Part 33 (1/2)
His eyes dropped to the floor, his thoughts shadowed. I could see his mind turning in his silence.
”Here.” I handed him his boxers. I needed him dressed.
He stepped into them slow, and I pulled on my jeans.
”Theres got to be another way. Let me think, Ill come up with something, youll see. Things can change, and youll be safe. Ill keep you safe this time.”
”Ugh,” I grunted, near screaming, feeling like I could rip out my hair. ”Thats not what Im asking for. You cant keep me safe, thats the whole point. Neither of us are safe. Those people dont deserve to just get away with everything.”
”The FBI wont keep you safe either. Viktor has his own informants on the inside.”
”I know.” I spread my hands out. ”I figured as much, but Im just so tired of all this.”
His eyes narrowed, but his lips pressed together in a hard line, so I continued.
”You said anything-”
He cut me off with a step towards me, ”But you ask the one thing I cant do. I took an oath-”
”To who? And what good is it when you cant even trust them.” My hand vibrated as I pressed it to my chest, I was unable to steady it. ”And what about the vows we made? Shouldnt that mean more?”
He raised his head to the ceiling and closed his eyes, shoulders and chest rising and falling with his deep breaths. ”Its who I am, youre asking me to betray myself.”
I sucked back my anger, my words. It was time to accept it. I already knew it to begin with, but it was still a jagged truth to swallow.
A blast from outside echoed around us. Gage was quick to get the gun on the counter, already heading towards the door in just his boxers.
”Stop.” I raised my hand. ”Its Blakes shot gun, he always fires a shot when he gets near.” I shrugged. ”Kind of his way of knocking.” I went around the small area, picking up the rest of Gages clothes. ”Put theses on, h.e.l.l be here soon.”
He took his clothes from me, and I looked around the trailer. ”s.h.i.+t. Ive got to do something about the table.” I lifted it off its side, but the broken leg rolled away and another was hanging on by a splinter so I dropped it back down. ”Oh, well.” Really that was the least of my worries.
”What does he know?” He slipped his s.h.i.+rt over his head, muscles in his stomach and chest stretching as he lifted his arms. The material of his s.h.i.+rt dropped in place, and he was covered.
”Nothing, I never told them anything about me.”
”Who is he to you?” His blue eyes s.n.a.t.c.hed mine, demanding an answer.
”I told you.”
”A friend?” His eyebrow rose as he slid my gun into his waist band, leaving it shown over his s.h.i.+rt. ”Never went further? Not even once?”
The sound of sticks snapping and heavy boots approaching signaled that Blake was out front now. I wanted to say something smart and biting to Gage but didnt want to pull Blake into this. I opened the front door, letting in the daylight and cool breeze, as I responded, ”No Never.”
When Gages hands gripped my shoulders from behind it made my stomach dip with the familiar touch, and his whispered voice sent a wave of homesickness cras.h.i.+ng over me. ”That wasnt my answer.”
I craned my head to the side to meet his eyes behind me, ready to push him away if he was going to keep getting on me about Blake, but his soft tone made me hesitate.
”I havent answered you yet.” His clear blue eyes met mine, and his hand moved to my chin, keeping me from turning away. ”Give me some time, okay?”
I nodded, speechless. It sparked a small flame of hope in my stomach, but I wasnt sure if I should protect it and let it grow, or stomp it out before it burned down the walls covering my weakness. Gulping down feelings that tried to surface, I stepped out the front door and down the two metal steps of the trailer.
”Everything all right?” Blake questioned, spitting on the ground. His shotgun rested against his shoulder.
”Yeah. Are you all right? After the other night-”
”Im fine.” He turned his gaze behind me as Gage came out of the trailer. ”I knew you had secrets, and Im not going to make you share them. But d.a.m.ned if I thought even your name was fake.”
”Yeah. Im sorry for lying to you, but...”
”You had your reasons. I get it.” Blake was still watching Gage as he came up next to me, and he gripped the gun at his shoulder.
My skin tingled with Blakes movement and the tension flowing off Gage as he stood silent, arms crossed, just behind me.
”Can we talk?” Blake pulled his eyes back to mine. ”Alone.”
I nodded, but Gage spoke up. ”You can talk in front of me.”
Blake spit again, eyes narrowing on Gage. ”Well, sir, I want to make sure you dont influence her answers, understand?”
”Well. Sir,” Gage started with att.i.tude and took a step towards Blake. ”Thats my wife, and youre not taking her out of my sight.”
”Im not the one shes been hiding from for the past several months.”
”Stop.” I turned to Gage and put both hands on his chest to keep him from charging forward.
”You know nothing about this. So shut the f.u.c.k up.” His words were angry, but he stilled and dropped his eyes to mine. Then he brought his arm up to cover my hands on his chest, holding them in place. Holding me in place.
”Stop, both of you. Blake, I appreciate the concern, but I can talk in front of him.” I still had my eyes locked with Gages.
”You can back away from him, he wont do anything.”
Gage dropped my hands and pulled me behind him.
I turned and looked straight into the barrel of Blakes shotgun. ”Blake. Put that down.”
Gage had the gun at his waist, but he wasnt going for it, so I did.
”Put it down, Blake.” I pointed the revolver at him.
”Girlie, Im quicker than you.” But he lifted his gun back to his shoulder.
”Youre crazier than me, thats for sure.” I slid my gun in my waistband.
”Youre the one that met a shotgun with a handgun.” He grunted, with a sort of laugh. ”But if you were trying to protect him, then maybe you werent running from him.”