Page 71 of Edge of Danger

“I’m okay. I’m okay.” But she jumped when Weston rushed into the warehouse with his gun drawn.

“He had a friend with him,” Weston reported. “He had a bead on you from outside the building. I took care of him.” Seconds later, red and blue flashing lights flooded through the windows and the open door.

So that was where the shot had come from. It had been his brother saving his life.

Brax could only wrap his arms around Tessa, wanting to pull her inside of him and keep her there forever.

“You’re safe now,” he whispered into her ear as she trembled. “You’re safe. It’s all okay.”

“You could’ve gotten yourself killed!” She glared up at him. “Don’t you know that? What would’ve happened if you had ended up dead?”

“I didn’t care about staying alive as long as you had a chance to get away.”

Her eyes welled up with fresh tears. “Don’t say that. Don’t say you were willing to die for me.”

“What if it’s the truth?” He tucked her hair behind her ear, letting his fingers linger against her smooth jaw, her throat, her cheek. “I knew when you were standing there with that gun to your head that I wasn’t interested in living if it meant being without you. Because I love you.”

“Yeah?” In spite of the tears now pouring down her cheeks, she smiled.

“Oh, yeah,” he whispered. “I love you, Tessa Mahoney. And I would face a hundred armed gunmen for your sake. You and Walker are my entire world. You’re all I want. All I’ll ever need.”

He caught her lips in the sweetest, most tender kiss. As precious as she’d been to him before then, having almost lost her only made every moment she was in his arms more meaningful.

“I love you so much,” she beamed before falling against him, her wet cheek on his chest. He held her, stroking her hair, watching as Robert, Hawkins and Prince Riviera were led away in zip ties.

“You managed to get Riviera’s confession too.” Weston grinned, striding over to them. “Talking all about how he planned to kill a witness. You don’t need to testify now, brother. I’d call that a solid day’s work.”

Brax could only laugh. “Yeah. A solid day’s work.”

Chapter Twenty-Six

“Let me help you with that.” Tessa handed Walker off to Brax before hurrying to help Sheila with the food she was taking from the oven.

“You’ve gone to so much trouble.” Claire marveled, looking over the spread Brax’s mother had prepared.

“It’s no trouble, fixing my boys’ favorite dishes.” Sheila beamed as she looked over the full kitchen. “Having everybody here at once is more than enough reason to celebrate. But today is important. Worthy of a feast.”

Tessa grinned over at Brax, who lifted Walker’s hand in a wave.

“That’s right, pal,” he murmured. “You and Mama are going to be together for always now.”

“It only took four weeks.” Clinton shook his head as he entered the room. “Let it never be said the wheels of justice turn quickly.”

“We know all about that,” Sheila reminded him. “Not so much the justice bit, but waiting for red tape to be cleared. We went through it four times, remember?”

Clinton slid an arm around his wife and kissed the top of her head.

Brax marveled, and not for the first time, at how lucky he’d been. He had a couple of parents who’d always been an example of a loving partnership. One based on mutual respect, friendship, and affection.

Claire paused in the middle of putting together a fruit salad. “How does it feel now that the judge has restored your parental rights?”

“Like I’ve been given the whole world.” Tessa glowed. She might as well have floated above the floor she was so overjoyed.

Brax knew how she felt. He’d felt that way once he was certain that she was safe, that there was nothing and no one who could hurt her anymore.

Knowing she had full custody again brought him deep satisfaction too. This was how it should be.

“Game’s on,” Luke announced before rummaging through the fridge for a drink.

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