Page 28 of The Flame of Carson (Blackout Security Inc. #3)

Making their way up to the porch, the front door opened, and Debbie Jameson hurried out.

Once Gage was up the porch steps and in front of her properly, she let out a relieved breath and just like his own mother had, wrapped her arms around Gage.

Before they had moved to Austin, Ethan had warned the guys that once Ruby decided you were family, that was that.

To her all the members of Alpha team were her boys and she had no issues treating them as such.

“I’m fine Mama Deb. I promise you I’m fine.” Gage assured her when she pulled back.

“Oh Gage, I know you boys can manage yourselves, but that doesn’t mean I’m not going to worry when one of you gets hurt.” Debbie said, then faced Stacey. “Hello Stacey honey.”

“Hi Mama Deb.” Stacey grinned, hugging the older woman.

“Well, everyone is out back.” Debbie stated just as Celeste and Lewis pulled up. “You two head on out.”

Stacey and Gage made their way through the lovely Jameson home already decked out for Thanksgiving, which was only a little over a week away, towards the back yard.

The moment they stepped onto the back deck; the delicious smells of steaks hit them both.

Gage navigated down the deck stairs towards the large picnic table where everyone was seated except Nick and Danny who were at the grill.

His teammates, Krista and Alora greeted him and Stacey.

“You look like crap buddy.” Tony teased.

“Let’s see you damned near get your ass blown off and see how good you look pretty boy.” Gage shot back.

“How are you feeling?” Alora asked, sliding Gage a beer.

“I’ve been better that’s for sure, but all in all not too bad.” Gage shrugged.

Stacey slid onto the bench beside Gage. “I’ll be keeping a close eye on him as he recovers.”

“Don’t let him push you around girl.” Krista grinned.

“Me push HER around?” Gage gaped. “Fat chance there.”

“You got that right.” Stacey added, eliciting pelts of laughter from the others.

––––––––

––––––––

G age looked up from polishing off his steak to see it was only him and his team at the table.

A quick glance around the yard showed Deb, Nick, and his parents sitting on the deck.

Stacey, Krista, and Alora were over on the padded bench in the gazebo no doubt talking about the wedding.

He took a deep swallow of his beer and looked at each of his teammates one by one.

All of them had the same look. It was time to talk business.

“What’s up guys?” Gage asked.

“Gage, buddy we need to talk.” Ethan answered.

“Yeah, we do. Look, I know I am off the case, but this asshole is escalating. He’s all over the place.

First, he starts with just emails and flowers, steps it up by attacking Walt, comes to my house and now he’s targeting me again by damned near blowing my ass to high heaven.

We are two steps behind and enough is enough.

We need to get in front of this guy.” Gage stated.

“You’re right Gage, we do.” Ethan nodded.

“I may have a way for us to do that.” Tony spoke up.

“Yesterday, Elias called me. The information that Doug gave us was in fact legit. There is no doubt that he is here in Austin. Elias says he should have something more concrete for us soon. He thinks he’s close to narrowing down a search area.

We get that, and we can possibly find a way to set a trap for him or at least throw out some kind of bait. ”

“But he wants Stacey, we know that.” Gage argued.

“Does he?” Lance questioned.

This had everyone looking at Lance in question.

Gage thought over what Lance was insinuating.

Could they have all been looking at this whole case the wrong way?

Was Stacey really the target. Yes, contact was made with her, but all the physical attacks had not been on Stacey.

The first was on Walt and the last two were on Gage.

Gage furrowed his brow at this line of thinking.

“Why do you think Stacey isn’t the target?” Grant inquired.

“I was listening to the recording from when he called Stacey...”

“Wait! Wait one fucking minute. He called her? When?” Gage demanded.

Ethan cursed, “The morning he blew up your house, he called her at her office. I told Stacey not to tell you, not yet. It was the first time he initiated contact with her other than through emails. Tony was tracing it, but he hung up before we could get a lock. I told her that if he called again, I would tell you.”

“I then sent the recording off to Elias and I think that’s why Elias is close finding him.” Tony added.

Gage took a slow breath and released it. “What...what was said?” Tony glanced at Ethan who nodded. Tony pulled out a digital recorder and hit play. Gage listened to the conversation. “I’m still not catching your line here Hawk.”

“He says that “ I have plans and you play a major part in those plans.” He states that she plays a ROLE. If she were his target, don’t you think he would try to scare her?

He’s not. Even his emails aren’t designed to scare.

Piss off? That’s an affirmative. She’s a piece in his puzzle. ” Lance explained.

Gage’s eyes cut across the yard to where Stacey was laughing with Krista and Alora. A shiver shot through him. If Lance was right, and it was rare the man’s instincts were wrong, then who was... “Oh shit.”

“What Gage?” Danny demanded.

“Stacey isn’t this fucker’s target. I think...I think I am.” Gage stammered.

––––––––

––––––––

Y es, Gage had concluded that it was himself and not Stacey was the actual target.

The problem? There was no proof to back up his theory.

Well, no proof yet anyway. All he had was his gut and his gut was saying he was right.

He glanced up as Stacey came walking down the stairs.

Since she was currently working from home, she was not dressed in her usual business attire, instead she was dressed in faded blue jeans and a purple and black flannel shirt.

Her hair was pulled back into a ponytail.

He had to chuckle when he saw her wearing a pair of fuzzy green house shoes.

“You look comfy.” He smirked.

“I am, thank you.” She shot back, walking over, and sitting beside him on the sofa. “You were up early this morning, you alright?”

“Yeah... well no, that’s not really true.” Gage sighed.

“Talk to me Gage.”

“I...” Gage paused. Making a quick decision, he reached over onto the coffee table and picked up his cell. “Hey boss, do you think you could come over here?”

Stacey was now really confused. What was going on?

It had not escaped her that yesterday Gage had been quiet.

Hell, she had noticed something was off on the drive back to the house after the get together at the Jameson’s on Sunday after his discharge from the hospital.

Now, her nerves were starting to get the better of her and she did not like it one damned bit.

When Gage hung up, she started to speak but he just lifted a hand to silence her.

“Stace, babe, I want Ethan here. In fact, I think it would be best if he tells you. Plus, he texted me last night saying that Elias found something so it may or may not validate this.” Gage said, taking her hands in his.

“Gage, I’m starting to get worried now.” Stacey voiced.

“Let’s just wait till Ethan gets here, okay?” Gage pleaded.

With no other choice, she sighed and nodded. “I’ll make some coffee then.”

Gage watched as Stacey walked from the living room toward the kitchen.

He hated that he had kept this from her for the last two days, but at the same time he had felt it was for the best. Or was it?

What would she say when Ethan told her what Gage theorized?

He only hoped that when she was told that Stacey did not haul off and kick his ass six ways from Sunday.

Stacey walked back into the living room a few minutes later.

“Why do I get the feeling I am not going to like whatever it is that Ethan is going to tell me?” she asked.

“Because you probably aren’t babe.” Gage answered, looking her dead in the eye.

“I’m starting to get pissed off here Gage.” She warned.

“I can see that...”

He was interrupted by the doorbell. Stacey pushed off the couch and walked with a purpose toward the door.

When she opened it, she found not only Ethan, but Grant and Lance as well.

Pursing her lips, she turned on her heel and walked away.

Oh, she was really getting pissed off now.

She could feel it building. Knowing she needed to be somewhat calm, she headed for the kitchen.

She set about placing four mugs, sugar, cream for Grant, and the coffee pot on a serving tray before returning to the living room.

Ethan and Grant were seated in the two armchairs, Lance had pulled over the chair from her writing desk, and Gage was still on the sofa.

She sat the tray on the coffee table and set about fixing her own mug.

“Now that we’re all here, someone better start talking.” Stacey stated.

“Did Gage tell you we talked on Saturday?” Ethan questioned.

“Yes, but he didn’t tell me much. Care to fill me in on just how far I’m going to kick his ass for staying tight lipped about this?” Stacey answered before taking a sip of her coffee.

“Damn it.” Ethan hissed, glancing over at Lance.

“Fine,” Lance sighed with an eye roll. “On Sunday, I said that I didn’t think that you were the actual target of this guy.

My basis for that was the phone call. Now, when Gage heard about that, he got ticked, but he calmed down and asked what was said.

Tony pulled out the recorder and played it for him.

When your boyfriend, not to mention the others, looked confused I elaborated.

This fucker’s emails are designed more to make you angry rather than scare you. ”

“Okay, I agree there.” Stacey nodded.

“When you pay attention to what he said on the call, he called you a major part in his plan.” Lance added.