Caged, p.17
CAGED, page 17
“No fire. Just coffee…” I say as I continue walking. I hear Tera chuckle on her way to the bathroom. She seems to be in an ok mood, which has me, not for the first time, thinking that Tera is probably a cheerful person outside of all of this.
Noah nods to me as he finishes fixing his coffee and heads out to the truck where I see Gage pumping the gas. I figure that means Gage will be in any minute to pay, so I grab a large coffee, add some sugar and cream, and then make my way to the snacks. After looking for a second, I hear the door and I know it’s Gage, so I don’t bother looking. Deciding that I’m not really hungry after all, I head up to the cash register to scope out the magazines they have laying up there.
“Are you ready to check out?” Asks the cute attendant. I smile and shake my head.
“No. We are all paying together, so I’m just checking out your magazines.” I say as I look back down at the Good Housekeeping magazine I grabbed.
“Anything good in there?” The attendant asks. I look back up and it dawns on me, he’s trying to get my attention in a flirty type way, if his look is any indication. I blush and shrug my shoulders. Looking back down at the magazine, I pretend to be immersed in an article. “I’m Chuck.” I hear him say. I look up and he has that blinding smile once again and his arm outreached.
“Hey, Chuck.” I smile back and shake his hand. I decide to forego giving him my name in case someone comes by asking questions.
“So, what brings you to our little town?” He asks jovially.
“Just passing through.” I hesitantly say.
“Just passing through with…?” He asks. I raise my eyebrows in question. He gives an adorable chuckle and says, “Are you single? Or are you passing through with a special someone today?” He asks hopefully, and now I understand. He’s asking if I have a boyfriend. I blush. Before I can answer, there’s a deep voice that speaks up behind me.
“You ready to go, babe?” Gage growls. Before I turn, he has his hand on my waist pulling me back toward him. Too stunned to call him out on the name, I just stand there and nod my head. The store clerk immediately backs down, because c’mon, it’s Gage. Who wouldn’t? The guy has perfected the art of intimidation. Once we get our bags, the attendant thanks us, but he doesn’t look back at me at all.
Once we are outside, I speed up toward the truck. “Sophie, wait. Okay? I’m sorry for what happened in the truck earlier.” I stop walking, but I don’t turn around. He takes that as his cue to continue. “I just didn’t want you to get any ideas about trying to get a hold of someone until this is all settled. I can’t have you calling people and telling them where we are. It will put every one of us in danger.” He finishes softly. I glance over my shoulder.
“And in there? Calling me, babe? What was that?” I ask. He immediately glowers at me.
“I could ask you the same thing. Should you be flirting with the clerk and drawing unnecessary attention toward your situation?” Gage growls. My jaw drops. Is he freaking kidding me?! I wasn’t flirting.
“What?!” I screech. “I was reading a damn magazine, Gage. I can’t help it that he spoke to me.” I bite out. “You know what? Why the hell am I even explaining anything at all to you anyways? It’s none of your business who I flirt with.” I say in a huff, and because I want to see how he will react, I add, “Or sleep with.” He clenches his fists in response.
“Sophie. You’re really trying my patience.” He bites out. I roll my eyes.
“Whatever, Gage. I’m sick of your little mind games. Bottom line, you didn’t trust me with the location. I’m not a child, Gage. I wouldn’t call anyone until this is over for fear of putting them in danger. And for another thing? You are all growly right now because you are jealous. Plain and simple. Just be a man and admit it for cripes sake.” I all but yell at him. When he makes no move to say anything, I say, “Like I said, who I sleep with is none of your business.” I snot off to him. Intent on storming off in a huff, I don’t hear his footsteps gaining on me. Next thing I know I feel Gage grab me and whip me around to face him.
“Like hell it’s not my business.” He growls at me just before his lips descend on mine. Once his lips touch mine, the fire we have ignites. Not just in me, but in both of us. Gage started the kiss, but I’m definitely in it. I throw my arms around his neck as he squeezes me up against him. He grabs the back of my head and tilts his head sideways for a deeper, more passionate kiss. I moan in response. I nip and nibble on his lip causing him to growl. My skin breaks out in goosebumps. How does this man do this to me? One minute we are arguing like cats and dogs, and the next thing I know, we are making out like horny teenagers. All too soon, Gage breaks the kiss. We are both breathing heavy as we stare at each other.
“Like I said, it is my business.” He says in a voice thick with lust. If I thought Gage was sexy before, it really doesn’t compare to how sexy he is right now. I look back down at his lips and just as I’m about to dive back in for more, the ring of the gas station door has Gage stepping back.
“Ready, guys?” Tera asks not so innocently. As she walks by, she winks at me. I turn and hurry behind her. Once in the truck, Tera smiles at me. It’s annoying because I know why she’s doing it. I roll my eyes and look away just like before when she acted like this.
“Child.” I mutter. She laughs and buckles herself in. I give a small smile as I look out the window. I admire Tera. It’s almost like the further we get away from that hell hole, the better her attitude becomes. I can’t help but feel like they will pop out at every turn, but Tera seems to be doing much better with this than I am.
Once everyone is situated in the truck, Gage says, “Alright, Ladies. Get comfortable. We won’t be stopping unless we need to.”
Tera clears her throat, “And where are we going exactly?” Gage hesitates, which causes me to feel the bite of anger once again. He looks up in the rear-view mirror and we make eye contact.
When I think he isn’t going to answer he says, “Mt. Vernon, Iowa. We will be there for the foreseeable future.” When he sees that no one has any more questions or comments, he starts the truck and pulls onto the road. I look out the window, and before I know it, I’m waking up and it’s night time. I glance over and see Tera zonked out. Noah and Gage are talking quietly in the front seat. It looks like we are in the middle of nowhere.
Gage sees I’m awake and says softly, “We are about five minutes out, Soph.” I just nod my head and get ready for our next destination.
Chapter 10
When we finally arrive to our destination, we are all so exhausted, that we don’t say much. No conversation, which gives me time to check out our surroundings. We are out in the country, as evidenced by the dirt roads we were driving on for the past 30 minutes. The “driveway” up to the house was probably a good half mile from the main road, and it leads right up to a two-car garage. There is a gigantic two-story, modern farm house with a wraparound porch. Considering it’s dark, it’s hard to make out the exact color, but it appears to be white with red shutters with a beautiful lawn stretching out all around us. If I didn’t know this was a safe house, I’d assume this was someone’s home with their family. It looks like the perfect cozy, country home. I open the truck door and get out. It all hits me right then. The wide-open country smells. The reality that my feet are touching the fresh ground. Freedom. Tears sting my eyes as I take it all in. Embarrassed, I clear my throat and start following the others into the house hoping that no one saw. If Gage’s look is any indication, I didn’t get away with it like I hoped. I avoid his gaze and walk through the door he’s holding open for me.
I gasp when I step inside. Beautiful dark hardwood floors and a beautiful wood staircase off to the right greets us as we walk in. Looking around, it’s almost like this house is something straight out of home and garden. The entry way is both rustic and modern with a beautiful wood entry stand, complete with an adorable glass key dish in the shape of an owl on top and a mirror with gold trim on the wall. There’s a hallway leading to what appears to be a ginormous kitchen ahead of us, with an adorable gray plush carpet. Off to the left, is a set of glass French doors that leads into a sitting room complete with a library and a leather couch and two leather sitting chairs that are seated around a glass coffee table. I peer a little further in and see a dark wood desk right in front of a huge glass window where you can see the open country.
“What do you think?” Gage asks. I glance at him and then back at the office. Noah and Tera are already headed upstairs. I’m assuming to check out their rooms? I’m not sure, but how they could walk right past without taking everything in, is beyond me. This house is everything I’ve ever wanted.
“What do you mean? It’s absolutely amazing, Gage. If I didn’t know any better, I’d say this was a family home right out of a Better Homes and Garden magazine.” I say as I continue to look around, amazed.
“Well, we couldn’t set up another safe house on such short notice. So…” He says almost shyly. I frown at his words, but before I can ask him to elaborate, we are interrupted by an older woman walking swiftly down the hallway.
“Gagey?!” She says excitedly. I raise my eyebrows at the nickname and glance over at Gage. He has zero hesitation as he drops his bag and walks toward the woman.
“Grams. It’s good to see you.” Gage says smiling as he envelopes her into a giant hug. They are both grinning from ear to ear when they pull apart.
“My strong, handsome grandson. I’ve missed you. It’s been too long. You better visit more often or I’ll take you over my knee.” She jokes.
“Yes ma’am.” Gage chuckles. As if she just now noticed, his grandmother turns toward me.
“And who is this beautiful woman?” She asks with a genuine smile. When she turns her full focus on me, I notice how gorgeous she is. She has beautiful gray locks that are twisted into a stylish bun at the nape of her neck. She’s dressed both stylish and cozy. If it wasn’t for hearing the ‘Grams’ comment, I’d think that she was his mother. Her Sunkissed complexion doesn’t hint at her true age, but it’s her startling blue eyes that make me catch my breath. I can see where Gage got his eyes. Realizing that I’m staring, I hurriedly stick out my hand for her to shake.
“I’m Sophie.” I say in a rush. I can feel the blush staining my cheeks at my rude staring. Her warm, soft hand wraps around mine and before I know it, I’m being pulled in for a hug.
“I’m Sylvia, my dear. You can call me Grams, though.” I smile at the sincerity in her voice and glance up at Gage. He has a slight smile on his ruggedly handsome face. When we pull back, I shyly tuck a piece of hair behind my ear.
“It’s nice to meet you. You have a beautiful home.” I say trying to be as respectful as I can. Being in this home, meeting Gage’s grandmother, has me feeling like a teenager meeting the parents. I’m feeling awkward and nervous. This is a situation, I never thought I’d be in with Gage.
“Thank you, my dear.” She says warmly. Turning to Gage, she puts her hands on her hips and huffs, “And why is this young lady still standing here? Show her to her room, please.” She starts to head down the hallway toward the kitchen. She hollers over her shoulder, “I know it’s late, but I’ll throw together some sandwiches. Come eat whenever you are ready.” She disappears into the kitchen before I can tell her she doesn’t have to go through all the trouble.
“Well, ready?” Gage asks as he hefts his bag up. He starts to head up the stairs, but I grab his arm to stop him.
“Wait, Gage. What is going on? Why are we at your Grams?” I ask confused and a little bit worried. He continues up the stairs.
“Let’s get you settled, then you can ask all the questions you want.” I can hear the smile in his voice as he says this. Feeling a bit frustrated, I follow him up and stew the whole way. When we get upstairs, it’s hard not to see the beauty up here as well. The floors are all nice hardwood floors throughout up on this level as well. The soft cream colors on the wall with white crown molding just make this place all the more appealing. Sylvia has definitely made her home feel cozy. There are 4 doors, two on each side of the hallway. At the other end of the hallway, there are more stairs going up, and on each side of the stairs is another room. On the right side is another office space, and to the left of the stairs is a room with a big piano and some more bookshelves.
Unable to help myself, I ask Gage, “Where do those stairs lead?” He opens the first door on the right.
“It leads to the master suite in the attic.” He says turning to me. A master suite? This house just keeps getting even more impressive. Walking into my room I glance around at my surroundings. A huge king bed with four posts, sits caddy corner in the far-left corner. I walk over and sit on the plush comforter. It’s a soft lilac color, and the bed feels so cozy, I could literally melt into the mattress. Which, with my current state of tiredness, doesn’t sound like a half bad idea. I take in the rest of my room. There is a chest of drawers directly to my left right, next to the door. There is a walk-in closet to my right, and a rocking chair right in front of me directly in front of the window with a side table that has some books and a few magazines. With a few art pieces on the wall to decorate throughout the room, this room puts off a comforting vibe. I see another door to the far left of the room.
“Bathroom?” I ask nodding my head in the direction of the far-left door.
“Adjoining bathroom to the room right next door. Tera will be sharing that bathroom with you. Noah and I are across the hall. All the rooms are identical to this one,” he says as he leans up against the door jam. I continue to look at him, hoping that he will finally tell me why we are here. I raise my eyebrows when he doesn’t say anything. He sighs and crosses his arms across his chest.
“Sophie, this place was the only place we had. When we found out our position was compromised, we weren’t able to organize a new location. We had to act fast, and that meant making a decision. This place has the security we need, and it’s out of town and virtually off the radar. Grams knows what’s going on, and she was happy to help.” He finishes.
Comfort forgotten, I stand up from the bed and put my hands on my hips. “Gage, you are putting your grandmother at great risk with my being here. I shouldn’t be here.” I say.
He unwraps his arms and steps forward. “Sophie. This was the ONLY location we could come up with that was secure enough to bring you here. You don’t understand how vital your life is. You are a witness that can help ID so many people within that organization. You will be able to testify as to what happened. So can Tera, for that matter. Which means, your safety is paramount.”
I give a short laugh, “And, what exactly makes you think that they can’t find us here? Especially, since your cover is blown.” I shake my head at him and walk to the window. “I shouldn’t be here.” I say once more.
He sighs and steps up behind me. “Sophie. I needed you somewhere I knew you were safe.” He turns me to face him, and the sincere look on his face tells me that what I bring to the table in regards to the case isn’t the only reason he wants me safe.
“And what about your Grams, Gage. I don’t want her caught up in the middle of this.” I say softly.
He steps closer and wraps his arm around my lower back and pulls me toward him. He wraps his arms around me. A girl could melt in this guy’s arms. That’s how safe he makes me feel. “Grams knows exactly what is going on and what’s at stake. Grams is a tough cookie, and believe me when I say that she doesn’t take any guff.” There’s that smile that I hear in his voice again. Ever since we left that hell hole of a place, Gage has been different with me. Almost, playful and sweet. Is this the real Gage? Then a thought occurs to me. I pull back and look up at him.
“But don’t they know who you are now?” I ask fearfully. He hesitates before he answers.
“Look, Sophie. I’m not going to lie to you, there are risks with being here. There are risks being anywhere, but trust me when I say that it was our only option. It takes much longer than a moment’s notice to get a safe house set up. This place had all the security that we need. I’ve always been a bit over protective with my grandmother.” He finishes softly. The way he says it, makes me think they are incredibly close.
“You two sound close.” I say. He gets a soft smile on his face.
“Yeah. When my mother died, Grams stepped in and took over. My father was lost and never would have been able to do it without my Grams.” My heart aches for Gage.
“I’m so sorry, Gage. My parents died when I was a teenager. It’s just been my brother and I ever since. Well except for Alan and Layla.” He gets a nasty look on his face after I say Alan. He clears his throat and steps back with his hands in his pockets.
“Okay, so there are towels in the bathroom, and Grams shopped for both you and Tera today already. Tera knew your sizes from those training suits she had brought to you. So, everything should be a close fit.” He says curtly. He turns and starts walking off.
“Hey, what the hell, Gage?!” I snap. “What is your problem?” I ask. He doesn’t even turn around when I ask that. He just stiffens even more. I sigh feeling incredibly tired of everything. “Okay, well thanks for letting Tera and me stay here. I think I’ll just take a shower and head to bed.”
He doesn’t say anything. Instead he keeps walking right out the door and shuts it softly behind him. His moods give me whiplash. One minute he’s sweet and considerate, and the next he’s a jackass. It doesn’t take a genius to see why he’s pissed though. Considering I’ve seen Gage get jealous a time or two, I know he’s pissed that I’m still married. Honestly though, it’s not a real marriage. Obviously, I’ve been dead in my husband’s mind for a while now. If being captured taught me anything, it’s that I never mattered to him at all. And if I’m being honest with myself, I’ve only stayed with him these past few years because of Layla. Clearly that was a mistake, and it’s a mistake I tend to rectify as soon as I get out of this mess.
Walking into the bathroom, I gasp in delight as I see the gigantic gleaming copper tub in the center of the bathroom. There’s a walk-in shower with glass tiles and glass doors off to the left, and a beautiful wood vanity with a white marble top. I don’t waste any time. I turn the water on in the tub and strip down. The contented sigh that leaves my mouth once I submerge myself, is the last thing I hear before I drift off.
