Guarding Hope

“I’m so tired,” she yawned, linking her fingers and stretching her arms down between her legs.

“I know. Shit. I have a busy day tomorrow. I’m going to be gone from sun up. Are you going to be okay at the house? The hands and Bill will be around.”

“I’ll be worried about you. You know I haven’t forgotten for one minute that you’re meeting with Navarro.”

“I promise I’ll be safe.” They pulled onto the main road to the ranch and hit the security area that now lit up when someone passed it.

“Fine, but until it’s time to get up, can you hold me?”

“That is an easy request, my lovely fiancée.”

She snuggled her head onto his shoulder until he parked in front of the main house. He nudged her to her seat just long enough for him to get out and come around to get his precious cargo.

“Come on, my sleeping beauty.” He carried her into the house and to their room, gently undressing them both. She woke a couple of times to assist. Once they were both tucked into bed, he wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her back into his chest, spooning comfortably.

“Goodnight to you as well, my little baby,” he whispered, rubbing her flat tummy where he was certain their baby was growing.

Chapter 17

“What a pleasant surprise. To what do I owe this visit, Mr. Gibson, Ranger Chambers.” Navarro stood in his foyer. “I know you’re not here to arrest me. Could this be about your woman, Mr. Gibson?”

“It’s good that you know she’s mine. I won’t stand for anyone coming between us.”

“That’s fine by me. I already told Cummings that I wasn’t interested. She really wasn’t for me anyway. She was supposed to be a bride for my son.” Navarro rolled his eyes.

“She told me that you wanted her as a mistress.”

“That’s what I told Cummings. I wanted an innocent girl for my son. Not some whore, but he found someone anyway.”

“Then why didn’t you just say that?”

“Because I thought the bastard would have asked for more money. A man willing to sell his daughter to a life of submission would be willing to do anything. I thought I was fucked up, but he’s a whole other level of fucked up.”

“How am I to believe you?”

“You can believe it because the second that she disappeared not one of my men went looking for her, but if you don’t believe me, check this message.” He handed over his phone with a text from Ignacio.

Papa, I don’t want you to buy me a wife. Stop that bullshit. If Anya never speaks to me again, I’ll be done with you.

Gage handed back the phone, and Navarro continued. “He went to our lawyer. He learned that I had a prenup for Ms. Cummings to sign. His woman stormed out after she learned of it.”

“Shit. So you’re not going to fuck with us?”

“Not at all. I couldn’t care less. I like his woman. She’s a really good girl.”

“Good. I’m going to hold you to that.”

“No problem. Congratulations.”

They excused themselves just as the younger Navarro walked in with a young woman on his arm.

“You better not have been here to start shit. My dad and I didn’t commit any crimes.” Ignacio Navarro scowled at the men coming toward him. He pulled the girl close to his side.

“Trying to buy someone is a crime,” Dax informed him.

“Nothing ever happened with that young lady and me. As you can see, I don’t need a bride.” He hated that his Anya had ever been subjected to the idea that there was another woman. He’d never do anything to hurt her.

Gage stepped in Ignacio’s face and warned him, “Good, because Hope belongs to me, and I’ll do whatever I need to do to protect her.”

“Fine. That goes for my woman too. Anyone does anything to my bride, and it’ll be their head. I don’t give a fuck who it is.”

“As long as we understand each other, then we can get along.” Ignacio stuck out his hand, and Gage shook it in agreement.

“Drive safe, and if I were you, Gibson, I’d make sure that you watch out for your father-in-law.”

“I will.”

Gage and Dax walked to their vehicle and scanned it for bombs or bugs because there was a limit to their deal making. Once it was all clear, they hopped in and drove off. “Do you believe them?” Dax asked.

“I do. I saw the look in his woman’s eyes. She’s been bruised by the thought of my Hope and Ignacio together.”

“Yeah, I noticed that too.”

“Good. Now, to make sure we don’t have problems with Cummings is another thing altogether.”

Epilogue

Six months later…

“You’re so beautiful, Mrs. Gibson.” Gage stared at his wife from the doorway of the bathroom. She rested on the bed in just one of his tees and a pair of panties. At seven months pregnant, her stomach rounded out nicely. Gage loved knowing that his baby was safe in Hope’s body.