Page 57 of Edge of Danger

“People like you are good at playing the victim, aren’t you?” Brax asked, forgetting everything else for the moment in favor of trying to understand his brother just a little.

“What do you mean?”

“If you can jump in and pretend to be hurt first, you’re deflecting from the problem at hand. It’s how you go through your life, isn’t it? Always trying to stay a step ahead, trying to distract people long enough so that they won’t have the opportunity to kill you for the harm you’ve caused.”

Something flickered in Robert’s eyes. Something like understanding. Maybe even fear.

It cleared quickly. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Of course, you don’t.” Brax pulled out a chair. “You have a lot of explaining to do.”

The trick to this little interrogation would be avoiding the topic of Tessa. He couldn’t let Robert know she was back in Walker’s life or that he’d even met her. Tessa was supposed to be dead, according to the little story Robert had told, and if Brax had any hope of prying the truth from somebody so disassociated from truth, it would mean stepping carefully.

A shame, since it would’ve been gratifying to see him sweat over the legal ramifications of falsified documents.

But no, what mattered more was Tessa. If Robert contacted CPS and they took Walker away from her again, it would break her. Brax had no doubt.

He glanced up at one of the discreet cameras mounted in the corner of the room. They’d be watching.

It was Robert who spoke first. “I want Walker back.”

Brax whirled on him. This was the last thing he’d expected. An explanation, maybe. A sob story, likely. But this?

“What are you talking about? You had the paperwork drawn up and everything. Is this some kind of a game to you?”

“Things have changed.” How the man could sit there, unblinking, and deliver such a load of...

Brax shook his head. “That doesn’t matter. You don’t drag the law into something and then up and change your mind. What gives?”

Robert didn’t respond.

Brax took a chair, straddled it, facing his brother. “I mean it. Fess up. What’s this really about?”

“I told you. Things have changed.” Only now he was shifting slightly in his chair. Uncomfortable.

Brax decided to press harder on that uncomfortable spot. “You just decided you want your son back? After awarding me guardianship? It doesn’t seem like the sort of decision a person randomly changes their mind about.”

“It wasn’t random.”

“So why, then? Why is he suddenly convenient to your life?”

Robert rolled his eyes with a heavy, put-on sigh. “I miss the little guy. He’s my son. Isn’t it right that I miss him? I mean, you’re the moral authority. You tell me.”

Brax snorted. “Moral authority? Fine. I’ll give you moral authority—you can’t pass your kid off like an inconvenient house plant whenever you feel like it, then decide you made a mistake and want him back. I know he’s just a baby, but it’s not good for him to lose his routine like that. You’ve already done it once. Now, he’s in a routine with a nanny he likes.” That was as much as he could admit about Tessa.

“You just said it yourself. He’s a baby.” Robert drew this out like he was talking to one just then. “It doesn’t matter yet. He won’t remember any of this.”

“Because you’re an expert in child development now?”

“Are you?”

“You might be surprised what I’ve had to learn on the fly,” Brax murmured, holding Robert’s gaze. “When a few days turned into this many weeks.”

“Okay, okay, I admit I lost my head a little.” Robert sat back, hands in the air. “It happens to everybody. I couldn’t see myself making it work. I figured I was no good for the kid and you would be a better parent. I mean, look at you. All settled into your fancy office and your bros out there.”

“Watch it,” Brax warned, always aware of those cameras.

“But I changed my mind,” Robert continued. So intense, like he believed himself.

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