Page 4 of Edge of Danger

Robert snorted. “He wasn’t going to run away, you know.” He dropped a diaper bag on the floor by his feet.

Brax blinked hard. Had he gone to bed, after all? Was this all a mixed-up dream? “You’re going to need to explain a few things to me. When did you have a baby? Where is his mother? Why are you bringing him here to me? Where do I come in?”

“Wow. Where should I start?” Robert placed the car seat on the coffee table. The baby stirred slightly but didn’t make a sound. “His name is Walker. He’s...uh...like four-and-a-half months old now or something.”

Robert a father? It would’ve made Brax laugh in any other circumstance. “Okay. Why is he here?”

“I need you to watch him for a few days while I do what I have to do.”

He was so cool about it. Like it was nothing. Like it wasn’t the biggest favor one estranged half brother could ask another.

If this had come from any of his other brothers, it would’ve been one thing—a big thing, considering Brax had no experience with babies—but Robert?

“Are you out of your mind? I don’t know the first thing about babies. You think you can show up here at this time of night after not speaking for, what, at least a year? And drop your son on my doorstep? What about his mother?”

“His mother’s dead.”

That took a little of the wind out of Brax’s sails. “Oh. I’m sorry to hear that.”

“Don’t worry about it.” Robert lifted a shoulder. “I never liked her that much.”

Brax scrubbed a hand down his face. What could he possibly say to that?

Robert pointed to the diaper bag on the floor. “Everything you’ll need for a few days is in there. Diapers, formula, all that stuff. He’s a good baby. Everybody who’s ever been around him says so. He doesn’t cry all that much. When he’s hungry, when he needs a change. Otherwise, he just sorta lays there.”

Brax bit his tongue against what threatened to come out, knowing if he raised his voice it might wake the kid.Maybe you leave him lying there because you’re a terrible parent who probably doesn’t care about him—or why else would you leave him with me?

“I’ve got to go. I can’t wait around while you keep telling me you can’t do it. I’m in a hurry.” Robert wiped fresh sweat off his brow. He wasn’t pretending. The man was really and truly scared half out of his mind over something.

The reason he needed that money in such a hurry, no doubt.

The baby stirred again. This time, he let out a soft sigh in his sleep. It was the sigh that got Brax. Softened his heart.

“Okay.” Brax held out his hands to try to get Robert to think this through. “Let’s compromise. Why don’t you stay here for a few days? I’ll do everything I can to help you. I have resources through my company. You won’t be in any danger here. Nobody would even think to look for you.”

Robert, he noticed, didn’t bother pretending there wouldn’t be anyone looking for him. He ran his hands through his sweaty hair, jaw twitching, nostrils flaring. Not meeting Brax’s eyes.

His answer came as a surprise. “Yeah, okay. We’ll both stay here. Thank you.”

Brax had expected another few minutes of argument, at least. He decided to take what he could get without questioning it. “I’ll give you the spare room on the other side of the house. You look like you could use the sleep.” Robert carried the baby and the bag upstairs and practically collapsed into bed, confirming Brax’s suspicions. The man was exhausted. No telling how long he’d been on the run.

The baby seemed content in the carrier next to Robert on the bed, so Brax backed out, closing the door behind him. He headed back to his own bedroom.

He stared up at the ceiling for a long time. It took a while for him to finally stop thinking about the situation, wondering exactly what happened. About his brother, the baby, the dead mother. And what had brought Robert to his doorstep.

The sound of Walker’s cries woke Brax in the morning. At first, he thought it was a dream. But then it all came back at once. He covered his head with a pillow in hopes of muffling the incessant noise.

“Robert!” he yelled. “The kid’s crying his head off! Try taking care of him!”

He received no response. Not even the slamming of a door. The crying continued, getting louder.

A sick certainty took root in Brax’s gut and started to grow. He got out of bed and walked down the hall, almost positive what he’d find before he even opened the bedroom door.

One baby, still in a car seat. The room stank of whatever mixture was starting to soak through the kid’s diaper and the little outfit he wore over top.

No Robert.

A note sat on the pillow.I’ll be back before you’re out of diapers. I promise.

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