“I don’t think I have any enemies,” she said quietly.
“Any troublesome pet owners?” Cage said.
She looked over to him, and the corner of her mouth twitched.
“One or two,” she said. He was glad to see that she was starting to snap out of the initial shock.
He stared at the collar in her hand and scrubbed his face but stopped when he caught her staring at him. She chewed her lip nervously.
“I did hear a noise this morning,” she said. “I didn’t think anything of it at first, but now I’m not sure.”
The hairs on the back of his neck stood as she spoke.
“A noise?” Trent asked.
Whitney nodded, and her auburn hair bobbed around her face.
“It sounded like someone was on the other side of the door,” she said. “Hank got nervous. When I went to look, though, no one was there.”
Cage frowned. “Who’s Hank?”
She looked up at him and smiled. “A beagle puppy that’s on the mend.”
Cage nodded. It was silly. He didn’t even have claim on her, and yet he was ready to beat the shit out of anyone that looked at her the wrong way.
Trent shrugged. “It could just be chance.”
Cage frowned and shook his head. “It would be too coincidental, and there’s no such thing in our line of work.”
Whitney sighed. The fear in her big green eyes was almost too much for him.
“Should I be worried?” she whispered.
“Worried? No.” He stepped over to her. He would have loved to get down to where she was and look her in the eye, but there was no way his knee would allow it. “You do need to be cautious,” he said firmly.
She nodded and stood. “I need to go,” she said quietly. “I’ve still got to let Hank out.”
Cage shook his head. There was no way he was going to let her go there without cover. If some freak was after her, she’d need protection.
“Let’s go, then,” he said and looked over to Trent, who nodded.
“Oh, I can’t let you—” she began.
Cage walked over to her and stood tall in front of her. “We’re going,” he said firmly but leaned down when a hard line formed on her face. “I need to keep you safe,” he whispered. “That’s the way I am.”
Her eyes softened, and he signed inwardly. After everything that happened tonight, this was a win.
* * *
Whitney cursed herself as she walked from cage to cage, making sure the animals had what they needed. There weren’t as many she’d had recently, thankfully, but there were still enough to make checking on them quite a task.
Fortunately, most were on the mend and only needed minor care.
Hank barked from his cage and danced around.
She couldn’t help but laugh as his little butt wiggled around in the cage.
Whitney opened the front latch and watched as he shot out of the confined space toward Cage, who stood silently a bit in front of the opened door, the night shrouding him slightly.
“Hank?” he said as he stooped to pet the little pup.
She smiled as Hank wiggled his way onto his back for a belly rub.
“He just seemed so wise when he came in,” she said quietly. “I thought he needed a grownup name.”
Cage laughed at the little dog. “Well, he’s about as grownup as a tadpole.”
She shook her head and moved to the door that opened to the small courtyard.
“He didn’t seem that way when he came in,” she said and watched as Hank darted out into the yard. “Dirty, tired and injured, he just seemed broken.”
Cage grunted, and she turned to look at him.
“Looks like he’s made a full recovery,” he said.
She nodded and looked away. Something about the way the conversation was going made her uncomfortable. After all the ups and downs that evening, she wanted to avoid any more emotional minefields.
“Animals are amazing,” she said and stared out at the blur of Hank darting around in the darkness outside. “I’ve seen them come back from things, even better than they were before. Think about Harley.”
Cage nodded. After a moment, he placed a hand on her shoulder, and she shivered at the touch.
“People can come back stronger, too,” he said quietly.
She turned to look at him. His eyes were shrouded in darkness, but she knew he was staring at her.
“Cage,” she said.
“Give me a chance,” he said and stepped a little closer. “Give me the same chance you gave Hank.”
“It’s not the same,” she said.
Whitney pulled away.
“Being shot wasn’t the worst thing that happened that day,” Cage said.
Whitney stilled and stared up at the quiet man.
“The worst was watching him die to protect me,” Cage said. His voice cracked as he spoke, and she knew the emotion was raw.
“Who died?” The words were out before she could even stop them.
“Carlos,” he said quietly. “He stepped in front of me. I should be the one dead in the ground.”
She shivered at the thought and stepped closer. “Don’t say that.”
Her voice was harsh and filled with emotion she didn’t know was buried in her.
“I’m glad you’re here,” she said quietly and stepped a little closer. “I’m glad it wasn’t you.”
Cage stared back at her for a moment and then slowly leaned down. She had time to step away if she wanted. He was giving her all the time in the world to step away, but she didn’t want to.
There was more to him than the pretty face, more than the thrill-seeking man she thought was there. Cage was sweet. He was a man who loved animals and fought fiercely to defend the honor of his sister’s dog. More than that, he was someone who lived honestly, even if it hurt him.
His lips touched hers, and she sighed. Being wrapped up in his arms felt right, more right than she’d ever experienced.
It wasn’t a deep kiss. He didn’t press into her like he had before. The word tender floated through her mind and drifted into love.
She pulled back and tried not the think about the L word. That was not something she could get behind. Things like that happened in fairytales. Standing outside while the dog peed, hoping that her life wasn’t in danger, was not a fairytale.
“Go out with me,” Cage said. His words cut into her thoughts and knocked her stability around a bit.
“A date?” she asked.
“Let me get to know you,” he said. His voice sounded surer than before. “Let me show you that I can be more than what you think I am.”
Whitney opened her mouth and then closed it.
A date.
It seemed like the title of a horror movie.
“Yes.”
Whitney didn’t even know where that came from. She opened her mouth to say no, and a yes came out.
Cage grinned at her.
“Yes,” he repeated her answer, and a weight lifted off her.
“Hank,” she called out into the darkness. The little guy raced to them and again danced around Cage.
They stepped in, and she closed the door. His hand came over hers as she slipped the lock in place.
“Tell me you want to,” he said. His voice was serious. “That you aren’t just doing this because you feel sorry for me.”
Whitney snorted. “Sorry for you?” she said and moved further into the room. “Yes, I feel really sorry for the super-sexy security guy.”
The room grew quiet, and she hoped that she hadn’t crossed the line.
When she turned to look at him, he was grinning from ear to ear.
“You think I’m super sexy?” he laughed.
She could feel the heat on her face as it spread to her whole body.
“I, I,” she stammered. “I need to get Hank home.”
Cage picked up the little pup, who only tried to dance in his arms.
“She thinks I’m sexy,” he whispered.<
br />
Whitney rolled her eyes and turned away. “Are you done yet?” she tossed over her shoulder.
Cage laughed and followed her to the front door. When they were on the other side, he continued following her to the car. He held up a hand to Trent, who flashed the lights.
Whitney had to admit, even when he was off, he was still on.
“When?” Cage said and placed Hank into the back.
Whitney stared at him, confused
“Our date,” he said quietly. “When should we have it?”
Her mind blanked.
“Friday?” he suggested.
Whitney nodded. Her mind blanked again as he leaned in to kiss her. This time was brief but just as intense as every other time.
“Friday,” she whispered as she climbed into the car. Now she’d have all week to freak out about what a bad idea dating Cage Allen was.
Chapter Nine
Cage frowned from his seat at the conference table.
“I’m telling you there’s something weird going on with her,” he said to Reed.
Cage’s older brother stared at him with his green eyes and shook his head.
“It’s not enough to go on, and you know it,” Reed said. “Lots of weird stuff happens to people.”
Cage turned his head to look to Trent. “I don’t know it.”
Reed sighed and sat down in his chair. The other men in the room had grown quiet watching them, but Cage didn’t give a shit. His brother was wrong, and if that meant being called out in front of everyone, then so be it.
“What I do know,” Cage said, looking over to Ryder, “is that we had enough manpower for someone to roll by Irene’s place when she needed it.”
Sure, maybe it was a bit cheap, but it was still true.
Ryder frowned and turned away.
“That was before the shit hit the fan,” Reed said, drawing his attention back to him. “We just don’t have the manpower to spare. We’re stretched about as thin as we can manage. If we don’t get the drop on the Los Malos, then they will get the drop on us. I just can’t have that. They’ve already shown how fucking crazy they are.”
Cage snorted. “And you’ve been getting vital information recently?”
Reed grew quiet and pressed his lips together.
“We’re doing what we can,” he said quickly.
“Great,” Cage said and moved forward. “So where are the Los Malos going during the day?”
The room grew still. This was a direct challenge, and it was clear that he meant business.
“We’re not sure, but it seems like they’ve taken a majority of their business off their grounds,” Reed said tightly. “They were doing some work last night on one of their buildings on site. We’re still piecing it all together.”
He looked around the room, and Cage knew that the fight was over.
“We think they are getting ready to move whatever they are doing to their land,” Reed said.
“That seems a little stupid,” Kace said and leaned back. “If the PD gets wind of this, then it’s all over.”
Reed nodded. “This is why we think they must have things looking on the up and up. Hide in plain sight.”
Ryder snorted. “And don’t forget that there are some in the department who would be fine taking a little extra cash on the side to make it look legal. Plus, with a lot of the Russian and Kelly Clan shit still going on, it’s not like the force isn’t spread thin itself.”
Cage shook his head. Things were not working out in their favor, and he didn’t even know if they would end up that way. With the situation as it currently stood, they would be lucky to figure this shit out before it went south. They needed to surprise the Los Malos, or more people were going to get hurt.
“Ryder, you keep working with Charlie. He’s our best guess in all this,” Reed said. “But keep it on the down low. Finn is right,” he said, looking over to Cage and Trent. “If Charlie can’t do business because of us, then we’re all fucked. Everyone else, keep up the rotations. I just know they are going to escalate things, and we need to be ready.”
The men got up to leave. Reed caught Cage as he was about to slip out the door.
“My office,” he said quietly.
Cage frowned. If Reed thought he was going to chew him out over this, he better be ready for one hell of a fight. It’s not like Reed and Ryder hadn’t risked men from the firm for their women.
They walked down the hall quietly. Trent followed behind, and Cage wondered what was going on.
When they entered the room, Reed closed the door and gestured to a chair.
Cage slipped in with ease and sighed at the room to stretch out.
“I want to know more about this dog situation,” Reed said.
Cage frowned, surprised. The impression he’d gotten from his brother in the meeting was totally different.
“What?” Cage said.
Reed took a seat on the other side of the desk.
“We’ve been getting reports from all over,” he said. “Dogs are coming up missing.”
Cage frowned. “Dogs?”
Reed shrugged. “It’s not really clear to me why this might be happening.”
“Then why’d you blow me off in the meeting?”
“Because it could be totally unrelated. Everything I said about us being stretched thin is still true, and I’m not going to commit resources to some wild goose chase without firm evidence.”
Cage leaned forward to respond, but it was Trent that spoke first. “Think it’s a big ring?”
Reed shrugged. “At the moment, I’m not sure of anything, but like I said I can’t spend the man hours on it. Not with the way things stand.”
Cage raised a brow. “Then why the hell are you telling me about it?”
Trent sighed. “Because he’s not giving out the assignment. I am.”
Cage looked between the two of them. “What the hell is going on?”
“Look,” Trent said. “I need something to cut my teeth on in the area. If we find the missing dogs, more money comes in. There’s plenty of work here.” He shrugged. “I just need to establish myself. Besides,” Trent grinned, “I get to watch that vet make you squirm. That’s pretty amazing and entertaining.”
Cage frowned, flipped off the ex-SEAL and turned back to his brother.
“You cool with this?” Cage asked and shifted in his chair.
All this time he’d been working for his brother. It never occurred to him that he might be taking orders from someone else. He liked and respected Trent, but still, it felt slightly weird.
Reed sighed and scrubbed a hand across his face.
“I’m getting too old to be doing stake-outs all night,” he said and leaned back in his chair. Cage had seen that Reed was looking more tired recently, and he wondered if he was just taking on too much. It’s not like he was that much older. “Olivia hates when I leave at night, and Violet gets upset when I’m not there to see her in the morning.”
Cage frowned. That didn’t really sound like much of a problem.
“So start assigning that shit to the men,” Cage said. “That’s why you have them.”
Reed shook his head. “Not enough men to go around. Kace is a mess with Jessica being pregnant. Liam is working with Finn, and Meg wants a baby.”
Cage nearly choked at the thought of his baby sister getting pregnant.
“At least Ryder is taking it slow on the baby front, but it won’t be long. We all know that having kids changes things. We have to be more careful.”
Reed sat up and placed his hands on his desk like he was prepping himself to say something he didn’t really want to.
“Things are growing here,” he said quietly. “Our family is growing.” He pressed his lips together. “My family is growing.”
Cage raised both brows in surprise. “Shit, Olivia’s pregnant?”
His heart filled with love at the thought of a new child entering their family.
Reed nodded, but his expression was
not even close to the elated look most fathers would have. “It’s one of the biggest reasons I asked Trent to come in so soon.”
Trent nodded once but remained silent.
Cage leaned forward. All happiness disappeared
“What’s going on?” Cage said.
Reed looked at him with such anguish it made his heart ache. “Olivia is sick,” he said, his voice was just above a whisper. “Mom’s had to watch Violet during the day. This pregnancy has been hard. Very hard.”
His stomach twisted at his brother’s pain.
“What’s wrong?”
Reed took in a breath, and this time spoke with more strength than Cage would have thought possible.
“She’s been bleeding,” he said. “Right now they want her on bedrest, but she’ll eventually have to stay at the hospital. We’re just hoping the baby stays in until the lungs are fully formed, but it’s definitely going to be premature.”
“Shit,” Cage said quietly. It had never occurred to him that his brother could be dealing with all this, and he wouldn’t know. “Mom knows?”
Reed nodded. Their conversation had drained him, or maybe just dealing with things had drained him.
Cage looked over to Trent, who wore a grim expression.
Trent shook his head. “I didn’t know all this when Reed contacted me,” he said and looked back at him. “All I knew was that there might be a chance to live near my dad and sister.”
Cage nodded and looked back to Reed.
“How long have you been dealing with this?”
Reed looked at the glow of the computer on the side of the desk.
“Just after you were shot,” he said after some time.
The room spun a little as Cage took it in. They had been suffering in silence while everyone made sure he was comfortable. The thought didn’t sit well with him. Even with a bad knee, he still could support his family.
“Why didn’t you say something?” Cage said. “We’re family. Everyone would have been there for you. All of you. You know that, right?”
Reed looked over to him. “Olivia wanted to make sure you got what you needed.”
The green eyes of their father stared back at him through Reed, and Cage had to look away.
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