16. Gage

Chapter Sixteen

GAGE

"—if you don't tell me where he is."

I jolted awake, heart hammering, while the world snapped into focus in a rush of pain.Everything hurt: from my bruised kidneys to my swollen nose, but a pressing sense of danger drove those concerns to the background of my fuzzy brain.

Dominic's voice, seething with barely contained rage, drowned it all out.

The snarl of Wyatt's voice followed, just as angry and filled with warning."Watch your tone in my house, Beaufort."

Something crashed on the other side of the bedroom door.Glass, by the sound of it, followed by the unmistakable thud of a full-grown man getting bodied into a wall.That had me out of bed and moving in a flash, staggering to my feet while the sheet tangled around my legs.

The room tilted violently, and my ribs lit up like fireworks, but I caught myself on the edge of the dresser and forced my legs to move.

Late afternoon sunshine was streaming through the windows, making my eyes water and my head pound. I had no idea what time it was.Hell, I wasn't even sure about the day.Time blurred together in fits of restless sleep, broken every few hours to let Wyatt do his thing.He'd wrapped my shoulder to prevent it from slipping out of joint, taped and re-taped my ribs, and made sure I kept an ice pack on my face.I couldn't stomach food, but he'd kept a steady flow of fluids and painkillers running for at least a day or two.Maybe more.

If Dominic was here, and the sound of splintering furniture was any clue, it had been long enough for my brothers to take notice.

Damn.

The second I hit the living room, I stopped dead and stared.Wyatt had Dominic pinned against the wall, his forearm jammed hard against my brother's throat.An overturned table and shattered lamp lay at their feet.

Wyatt's face was flushed with anger, and a vein was pulsing at his temple.But Dominic? Not so much as a bead of sweat.He looked as calm and collected as ever, but the fire burning in his eyes betrayed him—and so did the blade in his hand, pressed just shy of Wyatt's stomach.One wrong move, and it would break skin.

I staggered forward on shaky, newborn-foal legs, and rasped, "Dominic!Drop the knife."

Both of them froze, heads snapping toward me in unison.Wyatt's expression softened, just a fraction, but Dominic's gaze swept over me, taking in the bruises and medical tape...and the fact that I hadn't even bothered to put on pants.He flicked his wrist, and like a magic trick, the blade vanished into his sleeve.

"Jesus, Gage." He shrugged off Wyatt's hold with a sharp twist and took a step toward me, but Wyatt's hand flashed out, yanking him backward.

"Don't touch him," Wyatt growled."I promised he wouldn't have to deal with you until he's damn good and ready."

Dominic's mouth twitched into a half-smile that never reached his ice-cold eyes."Your promises mean nothing to me," he said."When it comes to my family, you don't call the shots, Deputy."

"Don't blame Wyatt," I muttered, gripping the doorknob with sweaty fingers to keep from toppling."I asked him to keep this quiet."

Wyatt’s gaze shifted to me, and his anger disappeared, replaced with unguarded concern.“You should sit down."

“Fuck that,” Dominic snapped.His horrified gaze kept drifting over the giant smear of bruises my body had become.“You should be in a hospital.”

“Nah.” I gave him a wonky grin and limped toward the couch, hissing when the leather stuck to my naked ass.“It would be a giant waste of time.If I was gonna die, it would’ve happened already.”

The sound Dominic made in the back of his throat didn’t sound convinced, but he sat wordlessly on the coffee table across from me.Wyatt grabbed a blanket and draped it over my lap, covering my nakedness, not that it mattered.Dom had seen it all before.

I caught his fingers and gave them a squeeze of thanks.

Dominic didn’t miss the exchange.His eyes narrowed, shifting between us, but he didn’t comment.Instead, he clasped his hands and leaned forward, close enough to pin me with a hard stare.“I'm not your babysitter.As far as I’m concerned, you can do what you want. But you can't just fuck off and forget you've got family here.Mason found that shitbox Buick of yours abandoned in the Dead End’s parking lot, and he's been going out of his head ever since.We’ve been looking everywhere.I’ve got my men combing the bayou for your body, for fuck’s sake.”

I didn’t like apologizing, especially to Dominic because he never let me forget it.But I owed him one this time.He was trying to hide it, but I saw the pain and hurt in his whiskey-colored eyes.I grabbed him by the wrist, right above his platinum watch band, and held his gaze.“I’m sorry, Dom,” I said sincerely.“I should’ve called. I wasn't thinking clearly.”

“Fuck calling,” he spat angrily.“You’re my brother. You should have come to me.”

“You don’t need my mess on your doorstep, man.” I gave a shaky laugh.“I was cocky, and I paid for it.I’m not about to drag anyone else into it.”

Dominic’s eyes narrowed. He grabbed the arm of the couch and leaned close, saying furiously, “Gideon filled your head with his righteous bullshit, didn’t he?Told you we’ve all got to behave ourselves ‘til he decides the time is right?Fuck him, Gage. You come to me when you’ve got a problem.I’ll handle it. You don’t get yourself killed trying to prove shit to him.Understand?”

Damn. Things were worse between them than I thought.

I sighed and pinched the bridge of my nose—before I remembered it was broken."Ow, fuck," I muttered, covering my face with one hand.My other brothers would have laughed, but Dominic didn't even blink.

"I hear you, Dom," I said, sighing, "and I appreciate it.Really. But I can handle my own problems."

The words felt hollow even as I said them.A nice line, sure, but the truth was staring both of us in the face.I hadn't handled shit.

"Right," Dominic drawled, reaching out to hook a finger under the edge of my bandages and tugging lightly."Because you handled this so well.Now, stop wasting my time. Tell me who did it."

"No."

"Don't test my patience, Gage," he warned, tilting his head and staring me down with those reptilian eyes."Who. Did. This."

He didn't raise his voice, but then, it was never necessary.His attitude was a predator's calm, the kind that didn't leave much room for argument.There was something unnerving about how still he could hold: no nervous tics, no shifting, just the unrelenting focus of a hunter.

“I know what you’d do with the information, and I’m not giving it to you,” I said, locking eyes with him.“You’ve played it smart for years.Vanderhoff hasn't been able to pin a thing on you, and I know damn well he tried.I’m not about to watch you throw it all away because I made a stupid call.”

For a long, tense moment, we stared each other down.Dominic was practically gnashing his teeth.He hated not being able to intimidate me.

“We're brothers,” he said fiercely.“We don’t move alone. Not anymore.Promise me.”

That got both my eyebrows lifting.“You gonna promise the same?”

He didn’t answer; he couldn’t, and we both knew it.

"Fine," he said, letting out a long, resigned sigh and scrubbing his hand over his face."But come home, at least. Loretta will make you some chicken and dumplings.You know how she loves to fuss.”

I winced and shifted uncomfortably.The weight of Wyatt's stare was drilling through the back of my head.I didn't need to turn around to know he was there, watching silently from the kitchen.He wouldn't weigh in, and somehow, I knew he wouldn't hold me to our agreement if I forced the issue.Still, just knowing he was there settled the restless feeling inside me.

“We made a deal,” I said slowly.“I promised to stay until I’m all healed up.”

Dominic’s expression was scathing.“Brooks is a cop. He's no doctor.”

“Maybe, but I know he'll never let anything happen to me."

Dominic looked like he wanted to puke.He gave Wyatt a disgusted look.I glanced toward the kitchen, amused to see Wyatt wasn't even giving my brother the time of day.His eyes were all for me, gleaming with so much pride it took my breath away.

With a grimace, Dominic finally stood and gave me some breathing room."Have it your way, if that's how you want to play it," he said curtly, fixing the cuffs on his designer shirt.I wondered which sleeve had the dagger hidden—and why it was there in the first place."I'll take care of Mason and Gideon, but don't expect me to just stand around once things go south with the deputy."

"Gage will never need to watch out for me," Wyatt said stonily.

Dominic's gaze slid toward Wyatt, slow and deliberate, as if sizing him up for the hundredth time and finding him lacking."History says otherwise," he said, razor-sharp with mistrust."You'd better believe I'll be watching.If you give me a reason, even one, I won't hesitate to step in."

He strode toward the door without a backward look at either of us.Wyatt trailed him out and didn't budge until Dominic's Lexus was pulling down the driveway.

"You two really hate each other, huh?" I asked, shifting around the squeaky leather, trying to find a comfortable position.

"Let's just say we're at cross purposes these days." Wyatt strolled over to me and sat on the arm of the couch, tucking a knuckle under my chin to lift my face."You know, you don't need to prove anything to me or your family."

“That’s where you’re wrong," I said, laughing bitterly.

He searched my eyes, then leaned down to kiss me, ever-so-fucking-gently, on my healing mouth."You look better," he said decisively.“Think you’re up for some food?It might not be Loretta’s dumplings, but I can hold my own.”

I considered it. My stomach felt emptier than the Dead End on a Sunday morning.Maybe some food wouldn’t kill me."Yeah, I could eat," I said, glancing down at my blanket covered lap."But I need some pants first."

Wyatt’s grin broadened, turning just a little wicked, and his eyes drifted appreciatively down my bare chest.“This way is better,” he decided, letting his gaze linger on my hardened nipples a beat longer than necessary.“You’re the tastiest looking thing I’ve got in this place.”

I snorted out a laugh, then hissed, clutching my injured side.“Didn’t know you got off on tenderized meat.”

Wyatt’s chuckle rolled over me, warm and rich, just like the look in his eyes.“Call it an appreciation for fine cuts, then.Besides,” he added, brushing his thumb gently over my inflamed cheek, “I don’t mind a few bruised spots.It just means you’re still here with me.”

My breath hitched. Warmth was blooming in my chest, and I was suddenly struggling to breathe properly, but I knew it had nothing to do with my injuries.It was the same glow I used to feel every time Wyatt looked at me.

I was in so much trouble.

He pulled back slowly, letting his fingers trail away from my face.“I’m glad you came to me, Gage," he said, deadly serious.

I forced myself to shrug my one good shoulder.“Yeah, well, I guess I could do worse for a nurse."

“Damn right.” He chucked me under the chin, winked, and then disappeared into the bedroom.A moment later, he was tossing a pair of gym shorts at me.“Here. Don’t say I never gave you anything.”

“Five stars for service,” I muttered, grinning like an idiot.

While Wyatt swept up the broken glass, I shimmied into the borrowed shorts.It wasn’t easy. My limbs didn’t seem to want to bend in any of the normal ways.By the time I snapped the elastic around my waist, I was out of breath and sweating.It took a few throw pillows to cradle my inflamed kidneys until they stopped throbbing, but it could have been worse.I was just grateful I wasn't pissing blood.

I sighed, relaxing into the pillows, and watched Wyatt move around the kitchen with a confidence that bewildered me.He cracked eggs into a skillet one-handed, whisking them with a splash of milk and a flick of his wrist.Five years of living alone had taught me to do eggs, but mine always turned out like rubber, not the fluffy golden pile Wyatt heaped onto a plate a few minutes later.He had a way of doing everything like it mattered.No wasted movements. I could have sat there all day watching him.

He was scraping some butter onto a piece of toast when he glanced up and caught me staring.“What?” he asked, giving me a perplexed smile.

“Nothing,” I blurted. “Just wondering how long you’re planning on keeping me.A man could get used to this kind of service.”

“As long as it takes,” he replied, pressing the plate into my waiting hands.He settled on the coffee table, in much the same way Dominic had, and took a quick sip from a steaming coffee cup.

“I can walk now,” I mumbled, forking up a bite of moist, deliciously salty eggs.One taste, and my hunger was roaring to life.“I should be good to go by tomorrow.”

He took another sip of coffee, watching me idly over the rim, and said, “That’s not what I meant.”

I glanced up, fork poised halfway to my mouth.“What did you mean?”

He leaned forward, resting a hand on the cushion near my thigh.It didn't feel like he was making some casual offer.More like he was staking a claim.“You’re stuck with me for as long as it takes, until you realize you don’t have to keep facing everything alone.I’m in your corner, Gage. Have been from day one.”

I stared at him, wide-eyed and dry-mouthed, unable to reply even if I’d known what to say.Years ago, I would've given anything to hear that from him, but now, it terrified me.

His hand slid from thecushionto my thigh, anchoring me with touch more than words.“My feelings for you might have shifted over the years.I won’t lie about that. But whatever twisted path we took to get here doesn’t matter anymore.Because one thing never changed.Whether you believe it or not, I'd do anything foryou.Don't ever doubt how far I'dgo.I'm not sure either of us wants toknow."