Page 135 of Hushed

Gage tasted the coffee and wrinkled his nose. It definitely needed a little help from cream and sugar. As he opened sugar packets, he imagined a pregnant Kenzie.

“Why are you here?” he asked Samuel.

He chuckled. “It’s complicated. Reggie and I didn’t exactly part ways on the best terms. He made some operational choices that I didn’t agree with in New Orleans, and I’d just started dating Erin. When you called me in about his former case, I knew they hadn’t fully read you in and you would need my help. I sat through the same funeral you did, and it killed me watching the rest of you go through grieving him. Lending a hand when you called seemed like the only option. Lucky for you, I have a very understanding wife.”

Gage chuckled and tasted the coffee again. It was at least passable now.

When their food arrived, he took the opportunity to change subjects.

Gage and Samuel had worked together a number of times over the years, but since both had largely retired from field work, they didn’t see each other nearly as often. Samuel also ran in business circles, as the owner of a billion dollar investment firm, and that’s how he ended up at Club Solitaire in Colorado instead of at Club Exposure with Gage. But with all the thoughts that Gage had been entertaining about moving, he wondered if it wasn’t time to change that.

“I heard you mention that you and Erin are going to be sticking closer to home for a while.”

Samuel grinned. “She’s almost through her first trimester. I wanted her to stop traveling entirely, but being chief of staff for a U.S. Senator makes that kind of impossible. Senator Ware didagree to Erin sending her deputy chief of staff on most trips once she’s closer to giving birth.”

“Do you think we’ll see you at Exposure more often?”

Samuel picked up his napkin wrapped utensils and put them down again. “Erin wants to. My overprotective ass wants to wrap her in a bubble until the baby is born.”

“I understand that. Kenzie and I haven’t even discussed kids, but when Reggie accused me of knocking her up the other day, I admit it put thoughts in my head.”

Samuel leaned back and smiled. “Take your time. Erin and I have been together for four years, and at first we didn’t think we’d want kids at all. Enjoy each other and establish a good relationship before you bring kids into the mix.”

Gage nodded. “Sage advice. Now let me run something else by you.”

Samuel straightened. “This sounds serious.”

Gage laughed. “Not so much. The truth is, I may have to leave D.C. soon. And Edith, my business partner in the club, wants to move to Colorado.”

“She’s dating Simon Darlington, right?”

Gage nodded. “That’s the one. She came and asked about me buying her out, but I think I would still rather have a business partner.”

Samuel laughed. “You want me to buy her out?”

Gage stabbed a forkful of eggs. “If you’re interested. Olivia, one of our founding members, is willing to run day-to-day operations, but wants no part in the ownership portion.”

Samuel rubbed at the back of his neck. “Let me talk to Erin. Something tells me she’ll approve of the idea. Where will you be in all of this?”

“It depends on Kenzie. Her work doesn’t fit in D.C. as well as it does in New York City, and I know Reggie is hoping to end up in New Orleans when he’s finally done for good.”

Samuel smiled knowingly. “Had a suspicion you were considering a move. I heard Kenzie did some graphics for the new club in NOLA.”

Gage puffed up with pride. “She sure did. Her skills are mind blowing.”

Samuel chuckled as he sipped his coffee and grimaced. “It’s good to see you in love, my friend. Some of us thought you would be single forever.”

Gage pushed his plate aside and stretched his arms out. “That was the plan until Reggie had to go and get himself fake killed.”

“He always has been a pain in the ass.”

Gage’s phone vibrated against the table, rattling the plates and silverware.

He snatched it up when he read the number.

“What’s wrong?”

“Maggie isn’t involved. Not in the way we thought. She’s definitely a victim. This is so much worse than we even imagined, Gage. I think I’ve got what we need to wrap this up. Come and get me.”

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