Gage’s Goal E-Book

Mayer Dale

• Herausgeber: Valley Publishing Ltd.
• Kategorie: Gesellschafts- und Liebesromane
• Sprache: Englisch

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2022

Beschreibung

Gage hadn’t told the rest of his team, but he’d planned to meet up with Lorelei after their team disbanded. A little one-on-one time was needed to see if all the sparks they’d felt over the last few years were the real thing. He’d deliberately avoided getting involved with anyone he worked with, so this seemed like the perfect opportunity. Until all the team is decimated …

Lorelei was in Manchester, hoping to run into Gage, but after a car accident that sent her to hospital with an injured leg, she had no idea what had happened to the others, until Terk contacted her. Once he realized what had befallen her, he figured out that her accident was likely no accident and probably the same potential annihilation that his team had experienced. Terk coaxes Lorelei to live in their temporary new headquarters, where she finds out Gage hadn’t contacted her by choice but because he couldn’t.

Now on the mend, Gage is determined to keep her safe, only that’s much easier said than done, as the attacks turn on her and just … won’t … stop.

Leseprobe

Books in This Series:

Damon’s Deal, Book 1

Wade’s War, Book 2

Gage’s Goal, Book 3

Calum’s Contact, Book 4

Rick’s Road, Book 5

Scott’s Summit, Book 6

Brody’s Beast, Book 7

Terkel’s Twist, Book 8

Terkel’s Triumph, Book 9

Table of Contents

Cover

Title Page

About This Book

Prologue

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Epilogue

About Calum’s Contact

Sneak Peek from Magnus: Shadow Recon

Author’s Note

Complimentary Download

About the Author

Copyright Page

About This Book

Welcome to a brand-new series from USA Today best-selling author Dale Mayer, where dark-ops SEALs have special senses and skills, needed to solve intrigue, betrayal, and … murder. A series with all the elements you’ve come to love, plus so much more, … including psychics!

Gage hadn’t told the rest of his team, but he’d planned to meet up with Lorelei after their team disbanded. A little one-on-one time was needed to see if all the sparks they’d felt over the last few years were the real thing. He’d deliberately avoided getting involved with anyone he worked with, so this seemed like the perfect opportunity. Until all the team is decimated …

Lorelei was in Manchester, hoping to run into Gage, but after a car accident that sent her to hospital with an injured leg, she had no idea what had happened to the others, until Terk contacted her. Once he realized what had befallen her, he figured out that her accident was likely no accident and probably the same potential annihilation that his team had experienced. Terk coaxes Lorelei to live in their temporary new headquarters, where she finds out Gage hadn’t contacted her by choice but because he couldn’t.

Now on the mend, Gage is determined to keep her safe, only that’s much easier said than done, as the attacks turn on her and just … won’t … stop.

Sign up to be notified of all Dale’s releaseshere!

Prologue

Gage Hillman opened his eyes. He was pretty damn sure that Terk had done something to knock him out. Gage was just afraid that he may have been knocked out for a few weeks. He slowly sat up, shifted his gaze, and realized that he felt damn good. He got up, went to the bathroom, and, when he walked out to the main room, there was a sudden silence, as everybody turned to look at him.

Then Tasha hopped to her feet, from where she’d been sitting with Damon, and came running. Gage opened his arms and held her gently. “Am I right to assume that old doofus finally broke down and did the right thing?”

She chuckled. “Well, it might have taken a little bit of convincing,” she teased, then returned to Damon.

Damon rolled his eyes at that. “Hardly.” He got up, walked over to Gage, and asked, “How are you feeling?”

“Like I’ve been hit by a concrete truck, then dumped into a river and shaken off a little bit,” he replied. “How do I look?”

“About like that.” Damon grinned.

Gage walked forward, rolling his shoulders front and back. “Actually I don’t feel all that bad. Just kind of stiff. How long have I been out?”

“A couple days,” said another woman, sitting off to the side.

He looked at her, his brain trying to pull out the correct name. “Sophia, was it?”

“Yes, I am Sophia.” She stood and shook his hand. “I’m with Wade.”

Gage looked at Wade, who shrugged.

“You remember the night that we were attacked about a year ago? I was out with her that night,” Wade explained. “I was supposed to meet her the next night for dinner, and, of course, I didn’t show up.”

“Of course not,” Gage stated, in complete understanding. “We don’t like to bring danger to other people. Especially those we care about.”

“Well, in my case,” Sophia replied, “I’ve been working with Levi’s team for the last year on a few jobs here and there. The minute I found this guy again, I didn’t let go.”

“That bad, huh?”

“Well, that good.” She smiled a cheeky grin. “I get why he walked, but he doesn’t get that opportunity again.”

At that, Gage burst out laughing. “Sounds great,” he replied, happy to be conscious and to feel better. “Now that I’m alive, do we have any news? An update at least?”

“Not a whole lot of news yet,” Terkel replied. He shifted, stood, stretched, and walked over to Gage, studying his friend.

“Thanks,” Gage said sincerely to Terk. “I don’t think I would have survived that alone.”

“No, I don’t think you would have either. It’s been touch-and-go for all of us,” Terk murmured.

“So no new intel?”

“Not yet.” Just then a message came to Terk’s phone. Terk pulled it out and read it. “Anybody know a Lorelei?”

“We all do. Lorelei worked in the government,” Gage stated.

At that, Terk froze, turned, and looked at him. “Your Lorelei?”

“She’s hardly mine,” he replied, “but she’s my contact, yes. We all know her but didn’t see her much, as she’s stateside.”

“Well, I think that same Lorelei has a message.” He read it to the team. “You are in danger, all of you. Go under and stay safe.”

“Isn’t that a little late for a warning?”

“Or it’s a new warning,” Sophia suggested.

“And that’s possible too.” Gage nodded, as his finger hovered over the message. “Let me send her a reply message.”

“Wait. Does she even know you’re alive?” Terk asked him.

“No, I don’t know that she does.” He frowned. “And I guess we don’t want her to know.”

“Most people know I’m alive, and that’s partly why we’re still being hunted,” Terk explained.

“Of course they are,” Gage agreed. “You always were the hardest one to kill.”

“Damn right,” Terk murmured. He sent Lorelei a message. Can you help? When his phone rang, he was given a series of numbers to dial on the other end. Eyebrows raised, he quickly punched them in.

When he was connected, a woman answered, “This is a secure line.”

“Lorelei?”

“Yes,” she answered, her voice heavy. “Oh my God, Terkel, I’m so sorry.”

“Do you have any idea what happened?” he asked.

“I don’t know all the details, no,” she replied, “but I overheard something about your team being wiped out.”

“Depends what wiped out means,” Terk stated.

“I only just heard, and that’s why I’m calling you.”

“Yeah, why’s that?” he asked, putting his cell on Speakerphone.

“Have you”—she stopped—“have you heard from Gage?”

“Ah,” he said, looking over at Gage. “Why?”

“Because I really don’t want to think that he’s dead,” she replied. “But now that I heard that something happened to your team, I’m really worried about him.”

“And with good reason,” Terk said. “Do you know what happened to us?”

“No, not specifics, I don’t. They were just talking about a major attack. And I don’t understand why,” she explained. “You were supposed to be disbanded. I was hoping to hear from him, once he was done there. ’Cause I know he’s always been against any personal relationship, while he worked for that division.”

“That’s because of the danger involved.” Although Terk had come to believe—for himself, as well as the members of his team—that finding the right partner, the one who could meld in with the rest of them, was a plus, not a minus. Was a good grounding mechanism for these guys, who carried extra-big loads of stress and expectations and levels of success on their shoulders. And having exceptional women on board, who could be mates and part of the team too, bringing their own special skills? Wow. Terk shook his head that he and the guys had not seen this particular element of their lives in a more open manner.

“I get that. I really do,” she replied anxiously. “Please tell me. Have you heard from him?”

“And what difference would it make now?” Terk asked, frowning.

“I’m in Manchester,” she said abruptly.

At that, his warning signals went up. “You’re in Manchester?”

Gage instinctively took a step forward.

“Yes,” she confirmed. “I came over here, hoping to talk to him, as soon as you guys were done. I flew in that Friday. And then I found out.”

Silence. Shocked, Gage and Terkel stared at each other.

She rushed to speak again. “And I know you won’t believe this,” she added, “but I was hit by a car that next morning. I’ve just gotten out of the hospital myself.”

Everybody froze.

“Seriously?”

“Yeah,” she confirmed in a small voice. “I don’t know if it’s connected.”

“I would say it’s a little too close in time and place not to be connected,” he replied. “I need to meet with you. Where do you suggest?”

“I don’t know.” She hesitated. “I’ve got a safe line ’cause I’m the one who used to arrange them,” she noted, “but I don’t know about a safe place. I’ve checked into a hotel, so maybe here.”

“That works.” Terk looked at Gage, who was motionless in front of him. Terk quickly wrote down her address. “We’re on our way.” Then he hung up and faced Gage. “What do you think?”

“Let’s go.” Gage walked to the door. “That son of a bitch. It’s not just us who were attacked. Sounds like everybody who had anything to do with us too.”

“Yeah, and we’ve lost our government access and support as well,” Terk noted. “This is bigger than just us. But it still doesn’t change the fact that we’re the only ones, really the only ones, who are in any position to fix this.”

Gage nodded. “Damn good thing I’m feeling better, huh?”

“Yeah, damn good thing,” Terkel agreed, with a wry eye roll. “Now you want to stay healthy, please? The more of you guys who go down, the less energy I have for myself.”

“That’s not true,” Gage argued, whacking him on the shoulder. “It’s just you’re too stuffy and don’t want to take it from anybody else.”

Terkel laughed. “Whatever,” he replied. “Let’s go. Do you think she’ll be happy to see you?”

“Damn, I hope so,” he stated. “It was good to hear her voice.”

“And what about the worry in her voice?”

“Well, she’s right. I was hoping to see her afterward,” he noted. “We hadn’t discussed anything formally. She did have holidays coming up so … but I would wait a day or two.”

Terkel nodded. “Apparently you guys all had plans.”

“What were yours?” Gage asked his friend.

“Go to Texas to visit my brother. Now, if and whenever I get safely from here,” he added, “there’s a woman I need to meet.”

“A woman?” Gage asked, turning and looking at him. Terk explained, and Gage’s jaw dropped. “Seriously? A stranger carrying your child?” He frowned. “You know that she could be behind all this.”

“No. She’s suffered at the hands of these assholes herself. She’s also still in a coma, or at least was two days ago, when I last talked to Ice.”

“Jesus, man, that sucks.” Gage couldn’t believe the lengths these people had gone to. “Especially when I know children are an issue for you.”

“I know, but, until we get a little more information, I’m not bringing her into any more danger by going there myself.”

“And why her? What did she do to attract attention?”

He shrugged. “At the moment we have no idea. And, of course, we’ve been a little busy.”

“But you know that’s something to follow,” Gage stated.

Terk nodded, grabbed his jacket, and stared at the rest of the team.

Tasha turned to Sophia. “We will do a deeper dive into that.”

“Yeah, you go meet Lorelei,” Sophia said. “You guys solve that problem, and we’ll get to work here.”

“Done,” Terkel noted, and together the two men left.

As Gage walked out the door, casting one last glance back at the small group, he had to wonder if just the three of them were left from the original team. What the hell had happened, and how would they get to the bottom of this? Then he looked at Terkel, striding forward, and Gage realized the hows didn’t matter. Because Gage could count on one guarantee. And that was that Terkel was determined to solve this. And he’d solve it in such a way that everybody else would pay the price for having crossed them.

And Gage was good with that.

Chapter 1

Gage, with Terk at his side, moved slowly through the downtown Manchester area, heading toward the hotel where Lorelei waited. Gage was one of the searchers of the group, somebody who could send out advanced energy, looking for anything dangerous. But now, with his energy damaged, almost fractured, he could only send out probes ten to fifteen feet in front of him. He murmured to Terk, “I am close to zero help to you in this shape.”

“If you’re referring to the leg, don’t worry about it.” Terk shrugged. “We’re all physically injured to a certain extent. And, as far as the energy goes, anything you can offer is still more than we could expect from anybody else.”

“Sure, but it’s one thing to send out a probe and to realize something’s out there. It’s another thing completely to send out a probe and to realize I can’t even get it out a few feet.”

“What is the distance now?” Terk asked him curiously, as they crossed the road, keeping an eye out around them to see if they were being followed.

“I’d say twelve feet—maybe fifteen if I push it.”

“Versus?”

“A couple hundred,” he noted, with a broken laugh.

“And can you feel anything within that limited space when you send out the probe?”

“Not so far.” Gage shook his head. “So I don’t even know if it’s working effectively at that.”

“Well, it’s working,” Terk pointed out. “We just don’t know if it’s a power issue. You can always take some from me or from someone around you, if you need to.”

“I’ve tried,” he admitted, “and I’m not taking anything from you. You’re already half supporting the rest of the team.”

“And you also, to a certain extent,” he added, “but I haven’t been giving you full power because of that.”

“Don’t think I haven’t noticed,” Gage said sharply. “Do you think I like the fact that I can’t seem to function on my own without you?”

“You will eventually. You just need some time,” he stated, comfortably.

Gage groaned. “You know how I feel about not keeping up on my own.”

“So, heal faster then,” Terk replied, with a teasing smile.

“Yeah, if only it were that easy.” He tilted his head. “Right before the attack on the team, I had just sent out probes into our operations to see what they were up to.”

“Hmm.” Terk seemed interested.

Gage looked over at Terk. “I wonder if that had something to do with them shutting us down.”

“I was just wondering what the trigger was.”

Gage nodded.

“Like what brought this on and what was happening that made them think we needed to be shut down at that particular point in time. If you were starting to access other people’s mental space with your abilities,” Terk guessed, “maybe they found out somehow, and that was one of the things they decided made us too dangerous.”

“I don’t know,” Gage replied. “I never thought of it that way.”

“And we don’t know that that is what prompted whoever to shut us down,” Terk stated. “I’m just always contemplating the reason why, trying to understand.”

“It would be nice to confirm though, wouldn’t it?”

“Yes, it sure would. Damon and Wade and I were wondering if they had a technology-based version of our team, ready and available to operate, and, as such, we were no longer needed. In fact, we would be more dangerous than any IT because they couldn’t control us.”

“That’s also a good reason to test any software on us, while shutting us down,” Gage agreed. “Wade did fill me in a little bit on that.”

“Good,” Terk noted. “It’s been a pretty confusing time, with everybody slowly regaining abilities and, so far, still not quite up to full form. We’re hampered and really shorthanded.”

“Yeah, it feels like we’re hampered all right.” Gage exploded with laughter. “That is definitely the understatement of all time.”

“Hey,” Terk reminded him, “we’re alive, and those of us who are functioning to some degree at least are doing whatever we can.”

“I get that,” Gage conceded. “It just sucks that what we can do doesn’t appear to be very much. Not very much at all.”

“Well, it’s still a damn sight more than we were able to do last week,” Terk noted. “And, at that point in time, I’ll remind you, you were still out cold.”

“I know. And you had guards on us too, didn’t you?”

“I tried,” he admitted. “And I started to get worried that maybe the guards would talk, so I ended up changing them out on a regular basis.”

Gage shook his head. “I really do owe you my life, man.”

“You don’t owe me jack shit,” Terk replied in a harsh voice. “Just help me deal with this, so we can at least have a life afterward, without looking over our shoulders forever.”

“Do you think that’ll ever be possible?”

Terk didn’t reply.

Curious to see and speak with Lorelei, they walked through the lobby and straight to the elevators. They deliberately kept their faces away from the cameras, and they were both wearing hats and overcoats. A little bit much for the weather but at least they were dealing with some rain outside. Inside the elevator, they relaxed ever-so-slightly, just not as much as they would have liked to.

Some things were instinctive, and others were impacted because things were still not quite up to snuff. A camera was in the elevator as well, so they kept their backs to it, until they stepped out on the right floor.

Once they made it to the room, the door opened easily under the twist of Terk’s hand on the knob. They stepped inside, Lorelei standing behind the door, her eyes huge. She held a finger to her lips, then held up a small device.

Making a soundless exclamation, Gage took it from her and swept it around the room. And, sure enough, in the lampstand on the far side of the bed was a bug. He took it out and dropped it in a glass of water and then did another sweep. When it came back negative, he nodded. “Okay, it’s clear.”

“Thank God.” Lorelei then walked over to Gage and picked up his hands and stared at him. “My God, it’s good to see you.” She asked him, “Are you okay?”

He gave her a lopsided grin, then tugged her into his arms. “Well, I’m really glad you’re asking, but I’m about 50 percent okay.”

“Well, sorry to say it, but I wouldn’t have guessed even that much, based on that slight limp and the way you look right now.”

He burst out laughing. “Well, there goes my ego. And here I thought I was doing so well.”

She shook her head. “Like your ego needs any stroking.” She snorted in disgust. Then she turned and looked at Terk, walking over toward him. “You don’t look so great either, you know?”

His gaze was strong and steady, as he smiled at her. “We love you too,” he replied gently.

She flashed him a look and shook her head. “It’s been really tough.”

“Tell us what happened with your accident.”

“I don’t even know what to say.” She shrugged, turned. “I was walking across the street to my home, and a car came out of nowhere and hit me. I think the only reason I’m still alive,” she guessed, “is that, in the last split second, I had an instant reflex. I jumped back, so it just caught my hip and leg.” She pointed to her leg, still in a walking brace.

Immediately Gage frowned and asked, “Is it broken?”

“No, it isn’t.” She shook her head. “Thankfully it’s just severely bruised and twisted. We thought this would be the easiest way to keep the alignment, while it slowly strengthened again. It’s one of those braces that you put on daily. I had it in my apartment from a prior injury my sister had, so I thought, why not? It does feel better too.”

Gage bent down and took a look at the leg. “The bruising is pretty bad for ten days later though.”

“Hey, it looks wonderful now,” she joked.

He stood, frowning. “When you said it came out of nowhere—”

“Yeah,” she added, “suddenly the vehicle was just there. I mean, maybe I was daydreaming or something. Maybe I just didn’t see it. I don’t know.” She wrapped her arms around her chest. “But honestly it was freaky the way it happened.”

He nodded quietly. “Any thought that it might have been deliberate?”

“Not until I heard about what happened to you guys,” she noted. “Then, yeah, I’ve had lots of thoughts about it since then.”

“Any conclusions?” Terk asked.

“Well, I think an asshole out there is hunting me. So it would be awfully nice to find him and to ask him those kinds of questions.”

“Yep, I hear you there,” Terk muttered. “Give me the details again. Where were you? Which corner was it? What time of day? Where else had you been?”

Calmly she went over it all again, providing as much detail as she could. “I was at home and decided I was a little short on groceries. So I walked up to the bakery just around the corner.” She pointed in that direction. “On my way back, I was crossing the road.” She walked over to the window, slowly limping her way there, then pointed to the corner. “It was that corner there.”

“So, you were almost home then,” Terk confirmed.

She nodded. “Almost, yes. And then all hell broke loose, and my peace and safety were taken from me.”

“I’m sorry,” Terk said. “It sounds very much like you were targeted, just as we were.”

“And that’s what I’m afraid of,” she stated. “I just don’t know why they would have targeted me though.”

“I don’t know either,” Terk agreed. “I don’t know why we were targeted, for that matter.” He faced her. “Have you been back to work?”

“No, I was given medical leave,” she replied, “and there’s no sign that my job is in jeopardy.”

“Has your access been reduced at all?”

“No, actually my boss asked me to do up some reports from here at home on my own time. Whenever I feel like it of course,” she noted, with an eye roll. “So my access hasn’t been limited.”

“Well, that’s a blessing at least,” both men said.

She shrugged. “Not really. It’s only a blessing if somebody is not tracking me while I’m at it.” She pointed at the lamp where the bug had been.

“That is quite possible as well,” Terk agreed. “We also lost somebody else in the department. Bob.”

She nodded. “I heard about that, but I didn’t think it was related. I heard he had a heart attack.”

“A convenient heart attack, I’m sure,” Gage noted.

“It just never occurred to me, until you guys were injured,” she replied.

“Wait. This corner right here?” Gage asked.

She nodded. “My apartment is on the other corner over there.” She pointed down the street.

“Why did you choose a hotel so close to home?”

“Partly hoping it might deceive them. And partly because I didn’t know where else to go, and at least I knew about this place,” she replied. “Plus, I haven’t been able to walk very far.”

Terk nodded.

“Chances are good that you shouldn’t be staying here though,” Gage stated.

“I don’t have anywhere else to go,” she admitted.

“I understand,” he answered. “We’ll have to find you a place and keep you safe.”

“I’d like to stay wherever you guys are,” she told them.

“Nope,” Gage said instantly.

She glared at him. “Why not? If this is related to you, I’m already in danger.”

“Quite true,” he noted, “but we can’t look after you the way you need to be looked after.”

“Nobody else is around to look after me,” she clarified. “And, if the government is after me, which I hope to God it’s not,” she added, “I can’t fight it anyway.”

“I would hope it’s not the government, but we don’t know that,” Gage murmured.

“I know. I know,” she agreed. “And I shouldn’t have said that, but, I mean, you must have suspicions about it.”

“Obviously,” Gage stated, “and you’re right to worry. It’s just that we don’t have answers yet.”

“What do you know?” she asked, sounding frustrated.

Gage frowned, looked to Terk, and then slowly filled her in on some of it.

“So some of the team is okay then,” she stated quietly, “but not all.”

Gage shook his head. “No, not all, and we’re not letting anybody know if anybody is okay or not.”

“Facial recognition would have picked up the two of you,” she pointed out, “if anybody was looking anyway.”

“Yes, that’s true,” Gage confirmed, “but we must move around some, just to keep our intel going. And, since everybody is still not at full strength, we’re in danger of being taken down just because of our weaknesses. Thus we do some surveillance, which requires the risk of getting around.”

“The disguises help of course.” She looked at them both again. “I almost didn’t recognize you when you walked in.”

“Well, it’s us,” Gage stated quietly. “Now the problem is, who is after you, why are they after you, and does it have anything to do with us?”

“I can’t see how it would be a separate issue,” she replied, “but I guess it’s possible.”

“Is there anybody else in your world who would like to see you dead?”

She looked at Gage quietly and nodded. “Yeah, my ex. We separated over two years ago, and he’s pissed at how the divorce came out.”

“And is that something he would kill you over?”

“If he thought it would give him the inheritance, yes.”

“What inheritance?”

“My family has money,” she explained, “and I recently came into several million dollars.”

“But if you two are already divorced, how does he figure he would get access to that?” Gage asked, tilting his head and studying her.

“Because I got the money before we were divorced.”

He winced at that. “So doesn’t that mean it depends on how the judge viewed the details of the case?”

“Yes,” she agreed, “though it all happened in the same time frame, so it’s definitely been an ugly scenario. However, the judge ruled in my favor, so it’s my money, and my ex is definitely not in my will. So I don’t know whether it could have been pettiness or maybe, you know, his final answer. Like it would serve me right. Or who knows? Maybe he has another plan in mind to get the money.”

“Children?” Terk asked her.

She shook her head. “No, but I do have guardianship over my sister, who also received a large sum of money.”

“Guardianship?”

She slowly nodded her head. “Yes, my sister is under full medical care in a home,” she explained. “She was hurt in a bad car accident, when she was eight years old, and she’s not been capable of living on her own ever since.”

“So she also has the same amount of money?”

“More actually,” she noted, “and she’ll need it to see to her care for the rest of her life.”

“So, as her guardian, you dispense that money as you see fit?”

“Correct.” She nodded. “Which, in my world, means, looking after my sister. But, in my ex’s world, maybe not. Honestly he wanted her brought home and a nurse hired to look after her.”

“So, to some people, that would seem a better option than a more institutional setting,” Terk added carefully, looking at her. “Does she know you?”