Bodyguard by Melanie Shawn
44
Savannah
“So,what does that mean? How are we going to use that information?” A lot of the time, I felt at a disadvantage around Gage and Bear. They spoke a different language. Not in the vocabulary they used. I understood all the words they said. But they had a whole unspoken subtext, like a conversation below the conversation, and I had no clue about that.
While part of that made me feel like I was in good, capable hands—another part of me felt frustrated that I had no way of keeping up on what was coming next. And now that I knew the possibility of reuniting with my father—my alive father—was on the table, knowing what was coming next, felt more critical than ever.
“I’m thinking trade,” Gage said, looking to Bear, presumably to ensure that they were, in fact, on the same page.
Not that it was a question that even needed to be asked. They were pretty much always on the same page.
“Yep,” Bear agreed. “Straight trade. Her father for his son. Kind of poetic, if you think about it.”
“Oh. Wow. I never would have guessed that was the plan. But, then again, I guess that’s why I’m not the professional and you guys are. It’s kind of brilliant, really.”
“Thanks,” Gage said, and flashed me one of his not-quite-a-smile smiles.
“But what is there to stop him from just, like…killing us the minute we walk out the door?”
“See?” Bear said, showing off his smirk. “I said on the very first night she had smart questions. Didn’t I say that?”
Gage nodded. “Yeah, Savannah, it is a good point. And we’re going to have to strategize a plan for that. But, first, we need to figure out what the plan is for snatching the son. That’s job one.”
“Okay. When are we going to do that?”
Gage hesitated. Then he said, “I know that it’s hard to wait, especially now that you know what you do about your father. But, you have to understand—rushing now could get us hurt. Get us killed. Get your father killed.
“We have to approach the end of this the same way we approached the beginning. Carefully.”
I dropped my head into my hands. More waiting was the last thing that I wanted.
“Savannah,” Gage said quietly. “Do you remember the three men at the cabin? Do you remember how easily I took them out? Well, a big part of that was because they were overconfident, and they rushed. Do you remember their bodies? What they looked like, laying there on the cabin floor? Lifeless? That could be us. Unless you trust me. I’m going to do everything I can to make sure we stay safe. But, Savannah—you have to trust me.”
I was paralyzed by his words. The image of Gage lying lifeless on the floor in some anonymous warehouse, a red hole in his forehead, his eyes wide open, lifeless, staring…it was too much for me.
I doubled over, breathing hard, trying to keep the contents of my stomach in my stomach, where they belonged. It was a struggle.
Gage put a hand on my shoulder and squeezed. I sat back up, my breathing under better control. It was easier with his hand on my shoulder, the heat and pressure reassuring me that the vision that had popped into my mind was just that—a product of my imagination.
Gage was still here, still next to me, still alive and well. And I knew that if trusting him gave me the best chance to keep it that way, then I would damn well trust him.
I nodded. “I do trust you, Gage. I do. It’s hard to trust you blindly when my father’s in the mix. You must get that. But I definitely recognize that you know everything about how to do this kind of thing. I know nothing. So, of course I trust you.”
Bear let out a short laugh. “Well, I wouldn’t say everything. But don’t worry. What he doesn’t know, I can fill in.”
I laughed. It was the perfect break in the tension that I needed. I smiled at them. “Well, then I’m really happy that you’re on my side. Both of you,” I hurried to add.
Bear smirked, shook his head. “Don’t worry. I know you mostly mean him. No accounting for taste.”