CHAPTER 23
“I’m sorry, Mom. Really.”
Ryder apologized for the…Brynn had lost count at this point. It was at least twenty times while they waited to see Max at the hospital. And then probably double that on the drive back to Whisper Lake. And since they’d gotten home just a few minutes ago, it had to be at least another ten. He’d never really done anything rebellious. Even when KJ was getting into trouble the year after his dad passed away, Ryder hadn’t been a part of it.
“I just couldn’t let her go by herself.”
“I know. But you’re still grounded.”
He nodded and started to go into his room, but pivoted and turned back. “What did dad want to talk to you about?”
“Nothing.”
Ryder’s lips pursed, the way they did when he thought she was not telling him the whole truth. Which she wasn’t.
She let out a small sigh. “He wanted us to get back together.”
Her son’s eyes widened. “What did you say?”
“That he was high on pain medicine,” she stated flatly.
Her son laughed and all in her world was right again. Regardless of what stresses or crises life threw her way, hearing Ryder laugh, really laugh, made everything better. If he was happy, safe, and healthy nothing else mattered.
It was short-lived and his face grew serious again. “Do you think he’s going to be okay?”
“I think so.” Max’s injuries were bad but it was nothing life threatening.
It must’ve really shaken him up, though, because he’d asked if Brynn would take him back and she didn’t really think it was because he was in an altered state. After dealing with Max for so many years she knew him fairly well. When he said that he wanted to be a family and was ready to settle down, he was sincere. She actually had made the crack about him being high, but he doubled down and insisted he was serious. That he was in love with her. To which she responded that was great but he was about thirteen years too late. It wasn’t that she was trying to kick him while he was down, she just didn’t want to give him false hope.
Thankfully, Max had asked Ryder to step out of the room before his declaration. It was a lot easier to downplay it that way.
“Is Izzy in a lot of trouble? I can talk to Axel. Tia, she really was in a bad place when we got there. Izzy might’ve really saved her life.”
Her son was not exaggerating. Before they left, Brynn had made sure to speak to the dorm attendant, who assured her that she’d contacted Tia’s family and she’d be staying with her until they came and picked her up. “Axel knows that. He’s not upset that you guys went to help her friend, it’s that you decided to Uber into the city in the middle of the night and not tell us.”
“I know.” He lifted his arms in frustrated agreement. “I tried to tell her that we should call you. I mean, you’re amazing when it comes to stuff like that. I told her how all the kids at school love you and tell me that you’re the best person to talk to and they wish they had a mom like you. I told her you would know what to do. When people are upset, or sad, or confused you always know what to say and how to fix it. You’re like an emotional superhero.”
Brynn was speechless and trying her best to not burst out crying.
Everything that she’d done in her life, every sacrifice, every impossible decision, every sleepless night, every mistake, every wrong turn, every everything was all worth it because it led her to this moment. Hearing her son say those things to her meant more than any degree she’d ever earn or any numbers in her bank account. Any accolade or honor that could be bestowed upon her was nothing compared to hearing those words come from her son’s mouth.
Ryder didn’t seem to pick up on the impact he’d just made on her as he sighed and shrugged. “But she said that if we called you, you would call her brother and he’d tell her she couldn’t go. She told me that Tia’s life was on the line and begged me not to tell you. I knew it was wrong but I agreed not to call you and went with her. I even turned off my phone, like she wanted. But somehow, it turned back on and when I saw that you left me a voicemail, I told her I had to call you back. I didn’t want you to worry. I’m sorry.”
“It’s okay.” She meant it. Because if he hadn’t gone with Izzy, Brynn might never know how her son felt.
He crossed the few steps it took to get to her and pulled her into his arms and hugged her tightly. “I know I don’t always say it, but the kids are right, I am really lucky that you’re my mom. I love you so much.”
Oh for the love of everything holy, was this kid trying to kill her?
“I love you, too.” The tears were pouring out now and there was nothing she could do to stop them.
“Are you crying?” He asked as he dropped his arms.
“Of course I’m crying.” She wiped her cheeks. “I’m not a robot. You can’t say those things to me and expect me not to cry.”
His lips turned up in an impish grin. “Would it help if I told you I only said it to get out of being grounded?”
She laughed and swatted him as he chuckled and went into his room and shut the door where she was sure he’d pass out for the next twelve hours or so.
She took a deep breath and stood in her front room and looked at the time. It was nine in the morning. She thought about trying to take a nap but knew that would be a pointless endeavor. Her son had just called her an emotional superhero. He’d said that he was lucky that she was his mom. This deserved celebration. She was going to treat herself to a fancy six-dollar coffee from Cobblestone.
After jotting a quick note on a post-it and hanging it across the wall from Ryder’s door to let him know where she’d gone, she grabbed her purse and headed out her front door. She was halfway down the walk when she caught movement out of the corner of her eye and saw Axel rounding the corner from the side of the house. His head was down, he looked exhausted and beat down, like a fighter that had just gone twelve rounds.
She was thinking his talk with Izzy hadn’t gone as well as her talk with Ryder.
“Hey,” she spoke softly, not wanting to scare him.
He lifted his head and even from across the lawn she could see the emotion warring in his eyes. “Hey, we need to talk…are you going somewhere?”
She could feel herself beaming as he crossed the grass and met her on the brick path that led to her front door. “I’m going to go get a ridiculously overpriced cup of coffee. Do you want one?”
His brows bunched together. “You seem happy.”
“I am.” Ryder’s room faced the back of the house but she didn’t want to chance him hearing her. She whispered, “My son just called me an emotional superhero.”
Axel’s expression softened and he grinned from ear to ear, seeming genuinely happy for her. “Wow. That’s high praise. And I have to agree with him.”
“You don’t have to say that. I already offered to get you a coffee,” she teased.
A mischievous glint lit in his caramel stare, replacing the heaviness that had been there a second before. “Are you sure that your son wasn’t just saying it to get out of punishment?”
She swatted him the same way she had Ryder. “That’s what he said when I started crying.”
His smile dropped. “You were crying?”
Those two really were peas in a pod.
Her arms lifted in frustration. “Of course I was crying. I’m not a robot. And not all tears are bad. Crying can be very therapeutic.”
The glint morphed from mischievous to downright wicked. “I know of another form of therapy that is a lot more fun than crying and requires a lot less clothes.”
She’d been concerned that things between her and Axel would be well, non-existent like it had been after the first time they’d hooked up, but it seemed this time around her worry was unnecessary.
“Is that what you were coming to talk to me about?” she asked suggestively.
Her playful question acted as a pin in Axel’s happiness balloon, and he deflated before her eyes. “No. I came to talk to you about—”
A honking sound startled them both.
Brynn knew that she hadn’t gotten much sleep lately, so when she saw her mother’s lime green Camry hybrid pulling into the driveway, she assumed she was hallucinating.
“Is that…?” Axel started to ask.
“My mother,” Brynn finished.
* * *
Axel couldn’t catch a break. If he believed in the stuff Shea Daniels did, he’d think the entire universe was conspiring against him confessing to Brynn.
“Hello, Sunflower!” The woman with whom he’d had one of the oddest Skype calls of his life stepped out of a bright sedan.
Brynn looked stunned as her mother pulled her into a hug and then stepped back, keeping hold of Brynn’s upper arms. Seeing the two women side by side was a trip. Shea’s auburn hair was darker than her daughter’s, but they were the same height and build, and they shared the same smile and eyes. It was so strange to see the physical similarities when the two of them could not be more opposite in personality.
Shea waved her hand in a half circle in front of Brynn’s face, causing her bracelets to clink loudly. “Wow. Your aura is much different than I’ve ever seen it. Much brighter, optimistic, full of hope and joy. I’m guessing I have you to thank for that, Mr. Vaughn.”
Brynn’s mom turned toward Axel and took his hands in hers and stared at him, her eyes searching his. He wasn’t sure if he was supposed to speak or be quiet much like he didn’t know if she was reading him or this was just how she said hello. “It’s nice to meet you, Ms. Daniels.”
“Mom…what are you doing here?” Brynn asked, saving him from the awkward staring contest he’d inadvertently found himself in.
“Well!” She let go of Axel’s hands. “I was at Oasis Spa in Texas at a Vibrations of Light seminar on using crystals for healing and protection when all of a sudden,” Shea snapped her fingers, “I had a vision of you with the word ‘father’ surrounded by dark brown above you and I knew that you needed me. So I hopped in my car and drove straight through.”
“Father? I don’t know…” Brynn’s chin lifted as a realization dawned on her. “Oh, father, right, Max was in a car accident last night. His injuries are serious, but not life-threatening. We just got back from seeing him, actually.” Brynn looked up at Axel and then back to her mom. “But I’m fine, Mom. I’m sorry you left your seminar for nothing.”
Shea seemed to be considering what her daughter had said as she placed one hand over her own chest and one over her daughter’s, closing her eyes, and inhaling and exhaling audibly.
Axel thought he saw Brynn roll her eyes. When Shea’s arms fell back by her side she had a very peaceful look on her face. “My trip was not in vain. That was not the father in my vision.”
Brynn let out a forced laugh. “Well, it’s the only father in my life so…”
She hadn’t even finished her sentence when a blacked-out SUV pulled up in front of her house. Axel knew exactly who was in it. When he’d been waiting at the hospital, he’d heard from Seth. The fugitive had been positively ID’d as the shooter and had been fatally wounded in an attempt to apprehend him.
Since he was no longer a material witness, Senator Ramsey Wilson was no longer in WITSEC. He was exiting the back of an SUV in front of Brynn’s house.
Instead of addressing the man in the expensive four-piece suit Brynn turned to her mother. “You knew he was coming?!” It was an accusation more than a question. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I did. I told you that I had a vision”
“I’m not talking about your vision.”
“Well, I am. That was all the information I had.” Shea reached up and cupped her daughter’s face. “Now, you speak to your father. I’m going to go draw you a baking soda bath to bring your energetic vibration back to neutral and help you dissolve all of the negativity and blockages.”
“And you.” Shea pointed to Axel. “You stay with her.”
Without even sparing the father of her child a second glance, Shea swept into the house.
Wilson was still standing on the sidewalk with outstretched hands. “Bunny, it’s been too long.”
“Do not call me that.” Her voice was strong but Axel detected a slight wobble in it.
Her father started walking up the steps, but Brynn lifted her hand. “You can stay there. Or better yet, get back in your car and leave. I don’t have anything to say to you.”
“Fine.” Wilson lifted his hands in surrender. “I just wanted to stop by and tell you that I’m no longer needed as a witness. The man that I was slated to testify against was killed so there’s no longer any threat against me.” He motioned to Axel. “But I’m sure Vaughn has filled you in on all of that.”
Fuck.
Brynn’s head whipped around so fast, he wouldn’t be surprised if she had whiplash.
“You two know each other?!”
“We haven’t formally met, but I approved Mr. Vaughn for your detail.”
“My detail?!” She stared at him with a combination of betrayal, confusion, and hatred.
“I can explain.”
Wilson, either not caring or being really bad at reading a room, took two steps toward them and held out his hand to Axel. “Thank you for keeping my girl safe.”
Axel knew that Brynn had to have a breaking point, everyone did. He just didn’t know he’d be there to witness hers.
She stepped between Axel and her father, knocking his hand down. “Are you honestly that fucking delusional? I am not your girl. You’ve never been a father to me. You don’t even know me.”
“Yes, I do. I may not have been around all the time, but I gave you everything my other daughter had. I made sure that your mother put you in pageants, just like Bianca—”
“That’s why I had to do those stupid pageants? Because of you? I hated those!”
“Brynn, calm down.”
Axel cringed when he heard her father’s words and his tone.
“I am calm. I am calmly telling you that you need to leave now.”
“Brynn—” Wilson reached out to touch her and she jerked her arm away from him.
It was everything Axel could do not to grab this guy by the collar and toss his ass back in the SUV, but he knew that if Brynn wanted help, she’d ask.
“Don’t touch me.”
He started to lift his hand again, obviously not taking her seriously.
“If you don’t leave right now, I’m calling the police. I am not your daughter. I never want to see you again.”
“Brynn—”
“Does Bianca know that she has a sister? Does your wife know you have a grandchild?”
That did the trick. The color drained from Wilson’s face. “Are you threatening me?”
Axel could not believe the nerve of this lowlife. He’d never wanted to cause physical pain to another person as much as he did now. He was praying that Brynn’s dad would give him a reason, any reason, to put his fist through his jaw.
“Yes.” She smiled widely, recognizing that the power had shifted. “I am. If I ever see you or hear from you again, Trish will be getting a call from me.”
Axel could see that Wilson wanted to say more, to fight back, but instead he turned and started back to the car.
“And that goes for Ryder, too. Do not ever contact him.”
Wilson hesitated but continued walking. His driver held the door open and when he closed it, Axel could’ve sworn that he’d seen a smirk on the guy’s face. He was probably happy someone put his asshole boss in his place.
Nerves like he’d never felt before flooded his stomach as they watched the SUV turn the corner.
When he shifted to face her, she was still staring off after it. “Brynn—”
She lifted her hand and shook her head. “I’m going to ask questions and you’re going to answer them. Okay?”
“Okay.”
“Do you work for my father?”
“I work for Elite Protection which was contracted by WITSEC. Your father had it in his agreement that you and Ryder would have protection.”
“Why didn’t you tell me who you really were?”
“You were only cleared to know if you were compromised.”
“What do you mean ‘cleared to know’? I was the one that you were protecting?!” Her voice was rising.
“I know. I wanted to tell you. But in the contract it said that—”
“Screw the contract! We slept—” She lowered her voice and looked around to make sure no neighbors were out. “We slept together. Twice. Well…more than twice…but two times.” she stammered. “You know what I mean. On two occasions.”
He started to smile. This would be a lot easier if she weren’t so damn cute. “I know. And I tried to tell you. I was going to tell you.”
She let out a huff of air, clearly telling him that she thought he was full of shit.
“I did try. I started to tell you the first night and you said you didn’t want to talk. You just wanted to feel.” Her lips pursed. She knew he was right. “And then, last night, I was going to tell you when you got the call from the hospital. And I swear, that’s what I was coming to tell you now. I swear, I was going to tell you.”
“There were other times you could’ve told me.”
“You’re right.” And as he accepted that truth another hit him. “I was under strict orders not to. Wilson is a clueless, deadbeat but he did specify that if you knew you were under any protection that was in any way connected to him, you would do everything in your power to get out of it. I couldn’t let that happen. I couldn’t leave you vulnerable, if there was even the slightest possibility that you would be harmed.”
“I just…I don’t know…I thought you were…I can’t…”
She looked so lost, so shaken up, that he wanted to pull her into his arms and tell her that he loved her. That no matter what else had happened he loved her. He’d fallen in love with her and even if she couldn’t forgive him and never wanted to see him again, that would never change. But he didn’t think she wanted to hear that now.
“Brynn,” he reached out to her, but like she had with her father, she jerked her arm away.
“Don’t. I don’t…” she shook her head. “Just don’t. I have to go…my mother…and don’t come…don’t try to talk to me…I need…I just…I need time…” Her sentences were coming in fragments, as she turned and walked into the house looking heartbroken, shell-shocked, and disorientated.
All he’d ever wanted to do was protect her from anything and everything that wanted to hurt her. He never thought that would mean protecting her from himself.