When he still didn’t say anything, Travis elaborated.“A conspiracy that goes back two decades and involves Kylie’s mother.”
Again, Gage simply stared as though he was processing the information and it was making sense.
“Gage?”
“Hmm?”
“Why aren’t you rantin’ that this is pure horseshit?”
Gage turned away from him.
“Do you know somethin’ I don’t?”
“No,” Gage answered quickly, honestly.“But it doesn’t sound as absurd as it should.Takin’ down Max, I mean.Not the part about Kylie.That’s…”
Travis frowned.“Wishful thinkin’?”
“Exactly.”
Travis could tell there was something Gage wasn’t saying, so he waited him out by sitting on the arm of the couch.A minute passed.Two.
When Gage turned back to face him, Travis expected him to speak, but he didn’t.He knew better than to rush him when he got like this.Unlike Travis, Gage preferred to think through his thoughts before they shot out of his mouth.And based on the crease in his forehead, he was considering his next words carefully.
His patience was rewarded when Gage met his gaze and said, “Remember back when you found me workin’ undercover at Club Destiny?”
Travis didn’t have to think too hard on that.He remembered it as if it were yesterday.
“Travis, come over here.I’d like you to meet someone,” Logan McCoy said.
Without hesitation, Travis joined him.
“Travis, I’d like to introduce you to the newest member of the temporarily disbanded club.Chance Reed, meet Travis Walker.If you like our club, you’re going to want to get to know this man personally.”
“Chance Reed, huh?”Travis did his best to hide the heat churning in his veins.“Interesting, considering all this time I thought your name was Gage Matthews.”
“What about it?”he asked Gage now.
Gage scratched the side of his neck.“Back then, when I was workin’ that case, there was a rumor of some rogue FBI agents lookin’ to bring down the Southern Boy Mafia.They thought the senator had ties to the mob and asked if I’d look into it.”
“Did you?”
“Not officially, no.”Gage tucked his hands in his pockets.“I was ordered not to work beyond the scope of my case.Since takin’ down the senator was key, I did my best to stay in my lane.”
Travis considered that for a moment.
“The group called themselves Censorious,” Gage continued.
Travis frowned.He’d heard that name before, but he wasn’t sure where.Then again, he met all sorts of people, considering he owned and operated one of the most prestigious fetish resorts in the country.
“Is that who Brantley’s goin’ after?”Gage prompted.
Travis shrugged.“I honestly don’t know.I was able to glimpse a bit of information, but I was too shaken up to stick around.”
“I want to talk to Brantley.”
Raising his eyebrows, Travis stared at his husband.“About what exactly?”
Gage took a step toward him.“I don’t believe for a second that Kylie’s alive, Travis.I wish I could, but I saw her.”
Travis had, too.He’d seen her lying still and cold on that table.He shook his head to dislodge the memory.Whenever he thought about it, his entire body threatened to shut down.
“But I’d like to see what they’ve got,” Gage continued.“If they’re workin’ on takin’ down Censorious, maybe I can help.”
Travis was surprised by the request, although he wasn’t sure why.At his very core, Gage was the sort of man who wanted to take down the bad in the world.It was a wonder they’d made it this far together since they both knew Travis walked a very fine line between right and wrong.And there were times when he knowingly stepped over.However, he kept those instances to himself.No sense rocking the boat any more than he did on a regular day.
“I think they were headin’ to Dallas at some point.”
“Call ’em.If they haven’t left, I want to go over there.”
Since he couldn’t very well tell Gage no, Travis grabbed his cell phone and made the call.
