Guarding Hope

He closed the door before he gave in to the urge and kissed Hope until they came up for air. They didn’t have time to waste. The drive would be a long one, and he wanted as much time as possible for her to get what she needed. He pulled out onto the drive and down toward the main road, receiving a ping on his phone alerting him to the fact that his security cameras and sensors did their job and picked up on his vehicle passing his ranch.

He released a sigh of relief, knowing they couldn’t get onto the ranch without him being aware. Halfway through the drive, Gage’s cell rang. “What’s up, Dax?”

“He’s no closer to finding her. They’re looking closer at the neighboring towns. Watch out. They know she had to get help from someone.”

“My friend Sean already installed the cameras and additional sensors for vehicles crossing the field. It works. We’re going shopping for some clothes. Something has to be done with Cummings. I know Navarro will drop off when better opportunities hit his plate, but it’s Cummings that will be the one looking hardest for her.”

“That’s right. We’ve got some petty charges on him, but if we could get more on him, we can have him arrested.”

“We’ll have it figured out. Lay low until then. I’ve hired my friends to look into Cummings and Navarro, searching for a crime.”

“What if I just call my father and get him to talk? I’m sure he’ll be pissed enough to snap and say something he shouldn’t,” Hope said.

“That’s a great idea, but we’d have to be ready to route the call and get Navarro at the same time. It’s a two-headed snake we’re dealing with here.”

“Do you think there’s a way to bug their house or something?”

“They’re too smart for that. If we found one of his associates willing to turn on him, then we can get what we need, but they’re too afraid. Rumor has it your father has let the cocaine rot his brain. He’s prone to violent tendencies.”

“I don’t doubt it. He’s known to have had them before.”

“He’s hit you before?” Gage asked, disgust etched in his words. His knuckles whitened as he drove on with a scowl.

“Yes. He beat me when he found out I looked up Martial Arts videos on YouTube.”

“Dax, I’m doing my best to stay on the right side of the law, but he’s pushing me. Snapping his fat neck has crossed my mind several times.”

“Remember, you put too many people there to end up cellmates.”

“That’s not the only thing holding me back.”

“You’re not your dad,” Dax tossed out.

“I mean that if I went to prison, I’d never get to be with Hope.”

“Oh shit. Well, I’ll talk to you both later.” He abruptly ended the call.

“What was that about? Your dad?”

“Um…”

“You know what? Never mind. I shouldn’t press. I’ve caused you enough problems without bringing up a sore subject.”

“It’s a painfully sore subject, but I don’t want to hold anything back from you. The short of the story is: my father had an affair, and he killed his mistress when he found out she was cheating, then drove drunk and crashed into a tree.”

“Wow, I know there’s a lot more there, but shit, that’s plenty. So that’s the reason for being a lawyer or the rancher?”

“I grew up on the ranch, but I hated the way people looked at us, so I changed professions even though I couldn’t give up the land. Now, I’ve decided to go back to my roots. There’s something peaceful about being your own boss.”

“You’re light years ahead of me. I’m excited to even have my own phone for the first time. There are so many experiences I’ve yet to have.”

“I’m going to make sure that you have as many of them as possible,” he remarked, bringing her hand to his mouth and kissing the back of it.

“Like teaching me to shoot?” They’d only gone out for thirty minutes, and she’d had enough after the first round, but she never mentioned it to him.

“I’m sorry that was cut short because of Dax’s visit, but we’ll go out again.”

She bit her lips and hesitated to respond. “What?” he asked, sensing she wanted to say more.

“Okay. Here it is.” She took a breath, then rushed the rest out. “I don’t want to. I don’t like a gun in my hand. It’s too powerful.”

“That’s fine, but then we’re going to have to work on your combat skills. I never want you to be unprotected. I’ll do my best to always be close by, but there will be times that it’s not possible.”

“You’re so wonderful to me, and I’ve done nothing to deserve it.”

“Even if…even if I didn’t want to bury my cock deep inside of you, I would have helped you out. You’ve been through hell, escaped, and saved yourself. That makes you fucking amazing.”