Page 9 of Brax

“It should hurt,” said Eric. “Don’t be a fucking idiot. Everyone can see that you have feelings for the woman, and God help her, she’s got feelings for you. Stop drowning in your pity party. Get your shit straight and talk to her. She’s worth it, Brax.”

“He’s right,” said Luke. “Did you know that she interviewed with the Comeaux brothers for their construction company, and she’s interviewing with someone else this afternoon?”

“What? I knew about the one today, but the fucking Comeaux brothers?” he yelled. The entire plane turned to stare at him. “Why in the hell would she do that? That’s beneath her.”

“Why don’t you ask her? Nicely. She did it because she can’t stand to look at your ugly fucking face any longer and know that you don’t want her,” said Luke. “God, I swear sometimes you guys are dumb as fence posts.”

The others all chuckled, but Brax didn’t find any of it funny.

“Don’t worry, lover boy,” smiled Evie. “We’ll be home shortly, and hopefully, you can stop her.”

Brax immediately ran toward Stephanie’s cottage, barging inside only to find it empty.

“No,” he whispered.

“She left. It was supposed to be just an interview. But then she said she’d spend a few nights in town just to clear her head, but she took everything with her,” said Grip. “Something is wrong. I can feel it in my bones, in my soul. You need to find her.”

“Shit!”

Running toward one of the SUVs, he took off down the road, then heard someone in his comms.

“Brax? I have her on River Road, but the car has stopped. Something is wrong. All the warning lights are going off. I’m sending you help.”

“Oh, shit,” he muttered. “Please. Please, no. Please.”

As he sped toward the signal, he noticed the cars stopped on the side of the road, and Stephanie’s car turned over on the road ahead.

“No. God, no,” he whispered. “Please. Don’t take her from me.”

He raced toward the vehicle, sliding to his knees beside the window.

“We’ve tried to get her out, but nothing is working,” said a man. Behind him, Brax felt a grip on his shoulder. Looking back, Flip nodded at him, and he stepped aside.

Gripping the handle, Flip realized that everyone was watching, even a few people filming the entire thing on their cell phones.

“Give me a hand,” he said to Brax and the other men. “Grip the edge where it’s pulled away.”

They all nodded, knowing that Flip would be able to pull the door off all by himself. Within seconds, it was torn from the car and pushed aside.

“Baby? Steph, look at me, honey.” Brax was literally pleading with an unconscious woman, praying that she could hear his voice.

“She’s unconscious,” said Cruz, kneeling beside her. “I need a neck brace and backboard. Let’s move everyone!”

“I’m staying with the car,” said Flip. “The shop tow truck is on the way. We’re going to look at this thing.”

“Why?” frowned Brax.

“Because it’s not an accident.”

CHAPTER FIVE

“Why won’t she wake up?” he whispered to Gabi and the others on the medical team.

“Brax, she’s had a significant head injury. Fiona has reduced the swelling in the brain, but we’re bringing her out of this slowly. I need you to be patient.” Gabi curled her nose at him. “I also need for you to be clean. Go take a damn shower. Your brother brought some things for you. Head to the surgeons’ showers and get clean. She doesn’t want to wake up to that smell.”

Reluctantly, Brax left the room and caught a good whiff of himself, realizing that he did smell. He couldn’t believe no one had said anything sooner. He’d been sitting beside her for a week, praying, talking to her, reading to her and apologizing with every breath he took.

“How is she?” asked Benji, poking his head in.

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