Sadie groaned and Hank paused long enough to glance at her.
That was his big mistake.
With his left arm, Gage quickly lifted the vase and slammed it into the man’s head. Dazed, Hank stumbled backward against the wall. Gage didn’t wait to see if he would fall unconscious or slide to the floor. While Hank still held the knife, the man was lethal. Instead of coming for Gage again, he mumbled angrily and disappeared around the corner.
Now!
He had to get Sadie now. Hank could come back with another gun. And once he had her in his arms, Sir Galahad would escape with the woman he loved. Loved? Gage was done fighting on all fronts. He was done fighting his love for Sadie.
He leaned down to check on her. Maybe she had just bumped her head and her collapse had nothing to do with the drug. Her eyes fluttered open. Confusion rippled over her beautiful face. “Gage?”
He pressed his palm against her soft cheek. Her skin was cold. “We’re getting out of here, but we have to be quick. Can you walk?”
When he tried to pull her to her feet, he could tell that the drug very much remained in her system, though before he thought it had been wearing off. Absolute fury rushed through him. What he wanted to do to the maniac behind these drugs—but not here, and not now. He had to get Sadie to safety and then he could come back with his backup and take this man and his lab down. He probably had a lab set up in the basement of this old house.
Gage scooped her into his arms and headed for the front door. He grabbed the big lion head doorknob and pulled. Nothing.
Then pushed.
The door had been locked. He tried to unlock it but it could only be unlocked with a key. Brilliant. He eyed it up and down. No way could he kick his way through that.
Time to escape was running out. Carrying Sadie, Gage ran in the opposite direction in search of an exit. He could break the windows and get out that way. Except...they had bars over them? Why hadn’t he noticed that on their approach to the house?
He’d have to find another door then. He watched out for Hank in case he turned up again with another weapon.
God, please let the Coast Guard, let someone be searching for us. Help them find us! But Hank had been very much correct in that the authorities would likely believe Gage and Sadie had died out there in the explosion, and no one would ever search for them here in this old Victorian house on the cliffside if they didn’t escape. It was something from a horror flick.
Gage couldn’t let the disappointing thought slow him down. He would save them. He would rescue Sadie like he had before and see her look at him again like he was her hero. Adrenaline surged with the thought.
Breathing hard, he continued through the old house with its strange collage of gloomy rooms with peeling wallpaper and cobwebs, then found another door also locked that could only be unlocked with a key. But this one... Gage could break through.
He kicked it once. It didn’t budge. This was going to take more effort.
He gently set Sadie down. “It’s going to be okay. I’m going to get us out of this.”
Her smile was dreamy. “Thanks.”
“If you can please keep an eye out for Hank. Warn me if you see him coming.”
“Okay.”
He wasn’t sure he could count on her for that kind of assistance, but on the other hand, she’d saved his life twice today already. The least he could do was return the favor.
He scanned the long hallway. Maybe there was another display of weapons on the wall. An ax would be nice. He could chop his way through that door. And as for a phone, he hadn’t seen one yet. Likely the only communication was Hank’s cell phone.
Gage kicked the door. The noise would unfortunately draw Hank’s attention, but it couldn’t be helped. Where had that man run off to anyway?
He kicked again and again until finally the door splintered and Gage opened it all the way. He lifted Sadie back into his arms and went through the door and found himself in the backyard of the house. Sadie in his arms, he trudged around the house, keeping a distance and an eye out in case Hank appeared in a window and tried to shoot them. Gage found no vehicle in which they could escape, and he couldn’t keep carrying her like this. He had to take a break, but he didn’t want to risk it. He had to keep moving until they were a safe distance away.
“The boat,” she said. “And Gage—” she pressed her hand against his chest “—you can put me down now.”
He didn’t want to release her. In his arms, her soft form pressed against him, her face was near and her big beautiful blue eyes gazed into his. An emotion he wouldn’t even attempt to describe lingered there. Her lips drew him in. He sucked in a breath and regained his composure—this wasn’t the time to kiss her. Wasn’t the time? As if there ever would be a time to kiss her? What happened to his resolve?
“Are you sure you’re okay?” he asked.
She nodded. “Yes. A little shaky maybe, but you can’t keep going like this.”
Gently he set her on her feet.
“Let’s take the stone steps,” she said. “We can use his boat and go down the coast until we find a town and can call for help. Or... Maybe your Coast Guard buddies will show up.”
Right. “Go ahead and joke about it.”
He took her hand and they jogged around the house, keeping to the trees and shadows until they made it to the front. They’d have to sneak across to the stairs. But where had he gone? Was he watching for them, waiting to shoot them down as they made their escape? The property was secluded. Nobody would know or care if he shot them.
They ran toward the staircase without anyone standing in their way. At the top of the steps, Gage studied their long hike down. One misstep on these steep and winding stairs could be deadly.
“Are you sure you’re okay to do this?” he asked.
Though the look in her eyes told him she was uncertain, she nodded.
“I’ll go first,” he said. “Let’s hold hands.” That way if she tripped or collapsed, he could catch her. He hoped.
Carefully they descended the steps. In the distance he searched for the help that never came. Wasn’t ever going to come.
They hit a switchback in the staircase and Gage stepped around the corner.
Henry Snell III pointed a gun at them.
SIXTEEN
Sadie jumped at the sight of him. She wanted to push the man down the staircase and be done with this. “How did you beat us?”
“There’s this tunnel from the house, see?” He gestured to his right. “You have to know where to look. I’m going to need you to follow me back into the house now. I like my privacy, and out in the open like this, we’re a little too visible.”
“There’s nobody around to see,” she said.
“Sadie.” Gage squeezed her hand. “Just do as the man says.”
Right. She was being an idiot. They needed to buy themselves time. She squeezed his hand back, letting him know she would comply. But they needed to get out of this. She groped a rock next to her and tucked it under her arm as she followed Gage into the dark tunnel that led back to the house. Of course there would be a hidden passage. This old Victorian mansion had probably actually appeared in a gothic novel somewhere.
Hank jabbed the muzzle into her back. “I much prefer using the drugs to get compliance. Hate using guns. But I will use it if you make me.”
The dark tunnel twisted and turned and inclined without steps. Her breaths came hard and fast along with her increased heart rate, and sweat beaded on her face—she thought it was more than she should experience with the physical exertion. A side effect of the drug?
She really wanted to punch the guy for doing this to her. For killing Karon.
Come on, Gage. Do something!
But she knew he wouldn’t even try until he knew he could do it without Sadie getting hurt.
“Ouch!”
Sadie bent over to examine her ankle.
Hank stumbled closer to her. She rose to her full height and swung the rock around, hoping to connect with his temple, but he was faster than her and gripped her wrist. She struggled with him. Gage rushed forward.
“No, Gage!” she screamed and kicked the gun up as it fired off. She was getting good at redirecting Hank’s bullets meant for Gage.
How many times would she have to do this? Still, Gage had taken the chance she’d given him. He slammed the man into the wall. The gun fired off again. Now that Sadie was free from his grip, she searched for her rock. She could hit him again.
“Run, Sadie. Go get help!” Gage yelled. “Get out of here.”
Hank landed a punch at Gage. Held the gun up but it misfired. Gage wrestled the weapon from him and tossed it away. Sadie grabbed it.
“No, Sadie. If it misfires, it can’t be trusted. It could hurt you. It’s no use to us.”
Hank punched Gage in the face. He returned the favor and the fighting began. To Sadie, it looked like Hank was a skilled fighter even without his sword, preventing Gage from easily taking him down and out, weapon or not.
Sadie wasn’t sure which of them would win this fight. She had to do something. Grunting and groaning, the two men fought and tumbled out onto the stone steps. She followed them out of the tunnel. A gust of salty breeze knocked into her. Dizziness swept over her again.
But she didn’t have time to think about herself or care. Hank had thrown multiple punches at Gage. He wasn’t fighting back anymore.
Oh, God, please, help Gage!
“Gage, come on, get up!”
Suddenly Gage rolled out of Hank’s way. With nothing to receive his punch but air, Hank stumbled forward and he fell over the side.
Gage and Sadie ran to the edge. Hank held on to the stone ledge. “Help me! I’m going to fall. You can’t let me fall.”
Gage reached for the man, his hands bloodied and slippery. Henry Snell III’s eyes filled with tears and a clarity she hadn’t seen in them before. “I’m a monster. What have I become? I let everything in life beat me down and bring me to...to what...to this? To die on the rocks at the bottom of a cliff?”
Sadie leaned down to help.
“Get back,” Gage said. “You can’t reach him anyway.”
She held on to Gage’s waist as he leaned farther, reaching, stretching. He groaned. “Hold on!”
But he wasn’t talking to Sadie—he was talking to Hank.
Guilt suffused her. She couldn’t find it in herself to hope he made it, after everything he’d put them through. God, forgive me! Please... Help us to help him.
“You can let go now, Sadie,” Gage said. “I promise. I’m not going to slip over with Hank.”
She wasn’t so sure that was true, but she edged away and looked Hank in the eyes again—that he was a man fighting for his life, clinging to a lifeline, was written all over his face. She wanted to feel sorry for him. A lump formed in her throat.
Then she remembered. He’d mentioned that Sean had crossed someone. This whole time and they believed Sean had gotten involved with drug runners and it was a drug deal gone bad. “Tell us... Who were you working with? Who killed Sean?”
“What?” He seemed to dig deep and find some kind of resolve. He would live, after all. Live another day to try and kill her and Gage. “I’ll tell you once you bring me up.”
Suddenly his hands slipped free of Gage’s and he tumbled away.
* * *
Shock surged through Gage as he watched the man fall. Hank’s eyes widened with terror as he stared back at Gage. Still believing he could somehow survive, grasping at the hope of living, while his body plummeted nearly a hundred feet. His mind would never comprehend the reality of his imminent death before he died.
The man hit the rocks, his screams silenced.
But Gage could still hear those screams. He could still see those haunted eyes.
Stunned, Gage remained looking on. Waves crashed against the rocks and over Hank’s body like he already belonged to the ocean. Soon they would carry him away.
Gage needed to find a phone. Let the authorities know where they were and get someone to retrieve Hank’s body before the ocean carried it away, if possible. He pulled his gaze from the sight to focus on Sadie. She’d whipped her head around to avoid the gruesome scene, and for that he was grateful. Her eyes were still squeezed shut.
“Come here.” He gently took her in his arms and smoothed her silky hair with his hand.
“Is it over?”
At least this part of it was over. But there was still someone out there, if Hank could be believed, who had killed Sean. Someone who had given away Gage’s location today—and only one other person knew where they were headed.
They had been led to believe that Sean had been the inside man, working with the maritime drug runners and the designer drug distribution, as well. The possibilities of just who was playing both sides sent cold chills all over Gage. At least for now, Sadie had been spared.
He pushed past the knot in his throat. “I wish I could tell you yes...”
“But it’s not over yet.” Her voice shook.
“Not until we find everyone involved.” He held her closer, tighter against him. He never wanted to let her go. “Let’s get you somewhere safe.”
She sagged against him. “Safe. I have no idea where that would be. Do you?”
He thought she would be safest with him, but everything that happened said differently. “A safe house maybe, just until this is over.” He released her and gripped her arms, forcing her to look at him. “But you can’t leave or try to investigate on your own this time. Do you understand?”
She stared at him, unwilling to answer him.
He gently shook her. “Sadie, you have almost died I don’t know how many times. I’m this close—” he held his fingers close together “—to finding who is responsible. Let me do my job without having to worry about protecting you.”
“I never asked you to protect me. You insisted I stick close to you.”
Was she actually trying to blame this on him? Maybe she was right. He could almost feel the sting against his cheek as if she’d slapped him. He released her, letting the cold reality knock sense into him. He had to disconnect from her emotionally. And one way or another, he would. “Let’s go find a phone.”
He turned and started hiking toward the tunnel.
“Gage, wait.”
He was done waiting. Done letting the crazy way she made him feel control his every action. He couldn’t be her protector anymore. He had never been the right person to protect her.
“Gage!” She grabbed his arm and tried to pull him to face her. “Wait. I’m...I’m sorry for what I said. Without you, I’d be dead already. I’m just tired and scared and—”
“Sadie!” She’d collapsed, but he caught her. “The drugs are still messing with you.”
She rolled her head back and around to lean against him. “Yes. I feel dizzy and nauseous.”
He had to get her to a hospital. He rushed through the tunnel with her in his arms again. It seemed a safer path than the steep stone staircase. He just hoped it would take him where he needed to go and find Hank’s cell or another way to communicate. Otherwise, he’d have to carry her back down and take the boat like she’d suggested.
He ran with her in his arms, his breaths coming faster.
“Let me walk, Gage. I’m okay now.”
“Are you sure?”
She nodded. “I want to walk or run. We need to hurry.”
He slowed and set her down. Brushed his hand through her hair. “Let me know if you feel dizzy again.”
“I will. I promise.”
Gage grabbed her hand and together they continued through the tunnel.
Voices up ahead grew louder.
; He stopped and edged back. Friend or foe?
He had the gut feeling they weren’t friendly. But even if he didn’t, they couldn’t take the risk and just step out and identify themselves.
SEVENTEEN
Gage’s frown deepened. He grabbed her hand and led her back the way they came. She knew better than to even ask him a question. They had to keep quiet because their voices would carry and alert the men they were in the tunnel. Gage had taken Hank’s new gun but since it had misfired, it worked no better than the previous gun. Unless he could use it to bluff his way. It would likely be a last resort.
These guys were either the guys in that go-fast boat or the two that came to Donna’s house and had drugged Donna and tried to drug Sadie. Just how many people could be involved in drug trafficking, no matter the channels? Regardless, she didn’t want to face them.
And Sadie had absolutely no intention of being taken by one of these men again. Drugged again so that she would either die or she couldn’t remember later what had happened.
She ran behind Gage, but the strange sweating started up again. Dizziness tried to take ahold of her. She had to keep going, but it was like running up against a brick wall. Her body would not cooperate. She stumbled forward and would have hit the ground, but Gage scooped her up without a word.
She was so grateful to him.
Outside the ocean breeze wrapped around her. “I’m going to sit you here on the steps. Hide behind this rock if you can, and I’m going back inside to face them.”
“No,” she whispered. “You can’t. Just take me down to the boat. We’ll escape that way.”
“There’s no time. We’d never make it if they have guns, and it’s likely they do. Now wait here. Trust me on this. I have a plan.”
He disappeared back into the tunnel. “Gage...wait...”
Don’t go!
Unarmed, how could he hope to take on those men? Sadie wasn’t about to let him do that alone. Finding a rock she could use as a weapon, she headed back into the tunnel and searched for a place to hide in case Gage needed her. She could use the element of surprise. She didn’t have a flashlight. Gage had taken that, but light filtered in from the exit, growing dimmer the deeper she went.
Thread of Revenge Page 16
