Page 128 of Tapped

He sneezes in her face and pulls his T-shirt up to use as a tissue this time. Shit, I had no idea kids can be so gross.

He looks up at his mom and brushes her off. “Sort of.”

Brax climbs out of the car. “Load up. I know you had wifi on the plane, but this was not a conversation to be had over text.”

Rocco throws our suitcases in the back of a black Suburban before turning to me and holds his arms out wide. “You can thank me anytime.”

“What am I thanking you for?” I ask.

“Dude, I found your guy.”

I pause taking in what he said, but Evie definitely does not pause and steps in front of me. “You found him? Braim?”

He lifts both shoulders and exhales like he’s the shit—which if this is true, then he is. “This morning. I was on my way home from my shift and stopped to get gas. There was a guy in the next bay doing the same with a ball cap pulled down wearing a pair of shades, and the sun wasn’t even up. It was like the Unabomber all over again. When he turned to the side, he looked familiar. So, I thought what the hell and called his name.”

“You’re never going to believe this,” Tim mutters.

I run my hand through my hair. “You just called his name?”

Roc looks around at the group like we’re the idiots. “What, did you want me to tackle him right there at the gas pump? I didn’t know for sure if it was him.”

“Wait.” Evie grips my arm. “You mean, he’s in custody?”

“It wasn’t that easy,” Rocco explains. “The moment I called his name, he jerked his head down, jumped in his car, while it was filling up, and peeled out. I took off after him and called for backup.”

“In your personal car?” I ask, trying to picture what went down on the streets of Miami.

“Like I said,” Rocco keeps on. “I’m the shit.”

“At least it happened before the early-morning rush,” Brax adds. “It was all over the news.”

“It still is.” Rocco’s smile swells into a wolfish grin. “It was epic. You can watch the highlights later.”

“This is the best news ever,” Evie says, leaning into me as Chase hangs on my other arm and swings back and forth.

I put my arm around her and hold her to my side but look back at my friends. “You’re sure it’s him?”

Rocco looks put out. “You’re questioning my skills?”

“It’s Braim,” Tim assures me. “He’s been processed and questioned. He even has the GSW to the thigh—his little memento from you.”

I exhale. “You could have at least texted me. We spent the whole trip here tense about what we were walking into.”

Evie tugs at my tee. “You said you weren’t worried.”

I tip my head. “I lied.”

Brax frowns at me. “That’s no way to start a relationship.”

“You’re one to talk given your marriage was based on a lie in the beginning,” I mutter.

“Can we go to Grandma and Grandpa’s now?” Chase whines.

I stop swinging him. “Change of plans. You can go home.”

“Really?” Chase squeals.

“Eventually,” Brax amends. “Sorry, Evie. We need to swing by the office since it’s on the way to your house. Everything is happening at the same time, and if Micah is not at this meeting, all hell will break loose.”

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