Page 120 of At the Edge of Surrender

I was going to love that little girl with every beat of my heart for all my days, no matter the circumstances.

It was because of who Emery was.

Whatever I’d recognized in her in that beat of awareness the first time I’d seen her.

Her presence spearing through me, flaying me down to thatsacred spot where I’d kept all the pain and loss shored. Where I’d convinced myself that I was so much better going it alone.

Living life without any attachments other than the ones that had been made to my family. Thinking I’d been given one purpose and that was the extent of what I deserved. Thinking I couldn’t shoulder the burden of loving because when that love was ripped away, it hurt too fucking bad.

But maybe I’d known it in that second.

In that hammering of one single moment.

One thing I knew for sure? It was the way my pulse went erratic when my phone finally blipped with a response.

I’d been tiptoeing since I’d gotten back yesterday.

Giving Emery a moment to wrap her head around what had happened between us on the phone while I’d been away.

Little Warrior

Are you trying to sweet talk me right now?

The night seeped in through the windows though I was wide fucking awake.

Very aware that she was only twenty feet down the hall. Every ounce of restraint I possessed kept me locked behind closed doors.

But we needed this.

For her to get me.

To know me.

To trust me.

I was the last fucking guy on the planet she should since I was telling so many lies, but I didn’t know how to let her in on who I really was.

It was dangerous pulling her into it.

Both for her and my crew.

Our secrets deep and profound.

If she had an inkling of what we did, of how dark my quest for justice went, she’d run and take my daughter with her when she did, and likely that running would take her straight to the police.

How the hell did you reveal those parts of yourself when they were so twisted?

And still, I wanted this woman to know everything about me.

Me

Of course, I’m trying to sweet talk you. How else am I supposed to get you to give me one of those smiles?

It seemed to take forever before she finally responded.

Little Warrior

For a long, long time, I didn’t have any of those. Not until I met you.

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