Page 64 of The Flame of Carson
Grant let out a breath as he pulled out a folder from the bag he carried, “Because of the information that Tony and Elias were able to piece together.”
When Grant handed the file toward her, she stopped pacing and took it.Slowly she sat back down and opened it.She frowned as she read the report and sat back down between Gage and Ethan.If she were honest with herself, she could make little out of it.Stacey caught certain phrases that seemed to add validity to Gage’s theory.Military trained.Shows a proficiency with technology.Suspect shows a definite need for power and control.Flipping through page after page, Stacey’s heart sank lower and lower.Finally, she had read enough, closed the file, and looked at the four men staring at her.
“What...what does this mean?”she stuttered.
“It means that now Blackout has to not only protect you, but one of our own.”Lance answered.
Stacey’s hand shot out and gripped one of Gage’s.He simply covered her hand with his.“Stacey, baby look at me.”With hesitation, she faced him.“Listen to me.Yes, I may be a target, but I am in no way a victim.And neither are you.Whoever this fucker is, he has made a crucial mistake.Now that we know I am the main focus and you are the key to that; he has inadvertently made us stronger.”
“H...how has he done that Gage?”Stacey questioned.
“By guaranteeing that you two will be together.”Grant replied with a smile.
Lance snorted, seeing the shocked look on Stacey’s face.“Lord almighty, for a smart woman you’re not catching on fast.”
“Excuse me!”Stacey cried.
“You and Gage together.Think about it?I would pit the two of you together against any foe.This guy thinks he knows you two.While he may to a point separately, he knows nothing about the two of you together.”
“We’re the bait.”Stacey stuttered, catching on.
“That’s right.”Ethan nodded.“When Gage called, Tony and Elias were at Blackout trying to narrow down a geological profile based on the information they were able to get off the trace.Once we know that, then we can go in there and at the very least, scout it out.Maybe even get a look at this man.The more information we have, the faster we can end this.”
“And what about Celeste and Lewis?I do not want to see them hurt...”Stacey began.
“Stacey don’t worry about mom and dad.If it will ease your pretty little head, after Ethan and the guys leave, we can go over and talk to them.”Gage assured her.
“Yes, please.”Stacey breathed, laying her head on his shoulder.
As he held her, he cast a glance at his teammates.He could see they were thinking the same thing he was.They needed to find this guy, and fast.If his escalation pattern held true, things were only going to get worse before they got better.If he had been on the second floor of his house when the explosion had happened, he would not be sitting here holding his woman in his arms.No, things were going to get much worse.
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“Gage, I don’t understand.”Celeste said.“You want me and your dad to leave?”
“Yes mom.Look, the thing is, we’ve discovered that Stacey was never the actual target.”Gage replied, sitting his coffee cup down on the coffee table of the Jameson living room.
Lewis sighed heavily, “You’re trying to tell us that you and your teammates believe that YOU are the actual target?”
“Yeah, dad.Everything is pointing to that fact.”Gage nodded.
“Oh, my heavens.”Celeste gasped.“No, we can’t leave...”
“Celeste, Lewis, please understand.”Stacey interrupted.“Gage and I do not want you caught in the crosshairs of this guy.Yes, he has targeted me and Gage, but we both have training to defend ourselves.We also have Blackout behind us.You and Lewis would be prime targets to hurt Gage.We, he, and I both, do not want that to happen.Please.”
Celeste pushed off the love seat where she sat beside Lewis.She moved to sit between Gage and Stacey.Gage watched as his mother gathered Stacey into her arms and stroked her back.He knew how comforting that simple gesture was.There were many times in his youth when she had done the same to him.He lay a hand on his mother’s back and rubbed lightly.He then looked over at his father.The two men’s eyes met, and Gage saw worry, yes, but also pride.
“It’s alright Stacey.If it means that much to you and Gage, Lewis and I will return home.But only after Thanksgiving.Okay?At least let us have this time to get to know the woman who has made our son so happy.Deal?”Celeste offered.
Stacey laughed, “Deal.”
“Then we can start right now.”Gage smiled.“Why don’t the four of us go out to lunch.After that we can see what the day holds.”
The four stood and made their way from the house.While Gage put on a happy face with his parents, he could not shake the feeling of foreboding.He only hoped that whatever this man had planned it would wait until his parents left.As he and Stacey slipped into his truck, she reached over and took his hand.He looked over and found her smiling softly at him, as if she could read his thoughts.
“They’ll be fine.I promise Gage.”Stacey said.
