Chapter 63

chapter

sixty-three

Gage paused outside the office door. He’d left Austin in the warehouse’s shadows just in case he needed backup.

He peered inside and saw Graham holding up the tablet toward Nia.

She pressed her eyes shut.

“Open her eyes!” Graham told one of the men in the room with them.

Gage had no time to waste.

Gun in hand, he burst into the room. When he saw the man reaching for Nia, he did a roundhouse kick.

Gage’s foot hit the tablet in Graham’s hands, and it fell to the floor.

Nia’s eyes flew open. “Gage!”

The man closest to Nia turned and raised his gun.

Before Gage could aim his own gun and pull the trigger, the second henchman jammed the butt of his gun into the side of Gage’s head .

Pain split through him, and he doubled over.

Graham scowled. “Did you really think that would work?”

The first guy snatched Gage’s gun and shoved it into his waistband. Then he raised his own gun at Gage again, his finger poised over the trigger.

“No!” Nia threw herself between the gun and Gage. “Tell him to stand down, Graham. He’d have to shoot me first, and I know you don’t want that to happen. You need me.”

“I do need those plans,” Graham muttered with a sneer.

Nia patted the air with her palms as if trying to calm the situation. “Then let everyone else go. You just need me.”

“I can’t let this guy and your sister walk away.” Graham let out a chuckle. “They know too much.”

“But don’t you see? You can let them go,” Nia murmured. “You have the power to make them forget this. No one else needs to die.”

“Nia . . .” Gage said behind her.

He couldn’t let her do this. Couldn’t let her sacrifice herself for him.

But that was exactly what she was planning.

“Move out of the way,” Graham muttered. “I will order my guys to shoot—but just enough to make you hurt and not kill you.”

Gage’s throat tightened.

The next instant, he lunged forward and wrapped Nia in his arms .

He turned and dove to the ground just as gunfire split the air.

Nia nearly lost her breath as Gage threw them both to the concrete floor.

Then she froze as she heard bullets flying.

But no pain came.

No bullets hit her.

Had they hit Gage?

She didn’t think so. The sound had come from a distance.

The warehouse maybe?

Graham muttered for his guys to go check things out. Then he turned to Nia and Gage, holding his own Glock. “Get up. Both of you.”

Nia stared at the gun as she and Gage slowly climbed to their feet.

She knew what was about to transpire. She could feel it in her bones. Could feel it as if she and Gage had some type of mental connection.

Gage had a plan.

She glanced at him. He stood with his hands in the air near the door, the picture of compliance.

More gunfire exploded in the distance. The sound thundered through her chest and spiked her anxiety until she could hardly breathe.

Nia prayed everyone was okay.

But the sound was just enough to distract Graham .

Gage swung his leg around. Hit the weapon. It went flying to the floor.

“Get the gun!” Gage yelled.

Nia dove for it while Gage subdued Graham. In two seconds flat, Gage had the man pinned, stomach to the floor and hands behind him.

Gage pulled some zip ties from his pocket—almost as if he carried them everywhere like most people carried their wallets—and secured the man’s hands.

“I don’t know what you think you’re doing!” Graham yelled.

Gage looked at Nia, noting she seemed okay.

Thank goodness.

“Stay here,” he told her. “Keep the gun on him, and don’t let him make a move. I’m going to go check out things and make sure Austin is okay.”

Nia nodded and lifted a prayer.

Then she watched Gage disappear.