Page 31 of Forbidden Secrets
He jammed his feet into his boots and bolted out the door, leaving a whimpering Pancake locked inside.Phone to his ear as he ran, he called Melanie.She picked up as he hit the bridge over the creek.
“Hello?”
“Melanie, listen carefully.Go into your bathroom and lock the door.There are two men behind your house who look like trouble.I called 9-1-1 and am on my way.”
“Are they armed?”
He felt a flicker of appreciation.No panic, but sharp thinking.
“Not that I saw, but that doesn’t mean they’re not carrying.”
“I’m going to look out the window and—”
“Melanie.Don’t.”He slowed his pace as the trees thinned.“Do what I said.Now.I don’t have time to argue, and I can’t afford to worry about you while I’m dealing with these dirtbags.”
A beat of silence.Then a sigh.
“Dammit.”She released a heavy sigh.“Okay.I want to take care of myself, but I’m not FBI trained and I’m not stupid.”
He got that.Wanting to handle your own shit was hardwired into him too.Thank god she was smart enough to know when to stand down.
Over the phone, he heard a door shut.
“I’m in the bathroom,” she whispered.“The door’s locked.I grabbed a hardback book.It’s the only heavy thing I could find.You’d better call out if it’s you coming through this door, because I’m swinging for the fences.”
“That’s my girl.”
“I think I hear someone,” she breathed.“Be careful, Gage.”
“I will.”
The call disconnected.He estimated it had been less than eight minutes since he’d first seen the two men—but now neither was visible.
Staying low, he moved cautiously across the open stretch between their houses, eyes scanning from the barn to the back of the house.
The sliding door stood wide open.
CHAPTER EIGHT
Fuck.
Gage could wait for the cavalry, but help was still ten minutes out, maybe more.That was too long with Melanie in danger.Weapon in hand, he crept to the door and slipped silently inside.
The kitchen was empty.A few dishes in a drainer.Kid art was stuck on the fridge with heart-shaped magnets.
Heavy footsteps sounded from the front of the house.
Gage ducked behind a dividing wall as one of the intruders appeared.Black Hat, the one he’d seen peering through the windows.The man passed within arm’s reach, heading down the short hallway.
Gage stepped in behind him, voice low and commanding.
“Stop.Don’t move.Put your hands behind your head and get on your knees.I’ve got a Glock aimed dead center on your back.”
The man froze mid-stride.
Gage’s voice sharpened.“You so much as twitch wrong, I shoot.You follow my directions, you live.Hands behind your head.Now.”
“Shit.”The word was full of reluctant defeat.Dude dropped to his knees.
