Page 13 of Brax

“Okay,” he nodded, taking a bite of his burger. “That’s good to know. So, it’s nothing to do with work. Maybe it was a mistake.”

“I mean, it could be,” she nodded, taking a bite of the creamy crab bisque. “It’s not like you could see through the windows of the SUV. All except the windshield are limousine dark. Someone would have to have seen me through the windshield if they were shooting at me, and if they wanted me dead, they could have shot through it.”

“Shit,” he muttered. “That’s true. Let’s not think about that right now. I don’t know what I would have done if, if something…” Brax just shook his head, unable to say anything.

“Brax,” she said softly, reaching for his hand. “Why didn’t you just talk to me? You knew how I was feeling about being so different. Surely, you knew that I wouldn’t have said anything about you being different as well.”

“I think I knew that in my heart, but my head was putting up a damn good argument to walk away. When I kissed you on your porch, I thought that would tell you how I felt and you’d stay. I was so stupid.” She smiled at him, shaking her head slowly.

“You weren’t stupid, but it would have helped if you’d have said something to me along with the kiss.”

“I know,” he nodded. “Damn, I’m so sorry.”

“So, if you can still get an erection and have sex, then you’ve had other partners, right?”

“Yes,” he nodded. “I’ve had a few. Some thought it was weird that I didn’t have balls, I mean, testicles.”

“Balls works,” she laughed.

“Others had pity for me, which I hated! I dated a girl for a few months, and she was wonderful about it, but I didn’t love her. I knew I didn’t love her, and she desperately wanted kids. She kept saying she wanted me to go to specialists, and I told her I’d gone to the best medical team in the world. I finally just stopped calling her, and she didn’t seem to care.”

“I’m sorry you had to go through that.” She took the last bite of the banana pudding and shoved the tray forward. Brax moved it to the small dresser and sat down beside her again.

“What about you?” he asked, holding her hand. “Was there ever anyone for you?”

“Two men. At different times. One worked in the pharmacy in Maine. He knew that I couldn’t afford the medications to keep me from having seizures, and he was giving them to me. We became friends and then more.”

“What happened?”

“I found out he was married,” she sighed. “It never occurred to me to ask that. I was new to the world, so to speak. I stopped going to him for the medicines, in a manner of speaking. I was stealing them, and he was looking the other way. The other guy worked in the grocery store and was trying to help me. He wanted me to move in with him, but I was terrified that I would be held captive again.”

“I’m so sorry you went through all of that. I obviously didn’t make things easier for you here. I just didn’t know how to approach it. I mean, you were hurting when you got here, we were trying to help with the seizures and your medications, and it always seemed like a rotten time for me to tell you how I was feeling. I wasn’t avoiding you at the house, Steph. I was scared out of my mind. Again, I’m sorry about that.”

“We’re all good now,” she yawned. “I think I need to sleep. When can I go home? To our home?” Her eyes fluttered shut, and Brax smiled, giving her a sweet kiss.

“As soon as they say we can leave, honey.”

CHAPTER SEVEN

“Long-range rifle, probably with a scope. Definitely a professional or at least someone with the funds and ability to buy professional equipment. The car in front of her belonged to someone local. He said he noticed that she kept wiping her eyes, maybe crying or something. She leaned toward the passenger seat and swerved, which may have caused the first shot to miss.

“The second shot hit just as she was speeding up, which caused the car to hit the curb and flip. He stopped, ducking for a moment, worried it was random, then got out. He was there when we arrived. He checks out,” said Skull.

“Any thoughts on where the shooter was?” asked Luke.

“There’s not a lot along that section of River Road. She would have just appeared from our stealth netting, coming around that bend,” said AJ. “There are a few homes along there, but all are occupied. It’s more likely that the individual was in one of the trees.”

“Why do you say that?” asked Brax.

“Trajectory of the bullet. Both were on a downward slope. The shooter was either very tall or standing in a tree or on a ladder.” Brax nodded, staring at the photos of the SUV.

“So, we believe it was intended for her,” muttered Brax.

“Brax, we’re not sure, but he’s right. The windshield would have revealed the identity of the driver,” said Hex.

“But they must have been waiting there for weeks to see if she would drive by. Plus, someone would have had to have known she was here at Belle Fleur. How is that possible?” he asked.

“That’s what we’re trying to figure out now,” said Luke.

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