“Me too brother!” Micha agrees before quickly following.
My heart warms at their protective attitudes towards me.
“As I was saying,” Levi continues, seamlessly after the interruption. “The only thing she would need training in before we leave for Blackfalls would be in firearms, but we can give her a crash course and make sure she only needs to use one under extreme circumstances, we will cover her if the situation arises.”
Before Thomas can reply I interrupt, “Actually, I’ve been extensively trained in using guns and knives, throwing knives are my favourite.” I shrug, and everyone looks at me shocked, “Brent used to take me on dates to the gun range, which I now realise weren’t dates at all, but training exercises and Cain taught me about throwing knives. I never questioned it, that’s how I knew to shoot the gun in the car chase before we left.”
They all share a look and I shrug again; it is what it is.
“You were in a car chase?” Thomas asks, his voice cold before turning to Levi, “I want a full debriefing when you get back from your job at Blackfalls, with everything that happened with finding Sage, it didn’t happen and it sounds like it should’ve.”
“Yes Sir.” Levi says respectfully.
Thomas nods before turning his attention back to me.
“I need to do this; I have to help bring him in and stop the damage his organisation does. I need to know how all the little parts of my life that I thought were separate are actually intertwined.”
Thomas sighs heavily and shares a look with Micha and Joey who appear back onscreen, tumblers of what look to be whiskey in their hands.
“Okay Little Ladybug, you do what you need to. I don’t want you to go back to your old house though, we have no idea how Brent knew where you lived, it is not a risk I am willing to take.” I nod eagerly in agreement; I never want to go back there anyway. He smiles worriedly at me before turning a severe look to the guys, “you do everything in your power to keep her safe.”
“Yes Sir.” They all sound out in agreement.
The screen goes blank as he ends the call and the room stills for a minute before the guys all snap into action. I glance down at my black jeans and dark purple tank top. Good enough. I follow their lead and race up the stairs to my room to grab my bag that I hadn’t even unpacked yet, before swiftly taking it back downstairs. Once we are all gathered by the front door Levi addresses us.
“Thomas just sent a text saying he has got a plane ready for us at the airstrip. As soon as we get to Blackfalls, we are to investigate the safe house that Jett’s team were using to see if there is any evidence that they were grabbed from there. I want you all armed now.” He says as we follow him down to the basement and through a door I hadn’t noticed earlier. We step into a room filled with a variety ofweapons. “Arm up guys, Sage help yourself to the holsters and sheaths that are over there.” He points to a separate wall and we waste no time in grabbing weapons.
I grab a shoulder holster and Glock 21 pulling the harness on then placing the gun securely inside double checking the safety is on. I grab a sheath for throwing knives and place the knives in it securely then wrap it around my waist for easy access. Finally, I make sure I have a bobby pin hidden up the sleeve of my long-sleeved top, in a dire situation it can be used to undo most handcuffs. Cain taught me that and always impressed the importance of always having one hidden on me.
In no time at all we are on the road to the air strip and loaded up. Levi spends the flight reminding us of the details of the case. I listen intently since some of the information I’m hearing is for the first time. Kai and Jax insist on squashing onto the same seat as me, each of them holding on tightly to my hands. They’re worried about me; I realise with sudden clarity. The other guys keep shooting me concerned looks as well, which I keep returning with reassuring smiles. At least I’m hoping they’re reassuring smiles. It’s an entirely foreign feeling having so many people worry about me. It doesn’t take long until we are landing. Each one of the guys gives me a kiss on the forehead or cheek before we exit the plane.
“Follow our lead Darling and don’t do anything that will put you in more danger than absolutely necessary.” Levi instructs and I raise my eyebrow at him, “I’m not naive Sage we’re going after a very dangerous criminal, there is a strong possibility we are all going to get hurt, even you, no matter how hard we will try to prevent it. So just don’t put yourself in any unnecessary danger, for all our sakes.” He takes a shuddering breath, “We would all be devastated if something happened to you.” He finishes quietly.
I reach up my hand to cradle his jaw and gently brush my lips against his.
“I promise Levi.” I vow.
He smiles at me, although his eyes still remain worried. We separate into two SUVs. Jax, Hunter and Levi in one and me, Kai and Mav in the other. It was decided it would be best to split into two vehicles in case we get followed, that way we can split up into two different directions and whichever vehicle wasn’t followed could double back and block the offending vehicle in, therefore trapping them and enabling us to bring them in for questioning.
I take the front seat at Kai’s instance and we are off. We’ve been travelling down a deserted back road for around twenty minutes, not the same as the one we used to get to the airport, when we left Blackfalls but eerily similar, when my intuition starts screaming at me that something is going to go terribly wrong. I open my mouth to warn the guys when the SUV is rammed from behind causing the wheels spin out as we’re pushed sideways. The beat-up truck rams into the side of our now sideways SUV and pushes us along gaining speed.
“Hang on Beautiful, we’re going to roll!” Kai yells.
I look behind to see his eyes frantic. I look out of my window and see that the SUV with Levi and the others in it has already started to roll, rammed by a different truck. I watch in horror, my heart in my throat, praying to whoever will listen that they are ok, that we will all be ok. Before I can witness anymore, our SUV finally gives way and starts to roll.
“Sage!” Maverick yells.
I’m unable to answer as the SUV starts to roll, the loud screaming, screech of the metal being dragged across the pavement adding to the terror of the situation. We finally stop rolling and I take inventory, apart from a few sore spots and some superficial cuts from the windows caving in I’m surprisingly ok. I instantly search out Kai and Maverick.
“Guys?” I say my voice panicked.
“We’re ok, a bit banged up, but nothing’s broken,” Maverick replies, “are you ok?”
“I’m fine.” I reply, unplugging my seatbelt and falling to the side with an oomph as it releases me and drops me onto the door of the car that is now flat on cracked asphalt.
We carefully pull ourselves from the wrecked vehicle and look towards the other one seeing the others do the same. My heart unclenches at seeing them all alive. We all take cover behind Levi’s battered SUV, his eyes run over me quickly checking I’m ok before he focuses again. The two beat up trucks stop a short distance away, we all draw our weapons in preparation as the men in the truck throw open their doors, pointing their own weapons our way.
“Hand over Sage!” One goon shouts.
