Free SAGE by Jessica Caryn Page B

gloves.
    “What’s this?” Scott asked.
    I glanced over my shoulder.
    “See you in a few days”   I told him. 
    “Not so fast.”  Scott said.
    “Leave the other duffel bag.”  
    I laughed. “It’s our 35 percent.” 
    “It hasn’t been counted.” 
    “The weight seems about right.”  
    Mitch flinched.
    Sage pulled her gun.
    “Calm down.” Scott told her.
    “I am calm.” She smiled.
    “We need a chain of command.”   Scott said.
    “I am command.”  I told him. 
    Scott turned away.
    I guess Mitch would live to see another day.
    We left. I gave Sage the mask, gloves, and decals.
    She tucked them into her empty backpack. 
    We walked through the brush to the car. 
    A few minutes later we were on the road. 
    Sage tossed the duffel bag in the back seat. She grabbed it, tossed it again, and then put on a pair of latex gloves. She reached down and grabbed the heavy plastic at her feet. She pulled it up and over her and then put the duffel bag on her lap. She shook it hard and then unzipped it. She put her hand inside and then checked the glove. No dye. The money was clean. She zipped the duffel bag and threw it in the backseat, folded the plastic, put it on the floor, and then picked up the back pack. She took out the guns.
    She would check the safety, take out the clip, release the bullet from the chamber, push it into the clip and move to the next.  She double checked and then put the empty guns and clips into the backpack. Damn she was perfect for me. I thought about the job. Scott wasn’t a professional. His boss needed me. I didn’t have a name on her yet but I will. This was a test but it showed me more than they realized.
    Sage sighed and I came out of my thoughts. She ran her hand through my hair and then rubbed my neck. I groaned because I wanted to pull the car over and fuck her. Her lips brushed my jaw and I felt her hand under my shirt. She settled in for the ride.
    The drive to Nashville, Tennessee went fast. I pulled over and popped the truck. Sage picked up the back pack. I grabbed the duffel bag. We got out the car and went to the trunk. I removed the side panel. She gave me the pack. I took out the van decals, zipped up the pack and put it in the hidden compartment. I snapped the panel back in place.
    I put the duffel bag in the space for the spare tire. We didn’t want anyone to find the guns. The money could be replaced. Sage folded the decals and tucked them under her arm. We walked to the pedestrian bridge. We stopped in the middle. I knew she wanted to enjoy the view.  She stared at the Cumberland River for a minute. Her eyes sparkled as she watched the rays of light bounce along the city skyline. She unfolded the van decals and tossed them. They drifted in the air until they hit the water and dissolved. I held her and we watched the sunset.  She sighed. She wanted to dream that Nashville was home. I had a surprise for her but for me home was wherever she was. We got in the car and drove into the city.
    I knew she would take it all in. I drove through the grand entrance and she squealed. Her eyes followed the beautiful gardens that ran the length of the private driveway. I parked the car outside of the mansion style resort.  A valet came and opened the passenger door for her. Sage gave him a soft thank you. She was cute when she was shy. I tossed the keys to him and then took her hand. We went up the steps. She stopped, pulled her hair tie, and shook out her hair. It fell around her shoulders in a wild mass. She bit her lip and asked if she looked okay. I told her she was the most beautiful thing I’ve ever laid eyes on. She blushed. We went inside and up to the front desk. I was given a key card.  She waited until we were in the elevator to tell me she wanted to touch everything in the lobby. I laughed and took her hand. We got off at our floor. I found our room and opened the door. We went inside. She covered her face in surprise. We had the best view of the