Page 55 of Silos and Sabotage

They shook hands solemnly, visibly bristling at each other. The moment they returned their hands to their sides, they exploded on each other again.

“If you loved him so much, why’d you divorce him?” Her grandfather’s voice was harsh with accusation.

“To stop the attacks on my family,” she snarled. “According to the Spanish police, the bullet I took in my ribcage was aimed at our unborn child. At Ella.” She pointed at her daughter for emphasis.

“What bullet?” He looked horrified.

She made a scathing sound and slapped the air. “As if you didn’t bribe the police department years ago for a copy of the report.”

“I’ve never bribed a person in my life!” He looked mortally wounded by her words. “My lands, Avery! I know your father has never had anything good to say about me, but you’re old enough now to form your own opinions.”

“I’m forming one right now, you old goat,” she shot back.

Ella slid her arms around Gage’s middle and tipped her head against his shoulder. “If this is what joining forces sounds like, working together won’t be stressful at all.” She was secretly thrilled to be listening to her mother and grandfather fight. Her newfound family might be dysfunctional, but it was impossible to miss the fact that they had loved her father dearly.

“We’ll get through it.” He pressed his cheek against the top of her head. “It’s a good thing we have our dinner date to fortify ourselves for what’s coming.”

“Dinner date?” Her mother’s head snapped in their direction with the expression of a drowning person coming up for water. “You two are dating?”

“It’s more like a dinner meeting.” Ella spoke against Gage’s shoulder, feeling the heat of a blush spread across her cheeks. “He’s my landlord.”

“Am not!” A laugh rumbled through him. “My guest house is not on the rental market.”

“You’re staying in his guest house?” her grandfather thundered. “Out in the middle of nowhere?”

Ella raised her head from Gage’s shoulder. “Trust me, there’s a bodyguard or two breathing down my neck the moment I step foot outside the door.”

“It has a state-of-the-art security system,” Gage bragged. “And she’s staying right next door to an Army Ranger, who’s been chauffeuring her around town. Often in an armored vehicle.”

“What are your plans for this evening? Please assure me you’re not taking her out in public.” Avery Radcliffe looked as if the mere idea was giving her a headache.

Gage shrugged. “I have a private room reserved at The Longhorn Grill.”

It was located on the Comanche reservation adjacent to Heart Lake. Ella was enchanted by the idea of paying her first visit there.

“That’s too public.” Her mother gave a vehement head shake. “It’s not safe, considering everything that’s going on right now.” She gave Creston Bolander an irritated look. “Now would be a great time for you to back me up if you truly want to join forces. In case you missed the memo, your granddaughter is walking around with a set of crosshairs on her very lovely forehead.”

He looked frozen in place like a statue. She clapped her hands sharply, and he came to life again. “You’re right. Tell you what. Let’s all meet for dinner at my place. Bolander & Sons Ranch is a private, gated community. Very secure.”

“With all due respect, sir,” Gage dragged out the words, “this was supposed to be our first date.”

“Then you can have one of the upper-level balconies all to yourselves,” he offered magnanimously. “Or the solarium. The rest of us will meet in the dining room. Raleigh will probably join us. His wife is on a cruise without him, which has him in a bad mood. He’ll come, if for no other reason than to have someone to complain to.”

Avery looked at him like he was out of his mind. “I have no interest in having dinner with one Bolander, much less two of them.”

“If we’re going to join forces, we have to meet somewhere to discuss the case.” He added slyly, “My chef makes a chocolate créme brûlée that’ll curl your toes.”

She eyed him with suspicion. “How’d you know créme brûlée is my favorite?”

“You served it at your wedding reception.”

“That you didn’t come to,” she reminded in a withering voice.

“Because I wasn’t invited!”

* * *

Gage droveto the other side of the lake to drop Johnny off at Lonestar’s home office.

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