“How could I have been so dumb?” Hannah asked.
“You trusted the source, and that wasn’t dumb,” Eryn replied.
Gage headed back to the doorway to switch off the light and stand guard. A whisper of a sound caught Gage’s attention. He listened carefully. Heard the barest of sounds. The patio door from the deck easing open.
“Get Trey out here,” Gage said in a hushed tone then disconnected the call to extinguish the phone’s light.
He rushed to Hannah and grabbed her hand again. “Sig—or someone—is here. We’re sitting ducks in this room. We need to move. Now!”
12
Hannah remembered Jackson’s training the other day. His skills. The team’s intensity. A man like that was coming for her. Now—in this house. Panic almost had her running out of the room. Fleeing from the house.
Gage must have sensed her anxiety as he drew her into his arms. Held her close.
“Don’t worry, honey,” he whispered. “I’ve got you. Trust me?”
“Yes,” she said and meant it. Not only here and now, but always.
He led her down the hallway and stopped in one of the bedrooms to shrug a backpack on, then doubled back to the stairway leading to the lower level. Hannah listened. Waited. Feared a gunshot to the back, but trusted Gage and crept down the stairs behind him. He didn’t turn on a light, but the room was bathed with the same moonlight they’d kissed under. It was romantic then, but now it was deadly. It could give them away and end their lives.
Gage hesitated at the patio door, his hand suspended over the handle. Then he eased it open just far enough for them to squeeze through.
On the stone patio, he signaled that they would take a path to the east. He kept hold of her hand, and at a thick stand of trees, he stepped off the path. He dug in his backpack for goggles and strapped them on.
“Night vision,” he whispered and drew his weapon.
He took her hand again and led her into the scrub. They climbed over boulders and moved through knee-high grass, steadily heading down the steep incline toward the river.
At the water, he paused and drew her alongside him. “We’ll follow the river for now, but we have to stay undercover.”
Hannah thought it odd that Gage was running from their foe instead of staking a claim, but maybe he didn’t think his injured arm would allow him to stand and fight a former SEAL. Sig’s leg injury probably put him at better odds in close-quarter combat.
Gage suddenly stopped, dropping down behind a large bolder and taking her with him. He tipped his head as if listening. She heard nothing but the rushing water crashing over boulders and racing downstream.
He swiveled and placed his gun in her hands. He’d once taught her how to shoot, so she wasn’t uncomfortable holding the weapon. But she didn’t like firing one and had to admit she wanted to give it back the moment he was done rummaging through his backpack.
“Stay here,” he said in hushed tones as his hand came out of the pack gripping a knife and another gun. “If I’m not back in a few minutes, take off along the river.”
“Wait, what? You’re leaving me?” Her voice squeaked.
He held a finger to his mouth. “I have to go after Sig. Get the high ground. It’s our only hope. Watch your back and fire at anyone who comes near you.”
“But what if it’s you?”
“If it’s me, I’ll let you know.”
He started to get up. She grabbed his arm. Pulled him close. Kissed him. Hard. “I loved you, too. Back then, I mean, and I could again. Might already.”
He flashed a quick smile and settled the goggles over his eyes, then silently disappeared in the shrubs like a whisper in the dark.
Hannah admitted that she’d loved him. Gage liked it. Liked it a whole lot. But that was the last place his mind could go right now. In combat, any distraction could end lives, and right now, he was in combat with a very capable opponent.
Gage searched through the foliage lit by his NVGs. In the distance, he spotted Sig. Just the sight of him framed in the lenses sent Gage’s stomach cramping hard. Not only because Sig was a traitor to all that was good and true, but also because Gage didn’t know if he could take the other man. He may have injured his leg, but he could still hold his own in hand-to-hand combat. Gage’s arm left him wanting in that area.
Since Sig was willing to kill Hannah and had likely murdered Nick, the guy wouldn’t hesitate to put a slug in Gage if he had the opportunity. Still, Gage had his brains and combat experience. He was counting on Sig believing that Gage wouldn’t fight with Hannah at his side and not expect him to leave her alone. He didn’t like leaving her vulnerable, but he knew she’d fire on Sig if she had to.
He moved forward, each step careful and measured to ensure silence. He continued to mark Sig’s forward progress and adjust accordingly. Where were those dang sirens when you needed them? Maybe Trey came alone. Then Gage would hear nothing as Trey would arrive in stealth mode and be prepared to do battle. Or maybe he was on the other side of the county and it was simply taking time to get here.
Gage climbed higher, moving beyond Sig, and then started back toward Hannah. Sig suddenly stopped. Gage followed suit and dropped to the ground. Sig ran his gaze over the area then shook his head and continued. As Gage started to get up, he saw a single blade of tall grass move. Gage lifted his gun. Waited. A hand eased out of the brush holding a deputies’ badge. Trey! He was letting Gage know he was there.
Gage lowered his weapon and Trey belly-crawled forward, inch by inch, until he squatted, his thigh nearly touching Gage.
He gestured at Sig’s location, and without a word, they communicated a two-pronged attack. They broke up and set out, converging on Sig from both sides. Gage desperately wanted to take the guy down, but with Trey at his side, it would be foolish not to let the man with full use of both arms engage with Sig. Gage would cover Trey while he attacked and disarmed Sig.
Close enough to see the tat on Sig’s arm, Gage gave Trey the signal. Trey started to launch himself into the air, but Sig spun and fired.
Trey went down hard.
No! Gage hurled his body at Sig’s back, dislodging his rifle. It went flying. On the ground now, Sig’s face in the mud, Gage worked to secure his wrists behind him, but Gage’s gimpy arm failed him and Sig broke free. He lurched forward. Dove for his rifle.
Gage rolled and pulled his gun free. “Lay a finger on that rifle, Sig, and I’ll plug you.”
Sig froze, and Gage wished the guy would go for it so Gage could pay him back for hurting Hannah, but he lay there unmoving.
“Hands behind your back,” Trey called out as he limped up to Gage.
“Nice to see you up,” Gage said.
“Figured you needed my cuffs.” He handed them over. “Go ahead and restrain him. I’ve got him covered.”
Gage snapped the metal bracelets on Sig’s wrists and was tempted to land a solid punch in payback for attacking Hannah, but hitting a man while he was down wasn’t Gage’s style.
Trey dropped down on a stump to press a hand against his bloody leg and requested backup on his radio. Gage ripped off his shirt and balled it up to bear down on Trey’s leg. He then took his belt and wrapped it around the shirt to put pressure on the wound but not cut off his circulation like a tourniquet would do. He checked Trey’s face to see how he was handling the wound and wasn’t surprised to see the former spec op guy not even wincing.
“I could use a guy like you on my team,” Gage said.
“If this bullet causes serious damage, I might be looking for a job and will agree to join your ragtag team.” Trey chuckled, keeping his focus on Sig.
Gage wasn’t offended at the comment, as the team was pretty ragtag. “You think you can keep a weapon on Sig so I can go to Hannah?”
“No worries,” Trey said. “You gonna hold onto her this time?”
Was he? He’d been certain he didn’t want a relationship, but then Hannah burst back into his life and into his heart. Now he knew h
e wanted nothing less.
“Yeah, man. She’s a keeper.” Gage took off. After announcing his presence, he slipped through the brush and found her with her back to the rock, her legs pulled up. The gun lay on the ground, her arms around her knees.
He dropped down beside her and took her hands. “We have Sig in custody, but Trey’s been shot.”
She sat forward. “Is it serious?”
“It’s his thigh, and I doubt it’s life-threatening, but it’s always possible.”
“Then we should go to him, right?”
“Right.” Gage loved how she always put others before herself. She truly was a keeper.
He helped her up and drew her into his arms. He wasn’t risking any more time passing before he told her how he felt. “This situation might be resolved, but I love you, Hannah, and I don’t want you to leave Cold Harbor.”
She arched a brow and watched him as if she’d forgotten all about her declaration less than an hour ago. Maybe as she waited for his return she’d been thinking the worst and regretted declaring her love for him.
“I’m not running anywhere this time, honey,” he said. “I’m here to stay. Forever, if you’ll have me.”
She gently cupped the side of his face. He waited for her admission of love. For her to say she wanted to be with him, too. She took a deep breath and blew it out. “We can talk about this later. After we’re sure Trey’s okay.”
Gage nodded, but he had to admit it stung that she didn’t tell him she loved him right then and there and agree to spend the rest of her life with him. Not only stung but left him worried she’d simply reacted in fear before. Maybe this was a one-way street, and she didn’t want to be with him.
Hannah could hardly look at Sig Daniels. She was certain he killed Nick, and standing this close to him made her sick to her stomach. But she wouldn’t leave. While they’d waited for backup, Trey suggested in a whispered conversation that she try to get Sig to explain himself and confess to Nick’s murder. As much as she hated the smug look on the creep’s face, she’d stand her ground and talk to him for Nick’s sake.
“Why kill Nick?” she asked bluntly. “What did he do to you?”
“Never said I killed him.” Sig scoffed from where he sat on the ground and leaned against a tree trunk. “Besides, if I did—and I’m not saying I did—you know the reason, so quit playing dumb with me.”
This guy was obviously crazy. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
“Liar.”
“Watch it.” Gage lifted his fist, his body shaking with anger. “Or I’ll change my mind and you’ll feel my wrath.”
Sig rolled his eyes. “Like I’m afraid of you any more than I was of Nick.”
Gage took a step closer. “Seems like you’re afraid of a helpless female or you wouldn’t have resorted to attacking Hannah.”
Sig growled, low and menacing. “I’m not going back to prison. Ever. And I’ll do whatever I need to do to stop her from making that happen.”
“But I haven’t done anything,” Hannah protested. “How many times do I have to tell you that?”
“Stop it. Just stop it.” His hot angry eyes fixed on her.
She had to work hard not to shudder and show him that even in cuffs he was scaring her.
“I followed you to the federal prosecutor’s office last week,” he said. “Then I found the files at your house. I don’t know why you waited so long to turn me in, but I couldn’t let it happen.”
Hannah shot a helpless look at Gage, telling him she still didn’t have a clue about what Sig meant.
“Gee, thanks for telling me about all of this, Hannah.” Gage’s bitter look directed at her took her by surprise. He focused on Sig and shook his head. “Women. You commit to protecting them, and then they don’t give you all the details.”
What? Where was that coming from?
“Ain’t that the truth,” Sig mumbled. “Sounds like you and me have the same problem.”
Oh, right. She got it now. Gage was taking over and trying to get Sig to confess.
“Had enough of it when my wife filed for divorce,” Sig continued. “Stupid divorce. Stupid ex. She left me with barely enough money to live on. Had to run up my credit cards just to buy food. Then I couldn’t make the credit card payments. Only way out of that mess was to sell a few classified documents.”
Documents? Did he mean NSA documents?
“Well, you had to do it,” Gage said. “It was your ex’s fault. She left you no choice. You had to eat.”
“Yeah, man. I only took a few, you know. Just to pay off the cards and get a little breathing room. Nothing big that would rock our national security. Just minor stuff.”
“Nick into this stuff, too?”
“Nah, but something in one of his ops seemed hinky to him. So he ran it down and got wind of my deal. He demanded to see me at Smith Rock that day. Told me to turn myself in or else. I wasn’t going to prison. No way.” He scowled. “Not that I managed to avoid it for other reasons.”
He’d stopped short of admitting to killing Nick. Hannah opened her mouth to get him to confess, but a warning look from Gage stayed her words.
“I can feel your pain, man,” Gage said. “Hannah lied to me. She’s had me running in circles for the last few days when she knew what this was all about. She’s still not willing to spill, but I’ll bet you’re right.”
“I knew it! Knew it all the time. Lying about wanting to turn me in. Holding on to those NSA documents.” He glared at her. “But I underestimated you, didn’t I? You and those tools you were using to do your creepy work at the cottage? My arm is still aching.”
“She deserved it, though, right?” Gage snagged Sig’s attention again. “Deserved for you to keep coming after her?”
“You know it.” He blew out a long breath. “Man, it’s good to talk to someone who understands.”
“I understand more than you know. She was once my chick, and Nick stole her from me.”
“Then you can thank me for shoving him over the edge.” He chuckled. “Too bad you didn’t see the surprised look on his face when he fell. Yeah, he thought he was all that. But he wasn’t now, was he?”
He admitted to killing Nick so matter-of-factly that Hannah’s heart ached. Nick meant nothing to this guy. Less than nothing.
Gage faced Trey. “Is that enough to put this jerk away?”
Trey nodded. “Thanks for doing my job for me and getting his confession.”
“Now wait a minute,” Sig said. “I didn’t confess to anything.”
“Nice try.” A satisfied smile slid across Trey’s face. “We have three witnesses who heard your confession. You won’t be seeing the light of day for a very long time.”
EPILOGUE
It was Labor Day weekend, and—after a whirlwind of days that could compete with the biggest of tornadoes—Hannah remained in Cold Harbor. She’d told herself she’d stayed to finish Jane Doe’s reconstruction, which she’d done. The deceased woman, Mary Holloway, traveled to Texas every winter to stay with family then returned to Oregon for the summer. She’d been hitchhiking when a trucker picked her up, and he now sat in jail charged with murder and was awaiting trial.
Mary would be laid to rest near her family, and Hannah’s involvement in the case was over. Yet, she was still here. At Gage’s compound. Spending blissful days with him, Mia, and David. Days like today—a lazy, glorious day. Sun shining, bees buzzing. The air a cool sixty-five and the team and Gage’s family all gathered for a big barbeque where the men had claimed best grilling rights, including Trey, though he wouldn’t be putting any weight on his injured leg.
He’d been discharged from the hospital, but the verdict was out on whether he would suffer permanent damage. Permanent injury or not, Gage had already offered Trey a spot on the team, and Hannah thought he might take him up on it. Not because of the job or even his friendship with Gage, but because of the way Trey gazed at Eryn as if she was the only woman left on earth, and he had to
snap her up before another guy had the chance.
It wasn’t hard to recognize the look. Gage’s face had held the exact expression for the last few days while he waited for her answer about staying in Cold Harbor. She’d tried each day to conjure up the past pain between them. Nothing happened. Nothing at all. She was over their past. Fully over it. Though committing to Gage frightened her—talk about role reversals—she was ready to acknowledge that she wanted to be with him and see where things went from there.
She left David playing with Mia and stepped up to Gage near the grill. “It’s time to let one of the guys take over.”
“Something wrong?” he asked with a wary bent to his tone.
She twined her fingers with his. “No. Something is very right.”
He got a gleam in his eyes and shoved the spatula into Jackson’s hand. “Overcook the burgers and you’ll pay for it.”
Jackson scoffed, but Gage didn’t seem to notice. He tugged on her hand and they slipped around the house for privacy. He led her onto the porch to the whitewashed swing. “What’s this about?”
“Us.”
“Us?” His voice squeaked high, and it tickled her that she had the ability to fluster such an unflappable man.
She slid closer and ran a finger down the side of his jaw, and she thought he might launch himself from the seat. “I’ve been thinking about your suggestion that I stay in Cold Harbor.”
“And?”
“And, I figured I could work from here. I mean, I’d have to travel, but if you’re willing to watch David sometimes, I think I can do it.”
“You don’t have to work if you don’t want to.”
“You mean be a kept woman?” she joked, but when he slid from the bench to his knees, all jokes ceased in her mind.
“Not a kept woman. My wife.” He smiled up at her, belying a hint of uncertainty lingering in his eyes. “I love you, Hannah. Will you marry me? Marry me and make us a family. Me. You. David and Mia. All together.”
Cold Terror Page 11
