That One Summer: A Collection of Steamy Contemporary Romance

Chapter 14

By four o’clock inthe afternoon, the picnic was going strong.Gage found another soda in the cooler near the food tent and surveyed the meadow.

All the tables were full of people eating and drinking. Kids were throwing water balloons under Nana Ruthie’s direction. There was face painting, Frisbee throwing, and a bunch of high school kids had set up their instruments as an impromptu band.

He and Lily had already eaten, and she was now sitting with Clara and Eve, while they watched Georgie get her face painted. He’d promised Lily a dance, once the band got going.

“This is great, Uncle Gage.” Jacob appeared with a plate piled high with hot dogs covered with chili. “I wish Ben could be here.”

“I spoke with Ben earlier. He sounds okay.” Gage opened his soda can, holding it away so the fizz wouldn’t spray him. “He’s tired, but ready to come home. I just wish they’d find the man who shot him.”

“Me too. The doctors say he has to stay for a few more days.” Jacob stabbed his food with his fork. “I told Ben he’s living with me when he returns. His apartment smells like old feet.”

Gage laughed and clapped his nephew on the back. “Soon you can move into Mosby House. I can’t wait to hear about the construction you’ve already started.”

Jacob frowned and glanced at the house in the far distance. “First, I’m waiting for the title transfer to come through. Second, Uncle Isaiah may still fight me on it. Third, no one has touched the house in years. Except for the few repairs I do every year before we use it for the Haunted House Tour, nothing has been fixed. In fact, the town knows they’re not allowed inside unless it’s for the Halloween event. I made it clear that if they violate that rule, I’ll cancel the tour.”

Which would be a shame since it was the only tourist draw the town still had.

“But Nana Ruthie—” Gage paused as another thought came to him. “Have you seen Ryan or Damian today?”

“No. I haven’t seen Damian since the night of the town hall meeting. I assumed, since you closed The Ren, Damian and the rest of the club went to Ravensburg to hang out at the Devil’s Renegades clubhouse there.”

“Probably.” Except a knot in his stomach made him wonder if that was true.

Gage’s phone buzzed, and he checked the caller ID. “I have to take this, Jacob. I’ll see you later.”

He hurried down the path, toward the house, and answered, “Mosby.”

“Have you found anything yet?” As usual, Mark sounded annoyed and bored.

“No. And since it’s a holiday, I doubt I will.” He kept walking, away from the party noise, until the air seemed quieter and calmer.

“We need more intel,” Mark insisted.

“I’m well aware...” He paused and moved behind an old elm tree. “I’ll touch base tomorrow.” He hung up and shoved his phone in his back pocket. “What is this about?”

As he spoke to himself, he watched two men linger near the back door of Mosby House. They were smoking, but they were also scanning their perimeter. From the way they moved, and the handle they had on their surroundings, there had to be something bad going on.

He couldn’t tell from this distance, but they might even be Devil’s Renegades.

The back door opened and the two men slipped in.

Gage took out his lighter and flicked it on and off while he thought. A few moments later, he shoved his lighter into his front pocket and hurried toward the house. He didn’t see any cameras or guards.

But he did find bullet casings on the ground.

Using a piece of a plastic bag he found nearby, he picked one up a casing and shoved it in his pocket.

Of course the back door was locked, but this had been his father’s house. He knew exactly how to exit and enter without notice. It didn’t take long to crawl around the side of the house and enter through the loose window of a sub-basement.

The house was not only unlived in, it was huge, with over eight thousand square feet. It would make the perfect place to hide... anything. A hiding place in plain site that no one would question. He was just annoyed he hadn’t thought about it sooner.

His plan was to get a visual of the situation: people, places, things. Then get out and call Mark and Satya. After yesterday’s situation with Ryan, he wanted proof before he called them.

Although he did hate the idea that this would ruin the town’s festivities.

He took his charged weapon out of his ankle holster and made his way from the sub-basement to the main basement. Halloween decorations fell out of boxes. Ghosts and skeletons hung from a corner rafter, and rubber rats lay on the floor near a box of pumpkin heads. He kicked a rubber rat—until it ran away.

Ugh. He hated rats. But the house was probably full of them.

It took thirty minutes to work through all three basement rooms before seeing the stairs that led up to the first floor. When he turned the corner, he found the gun safe against a wall, near the HVAC system.

Black and shiny and locked.

He regripped his weapon and went up to the first floor. The kitchen was clear, but dishes in the sink told him someone was squatting in the house. Voices came from the music room. The same room he’d recently learned his father had built for his mother.

His parents had had a difficult marriage, but they’d still ended up with five children. And he was determined to protect what little legacy of love they’d had.

With his gun leading the way, he moved quietly toward the music room. He heard three distinct male voices. Including Ryan’s, but not including Damian’s.

When he had a visual, he saw Ryan standing with five other men. Six against one wasn’t great odds, so he made the decision to retreat.

Retreat wasn’t his favorite thing to do, but he wasn’t reckless either. Especially now that he’d found Lily again. Backing up, his boot hit a small end table. Before he could grab it, the table fell and hit the floor.

The sound reverberated, and he ran—straight into a seventh man. This one had a red beard and wore a Devil’s Renegades vest with a V.P patch on the front.

“Shit.” That was the last thing he remembered saying before the biker’s fist hit his chin and everything went black.

* * *

“Jacob?” Lily handedhim one of her berry custard cups and raised her voice over the loud music. “Have you seen Gage? He promised me a dance. I can’t find him, and he’s not answering his phone.”

“I saw him an hour ago.” Jacob used his spoon to point in the direction of Mosby house. “He took a phone call, and I haven’t seen him since.”

“Thank you.” Jacob seemed sure that Gage was okay, but her gut was twisting in a way that told her there was trouble.

She wiped her damp hands on her skirt and hurried down the path, toward the house. About ten minutes later, she stood near the back door leading into Mosby House. It was so much larger, and more run-down, up close.

The back door was locked, and she tried to peek in the windows but they were covered with paper on the inside. Not sure what else to do, she took out her phone and called Gage again. It went straight to voicemail.

“What are you doing?” Jacob came up behind her, took her hand, and pulled her away from the window. “This house isn’t in great shape. I don’t want you getting hurt.”

“I can’t find Gage.”

“I’m sure—”

She squeezed his hand. Hard. “You don’t understand. I think he’s missing.”

Jacob frowned. “That’s ridiculous.”

“I don’t think so.” She scanned the quiet, overgrown yard behind the house. “Have you seen Damian or Ryan today?”

“Gage asked me the same question.” Jacob turned around, slowly, taking in the wide-open and desolate space. “I told him I haven’t.”

“Ryan is the sheriff.” She waved a hand in the direction of the picnic. “Shouldn’t he be here today?”

Now Jacob rubbed his chin. “Probably.”

She started pacing near the stairs that led to the back door. “I’m worried.”

“Let’s go back to the picnic. If Gage isn’t there, we’ll form a search party.”

“No.” She bent down, picked something up, and held it for him to see. It was Gage’s lighter. “We’re finding him. In that house. Now.”