The idea that he’d not only had access to Sage all this time but could have killed her or done any number of things to her sent ice through my veins.
In the years we’d been in the military, we’d had some rough missions, but the brass decided the targets. One of the things you got used to was orders. Maybe you didn’t like it, but it was what you signed up for. When we got out, the guys and I had built Redhawk with the idea that we’d make our own choices about the jobs we took. Every ticket we punched, or asswipe we protected, was as clean as we could make them. Maybe some of them weren’t squeaky, but my conscience was clear. Did I kill people? Sure, but only the bad ones. Was I going to kill this Rick mother-fuckerr? Absolutely.
“Well, I’m going after him tonight.” Just as Wade opened his mouth, my phone buzzed with a security alert. “There’s motion detected at the back gate.” The cameras showed a figure sliding through the now-darkened gate, and the figure’s gait and build matched Cedric/Rick.
Grabbing the radio, I turned it on. “Ellis, head to the back. We’ve got company.”
“Copy.”
This hadn’t been a controlled party, and I’d let it get sloppy. That was on me. If Cedric were as smart as I thought he was, he’d have slipped in through the front when everyone else arrived. The gate had been open, but entering through the back was dumb.
Downstairs, Maggie and Opal were still sitting at the table coloring, and I stopped just long enough to tell her to go upstairs and lock themselves in the playroom. She’d taken one look at our faces and hadn’t hesitated, cooing to Opal as she scooped up the kitten and hurried her up the stairs, pulling Phiny along with them.
“Do you see her?” Wade asked as we exited the main floor.
There was no sign of Sage among the small cluster of people still hanging around the empty tables on the grass. Frantically, I scoured the groups of people looking for those red curls. “No.”
“Boss. The greenhouse. Sage is there.” Ellis’ voice came through the walkie in bursts and huffs like he was running.
Wade and I were already moving, weaving through the people still hanging out and chatting. We’d just started running across the lawn toward the first greenhouse, lit up like a snowglobe, when the sound of shots rang out like firecrackers, so loud that we both stutter-stepped before picking up the pace.
Holy fuck.
Sage
There hadn’t been enough time lately to work in the greenhouses, and they were a project that deserved my attention. Unfortunately, between the shop and spring events, it felt like my hours were whittled down to not enough to spend as much as I’d like in here.
Everything had been upgraded, and the filtration system hummed in the background. The overhead pipes dripped a little with condensation from the misting system, but they were on a timer. One of these days, I’d probably get a soaking when I least expected it, but they were now angled just over the plant beds, not over the paths like they used to be. That would cut down on the moss that had built up.
This was fast becoming my own little sanctuary in more ways than one, and it wasn’t lost on me that I’d even moved some of my beloved plants from home to Rhodes’ place. That was a clear sign to me that I was starting to see this as more of a permanent situation. My earlier thoughts about moving in swirled. Everything here felt like home. Tonight I’d tell Rhodes,and we could have a little celebration. Maybe find some leftover champagne.
I felt a little bad about slipping away from the party, since there were still guests on the property, but Mags was with Opal while Rhodes had a meeting. In a second, I’d go back and be social again. I just needed a breath.
Sinking onto a bench, I closed my eyes for just a second, enjoying the scent of the jasmine vines. Plants didn’t judge, had no hidden agendas, or ask anything of you. It was just one of the reasons I liked them. They were quiet company.
The door creaked, and there was a scrape of stone. Opening my eyes, I turned, expecting to see Rhodes or even Opal and Maggie. Smiling as I turned, I froze when I saw who it was.
“Hello.” Cedric entered the greenhouse, shoving a hand into the pocket of his dark cargo pants as if it were completely normal to be here. “This is something, isn’t it?” The light cast shadows over his fine cheekbones, and his normally lanky, easygoing posture was coiled and tense. Everything about who he was in this moment was the opposite of the man he was when he worked with me.
It wouldn’t have been unusual for him to be here today except for the weirdness earlier. And the fact that Rhodes was talking about him right now.
“Are you here for the party?” My voice quivered as I asked, but I stood, brushing my hands against my back pockets. It wasn’t a real question, and his sneer told me he didn’t think it was either, which made the unease in my gut spread even further.
He pulled the door shut behind him, and suddenly the large space felt small, and even the fern fronds and plant branches felt stifling.
“So, you did have a party. Wildwood Meadows is sofriendly.” The words were said with absolute disdain in a way that I’d never heard him talk before. “Small towns are so cute.”
Cedric stepped a little further into the greenhouse. Even as my brain tried to tell me that he was the same guy that I’d trusted, everything in me was poised to try to run. The only problem was that it was the only door.
“I thought I’d come by.” He gave an exaggerated look around even while I shuffled back. “I can see why you like it here.” He gave another look at the bed of plants directly next to him. “Is that the attraction? These greenhouses you loved so much?”
“What?” There was something brittle in his face now as his eyes roamed over me, lingering on my face and clothes. My Crocs scraped against a loose rock on the path. Maybe I was confusing things. “Did you see Hattie and Kipp on the way in?” I forced a smile. “She loved the bouquet.” I took another step.
“Always so thoughtful. I was willing to hold out for you. I thought you were different.” He sighed loudly as I took another step. “That’s what I loved about you. You were kind and pure. Untouched. Your skin so … ”
There was nothing I recognized in Cedric’s face. He was another person in front of me, coming ever closer, even as I sidestepped. If anything, he looked a little excited. I tried a different tactic, steeling my shoulders, and instead of backing away, I took a resolute step forward.
“This is weird. It’s making me uncomfortable. I think we should go and find Rhodes. You know my boyfriend.”
