17

 

Gage had learned to trust his instincts. And, his instincts screamed the worst possible scenario had come to pass. Jonas would never call and hang up without speaking. Which meant only one thing; it wasn’t Jonas who’d dialed the number.

“Mercado.” He ground the name between clenched teeth.

He set down the weights he’d been lifting and swiped a hand across his sweaty forehead. Adrenaline mixed with exercise induced endorphins. But, no amount of physical exertion would be able to release the tension building within.

Gage crossed the workout room to look out the large bay windows. Cara walked along the beach, stopping to pick up sea shells every few steps, oblivious to this new development. Every fiber of his being warned him not to tell her, but he couldn’t fathom keeping this information from her. She’d never forgive him, and that alone gave him enough reason to exit the building and approach her.

He’d left the cane in the main house, which made traversing the uneven sand that much more difficult. He ignored the pain streaking through his flesh, intent on breaking the news to her gently. But how could he smooth over the cold, hard truth?

Gage strode up behind Cara, startling her with a quick, “Hey.”

She jumped and spun around. Her hand flew to her chest. “Oh, I didn’t see you coming.” She squinted up at him, and her sudden smile faded. “What’s wrong?”

He’d seen his share of life-or-death situations and had been the target of many killers, but nothing in his past experiences prepared him for this. “I don’t know how else to say it, so I’ll just say it.” His blood ran cold. “I got a phone call.”

Her face paled, even beneath the warm sun. She adjusted a bucket full of shells from one hand to the other and cleared her throat. “From whom?”

“I think Mercado has captured Jonas.”

“What?” The bucket fell from her fingers. The shells spilled onto the sand unheeded. “Did you talk to him? How do you know?”

“A call came from Jonas’s phone. I answered. No one was there.”

Cara’s shoulder’s sagged, and she raked her fingers through her hair. “Maybe the call was lost. Or, maybe he dialed by accident.”

“The call wasn’t lost. It was purposefully dialed and disconnected.”

“Maybe something came up and Jonas had to go. How can you assume Mercado is the reason behind the call…oh, yeah. It’s your sixth sense kicking in, right?”

He couldn’t explain the knowing deep inside his core, so he didn’t even try. “Something like that.”

She backed away. “I’m sorry if I can’t rely on your ‘instincts’ as easily as you can. I don’t believe an empty phone call means Jonas has been compromised.”

Yet, the moisture gathering in her eyes showed her fear.

“I’m sorry. I should be there with him. I should’ve…” What? In his condition, he would be more of a hindrance than a help. He shook his head. “Then again, I might’ve made things worse.”

“Enough with the self-pity.” Cara raised her voice with each word.

Her direct words stung as if he’d taken a bullet to the chest.

“Jonas told me before we met not to look at you as if I felt sorry for you, but you’re so stuck on feeling sorry for yourself, no one has to do it for you.”

“You don’t know what you’re saying.” But, Gage wondered if she was right. He had turned inward, focusing on his own problems ever since the injury.

Until Cara came along.

Seemed lately, he’d been thinking of her more than anything else. She’d maneuvered her way into his mind, his thoughts and…his heart.

“Give me the satellite phone.” She held out her palm.

He gripped the phone attached to his belt. “It won’t help, Cara. Please believe me in this.”

“I…I can’t.” She shook her head. “I need to know for certain. Please…give me the phone.”

Never before had a woman taken over his emotions, and his common sense, the way Cara had. Going against every inborn instinct, Gage handed over the device. She was about to be devastated, and he was helpless to stop it.

 

****

 

Cara touched the screen until she found the last incoming number and gave Gage a glance before pressing the send key. She didn’t understand how he could be so sure of himself in some areas of his life, yet so reluctant in others. Mercado had done more damage to Gage than she could ever fully understand. To take a man of Gage’s caliber, full of vitality and strength, and so completely rattle him, Mercado must be some kind of monster. Images of a harsh, cruel creature hovering over Gage with a sledge hammer crowded her brain.

Then, the images transferred over to Jonas being the one attacked.

Her chest squeezed tight as she recalled Jonas’s warning. She could be putting him in more danger by calling him. But, she just couldn’t live with the not knowing.

On the third ring, a man answered. “Jonas can’t talk right now. He’s tied up at the moment.”

Cara’s stomach dropped, and blood drained from her head to her toes. Mercado. “Let him go,” she whispered.

Gage’s features hardened, but he showed no surprise. He’d been right, and he knew it.

A momentary pause. Then, the heavily accented voice came back. “Cara Dalton, I presume. Your voice sounds sweet for a woman who has made my life so difficult. I’m looking forward to making your acquaintance.”

She began to shake, and she nearly dropped the phone. Gage looked ready to snatch it from her grasp, so she backed away. “Let me speak to Jonas.”

Lord, let him still be alive.

“If you want your brother, you’ll have to come and get him.” Mercado’s tone came across bold.

“You want me to come to Columbia?” Could she return to face a ruthless killer?

Gage stepped forward, crowding her on the wide open beach. He slid the phone from her fingers and pressed it to his ear. “Whatever you’re planning, you can forget about it. She isn’t going anywhere.”

Blood rushed through Cara’s veins. Regardless of Gage’s answer, she had to go. She had to get to Jonas.

She took a step away, but Gage blocked her path with his broad stance. He disconnected the call, and looked at her with a solemn expression. “I can’t let you go.”

“Then we have problem.”

“He’ll kill you both.”

“That’s a risk I’m willing to take.” She brushed past him and strode toward the house.

“I will not risk losing you, Cara.”

She stopped in mid-stride, and turned to face him. “I’m not yours to lose.”

Pain crossed his features, making Cara pause. Although her mind screamed at her to get moving, she took a moment to return to Gage. Placing a hand on his muscular shoulder, she whispered, “He’s all I have left.”

Gage’s features softened with compassion. “Cara.” His arm banded around her waist and he pulled her against his chest. “He’s not all you have.”

She fought him at first. Being in Gage’s arms couldn’t help her save Jonas. But, as his strength wrapped around her, she accepted his embrace and pressed her cheek tight against his thundering heart.

Gage placed a series of tender kisses across her forehead and temple. The sensation comforted, but she wanted more. Cara lifted her chin, wrapped her arms around his neck and drew his mouth to hers.

The first touch of his lips took her breath away. After only a slight hesitation, he took control, deepened the kiss, and she reveled in the sensations. She could lose herself in him, body, mind and spirit—but, that wouldn’t make her circumstances go away. That wouldn’t bring Jonas back.

As if sensing her thoughts, Gage inched away. His eyes had taken on a deeper hue, his focus directed to her as if only she existed. “Cara.”

The emotion behind her spoken name weakened her knees, and she wobbled.

Gage kept her upright long enough to slip an arm under her legs and lift her. He settled her against his chest, taking on her full weight.

“Gage, no. Your leg.” She struggled to be released.

“I’ve got you.”

Cara looked into his eyes and understood. She may not have needed to be carried, but he needed to be needed. She relaxed in his hold and lifted a hand to his cheek, smoothing over his whiskers. “I don’t expect you to come with me, but I need you to let me go.”

He shifted her in his arms. “Where you go, I go.”

Hope emerged from his words. “Does that mean…?”

“That means we’re in this together. We’re both going to Columbia.”