Page 33 of The Flame of Carson (Blackout Security Inc. #3)

“Look, I came by to tell you to take the rest of the day off. I know you were out of the office the last two weeks, but you were still working.”

“But Chase...”

“No, I mean it. I get that you and I don’t know each other enough for us to be...friends. Not like you and Walt. But I am your boss and right now, I’m seeing my employee looking both pissed off and exhausted. Go home. Take a hot bubble bath and down a bottle of wine. Hell, make it two.”

Stacey felt her mouth open and close a few times, but nothing came out.

Did she really look that bad, that her own boss was kicking her out?

Ducking her head, she felt her eyes close once more.

They flew open again when she felt a gentle squeeze on her shoulder.

Looking up, she saw Chase smiling gently as he looked down at her.

Yes, he was right that they did not know each other that well, but in his gray-blue eyes, she saw concern and compassion.

“Stacey, I can’t begin to imagine what you’re going through, have been going through this last year and a half.

The loss of Jerry, your friend Krista being stalked, and now you are going through the same thing.

I would be a basket case. Go home, unwind.

You know what, take tomorrow too. Your work will still be here, and we have nothing pressing. ” He instructed.

“I better call Ethan then. Are you sure though?” she questioned.

“I’m positive. Trust me, you’ll thank me when you come back on Wednesday. As for Mr. Blackstone, I’ll call him and tell him what I just told you. Tomorrow, his guys can get situated and learn the building.” He answered.

“Maybe you’re right. It feels like I haven’t been able to think straight since this guy found me here. I normally handle stress so much better than this.”

“Yeah, WORK stress. This is anything but work stress.”

“Fine. I’ll go home. While that bottle or two of wine sounds great, I think I may hit my new Krav Maga gym first. That’s what I would have done back in New York.”

“Even better. Do that and afterward you can hit the two bottles of wine.”

Stacey started laughing as Chase grinned. “Oh, I needed that too. Thank you, Chase. Okay, you go on and call Ethan. Let him know I’m heading for the gym first then home.”

“Will do. I will see you on Wednesday and I’m positive that you will feel more refreshed too.” Chase stated with a smile.

He patted her shoulder then left her office.

Stacey shut down her computer and gathered her things.

After her first visit to the gym almost three weeks ago, she decided to keep a set of workout clothes there.

Stacey hit the lights on her way out of the office and waved bye to Judith who smiled and told her she would see her on Wednesday.

In no time, she was behind the wheel of her Maserati and pulling out of her parking space in the garage.

Yes, maybe Chase was right, and she needed to just step back from everything and readjust. Hopefully, beating the crap out of a sparring partner would help kick things off.

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E than was pacing his office. It was only Monday and shit was hitting the fan.

First Jimmy and Cain called and broached the same question with him that they had with Stacey.

Did Gage have any enemies? He agreed to meet them at a coffee shop near Blackout.

While they were meeting, Ethan had received a call from Chase telling him that Stacey was being sent home for the next two days.

This did not sit well with Ethan one bit.

He also knew it would not sit well with Gage when he found out.

“Ethan, what’s wrong?”

Ethan stopped pacing and faced his door where Danny was standing. “It’s a shit show Monday Danny, that’s what’s wrong.”

“Talk to me E. What’s happened?” Danny pushed, closing the door behind him.

“Jimmy and Cain called and asked me to meet them. We met and they asked a question I should have been asking since we realized that Gage was the target...”

“Does Gage have any enemies.” Danny said flatly.

“How in the ever-loving hell did I not think to ask that? If this had been some stranger off the street that would have been the first question, I would have asked them. Yet, I didn’t even think to ask Gage.

I never asked Stacey because she told us she had already been trying to think of her own grudge list and the NYPD and Feds in New York already asked.

While meeting with Jimmy and Cain, Stacey’s boss Chase called, and he’s sent her home until Wednesday.

He says she looked exhausted despite working from home the last two weeks.

She told him she would hit that new gym of hers then head home.

” Ethan explained as he started pacing again.

“Have you told Gage that part yet?” Danny questioned with a frown.

“Not yet. I’m still trying to figure out if he has any enemies without flat out asking him. I don’t want him any deeper than he already is. We saw what happened already and him being too deep caused him to have a fucking panic attack!” Ethan growled.

Danny stood from the chair and moved to his brother-in-law. Gripping the older man’s shoulders, he forced Ethan to stop pacing and look at him. “Ethan, now you’re the one getting in too deep.”

“What?” Ethan gapped.

“Look at yourself. You’re pacing, clutching your fists, second guessing yourself, and I can see your body is so rigid with tension it could break a damned brick if I threw it at you.

” Danny stated. He let out a sigh. “Brother, I get that you’re worried about Gage and Stacey.

This is the first time that one of Blackout has become the primary target. ”

“What about Lance...”

“No, that was different. Lance was just in the Malconi’s way on their path to get to Alora.

Not the same thing. This is different on so many levels.

You’re dealing with a ghost. You need to think here.

You and the others. You all know Gage, know his routines.

You would know if he made any enemies since starting Blackout and probably back when you all were in the Marines. ”

“You think it could be someone from that far back Danny? Hell, we got out nearly what, six almost seven years now?”

“Yes, now that I’m thinking about it. Whoever this is, it would not be your typical reason for a grudge. He would feel that Gage, and probably by extension Blackout, took something that he felt should be his. A job? A promotion in rank? Gage would have known this man and known him well.”

Ethan frown as he processed what his brother-in-law was telling him. It was an angle that he had not considered. “You may be right. If so, I need to make some calls. Thanks Danny. For...”

“Ethan, you and I have known each other forever. You never have to thank me for anything. I know how to get through your stubborn mind and vice versa. The only one of us Jameson kids that knows you better is Krista. I’ll leave you to get to work.

You want me to tell Gage about Stacey?” Danny grinned.

“Would you? Just tell him she’s fine but her boss wants her to unwind.” Ethan sighed in relief.

“Got it. You make your calls and after I talk to Gage I’ll talk to the others and let them know about our conversation. Alright boss?” Danny smirked.

Ethan laughed, “Yeah, yeah you do that.”

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G age sat his bag down as he walked into the house.

He stood there at the bottom of the stairs for a minute, holding an internal debate with himself.

Should he go upstairs where he knew Stacey was?

Should he stay downstairs and wait for her?

When Danny had filled him in on what Chase had done, his instinct had been to rush to her side.

Danny, however, stopped him and talked some sense into him.

While the youngest Jameson was new to Alpha team, the man had quickly fit in.

Someone looking from the outside would never guess that the six members of Alpha team had not always been together.

Danny had made Gage see that Chase had been right and Stacey need this time to clear her head. Completely.

Gage made his decision and headed, slowly, upstairs.

He found his woman soaking in her jacuzzi tub, sipping a glass of Pinot Grigio.

He smiled as he drank in the sight before him.

Stacey’s head leaned back against the inflatable pillow she liked.

Her body hidden beneath the bubbles, her eyes closed.

As if sensing him, she turned her head as her eyes opened.

“Hey, when did you get home?” she smiled softly.

“Just a few minutes ago. Danny told me what Chase ordered you to do, since Ethan was busy. You feel better babe?” he replied, easing onto the edge of the tub after leaning the cane against the sink vanity.

“Yeah, I am actually. A decent work out and wine. Chase seemed to know what I needed.”

Gage smiled and reached out to stroke her cheek. “I’m not going to lie. I was worried when Danny told me, but he made me see that this would play into what we’re trying to do. Plus, I knew you were okay, and I calmed down after that.”

Stacey gripped his wrist and squeezed, “Baby, this whole plan goes against our very nature. You and I don’t take being scared very well when we’d rather just whoop some ass instead.”

“Ain’t that the damned truth.” Gage laughed.

She giggled and went to pick up her wine glass.

Gage, however, beat her to it. He picked it up and instead of handing it to her, he himself lifted it to her lips.

Not taking her eyes off him, she leaned in and sipped from the glass.

As she moved, the bubbles shifted and hinted at her breasts.

Gage licked his lips as he saw just a hint of her nude body.

He pulled the glass away, leaned in and kissed her.

Their lips met in a soft barely there kiss, yet so much was said.

The desire, the love, the heat that was a constant between them.

“I love you, Stacey.”

“I love you too Gage.”

“I know. Now, why don’t you finish your bath and I’ll fix us some dinner. Then we can just relax in front of the boob tube?”

“Perfect.” She laughed.