Chapter Four
“What the fuck is his problem?” Gage roared, slamming his fist down on Alex’s desk. He’d come to discuss what they could do to put Cummings back in his cell so that he could get some peace of mind, but as soon as he walked into Alex’s office, all he could think of was killing Cummings.
“What do you mean?” Alex asked, unfazed by Gage’s emotional overreaction. He’d met many angry victims that were pissed at the system for moving slowly or just flat out failing them.
He shook his head and fell back onto the chair behind him. “He hasn’t tried anything. He lives in a hovel in Austin, scraping by with little to no outside contacts for the past two weeks.” He thrusted his hands into his hair, tugging at it violently.
“I’d quit doing that or you’ll go bald. As for Cummings, I can’t tell you why, but let it be our saving grace. Do you really want him to come after Hope again?”
Gage nearly hopped out of his chair. Instead, he leaned forward and snarled, “Of fucking course not. You know damn well he’s not done with Hope. He’s going to want revenge on all of us. I can’t let him get to my family. The thought of him hurting her drives me nuts.”
Alex could see that without a doubt. Long gone was the cool, calm, collected friend he knew, and in his place was a man on the edge. Love had a way of doing that to a man, especially when danger lurked on every corner. “I don’t think he’s done with Hope, but you’re just letting him mindfuck you.”
“I can’t be caught sleeping.” Gage ran his fingers through his hair again, adding to his look of a mad man.
For weeks, Cummings hadn’t even hinted at any reprisal.
Having been a lawyer, he’d seen witnesses disappear, especially when murder one was on the menu.
Cummings wasn’t fit for life in prison and would do anything to stay out of it.
The thought of him coming after Hope or Ethan kept Gage from sleeping more than a few hours a night.
Gage couldn’t wait until winter came so that he could take time off with his family. There would still be lots of work to do on the ranch, but it wasn’t as busy when the cattle had more time to roam.
“It doesn’t look like you’ve slept at all since he’s been out on bail.” The long wait for the trial would test Gage’s strength, but he refused to take it easy when it came to his family. He waited a lifetime to find someone who made life worth living, and he’d do anything to keep her.
“I haven’t gotten much sleep, but you forget I’m a new dad,” Gage added.
Alex scoffed and shook his head. “Bullshit. This is all about Cummings. If I didn’t think you needed to know that he was out on bail, I would have kept it from you in the first place.
I love my wife too, so I understand what you’re going through, but you’ll be useless to them if you don’t get some rest.”
Gage nodded, knowing that it was easier said than done. “I’ve got to get back home.” He stood and extended his hand out to Alex. They shook, but Alex wasn’t anxious for his friend to leave just yet.
“She’s safe, but I understand why you have to hurry. Are you going to come to the poker game tomorrow night?” From the look in Gage’s eyes, Alex knew he’d be short one guy.
“I’m not sure.” Since Gage had returned to ranching, hang outs with his law enforcement buddies had been few and far between.
“I can send an extra guard to sleep on the front porch,” Alex teased. He lifted up his coffee mug and then took a drink.
“No, I don’t want any strangers on my land or near my wife,” Gage growled out like the possessive animal that he’d been when he met Hope.
Setting his mug back down, Alex let out a loud, barking laugh, exposing the lines around his eyes. “Ah, there’s the jealous husband I thought disappeared.”
“I’m not jealous. I’m possessive. She’s mine, and there isn’t a soul I’d let come between us. I already have two that lurk on and off when I need them to and that’s already rare. Have they spotted Cummings doing anything shady?”
“No, but they’ve kept their distance because they don’t want to be too obvious. Apparently Cummings’ lawyer has seen them before and approached them once.”
“That guy is bold.”
“Yeah, I don’t know what his problem is, but scum clings together.”
“You’ve got that right.”
“Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have to head home and see my beautiful wife before check on my hands.”
Alex stood and walked around his desk to escort his friend out. “Good man.” He clapped Gage’s back with a chuckle. “Take it easy.”
“Always.” They shook hands, and Gage left the station. The second he stepped into the fresh spring breeze a violent frenzy came over him. Standing not three feet in front of him was Baxter Cummings.
“What the fuck are you doing here?” he roared, closing the distance within seconds.
“Whoa, stay back there, cowboy, or I’ll have you arrested,” Cummings’s lawyer, Dallas Sparks, said, dashing between the two men and shoving at Gage’s chest.
Cummings leaned around his lawyer to goad Gage. “What’s the matter, Gibson? By law, I’m not allowed to leave the state. It just so happens Texas is a big fucking state.”
He winked at Gage, nearly sending him over the edge. Alex Savage rushed out just in time and grabbed his friend’s shoulders. “Calm your ass down. He’s not worth it.”
“He’s not worth the air he breathes.” Gage’s voice dripped with venom. He’d gladly choke the life out of Cummings in broad daylight if he could get away with it.
Other officers came running out of the building to keep it safe. “We all know that, but it’s not good to be arrested and give this fucker a reason to have the case dismissed. I’m sure that’s what he’s looking for.”
Brushing past Alex, Cummings turned toward Gage; smiling, he continued his antagonizing.
“On your way back to the ranch? While you’re at it, say hello to my daughter and grandson.
I’d love to meet the boy.” Gage lurched forward only to be stopped by Alex and two other officers, and they could barely hold him back.
Cummings laughed, clearly loving the fact that he could get to Gage so easily.
He stood at the top of the stairs just outside the door and added, “You better control your temper. I see a domestic violence charge in your future. Poor Hope. Mixing herself up with a violent man.” He winked at Gage and then walked inside the sheriff’s office.
“Damn it, Gage. You need to cool it,” Alex ground out through his teeth as he held his buddy back. Their little spat caught the attention of a reporter who lurked outside of the office, hoping for a scoop. Alex whispered, “There’s a reporter in a car just across the street. Get your ass together.”
Through clenched teeth, he grunted, “You heard that fucker. He’s going to come after them.” Gage had never been so full of rage that he actually considered murder in public, even if it was broadcast around the world.
“I heard, but he didn’t actually make a threat, so there’s nothing we can do.” He knew Alex had a point, no matter how much he wanted to smash Baxter Cummings’s head in. As soon as he left, Gage would hit the gun range.
“Forget about tomorrow unless we have it at my place,” he told Alex. There was no way in hell he felt it was safe to leave Hope unprotected so he could go out and gamble.
“That could work.”
“Let go of me. I’m all good. I need to go home to my family.” Despite having Cummings feet from him, he wouldn’t risk being arrested just to get only a punch in because he was certain they’d stop him before he got in more than one.
“Are you sure?” the other officer asked. He felt the seething hatred running through Gage.
“Yes. I promise to behave.” When they released their grip on him, Gage straightened his clothes and took a deep breath.
Alex and the other officers stepped back to give him a little room, but they kept their eyes on him.
The two uniformed officers moved to the door, guarding it just in case Gage wanted to run back up the stairs toward Cummings.
“Let me know if you want to have it at your place. We’ll need room to bunk up, but I’m sure the guys will be up for it.”
“Nah, keep the game at your place. I’m not going to disrupt the gathering with my foul mood. I wouldn’t be able to concentrate on the game anyway.”
“Yeah, you’d make an easy mark. You should host,” Alex teased.
“Nah. Besides, I need some time to seduce my wife.” He wagged his brows, trying to calm himself down before he took off, but it didn’t work. Driving when pissed was never a good idea, and he was most definitely pissed.
“Seduce? Isn’t baby number two still in the oven?”
“Yep, and I want another ten more.” He winked at Alex. The thought of filling Hope up with more babies turned him on more than most would understand. Gage felt a primal, feral need to procreate.
“I’m thinking she won’t go for that.”
“Probably not, but I’m not going to stop trying.” Gage leaned in and added, “Let me know what’s going on with that bastard.”
“Of course,” he whispered back. The men gave each other a one-armed hug and then parted ways, neither feeling any better about the situation.
The entire drive home, Gage wondered what Baxter’s plan was. There had to be something up his sleeve. Gage had seen it all before when he was a prosecutor, so he became more paranoid about Cummings. “Damn it. Get a hold of yourself. You can’t go home and scare Hope with your insane need for blood.”