Page 63 of Silver Secrets

A tear slipped down her cheek.

“Why are you upset?”

“I’m not upset. I’m falling for you, Gage. And I’m mad because I can’t let my heart be there yet. I’m scared. Terrified, if I’m being honest because I don’t want to be the reason something bad happens to you. But I don’t want to run. I don’t want to leave you. I don’t want to say goodbye to the life I have here.”

“Good. That’s the end of that discussion then.”

Sloane let out a soggy laugh.

“I know we kind of have to get up and face the day now, but do you think you could hold on to me for a few minutes before we do?”

Gage closed his eyes as a huge sigh of relief left his lungs. He wrapped his arms around Sloane, leaning back on the bed. Her head nestled on his shoulder and her hand came up to rest over his heart. Fuck. It’d taken them both dissolving into tears, a serial killer fucking threatening to take Sloane away from him, and the thought of never seeing each other again to get them there. But in a way, with everything out in the open, things felt right for the first time in a long time.

“That kiss was incredible, Red. But this. You letting me hold you? I think this will always be my favorite.”

Fifteen

“Ihad to stay in the hospital for days after Kimi found me. I don’t even remember how many, really. But when she told me the plan to change my identity and leave, I knew I had to. That’s how I ended up here.”

Gage squeezed Sloane’s hand. He couldn’t believe how strong she had been over the last twenty-four hours. Sitting down with the team, rehashing everything she’d gone over with him the night before, it gutted Gage. But it needed to be done. He watched as each of his teammates sat in silence, completely placing all of their attention on Sloane. But the way each of them fidgeted, the way their eyes moved to his and back onto Sloane let him know they weren’t just passively hearing her story. No. They were coming up with a plan just like he had.

“Thank you for sharing that with us, Sloane.” Nash said with a compassionate smile. Gage could hardly remember a time when his team was silent while someone else spoke. They didn’t interrupt with questions. They just were there, fully listening to her.

The way she sat, her shoulders squared as if she was ready to head into battle, and the way she walked them calmly through everything, almost detached from the information like it wasn’t something that happened to her, had Gage moving closer to her the entire time. And when she leaned into him, when she reached out to grab his hand and let out the smallest sigh of relief when they were finally touching, it solidified everything for him. He really was in love with her.

“Why don’t we take ten minutes, then come back together and we’ll go over the game plan on how we’re going to keep my girlfriend safe?”

She squeezed his hand and he winked at her before Mae and Lily rushed towards them, immediately pulling Sloane from him. He watched for any sign of stress or discomfort on Sloane’s face, but there wasn’t any. Instead, a soft smile and watery eyes looked over at him, before focusing back on her friends.

Gunner lingered at the table, Gage catching his eye the moment his gaze moved off of Lily. Being so close, for so long, they didn’t even need to exchange words. The look in his eyes was clear. They held a million promises, but it all boiled down to the most important one: they had his back, and would keep Sloane safe.

“Gunner, I want to thank you and the guys—” Her words were cut off as Gunner held up his hand.

“No thanks necessary. I really want to give you a hug, Sloane. Same as I’m sure every single one of my brothers want to. But I know that you’re not okay with that, and I now understand why. What I want to tell you is that one day, if you’re ever ready, I’ll have that hug waiting to go. You’re our family. Don’t ever forget that. Tracker’s got you. We’ve all got you.”

* * *

“He’s so good with Sage.” Lily smiled as she sat down next to Sloane. Gage had insisted the women not go back to her office to work until the team could install more security, and even then, she doubted he could be okay with her holding sessions there. She’d canceled her remaining appointments for the week at his encouragement, and if she was being honest with herself, it felt nice to have that bit of stress removed. But she would be going back to work once they had a plan in place. “I obviously didn’t know him before, but you can see just how good of a dad he was from how good he is with her. A fun uncle, who I’m sure will make a great dad again one day.”

Sloane realized she wanted that for him. Lily’s words wrapped around her heart and squeezed, because it was a reality that would never be hers.

“I’m going to go get some air for a second, I think,” Sloane said as she stood up from the conference table. They’d finished talking with Kimi about the most recent victim. Her mind needed to shut off for a few minutes, and stepping outside, feeling the sun on her face, sounded like the perfect way to get a little peace.

“Do you want company? The guys haven’t said what the plan is moving forward for security. I don’t know if you should be going anywhere by yourself…”

“No, I’m okay. I won’t leave the property. I think I’ll just go to the courtyard. Besides, the way your husband is looking at you through the conference room windows, I wouldn’t be surprised if he wanted to whisk you away to the broom closet for a quickie. Especially since Gage is in full-on uncle mode with Sage.”

“Sloane! I don’t think he’s looking at me like that.” Her friend’s face turned as red as a sugar beet, but she didn’t miss the way her eyes widened when they connected with Gunner’s.

“Please. That man only has one look in his eyes when you are around.”

Lily giggled as she got to her feet. “I’m not going to him right now for that, just so you know. I think he’s worried about you, just like we all are. I’ll probably need to talk him off the ledge of having a tracker placed under your skin like he tried to do with me last year.”

“What?”

Lily laughed. “Eh, forget I said anything. Don’t want to give Gage any ideas.” She turned to walk out of the room. “Oh, and it wouldn’t be the broom closet. Just in case you ever have to go in there. It’s never been the broom closet.”

Sloane sat for another few seconds, watching Lily walk to Gunner, whispering something in his ear before the two of them took off towards his office.

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