[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

quick death? You really need to think about that, Asher, because by you being willing to
continue down this path means that you re willing to put everything we ve been building
in jeopardy. If something goes wrong, you could be the one who ends up behind bars. Or
worse, you could end up dead, and I m telling you right now I don t think I would
survive that loss. I don t want to have to explain to little Zac why his daddy isn t here. It s
taking every ounce of control that I possess not to break down right now. I keep my voice
steady and my words strong, knowing that, if I break down, he might not hear I word I
say.
 Zac? he questions with a furrow of his thick brows.
 Our son, Asher. Zachariah Asher Cooper, but I ve been calling him Zac for short. I
give him a small smile and watch in fascination as a million emotions filter through his
mind on his face.
My big, strong man is falling apart, and I do the only thing I know to do I pull him
closer and drop my forehead to his. I rub his back as he gasps rapidly, trying to calm the
war of emotions inside him down. He doesn t speak. He does his best at keeping it locked
tight, but a few broken sobs break through his lips. I bite the inside of my cheek to keep
from crying with him. I just run my fingers through his hair and down his back, holding
him tight within my arms. Giving him back the strength he s been giving me since the day
I met him.
After a long time of heavy breathing and a few more sobs, I hear him clear his throat.
He doesn t look up, but I know he s about to address me, so I mentally hold on in
preparation for what is to come.
 I ll talk to the guys tomorrow. I ll give them all the intel I have, and together, we will
decide what the best course is. I m not giving you any promises, Sunshine, but I will see
what they think, and if they agree with you, then I ll call a good friend of mine with the
DEA and give them everything. For Coop and for you& and Zac. For all of us. I ll make
sure that I do the right thing, he sighs.  I want you to be there with me so that you know
everything that s going on, okay?
I let out the breath I didn t realize I was holding, feeling lighter than I have in weeks.
I wrap my arms around him and bury my face in his neck. His arms come around me and
we hold each other, soaking up the love we have and the knowledge that, from now on
no questions we re in this together.
Chapter 27  Asher
Damn, it s been one crazy week. I ve been running after the same skip three
different states and finally, I ve caught up to the slimy bastard. Of all the places I have
to end the chase, it has to be a strip club. After almost starting a brawl in the club, I
finally manage to secure the bastard and make my long drive home.
Almost twelve hours later, with the afternoon sun blazing high in the sky, I feel like
my body is literally dragging on the ground. I just want to get back to my apartment and
crash. Hell, I wouldn t be surprised if I sleep for a week straight.
The first thing I do when I climb my tired ass up the old stairs to my one-bedroom
rent-by-the-week apartment is pull out my phone and call Coop. It s been almost two
weeks since we talked last, and I hate going that long without checking on him.
 Ash! he bellows through the line, making me wince. Damn migraine.
 Hey, brother. How s it going?
 Uh, you know same shit, different day. We ve got some kind of crazy going down
here. I m starting to think it wouldn t feel normal if things weren t falling to shit. He
laughs. Leave it to Coop to find something in any situation to laugh about.
You never would have guessed that he was the same kid who used to cower meekly
in the corner. Damn, I m so proud of the man he s become.
 Yeah, not sure that s something to be excited about, man.
 No sense in acting like someone pissed in my Cheerios either.
 Guess you ve got me there, Coop. I laugh dryly.
Damn, I m tired.
 What s got you down, big brother? he worries.
I consider how much I want to tell him. I ve always tried to keep him from seeing
just how lonely I am. I know he s content with his life, but sometimes I wish he felt
differently about his outlook on the future. The  fuck and run we ve both mastered over
the years is getting old as hell. For once, I m starting to wish I weren t so fucked up and I
could find some normal Suzie Homemaker and make some normal life for myself.
 You ever get sick of this shit, Coop? I just spent the last seven days on the road
chasing after this dirtbag that skipped out on his bail again only to come home to my
empty apartment. Hell, I don t even really have an apartment. I pay for this crap weekly
and there is nothing of mine here. All this furniture came with the rent. I don t know,
brother. I guess I ve just been wondering if there s more out there for me. For us.
He s silent long enough for me to think that the call dropped, but he clears his throat
and I sit, waiting to hear what he s going to say. This isn t the first time we ve talked
about wanting something more. Or rather I ve talked and he s listened silently.
 I didn t realize you were still feeling this way, Asher. He exhales.  Just because I
don t want more ever doesn t mean that you can t have it. Look, we had one fucked-up
childhood. Things got easier for you when you got older, and I guess I still see things
differently. I refuse to ever be that weak motherfucker again. I m in charge of my life, me
alone, and I will never give another person the power to hurt me. I get it, man. I really
do. The guys here seem to be dropping like flies, and their chicks aren t anything like she
was. They re really amazing ladies. But even knowing that there s something different
than her out there doesn t change my mind. He takes a deep breath, and I imagine him
pacing around, collecting his thoughts.  I m happy with my life the way it is, Ash. I ve got
some great friends here, my own place, a job I love, and enough pussy to last me a
lifetime. The only thing that could make that better is if you gave up that bounty hunter
shit and came to work with us.
 Yeah, not sure that s going to happen. I like the challenge of my work, I argue. [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]