Chapter 21
Logan closed the door too loudly when he left, making Gemma jump. She understood why he was angry. She was angry, too.
She’d gotten a glimpse of what her life could have been like without cancer, like a child spying the brass ring on the carousel, but it was permanently out of reach. She could never be the woman Logan wanted. She could never give him the things he so flippantly dismissed as unimportant now.
But what about later, when the resentment kicked in? She knew exactly what it was like to think you’d make your peace with something inherently unfair, only to rally against it like a prisoner pulling against his chains.
She wouldn’t do that to Logan.
Not now. Not ever.
He didn’t know what she knew, couldn’t imagine the depths of that suffering he was so eager to take on. No, he’d find someone else, probably even one day soon. He was right at that age when so many men settled down and got married, even started a handsome young family.
Her eyes burned and she cursed her own weakness, refusing to let the tears fall as memories of her thirties came to mind. She’d been a bridesmaid and an honorary aunt more times than she could count.
“Stupid girl,” she mumbled under her breath.
She wiped at her eyes, ensuring they were dry, then bent and picked up the condom wrapper from the ground, surprised to see it was the one April had given her at the dance club.
That meant she and Logan had used the old one from her purse that first time they were together.
She shrugged. Surely old protection was better than no protection at all.
She made her way back to the glass-walled conference room and sat beside Logan. Cowboy nodded, letting her know he’d already been updated as to her presence at HERO Force.
Jax began. “After the bomb that exploded at Stewart Cole’s house, I think it’s safe to say he’s involved in the kidnapping of Justice Royce. He had hundreds of pictures of Cowboy and me, along with our loved ones, and a virtual shrine to his brother, Garrison.”
Cowboy spoke. “For those of you who are not aware, Garrison was a member of HERO Force who was killed in a training exercise six years ago. Jax and I were charged with murder in Garrison’s death. Justice Royce dismissed those charges for lack of evidence.”
“Now civil charges have been filed, charging Cowboy and me with the wrongful death of Garrison.” Jax gestured to Gemma. “Judge Gemma Faraday here is the judge assigned to that case.”
“Whoa.” A big man across the table held up his hands. “What are you doing here?”
“And you are?” she asked.
“Austin Dixon.”
She nodded. “I was contacted by Royce’s kidnappers. They want me to find Mr. Wilson and Mr. Anderson guilty, regardless of the evidence against them.”
Austin turned his head and looked at her sideways. “She’s not supposed to be here.”
Logan cleared his throat. “Judge Faraday needs our protection. She’s part of this mess, and an apparent target for Cole. We’re taking care of her.”
Gemma’s shoulders dropped in relief. Her eyes went around the room to each of the men—strong, capable soldiers.
“Cole’s house was a trap,” said Jax. “He knew we’d find it. Now we need to figure out where he’s really hiding Judge Royce.”
“Does he own any other property?” asked Austin.
“Negative. No living relatives, either.”
“Friends?”
“Everything we’ve got on this guy says he’s a loner,” said Logan, flipping through papers in front of him. “Lives in the woods. Unemployed and on public assistance for a psych disability. If he had friends, they would have been few and far between.”
“A hotel, or rental property?” asked Jax.
“Possibly.” Logan rubbed a finger along his jawbone. “But there was no Internet service at the cabin. Cable lines don’t reach out that far and he didn’t subscribe to any of the satellite options.”
“Then a rental’s probably out,” said Austin. “All that shit’s done online these days.”
Gemma leaned forward. “What about Royce’s property?”
Logan shook his head. “We already checked the house.”
“He has a house up on Lake Hartwell, or at least he used to. There’s a peach orchard, too. It’s been in his family for generations.”
The men looked around at each other.
“Would you be able to find this place again?” asked Cowboy.
“I don’t know. I don’t think so. It was just up a hill from a gas station, but I don’t know the address.”
Logan opened a laptop computer. “Searching property records now. Do you know if it was passed down on his side or his wife’s?”
“He talked about spending time there when he was a kid. It definitely belonged to his family.”
The click of Logan’s fingers on the keys was fast and furious. “Got it. Eighteen fifty-four West Lake Road. Property of Anthony and Barbara Royce.”
“Nice work,” said Jax. “Let’s roll.”
Hawk leaned forward in his chair. “Hang on a second.” He was staring at Gemma. “I found a picture when Austin and I were searching Royce’s home office. I believe it’s a picture of you, Judge Faraday.”
She shrugged. “What kind of picture?”
One look at his face and she knew exactly the picture he was referring to. Royce had taken it at a hotel in the Adirondacks shortly after they’d started seeing each other, claiming he wanted something racy to keep in his desk.
Her cheeks filled with heat. “Oh.”
“Oh!” said Austin, pointing at Hawk. “I know what you’re talking about. You put it in your pocket, didn’t you?”
Jax cleared his throat. “Return it to her.”
Hawk hesitated.
“Go on,” Jax said.
Hawk put it facedown on the table and pushed it toward her.
“Now let’s get going,” said Jax.
Gemma stood up and tucked the picture into her pants pocket.
“You’re staying here,” said Logan. His voice was sharper than normal, and she knew he’d been embarrassed by the photograph, and her knowing about Royce’s lake house. It was clear to everyone in the room she’d had a relationship with the missing judge.
“But I’ve been there before. I might be able to help.”
“You might be in the way or get yourself killed. I think you should save the trip down memory lane for another time.”
“That’s not fair.” A couple of the guys turned around, but she held her ground. “I’m sorry if my past embarrasses you, but I should come with you on this trip. No one else here knows the property like I do. I could be useful.”
“I’m trying to protect you,” Logan said.
“And you will protect me. I’m not afraid to go up there because I know you’ll keep me safe. I’ll stay in the car. Whatever you want me to do.”
“We’re taking the chopper and the van,” said Jax.
Gemma rolled her eyes. “Then I’ll stay in the van, but don’t leave me sitting here by myself when I could help find Royce.”
Logan put his arm out, gesturing for her to go first.
“Thank you.”
“Stay in the van.”
“I already said I would.”