Page 84 of Collateral

Definitely new.

Clare walked up the porch steps where someone had planted bulbs in pots that flanked the front door. Tiny green buds poked through the potting soil. Before she could knock on the front door, it opened.

Aaron Crenshaw held a gun, pointed at her. “Leave all your weapons outside.”

Clare spread her hands. “You said not to bring one, so I didn’t.”

“Prove it.”

She shifted her jacket off her shoulders and dropped it to the porch. The crisp temperature made her shiver. She then raised the hem of her shirt and turned all the way around.

“Pants.”

She lifted her foot and raised the hem, showing him there was nothing holstered at her ankle. Then she did the same with the other. She lowered her foot and straightened. Hands spread. “Where is Selena?”

“Inside.” He motioned with the gun. “You’d better have the diamonds.”

Clare had the pouch in her pants pocket. “Selena first.”

“Get inside.”

She moved her fingers out of sight, stepped into the cabin, and looked around. She turned back to him.

The gun came down on her forehead.

Clare’s tiny can of mace clattered to the entryway tile, and everything went black.

FORTY-TWO

“Easy.” Liam got in his face.

Gage pocketed the phone—probably better than throwing it, which was what he wanted to do. He slammed the door shut. Liam had parked behind Clare’s vehicle.

“At least she told us where to go.” Blake shrugged the strap of his rifle over his shoulders so it lay across his body and left his hands free. “So let’s go.”

Gage grunted. “Fine.”

Liam shot him a look, and Gage took off running. They hit the trail in formation and sprinted as a group. Surrounded by his guys, Gage felt the presence of God in the fellowship he had with his brothers. They didn’t believe the way he did, but he’d been talking to them about what he’d found in God.

What Clare might also have found.

He’d heard her prayer and wanted to believe she had started to lean on Him. God had proven He was near to the brokenhearted. Never before in his life had Gage felt the peace that permeated his life now.

He’d never been satisfied or felt loved. Or seen himself as worthy.

But, God.

There wasn’t much else to say aside from that.

The rest of the verse said that He saved those who were crushed in spirit. Which was exactly how he’d been when things ended with Clare. His life wouldn’t be free of things that could crush him or leave him brokenhearted again. But having God near made all the difference.

“Cabin,” Blake called out, then he and Jasper split.

Blake ran left. Jasper went right. Liam stuck with Gage. It wasn’t right that Dakota wasn’t here, but Gage prayed his friend could heal. That he would find the truth. There was a residency place in Last Chance County that treated veterans for PTSD, where Dakota could find a program to help him.

Another thing to pray for.

Gage headed for the front door. “Anything?”

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