Page 54 of Edge of Danger

She was falling in love with Brax Patterson.

Chapter Twenty

If Brax had his choice of anybody in the world to work alongside, he would’ve chosen his brothers every time.

Things usually got intense when the stakes were high, but it had never been like this. For one thing, he was normally the one breaking the tension. Trying to pick up everybody’s spirits, keeping the group from splintering due to emotions running high and hot.

Now? It was his brothers’ turns to calm him.

“When I think of what could’ve happened...” He ran his hands through his hair before resting them on top of his head, almost like he was holding it in place. That was how it felt. Like his head might fall off because of everything going on inside.

“Here’s an idea—stop thinking about it.” Chance didn’t bother softening this with a smile.

“He’s right. You’re driving yourself crazy.” Luke patted Brax’s shoulder on his way to the break room for fresh coffee.

Easy for them to say. Like he could let go of everything he’d seen and felt last night. There wasn’t much in the world powerful enough to scare him. Last night qualified.

“But what if I’d been working late? What if it had been just Tessa and the baby at home? What if I hadn’t been there?” He looked around the conference room, where they were working together to put a plan in place.

Weston blew out a long sigh. “It could’ve been much worse.”

“What if we hadn’t been awake at the time?” he continued, remembering the kisses in the kitchen, how sweet it had been to have Tessa in his arms. Close to him.

How right it had felt, bringing Walker downstairs for his feeding. How...satisfying. Like having a little family of his own. It had all fallen to pieces so fast. But like Weston had pointed out, it could’ve been so much worse.

Chance had his whiteboard out and the thing looked like some abstract masterpiece. Multicolored words and phrases scrawled everywhere. It was like he was planning an invasion.

Alibi.Witnesses.Testimony.

Brax’s insides twisted at the sight of the wordalibi. It referred to the iron-clad alibi Prince Riviera had presented to the cops during questioning. For both events. There’d been a dozen people hanging out together at that time of the morning. A dozen people willing and eager to offer proof of their late-night partying. How convenient.

And even if Prince had been partying like he’d said, it didn’t matter. He didn’t have to be physically present at the scene for his thugs to do the dirty work for him—if anything, it was more likely that he would send them on ahead to keep his hands clean.

Like a man in his position ever had clean hands. He was the weakest, most cowardly one of them all.

Weston noticed Brax staring at the whiteboard. “You know, not a single cop in San Antonio believes a word that comes out of Riviera’s mouth. Or his so-called associates.”

Brax shook his head. “It doesn’t do anybody on their hit list much good to know the police don’t believe the bad guys. Not when there isn’t enough evidence to tie said bad guys to anything. Doesn’t make them any safer.”

“Agreed. But law enforcement are on your side.”

“I hope they still are when I need them again.” Though if he had it his way, he wouldn’t need them. Brax would take care of Prince Riviera on his own. With his bare hands if necessary.

Brax gladly accepted the fresh coffee Luke brought back for him. “Why is it that when we need to be our sharpest, it’s usually when we’re lacking sleep? Is it just me or is that the way it goes?”

Luke gave a one-shouldered shrug. “I know what you mean. You saw how I was when Claire was in the thick of it.”

“As long as I make it through the next five days and get the pleasure of testifying against Riviera, at least one of my problems will be solved.”

Luke didn’t share Brax’s hopeful grin. In fact, he looked downright pained when he sat. He frowned at Brax. “I know this isn’t what you want to hear, but do you think it’s a good idea to look at the trial as the end of the road?”

“What do you mean?”

“I mean Riviera isn’t the sort of guy who lets bygones be bygones. Let’s say he goes to prison thanks to your testimony. You think he’ll let it all go because he’s behind bars? If anything, he’ll be more determined than ever to get back at you.”

The coffee went sour in Brax’s mouth. Not that it had been all that great in the first place.

“Why didn’t I think of that?” He looked around at his brothers as if any of them could give him an answer. “What’s wrong with me?”

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