Page 63 of Edge of Danger

“The Patterson brothers will make sure of it?” She pulled back just enough to look him in the eye, searching for answers.

“Right.”

“Not you, personally?” She narrowed her eyes at him. “I’m not saying you have to do it all yourself. But you’ve always made it sound like you were the one fighting for me and Walker. Why shift it to your brothers now? What am I missing?”

The way his brows drew together spoke volumes. So she was right. Brax Patterson wasn’t exactly an open book, but she’d learned enough about him to know how he operated.

He took the situation with her and Walker seriously. Personally. He might rely on his brothers for help, but he would never straight up outsource.

“Things are getting more dangerous with Riviera and the cartel. You of all people know that.” He stroked her hair, looking deep into her eyes. “I might have to go off the grid for a while because of it. I won’t do it until you’re completely in the clear. I swear it.”

Her chest ached. Her throat went tight.

He was leaving her.

Maybe he had never been with her in the first place.

Sure, those few kisses had been mind-blowing, but that was all they had. No promises.

She sat up straighter, patting the hand on the back of her head. He let it fall away. “So you’re going away to keep yourself safe. That’s smart. It’s what I would want you to do. Those guys—”

“Tessa—”

“—Those guys won’t stop until they shut you up. I mean, it won’t be easy on you.”

“Would you listen to me?”

She tried to turn away, to reposition herself on the couch so he couldn’t see the emotion she fought against. The disappointment crushing her insides.

He wasn’t having it. “Listen, please.” Taking her by the shoulders, he turned her to him. “Do you think I’m trying to run away from you? Nothing could be further from the truth. Don’t you know by now how much I want to be part of your life? Not just Walker’s life, but yours. I want us to be together. But not if it means putting you in jeopardy. You are my number one concern right now. Do you believe me?”

There was no other way to answer. “Yes.”

“Good.”

“So what’s your plan?”

He shot her a rueful smile. “Funny you should ask, since it involves you. Don’t worry,” he was quick to add at her sharp intake of breath. “It’s nothing huge. You don’t have to show your face, and you don’t have to even speak to Robert. For the record, he has no idea you’re even in town, and we’re going to keep it that way.”

“Okay.” But her voice sounded shaky even to her.

“I’m going to need you to call that guy. The one who tracked you down. We have his name now, thanks to Robert, and his contact information. Don’t bother asking.”

Her mouth snapped shut, because she’d been about to ask how they managed it. The Pattersons had their ways.

“You’ll call him and tell him you know where Robert is. That’s all you have to do. My brothers and I and the police will handle the rest. If all goes as planned—and there’s no reason it shouldn’t—both Robert and this Jakob Hawkins who’s been terrorizing you will be arrested. And you’ll be free.”

“Free.” The word fell from her lips like a prayer. It felt foreign, like a language she hadn’t learned yet.

“That’s what I want for you.” He kissed her forehead, her cheeks. “I want you to be free and to feel safe. You deserve nothing less than the whole world. I might not be able to give you the whole world, but I can give you this.”

And she would accept it gladly, though she wanted more. She wanted the man whose arms she was now in. The man who would put his plans to keep himself safe from the cartel on hold to ensure she was taken care of first.

He was her miracle. Everything she could ever want.

She kissed him, melting into his arms. She kissed him over and over. Every time their mouths met, she only wanted more. Like a thirst that got worse the more she drank.

She’d never have enough.

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