Shadows Redeemed (Garrison Security Innovations #4)

Chapter 7

CHAPTER SEVEN

SAGE TOOK A DEEP breath as she pulled into her mother’s driveway, the familiar rose bushes lining the path to the front door bringing a wave of nostalgia crashing over her. It seemed like this trip was nothing but walks down memory lane, and not all of them good. But this one… This one she cherished.

Parker got out of the passenger side, giving her a questioning look. “You sure about this?” His brow furrowed with concern as he looked over at her. “They’re not really fans of my family.”

She managed a nod, forcing a tight smile. “It’ll be fine. They’re my family.” That they were her family was why she just lied to him. If she were honest with herself, she had no idea how it would go bringing him with her. When she broke up with Jacob, and her brothers—all four of them—found out why she broke up with him, they all wanted to hunt him down and kill the man. Once they found out why she was back in New Orleans, they might very well want to do the same thing to Parker for dragging her back into his brother’s nightmare.

The wooden door swung open before they could even knock, and Sage was instantly engulfed in her mother’s embrace. Kim Silver was a force of nature, her graying blond curls framing a face still youthful despite her sixty-three years.

“My girl, it’s been way too long.” Her mother planted a kiss on Sage’s cheek before pulling back and holding her out at arm’s length to get a better look at her daughter. “You’re too thin. Have you been eating enough? I don’t think you have. I can tell.” She waggled a finger at her, her eyes narrow slits. “Well, we can fix that soon enough.”

Sage laughed, the familiar motherly fretting warming her heart. “Too thin? You and I both know that’s a lie” She smiled over at her mother, touching her mom’s upper arm gently. “I’m fine. Promise.”

Her mother cut her gaze over Sage’s shoulder, landing on Parker as if just noticing him. Her eyes narrowed slightly as she sized him up, and Sage saw the man shift his weight from foot to foot, obviously uncomfortable under her mother’s scrutiny. “I see you have company.” She gave a slight dip of her head as she stepped away from Sage, clasping her hands in front of her. “Parker.”

A redness colored his cheeks. “Hello, Mrs. Silver. It’s good to see you again. I hope you’ve been well.”

“Fine. We’re all fine here.” She turned her gaze back to her daughter, her face an unreadable mask. “Does he have something to do with the case you’re here on? Do I even want to know?”

“Probably not, and yes, he does. He actually called for my help.” She looked inside the house, hoping to switch subjects. “You said something about food, right?”

“Nice try.” Her mother glared at Parker once more, and then waved them both inside. “But I’ll let it pass. For now.”

As they entered the living room, raised voices drifted in from the kitchen, the unmistakable sound of Sage’s brothers bickering over something. She should have known her mother would have called them all in for her visit. A wide grin spread across her face as the memories came flooding back of living in that house with four older brothers as interrogators, instigators, and bullies. None of her boyfriends throughout high school had stood a chance, but she had all the right connections as she went though school.

The living room looked just as it had for years—the woolen knit blankets she used to burrow under on cold days, the mismatched bookshelves crammed with worn novels and dusty photo albums, the scruffy recliner that had been her father’s favorite seat before he died still sitting in the same spot. Her mother always said it was so he could visit her and watch the game shows. Sage’s breath hitched at the pang of loss that came with that last thought.

As if sensing her emotional tug, her mother reached out and gave her a comforting squeeze. “You ready for that food?”

She took a deep breath, nodding as tears sprang to her eyes. She swallowed hard against the lump in her throat as she nodded. “Definitely. I’ve missed your home cooking.”

The noises from the kitchen grew louder until four towering figures came barreling into the room, laughing and shoving each other in that way only siblings could. She laughed as she watched them, her tormentors growing up. “You know, with the way you four act, it’s no wonder you can’t find a woman to stick it out with you.”

“Sagebrush!” Levi, the eldest of her siblings, darted across the living room, scooping her up in a rib-crushing hug, her feet leaving the floor. “When did you get here?”

“Put me down, you big oaf!” Laughing, she smacked at his broad shoulders. “You’re going to break your back, old man.”

“With how light you are? Mom, you need to feed this one.”

Before she could say anything back, the others quickly descended, taking turns enveloping her half-hearted protests. For just a moment, she felt seventeen again instead of her world-weary twenty-nine.

From over Levi’s shoulder, she saw Parker watching the scene in front of him with an amused chuckle, hands shoved casually into his pockets, his nervousness gone for the moment. Levi spun her in a circle, and she knew the exact moment his eyes landed on Parker because he eased her back to the floor, his body tense.

“Parker.” Levi’s voice took on a protective edge. “Sagebrush, you brought company.”

Sage took in a slow breath, bracing herself, as the others turned to Parker with looks ranging from curiosity to animosity. “He’s actually the reason I’m back in New Orleans at the moment, to be honest. I brought him along tonight to keep him out of trouble.”

“He is, huh?” Taylor stepped forward, his arms crossed over his chest. “So what’s the case?”

She stiffened, not wanting to tell them about Jacob. Glancing at her mother, she noticed the older woman’s subtle shake of her head, showing she hadn’t told Sage’s brothers why she was truly in town. Good. Perhaps they would get through this visit without too much shouting.

A tense silence fell over the group as they made their way to the plush couches and armchairs, her brothers still giving Parker the stink eye. As far as she was concerned, he was on his own. She didn’t want to be in New Orleans in the first place.

“So, tell us about this case,” Colin asked, middle child and most persistent. “Is it going to keep you here for a while?”

She glanced over at her mother, but there would be no help there. Sage was on her own. Served her right, she supposed.

Her stomach twisted in a nauseous knot as she turned to face her brothers. Well, they’ll find out sooner or later.

With a deep breath, she glanced at Parker, hoping he kept his mouth shut. “Apparently, Jacob is missing.” She turned to the blond-headed Barrett, grimacing. “And on the run. Again.”

Levi leaned forward in his seat, clasping his hands together as he rested his elbows on his knees. “Jacob.” He glanced over at Parker. “That explains your presence here.”

A hush fell over the room, all eyes turning to Parker as if he single-handedly corrupted their sister. “What did he do now?” Taylor asked, cocking his head to the side, while Barrett simply asked, “What have you dragged our sister into this time?”

Sage rolled her eyes. “Stop it. He didn’t drag me into anything.” She sighed as she dropped her gaze to her hands. “I could have said no. And I’m not alone this time. My team’s here.” She glanced over at Parker, feeling a pang of protectiveness at the slight frown marring his features, when just an hour ago, she wanted to kill him. “Jacob’s missing, possibly shot, and we’re just trying to find him.” She glanced around the room at the others. “Bring him in safely if we can before either the NOPD or the Broussards take that option away from us.”

Her words seemed to do little to appease her family’s concerns, however. Barrett scoffed, shaking his head. “Didn’t you learn your lesson after helping him last time?”

“Obviously she didn’t,” Colin spat. “Sage, why are you putting yourself through this again? That man broke your heart.” He then turned to Parker, a scowl twisting his features. “You couldn’t go to anyone else?”

Parker shrugged. “She’s the best at what she does. I needed the best.”

“She’s the best at letting you and your brother drag her into your bullshit. Don’t you remember what happened last time?”

The jab hit its mark, and she flinched as the old hurts bubbled up. Dating Jacob had been the biggest mistake of her life, and her family had been there to pick up the pieces when her world finally exploded. She had ignored all the red flags until it was almost too late, too lost in chasing the high of being with someone who was into the thrill of the chase as much as she was. Of course, that chase almost killed her.

Parker moved as if he wanted to hold her hand, but stopped, rubbing his palm along his thigh instead. Probably a good thing with the way the conversation was going. She met his warm blue eyes, and a flutter rippled through her chest as she thought about how much they reminded her of a calm lake, peaceful and soothing.

She turned back to her brothers. “Jacob and I are over, have been for a couple of years. I’m just trying to help find him. That’s it. It’s not like last time.”

“No, it’s worse,” her mother said. “I read the papers. And you mentioned the Broussards. We all know what that family’s about. Even your brothers have had run-ins with them in their own investigation business.” Her mother pushed herself out of her seat. “But I know my daughter, and I know you’re going to do what you’re going to do. The least I can do is send you off to do it with a warm, full belly. Let me get dinner started. Red beans and rice coming up.”

The brothers exchanged skeptical looks, but said nothing more as their mother left the room. An uncomfortable silence stretched out until Levi spoke up once more, a troubled expression pinching his face.

“We just worry about you, Sagebrush. You’ve got a good heart, and folks are prone to take advantage of that.” He glanced over at Parker. “I don’t want to see you hurt again.”

Sage glanced over at Parker once more, doubting he would hurt her, and then wondering why she even had that thought when she had no intention of getting involved with Jacob’s baby brother. “There’s no worry there.” She turned back to her brother. “I plan on finding Jacob and then heading right back to Biloxi. Alone and unattached.” When she looked back at Parker, she couldn’t miss the sadness that washed over him. Had he hoped there would be more between them? No. There was no way he could have thought that. Why would he think that? It made no sense. Did it?

The shrill ring of her phone shattered her rabbit trail, almost making her jump.

Three of her brothers laughed, but Levi merely stared at her as if he knew where her thoughts had traveled.

She pushed the look on her brother’s face out of her mind as she yanked her phone from her back pocket. Glancing over at Parker, she lifted the phone into the air. “Dane.” She turned to her brothers as she pushed herself out of the chair. “I have to get this. It’s my boss.”

Standing, she made her way into the kitchen, moving over to the opposite side where her mother cooked as she put the phone to her ear with a weary sigh. “Talk to me.”

“Parker there with you?”

“He’s in the other room. Need me to get him?”

“No, that’s fine. You can fill him in later.” His voice seemed tense, and she could tell he was pacing in the room. “We may have a lead on Jacob’s whereabouts. Blaze did some digging and found potential footage that could point us in the right direction.”

A surge of adrenaline shot through her veins, reinvigorating her with renewed determination. “Tell me everything.”