Page 25 of The Flame of Carson (Blackout Security Inc. #3)

“Thanks man, that’s nice of you.” Tony said, surprise in his voice.

“The pleasure would be mine.” Alan smiled, then turned to Stacey. “You ready to hit the mats?”

“You bet. It’s been a few months since I’ve sparred. Not since late August before I left New York.” Stacey answered.

Gage and the guys sat down again and studied Stacey and Alan.

Gage hadn’t seen Stacey fight, since his first visit to her in New York and she had brought him to her old dojo.

She had been amazing, and he was looking forward to seeing her in action again here.

He leaned forward and rested his elbows on his knees, as Stacey and Alan got into positions after they finished their stretching exercises. In seconds, he was transfixed on her.

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“D amn.” Tony breathed . “Gage, you didn’t tell me she was this good.”

Gage was beaming as Stacey reached down to offer Alan a hand up. “She’s even better than she was last time I saw her fight. Of course, that was two years ago when I first visited her.”

“Now I know why Ethan told me and Tony to pay close attention.” Grant added.

Gage stood and walked toward Stacey and Alan. “You were amazing babe.”

“When Carlos called to vet you, he told me you were good. I think he was holding back on me.” Alan remarked. “Stacey, you could probably teach some of my instructors a thing or two.”

“Thanks Alan.” Stacey grinned. “I thought you had me for a minute there.”

“I thought I did too, then you whipped out that reverse.” Alan chuckled.

“Good thing you’re not working for Blackout, otherwise Tony and I would be out of the job.” Grant laughed.

“I’ll say.” Tony nodded.

“Like I told Ethan, if he were to ask nicely, I might offer to teach your boys a thing or two.” Stacey winked saucily.

Half an hour later Gage and Stacey were in her car and heading out for dinner.

After signing the final paperwork for her membership, she grabbed a quick shower and Gage left the dojo.

Gage wanted to take her home right then, but knew she had to be starving.

He navigated her car through the evening Austin traffic toward downtown.

He knew the perfect place to take her for dinner.

“Where are we going? I thought we were heading home?” Stacey asked.

“I figured you were probably hungry. You haven’t eaten since when? Lunch?” Gage answered.

Stacey reached over and lay her hand over his on the stick shift. “You are too good to me Gage. I love you.”

Gage lifted their hands and kissed the back of her hand. “I love you too Stacey. I told you when you moved here, I wanted you to be my woman and I take care of what’s mine.”

They pulled into a parking place at Kirby Lane.

She had told him that she loved it after Krista and Ethan had brought her there last year.

After the workout she had, he figured Kirby Lane would be the perfect spot for carbs.

They exited the car and headed inside. Both so lost in their moment, they were completely unaware they were being watched.

Neither checking their surroundings or they might have seen the black mid-sized sedan pull slowly away as they walked inside.

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G rant walked into his house just as his land line rang. Dropping his bag to the floor next to his recliner, he picked up the cordless set on the end table. “Whitney.”

“Um, hi Grant.”

“Evelyn?” Grant asked in surprise.

“Yeah, it’s me.” Evelyn replied. “I’m not calling too late, am I?”

“No, no, it’s only eight here in Austin. Is everything all right?” Grant replied walking toward the kitchen for a beer.

“Yes, yes things are fine here. I bumped into Sean’s mom earlier at the store. She asked about you and I realized that I have not talked to you in what, almost a year and a half?”

Grant sighed. “Evelyn, I’m just as guilty. I promised Sean at his grave that I would always look after you. Yeah, I had a big case last year and then before that was the trial for Ingram, and now another one, but that’s no excuse.”

Evelyn was silent on the other end. After Sean had been killed, Grant had made a silent vow that no matter what, he would keep up with Evelyn.

She was one of the last links he had with Sean.

Up until a year and a half ago, he had called her regularly and visited her whenever he went home to visit his parents.

Guilt ate at him for dropping the ball on this.

He sighed again and rubbed the back of his neck.

“Evelyn, you sure everything is alright back home?” he asked.

“Today would have been mine and Sean’s tenth wedding anniversary.

I stopped by the cemetery this morning and well.

..” She fell silent a moment before clearing her throat.

“I was just missing him. Missing you too. I know you two were like brothers. I even pulled out our wedding video. I couldn’t help but laugh seeing you two that day. ”

“Yeah,” Grant chuckled. “That was a momentous day. You made him so happy Evelyn. I hope you know that. That meant so much to me, knowing my brother was happy and he was with you.”

Evelyn sniffled, “Oh Grant. Sean made me happy too. He treated me like a princess. Hell, you both did.”

“My mom told me that your party planning business is taking off. She was just going on and on about the job you did for dad’s birthday party.”

“I’m so glad she was happy with it. I honestly didn’t think I would be as successful as I am when I started this after I came home.”

“Why on earth did you think that? Evelyn, you were always planning all those family days for the unit. I know all the wives were wanting you to plan their stuff too. How could you think you wouldn’t be successful in Mississippi? Especially in Tupelo?”

Evelyn sighed, “I guess it’s because...well.

..Sean, and you, were always my shots of confidence back then.

After he died, I...Grant, I’ll admit, I was lost. You and he were my entire world.

I knew I could do anything as long as I had you both at my back.

It wasn’t until a year after I came home that I started to feel that maybe I could do this.

Then when I called you and told you what I wanted to do, you told me to do it.

That Sean would have wanted me to and that’s just what I needed to hear. ”

Grant sighed, replaying that call nearly eight years ago.

“It’s true, he would have wanted you to.

I know he would have also wanted you to use the money the Marines paid for it.

That way, he was still a part of it.” He paused, took a swallow of beer, and cleared his throat before talking again, “Evelyn, I promise, from now on I won’t wait so long between calls.

And remember if you need anything, and I do mean anything, you call me. All right?”

“I will. I promise. It was...it was good talking to you Grant. Have a good night. Okay?”

“You too Evelyn. Good night.”

When Grant hung up, he felt a single tear slide down his cheek.

How could he forget that today was Evelyn and Sean’s anniversary?

In fact, he had forgotten the previous year too now that he thought about it.

Hell, he had been Sean’s Best Man for fuck’s sake.

He left the kitchen, beer in hand, and made a beeline for his home office.

Walking to his desk, he took a swallow from his beer and looked down at one of only three pictures on his desk.

It was of him, Sean, and Evelyn on their wedding day.

Evelyn looking radiant in her white Cinderella wedding dress.

She stood between him, and Sean dressed in their Dress Blues.

The picture was taken just as he and Sean had leaned down and kissed her cheek.

Sean on her left and Grant on her right.

“I miss you, Sean.” Grant whispered to his silent house.

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G age stood near the stage waiting for the speaker to come out.

It had been four days since his panic attack and now here he was standing in front of the capitol building.

This assignment was going a long way in helping him deal, or rather not deal, with what was happening in Stacey’s case.

This kind of work was keeping his mind too occupied to worry about anything else.

Too many ways things could go sideways in a hurry.

In front of him, maybe a hundred yards, was a member of every major news outlet in not just Texas, but a few from across the country.

The Governor’s race was important this election.

After the mess of the outgoing Governor, people across the state and across the country were waiting to see what was going to happen.

The outgoing governor had been linked to not just prostitution, but it was uncovered during the Malconi case earlier this year, that the governor was a client of the Malconi’s and had also helped in keeping them from jail.

The DEA and FBI were both building a case against him.

At present, he was under house arrest and the lieutenant governor was also being investigated.

To say it was a mess would be an understatement.

“So, think we’re going to hear Ethan’s father-in-law’s name?” Helix asked.

“My money is on it.” Gage grinned.

After the case with Ingram, Helix had been moved up to Bravo team from Charlie team.

The man was good at finding out information on people.

He had been instrumental in providing the feds and the DA’s office with the information on Ingram, which put the man away for life.

Helix was about to say something, when he and Gage saw the capitol press secretary step out onto the stage to begin the press conference.

Gage and Helix went into work mode, keeping their eyes peeled for anything suspicious.

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