Guarding Forever

“Thank you, Mike. We truly can’t thank you enough for protecting our family.”

“Just doing my job.” A subtle blush filled his cheeks.

“How’s Denver?” Dax asked.

“They’re going to release him in about twenty minutes. It wasn’t as bad as it could have been, and he’s refusing to stay in bed.”

“It seems none of you can behave,” the nurse remarked, coming into the room. “Ooh, who is this little cutie?”

“I’m Mike,” he teased.

“I was talking about the baby.”

“He’s our son, Johnathan.”

“So adorable. I’m sorry to break up the party, but my patients need their rest.”

“I’ll take care of the baby.” Gage and Hope gave Johnathan another kiss before Mike took the baby and said goodnight. He was taking Denver too and they were going back to the ranch. While they were at the hospital, the rain had stopped and the power line had been fixed. All of the security systems were up and running.

“What are you two idiots doing here?” Judge Rivera roared as Grieg and Moran entered his garage where the judge had been working on his classic 1962 Corvette.

“Sorry, we’re in trouble and you haven’t contacted us. We need money. They didn’t die and that bitch Sparks tricked on us. They are ready to kill on sight at this point.”

“Well, who the fuck told you to run in the first place?”

“You’re not the one who got shot. You got to sit there and act like you’re all fucking high and mighty. Maybe, just maybe, I’ll make a call and tell them that you paid to have Gage Gibson killed and even had the evidence for Cummings destroyed.”

“Are you blackmailing me again? That’s how we got here the first time.”

“Well, that’s because you’re into underage girls. If only your wife knew…”

“I’ll kill you.” Rivera pulled out a gun and so did Grieg and Moran.

“Try it, you old bastard. I’ll take you out before you can take your next breath,” Moran said, having been an expert shooter in the US Army.

Without them realizing it, Mrs. Rivera had called the cops. She had heard her husband’s voicemail message from Grieg and knew he’d betrayed her in the foulest way. This morning she had set up recording devices throughout his favorite spaces, including the garage and his office. She listened in as they talked about the girls and she could barely stomach it. Grabbing one of Oscar’s guns, she moved to the garage, ready to put a bullet in each one of them, but as she reached the door she heard the Austin SWAT team shouting. Bullets flew, and she took cover in the house far from the garage.

Within a minute, the confrontation was over and Grieg, Moran, and Judge Rivera had been killed. The officers searched the house to find a tearful Mrs. Rivera with a gun in her hand.

“Put it down. We’re not here to hurt you.” She did so without an issue. They took her to the hospital for shock.

Over the next twenty-four hours, the story evolved and exploded. Everyone learned of the judge’s corruption, which made national news. Austin and the state of Texas had a lot of damage control to deal with, and that included trying to get Gage and Hope to play ball.

Epilogue

“Happy birthday to you!” They finished the song for little Johnny’s first birthday.

“Ah,” Hope groaned out, her face scrunched and her hand on her belly.

“Hope!” Gage was at her side. It was time for the baby, and from the sudden pool of water on their dining room floor, everyone else knew it as well.

“Go. Get her to the hospital. We’ll watch Johnny,” Grace said.

“I’ll drive,” Denver said, taking the prepared bag that had been in the front closet. They knew it had to be a matter of time. Her due date passed a week ago. She felt the pains start two hours ago, but she refused to not have a party for Johnny. Gage called Dr. Hart to meet them at the hospital.

Forty-two minutes later, they were in labor and delivery holding their little guy.

“Sparks, how did you get in here?” Hope cried out, clutching her brand-new bundle in her arms. It had only been a day since she’d given birth to their second son and she was going to be discharged that afternoon.

“It’s the only way I could get to you,” he snarled at Hope. “I want my life back and since you don’t know how to die, I’ve been on the run for too long. Not anymore.”

“There were guards outside my door.”

“People aren’t as observant as they believe. I got in here pretty easily. Your husband fell for the issue on the ranch and left you all alone. God, I’m going to enjoy his pain when he realizes he couldn’t protect you.” He laughed and pointed a .22 semi-auto with a makeshift suppressor at Hope.