Twisted Truths

by Rebecca Zanetti

  Noni swallowed, her chest hurting. “What about the so-called uncle? The one Denver stayed with as a kid in Colorado?”

  Madison frowned and then her forehead cleared. She rubbed the still-visible lines as if remembering not to create lines in her face. “I’d forgotten about him. He was a former soldier, one who’d washed out of our program and took off with Denver.” She frowned and uncrossed her legs, tapping one foot on the ground. “I made sure he was killed—violently—after we found Denver again.”

  “You’re evil,” Noni said, her voice trembling. Talia still hadn’t woken. Was she really in the plane? What about her medicine? “My baby can’t fly. You have to know that.”

  Madison shrugged. “I saw the medical records. She’s been on medicine for more than a day, and frankly, if her eardrums burst, I don’t care. Her only use to me is temporary.”

  Bile rose in Noni’s throat along with fury. “I’m so going to kill you. With pain.”

  Movement sounded, and a soldier with several guns strapped to his body appeared in the doorway. “The airport is secure, and the pilots are ready any time. There’s a storm brewing, and our window is only during the next hour.”

  Noni fought against the bindings. “Help me, please. Let me out.”

  The soldier ignored her.

  Madison eyed him. “Has Sheriff Cobb reported in?” Her lips thinned into a white line, made garish by her bright red lipstick.

  “Negative,” the soldier said.

  “Get my bag from the plane, please,” Madison said, her eyes turning harder than any stone Noni had ever seen. The soldier instantly moved away from the doorway.

  Noni dug deep to find calmness. She had to think clearly to save Talia. “You seem unhappy with Sheriff Cobb. Trouble in psycho-lovers-ville?”

  Madison eyelids lowered slightly at the sarcasm. “If you must know, we had a very good plan that Elton apparently has dismissed. He was supposed to fetch Denver from the hospital and bring him here.”

  Noni stiffened, her body aching. Her toes were so cold she could barely feel them. “So where is he?”

  Madison sighed, a small catlike smile playing on her full lips. “If I had to guess, and I really don’t, he’s trying to kill your boyfriend right now.” She stomped her high-heeled boot. “He’d better not succeed.”

  * * *

  Denver rolled quickly to the side, and the knife plunged into the pillow next to his head. The IV was yanked out of his vein, and he ignored the pain. Without losing momentum, he swung back and struck Cobb in the ear, hitting him with a closed fist as hard as he could. The impact echoed loudly through the hospital room.

  Cobb hissed and leaned back, grabbing his ear. His eyes were swirling pools of raw hatred.

  Denver kicked off the blankets. Thank God they’d at least put a hospital gown on him. He swung out for Cobb’s head.

  Cobb swiped down, smashing the knife hilt against Denver’s knee. Pain shot through Denver’s legs, attacking his nerves. Denver swung for Cobb’s wrist, hitting solidly, and the knife fell to the bed.

  “I’m going to kill you,” Cobb said, keeping his voice low.

  Good. No yelling. The cop didn’t want witnesses. Denver would have to silence him before he decided to call for help. Denver tried to sit up, but his body still fought him. Whatever had been in the darts wasn’t completely out of his system yet. “Why did your soldiers leave me alive?” he asked, grabbing for the knife with his free hand.

  Cobb clubbed him square in the mouth and grappled for the knife. Agony spread through Denver’s skull, and he struck out, dropping the knife.

  “Isobel’s plan involves using you on the outside,” Cobb gasped, lunging and winning the knife as Denver kicked him. The kick momentum threw Cobb back against the wall, and he hit hard. Sucking in air, red flushing his pale face, he regained his balance. “My plan involves something entirely different. Mainly, you gutted and bleeding out.”

  “Your missus isn’t going to like that.” Denver pretended to sag back on the bed while wrapping his hand around the bar. He tugged. No give. “She’s not exactly the forgiving sort.”

  Cobb straightened his denim shirt. In the blue shirt and jeans, he no longer looked like a county sheriff. Denver studied him. The guy had been working out. He even moved smoother than he had before.

  “Don’t tell me. She has her soldiers training you.” Denver forced a wheeze into his voice. Fuck it. He might not win this fight. He struggled to get his focus back, but the ringing in his ears wouldn’t stop.

  “I’m training them.” Cobb puffed out his chest and inched closer to the bed. “You don’t sound too good.”

  Yeah, he still felt like shit. “How about you release this cuff and we have a fair fight?”

  “I don’t really care about fair.” Cobb angled to the side and up toward Denver’s head.

  “I remember,” Denver said softly. “You like hitting kids. Just like your loser of a brother did.”

  Cobb’s nostrils flared. “My brother gave you a home. Food and a bed. And you killed him.”

  Denver scoffed, rage heating through him so quickly his lungs burned. “Your brother was a weak limp-dicked asshole who picked on people smaller than him just to feel better about his loser life.”

  Cobb snarled. “It’s not going to work again.”

  Wasn’t it? Denver was losing his own temper, and he had a good grasp. The sheriff never could control himself. “No sheriff uniform? Did she make you quit your job?” False sympathy coated his words.

  “You’re stalling.” Cobb shifted his weight and slipped the knife into his other hand. His good hand. “Still feeling the drugs?”

  Yes. Definitely. “Nope. I’m good.” Yet he made himself sound breathless. “I could do this all day.”

  “Sorry. I can’t.” Cobb took another step, his gaze alert. “I need to get to your lady. Isobel should be finished with her soon…and then it’s my turn.” He smiled, flashing a jagged incisor Denver had never forgotten. “Isobel is going to be mad at me for killing you, and we’re going to have a big fight. Then I’m going to take my aggressions out on your little bitch.”

  Denver smiled then, when all he wanted was to wrap his hands around Cobb’s throat and squeeze. “Noni will kick your ass.”

  “We’ll see,” Cobb said almost breathlessly. “I had your brother’s girl—Ryker’s woman—in a cinder-block shed. She smelled like roses.”

  Denver bunched his muscles. “I’m aware. I also know that she got free and away from you before you could touch her. That had to hurt you.”

  “It did.” Something gleamed in Cobb’s eyes. “I had to find another woman, one off the streets in the city, and I made her scream just to get over losing Zara like that.” He rubbed his dick. “But it was almost worth it. I’m ready again, and this time Noni is going to feel my blade.” He closed his eyes as if savoring a treat. “I can’t wait to make her scream.”

  The more Cobb spoke, the calmer Denver became. Dealing with the psycho as a kid had been good training for this fight. “Your brother—what did you call him? Neddy?”

  Cobb stiffened and opened his eyes. “Shut up.”

  “That’s right. Neddy.” Denver’s lips peeled back, and he showed his teeth. “He cried when the fire started. Did you know that?”

  Cobb swallowed and his body vibrated in place. “Stop it.”

  “Yeah. The bat to the head didn’t really kill him.” A total lie. When Ry and Heath swung those bats, Ned’s head had exploded like a watermelon. “After I hit him with the bat, he fell, but his eyes were still open.” Denver tensed, readying himself, lying again about who’d killed Ned. “When I started the fire, I guess he didn’t cry. It was more like a pig squealing.”

  “Fuck you.” Cobb struck then, going for the throat.

  Denver slid to the side and kicked out a leg.

  As if he’d been expecting the move, Cobb dodged, slashing his knife down Denver’s torso.

  Pain exploded through Denver, and he swiped
his free arm down, grabbing Cobb’s wrist. Holy crap. He was losing strength and fast. His armpit to his ribs burned, and then his vision hazed.

  He struggled, yanking Cobb down on top of him. A twist of Cobb’s wrist, and the knife went flying across the room.

  Cobb levered up and punched him in his bleeding ribs.

  Denver hissed, stars detonating behind his eyes. His vision fuzzed even more. He had to gain control and now. Levering his legs around Cobb’s torso, he compressed the man’s arms to his sides. Then, giving in to temptation, he wrapped his hands around Cobb’s neck and squeezed.

  Cobb floundered, trying to get in a punch. He made desperate grunting noises.

  Denver tightened his hold. Damn it. The man wouldn’t submit. Cobb managed to dig a finger into his fresh wound. Pain exploded throughout him, and only raw fury spurred him on.

  Cobb stopped fighting, his chest heaving.

  Denver loosened his hold just enough to let the guy breathe. “Where is Noni?” he gasped.

  “Doesn’t matter,” Cobb growled, his face trapped against Denver’s chest. Somehow Cobb shifted and dug his fingers in more.

  The pain was so intense Denver nearly blacked out. He squeezed harder, fighting Cobb, until finally the sheriff went limp.

  “One more time. Where is Noni?” Denver ground out.

  Cobb shuddered. “Long gone—already in Coeur d’Alene. The soldiers took them to meet Isobel, and I was supposed to be there, but I came here.” He snorted, the sound slurred. “She wouldn’t have waited for me and is now long gone. You’re too late.”

  “That’s okay with you?”

  Cobb coughed. “It’s what we have. A constant battle, and when I win, it’s really good.”

  What a nutjob. Denver choked him again until Cobb fell into unconsciousness. Blood—Denver’s blood—covered them both.

  God. Denver shoved him to the side and searched his pockets. No key. Figured the asshole wouldn’t have a key.

  Denver grabbed the bar and swung his other arm to the floor, patting for the knife. There it was. He lifted it and made quick work of the handcuff lock. It sprang free, and he shoved from the bed. His knees wobbled, but he managed to hold himself upright.

  He turned, flipped Cobb around, and used the handcuff on him. “Wake up.” He slapped the cop hard.

  Cobb didn’t wake up. His chest moved, so he was still breathing, but the psychopath was out cold.

  Denver yanked off his hospital gown and pressed it to the gash along his side. Then he searched Cobb, finding a phone.

  The door opened, and Denver pivoted to see the deputy walk in. The guy’s eyes widened.

  Denver leaped for him, taking him down in a surprise move. He grabbed the cop’s big ears and smashed his head into the tile floor. Those blue eyes hazed and then his eyelids fluttered shut. “Sorry,” Denver muttered, his body heaving. He dragged the cop over to the bed and used his handcuffs to secure him as well.

  Time was way too short. Everything in him—everything—wanted to kill Cobb right then and there. He punched the wall, and plaster flew. Pain detonated in his hand.

  Kill. He had to end the fucking monster.

  But he might not be able to find Noni. And if he killed Cobb, he’d either have to kill the seemingly innocent deputy or have a cop know he’d committed cold-blooded murder. He couldn’t do that. He couldn’t run forever.

  He quickly divested the deputy of his uniform. “Sorry about this too.” It hurt like hell, but he forced himself into it. The boots were a perfect fit.

  Then he lurched toward the door and took one last look at the former cop on the bed. “We’re not done,” Denver ground out. He’d deal with Cobb later and under the radar. “I promise.”

  Chapter

  28

  Noni tried to keep calm as she faced the crazy doctor. “No way will Denver go down easy. In fact, if I had to bet, I’d say your man is the one bleeding out right now.”

  “They’re both my men,” Madison said, her voice cultured and smooth.

  Bile rose in Noni’s throat, and she swallowed it down, the burn sharpening her focus.

  The soldier returned and moved into the room to place what looked like a doctor’s bag in front of Madison. “I want to recheck the perimeter,” he said, quickly exiting.

  “Where are we?” Noni whispered.

  Madison looked around the small office. “Because of the snowstorm, we had to drive to the Coeur d’Alene Airport. You were out for the entire drive through the pass.”

  Noni opened her mouth to scream for help.

  “It’s a small county airport,” Madison said, forestalling her. “There’s nobody else around for miles. In fact, I’m having a crew plow the runway before we can even take off, and none will be the wiser.”

  “I’m not going anywhere with you. Get my daughter. Now.” Noni tried to listen for anybody out there. The world was silent.

  Madison opened her bag. “You know, unlike Elton, I’m not one for torture.”

  Noni gulped down air and looked frantically around. “That’s nice to hear.” Shouldn’t Talia be awake by now?

  “But I do need some answers from you.” Madison took out a syringe and a vial of something pale.

  Noni pressed back in her chair. “What is that?”

  Madison looked up and smile. “It’s a nice concoction, dear. It will encourage you to tell the truth, if it doesn’t kill you.”

  Fear made Noni’s ears ring. “Why would it ki-kill me?”

  “It’s my own recipe.” Madison’s voice turned almost singsong. “Let’s say it hasn’t been vetted by the FDA.”

  Oh God. “You can’t just shoot me up with experimental drugs.” Noni tried to shove her chair away. If she died, nobody would protect Talia. Oh God. This couldn’t happen. “That’s illegal. And crazy.”

  “We’re way past illegal,” Madison said coolly, pressing the needle into the vial and pulling the plunger to fill the syringe.

  “Didn’t you take some sort of an oath as a doctor?” Noni whispered. “Do no harm?”

  Madison pulled out the needle and pushed the plunger; a little bit of liquid came out the top. “I believe in the bigger picture. All great scientists do. In fact, all great revolutionary figures believe in the bigger picture and not the mundane details.”

  Mundane? Like her life? Noni struggled again, ignoring the ties digging into her wrists. “Don’t do this.”

  Madison stood and walked toward her, instantly inserting the needle into her vein.

  Pain flared, and warmth instantly spread from the injection site. Noni swallowed rapidly, and her tongue felt thicker. “This won’t work.” Was she slurring?

  “You know about truth serums?”

  “Not really.”

  Madison removed the needle. “They really don’t compel people to tell the truth.”

  “Huh?” Noni asked, her ribs feeling funny.

  “Yes. They make a subject very susceptible, and they lead to the truth. But it’s not what you see on television.” Madison returned to her seat on the sofa and crossed her legs again.

  Noni’s ears grew hot. Really hot. Then her limbs went weak. But her toes finally warmed up. She giggled.

  “How are you feeling, Noni?” Madison asked, her voice sounding very far away and in a tunnel.

  “Good.” Noni tried to kick out her feet, but they didn’t move. Maybe they moved. Who was to say what moved and what didn’t move? What was a move? She hummed a song from childhood.

  The pretty lady on the couch leaned forward. “That’s a nice song.”

  “Uh-huh.” Her whole body felt tingly. What a lovely moment. Confusion clouded her, but she didn’t much care. “Who are you?”

  “I’m your aunt.” The lady morphed and looked like a unicorn with sparkles.

  Noni blinked. Seconds later, her aunt sat there. “Aunt Franny.” So much joy whipped through her she tried to clap her hands. Did they clap? She couldn’t tell. Not that it mattered. “You’re so pretty.”
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  “Thank you.” Her aunt changed into Auntie Verna with green stripes through her hair.

  Noni tried to nod. Did her head move? She wasn’t sure. “Pretty stripes.”

  Aunt Verna turned back into the dark-haired lady with red lips. She stood and glided across the room, then lifted Noni’s eyelids. “How are you feeling?”

  “Ph-ph-phenomenal,” Noni sang. A voice, way deep down, tried to tell her something. Was it another song? Maybe the world was singing and she just needed to listen. Listening was good.

  “Noni? I need your help. Denver needs your help.” The woman crouched down, and their faces were close together. Her face morphed in and out, wavering as if it was in a cool mirror. “You want to help Denver, right?”

  Noni’s head lolled. “Denver,” she drawled. “So handsome.” The image of his torso, bare and strong, slid across her mind. “Perfect.”

  “Yes. He’s perfect.” The lady tapped Noni’s cheek. “Concentrate. Where is Denver?”

  Noni bit her lip as images ran through her mind. Was Denver making snow angels? “In the snow?”

  “Right.” The lady patted her knee. “Very good. Where are Ryker and Heath?”

  Ryker and Heath? “Denver’s brothers.” They were handsome, too. Where had that unicorn gone? The world needed more sparkles. “Let’s get a kitty.”

  The woman slapped her across the face, and Noni’s head flew to the side. “Ow,” she said slowly. Did that hurt? It might not have hurt. What was a hurt, anyway? “No hitting.” That sounded right. Aunt Franny had said that once. No hitting. Was kicking okay? Probably.

  “Noni.” The lady shook her arms. “Listen to me. Where is Jory?”

  “Montana,” Noni said automatically. “You’re there, too.” The lady looked like Aunt Franny again.

  The lady nodded, her face in a smile. “That’s good. I am there. Where is there? Where in Montana?”

  “Dunno.” Noni looked around. Where was she? This was weird. Was this weird? Why were colors flying through the air? So many of them. “Why don’t they all sparkle?” she murmured, watching closely.