Chapter Seventeen
“What a pleasant surprise. To what do I owe this visit, Mr. Gibson, Ranger Savage.” Navarro stood in his foyer. “I know you’re not here to arrest me. Could this be about your woman, Mr. Gibson?”
“It’s good that you know she’s mine. I won’t stand for anyone coming between us.” Gage’s words were strong and deadly. After the long night of holding his wife and the precious cargo she carried, all he thought about was the threat that loomed outside. He wanted it to be gone for good.
“That’s fine by me. I already told Cummings that I wasn’t interested. She really wasn’t for me, anyway. She was supposed to be a bride for my son.” Navarro rolled his eyes.
“She told me that you wanted her as a mistress,” Gage told the older man.
“That’s what I told Cummings. I wanted an innocent girl for my son. Not some whore, but my son found someone anyway.”
“Then why didn’t you just say that?” Gage demanded to know with his fists clenched.
“Because I thought the bastard would have asked for more money. A man willing to sell his daughter to a life of submission would be willing to do anything. I thought I was fucked up, but he’s a whole other level of fucked up.”
“How am I to believe you?” he persisted, needing reassurance that Hope was safe.
“You can believe it because the second that she disappeared, not one of my men went looking for her, but if you don’t believe me, check this message.” He handed over his phone with a text from his son, Ignacio.
Papa, I don’t want you to buy me a wife. Stop that bullshit. If Anya never speaks to me again, I’ll be done with you.
Gage handed back the phone, and Navarro continued. “He went to our lawyer. He learned that I had a prenup for Ms. Cummings to sign. His woman stormed out after she learned of it.”
“Shit. So, you’re not going to fuck with us?”
He shrugged. “Not at all. I couldn’t care less. I like his woman. She’s a really good girl.”
“Good. I’m going to hold you to that.”
“No problem. Congratulations.”
They excused themselves just as the younger Navarro walked in with a young woman on his arm. He strolled in with power and anger on his person.
“You better not have been here to start shit. My dad and I didn’t commit any crimes.” Ignacio Navarro scowled at the men coming toward him. He pulled the girl close to his side.
“Trying to buy someone is a crime,” Alex informed him, giving him a deadly glare.
“Nothing ever happened with that young lady and me. As you can see, I don’t need a bride.” Ignacio hated that his Anya had ever been subjected to the idea that there was another woman. He’d never do anything to hurt her.
Gage stepped in Ignacio’s face and warned him, “Good, because Hope belongs to me, and I’ll do whatever I need to do to protect her.”
“Fine. That goes for my woman too. Anyone does anything to my bride, and it’ll be their head. I don’t give a fuck who it is.” The two men were nearly bumping chests as they stared each other down.
“As long as we understand each other, then we can get along.” Gage stepped back. Ignacio stuck out his hand, and Gage shook it in agreement.
“Drive safe, and if I were you, Gibson, I’d make sure that you watch out for your father-in-law.”
“I will.”
Gage and Alex walked to their vehicle and scanned it for bombs or bugs because there was a limit to their deal making. Once it was all clear, they hopped in and drove off. “Do you believe them?” Alex asked.
“I do. I saw the look in his woman’s eyes. She’s been bruised by the thought of my Hope and Ignacio together.”
“Yeah, I noticed that too.” He nodded as he drove back to Spring Water.
“Good. Now, to make sure we don’t have problems with Cummings is another thing altogether.”
When Gage returned home, Hope jumped into his arms. “You’re back.”
“I told you I would be,” Gage replied, slamming his lips onto hers. “Now it’s time to plan our wedding.”
“I can’t wait.”
****
They spent the next few days planning the wedding while her father rotted in a cell before the trial. “Any news on the trial?” Hope asked as she paced the kitchen.
“It’s going to take a while. Although we got the arraignment, these things take time to actually go to trial,” Alex told Gage and Hope.
“You need to sit down.”
“I’m fine,” she muttered while her hands shook.
“No, you’re not.” He jumped out of his seat and caught the coffee cup before it hit the ground. “Please sit.”
“I just haven’t felt good lately.”
“Maybe because you’re having my baby,” Gage stated. He’d believed she was having his baby for a long time, but this was the first time she showed symptoms of it. He hoped he was right.
“You know?” she asked.
“I’ll just leave you both to discuss this. If it’s the case, congrats.” Alex smiled and then walked out.
“Are you pregnant?” Gage ran his hands along her waist and then pulled her close. “Baby, are you?”
“I think so.”
“Then we need to check.” Gage grabbed her hand and then led her out of the house and into their vehicle. They traveled into town and purchased a couple of tests. Within an hour, the couple was celebrating the news. They were having a baby.