SAGE (8 page)

“No Darlin. We’re working some shit out.”

I glanced at Scott. 

He motioned to his men.

They put away their guns.

I tucked the gun I had in the back of my pants.

“Now can we talk?” Scott asked her.

Sage walked over to me.

I caressed her waist.

She wiped the blood from my lip.

I winked at her. 

Scott didn’t like our intimate exchange.

“You can talk now.”

She glanced back and her hair fell over her shoulder.

She turned back to me.

Sage gave me her loyalty like always.

Scott didn’t like it but seemed grateful to speak. 

Yeah a woman is behind this.

“Well I wanted to tell you both.”

He stared at me. “What the job would be.” 

Sage cuddled up to me. “So tell us.”

Her lips brushed my neck.

I stared at Scott. 

Yeah man, she knows where it’s good at. 

He cleared his throat. 

“It’s bank robbery.”

I watched her.

It would be her call.

This was her brother’s life on the line.

She took a deep breath. 

“Fuck this.”

She grabbed my hand.

We went inside the cabin.

Scott followed us.

Sage tossed stuff into her overnight bag.

Yeah she was done with this.  

Scott glanced at me.

He didn’t know how bad things were about to get.

I’ll make sure she gets what she wants either way.

“How will you survive with no money?” 

Scott told her. “Where will you go?”

I shook my head.

Yeah it’s all downhill from here

CHAPTER TEN

SAGE

I went from zero to sixty quick.

I turned around. “What did you say?” 

Scott paused and then answered. “I said…”

“I’ll punch you in the fucking mouth.” I told him.

I shook my head.

This asshole was about to repeat it.

I turned around and packed up.

“Sage...” 

“Shut the fuck up Scott.”  

I glanced over my shoulder.

“I know you like when I tell you what to do.” 

Ramsey couldn’t stop laughing.

I have anger problems.

Yes, I’m aware but this shit here. 

I tried to breathe through it.

“Well you don’t have money.” 

I spun around.  “Yeah, keep the money and kill Billy.” 

I grabbed my stuff. “Banks are federal. The sentence will start at ten years. I don’t need this.”

“Your boyfriend. “ Scott motioned to Ramsey.

“Will get tired of you.” 

Ramsey choked him up.

“The Diner!”  Scott coughed.

“I know about your friends!”

Ramsey glanced at me.

He saw it in my face.

He dropped Scott and then pulled out the gun.

“If you kill me, people will visit Miles, Junior, Shawna, Mallory, Cindy, and those working girls back there in Oklahoma.” Scott straightened his tie.

I fell into a quiet rage.

Scott glanced at me.

“Billy didn’t tell me. I tracked the signal when he called you. The last tower the signal hit was near the truck stop. I didn’t think you would be there. I had someone check the diner. The girls miss you.”

“Ramsey please give me the gun.”

“No Sweetheart.”

“Well, last night Scott told me if I was important he would’ve heard of me. This wasn’t about Billy.”

Ramsey smacked Scott. 

“Wait!” Scott told him.

“Give me a name.”

Ramsey put the gun barrel under Scott’s chin. 

“Milo told me about the last job they did. I asked Billy to contact you. He said we didn’t need you. He could do it. I tested him with the painting. He failed.” 

“Ramsey now can I have the gun.”   I asked.

“I’ll kill him for you Sweetheart.”

“It’s true!” Scott told me. “I wanted Ramsey for the job from the start. Billy told me you had money. I decided to use that. I didn’t know you two had history.”

“Ramsey.” I said softly.

“Get the fuck out.”  Ramsey told him.

“I’ll be outside.”

Scott said it like he had a choice. 

The door closed. 

“You’ll leave with Billy.” Ramsey said.

“I’ll send men to protect your friends.”

“Please don’t do this.” My eyes watered.

He gave me a tender look. 

I felt weak at the thought of losing him.

“Hey.”  Ramsey grabbed me.

“Listen, when I went to see Billy the men called Scott. There was a woman in the background. Last night the bartender told me Scott was with a woman the last time she saw him.”

“That’s why you thought he was with me yesterday.” 

“Yeah, Scott’s not in charge.”

“Why does she want you?”

He smiled at the hint of jealousy in my voice.

“I’ve slept with plenty of women and beat up a lot of men. I don’t know. I’ll find out but I need you safe.”

His phone vibrated it. 

He glanced at the message.

“It’s Brian. I have to call him. He went to see Milo.”

He gave me the keys.

“What’s the name of the diner?”

I grabbed my shoulder bag.

“For Miles and Miles.”

Ramsey picked up my overnight bag.

“You know I won’t let you carry it.” 

He put the phone to his ear.

“Go on.” He kissed me. I’ll be right behind you.”  

I left the cabin.

Scott waited on the porch.

He tried to speak and I walked past him.

I went to the car.

It was vintage and perfect for us. 

I ran my hand along the side.

It knew it was registered.

The license plate would be legal too.

Ramsey did things a certain way. 

I kept my hand on the car.

I closed my eyes and imagined it.

We were on an endless stretch of highway.

I could feel the wind in my hair.

I glance at Ramsey.

He smiles and gives me that sexy wink.

We speed down the highway into the sunset. 

I took a breath. 

I felt the shift.

I turned quick.

Ramsey blocked my elbow. “It’s me darlin.”

His voice was sexy and low. 

He kissed me and then took the keys.

I glanced over his shoulder. Scott watched us. 

Ramsey put my overnight bag in the trunk. 

He held open the door for me.

I got in and he closed it.

Ramsey went around the car.

He opened the door and slid into the driver’s seat. He started the car and peeled out of gravel onto the road. Scott’s men scrambled to get in their vehicles. 

They wouldn’t catch up until Ramsey wanted them to.

“Milo is dead.”  Ramsey kept his eyes on the road.

“Okay.”  I didn’t ask questions. 

I would follow his lead. Milo was gone, Billy would be next, and then they would come for me.

They wanted Ramsey and the rest of us were dead weight. We pulled up outside of his cabin. Ramsey left the engine running and got out. He went inside and came out a few seconds later with his stuff. The trucks squealed to a stop. Ramsey didn’t break stride. He put the bag through the car window and tossed it into the backseat. He walked over to the main lodge. Scott followed him inside.

I watched the entrance.

The door opened and Ramsey walked out

He shook his head at the men. He got in the car, put it in gear, and we pulled out of the resort. He said Scott and Billy would meet us at a roadside place. He would send Brian a message and tell him to reach out to the local boys in Oklahoma. They’ll look out for my friends at the diner.

I reached for him.

Ramsey grabbed my hand and kissed my palm

I spoke in his language.

His eyes sparked.

They always did when I spoke his native tongue. He taught me during pillow talk times after wild nights of sex. I gazed at him.

Ramsey glanced over and gave me that sexy wink.

My heart raced as the car went faster.

There was nothing but blue sky and open road.

I thought about the daydream.

I should’ve stayed.

I should’ve loved him harder.

I would from this day until whenever.

Nothing lasts forever.

I had to love him hard right now.

I settled in and enjoyed the ride.

CHAPTER ELEVEN

RAMSEY

Sage cuddled up to me.

We didn’t talk because she didn’t need it.

She wanted me close.

She had a wild streak but was feminine and soft.

I loved that.

The waitress came with our food.

Sage gave her a soft thank you.

She sat there.

“Darlin you have to eat.” I told her. 

She nodded and pulled the plate closer.  

I watched her. 

She bit into the burger.

It was cooked how she liked it, well done.

She took another bite and then ate some fries.  

I made sure she was comfortable. 

I started in on my food.

The waitress came to check on us.  

Sage asked for another burger done the same way. 

She sipped her soda and then started on her salad. 

I wanted her to eat well. 

The more comfortable she was, the better she’d feel. 

The food was good.

I made quick work out of my plate.

I liked places where you could get a good meal. Her burger came out quick and done. I would wait until Sage finished and order us a slice of chocolate cake.

I took a sip of soda.

Sage liked fries but didn’t ever finish them.

She wanted more meat less other stuff.

I smiled at the thought.

She held some fries for me to eat.

I put my mouth on her fingers and took them.

She let out a soft moan. 

I ate the fries and then kissed her. 

Her kiss was filled with passion and regret. 

I watched her eat.

Scott and Billy came in.

He had on new clothes down to his boots.

I glanced at the Montana State logo on his sweatshirt.

The shirt was cool but it made him more noticeable.

I shook my head.

Billy still didn’t get it.

Scott ditched the suit.

He still looked out of place.

They looked like old ass college kids. Damn shame.

They slid into the other side of the booth. 

I picked a large booth on purpose.

Sage couldn’t reach them.

She cursed under her breath when she realized it.

I caressed her thigh. 

She sighed. Scott stared at her.

I told him to get to it. 

He said everything was in order.

He would honor the agreement.

I laughed. This was standard criminal code to say shit that isn’t true. I told him I wanted twenty percent and he would make good on the agreement.

Scott complained.

I told him the amount went up to thirty percent.

He was silent.

Yeah he’s a punk.

“So which one will it be?”  Sage asked Scott. 

I smiled. We were in a public place.

She knew someone might hear our conversation.

“Well it’s not one.” Scott said. “There are ten.” 

Her body tensed up.

I caressed her thigh.

She glanced at me.

I winked at her.