Page 123 of Kage

“What the fuck is going on?” The question was more rhetorical. Whatever her father was in the middle of had placed a target on Juliette’s back. My guess was that he hadn’t provided every scrap of information to the Feds. No wonder he’d contacted his old Navy buddy, hopeful to keep his reputation intact. Maybe that’s why Gray had been sketchy about providing details.

“Good question. You need any help?” Jarvis asked.

My gaze was skeptical.

“As I said, I might be old, but I’m not dead yet,” he barked, reaching under the counter and pulling out a Sig Sauer M-18 with one hand, a small automatic assault rifle in the other. “And I have more.”

Fuck. The man had a grin on his face.

“Yeah. I could use your help. Not much security on the property and a lot of dense forest surrounding the house. I had no idea I’d need to maintain a fucking fortress. Too many access points.”

“I can help you with security as well. In fact,” he said as he scrubbed his jaw, “I think I’ll have everything you need.” With the weapons in hand, he moved from behind the bar, narrowing his eyes as he glanced at the patrons inside the bar. “Sam. Ralph. Carmine. Out.”

“What?” one of them called. “It’s early.”

“Not today. We’re closed. Consider your drinks on the house.”

“You sure about that?” I asked.

Jarvis flicked a switch, turning off half the lights in the bar. “Son, I’m bored. Owning a goddamn bar sounded glamourous, but it’s shit. I need action or this old man will dry up. Let’s see what we can do.”

Nodding, it felt good to have someone in my corner.

We stood at the door, waiting until the three men walked out, grumbling as they threw Jarvis scorned looks.

I stood on the sidewalk as Jarvis locked up, constantly glancing from one side of the road to the other.

“Jarvis. Kage. Nice to see you both.”

It took a minute to recognize the woman. The store clerk from when Juliette purchased clothes.

“Grace,” Jarvis said as she approached. “I’m sorry, but we’re in kind of a hurry.”

She glanced down at the assault rifle in his hand.

“Does it have anything to do with that man looking for Corabelle?” Grace asked innocently enough, confusion on her face.

Curtailing my anger was difficult on the best days. I barely reeled it in when I took the two long strides in her direction. “What man?”

“He was tall with dark hair, wearing a dark blue jacket. He didn’t tell me his name, but mentioned he was looking for Juliette Carver. He said she was with a Navy SEAL. That’s the only reason I realized he was talking about Corabelle.” She was nervous, shifting her confused and fearful gaze from Jarvis back to me.

“What the hell did you tell him?” My demand was harsher than I’d intended.

She backed away and Jarvis threw me a look. “This is important, Grace. Did you tell the stranger where she was?”

“All I said was that I’d seen her and she was with her new husband, Kage Rollins, and that the two of you were living on Rockshire Lane.”

Fuck.

“Did I do something wrong?” she asked.

There was no time to answer her. I took off running toward my truck.

“Hold up, Kage. I’m going with you.”

There was no time to argue with the man. At this point, I’d need all the help I could get.

Juliette was in danger and because of my stupidity, I’d placed her directly in harm’s way.

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