Son, I’m not your mother, you don’t need to butter me up. What can I do for you? Jack Layne texted back, and Gage chuckled at the reply. His father knew him well.
I’m reminding you to get Coop Electric on as a vendor as we discussed last night.
Already done, son. They’ll contact him early next week and get all the paperwork completed. Bids should come his way as early as the end of next week. Jack sent back.
Perfect, Dad, thank you. Gage sighed in relief, knowing Trent would be protected…at least professionally.
No thanks necessary. Now, this does mean I want you at Sunday dinner as much as you can be there. It means everything to your mom to have all her children there. Bring Trent and the kids. We need to get them used to our crazy crew.
I will. I’m in Mexico this weekend, but I’ll talk to Trent about the next weekend for sure.
Thanks, son. Be careful out there. Let us know you’re home safe.
Thanks, Dad. Gage ended the text session and placed the phone back on the table close to the laptop.
He spent the rest of the trip attempting to return emails, go over market reports, and check on the sales number from last night, but his mind stayed on Trent the entire time he worked. His silly grin stayed firmly in place.
As the plane descended, Gage palmed his phone one last time and sent a message to Trent. This is probably the last time I’ll have service for a while. I wanted to tell you bye and I miss you already. I’ll see you when I can. I love you, baby. Now I’ve said it out loud, I seem to want to say it over and over. I love you, Trent. You’ve made me the happiest man in the world. Have a good day, I’ll be home soon. Gage.
The plane touched down and Gage realized he hadn’t done one bit of the homework he should have done since missing most of the day yesterday. He’d spent the flight concentrating on Trent and not much more. Yet this was game time, he should have been going over yesterday’s videos, reading the reports, not focused on exactly what shade of green matched the true color of Trent’s eyes.
Gage needed to get down to business. There would be no time for him to continue like this. If he did, he could easily blow the whole report. Abdulla was cunning and deadly. It wouldn’t just be the report he blew, but he could jeopardize his men’s safety if he didn’t maintain his A-game.
Gage flipped up the blind on the small window inside the plane to view the remote landing location, an old abandoned airfield now overgrown with foliage. They were approximately one hundred fifty miles west of the convent mission. Two jeeps barreled up to the plane, supposedly his ride for the next leg of the adventure.
“Sir, we just got word Manuel is here. Is it safe to lower the steps?” the captain asked.
“Ah, my ride. Yes, please do.” Gage rose. The flight attendant had his bags ready, and he slung his equipment and duffle over his shoulder and grabbed his laptop before he made his way to the front of the plane. The hatch opened and the stairs descended. Gage stopped as he exited the plane, and stuck his head back inside the cabin to look at the attendant. He pointed toward the print media settled on a seat.
“Please keep those articles safe, I’ll get them from you when I return.” He dropped his aviators in place and ducked out the door again. The first jeep waited for him near the bottom of the stairs. They looked like a muscled band of Contra rebels waiting below. There were three fully armed men in the first jeep, four in the next, all wearing assault rifles resting within easy reach. They watched their surroundings as he climbed off the plane and stalked to the first jeep.
Manuel, the only one Gage knew by sight, lifted a hand in a silent salute, and Gage nodded, taking the last step, now fully entering Abdulla’s world. He mentally shed his life in Chicago, transitioning his mind, focusing on his target. This was his career, his passion. But Trent was too good for this mess, and Gage relegated him to the back corners of his mind, going straight into investigator mode for the duration of his stay. He dumped his bags in the backseat and used the sidebar to slide inside. Within seconds of his ass hitting the seat, they rocketed out of there.
****
“Daddy!” Em called, climbing up on his bed, launching herself across his body. “It’s my birthday, and it’s time to get up!”
“Em, are you certain it’s your birthday?” Trent asked, grabbing her around the chest, dodging all the limbs and bringing her in for a tight hug.
“Yep, now get up! We have to open presents,” she said, pushing away from him and landing on her feet back on the floor.
“Wait, Em, I need to look at you, see if you look older,” Trent said, lying back on his pillow, giving a big yawn.
“I do, Daddy, now get up,” Em said, pulling at his arm.
“You don’t look older at all, Emalynn,” Hunter said from where he’d climbed onto the end of the bed.
“Daddy, get up! I’m so excited!” Em started jumping up and down and Trent looked over at his alarm clock, it was six forty-three on Sunday morning.
“All right, I’ll meet you in the living room. I have to brush my teeth and start the coffee, and then we’re gonna open those presents,” Trent said, feigning excitement that sent Em barreling from the room.
“I’ll go with her and make sure she doesn’t open them without you,” Hunter said.
“Thanks, Hunter, my man,” Trent said, ruffling his hair as he walked by, heading toward the bathroom.
Trent brushed his teeth and washed his face. He took a hand towel and ran it over his face, then through his hair and almost wet himself when he rose to see Gage standing in the doorway of his bathroom, holding Em in his arms. Both Rhonny and Hunter started laughing at his shocked expression.