Page 48

M addox

“This is becoming a regular thing,” Kage said the moment he answered the phone.

“Why the fuck are you keeping information from me?”

“What in the hell are you talking about?”

I was pacing the cold kitchen floor in bare feet, still without a shirt, but the fury was keeping me hot as hell. “You know exactly what I’m talking about, Kage. There are no coincidences in this goddamn world. Not one. We might not be friends, but you owe it to me to be honest.”

I wasn’t entirely certain he had any idea Charmaine had been sent to Durango to begin a new life.

However, with a population just over twenty thousand, I found it very difficult to believe otherwise.

Durango was the same city Kage had landed in being given a house by his late uncle.

It was also where Gray had found him when seeking his assistance on another mission that only Kage could help with.

The entire situation smelled to high heaven and I was finished with playing by anyone else’s rules.

Kage remained silent, but I could tell by his heavy breathing he remained on the line.

“Fucking talk to me. Now!” My voice had increased in volume and it wasn’t long before Charmaine stood in the doorway, staring at me intently. She didn’t need or deserve to hear me lose my shit, but I wasn’t going to keep her in the dark like I’d been.

“Just calm down, Maddox. Okay?”

“Then you better start talking.”

“This is about Charmaine Douglas. Right?”

I laughed bitterly, my tone turning sarcastic. “How could you have ever guessed?”

“Did you hear this from Gray?”

From the way he issued the question, I couldn’t tell whether he’d heard she was missing or not.

His sigh answered the question. “She’s with you. Right?”

“You goddamn son of a bitch. You knew all along she was living right there under your nose and you didn’t have the balls or the decency to pick up the phone and let me know? You fucking son of a bitch.”

“I couldn’t tell you, Maddox. I was sworn to secrecy.”

“By Gray?”

“Yeah, and by two burly looking guys in suits that paid me a visit. Before you ask, I had no clue who they were.”

If I had to guess, I’d say the men he was talking about were working with Gray.

He’d orchestrated having her sent to Colorado.

I honestly didn’t know whether to be enraged or grateful.

If anyone other than me could keep her safe, it would be Kage.

However, that didn’t give either man the right to keep me out of the loop. “Fuck this shit.”

“What is going on?” Charmaine asked.

I shook my head and walked closer, darting my eyes back and forth across hers.

She’d put on her jeans but still had my work shirt on.

And damn if she didn’t look incredible. She shuddered visibly when I brushed my hand down her arm.

“You should have said something, Kage. Anything. I’ve been going out of my mind with worry about her.

I had no clue whether she was even dead or alive. ”

“Yeah, I get it. If the situation was reversed and I had no clue about Juliette, I’d burn down the world to find her.

Gray asked me to look out for her. He mentioned you would continue having a target on your back because of Alfaro.

Okay? I don’t know any details about what the hell went down a few months ago.

Not my place to ask any questions. Gray simply told me Charmaine and her family had new identities and asked me to just pay attention. Nothing more.”

“Pay attention.”

“Yeah, I swear to God,” Kage said.

“You’re a fucking asshole, Kage. When I see you the next time, I’m going to knock you on your ass. Just expect it.”

Kage laughed. “Yeah, I will and I’ll deserve it. I tried to keep up with what’s happening with the case, but not a lot of people are doing any talking. Including Gray, by the way. I don’t know how much he’s been kept in the loop.”

“I think he knows more than he’s willing to let either one of us discover. Whoever he’s working with could be more powerful than he alluded to.”

“Don’t ask me anything about it, Maddox. Gray told me nothing. But I admit, I do find it hard to believe he suddenly came to the two of us out of the blue. Maybe it’s time to have a conversation with Stone.”

Stone Bellows, another Navy SEAL and a man who’d helped Kage get out of a very dangerous situation about a year before.

The man was rock solid and trustworthy. Together, the three of us had made up the three musketeers.

After the shit had gone down during our last mission, our friendship had fallen apart.

“Maybe, but not until I know what the hell is going on. What I do know is that she hasn’t felt safe since leaving her old life. ”

“Is she with you now?”

“Yeah, for now. It remains to be seen for how long it’s possible. She continues to feel threatened and I don’t think the case against the bad guys is going as expected.”

“Hmmm… Meaning no one wants the real truth to come out.”

“Meaning they might not have the real truth.”

“Do you still think Alfaro is behind this?”

I thought about the question, which I’d done a dozen times since losing touch with her. “Yes, but only in the beginning. He couldn’t care less if his partners in crime destroy one another. He’s the kind of man to simply move on and find another way to eliminate his enemies and expand his business.”

“Understood. What do you need because I know that’s part of why you called.

Unless you just wanted to hunt me down so you could issue that brutal punch.

” He laughed, but the tension remained between us as it likely always would.

We couldn’t turn back time or change the hate-filled words we’d said to each other.

We could only move forward. “As I said, someone who knows the ins and outs of computers and can break down coding while searching for information without being discovered.”

Charmaine cocked her head as soon as I’d purposely allowed the cat to slip from the bag.

“A tall order, but that was something you were well known for. Does that mean you need the kind of expertise only I can provide?” Kage asked. While I was still furious with him, I also knew what the man was capable of and right now, there was no doubt we could use all the help we could get.

Time would soon be running out.

“If you know a computer expert with both hacking and encryption capabilities, then yes.”

“What about Damon?”

“He provided all the assistance he was capable of doing. Enough to test the waters and stir the pot, if you know what I mean.”

Kage laughed. “Cryptic, but I think I get it. Whatever you obtained during your stint in El Salvador has multiple layers.”

“Exactly. Plus, someone tried to warn Charmaine before she testified. I think that person might be someone we need to talk to.”

“This just gets better and better. Let me call a few people. Don’t worry. I won’t tell them anything. But I think I can get you someone who can help.”

“Let me know. We’re going to need to move quickly. If Charmaine was being warned, that means the person issuing the statement had knowledge that her alternative identity has been discovered or that she was being followed while in DC.”

“Either way, it’s possible the bad guys will find you.”

“You got it.”

Kage sighed. “I’ll work quickly and at least let you know.”

“I would say I owe you one, but in truth, you owe me for not trusting me enough to tell me the truth.”

“Yeah, I get it. I really do.”

“One more favor.” I made certain she was paying close attention.

“Now you need another favor. Might cost you this time.”

Snorting, I was glad I’d made the call. Whoever had warned her could be an ally, but there was no easy way of learning the identity of the person.

Although I did have one idea. It was worth a try.

“Check on her parents. I know they have friends in town. Maybe there’s someplace they can go stay for a few days. Maybe a little vacation time.”

“Hmmm… I get where you’re going with this. I think I have the perfect idea, but it’s going to take a little finagling.”

“Good enough. Thanks, Kage,” I said through gritted teeth. I’d never been one to ask for anyone’s help in my life, not even during the time I’d served in the Navy. Maybe I was just a bitter man incapable of handling his own feelings.

“I hope I don’t need to say this, but I have your back.”

“Yeah, I know that. I only wish you’d felt the same.”

Kage sighed. “The past is the past, Maddox. We both need to let it go.”

“Maybe you’re right.” He was, even though I was hardheaded enough it was tough to admit.

I ended the call and Charmaine took a deep breath. “Do you think it’s wise getting someone else involved?”

“Kage can be trusted even if I wanted to hate his guts.”

“Then if you trust him, I’ll trust him.”

“Yeah, I really do.”

“Whatever happened between the two of you needs to be let go. If you don’t, it’ll eat you up inside.”

“You’re giving me advice now, lady?”

She smiled and pressed her hand on my chest. “Someone needs to. That’s obvious. Why don’t we go back by the fire? You’ll catch your death if you don’t.”

The woman could always make me laugh. “You really don’t know me that well. Do you?”

“I know you better than you think I do. You’re hardheaded, refusing to take advice let alone following anyone’s rules but your own. I’m surprised you weren’t court-martialed.”

Although she was teasing, she had no idea how close she’d come to the truth. I took her by the arm, pulling her tightly against me. “You’re still in danger. You do know that.”

“Yes. I’m no fool. I’m worried about my parents, but we missed something. Thank you for asking Kage to watch out for them.”

I only hoped it wasn’t too little, too late.

“By the way,” she cooed as she rubbed her hand across my jaw. “I like the beard. It suits you. Maybe I can start calling you a mountain man instead of a cowboy.”

“Don’t you dare.” I smacked her bottom, grinning when she squealed. “Or I’ll be forced to punish you.”