7. Gage

7

GAGE

G age would bet his next meal that whatever Emerson was fired up about had something to do with Thea. He marched down the hallway and out into the front of the garage. Emerson was rounding her car with a purposeful stride.

He caught up with her just as she lowered into the driver's seat and was about to slam the door closed. Stopping the door with a hand, he leaned down, covering the opening with his body.

"What was that about?"

Emerson narrowed her eyes at him and scoffed. "Nothing."

"Did you tell him I know about Thea?" Gage asked, low and leveled despite the roaring in his ears .

"I didn't, but it's not a secret that I know she's here. It was Dad and Cain, by the way."

Great. Emerson was more in the know than Gage, which meant Bruce, Cain, and Tommy were leaving him out of the loop on purpose. "What did they say?"

"She checked out of the hospital. I asked him if he knew where she was."

"Does he?" Gage had spent his entire life carefully controlling his reactions to manipulate situations, but the question came out sounding slightly desperate.

Emerson was the type to take advantage if she knew she had the upper hand. He couldn't let on that he'd lost track of Thea too.

"No. He wants to report her as a missing person."

Gage's heart rate spiked. "That's a stupid idea."

"I don't think it's so stupid. I mean, it's one way to get her delivered to his doorstep."

"How is bringing the cops here ever a good idea? We have thousands of dollars' worth of stolen parts right inside that door."

Emerson shrugged. "He thinks leading them here openly will make them think he doesn't have anything to hide."

"But he does! Man, that's a stupid idea."

"I'm sure things would be coming up roses if you were in charge," Emerson smarted.

Gage lowered until the bill of his cap touched Emerson's forehead. She wouldn't be able to see the warning in his eyes through the darkness, but she'd be smart to listen carefully.

"Don't tell them I know. Do anything you can to throw them off."

"Why would I do anything you say?" Emerson asked, lifting her chin with her upper lip pulled on one side.

"Do you care about Thea at all? You brought her here, and Bruce and Cain used her face as a punching bag."

"I didn't do this to her!" Emerson shouted.

"Keep your voice down. You're gonna get us both caught."

Emerson turned and started the car. "Whatever. I'll find Thea myself."

Gage put a hand on the wheel, gripping it with all the force he had to keep bottled up. "Stay out of it."

"Why aren't you looking for her? Do you even care?" Emerson spat.

"You know I do. Just let me handle this. If we can't find her, then Bruce can't either. Trust me, she's better off lost."

Emerson stared out the windshield, sucking in heaving breaths. Would she help or hinder his search for Thea?

"You're right," Emerson said softer. "Sorry I told her about your mom. I knew she'd want to come back."

"We're past that. Let's just hope she gets out of here before they do anything else."

Nodding, Emerson looked up at Gage and shifted into reverse.

Satisfied that he'd gotten through to her this time, Gage backed up and let Emerson go. One fire extinguished. Now to go handle Bruce's dirty work.

Gage stalked through the garage to the back exit. Bruce and Tommy were propped up against Gage's truck holding cigarettes. The smoke from their hands mingled with their foggy breaths.

"Took you long enough," Bruce said.

"Pretty sure the ship couldn't leave without me," Gage said as he got into the truck and slammed the door. He'd had enough of his uncle today, and knowing they'd been the ones who hurt Thea had his blood boiling.

Living paycheck to paycheck was getting old. Gage had to find a way to get more hours with Beau and sneak in even more at Silver Falls Ranch. At this point, one big mess-up could wipe out every penny he had.

Gage put the truck in gear and drove, not looking to see if Bruce and Tommy got out of the way. Gripping the steering wheel and twisting, his hands itched for the sting after a punch.

He'd been working sixteen-hour days since middle school without a single break. Granted, most of those hours violated child labor laws, but the Howards didn't live by the law of the land.

Nothing in life was easy. Even the things that were supposed to be easy were hard for no reason. Gage got held back every time, while others got to jump off the starting line.

The phone in his front pocket vibrated. It was the phone he kept hidden from select family members. He pulled it out to see the name Danielle on the screen. It was the fake name he used for his mom.

Mom: ?

Gage: Good.

It was all he could share without spelling out who and what they were talking about. Mom wanted to know how Thea was doing, and Gage gave her the only news he had. She'd understand the message. They'd been texting in the simplest terms for years–even before his dad died.

Gage sent another text to Brett and turned his attention to the road in front of him. When he finished delivering the moonshine, he checked his phone again. No word from Brett.

Why did he leave Thea in Brett's hands? He'd practically handed his sister over to the enemy, and now Gage had to find both of them.

A dangerous game was playing out in his head. He had to be careful, strategic, and cunning. He had to manipulate and deceive both Brett and the rest of the Howards.

Gage's alliance was changing, and the only ones who had his fealty were his mom and Thea. He'd do whatever it took to protect them. He didn't need an army. He was an army of one, and that was enough.

He pulled into his driveway at a quarter past midnight. Living out in the middle of nowhere meant he didn't have to worry about nosy neighbors or anyone who might bother him. The drawback was that he was his own security system with no backup if someone got the bright idea to take their chances with him.

After locking up, Gage showered and fell onto his back on the bed. His eyes were already closed when he reached behind the headboard and grabbed his hunting knife. Keeping his grip on the worn handle, he slid the knife under his pillow.

He'd be ready for the worst, even while he slept.