ing.” She blinked up at him.

d talking is a good sign. She wouldn’t perform the surgery i

rstand.” She wr

help

it left. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t yell. Y

and frustration. So let me have it. I’m a tough

er head. “I

g under the surface. Yank the lid off and spew.” He tried to smile to

loose like

should, p

top on all that repressed tension. Then, watch out. Brea with her hair down

oped he pr

eria, got her a sandwich and a s

aid as she pushed away the rest of her

long as she wanted him. Probably lo

rely kn

. “I want t

shioners, Mama Sweeney, and probably Cutter the asswipe would show up. Brea would feel obligated to g

ed. “Focus on y

will never wo

ile was expecting a lot of blah-blah and bullshit about Cutter an

’t kno

at. I’m game.

. “I know what you

s doing the world a goddamn favor by offing scum. “Good. Then

scare

Brea credit;

eld her hand. “I said I’d

er seat. “Not tha

r felt that before? Cutter must be a literal wet noodle in the sack, but t

forth across her so-soft palm.

“Are you this adamant wit

n. “No. But I’ve neve

ly don’t

s me that I shouldn

erc

Pierce was

t like it’s

ver comprehend the bleeding asshole his had been. “Having s

d you could make it your own. But I can’t, in good conscience

t fateful one-mile shot, a terrorist had been prepared to blow up a marketplace filled with women and c

ble, fine.” He’d rather her call h

and Cutter li

estions to take your

a faint smile

the difference between life and

hink I can

ness of her hair as he pulled her closer. “

n sandwich and nodded. “We

ecially Cutter—would find them, but Brea would feel

her back and guiding her to the crowded room that smelled like antiseptic, puke, and fear. When they arrived, a

r the woman.

gged her fiercely. “We’re here for

Brea turned to the other man.

his teeth as the other man

ck in Dallas and on duty until midnight. I’m sure

stilted smile didn’t

t the sort to disappear all night without a word. Of my two boys,

only think that because h

mily wasn’t even trying to reassure her that Cutter

he was working. O

a into the nearest chair. “Honey, sit down before y

ale by the time she glanced hi

N

ious stare his way

eet. “Cage, this is one of Cu

stuck out his hand to

ce said he’d heard the name before. “Good

es. Sn

nodded. “Hence the nickname

bout it with Brea list

cop in

saw on a salesman or an accountant. “Glad you coul

er.” Cage stared him down.

the twelfth of never as hell was fr

p. Obviously, he’d r

eeve. “You don’t have an

e went out for a beer. I left the bar when they shou

ass. Was Brea too trusting to believe her boyfriend was cheating? One-Mile wanted to

show up for church this morning. I’d planned to go by his a

side her and gave her hand

ng stupid enough to prompt Brea to sever their relationship, but she didn’t

ge’s hand in re

p voice called from th

of the

eads turned. Cage and Mama Swee

od. “You

his arms, lifting her off the floor and against his body while she buried her f

busy, and I didn’t

thing—when she needed him. He sure as hell would if Brea belonged

her on her feet and cupped her face. “I

shaky nod, ri

where he’d been all night and why he hadn’t answe

ey hugged her son. Cage gave his brother a shoulder b