Shadows Redeemed (Garrison Security Innovations #4)

Chapter 15

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

SAGE STARED OUT THE window of Marissa’s car, her thoughts a tumultuous storm that threatened to blow through like a hurricane, causing all kinds of damage in its wake. The morning’s events played on repeat in her mind—Jacob’s stern warning, the frustration of dead ends, and the lingering heat of Parker’s touch the night before. She barely registered the scenery passing by as Marissa navigated the bustling New Orleans streets.

“Earth to Sage,” Marissa’s voice cut through her reverie. “We’re here.”

Blinking, Sage realized they had arrived at a quaint café tucked away in the French Quarter. The aroma of fresh beignets and chicory coffee wafted through the air as they stepped out of the car.

“Thanks for this.” She forced a smile onto her face. “I think I needed a distraction.”

Marissa linked arms with her as they entered the café. “Honey, you look like you need more than just a distraction. By the pinched strain on your face the past couple of hours, I’d say you need a friendly ear and some good advice.”

They settled into a corner booth, ordering their usual from a couple of years ago—a café au lait and beignets for Marissa, and a strong black coffee for Sage. Blaze was the fancy coffee drinker in their group, not her, and she was more than happy to let him keep that title.

As they waited for their order, Marissa leaned forward, her eyes filled with concern. “All right, spill it. What’s got you so wound up? And don’t tell me it’s just the case. I know you better than that. We’ve been friends too long.”

Sage sighed, running a hand through her hair. “It’s… complicated.”

“Does this complication have a name? Perhaps one that rhymes with… ‘darker’?” Marissa cocked a brow, a knowing smirk playing on her lips.

Heat rushed to Sage’s cheeks. Was she that transparent? “I… It’s not what you think.”

“Oh, honey. It’s exactly what I think. The question is, what are you going to do about it?”

Their order arrived, providing Sage with a momentary reprieve. She took a long sip of her coffee, savoring the bitter warmth as she gathered her thoughts.

She took a deep breath as she wrapped her hands around her mug. “Parker and I…” She glanced up at Marissa, shifting slightly in her seat. “We slept together last night.” She blew out another breath, wondering why the hell it embarrassed her to say that. Never had she hidden her love of hopping into beds and having a little fun. Sex had been a recreational sport for her, but now… Now, it just felt… different.

Marissa’s eyes widened as a grin spread across her face, but otherwise, she didn’t seem entirely surprised. “And?”

“And… I don’t know. It’s complicated.” Frustration colored her tone. “He’s Jacob’s brother, and you know how things turned out with Jacob. He should be off-limits. And yet…”

“And yet, you’re falling for him,” Marissa finished softly.

Sage’s silence was answer enough.

Marissa reached across the table, squeezing Sage’s hand. “Oh, sweetie. When did life get so messy?”

A wry chuckle escaped Sage’s lips. “Isn’t it always messy? I thought I was done with all this drama. I’ve worked so hard to build my business, then working for G.S.I., to be taken seriously. And to avoid all attachments at all costs. And now…”

“And now you’re worried you’re going to get hurt again.”

Sage nodded, grateful for Marissa’s perceptiveness and saying it for her. “It’s not just that. I… I care about him. More than I should. And it scares me.”

Marissa’s expression softened. “Why does it scare you?”

“Because…” She paused, searching for the right words. “Because I’ve never felt this way before. Not even with…”

“His brother?”

Sage nodded, a lump forming in her throat. “And I almost lost myself with Jacob. He was a wildfire, ready to scorch the earth, burning us both up in the process. Parker… Parker feels safe. Comfortable.”

“Maybe that’s what you need for a change? There’s nothing wrong with it. Dane is safe.” A wicked grin slid across her lips. “Of course, he can also be a little devil at times, but I feel secure in those moments with him.” She leaned forward, clasping her hands together. “Maybe this is your heart telling you it’s time to take a chance again. A real chance.”

While she liked what she heard, she wondered if she was ready to settle down, give up her wildness, the thrill of the unknown, the rush of taking risks… Those nights excited her more than anything else ever had. But Parker…

“Do you remember when we first met?” Marissa asked, a nostalgic smile playing on her lips. “You were this fiery, unstoppable force. Nothing could stand in your way.”

Sage laughed softly. “I had just left Jacob and was more than reckless back then trying to make a name for myself.”

“Please, you were alive. Don’t get me wrong. I’m proud of everything you’ve accomplished. It’s why I begged your help tracking Alex Rassiter down. But sometimes I wonder if you’ve lost a bit of that spark along the way in your attempt to numb yourself to possible hurt again.”

Sage pondered Marissa’s words, realizing there was truth in them. She had worked so hard to prove herself, to be the consummate professional ever since Jacob had fooled her so perfectly, that perhaps she had locked away a part of herself in the process. Maybe her carefree exploits were a shield. She loved them one night and was gone by morning, never risking anything, especially her heart. The only repeat in the past few years had been Ryan Anderson, and that was because he lived in Charleston. There was no way for things to get serious. Besides, he was just as big of a player as she was.

She took a sip of her coffee, processing everything. As she set the cup back on the table, she bobbed her head. “So, what are you saying? That I should throw caution to the wind and pursue this… whatever this is… with Parker?”

Marissa shrugged. “I’m saying that maybe it’s time to listen to your heart instead of just your head. You’ve always been good at balancing the two before. Who says you can’t do it now?”

Before Sage could respond, a familiar voice cut through the café. “There you are! I should have known.”

Both women turned to see Dane striding toward their table. His presence was commanding, drawing curious glances from other patrons, especially the women.

Marissa turned to him, a smile lighting up her face. “What are you doing here?”

He bent down to kiss Marissa’s cheek before turning to Sage. “Sorry to interrupt your lunch, but we’ve got a lead. I need you to come with Elvis and me to NOPD. We’re meeting with a couple of detectives working the case.”

She cocked a brow. “Did they find Jacob?”

“No, but Gage is still looking, along with Blaze.”

Her investigative instincts immediately kicked in, pushing her personal dilemmas to the back burner. “And what kind of lead?”

“Apparently, these two men have been neck deep in this since the first time Jacob got in trouble.” He reached out, stealing one of Marissa’s beignets. “Not sure why they’re on this again, so I thought we’d go ask. Seems… odd to me.”

Sage nodded, grabbing her purse and sliding out of her chair. She turned to Marissa, gratitude filling her chest. “Thanks for… well, for everything. I’ll call you later.”

Marissa smiled, understanding flickering in her gaze. “Go get ‘em, Sherlock.” She winked at Sage, a small giggle slipping out of her. “And remember what we talked about.”

With a quick goodbye, Sage followed Dane out of the café and into his waiting car, where Elvis waited, toying with the radio dial. “This place has some strange music,” he said as he shook his head.

Sage cocked a brow as she slid into the backseat. “Now here I thought you’d have King Creole on repeat.”

“That’s what I’m saying. I can’t find it.” He sighed as he shook his head, spinning the dial one more time.

As they pulled into traffic, Dane glanced at her in the rearview mirror. “So, give us an update on your morning. Find anything out?”

Sage’s mind flashed to her visits with Bryce and Luc Broussard. “I swung by the investigator who taught me the ropes. He helped me get my feet wet in the investigative world when I was... Well, when I started. He’s going to put some feelers out.”

Dane bobbed his head. “Connected?”

She scoffed. “Bryce knows an odd array of people. If anyone can find out the scuttlebutt going around and who started it, it’s him.”

“Good. We could use some local help on this, and I’m fairly certain the police won’t be so cooperative.”

Elvis glanced over his shoulder at her. “Not with one of theirs in the morgue.”

“Exactly,” Dane said. “Now, what about the rest of your morning? You were heading back to the Bayou Bar, right?”

Sage’s mind drifted to the dimly lit establishment, the air thick with cigarette smoke and secrets. “Luc Broussard was… less than forthcoming. But that was to be expected. He did seem quite a bit on edge, so I’m assuming if there are drugs missing, the people who gave them to him aren’t pleased about it. They’re probably putting pressure on him to come up with the cash, which, as far as we know, is missing as well.”

Dane’s grip tightened on the steering wheel, and she could see his brow pinch with thought. “Think it’s worth paying him another visit? Maybe with a bit more… pressure?”

Sage considered the suggestion for a moment. Luc seemed a slippery character, and what she knew of the Broussards from when she lived there was that they were a stubborn but sneaky group. “To be honest, I’m not sure. It might bring the rest of the family out of the woodwork.”

Dane gave a curt nod. “Noted. We’ll keep that in our back pocket for now. Let’s see what these NOPD detectives have to say first.”

As they neared the police station, her thoughts drifted back to Parker. The look on his face—like she had just betrayed him—when she told him Jacob wanted him off the case and out of the way, that it was simply too dangerous for a simple teacher and that she agreed with him, still tore at her heart. She wondered what he was doing now, if he felt as conflicted as she did about their growing connection. The memory of his touch, his passionate kisses, sent a shiver of pleasure down her spine, and she found herself squirming in her seat as she thought about him.

“You okay back there?” Dane’s voice cut through her thoughts. “You seem a bit distracted.”

She straightened in her seat, pushing aside her personal turmoil. “I’m fine. Just… processing everything. This case seems more complex than we initially thought.”

Dane’s expression softened slightly. “I can imagine how tough it’s been, especially with the personal connections involved. But trust your instincts. They’re good, and you know how to investigate the murky waters of New Orleans better than anyone else on the team. This is your world.”

His words, meant to be encouraging, only added to the weight on her shoulders. She was walking a dangerous line between her professional obligations and her personal feelings. How long could she maintain that balance before her world exploded?

As they pulled into the police station parking lot, she took a deep breath, centering herself. Whatever her personal thoughts, she had a job to do. Lives were at stake, and she couldn’t afford to let her emotions cloud her judgment.

“Ready?” Dane asked as they exited the car.

She nodded, her face a mask of professional determination. “Let’s see what we can ferret out from these two.”

Elvis leaned on the car, his hands clasped as he rested them on the roof. “Any memory of what these two hound dogs were like the first time around?”

She sighed as she slipped her hands to her hips and turned toward the station, a scowl twisting her features. “They were pompous asses, from what I recall. I had run-ins with them on a few of my cases, and they always came across as smug bastards.” She turned back to the others, furrowing her brows. “They were slick, but more like oil slick, if you know what I mean.”

Dane nodded. “So don’t trust them. Good to know.” He glanced over at her, a slim smile on his lips. “Let’s get some background on these two first.” He snatched his phone from his back pocket. The next thing Sage heard was him giving Blaze orders to dig into the two detectives, and to be careful in doing it. They were still cops, after all.

When he shoved the phone back into his pocket, he merely shrugged. “It always pays to know who you’re dealing with.”

Sage nodded and then stepped in behind him as they headed for the front doors.

As they walked into the station, she couldn’t help but feel a sense of déjà vu. How many times had she walked these halls, chasing leads and seeking justice? But this time felt different. The stakes were higher, the lines blurrier. This time, it was personal.

She thought of Parker, of the way he looked at her with those intense, understanding eyes. She thought of Jacob’s warning, of the potential danger lurking around every corner. And she thought of Marissa’s words, urging her to listen to her heart. But what if her heart was just as confused as her head?