Page 6 of Brax (Voodoo Guardians #36)

Brax walked back into the hospital room and set the food on the tray table. He started to open the lid on the tray, and then Stephanie stacked the books one by one on the table.

“Romance novels are your thing now?” she smirked.

“Ha, ha, very funny. No. It was all we had other than Guns and Ammo . Although, I will say Charlie’s books definitely kept me entertained. And, um, engaged,” he blushed. Steph actually chuckled.

“I love her books. They’ve helped me a lot over the years. We weren’t taught about things like relationships, communication, or sex at the school. It’s probably one of the many reasons they kept the boys and girls separated. I’m fairly certain they didn’t want us to think about anything except weapons and chemistry.”

“Well, you don’t have to worry about that any longer,” he said, frowning.

“What’s wrong?” she asked, staring at him. “Something is wrong.”

Brax didn’t want to tell her, but he also wasn’t about to keep any more secrets from her.

“The SUV that you were in didn’t just flip, Steph. Someone shot out the front tire. It was intentional.” She stared at him, swallowing, and nodded.

“I see,” she whispered. “So, what does that mean? Do I need to leave?”

“What? Abso-fucking-lutely not! You will never leave here again without me. This is your home. We are your family. I am your family, Steph.” She stared at him, and he shook his head. “I’m sorry. I suck at this. Please. Don’t leave me. I love you so much, and I want you to be my wife when you’re ready.”

“Well, that was a bit better,” she grinned. “Maybe I’m not the one that needs help with communication. I’m not leaving, Brax. I’m scared. I don’t know anyone, not really. Why would someone want to kill me?”

He opened the tray and started to divide the food up for her. He poured her a glass of water and apple juice and then handed her the fork.

“What are you working on at G.R.I.P.? I mean, Marilisa was working on something that someone wanted. What are you working on?”

“It’s nothing for anyone outside the property. I’m working on improving our weapons tracking systems and a new intercept system for the Ospreys. But it’s only for us. No contracts. No one outside of us knows about it. In fact, we’re actually manufacturing all the components for it right here on property.”

“Okay,” he nodded, taking a bite of his burger. “That’s good to know. So, it’s nothing to do with work. Maybe it was a mistake.”

“I mean, it could be,” she nodded, taking a bite of the creamy crab bisque. “It’s not like you could see through the windows of the SUV. All except the windshield are limousine dark. Someone would have to have seen me through the windshield if they were shooting at me, and if they wanted me dead, they could have shot through it.”

“Shit,” he muttered. “That’s true. Let’s not think about that right now. I don’t know what I would have done if, if something…” Brax just shook his head, unable to say anything.

“Brax,” she said softly, reaching for his hand. “Why didn’t you just talk to me? You knew how I was feeling about being so different. Surely, you knew that I wouldn’t have said anything about you being different as well.”

“I think I knew that in my heart, but my head was putting up a damn good argument to walk away. When I kissed you on your porch, I thought that would tell you how I felt and you’d stay. I was so stupid.” She smiled at him, shaking her head slowly.

“You weren’t stupid, but it would have helped if you’d have said something to me along with the kiss.”

“I know,” he nodded. “Damn, I’m so sorry.”

“So, if you can still get an erection and have sex, then you’ve had other partners, right?”

“Yes,” he nodded. “I’ve had a few. Some thought it was weird that I didn’t have balls, I mean, testicles.”

“Balls works,” she laughed.

“Others had pity for me, which I hated! I dated a girl for a few months, and she was wonderful about it, but I didn’t love her. I knew I didn’t love her, and she desperately wanted kids. She kept saying she wanted me to go to specialists, and I told her I’d gone to the best medical team in the world. I finally just stopped calling her, and she didn’t seem to care.”

“I’m sorry you had to go through that.” She took the last bite of the banana pudding and shoved the tray forward. Brax moved it to the small dresser and sat down beside her again.

“What about you?” he asked, holding her hand. “Was there ever anyone for you?”

“Two men. At different times. One worked in the pharmacy in Maine. He knew that I couldn’t afford the medications to keep me from having seizures, and he was giving them to me. We became friends and then more.”

“What happened?”

“I found out he was married,” she sighed. “It never occurred to me to ask that. I was new to the world, so to speak. I stopped going to him for the medicines, in a manner of speaking. I was stealing them, and he was looking the other way. The other guy worked in the grocery store and was trying to help me. He wanted me to move in with him, but I was terrified that I would be held captive again.”

“I’m so sorry you went through all of that. I obviously didn’t make things easier for you here. I just didn’t know how to approach it. I mean, you were hurting when you got here, we were trying to help with the seizures and your medications, and it always seemed like a rotten time for me to tell you how I was feeling. I wasn’t avoiding you at the house, Steph. I was scared out of my mind. Again, I’m sorry about that.”

“We’re all good now,” she yawned. “I think I need to sleep. When can I go home? To our home?” Her eyes fluttered shut, and Brax smiled, giving her a sweet kiss.

“As soon as they say we can leave, honey.”