False Sins (Redemption Creek Romantic Suspense Book 2), page 1
FALSE SINS
REDEMPTION CREEK ROMANTIC SUSPENSE BOOK 2
EDIE JAMES
BOOKS BY EDIE JAMES
Hope Landing Romantic Suspense
Hard Landing
Fast Landing
No Landing
Bad Landing
Crash Landing
Last Landing
Next Landing
Wild Landing
MacKenzie Cove Romantic Suspense
Rising Storm
Rising Seas
Rising Wind
Rising Fury
Rising Hope
Rising Faith
Redemption Creek Romantic Suspense
Hidden Sins
False Sins
Killer Sins
Deadly Sins
Silent Sins
Copyright 2024 by Edie James
All rights reserved.
No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.
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CONTENTS
Books by Edie James
Copyright page—Redemption Creek
Prologue
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
Chapter 34
Chapter 35
Chapter 36
Chapter 37
Chapter 38
Chapter 39
Chapter 40
Chapter 41
Chapter 42
Chapter 43
Chapter 44
Chapter 45
Epilogue
FREE Series Starter!
PROLOGUE
Throat choked with dust, the man scrambled up the last dry waterfall. His fingers were bleeding now, his golf clothes covered in dirt. Sweat trickled down the sides of his face, and his chest heaved.
Maybe an hour every other day at the gym wasn’t enough cardio. He’d remedy that once he was out of the country. The thought made him laugh. Who was he kidding? Once he settled into his new identity, he’d spend his days on luxury yachts and Mediterranean beaches, surrounded by stunning women and smart alpha-males.
Successful, self-made men. Like him.
All he had to do was get out of the country before the feds found him. A good thing he’d persuaded them he planned to help take down his good-for-nothing partner in crime. That bought him weeks of prep time, of which he still had at least twelve more hours.
The chink in the wall of rock came into view ahead, sending his heartrate spiking even higher. Stashing a go-bag with ten thousand in cash had been a brilliant idea, even for him. Legs burning, he broke into a run.
His toe caught on a rock, sending him sprawling. Gravel dug into his palms, but he barely felt the cuts. What was a little pain compared to his freedom?
A lizard escaped into the shadows.
Yeah. You better run.
He was feeling lean and mean. Good thing he’d overheard those agents talking about their plan to double cross him. Wouldn’t they be surprised to find him gone tomorrow when they came by to escort him to the last meeting with his supposed partner?
That schmuck, Bronski, thought he’d be the one walking away with the money they’d embezzled, leaving him to take the fall. It never would have occurred to the arrogant Special Agent that he might cut his own deal.
A deal he planned on breaking. Wasn’t it just good business to pivot?
Oblivious to the dirt dug into the knees of his trousers, he scrambled to his feet and lunged toward the narrow chink in the center of the boulder straight ahead. He thrust his hand toward the dark space, but pulled back at the last second.
Snakes.
He wasn’t an outdoor guy, but he knew enough to realize the stupid reptiles liked shade on a hot day. A dumb idea not to bring a tire iron or a shovel. He looked around, spotting the bleached remnant of a palm frond. He snatched it up and stood back, poking it furiously into the hole, standing as far back as he could.
Silence.
Now he grinned. Hard. He was two seconds away from putting the last part of his plan into motion.
The thwack of rotor blades overhead made him cringe. No way he’d been followed out of Los Angeles, right?
But he couldn’t completely convince himself. There was always the possibility. Heart in his throat, he scrambled away from the hiding place, pressing himself under a rocky overhang. The granite was still hot from the sun. He winced, hating the feel of sweat running down his back. A couple more days and he could honestly say he’d never have to sweat again.
The helicopter came into view, its big white belly cutting between him and the sun. One glance at the National Park logo on the side and he slid down the side of the boulder, his legs weak with relief.
Park rangers. Just stupid park rangers.
See? Those FBI agents had no idea he’d run. They wouldn’t realize it until tomorrow morning, when they stopped by his place to take him to his last meeting with his so-called partner.
Wouldn’t they all be surprised to find him gone?
The thought pumped him up, giving him a jolt of energy. Legs lighter now, he hurried back to his hiding place, poking the crack one more time for good measure before he whipped out his phone and shone the flashlight inside.
Nothing.
He raised the phone higher, sending the beam into the very back of the space. Panic blurred his vision. He wiped the sweat out of his eyes, blinking hard, but the image remained the same.
Dirt and rocks. Just dirt and rocks.
A deep, keening cry warbled out of his throat. Where was his money?
Staggering backwards he studied the ground around him. He should have paid more attention. Now it was too late. Not that it mattered. The gravelly ground wouldn’t hold footprints.
Plus it wasn’t like whoever stole his stash would leave a note.
He hadn’t checked it in two years. It could have been anyone.
Stupid. Stupid. Stupid.
He clamped his mouth shut, trying to tamp down a rush of fear. Without the money, he had no escape plan. Losing the fake IDs wasn’t so bad, but the money…
Without it, the whole plan crashed and burned.
The sounds of the helicopter had faded away, leaving that weird desert silence he hated.
He needed money. Enough to get himself out of the country so he could access his millions.
He slammed his hand against the rock. Think. Think. Think.
And then he had it.
Getting the money wouldn’t be so hard.
1
Bridger North cruised into the tiny ranching town of Redemption Creek, slowing as he hit Main Street. His friend Tai’s words still echoed in his head.
“What do you mean you haven’t contacted Jane since we’ve been gone?” His friend had stared. Just stared, in the open-mouthed way people did when they were dumbfounded. “This is the woman you told me you plan to marry. Might have been nice to give her a head’s up. Don’t you think?”
Before Bridger could justify his actions, Tai shook his big, shaggy head. “You are a certified idiot.”
Nothing Bridger didn’t already know.
The closer he got to the center of town, the heavier the weight on his chest grew. Distracting himself with the million tasks he and his team needed to wade through to make their new headquarters habitable didn’t help. Neither did cranking the radio.
Yeah, he was in trouble. If singing along with Josh Turner didn’t dissipate his nerves, nothing would.
Truth was, he had this coming. Once they’d wrapped up the pastor’s blackmail case last month, he’d scooted out of town like his tail was on fire. Because, you know, things. A million of them he had to arrange to get him and the team back in the tiny ranching town permanently. There was property to buy. Property to sell. Stuff to gather. State-of-the art computer hardware. Weapons. Vehicles. Planes. Starting up their own civilian Special Ops outfit was a way bigger undertaking than he expected.
Not that he couldn’t have texted Jane a time or two in between shopping sprees.
At first, he fooled himself into believing she knew how he felt about her. He’d told her he’d be back. That he and his team planned on settling in Redemption Creek.
But he hadn’t said the rest. The hard part. He’d disappeared for a month without actually putting
He wanted a relationship with her.
That he hadn’t had the guts to say out loud. When he left, she’d been beginning to thaw. Now, who knew?
And even if she was a little intrigued, how would she feel once she knew the truth? He groaned, rubbing a hand over his freshly shaved chin. The truth. The ugly, sordid truth about how he and the team came into fortunes.
Payoff for their silence about the things they’d done. He had to believe, once Jane knew the truth, she’d send him packing.
Not that he had any intention of cluing her in. Not until the rest of the team, her brother included, gave him the go-ahead.
And hey, if Jane shot him down now, it would never be an issue, right?
Preparing himself for the worst, he pushed open the door to Valley Hardware. The bell above jingled, announcing his presence. The store was a curious mix of modern and vintage tools and equipment—a reflection of Redemption Creek itself, and the store’s owner, the woman who’d been on his mind every second since he drove out of town last month.
He scanned the shelves, noting the practicality in every item displayed and wondering how to greet her. What did a guy say to the woman he was certain he wanted to spend the rest of his life with when he was less than certain how she felt about him?
“Need some help?” Jane’s voice––warm and familiar––startled him.
She stood behind that same antique cash register where they had first met just a month ago. Like the day they met, the sun streamed in through the high window behind her, making her sable hair shine.
He remembered her uncertainty then. She hadn’t known whether he was coming to help find her missing brother…or make trouble. She’d greeted him while clutching a hammer beneath the counter, ready to defend herself if necessary.
Bridger approached the register, boots echoing on worn floorboards.
“Hey.” He rubbed his neck, gears turning.
Her cordial smile remained firmly in place.
He detected no hint of anger. Or anything else. “Surprised to see me?”
She busied herself straightening a display of wrenches. “Not entirely. I heard your team bought the Gaffney place. Plus, Tai and Fenn have been in practically every day.”
Her tone gave nothing away. Was she happy he’d kept his word about staying or not? For an expert in nonverbal communication and interrogation, he was batting zero about now.
“The place is perfect for us, but it needs a lot of work.” He grabbed a box of framing nails from a shelf. “Figured you’re the best person to help me get the supplies I need.”
She met his eyes then, the hint of a smile on her lips. “You could have sent one of the others.”
He met her gaze. “No. I couldn’t. I wanted to see you.” He flipped the box end over end. “Jane, I––”
She slammed the drawer beneath the cash register shut, making the loose change jingle. “No need to explain.” She rushed to the far end of the counter and turned her back, straightening a display of summer yard art. “You’re busy. I get it. It would have been nice to get updates on the search for Jason, though.”
He waggled his aching jaw. “I wish we had some. Your brother’s still radio silent.”
She shrugged. Even from the back, the hurt was clear. “Guess I didn’t expect any miracles. I know he’ll contact us when he thinks it’s safe. It’s just… Waiting is hard.”
“Yeah, it is.” Bridger wanted so badly to locate Jason, but if his former teammate didn’t want to be found, it wasn’t going to happen. Jay-man would contact them when he was good and ready.
Hopefully before the man took down their enemies. Bridger wanted in on that fight. So did the rest of the team.
Jane whirled back around, serious now. “When are you planning to check out that airstrip?”
Rosalind. The name they’d found scrawled in Jason’s handwriting. The only clue they had to follow. He should have expected her to bring that up. He and the team planned to check out the abandoned airstrip as soon as they had their surveillance hardware up and running.
No way they’d approach any site that might be connected to the Consortium without first doing proper surveillance.
“I’m coming with you,” Jane announced. “That’s non-negotiable.”
Oh, boy. He hadn’t been certain he’d gather the courage to tell her how he felt about her, but he sure hadn’t planned on getting into an argument on his first day back. But no way she was going anywhere near the place Jason’s clue led.
If the Consortium didn’t kill him, Jason would.
His thoughts must have shown on his face. Jane crossed her arms, her mouth flattening into a tight line. “Got that list of supplies for the ranch?”
“Right here.” Bridger handed over the list.
He glanced around the tidy store. He was the only customer, but most folks in the Creek worked long days. Early mornings and weekends were more popular shopping times. “How’s business these days?”
She scanned his list, punching numbers into the register with a practiced ease. “Can’t complain. That was great of Tai and the team to help Mrs. Lewiston with that patent situation. She’s been through enough since Harv died.”
“It’s exactly what Jason would have done if he was here.” Would do, once they brought him back, Bridger added silently.
The mention of her older brother earned him a sad smile. “Yeah. It is.”
“Helping people like Mrs. Lewiston is exactly why we’re setting up our headquarters here.”
A lifelong resident of Redemption Creek, the elderly widow has only recently realized that one of her late rancher husband’s inventions, a unique irrigation system, was making millions for a big corporation. A week of work, and a few intimidating talks with the corporation’s top guys and Mrs. Lewiston had a hefty check for ten years of back payments, and the promise of regular royalties from now on.
“Total comes to $3,453.28,” Jane announced, offering him a tight-lipped smile.
He struggled to think of something to say while the machine processed his payment, but came up empty.
Jane avoided eye contact as she slid the receipt across the counter. “Your order should be ready for pickup tomorrow afternoon.”
“Great, thanks.” Bridger hesitated, grappling with the urge to say something more, something meaningful. But no words came. Instead, he offered a weak smile and turned to leave.
Jane’s voice stopped him as his hand touched the door. “Bridger, wait.”
He turned to see her round the counter, a hesitant look in her green eyes. “I’m sorry if I seemed...distant. It’s just–– It’s good to see you again.”
Hope swelled his throat, catching him completely off guard. “You, too.”
He cringed inwardly. He was the interrogation specialist of the team. Where were the words when he needed them? He cleared his throat. “I meant it when I said we’d stick around. Me and the team, we could use a place to settle down after so many years moving around.”
She gave a soft smile, one that made his heart skip. “Redemption Creek has a way of growing on people. I’m glad you’re giving it a chance.”
Was she? Because they were picking up where Jason left off, helping good folks who needed heroes on occasion? Or was it personal?
He squeezed the card between his fingers. Please, he prayed, let it be personal.
He rubbed the back of his neck, searching for the right words. “And if I grew on a certain hardware store owner, well...that wouldn’t hurt either. I mean we. Our team.” He added quickly. And completely lamely.
