Trust by Design (Colorado Trust 2)

His hands rose to rake through his hair as he stared toward the house. Dean read the dawning realization in his eyes. “Man, I don’t know what to say. I…I’m sorry. I swear to God, Dean, I had no idea.”

The tremble in his voice and anguish in his eyes wasn’t something a man could fake. Dean took a breath and reached out to grasp his shoulder. When Mike’s gaze met his, he gave a nod to let him know he believed him.

“Did you call the police?” he choked out.

“They’re on the way, but I’m going in through a back window.”

“We’re going to need a distraction,” Quinn advised. “Plus cover for any noise.”

“I’ll go to the door,” Mike offered. “They certainly won’t be expecting me, and maybe I can talk some sense into my sister.”

“You did hear the part about the gun?” Dean reminded.

“Yeah, but who do you think is less likely to be shot on sight by the bastard?”

He had a point. Getting shot wouldn’t do a thing to help Gina. “I’d like to think Jack isn’t that stupid.” Or desperate. “Unfortunately we all know better. So, Mike’s got the door and Liz. Quinn, you’re with me, but your top priority is keeping Gina safe.” He fixed him with a hard look. “No matter what, she comes first. We clear?”

The PI gave him a tight nod of agreement.

A muffled gunshot sounded in the quiet of the residential neighborhood.

Dean froze for a split-terrifying-second, then took off for the house at a dead run.

Chapter 25

Gina screamed as she ducked and covered her head. Tiny bits of plaster fell into her hair while a dusting of white powder floated down around her. The close-range explosion left her ears ringing and the sulfuric smell of the gun stung her nose.

She remained in her crouch, part way between the toilet and the wall, bracing herself for the next shot that would surely end her life.

“Oh my God, Jack, what the hell did you do?”

She cautiously lowered her arms as Liz arrived in the doorway. Terrified blue eyes met Gina’s, then filled with relief when she saw her unharmed.

“Thank, God,” she breathed, pushing past Jackson. Gina bumped her head on the toilet paper dispenser as the redhead helped her to her feet.

“She had her phone,” he accused. “That’s why she asked to use the bathroom.”

When he’d kicked in the door, she’d lunged backward at the sight of his gun pointed right at her. Her phone had hit the floor and skidded across the tile. He stepped forward and smashed the screen with his heel. Damn it. She hadn’t even managed to get the second number keyed in before he’d scared the hell out of her.

A glance back to see the bullet hole a mere six inches above the roll of toilet paper made her knees wobble.

“Next time I won’t purposely miss,” he warned with icy calm before moving back into the hall.

When Liz took a step to follow him, Gina grabbed her arm. “You can’t trust him,” she whispered urgently. “He’ll kill you too if you get in his way.”

Worry flashed in her eyes, but she shook her head and jerked free. “He loves me.”

“And you’re fine with an open relationship?”

Confusion filled Liz’s eyes.

“I’m sorry, I thought you knew he’s been sleeping with my former assistant for the past six months.”

The stunned expression on her face confirmed she hadn’t known. She glanced toward the hallway as her expression hardened.

“You can’t trust him,” Gina repeated.

“Just get out here and fix the program.”