Guarding Hope

“Yes. Apparently, the last time they came to your father without you, he lost his temper and shot Jimmy dead. He warned John if he didn’t come back with you, he’d join Jimmy.”

“Wait! I’m not letting him get anywhere near her. I don’t want him trying to kidnap her and deliver her to Cummings or Navarro.” Gage tightened his arms around her until he heard a little squeak come from her pretty lips. “I’m sorry, baby,” he whispered as he loosened his hold.

Dax stared at the two, knowing that Gage would do anything to protect his woman. As a man in love, Dax knew that look exceptionally well. Patting his friend’s shoulder, he said, “Don’t freak out, Gage. I’m not going to let him even see her. All we need is for her to give him a call like she suggested. We have enough to arrest him, but we could use a little more.”

“I don’t want her location given away.”

“Come on. You doubt us in this day and age? We’ll make it look like the call’s pinging off India or New York. It’s up to Hope how she wants to egg him on.”

“Good.”

“We’ll get everything set up. When the men are close to making an arrest, we’ll let you call. Do you want to rehearse the call?” Dax offered.

“No. I want it to come off natural. I have so much I want to say to him that I’m afraid I’ll snap.” Her strength radiated through her, making her feel ten feet tall, and both men noticed. “Luckily we’re doing this over the phone, eh?”

Gage sense the hint of fear she let slip and rubbed her arms. “Yes. I’d kill the bastard if I saw him face to face.”

“My men will set up in the dining room. Is that okay with you?” Dax asked Gage.

“Yes, that works for me. Do what you need to get rid of this fucker.”

“Come on, Hope. Let me feed you.” Gage took her hand and led her into the kitchen. Both of them had worked up a serious appetite for the day.

Twenty minutes later, they were eating their cold-cut sandwiches and sipping on some freshly made sweet tea when Bill entered the house. “Sorry, Gage. I don’t mean to interrupt, but the bull broke through the fence.”

“Shit. I’ll be back. I knew we should have fixed that small section before I came back in.” He’d left it alone because he wanted to check on Hope, and then Dax called him about the setup so he’d completely forgotten about it. He needed to remember that ranching didn’t have shortcuts.

Dax walked into the kitchen, stealing a glass of tea for himself. “We’ll be here. Don’t worry. I won’t let anything happen to her.”

“Thanks.” Gage grabbed Hope, lifting her from her seat with one hand around her waist, the other around the nape of her neck, and kissed her roughly before pulling away and walking out of the house.

Breathless, she stared in the direction of Gage’s exit from the kitchen. Hope had fallen hard and fast for her rescuer, and it scared her. She could lose him so easily if he got tired of the nonsense or if her father or Navarro got ahold of him. Would Navarro lose interest now that she gave away her virginity? She sure as hell prayed that he’d drop his plans for her. She refused to be with anyone else. Gage was it for her.

“Hope, are you okay?” Dax asked.

“I’m fine. Sorry. He’s distracting.” She smiled at Dax.

“Ha. It reminds me of the day he met you. We had to repeat our questions to him because he’d been thinking about the woman walking around the Market.”

“Ah, yes—when he thought I was stalking him.”

“Now we know that’s not the truth.” He tried to stop himself from laughing, but slowly his lips twisted up into a grin that evolved until he couldn’t hold back any longer. “Sorry,” he choked out, laughing. “I don’t know why I find that so funny.” He took another minute to get himself under control.

“I don’t see shit funny about this,” an officer said as he entered the house with a tool kit.

“Relax, Austin.”

“Whatever. I want both of these bastards long gone, but murder is illegal. So I take this shit seriously. We have to stay focused.” Hope’s eyes widened at his frustration. He had a real grudge against these guys, but she felt it was extremely personal for him.

“Hope, this is Detective Austin Brody—he’s with the FBI in San Antonio. Human trafficking is a federal offense. Where do you want me to set up?”

The whole situation was serious to her, but that didn’t mean she had to hold back her one source of happiness—Gage.

“We’ll take it down the hall.” Dax led the way, while Hope decided to make some coffee.

An hour later, Gage returned. Immediately, he hunted down Hope. He pushed the kitchen door open and startled Hope. She dropped the bowl full of chocolate onto the floor.