Chapter 21
Twenty-One
“S he’s going to absolutely love that play center,” Gage kissed the crook of Sloane’s neck as she finished taping wrapping paper around the box. “Although, I think at first, she’ll probably have more fun with the bows and the cardboard box it comes in.”
Sloane laughed. “I thought it would be so fun for her with all the musical instruments. She loved that little piano I got for her room at the office. I mean, before I had to shut the office down.”
She knew her face had fallen, but it was hard not to think about the last time she’d been there, and how terrible it felt to have something she’d worked so hard for taken away from her. Until he was caught, they’d have to keep her office closed.
“It won’t be forever, Sloane. You’ll be back to seeing your clients face to face before you know it.”
“I hope so.” She bit the inside of her cheek.
“We can spend some time at your office next week if you want. It won’t feel the same as seeing clients there, I know, but maybe being back in the space while you work on notes, or billing, will help make things feel more normal.”
“I’d love that,” she smiled. “But no matter what, I don’t want to be sad today. I want to celebrate Sage, and Lily, and Gunner for making it through one year as parents. I already feel terrible they asked his sister to stay away because of the threat… because of me.”
“Red, look at me.” She continued to fiddle with the bow on the top of Sage’s present. “Baby, look at me.”
Her eyes met his. “They understand. No one is mad at you. No one blames you for this situation. Everyone… and yes, I mean everyone… just want you to be safe. So we have to close ranks for a while. We protect our own. Okay?”
She gave a weak nod. “Okay.”
Gage’s arms wrapped around her, pulling her into his chest. “I don’t believe you believe that, Sloane. Try again.”
She rolled her eyes. “Yes, sir.”
Gage groaned, which was exactly the response she was hoping for. “Are you trying to tell me you need a bit of a distraction before we go to this party?”
“Maybe.” She playfully dragged her finger across his chest in erratic circles while she bit at her bottom lip. “I’ve been thinking that maybe we could move on from voice guided orgasms.”
“Oh, yeah?” His enthusiasm made Sloane laugh. “Not that those aren’t my favorite things, but what did you have in mind?”
“Maybe we can work on some more touch exposure tonight? After the party?”
“I love the sound of that.”
“Good. But for now, maybe you could kiss me?” she whispered.
“You don’t have to ask me twice, Red.”
Sloane wished she could have thought of a sassy remark, or a witty little thing to say in that moment, but as soon as Gage’s lips pressed to hers, her mind went blank. His fingers threaded through her hair and she stood on her tiptoes, her arms wrapping around his back trying to bring their bodies closer together.
“Whoa.” Her breath sawed in and out of her chest as the tingles in her fingers and toes danced around like lightning bugs.
“Whoa indeed. Can we try again? But with you calling me ‘sir’ this time?” He winked.
She laughed, dropping her head to his chest. “I wish we could, but we’re about to be late to the birthday party. But I’d very much like to pick things up here when we get back tonight.”
“I like the sound of that.”
* * *
“…Happy birthday, dear Sage. Happy birthday to you. And many more!” The group of friends gathered around a tutu-clad Sage, who was staring wide-eyed at the big birthday cake in front of her. Lily stood on one side of her highchair, with Gunner on the other. Both had tears streaming down their cheeks as their daughter face-planted right into the frosting.
“Way to go, Sage!” Hawk laughed.
“I can’t believe she’s already one. Where does the time go?” Lily’s watery voice carried over the group as Gage turned to help Sloane finish cutting the sheet cake everyone else was going to enjoy.
The afternoon flew by in a flurry of sugary treats, wrapping paper, and more laughter and light than they’d had in a long time. He’d only had the chance to throw a birthday party for Mikey twice. The second time wasn’t even actually on his birthday. It was two weeks later. They’d gotten stuck overseas on a mission that went sideways and then upside down. It was a miracle he’d even made it home in one piece that time.
If only he could have traded that miracle for Melody and Mikey.
A hand landed on the upper part of Gage’s back.
“Thank you for being here today.” Lily smiled as she stepped next to him. “I know it’s not the easiest thing to celebrate right now while things are so scary with Sloane, but it means the world to me, and to Gunner, that you guys would be here.”
“Wouldn’t miss celebrating your girl for anything, Lily. I hope you know that.”
“I do. You’re the best uncle to Sage. Don’t tell the other guys I said that. Hawk thinks he’s in the running, but have you seen him holding her? It’s like he’s got a bomb in his hands. Still. I mean, I understood when she was a newborn, but she’s sturdy now.”
Gage laughed. “Yeah, it’s hard to ever picture him settling down and doing the dad thing. But I probably won’t hold that top spot anymore once you put together the absolute noise-maker of a toy Sloane and I got for Sage.”
“That’s okay. Seeing her smile is worth all the noise in the world.”
“Yeah, it is. Those smiles are worth everything, aren’t they?”
Lily nodded, and for a moment, silence fell between them.
“If it’s ever too much, being around us, don’t feel like you have to hide it. I know,” her voice hitched. “I know Mikey’s birthday is coming up soon. Gunner wasn’t sure if I should say anything, but I would love to get together to celebrate him. And Melody. She became a mom that day, and made you a dad.”
Gage closed his eyes and breathed in deeply.
“I’m sorry,” she whispered. “I shouldn’t have brought it up.”
“Lily, no. I’m just blown away that you would think of doing that for me. I’d love to celebrate his birthday. To celebrate Mel, too, that day.” He opened his arms and Lily leaned into his side for a hug.
“That settles it, then. I’ll ask Sloane if she wants to help me. And of course, your input is welcome. We can make his favorite food? I remember Gunner told me he loved ice cream, so I was planning on ordering an ice cream cake.”
Gage cleared his throat, trying to speak past the lump that was forming.
“That sounds amazing. Thank you.”
“Of course. All of our family deserves to be celebrated, even those who aren’t here with us anymore.” She sighed, and Gage watched as her brows pulled together. “How’s Sloane holding up? Every time Mae or I try to talk to her about things, she just shrugs and changes the subject.”
“She’s okay. Getting restless. Maybe going a little stir-crazy. But I’d rather that than her being in a dangerous situation. I feel like we’re in this insane race to see who can get to the finish line first. And his finish line scares the hell out of me, so the only answer is that we beat him there.”
“Have you thought anymore about what she asked?”
“Lily. No. I haven’t given one more second of thought to it because it’s the worst goddamn idea I’ve ever heard before. It kills me that she doesn’t want me to know that she asked, and it’s also killing me that I can’t tell her how reckless that type of thinking is. Anything, and I mean anything, can go wrong when you use someone as bait. We know almost nothing about this man, except that he is bound and determined to get to Sloane. He’s obsessed with her. To him, she’s the one who got away. Everything in his profile is just an educated guess by some FBI nerd who sits behind a desk and pushes these psychological evaluations of cases out like there aren’t real people attached to the words in them. Real victims. She’s already been a victim once. I never want to read her name in another report like that again. I can’t. So, no. We aren’t using her as bait.”
“I understand. And I agree with you one thousand percent.” Gage watched as her eyes drifted over his shoulder, locking onto Sloane. “But she’s going to want control. We need to give her something before she tries to take matters into her own hands.”
His skin went cold. A shiver rippled through him at the thought of Sloane planning something and not telling someone about it.
“You think she would do something…”
Lily nodded. “I saw a different side of Sloane when we were in that basement together. If she’s pushed hard enough, if things stall out and she convinces herself that her plan is the only way to move forward, then yes. I think she might just try something crazy.”