Page 70 of Love in the Wild

That was Gage’s cue to leave. If Gage was around for the talk, his family would find out that he knew Thea came back, and he had to keep that upper hand until he could leverage it to his advantage.

Gage stood from where he’d been crouched by the car and wiped his hands on a rag. Bruce and Cain didn’t look up as he walked by. Gage stopped just inside the hallway leading to the offices and left the door slightly ajar. Keeping an eye out for Tommy, he settled in to listen to the conversation between Brett and Bruce.

Would it be a conversation or a fight? Bruce flat-out killed Brett’s dad, and Gage hadn’t seen a single flicker of remorse in the man. Bruce could just as easily do the same to Brett.

Gage’s heart hammered in his chest when he heard the rumble of an engine outside. Few people just showed up at the garage since the Howards’ customers were mostly acquaintances. Bruce and Cain looked up from where their heads had been bent under the hood of the Chevy.

“You expecting someone?” Cain asked.

Bruce didn’t respond. His stare remained locked on the truck parking in the lot until Brett stepped out.

Cain straightened his shoulders. “What’s he doing here?”

Keeping a close eye on Brett, Gage positioned himself where he could see Bruce and Cain. They were the wild cards. Cain moved to the tool bench where a pistol lay on the surface. Wrapping his hand around it, he slowly brought it to his side.

Gage reached behind him for the gun holstered at his own waist. If he had to use the weapon today, who would be in his sights?

Brett raised his hands as he approached. “I’m not here to cause trouble. I just want to talk.”

Bruce looked Brett up and down, taking way longer than necessary to respond. “Talk.”

“I want to put all this fighting behind us. We’ve both taken our shots, and I’m asking you, man-to-man, if we can bury the hatchet.”

To Brett’s credit, he held his ground well and seemed confident and calm. If only Gage could channel some of that ease.

When Bruce didn’t respond, Cain laughed. “Yeah, that’s not gonna happen. We don’t take orders from a Patton.”

“I’m not your enemy,” Brett said. “We’ve both lost people in this fight, and it’s not getting us anywhere. I don’t want this life for any of us, but Thea doesn’t deserve any of it. I’m willing to forget what you did to her, at her request, because she needs to be able to go outside without worrying. If you have any problems, take it up with me.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Bruce said.

Brett crossed his arms over his chest, bristling against the comment. “Let’s cut the act. I know it was you. She’s innocent in all this. If you touch her again, you won’t be getting a nice visit from me.”

Cain scoffed. “We’re not afraid of you.”

“As long as you keep your hands off Thea, you have no reason to fear me. I’m trying to save us both some trouble.”

“Thea isn’t our problem anymore,” Bruce said.

Brett straightened his shoulders even more. “Thea isn’t a problem. She’s a person. Leave her out of this.”

Bruce shrugged. “It was just a warning. She shouldn’t have come back here. We’re done with her, but we’ll do whatever we have to to make sure she stays in her place.”

“Enough,” Brett demanded. “She’s a lot more forgiving than I am, so take the mercy when you can get it.”

“I don’t need anything from you. Keep your mercy,” Bruce said.

Brett held out his hands. “Thea and I are going to be together. You might as well get used to the idea. We’ll leave you alone, and we expect the same. Take a minute, think it over, and let me know if we can be adults about this and move on.”

Bruce spat tobacco onto the garage floor, leaving a dribble of brown spit on his chin. “I’ll consider it.”

Brett nodded and extended a piece of paper. “Let me know what you decide. This is my number.”

Bruce took the paper and resumed his closed stance.

“Need me to show you the door?” Cain asked.

Brett rolled his eyes and turned to go. “I think I can find it.”

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