Page 78 of Love in the Wild

Grumbling, Gage turned toward the storage room, leaving Tommy to head the other way. With a look over his shoulder, Gage typed out a message to Brett before going inside.

Gage: Tommy is on lookout. She’s in the first room on the left down the hallway. Going in.

23

GAGE

Don’t slip. Don’t mess up. Don’t blow your cover.

Gage set his expression into a hard mask of hatred as he stepped into the storage room. No amount of repetition could have prepared him for the sight in front of him.

Thea was slumped to the side in a chair that was bolted to the floor. Her hands were tied behind her back, and her ankles were strapped to the legs of the chair. The rag in her mouth that was tied behind her head muffled her protests as she squirmed in the seat.

White-hot rage heated Gage from the inside out. He’d make sure they paid for every scratch they inflicted on her. The fear in her eyes only propelled him forward.

Cain stood in the middle of the room with his arms crossed over his chest. Bruce stood beside her, staring down at her like a hungry wolf.

Gage slowed his steps as he moved to stand in front of his sister. Bending down, he braced his hands on either side of the chair. He locked his gaze on her but directed his words toward the men behind him. “Police were dispatched to the wreck. They should be out of the way for now.”

“Where is Tommy?” Cain asked.

Thea’s breaths were short, and tears streaked down her cheeks as she held Gage’s stare.

“On guard.” His attention didn’t move from Thea as he mouthed, “Brett is coming.”

A sob racked her chest, and the tears renewed. Gage reached behind Thea’s head and untied the rag stuffed in her mouth. She gasped as soon as it fell from her face.

When she looked up at him, her eyes were wide with fear. “They’ll kill you,” she whispered.

Bruce walked behind Gage to talk to Cain, and Gage let his mask fall slightly. His whispered words were barely audible. “I’d rather die than do this to you. Hang in there, and trust us.”

The door opened again, and Gage lifted his attention from Thea. All the hope he’d been carrying died when Emerson stood in the doorway.

Thea shouted, “Help! Get–”

“Get out!” Cain bellowed above Thea’s plea, pointing toward the door behind Emerson. “Forget what you saw, and don’t come back.”

Emerson’s wide eyes darted around the room as she stood frozen. Gage warned her to leave, and she hadn’t listened. Now, he had two people to protect if things got dicey.

Slowly, Emerson stepped backward into the hallway and closed the door.

One down, one to go.

Cain cursed. “Go shut her up.”

Gage gave Thea another glance. He needed to find out where Brett was and make sure Emerson got out before Tommy caught her.

“Don’t hurt her. Please,” Thea begged. She was doing a much better job at acting than Gage, and he’d be sure to applaud her for it later.

There would be a later. He just had to choose his actions carefully.

Gage walked out of the room slowly, buying time until backup arrived. Emerson slumped against the wall in the hallway, panting through panic.

“I told you to leave,” Gage whispered.

“I couldn’t. They have Thea!”

“They’ll have you too. Get out of here.”

---