Page 4 of Brax (Voodoo Guardians #36)

“I really wish you wouldn’t do this, Stephanie,” said Doug. “Give it some time. Just ignore him and things will turn around. I promise you. That man is crazy about you but he has to work through some things and come in his own time. Do your work, be with your friends, your family, but just ignore him and give him some space.”

“It’s awfully hard to ignore someone when they’re the only thing you see every time you open your eyes. I see him everywhere. I smell his cologne. I hear his voice. It’s annoying as shit,” she muttered.

“I know it is, honey, but don’t do this. You’re doing amazing work here at G.R.I.P. We need you, and more importantly, we want you here. I want you here. I adore you like you’re my own daughter.”

“Oh, Doug,” she said, hugging the older man. “You know that I love you all, and I want to stay. I’m just not sure I can do it. I have an interview in the city, and I don’t want to ghost them. I’m going to take an overnight bag and spend a few days in town just to clear my head. I’ll go hear what they have to offer, and then I’ll come back and talk to you.”

“Honey, let me send someone with you in case it’s something odd.”

“Doug, it’s Joab Aerospace. Everyone knows that they’re reputable and a great company.”

“Fine. Fine, but you call us if anything goes wrong.”

She kissed Doug’s cheek and then left on the boat to head to her own cottage to change. She was happy when she didn’t see Brax. She had no desire to explain anything to him, nor did she feel as though she needed to.

By the time she was ready to head out, she was dressed in a beautiful suit with an above-the-knee dark green skirt, ivory silk blouse, and matching jacket. The heels gave her an additional much-needed three inches.

Checking herself one last time in the mirror, she smiled at the blue eyes smiling back at her.

“I wonder if they’re my real color or did they belong to her,” she whispered.

Shaking it off, she headed to the SUV that was one of several on the property that anyone could use. Stepping out onto the porch, she looked both ways to be sure Brax was nowhere to be found.

Truthfully, she was a little disappointed that he wasn’t there. Katelyn, however, was. She came running toward her.

“Don’t do this, Steph. Please. We want you here. I want you here. We all belong here, together and that means you.”

“I know, Katelyn. I want to be here, but I can’t keep doing this with him. He has a problem with who I am, and I can’t change who I am.”

“Honey, I don’t think it’s you,” she said, nibbling on her lower lip. She’d promised that she wouldn’t say anything, but she didn’t want to lose her friend.

“I have to go. I have an interview,” she said. “Don’t tell him, okay?”

“Okay.”

Brax knew that Stephanie was thinking about interviewing off the property. He’d been told that she had an interview later that day, so getting back to Belle Fleur was high on his priority list.

Headed home on the jet, the others stared at him.

“What are you going to do about her?” asked Pax.

“I don’t know.”

“You love her, Brax. I know that you do,” said Saint. “This shouldn’t be that hard.”

“I’m not good enough for her. You guys know that. I’m not good enough for her and I can’t give her, or any woman what they probably really want. I won’t do that to her.”

“Brother, you’re more than good enough for her. Just give her a chance. Tell her the truth, and she’ll listen. Don’t you think she carries her own insecurities about things? This won’t matter to her,” said Saint.

“I kissed her. It was a mistake because I’ll never experience anything like it again,” he said with a sad tone. He felt someone slap the back of his head, and it jerked forward. “Hey! That hurt.”

“It should hurt,” said Eric. “Don’t be a fucking idiot. Everyone can see that you have feelings for the woman, and God help her, she’s got feelings for you. Stop drowning in your pity party. Get your shit straight and talk to her. She’s worth it, Brax.”

“He’s right,” said Luke. “Did you know that she interviewed with the Comeaux brothers for their construction company, and she’s interviewing with someone else this afternoon?”

“What? I knew about the one today, but the fucking Comeaux brothers?” he yelled. The entire plane turned to stare at him. “Why in the hell would she do that? That’s beneath her.”

“Why don’t you ask her? Nicely. She did it because she can’t stand to look at your ugly fucking face any longer and know that you don’t want her,” said Luke. “God, I swear sometimes you guys are dumb as fence posts.”

The others all chuckled, but Brax didn’t find any of it funny.

“Don’t worry, lover boy,” smiled Evie. “We’ll be home shortly, and hopefully, you can stop her.”

Brax immediately ran toward Stephanie’s cottage, barging inside only to find it empty.

“No,” he whispered.

“She left. It was supposed to be just an interview. But then she said she’d spend a few nights in town just to clear her head, but she took everything with her,” said Grip. “Something is wrong. I can feel it in my bones, in my soul. You need to find her.”

“Shit!”

Running toward one of the SUVs, he took off down the road, then heard someone in his comms.

“ Brax? I have her on River Road, but the car has stopped. Something is wrong. All the warning lights are going off. I’m sending you help.”

“Oh, shit,” he muttered. “Please. Please, no. Please.”

As he sped toward the signal, he noticed the cars stopped on the side of the road, and Stephanie’s car turned over on the road ahead.

“No. God, no,” he whispered. “Please. Don’t take her from me.”

He raced toward the vehicle, sliding to his knees beside the window.

“We’ve tried to get her out, but nothing is working,” said a man. Behind him, Brax felt a grip on his shoulder. Looking back, Flip nodded at him, and he stepped aside.

Gripping the handle, Flip realized that everyone was watching, even a few people filming the entire thing on their cell phones.

“Give me a hand,” he said to Brax and the other men. “Grip the edge where it’s pulled away.”

They all nodded, knowing that Flip would be able to pull the door off all by himself. Within seconds, it was torn from the car and pushed aside.

“Baby? Steph, look at me, honey.” Brax was literally pleading with an unconscious woman, praying that she could hear his voice.

“She’s unconscious,” said Cruz, kneeling beside her. “I need a neck brace and backboard. Let’s move everyone!”

“I’m staying with the car,” said Flip. “The shop tow truck is on the way. We’re going to look at this thing.”

“Why?” frowned Brax.

“Because it’s not an accident.”