisson of fear ran down her spine. “Do you think he’ll try to kill Zach?”

  “No, he wants Zach alive.”

  “Why is Zach so important to him?”

  “Because his own son, Thomas, is dead—another of his victims. So, now he needs an heir. And Zach’s it until his little boy is old enough to assume control.”

  “That’s…that’s crazy.”

  “That’s how the old man thinks.”

  “So, how does treason play into this? What is he trying to accomplish besides…” She hesitated, searching for the right words. “What does he want besides to place Zach in charge of his drug operation?”

  Cole nodded. “That’s the thing. He’s not trying to take over a country or secretly control a government. He just wants to amass riches and place his surrogate son at the head of his empire. He wants to be God, and he doesn’t care who he hurts. Someone in a position of power is aiding him in recruiting young men out of the military, and we don’t know who…or why.”

  Emma felt her heart drop, certain this crazy, dangerous man was connected to Jacob’s disappearance.

  “We should never have brought him in alive.”

  Her heart pounded, then calmed as she realized that while her thoughts had shifted to Jacob, he was still discussing Forrester.

  Cole rubbed the bridge of his nose. “We should have killed him when we had the chance.”

  She reached across the table and took his hand, offering silent comfort, seeking it in return. She lacked the words to tell him it was okay, because, really, it wasn’t. If they’d killed Forrester, maybe Jacob would be safe at home right now.

  Cole clasped her hand, watching her closely, and she felt overwhelmed by the intensity of his desire that she understand. “Zach’s not safe, his wife and children aren’t safe, as long as that maniac is out there. I’ve weakened his network, destroyed his resources, but now that he’s free?” He ran a hand along his jaw. “He’ll rebuild.

  “We still don’t know who in the government is vouching for him, making it possible for him to recruit our best, young men. We intercepted one of his recruits a couple of weeks ago. The man who introduced him to Alistair was a college professor at West Point. The professor died of a heart attack the day after we brought the guy in.” His jaw set in a hard line. “I don’t believe in coincidence.”

  He looked at her. “I can’t tell you strongly enough how dangerous this man is. He’s highly intelligent, resourceful, and completely amoral. He manufactures synthetic drugs—drugs designed to kill without a trace, to permanently erase memories. He sells them to the highest bidder, not caring what person or
what country will suffer. “

  She studied him. “Besides the fact that Jacob has been seen with Forrester, what makes you think he’s involved? I mean, you’re not suspicious of everyone who talks to him, are you?”

  He lifted his brow. “No, we’re not suspicious of everyone. Zach saw a man he’s sure was Jacob on the island when he was held there. Jacob was picked up in a satellite photo at the warehouse shortly before he disappeared. Alistair doesn’t bring the good guys to the warehouse.”

  His eyes never left her face while she processed this.

  “Jacob must have been trying to get evidence to incriminate Forrester.” Relief coursed through her. Things were beginning to make sense.

  Apparently, Cole didn’t agree, because he hesitated before responding, “Maybe. I hope so, but we can’t be sure.”

  “Jacob is not a traitor. He would never join forces with a man like Forrester.” She pushed his hand away, frustrated. “You know him.”

  Furrows in Cole’s brow deepened. “I know a guy I hung out with for a few days. Under other circumstances, maybe we’d be good friends. But the truth is I don’t really know Jacob.”

  She shoved her chair back and stood. She appreciated his honesty, but it angered her as well. She picked up the Mace and slipped it into the pocket of her jeans.

  “I’m sorry, Emma. I’ve been betrayed before by someone I trusted. I’ve seen seemingly good men turned by Forrester. But, it’s also possible you’re right, and Jacob was betrayed by him as well.”

  She clenched the Mace tight. “Do you…do you think he’s alive?”

  “I hope so.” She heard the sincerity in his voice. He shrugged. “Cherise was pretty heavy-handed with her Jacob-might-be-a-bad-guy routine. That actually weighs in Jacob’s favor, I think. Maybe Cherise is working with Forrester, or maybe he’s somehow feeding her misinformation. And if Forrester is involved, then why work so hard to discredit Jacob if he’s dead?”

  She strode to the window, catching the final rays of orange as the sun sank below the horizon. Deep in her heart, she was certain she’d know if Jacob was dead. She mulled Cole’s words over in her mind. He thought Jacob was probably alive. He was willing to admit Jacob might be a good guy. Squaring her shoulders, she admitted that she trusted Cole enough to believe he was a good guy, that he’d told her the truth.