Caged Songbird

by Avery Gale

  Chapter Nineteen

  Eight Months Later

  Colt stood in the wings watching as Josie sang the last song of the show and wondered how he’d ever gotten so lucky. She’s everything I ever wanted. An almost endless capacity to love, smarter than a whip, immensely talented, witty enough to hold her own with my rodeo pals, and so damned beautiful she takes my breath away. Tonight was the final night of her tour—this one had been considerably shorter at his insistence. She still had trouble saying no, but Colt didn’t.

  Once he’d taken over as her manager, he’d stood between her and the world like a well-armed Ninja warrior. The staff they’d hired was loyal and hardworking, and he’d made sure they were well paid as a result. When Colt first took over, he’d put out the word among his friends that he was looking for a personal assistant for Josie. Nate and Taz had been on different continents, but they’d sure been thinking along the same lines because he’d gotten the same suggestion from both men.

  Kimi Ledek was young, smart, focused, and loyal. When he’d asked her about her relationship with his friends, her blush had turned her flawless golden brown cheeks a brilliant shade of scarlet. “Mr. Morgan, my first name means secret in our language, which probably tells you a lot.” He’d wanted to reach over and still her hands as they twisted nervously where she had them clasped on her lap, but he reached for Josie’s instead. She’d been rehearsing, but had taken a break to join the interview. Colt had been impressed that she’d continued to speak directly to him, despite Josephine Alta walking into the room—that sort of focus and integrity was exactly what he was looking for.

  “Nate, Taz, and I share a father, but he and my mother were never married. My brothers didn’t know I existed until they saw me at our father’s funeral. I’d heard about them, and I was curious. My mom died a year before my dad…and I guess I was lonely. Anyway, they saw me, and as you can probably see, there is some resemblance.” Oh, he could see how much she looked like Nate and Taz, alright—with the notable exception of size, but there was no mistaking their shared parentage.

  Kimi bumped his shoulder with her own, bringing him back to the moment. “You ready, boss?”

  “Yes.” No. She’d been helping him put this together for the past several weeks. They’d staged several photos for tonight’s special event without Josie getting wind of their plans. The new crew, the band, hell even their bus driver, was in on the surprise. And Colt had made sure each, and every one of them would be out front to enjoy the fruit of their labors. All the pictures flashing on the enormous screens would show Josie in various locations doing everything from singing to gulping her beloved orange juice. The only common denominator in the pictures? Colt standing behind her.

  Some of the pictures they’d simply pulled from video footage that the team documenting the tour for a television special for MTV had already canned. But they’d needed more, so he’d purchased cameras by the case and covertly handed them out. And Josie’s people had come through like champs. They’d caught him standing behind her, watching over her and singing in the background. Their ability to capture the love he felt for her had humbled him. Kimi helped him sort through almost a thousand pictures—often through her tears. They hadn’t been able to use them all, but he hadn’t deleted a single one.

  “Thanks, Kimi. It seems grossly inadequate, but I’m not sure I could ever put into words how much your help has meant. And I’m not talking exclusively about tonight. Don’t forget, if you get bored during our break, there’s always room for you at the ranch. I’m going to be pissed if I find out you worked all summer.”

  She grinned up at him. “So noted…again. I promise to take a break, and I will probably come visit since I’ve been threatened with great bodily harm if I don’t visit my brothers.” Her smile showed how much she loved the two men she’d only gotten to know a few years ago. Two men whose names alone made terrorists around the world take a step back. Their reputations were the stuff of legend in Navy SEAL folklore, but they’d been brought to their knees by the half-sister they hadn’t known existed.

  “Did you get all our people in place? They put a lot into this, I don’t want any of them missing out.”

  “Done. But I split them up so Ms. Never-Misses-Anything didn’t get suspicious.” He’d wanted his family to be here, but with three new babies in the house, it was all hands on deck. Colt had planned to wait until the triplets were a couple of months old to propose to Josie, but the little stinkers hadn’t been interested in his agenda. They’d stalled so long he hadn’t felt right asking everyone to travel. But Phoenix and Kip were here, and they’d worked all day with Josie’s audio-visual team to set up a remote link so his family had a front row seat for tonight’s final event.

  Colt laughed out loud. “Truer words were never spoken, Kimi. Josephine Alta is a force of nature.”

  “And she is really blossoming, even I can see the change. Your love is healing her, you should be very proud of that, Colt.”

  Kimi’s words touched him, and he pulled her into a crushing hug. “Thank you. That means a lot to me. I don’t know how those two knuckleheads got such an amazing sister. I’ll ask Joelle—it’s probably some freaky genetic thing, she knows all that stuff. Maybe she can explain it to me.” When he let her go, his gaze returned to the beautiful woman finishing up the final notes of the last song for this tour. Instead of the exhaustion he’d seen after her last tour, her sweet face was flushed with excitement. He knew she was anxious to head to the airport, but she had one more song to get through.

  Watching Josie take her final bows, Colt felt his phone vibrate in his pocket. Opening the message from Coral, he smiled when he saw the picture. All three babies were propped up on the sofa, wide awake and looking right at the camera. It was the first time he’d seen them all awake at the same time—damn they were going to grow up fast. But it was the sign leaning against the little bundles of joy that melted his heart. You got this, Uncle Colt in big bold letters.

  As busy as she was, his sweet sister-in-law had taken the time to set up a picture he’d save forever. He couldn’t love Coral any more if she was his own sister, they’d shared a special bond from the beginning.

  He quickly typed out a thank you and promised his three precious nieces he’d bring their future Aunt Josie home soon. Colt slid his phone back into his pocket just as Josie turned her attention to him, a triumphant smile lighting up her beautiful face. She’d finished this tour with a flourish, and she knew it. God, he loved her so much it scared him sometimes. He’d never known love could be so all-consuming.

  Walking out onto the brightly lit stage to meet her as he often did at the end of the night, he laughed when some of the crowd started chanting his name. Her fans had gotten accustomed to seeing them together, and the two of them had even sung together at a couple of the venues. The response had been overwhelmingly positive, and he was surprised how much he’d enjoyed sharing the stage with her.

  Taking her hands in his, Colt leaned down and kissed her. This time, it wasn’t his usual chaste, quick brush of his lips against hers when he greeted her on stage. This time, it was a kiss meant to convey a message. When he finally pulled back, he smiled at her slightly dazed expression. “I have a surprise for you, songbird.” Keeping her hand in his, he turned and led her back to the microphone.

  “Ladies and gentlemen, if you’d be so kind as to indulge us for few minutes, a lot of people have worked really hard to help me put together a surprise for Ms. Alta.” The rowdy crowd cheered as she looked around completely bewildered. He was grateful for the wrap around screens so even though she was facing him, she could still see the pictures play across the enormous screens.

  The lights dimmed until only the small space surrounding them was illuminated with soft white light. The song he’d chosen was old, and he knew when the first strains began to play, she didn’t recognize it. He’d be forever grateful to his mom for the suggestion. After he’d explained the message he wanted to send, she hadn’t hesi
tated, and a quick visit to iTunes cinched the choice.

  Her gaze was locked on the screens as the first few pictures moved across them and he saw the moment she realized how much help he’d had. When he started singing Turn Around, Look at Me by The Vogues, he knew she understood exactly what he was trying to say. He’d spent months making sure she felt secure enough to spread her wings and try new pieces of music. The songs she’d written and recorded these last few months were the best she’d ever done and were working their way steadily up the charts.

  Phoenix had given him an update on the recording studio he’d built at the ranch, and now the only remaining detail was sliding the ring nestled in his pocket onto her left hand. Tears streamed down her face as she watched the pictures and listened to the song’s moving lyrics. He used his thumbs to brush away her tears before getting down on one knee. The roar of the crowd was so loud he hoped like hell she’d be able to hear the words he worked so hard to compose.

  “Josie, every time I picture my future, you’re there. And, I can’t imagine growing old with anyone else. I’ll always support and stand behind you. When the world becomes too much for you all you’ll need to do is turn around, I’ll be there.” He’d held her left hand in his much larger one, the entire time he’d been speaking, and now he leaned down to kiss the back of her ring finger. Flipping open the small, black velvet box she hadn’t seen him pull from his pocket, he smiled up at her. “Josephine Alta, will you marry me?”

  Colt wasn’t sure her sound guy was ever going to forgive him for having the mic so close when she squealed yes. The crowd erupted in thunderous applause, but their shouts were drowned out by the pounding of blood in his ears as he slid the enormous princess cut diamond onto her finger.

  He’d discovered quickly how difficult ring shopping could be. Who knew there were so many choices? Coral and Joelle had helped narrow it down, but he’d made the final choice. And both of the women he now considered sisters had given him a thumbs up.

  He stood and twirled her around in circles when she wrapped her arms around his neck. She gasped when she saw the white feather floating its way across the video screens and tightened her hold on him. Colt wasn’t sure how he’d ever be able to thank Kimi for all her help.

  They accepted the congratulations being shouted from the crowd and posed for what seemed like forever as fans and photographers alike snapped pictures. When they were finally able to make their way off the stage, Phoenix and Kip were the first to great their future sister-in-law. His phone started vibrating, and he knew without looking it would be Coral. Laughing when he saw it was Sage, he answered with a surprised hello.

  “Bet you thought it would be my lovely wife calling, didn’t you? Damn, I love those little girls of mine. All three angels decided it was time to raise the roof at the same time taking their mama, grandma, and Aunt Joelle all out of the race to call you first. Congratulations, Colt. I’m damned happy for you. Now get your ass to the airport. The jet is waiting, and there’s a cabinet with supplies in the main bedroom.”

  Before he could say anything, Sage disconnected the call. Colt burst out laughing. Leave it to oldest brother to not miss a single detail. Fucking perfect.

  Epilogue

  Phoenix Morgan swiveled his large office chair away from the bank of computers lining the wall in his office and leaned back crossing his arms over his chest. “I don’t know why the hell I didn’t think to monitor this sooner.” His only excuse was distraction—he’d spent a lot of time helping his brothers keep their lovely women safe, but even he knew that defense was damned lame.

  Mitch Ames stood just inside the large office, leaning casually against the door frame, his gaze moving from the ever changing screens to his friend. They’d become friends on-line playing one of the games Phoenix had developed and later discovered they had a whole group of friends in common.

  Mitch’s military career started when his girlfriend kicked him out of the car in front of a recruiters’ office after a night of wild partying. In an act of rebellion, the unmanageable son of a mega-wealthy oil tycoon and former Miss America, waltzed into the recruiter’s office and joined the Army. Much to everyone’s surprise, the undisciplined young man stuck it out and moved through the ranks quickly. He’d become an Army Ranger and later a Green Beret. But he’d walked away from a career he’d learned to love after a tangle of bureaucratic paperwork cost a young kidnap victim her life. He’d joined the Prairie Winds team, but from what Phoenix had seen, Mitch spent most of his time advising teams on logistics.

  They’d both been tracking another on-line gamer for over a year. Athena named herself after the Greek goddess of wisdom and war strategy, and she’d proven herself more than worthy of the name. She’d surprised them time and time again—damn if she wasn’t a worthy adversary both in and out of the games.

  Hell, she’d been Phoenix’s personal nemesis since the first day she joined the website hosting his games. She’d kicked both his and Mitch’s asses in every game and dodged every attempt they’d made to track her down, and Phoenix, for one, was damned tired of it. But he had to give her credit, the woman was fucking awesome. And she’d been damned careful until recently.

  He’d tagged one of her files a couple of weeks ago, and they were waiting for her to take the bait and lead them to her doorstep. But two days ago, Phoenix had one of those aha moments that turned out to be a total game changer. He’d tapped into all the other chatter in the gaming communities—something he usually avoided because the drama involved was draining. What he’d found shocked him, evidently he and Mitch weren’t the only ones trying to find Athena.

  Mitch pushed off the wall and leaned down to look at the conversation scrolling across the screen closest to him and shook his head. “Some of these messages are just fucking sick. What kind of capo outlines how he’s going to skin another person? MoneyMan is one twisted dude.”

  Phoenix agreed with Mitch’s Cajun assessment, MoneyMan was a coward. And Mitch’s background work on the man in question had proven very interesting, indeed. He was an unemployed banker who’d been convicted of embezzlement almost two years ago. And, thanks to a judicial system almost as corrupt as the criminals they rarely decided to pursue, he doubted the man would ever spend any time behind bars. “Oddly enough, he isn’t the one who worries me. I read your file on him. He sits home waiting on the wheels of justice to decide his fate watching reality TV and horror movies on Netflix.”

  “Agreed. But the guy calling himself Ares the Sniper is a problem. His obsession with Athena is escalating and let’s face it, his name and profile picture are alarming.” Mitch leaned down and tapped in the commands to bring up the man’s in-game profile. “Ares, the Greed God of War. Sniper, don’t think I need to elaborate on that, though I’ll admit I’m worried he might actually have a military background. But this dude’s use of a broken mirror as his profile picture is what worries me the most.”

  Phoenix already knew what his friend was going to say, but patiently waited for Mitch to finish. “That’s an Illuminati symbol. Meaning fractured or different personalities—most commonly associated with a member’s ability to be one person in public and another in private.” Mitch shook his head and cursed under his breath.

  Phoenix nodded in agreement. “I’ve gone back and pulled every communication he’s had with Athena and every comment he’s ever made about her. And the more I read, the higher the hair on the back of my neck stands up.”

  “Let’s head down to Mountain Mastery early and see if we can pull in some of the Prairie Winds team for a brainstorming session. I’d like to get their take is on it.” Phoenix agreed, the more input they could get, the better. He could simply ban the man, but for the time being it seemed safer to keep him where they would at least monitor his communication within the games. There was a lot of truth to the old saying…Keep your friends close and your enemies closer.

  Other Books by Avery Gale

  The Morgan Brothers

  Coral Hearts


  Dancing with Deception

  Knights of the Boardroom

  Book One

  Book Two

  Book Three

  The Wolf Pack Series

  Mated Fated Magic

  Tempted by Darkness

  Masters of the Prairie Winds Club

  Out of the Storm

  Saving Grace

  Jen’s Journey

  Bound Treasure

  Punishing for Pleasure

  Accidental Trifecta

  Missionary Position

  The ShadowDance Club

  Katarina’s Return

  Jenna’s Submission

  Rissa’s Recovery

  Trace & Tori

  Reborn as Bree

  Red Clouds Dancing

  Perfect Picture

  Club Isola

  Capturing Callie

  Healing Holly

  Claiming Abby

  I would love to hear from you!

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