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Gage releases my arm and steps out of the truck. Before closing the door and approaching the man, he turns back toward the seat and lifts it until a compartment underneath is uncovered. With one push on a latch button, a drawer snaps out toward the gas pedal.
There’s a knife and several boxes of ammunition, but he doesn’t take those. My eyes widen and my lips part on the verge of blurting out a million questions. In one swift and entirely too practiced motion, he checks that the gun is loaded and stuffs it in the back of the waistband of his jeans. He doesn’t meet my bewildered gaze before he slams the driver’s door shut.
Judging by his swift and precise strides toward the SUV, either he’s overly protective when it comes to strangers on the ranch, or he knows this man and believes he’s bad news. I’m betting it’s the latter.
As slow and quiet as I can, I roll down the window.Justa crack. I know he said to stay put, and I trust him enough to listen. I’m not trying to escape, but that doesn’t mean I can’t eavesdrop.
Gage says something, but I can’t make out the words. His voice is as deep and low as I think I’ve ever heard it, a snarl almost. Based on his wide stance and tense shoulders, he wasn’t extending a pleasantry.
I scoot closer to the window hoping to catch more of the conversation.
The man takes his sunglasses off and smirks.
“Long time no see, brother.”
Chapter 26
Gage
“Skip the brother bullshit and cut to the chase,” I spit.
“The devil works hard, but your security team works harder. I finally find you, and this is how you greet me?”
“Bash,” I snarl.
“It’s Sebastian to you, motherfucker.”
He’s got a toothpick in the corner of his mouth and the same dark eyes I remember. My eyes. Our father’s eyes.
I scan behind him, across the road, and back at my truck. I don’t know for sure that he’s here alone, and I can’t take the risk of waiting to find out the hard way.
“Relax. It’s a solo intervention. For now.”
I scoff at his use of the word ‘intervention.’ Bash and the rest of the men involved with our father’s business tried for a short period of time to get me to come back after I left. It didn’t take them long to realize that I was never going to do that. They gave up pretty quickly. Until now apparently.
He takes his toothpick between his thumb and forefinger, rolling it back and forth. His eyes are narrowed, studying me. I can’t even remember the last time we saw each other in person. No doubt, I had a full suit and clean shoes on at that time.
I know he thinks of himself as an alpha. Always on top, always in charge of the conversation. He’s eyeing me just waiting for me to crack. It’s a power chase. Knowing he has full control over any given situation is everything to him.
But I’m just as stubborn as he is, if not more so.
So I remain silent while he stares me down, flicking my gaze back to the truck periodically.
This is why I never allowed myself to get close to anyone, let alone a girl. At this moment I’m not thinking of anything but her safety. The guilt of putting her in danger by letting this go too far is already starting to eat away at me. I’m not naive enough to think that Bash showing up here is a show of good faith or a friendly visit.
Somehow, they’ve finally found me after all these years and it just so happens to be when I absolutely cannot afford for my secrets to come out. I’ve worked too hard to keep them.
He nods in the direction of the gate, and a questioning brow quirks up to the middle of his forehead.
I shake my head slow and confident. He’s not getting through those gates even if I have to shoot his ass.
He sucks in through his teeth and nods like he knows what’ll happen if he tries to force his way in. Pursing his lips, he leans to the side to get a better view of what’s behind me. His long and drawn-out whistle fills the tense air between us followed by an amused laugh.
I can only hope Blythe was keeping her head down and out of sight, but I know better. If I had to guess, she may have even smiled and waved at him. Good fucking grief.
“I’ve seen all I needed to see now,” he says.
I lash my hand out, grab him by the collar, and shove him back against the hood of his car. He grunts at the impact, and I hope it leaves a bruise the size of Texas.
