Deadly Secrets, Loving Lies (6 page)

“No. Yes! It is when you can read everything your lover is thinking and feeling. And yet, you’re keeping so damn many secrets from him. Important secrets. How do you do it anyway? With Tom?”

“Easy. I fake it.”

Genie laughed mirthlessly, and grabbed a death-grip on the dashboard as they raced through another red light.

Cat shot her an understanding look. “Seriously, I learned to turn off our curse a long time ago, especially at home. There are times when you really don’t want to know what your husband is thinking about you.”

“Yeah. I totally get that.” Genie peered behind them to see if they’d shaken the SUV at that last red light. No such luck. “Well, maybe you better find a way to turn it back on.”

“You’re that worried?”

“Yeah. I don’t know what’s going on with these men. Are they Dad’s? Are they Emerich’s? Hell, they could even be sent by Josh Cameron, my old boss, trying to manipulate me back into the fold. I just don’t know. They aren’t acting like they want to hurt us, and yet here we are, running like rats aboard a sinking ship.”

“I, for one, would rather not find out. They may want us alive just to torture us, or something equally wonderful,” she said with a bite of sarcasm.

Genie made a face. “Maybe. All I know is, something definitely has happened to Dad. And I’m guessing Kyle knows more than he’s saying. Josh Cameron, too, but neither one is sharing.”

“Then we’ll just have to get it out of them,” Cat said conspiratorially.

Genie stared at her, then grinned as a sudden rush of relief filled her. She wasn’t facing this alone. Someone was actually on her side. Someone who
understood
.

The Expedition sped through a busy intersection, running a red light. A Volkswagen van careened into a Chevy pickup truck with an explosion of crunching metal and glass.

“Damn,” Cat muttered as she winced at her rearview mirror. She started to brake.

“Don’t stop. Best if we didn’t have to explain who we are to the police,” Genie warned. “Just saying.”

“Someone needs to let the cops know, and fix it so I’m not arrested,” Cat said with a disapproving frown, but put her foot back on the accelerator. “This is my hometown. I’m Annie’s Girl Scout leader, not to mention PTA president. Somehow, I don’t think the parents of Walker Elementary would appreciate seeing my mug shown all over the news for leaving the scene of an accident.”

“Cameron can pull some strings,” Genie assured, then couldn’t help grinning at her sister. “PTA President? Really? Aren’t the twins just in kindergarten?”

“Shut up,” Cat grumbled.

Genie grinned wider. It was good to see her sister again. Real good. “Look at it this way,” Genie said. “It could be my mug they’d be showing on TV. Who could tell the difference?”

Cat groaned. “Couldn’t you have changed your hair or something? You still look exactly like me.”

“No thanks. I like the way I look.”

“What did Tom say when he saw you?” Cat asked, chewing her lower lip as she glanced once more into the rearview mirror.

“Nothing. No time. Besides, he was too busy worrying about the kids.”

Cat huffed. “Be thankful he trusts me implicitly. I can’t imagine how he’s going to react to all this. Especially when he finds out I haven’t been entirely honest with him.”

“You mean about who you are? About me? Daddy? Or our family gift?”

Cat groaned. “All of the above.”

Genie’s cell rang again. “Yeah?”

“The kids are hysterical and the husband’s ready to sh
—
poop a brick.” Johnny blared into her phone. “You want to put mom on the line?”

“Sorry, she’s driving.”

“You mean there’s another driver on the planet as reckless as you are?”

“Very funny, tubs.”

“How are my kids?” Cat demanded as Genie hung up the phone.

“Scared. Tom’s mad.”

Cat swore softly, and screeched to a stop in the valet parking area outside the El Dorado. “He is never going to forgive me.”

Genie shoved her Glock back in its holster. “Of course he will. He loves you.”

“I sure as hell hope so.” Cat gave her a weak smile as they jumped from the truck and sprinted toward the lobby.

“Kyle is waiting for us on the roof,” Genie said as they flew through the front doors and hurried across the marble floors. She glanced behind them and saw the black SUV pull up out front.

“This way,” Cat called as they ran past tiled columns toward the bank of elevators that lead to the tallest tower of the noisy casino. “You going to help me come up with a reason as to why I suddenly have a sister Tom knew nothing about? Not to mention why he and the children were hijacked from our front yard in a helicopter?” Cat hit the up button several times.

“Sorry. Don’t ask me for help explaining why our family is so screwed up. Although it will be fun watching you dance around this one. Puts new meaning to Cat on a hot casino roof.”

“Hardy, har har. You are so very funny.” The doors opened with a ding and they rushed inside the empty elevator.

Genie punched the button for the top floor, but before the doors could close, a tall man with sandy-brown hair in desperate need of a shave pushed inside and drew his gun. The doors slid shut.

“Gotcha,” he said, with a nasty smile.

The elevators rose with a soft whoosh. Genie stiffened, feigning fright, and clutched her sister’s arm. “No! What do you want from us?”

“Who are you people?” Cat demanded, stepping in front of Genie, giving her cover so she could reach for her Glock. Before she got the chance, the doors opened again and an elderly couple stepped inside. Oh, hell.

The bad guy grabbed Genie and pulled her against his side, shoving his gun into her ribs. “Don’t say a word,” he whispered into her ear.

At his touch, images immediately flooded into her mind. Sean Emerich sitting on a couch sipping amber liquid from a crystal glass. Outside a large window, the ocean passing by. Becca sitting next to him. Smiling. Happy.

“Screw you,” she muttered.

The old couple turned to look at them uncertainly. Genie smiled. “Having a nice time at the casino?”

“Oh, yes,” the woman said. “Frank’s been very lucky with the slots today.”

“Really?” Genie said. “I haven’t been so lucky. Like right now. This big ugly guy has a gun shoved in my side.”

The woman gaped at them, her lipstick-red mouth dropping open as she stepped closer to her husband.

The brute squeezed Genie and pulled her closer as he broke into an easy smile. “Very funny, sweetheart.” He shrugged his shoulders apologetically. “She’s always pulling people’s legs. She didn’t do so hot at the tables and she’s being a very bad sport about it.”

“Oh,” the woman said, and gave him a tentative smile.

Genie swiveled in his arms, then pushed him up against the wall as hard as she could while bringing her knee up into his soft spot. He grunted, folding in half. Cat stomped hard on his foot, clasped both her hands together and slammed them down on the back of his neck. The creep slumped to the floor.

“Bad sport, indeed,” Genie muttered, and snatched up his gun.

“Oh, my!” the old woman gasped and stepped back into her husband, pushing them both against the wall of the elevator.

Groaning, the brute shook his head and started to stand. Genie shoved the gun up under his chin. “Don’t even think about it.”

Fury tinted his face red. “Bitch!”

“Oh, you don’t know the half of it,” she said, smiling.

The elderly woman whimpered, and her husband wrapped his arms protectively around her.

The elevator dinged open and three security guards stood outside the doors, holding weapons. “Out. Both of you,” one of them ordered.

“Thank heavens,” the old woman said, and hurried out of the elevator with her husband in tow.

Genie’s cell rang again.

“Drop the weapon, ma’am,” a second guard said to Genie.

She held the gun out in front of her between her thumb and forefinger and handed it to the guard. “I can’t tell you how happy we are to see you,” she said in a high-pitched voice as her cell continued to ring.

The security guard smiled cautiously and took the gun. “Thank you, ma’am.”

“Mind if I get this?” she asked, pulling her cell out of her pocket. “My boyfriend must be worried sick.”

“Slowly,” he said as the third guard cuffed their assailant.

Genie took out the phone, opened it, and said. “Honey, we were almost robbed! Can you believe it? But we’re okay now. We’re just talking to the three nice guards.”

“I’m on my way,” Kyle responded tightly.

Genie hung up, then took a deep breath and stared at the guard who was studying her a little too closely, skepticism darkening his eyes. “Thank goodness you’re here,” she said, and slumped a little. “This man tried to rob us in the elevator. The nerve!”

“Our surveillance cameras picked up the whole episode.”

“We were so scared,” Cat added, nodding her head, and running her fingers through her almost dry hair, fluffing it up flirtatiously.

“I don’t know what we would have done if this nice couple hadn’t distracted him the way they did,” Genie said, smiling gratefully at Frank and his wife.

“Oh, dear,” the elderly woman said again.

“Yes, thank you so much!” Cat said breathlessly.

Men in dark suits hurried toward them from several directions
—
more casino guards. And then Genie spotted more who, by the way they were concentrating on her, could only be Emerich’s men. Behind her, the elevator dinged. The doors opened and Kyle stood inside, looking for all the world like a worried boyfriend.

He stepped forward, but halted just inside the doors. “Thanks gentlemen, for rescuing my girls.” As they started to slide closed again, he barked, “
Now
.”

Genie and Cat jumped into the elevator. The doors whooshed shut before the guards could even move.

“Nice timing,” Cat said.

“Thanks.” Kyle regarded her. “You must be Cat.”

“And you’re Kyle.”

His eyes narrowed almost imperceptibly. “Heard about me, eh?”

“You know it,” Cat said.

Then he was all smiles. Wide, charming, showing off his adorable dimples. “All good, I hope.”

Genie swallowed a groan and changed the subject. “So, what’s the plan?”

“Cameron wants all of you flown back to D.C. and secured in a safe house.”

“Would love to. But I can’t do that,” Genie said. “I have to get to the island and find our father. I’m not going to sit in some safe house twiddling my toes while Dad’s in danger.”

“You don’t know he’s—”

“And you don’t know he’s not. I’m not taking any chances.”

Kyle held up both hands. “Fine. Can we talk about this in the bird?”

Genie snorted. “You mean while you’re flying? I don’t think so.”

“Can you at least hang around long enough for us to figure out what we’re up against?”

“Kyle’s the planner. I’m the doer,” Genie explained matter-of-factly to Cat.

“I see that,” her sister said, obviously stifling a smile.

Kyle’s jaw ticked.

“We will form a plan,” Genie reassured him. “Just as soon as we get more information from my Dad’s estate.”

Kyle muttered something under his breath. “All right, but for now can we focus on getting all of you out of Reno in one piece?”

“Sounds like a sensible plan to me,” Cat said.

Kyle turned to her. “You also need to be prepared for major damage control with the Senator.”

Cat looked grim. “You mean the old dragon herself? No way. That woman’s a viper.”

“Oh, come on, Cat. No one scares you,” Genie said.

“You haven’t met my mother-in-law. And if there’s one thing the Senator hates, it’s the CTA, and once she learns her precious son is married to none other than Stuart Marsters’ daughter, all hell will break loose and Armageddon will descend.”

Genie looked at Kyle. “Do we have to tell her?”

“Absolutely. Until we know why your family is being targeted, the Senator is going to have to take greater precautions herself. You need to read her in. Tell her everything that has been happening. And tell her soon.”

“Oh, great,” Cat moaned. Cat nodded unhappily.

They reached the rooftop and Cat spotted her children and husband in the helicopter. Before she could take off, Genie grabbed hold of her sister and whispered close to her ear. “That was one of Emerich’s men. I got a reading off him. I don’t know why, but Emerich wants us. And. . . and I saw Becca.”

Cat’s mouth thinned. “With Emerich?”

Genie nodded. “What if she’s really alive, Cat? I don’t know how it could be possible, and I sure don’t know why she got involved in all this. But I have to find out.”

“How?”

“I need to find Dad. I have a feeling he has the answers.”