Page 6 of Gage

“River keeps a box of wires in the back, along with tools. Just in case.”

“Smart,” I replied, making a mental note to check later. “You all work together like this often?”

“Yes,” he said simply, his voice carrying a quiet pride.

“That’s great,” I said, already mentally preparing for the repair.

“I made coffee,” Gage added, a small smile tugging at his lips.

“You did? I love coffee. My sister says I drink too much,” I replied, chuckling.

Before we could say more, Oliver approached, holding my bag. “Your bag’s beeping like crazy,” he said, his brow furrowed.

Frowning, I unzipped the bag and checked my phone. My stomach plummeted as I read the message:Dad is in the hospital. He had a heart attack. You need to get home as soon as possible.

“Is everything okay?” Gage asked, his voice soft and concerned.

“No,” I said, my voice trembling. “My dad’s in the hospital. He had a heart attack. I need to get home.” My hands shook as I swiped at the tears streaming down my cheeks.

Gage stood and stepped closer, wrapping me in his arms. His warmth and steadiness were a stark contrast to the chaos in my mind.

“We’ll get you home,” he said firmly, his voice a quiet promise.

“We’re lucky you’re here,” Gage said softly as he stepped back, his gaze lingering on me for a moment. I nodded, forcing myself to pull it together. There was no time to dwell on emotions—not with everything that still needed to be done.

“I’m okay,” I said, though my voice trembled slightly. I swallowed hard, trying to steady myself. “It’s just… my dad fought so hard to survive cancer. When Mom died, it shattered him. I wasn’t sure I could help him put himself back together. They loved each other so much. He’s only fifty-five, but he’s been through hell.”

Gage’s expression softened, the sharp edge of his demeanor melting into something gentler. “I’m sure he’ll be okay,” he said, his voice low and steady. “Why don’t you call the hospital and see if you can talk to him?”

“You’re right,” I replied, exhaling a shaky breath. “Can you grab the wires for me? I’ll have this plane running in no time.”

As I glanced at my phone, I was surprised to see full signal bars. Relief washed over me. There had to be a cell tower nearby. Without hesitation, I dialed the hospital.

“Hello, my father, Eddie Daniels, had a heart attack and is in the hospital. Can someone tell me how he’s doing?” I asked, my voice taut with urgency.

“I’ll transfer you to his floor so you can speak with his nurse,” the receptionist replied, her tone calm and professional.

“Thank you,” I murmured.

The line clicked, followed by a moment of static, and then I heard his voice—warm and familiar. “Hello?”

“Dad? Is that you?” I asked, relief flooding my chest. Tears blurred my vision, and I swiped at them quickly.

“Who else would it be? Sweetheart, are you crying?” His voice carried the faintest note of amusement, but also concern.

“Sammy left me a message saying I needed to get home immediately. I thought the worst!” My voice cracked as the tears threatened to return.

“I’m fine,” he reassured me. “My heart rhythm was a little erratic, but I’m going home today. Samantha is picking me up. Where are you?”

“I’m not sure I should tell you,” I teased, letting a small smile creep onto my face. “You’d be so jealous.”

“Tell me,” he insisted, his tone light but curious.

“Our plane went down, but we managed to land safely. Now I’m fixing the wiring. It’s not as bad as we thought. We were at an airport when a suicide bomber attacked. Debris hit the plane, causing the problem. I hope there weren’t many casualties.”

“If you’re talking to me, people must be nearby, or you wouldn’t have a signal. I’m glad you’re okay. Are you with the Golden Team?”

“Yes, it’s their plane. I’m going to rewire it and get us out of here. I love you, Daddy. But why was your heart acting up?” I asked, the concern creeping back into my voice.

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