out to Coronado and spent a few days there. He ran into old Navy buddies, several now instructors, and caught up over a few beers. Some had heard about Sanctuary, some hadn’t, but all thought it was a great idea.
On a whim—or so he told himself—he looked up Antonia while he was out there. He wasn’t sure what to expect when he called her. He didn’t even know if Bree had mentioned him. Apparently, she had because Antonia agreed to meet him for coffee.
She was a lot like Bree in appearance and attitude, right down to the remnants of a Brooklyn accent. Antonia didn’t tell him where Bree was, but she did confirm that she and Bree kept in touch on a regular basis.
“Is she okay?” he asked. That was really the only thing that mattered.
“Yeah, she is. And, Nick? Don’t give up hope, okay?”
He wasn’t sure exactly what that meant, but he’d returned to Sanctuary, feeling a little better than when he’d left. If and when Bree decided to reach out again, he’d be there.
He found the others sitting together in the dining room, having what looked like an animated discussion. Conversation quieted when they spotted him.
“Hey, he’s back!” Doc called out in greeting.
“And he’s got a tan,” Heff pointed out.
“Did you have a good trip?” Sam asked, her eyes bright and twinkling.
It felt good to be home. To be among friends again. It helped ease some of the ache in his chest. “Yeah, I did. Glad to be back though. Anything interesting happen while I was away?”
The men’s faces went curiously blank.
“Nothing much,” Smoke answered.
“Yeah, you know, same old, same old.” That was from Mad Dog.
“The new guys arrive okay?”
“Yep. They’re all settled in. Good group, too. You can meet them tomorrow.”
Unlike the men, the women looked like they were struggling to keep a secret. The sense that he was missing something grew stronger when no one would make direct eye contact. No one, except Kate, who seemed even happier than usual. Cage chalked it up to marital bliss or the impending holidays. Or maybe Heff finally found his balls and set a date with Sandy.
“Right, well, I’m beat. I just stopped in to let you know I’m back. I’ll see you tomorrow, and you can catch me up.”
“No hurry,” Church said. “Take as much time as you need.”
What the hell? Do they think I’ve gone off the deep end? “I’m good.”
Cage left and started the hike back to his trailer, anxious to sleep in his own bed. The cold air felt good, more seasonably appropriate for the impending Christmas holiday.
Lights from within his trailer glowed out from the darkness. Cage didn’t think too much of it at first. He’d asked Doc to stop by and run the water occasionally to keep the pipes from freezing while he was away. But when he got closer, he swore he had seen a shadow pass behind one of the curtained windows.
He slowed his approach and listened intently. Church, Smoke, Heff, Mad Dog, and Doc had been in the dining room with their significant others. Who was in his place?
He circled the trailer and found several tracks, both human and canine. Perhaps Justin had been out, walking the dogs, and swung by just to check on things.
And then a dog barked. From inside his fucking trailer.
“What do you hear, boy?”
He stilled. He knew that voice. Recognized it instantly. Bree.
Cage opened the door and stepped into the bright warmth, certain his eyes were playing tricks on him when they landed on the woman inside. Bree was in his trailer. She turned from the counter, away from the coffeemaker that hadn’t been there when he left, her eyes growing wide when she saw him. Her hair was piled on top of her head. Black-rimmed glasses sat on her pert nose, a new but very cute addition. And she was wearing one of his shirts. She looked beautiful. Even more beautiful when her face lit up at the sight of him.
“You’re home.”
A low, menacing growl made him turn his attention away from Bree to the stocky pit bull mix who’d placed himself protectively between them. Cage recognized him as one of Kate’s rescue pups.
“Easy, Brutus,” Bree said. “This is his place, not yours.”
The dog looked at her, then sat down on his haunches, and stared at Cage, tongue hanging out the side.
“He followed me out here a few days ago and hasn’t wanted to leave,” Bree explained from too far away. “Kate said it