Edge of Danger (San Antonio Security #2)

Chapter One

At age eleven, Brax Patterson had endured seven weeks living on the streets by himself, hoping things would get better when he grew up. If he grew up.

Whatever he’d imagined during those long nights ignoring the hunger, trying to keep himself warm and alive, it hadn’t been this .

A security company with his three brothers—none of whom had the same color skin as him, but who all had each other’s backs and everyone knew they could count on the others no matter what.

They’d built a business where they could take the skills they’d learned from their pasts in the military, on the San Antonio Police Force, and even from being tossed around by the foster care system when they were younger, and use those skills to help protect others. San Antonio Security was on its way to becoming one of the most trusted firms in the San Antonio area. Although they did quite a bit of investigation, they specialized in protection—both bodyguarding and developing holistic systems to keep people safe.

Their office was rarely a quiet place, but that suited Brax just fine. Unlike his brothers, he thrived on the buzz of being around people.

On the whole, if all of them were in the office at once, that meant things were good. They were working, they were together, they were safe for the time being. Brax could smile to himself in relief when this was the situation.

Normally, anyway.

“If you would just leave my things alone, we wouldn’t keep having this argument!”

Brax stepped into the hallway of their office, planning to get a drink from the fridge in the break room down the hall, but paused as he passed his brother Chance’s office. Chance was running his hands over his head, lacing his fingers at the back of his neck. Brax had seen that move before. It was what his brother did whenever he needed to keep his hands still for fear of hurting something.

Or somebody.

In this case, it was somebody, though Brax knew Chance would never lay hands on a woman. None of them would—at least not in anger.

Maci Ford, their petite office manager, stood on the opposite side of Chance’s desk, arms folded. “I told you. I wrote down everything you scrawled on that board before washing it off. I even took photos of it to keep the information for you.”

“But why would you do that?” Chance’s arms looked as if they’d jerk out of their sockets as he gestured emphatically toward the sparklingly clean whiteboard, which yesterday had been covered in a rainbow of words, arrows and circles—admittedly nearly impossible for anyone else to decipher.

“Because what happens if somebody walks in here and sees what you’ve written down? If they could read that chicken scratch of yours, that is. You never know what could happen. What if there was a break-in?”

Chance snorted. “Unlikely.”

“Which isn’t the same as impossible. Do you want somebody seeing the plans you’re working on for this client’s new security system? It’s completely possible, and it’s my job to make sure this office is run smoothly.”

“By sending out invoices and tracking payment,” Chance snapped. “Not by interfering with my work.”

“Good morning.” Brax smiled from the doorway, deciding to step in before the two killed each other. “If you keep going back and forth like this, you’ll give me a sore neck. It’s like watching a tennis match.”

Maci jumped a little like he’d surprised her. She’d been too busy glaring at his brother to notice they had an audience.

“Sorry. I’ll be going back to my desk.” That didn’t mean she couldn’t throw one last exasperated look at Chance, who rolled his eyes at her and jammed his fists into his pockets.

Those two needed to get a room already.

Brax waited until they were more or less alone to jerk his head in her direction. “You’d better play nice. You know Luke says the office can’t survive without her.”

Chance rolled his eyes again. “Luke can’t survive without her because of the filing he refuses to do on his own.” Then, he smiled a little. “And we all know Luke loves everything right now.”

“I guess that’ll happen when a man gets engaged.” It still felt strange, imagining any of them getting married. A bunch of confirmed bachelors—at least, that was what they’d been before the love of Luke’s life had walked in one day a few months ago needing help to stay alive.

Claire had been more than worth the effort they’d put into protecting her, and not only because Luke loved her. She was a wonderful woman, brave and smart. And good for Luke.

Luke was in his office working on a case. Even when he was busy, there was a smile on his face. Brax wanted to joke about it but had decided to let the matter rest. It wasn’t like Brax didn’t have more than enough work to do himself. The exponential growth of San Antonio Security over the past year was a double-edged sword.

Weston passed his office around lunchtime and knocked on the open door. “How’s that witness statement on the cartel case coming along?”

“Still need to finish writing it,” Brax admitted, gesturing to what was in front of him. “I figured since the cartel trial isn’t until later in the month, I should concentrate on wrapping up my current case and putting it to bed.”

His latest case had involved a well-off woman who’d suspected her husband was guilty of cheating—among other things. She’d been right, of course, and right to believe she’d needed somebody watching her back at all times. Her husband had hired men to take her out so he could collect on her life insurance to cover his extensive, secret debts.

Brax had wrapped up the case, but not before his client had made a pass at him. More than one pass, in fact. He’d left her disappointed. The Patterson men were better than that. Professional.

And not stupid enough to get involved with married women trying to get back at their criminal husbands.

After tackling part of the mound of paperwork, Brax headed to the gym to work out the kinks he’d earned hunched over his desk all day. All four brothers kept themselves in top shape. It was one of the reasons a security business fit them all so well—it required engagement of both their minds and their bodies. They were all willing to endure both.

By the time he finished his workout, ate dinner and stopped back by the office to finish a little more of the never-ending paperwork, it was getting late. Time to head home. He enjoyed spending time with his brothers, but didn’t mind being by himself. A little peace and quiet at the end of the day. Privacy. One thing he’d never had much of as a kid in one foster home after another.

Which was the reason he’d chosen to live in a house in the middle of nowhere with no neighbors close by. The most he heard at night was an owl’s hoot or a cricket’s song. He welcomed the nightly symphony as he dragged himself up the stairs toward his bedroom.

The ring of the doorbell brought him up short, tension coursing through him. He didn’t get many visitors, especially at this time of night. His gun was already in the safe.

Another ring. He crept down the stairs, eyeing the door, grabbing a second weapon he kept hidden in a top kitchen cabinet.

Of course, if it was somebody coming to stir up trouble, they wouldn’t ring the bell. They’d barge right in.

Still, it was worth caution.

Caution that didn’t diminish when he heard the voice coming from the porch. “Brax? Let me in, man. I need you.”

Brax muttered a curse. Of all the people to show up in the middle of the night, his half brother, Robert, would be the one. He put the SIG Sauer back in its hiding place.

He could ignore the bell, something he wouldn’t consider for a split second if the man on the other side of that door was a Patterson. Luke, Chance and Weston were his real brothers. Much more than Robert, though he and Robert shared blood by means of having the same father.

Brax opened the door before Robert started shouting. “What are you doing here?”

“Hi to you too.” Robert flashed his typical, greasy smile. Under the porch light, Brax could see Robert’s sweaty forehead, dark circles under his eyes, his skin paler than usual and oily black hair that looked as if he’d run his fingers through it over and over.

Robert glanced nervously over his shoulder, then back at Brax. “You going to let me in?”

“Do I have a choice?” Brax stepped aside, noting his brother’s nonstop fidgeting. Hands he rubbed together, a twitchy jaw. Was he high on something? It wouldn’t come as a surprise.

Robert hadn’t exactly lived an honest life.

Brax and Robert looked almost nothing alike, something Robert had been quick to point out countless times in the five years since they’d known of each other’s existence. Robert had also made it obvious he looked down on Brax’s mixed race through little comments and slight aggressions against him and all of Brax’s adopted brothers.

Funny how he showed up when he wanted something, though. Usually cash.

“What do you want?”

“There’s been an emergency.”

Again, no surprise. There was always trouble. It was difficult for Brax to muster interest. “What sort of emergency?”

Robert shrugged his thin shoulders and surveyed the room. Anything to avoid eye contact. “It’s a long story. I’ve got a friend who owes me money. It’s important that I get this money right away.”

“I’m sure it is. But I don’t see why you had to come to me about it. Do you need protection? Help in some other way?”

“Yeah. Some other way.” Robert held up a finger and went to the door, pausing with one hand on the knob. “Will you help me, bro?”

Bro ? That made Brax’s teeth clench.

The only reason he nodded his agreement was he knew Robert would never leave him alone otherwise. Besides, Brax was curious. He wanted to see how this would play out.

Whatever he had been expecting, it wasn’t what Robert carried in one hand when he came back from his car. Not even close. “You’re kidding me.”

Robert looked down at the baby in the infant car seat. “Meet your nephew.”

“My nephew? Since when do you have a kid?” Then, another thought, one that would’ve made him shout the house down if it hadn’t been for the sleeping baby. “Are you alone otherwise?”

“Yeah.”

“You left the baby alone in the car? What’s wrong with you?”

Robert snorted. “He wasn’t going to run away, you know.” He dropped a diaper bag on the floor by his feet.

Brax blinked hard. Had he gone to bed, after all? Was this all a mixed-up dream? “You’re going to need to explain a few things to me. When did you have a baby? Where is his mother? Why are you bringing him here to me? Where do I come in?”

“Wow. Where should I start?” Robert placed the car seat on the coffee table. The baby stirred slightly but didn’t make a sound. “His name is Walker. He’s...uh...like four-and-a-half months old now or something.”

Robert a father? It would’ve made Brax laugh in any other circumstance. “Okay. Why is he here?”

“I need you to watch him for a few days while I do what I have to do.”

He was so cool about it. Like it was nothing. Like it wasn’t the biggest favor one estranged half brother could ask another.

If this had come from any of his other brothers, it would’ve been one thing—a big thing, considering Brax had no experience with babies—but Robert?

“Are you out of your mind? I don’t know the first thing about babies. You think you can show up here at this time of night after not speaking for, what, at least a year? And drop your son on my doorstep? What about his mother?”

“His mother’s dead.”

That took a little of the wind out of Brax’s sails. “Oh. I’m sorry to hear that.”

“Don’t worry about it.” Robert lifted a shoulder. “I never liked her that much.”

Brax scrubbed a hand down his face. What could he possibly say to that?

Robert pointed to the diaper bag on the floor. “Everything you’ll need for a few days is in there. Diapers, formula, all that stuff. He’s a good baby. Everybody who’s ever been around him says so. He doesn’t cry all that much. When he’s hungry, when he needs a change. Otherwise, he just sorta lays there.”

Brax bit his tongue against what threatened to come out, knowing if he raised his voice it might wake the kid. Maybe you leave him lying there because you’re a terrible parent who probably doesn’t care about him—or why else would you leave him with me?

“I’ve got to go. I can’t wait around while you keep telling me you can’t do it. I’m in a hurry.” Robert wiped fresh sweat off his brow. He wasn’t pretending. The man was really and truly scared half out of his mind over something.

The reason he needed that money in such a hurry, no doubt.

The baby stirred again. This time, he let out a soft sigh in his sleep. It was the sigh that got Brax. Softened his heart.

“Okay.” Brax held out his hands to try to get Robert to think this through. “Let’s compromise. Why don’t you stay here for a few days? I’ll do everything I can to help you. I have resources through my company. You won’t be in any danger here. Nobody would even think to look for you.”

Robert, he noticed, didn’t bother pretending there wouldn’t be anyone looking for him. He ran his hands through his sweaty hair, jaw twitching, nostrils flaring. Not meeting Brax’s eyes.

His answer came as a surprise. “Yeah, okay. We’ll both stay here. Thank you.”

Brax had expected another few minutes of argument, at least. He decided to take what he could get without questioning it. “I’ll give you the spare room on the other side of the house. You look like you could use the sleep.” Robert carried the baby and the bag upstairs and practically collapsed into bed, confirming Brax’s suspicions. The man was exhausted. No telling how long he’d been on the run.

The baby seemed content in the carrier next to Robert on the bed, so Brax backed out, closing the door behind him. He headed back to his own bedroom.

He stared up at the ceiling for a long time. It took a while for him to finally stop thinking about the situation, wondering exactly what happened. About his brother, the baby, the dead mother. And what had brought Robert to his doorstep.

The sound of Walker’s cries woke Brax in the morning. At first, he thought it was a dream. But then it all came back at once. He covered his head with a pillow in hopes of muffling the incessant noise.

“Robert!” he yelled. “The kid’s crying his head off! Try taking care of him!”

He received no response. Not even the slamming of a door. The crying continued, getting louder.

A sick certainty took root in Brax’s gut and started to grow. He got out of bed and walked down the hall, almost positive what he’d find before he even opened the bedroom door.

One baby, still in a car seat. The room stank of whatever mixture was starting to soak through the kid’s diaper and the little outfit he wore over top.

No Robert.

A note sat on the pillow. I’ll be back before you’re out of diapers. I promise .

Brax crumpled the note in his fist. He’d stopped believing in empty promises a long time ago.