Shadows Redeemed (Garrison Security Innovations #4)

Chapter 18

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

THE NIGHT AIR HUNG heavy over the bayou, thick with humidity and the drone of insects. Shifting the backpack over his shoulder, Parker trudged through the murky darkness, his boots squelching on the soft earth. The beam of his flashlight carved a narrow path ahead, barely penetrating the dense foliage that crowded in on all sides, but it didn’t matter. He grew up out here and knew the bayou like the back of his hand.

He’d been walking for over an hour, having parked his truck well off the main road and hiked the rest of the way. Part of him knew it was overkill—Luc Broussard and his goons weren’t actually looking for him as much as his brother. At least, he hoped they weren’t. But after everything that had happened earlier, Parker couldn’t shake the feeling of being hunted.

The events of the afternoon played on repeat in his mind. Again, he saw the determination on Jacob’s face as he told him to back off the case. The way Sage had gone along with his brother, clearly agreeing with him, thinking him incapable of handling himself. His chest tightened at the memory. He’d thought Sage was on his side, that she understood his need to be involved in proving his brother’s innocence. Then to have her turn on him like that…

He shook his head, trying to dislodge the painful thoughts. It didn’t matter now. He was on his own, just like always.

The cabin loomed ahead, a dark shape against the inky sky. Parker approached cautiously, sweeping his flashlight across the clearing. Everything looked undisturbed from the last time he was there with Sage. The door still hung broken on its hinges, the furniture still broken and scattered, the blood still dried on the door. Bryce may have discovered Jacob there yesterday, but clearly no one expected anyone to return so soon, or they would have kept someone out there to watch the place. So far, Parker had seen no sign that anyone but him was within miles of the rundown place, and he had made sure to do a complete circuit of the cabin.

As he pushed the busted door to the side to let himself inside, the musty smell of disuse hit him, and dust motes danced in the beam of his flashlight. For a moment, he just stood there, letting memories wash over him as he stared at the signs of the struggle he now knew took place between Jacob and Bryce. Summer days spent fishing with Jacob. Late nights talking about girls and their dreams for the future. It felt like a lifetime ago.

With a sigh, he set down his backpack and got to work cleaning up the place a little. He found an old oil lamp and lit it, bathing the cabin in a warm glow, which made moving about a little easier. Once he picked up some of the debris scattered throughout the main room, he unfurled his sleeping bag in the corner and dug out the container of red beans and rice he’d grabbed on his way out of town.

As he settled back against the rough wooden wall to eat, he tried to sort through the tangled mess of shutting him out. Hurt over Sage’s betrayal. And underneath it all, a gnawing fear that he was in over his head. He had barely made it out of the French Quarter, and he still had no idea what became of Jacob. He had tried texting, even calling after a while, but still no word.

He’d wanted so badly to prove himself, to show Jacob and everyone else he could handle this case. But what if they were right? What if he really was putting himself in danger? Just in the way of those who knew better how to handle something like this?

He pushed the thoughts aside. It was too late for doubts now. He was committed to seeing this through, with or without anyone’s help.

The sound of his spoon scraping the bottom of the container seemed unnaturally loud in the quiet cabin. He set it aside and stretched out even more on his sleeping bag, staring up at the shadowy rafters. Sleep felt impossible, but he knew he needed to rest. Tomorrow he’d have to figure out his next move, but right then, he was at a loss about what to do. All he knew was that he didn’t want to go back to the hotel and face Sage and her rejection, and it was too risky going home where Broussard could go after his parents if they were following him. He really needed to find his own place when this was over.

Just as he started to drift off, a noise outside jolted him fully awake. Parker froze, straining his ears. There it was again—the unmistakable sound of footsteps approaching the cabin.

His heart pounding, Parker silently got to his feet, using his back against the wall to slide upward. He cast about for a weapon, wishing he hadn’t left his gun in the hotel room, and spotted a a table leg he had propped in the corner. Gripping it tightly, he positioned himself beside the door, ready to strike.

The footsteps grew closer, then stopped. Parker held his breath as the door slowly creaked open.

A figure stepped into the cabin, and Parker swung the table leg with all his might. At the last second, a shaft of moonlight illuminated a familiar face. He barely managed to pull back, the branch whistling past Sage’s head by mere inches.

“Jesus, Parker!” Sage stumbled backward, her arms in front of her face. “Are you trying to kill me?”

He lowered the piece of wood, his hands shaking. “Sage? What the hell are you doing here?”

She stepped fully into the cabin, brushing past him with a whiff of jasmine in her hair. “I’m definitely not here to get my head bashed in.” She sighed as she ran her hand through her fiery hair. “I came out here to see you, of course. Why else would I be out here?”

He just stared at her, his mind struggling to catch up. “How did you even know I was here?”

She sighed as she pushed her way into the cabin. “I had Blaze track your phone.” She glanced over her shoulder at him. “Pays to have friends with cool toys.”

“I bet.” He turned, closing the door the best he could. “Although I’m surprised you’re here. I assumed you wanted me out of your hair.”

She took a deep breath, meeting his eyes. “I assumed you thought that, and I’m sorry. You’re the reason I’m even in New Orleans, and I shut you out of everything. I shouldn’t have sided with Jacob about kicking you off the case. I was wrong.”

He wanted to hold on to his anger, but he felt it slipping away in the face of her apology. He sank down on top of his sleeping bag, a heaviness weighing him down, suddenly exhausted. “Why did you side with him in the first place? I thought… I thought we were partners in this. Both of you still see me as some… I don’t know what you see me as, but you’ve both forgotten I’ve been around the two of you enough to be able to take care of myself. I don’t need babysitting.”

She came and sat beside him, close enough that he could feel the warmth of her body. “You’re right. You don’t. I remember well our sparring matches and how you put me on my ass quite a few times. I forgot in the chaos of things. I’m sorry.”

“Well, I can take care of myself,” he muttered, but there was no actual heat behind the words.

“I know you can.” He heard her hesitate, saw it on her face, but then she continued. “That’s part of what scares me. You’re so determined, so fearless. I’m afraid you’ll take unnecessary risks.”

He turned to look at her, struck by the emotions in her voice. “Sage…”

She placed her fingers on his lips, silencing him as she met his gaze, her emerald eyes reflecting the lamplight. “Look, I know we said we’d talk about this after the case, but Marissa made me realize I need to stop fearing things. I don’t know how to explain what’s happening between us, but the thought of something happening to you…” She trailed off, shaking her head.

His breath caught in his throat. “I’ve felt the same way about you for longer than I should. But I trust you to know what you’re doing. You need to trust me.”

She nodded. “You got it. Whatever happens, we face it together. Partners.”

Relief and gratitude washed over him as he reached out and squeezed her hand, feeling some of the tension of the past few days starting to ease. “Partners.”

They sat in companionable silence for a while, listening to the night sounds of the bayou filtering in through the cabin walls. The low, haunting call of a night bird occasionally punctuated the steady chorus of frogs and crickets, and Parker realized why he had always loved coming out there. The sounds caused him to think about all the times he’d come here as a kid, marveling at the wildness of the swamp. The New Orleans bayou was a world into itself, beautiful and dangerous in equal measure.

Sage laid her head on his shoulder. “I’ve never really spent much time out here in the bayou. It’s kind of magical, isn’t it?”

He nodded. “Yeah, it is. Jacob and I used to love exploring out here when we were younger. There’s just something about it… the way the cypress trees rise out of the water, draped in Spanish moss. The alligators lurking just below the surface. It always felt like stepping into another world. Something from one of those fantasy novels I used to love to read.”

“Sounds amazing. And a little terrifying.”

He chuckled as he leaned his head back against the wall. “Oh, it definitely can be. I remember this one time, Jacob and I took a little johnboat out fishing. We were maybe fourteen, fifteen at the time. Anyway, we’re out there in the middle of nowhere, and suddenly this massive gator surfaces right next to us. I swear, it was as long as the boat.”

Her eyes widened as she looked up at him. “What did you do?”

“Honestly?” He chuckled some more, a grin spreading across his face. “We screamed like little girls and paddled for shore as fast as we could. Jacob likes to tell everyone he stayed calm and cool, protected me even, but trust me, my badass brother was just as freaked out as I was.”

Sage laughed, the sound brightening the dim cabin. “I can just picture it. Two teenage boys flailing around in a tiny boat, trying to outrun an alligator.”

He leaned back, his brows pinched. “Hey now, there was very little flailing.” He settled back against the wall with a harrumph. “It was all very manly paddling, I’ll have you know.”

They both dissolved into laughter, and for the first time since he saw her, he felt as if things were actually going his way. As it faded, he felt a wave of nostalgia wash over him. “God, I miss those days sometimes. Everything seemed so much simpler then. Jacob and I were best friends, not… whatever we are now.”

She reached out and squeezed his hand. “You’re still brothers. And best friends. He’s proving that by trying to keep you out of his mess.”

He sighed, his shoulders slumping. “I know. I just wish he’d trust me more, you know? Let me help instead of suddenly trying to protect me.”

“Have you told him that?”

“In several different ways. He still sees me as his baby brother, someone he needs to look out for. No matter what I do, I’m always going to be the kid who needs rescuing in his eyes.”

“We all need rescuing at one time or another. Be glad he’s around to do it.”

He sighed again. “Let’s hope we can clear him so he can keep doing it.”

For a long moment, they stayed that way, breathing each other in. Then Parker pulled back slightly, his gaze dropping to Sage’s lips. She met his eyes, a question in her expression. He could feel his heart racing, felt the catch in his breath. She worried about him, which meant she cared. Unexpected still, perhaps, but no longer complicated. He wanted her. She wanted him. That’s all that mattered.

He eased around, leaning into her, giving her plenty of time to stop him.

She didn’t stop him.

Their lips met in a soft, tentative kiss—gentle, sweet, and full of promise. And in that moment, everything seemed to stop.

When they separated, Sage’s eyes were shining. “Wow,” she breathed.

“Yeah.” He felt a silly grin spread across his face. “Don’t get me wrong. Last night was amazing, but this…”

She leaned up and kissed him again, this time harder, and he felt the urgency in her lips. When she leaned back, her eyes sparkled with her desire. “There’s a time for soft. And a time for wild abandon. Guess which I want now.”

And then he pushed her back onto the sleeping bag.