Destroy For Her - R.B. Hilliard Page 0,50

dropped the knife on the cutting board and walked out of the room.

Lucy caught up with her on the back patio. “Whoa, drama queen, that’s one way to make an exit.”

Sage glared at her. “We’re going to war with a cartel, and you’re all acting like it’s no big deal!”

“Come on, we were just talking. We know you’re worried, honey. We all are. We were just trying to keep our minds off it.”

“Worried?!” Sage let out a dry laugh. “Try scared out of my mind. Carlos is out there! He killed Emma and hurt Aimee. Look at her face! God only knows what Emma looked like after he was done with her. Don’t you see? That could have been you!” She pointed to the kitchen. “It could have been them!”

“The men have it handled. Nothing is going to happen to anyone else,” Lucy assured her.

Sage dropped onto one of the patio chairs with a huff. “You can’t know that.”

Lucy took the chair next to her. “No, but I have faith.”

Lowering her head to the back of the chair, she stared at the sky. “Something happened last night. When I came upstairs to help with dinner, I saw Aimee sitting by the fire. Her face was—it was ugly, horrific—like looking into a mirror. I thought I was going to pass out.” Her gaze shifted to Lucy. “It was scary, Lu. I completely came unglued. I think I may need to talk to someone.”

“You should have said something,” Lucy scolded.

“I know.”

Lucy grabbed her hand and gave it a squeeze. “I think it’s a great idea. Reyn’s been seeing someone for years, now, and speaks highly of her. Want me to get her name and number for you?”

“Would you? Look, I’m—”

She was about to apologize for her neurotic behavior when Lucy announced, “Something’s up.”

They headed inside right as Alex and Doc came through the front door. Fear lodged in her throat when she saw the gash above his eye.

“What happened?” she asked as he pulled her in for a hug.

Steele and Tiny stepped into the room. “Let’s get the show on the road!” he called out.

Alex swore under his breath. “As soon as the meeting’s over, we’ll talk.”

“But—”

He gave her a quick kiss. “Trust me; you’re gonna like what I have to tell you.”

Lucy sidled up next to her. “Did he say what happened?”

“Nope.”

While they finished getting dinner ready, Sage was reminded of when she was with Gibbs and how much she’d hated all of the secrets. Then again, Gibbs’s secrets weren’t just club secrets, were they?

The kids ate outside on the patio and then headed upstairs for movie night while everyone else waited for the meeting to end. Dinner started once the men reappeared, and Sage found herself squeezed between Alex and Steele. She kept trying to catch Alex’s attention, but he was too busy eating and talking to Ink and Buck to notice. By the time it was over, her anxiety was at an all-time high.

“Best fajitas ever,” Steele said, dropping his napkin onto his empty plate.

“Speech!” Taz called out from the island where he and Lucy were sitting.

Sage gave Lucy a questioning look and Lucy returned it with a shrug.

Alex’s hand moved to her thigh and he gave it a squeeze.

“What’s going on?” she whispered.

Steele pushed back from the table and stood. “I’d like everyone to know that as of this evening, Carlos and his men are in the custody of the DEA. That means lockdown is officially over. Now, please, get the fuck out of here! Just kidding. Feel free to stay, drink, and celebrate with us!”

Cheers rang out around the room. Sage just sat there with her mouth hanging open.

Alex leaned over and whispered, “We got him, baby.”

Tears of relief sprang to her eyes. “Oh my God, you got him? When? How?”

Alex held out his hand and she took it. He then led her out of the kitchen, down the stairs, and into their room. She crawled onto the bed and he sat at her feet.

“Tell me,” she urged, once they were settled.

He started with his last-minute decision to stop at the house. Her stomach dropped when he told her that Carlos, Sergio, and a third man—whom she assumed was Juan—were waiting in the garage. He said that Carlos confessed to killing Emma and that everything—seducing her, taking them to Mexico, and the abuse—was all a means to get even with him.

“Even how?” she asked.

He told her about the bar fight, what Carlos had said about seeing them