Rebecca Zanetti - Forgotten Sins

Surprise flashed in his dark eyes. The light was too dim for her to determine color. “A quiet life.” He set down his beer. “What do you want?”

She shrugged. “What happened to your buddy across the room?”

A smile flirted with the corner of his mouth. Familiar. There was something so familiar about this guy. Was he a client of the firm? “What buddy?”

“Whatever.” She rolled her eyes. “I’ve had a long day and don’t want to play. Leave me alone or you’ll regret it.”

“You approached me, doll.”

She needed to get to the motel and then bail out Shane. “My mistake.” She whirled around, her gaze seeking refuge. Plastering on her flirtiest smile, she wandered over to the bartender. “Hey, would you do me a huge favor?”

His grin split his face. “Anytime, lady.”

“There’s a guy at a table behind me, a big guy. Would you distract him for a few minutes after I leave?”

The bartender glanced behind her. “What guy?”

Josie turned. He was gone. Only two beer bottles remained on the sparkly table. Unease caught her breath in her throat. “Well, how about escorting me to my car? Just in case.”

The bartender jumped over the bar and held out an arm. “I’d be delighted.”

The rain drenched down as they hurried outside, and she checked the backseat before getting in. Empty. With a wave to her temporary hero, she pulled into traffic, keeping an eye behind her.

Darkness fell as she took side roads, driving the opposite direction of where she needed to go several times. No one followed her. That she could see at least.

Finally she arrived at the motel and parked across the lot from their room, watching. Waiting. Nothing moved. She grabbed the gun out of the glove box and stuck the heavy weapon in the back of her pants. Her purse offered little comfort at her side while she scrambled across the unkempt lot and opened the door.

Silence.

Thank goodness. She stepped inside and locked the door, flipping on the light.

Empty.

What a rotten day. She dodged forward into the bathroom, taking a moment to wash her face and use the facilities. What should she do?

Bail out Shane. That’s what she should do. He may have knocked Tom out, but he was just trying to protect her. Plus, the two men at the bar were there for her. She couldn’t handle them, and they had to have something to do with Shane. Sure, she could tell the police about them, but they hadn’t done anything yet, and she had no clue who they were.

Shane could deal with the duo from the bar. Every instinct she had yelled they’d be back. She might not trust Shane, but he was her best bet in surviving whatever was going on. Then she’d have to figure out how to survive him. One thing at a time.

Okay. Good plan. She walked out of the bathroom.

And stopped cold. Fear slammed her heart against her ribs. Her ears burned. Adrenaline ripped through her bloodstream.

The two men sat on the ragged couch, gray eyes focused on her.

She drew the gun, steadying her feet on the ugly carpet. Should she point at one of them or between them? Between them.

The two men on the couch didn’t flinch. Or move. The brown-haired one who’d stood against the far wall at the bar raised an eyebrow. “Did you figure she had a gun?” He cocked his head to the side, twisting his lip as if in deep thought.

“Nope.” The man with black hair stretched out long legs. “She tossed her purse on the bed.”

Familiar. There was something so familiar about these two. She squinted her eyes. “Who the hell are you?”

The first man scratched his head, glancing at the other. “Well?”

With a short nod, the second man spoke. “I’m Matt and this is Nathan.” He tilted his head. “Shane’s brothers.”

Shane’s brothers. Shock washed through her, and she plastered on her foster care face. “Well. That explains the eye color.” Gray. Pure gray, just like Shane’s. “How did you find me?”

“We followed you to the bar from your work, and from the bar to here,” Matt said, his big body relaxing into the couch.

“No you didn’t. I checked behind me.”

He smiled. “I know. You did a good job, too. Almost lost us on Pine Street.”

Almost wasn’t good enough. No way could she take these two. They stretched well over six feet, packed hard, and thrummed with the same preternatural stillness as did Shane. They were as big as Shane. Probably just as dangerous. “So why follow me? Why not get your brother out of jail?”

“We will. Shane is safe right now. You’re not,” Nathan said, rubbing his chin.

She shifted her aim to him. “Is that a threat?”

Confusion wrinkled his nose. “Um, no. I’d never threaten someone so soft. Did it sound like a threat?” He lifted an eyebrow at his brother.

Matt shook his head. “I didn’t think so. I figured it for a statement of fact.”

Her shoulders straightened. “Listen, Laurel and Hardy. Knock it off. Aren’t you at least a little concerned I’ll shoot you?”

A grin tipped Matt’s lips. “Honey, you have the safety on.”

Goddamn it. Her thumb clicked the lever loose. “Not now, I don’t.”

His smile widened. “Shane was right. She is something.”

Pleasure rose unbidden. He’d talked about her to his brothers? In a good way? Then irritation spiraled through. “He never mentioned you. Not a single word.”

Nathan’s gray eyes softened. “He couldn’t, Josie. Trust me.”

“I don’t trust any of you.” Sad, but true. Not even Shane. Who were these people?

“Smart girl,” Matt said. “So, ah, do you mind telling us what the charges are against Shane? I know there was a BOLO out on him for kidnapping you, but the police canceled it earlier today.”

She ground her teeth. “I am pointing a gun at you.” How stupid were these guys? “Get out.” Home. She’d back her bags and go back home. If Shane stayed the hell away, she was safe. To get on with her life. Her long, boring, lonely life.

“Actually, you’re pointing the weapon at Nathan,” Matt said. “He’s been shot before. Go ahead.”

“You’re such an asshole,” Nathan muttered.

Their banter bordered on humorous, but a thick tension blanketed the room. Danger prickled through the air.

“Would you please leave?” Why was she asking them? She held the gun.

Matt’s eyes softened. “No. Shane apparently wants you safe. That means we keep you safe.”

“For how long? Until he leaves me again?” Her voice cracked.

“Ah, Josie.” Matt leaned forward, his gaze serious. “He had no choice. Jory was killed, and we had to move. Leaving you was the only way to keep you safe and do what he needed to do.”

Fire whipped through her. “Baloney. Sorry, Matt. The old ‘I hurt you to protect you’ line doesn’t work on me.” She shifted her aim to him. “How did Jory die?” The question held risk and she knew it.

They both stiffened. Already hard, their faces hardened even more. Matt held her gaze while Nathan dropped his to the floor. Pain thickened the air.

Matt cleared his throat. “We need to get Shane out. Will you help us or not?”

Okay. So they shared information as freely as Shane did. Not at all. “If I help you, you’ll leave? All of you?”

Matt winced. “Nate and I will leave. You’re on your own with Shane.”

“Shane will leave,” Nathan said.

Matt cut him a glance, “Nate—”

“Shane will leave.” Nathan’s jaw snapped shut. “I have one brother in the grave, and everyone close to us dies. Shane will leave. He’ll move on if I have to beat him senseless to do it.” He exhaled loudly. “I’m sorry, Josie. But you should cut your losses and move on. There’s no future with any of us.”

She’d already figured that out, but hearing the words delivered so coldly slid ice down her spine. Josie lowered the gun. Her hand ached, but she kept a hold of the weapon anyway. “How many brothers are there?”

Matt took her measure. “Four.”

Surprise flashed across Nathan’s face. Apparently Matt wasn’t usually so forthcoming. Nathan cleared his throat. “Four counting Jory.”

Three brothers still lived. A real family. “Shane might not remember you.”

The sofa wobbled when Matt pushed his bulk off. “I know. We have his medical records.” He stretched his neck. “Why was Shane arrested?”

She didn’t bother to ask how he’d gotten his hands on Shane’s medical records. “I went to stay with a friend, and two men tried to break into the house. Shane stopped them and knocked out my friend to, ah, take me.”

Nathan stretched to his feet. “Tom Marsh?”

These guys could obtain information now, couldn’t they? “Yes. Tom had a gun pointed at Shane, so Shane defended himself. Now Tom has pressed charges.”

Nathan grinned. “Listen to you defending your man.”

“It’s the truth.” She wrinkled her nose at him. So familiar. Must be the resemblance to Shane. Her man. Temporarily at least.

“So. Do I flash my badge?” Nathan yanked a wallet out of his back pocket to flip open the top.

Was that an FBI badge?

“No.” Matt reached into a case sitting next to the couch that had been hidden by his long legs. He drew out a wallet, which he tossed to his brother. “You’re Nathan Jones, attorney at law. Congrats.”

Josie cleared her throat. “The FBI badge would work better. He could take Shane into federal custody.”

Nathan eyed her. “I like how you think… and you really do look like an angel.”

She stiffened. The nickname. Shane had discussed her with his brother. What had he said? “Thanks.”

Matt shook his head. “The badge is authentic. I’d rather not have the connection between Nathan and Shane on the record. Not yet, anyway.”