10

 

Gage’s cell phone rang, and he slid it from the clip on his belt. He glanced at the caller ID and his brow furrowed.

Cara perched on the edge of the sofa. “Who is it?”

He leaned forward, planting elbows on knees. His sapphire eyes held hers. “It’s Jonas. He shouldn’t be calling again so soon.”

A few tremors still coursed through her from when Gage had tackled her to the ground earlier, and this didn’t help. She waited for him to answer.

Gage placed the phone to his ear. “McKenna.” A moment passed, and he nodded. He held out the phone. “Jonas wants to talk to you.”

Nerves fluttered in her belly as she accepted the call. “Jonas? Are you all right?”

“I can’t talk long.” His voice sounded labored.

“I’ve been so worried. It’s good to hear your voice.” She exhaled and ran a hand through her hair as relief flooded through her.

Gage watched her, his features remaining on alert.

A rustling sound came through the phone. “I just wanted to touch base with you. I may not be able to contact you again for a while. I needed to know that you’re still with Gage.”

“Of course I’m still with him. Why wouldn’t I be?”

“How many times have you threatened to leave the island?”

“How did you…” She glanced at Gage.

“Gage didn’t say a word.” Jonas spoke as if reading her thoughts. “We’re twins. I know you better than anyone.”

“I thought I knew you, too.” In spite of trying to avoid the sting of deception, it came as if on its own accord. “I feel as if I don’t have a clue anymore.”

“What I do is not who I am. You know me.” His voice became more intense. “And, I know Gage. Stay by his side, Cara. No matter what happens. And, if I don’t make it back…”

Her chest constricted. “What do you mean if you don’t make it?”

“Just promise me, OK?” He sounded winded again.

“I’ll promise to stay with him if you tell me what you’re doing.” She gripped the cell phone tight. “Why are you so out of breath?”

Jonas paused, and Cara hoped he was considering telling her.

“I’m going to visit Mercado,” he finally admitted. “And I’m not exactly planning to use the front door. I’m hiking in the back way so I can check out the place first.”

Alarm skittered through her. “Be careful.”

“I will. I need to talk to Gage again.”

“But—”

“Now, Cara. Put him on.”

She held out the phone. “Jonas needs to tell you something.”

Gage took the cell phone. “I’m here.” He listened for a moment. His gaze caught hers. “Are you sure he was referring to Cara?” Worry lines creased his forehead, and his lips thinned into a tight line. “I don’t like the sound of it either.”

Cara’s fear rose to near panic level, and her heart thumped wild.

“You shouldn’t go back in alone.” His voice deepened, turning gravelly and low.

Her mind spun with wild imaginations. “Jonas doesn’t have backup?”

Gage held up a palm as he continued to listen. “It’s too risky.”

She fought back tears. For the past several years, she’d thought Jonas was living a life in ministry, travelling to foreign countries to aid those in need. To find out he risked his life on an everyday basis overwhelmed her. She wanted to snatch the phone away and demand Jonas explain, but she doubted she could pry it from Gage’s strong fingers.

“You know what Mercado will do if he finds out she’s your sister.”

Cara scooted closer to Gage and her shoulder bumped his as she strained to hear Jonas’s reply on the other end. She thought she heard her name mentioned, but couldn’t be sure.

“All right. I’ll do what I can. Talk to you later.” He lowered the phone.

“Wait.” Panic surged through her and she lunged forward, knocking the cell phone from Gage’s hand. She ended up sprawled across his lap, hand dangling over the sofa’s edge as the phone skittered over hardwood.

“Jonas already disconnected.” Gage’s calm, rational voice broke through her frenzy.

She pressed her forehead against the sofa’s arm, squeezing her eyes shut to prevent frustrated tears from spilling over. “I didn’t get to say goodbye. What if he doesn’t come back?”

Gage gave her an awkward pat on the back as if he had little experience consoling a woman. “If anyone can get out of this alive, Jonas can.”

“What if he doesn’t?”

His hand stilled and then gently stroked with more confidence. Warmth infused her skin where long fingers traced. She should get off of him. She should ask him to stop touching her. But right now, she needed comfort and reassurance, even if from a large, overbearing and very reluctant bodyguard.

Thoughts of her parents’ deaths intermingled with her fears for Jonas, and she could no longer hold the tears at bay. She cried, strung out across Gage’s lap, embarrassed at her lack of control, yet unable to stop herself.

“Shh. It’s OK.” He drew her into his arms and cradled her against his chest.

The scents of the sea clung to his skin and surrounded her while his heart’s steady rhythm thumped against her ear. She drew up her knees and allowed him to hold her, glad she wasn’t alone.

Moments passed, and when her tears abated Gage’s voice came so close his whiskers scraped her skin. “If I’d known I was going to hold a beautiful woman this close twice in one day, I would’ve shaved.”

Cara froze. Lord, what am I doing?

She placed hands on his shoulders and pushed away.

Gage released her and his gaze dashed over her swollen eyes and then settled on her puffy lips. She’d never been one of those lucky women who could cry and not look frightful afterward. But, Gage didn’t look at her as if she’d turned into a sniveling mess. He looked at her as if he wanted to kiss her.

But, that couldn’t be the case. He didn’t even want her here.

When she had first met him she’d been convinced bitterness and pride was all that remained inside his heart. Perhaps she was wrong. She didn’t know what to think of this new possibility. Too much had happened in a short time span. A mere few days ago she’d boarded a flight thinking she’d become part of a humanitarian effort, and now look at her. She’d lost her freedom, her sense of all that’s right with the world, and had been sent to live under a stranger’s roof. Now, she’d thrown herself across his lap and had cried on his shoulder.

Embarrassed all over again she swiped away residual tears. “You said if anyone can live through whatever Jonas is facing, it would be him. Tell me what he’s up against.”

Gage pressed a hand to his knee, massaging his injury, and his gaze took on a faraway look.

“You look as robotic as Jonas did when he first told me my life was in danger.”

“We’re not unfeeling hunks of metal.” He answered, but continued to stare into some unseen place and time. “We’re flesh and blood men. We have strengths and weaknesses. My primary weakness is physical.” His gaze finally met hers. “Jonas’s is emotional.”

“What do you mean?”

“You’re the only person on the planet he’s willing to break the rules for. He gave me the go-ahead to tell you who we are.”