“I know.” He’d explained that once, but logic didn’t make her feel any less scared.

  “Don’t worry too much, pretty girl. I’m just taking out the trash.”

  “Don’t be flippant.”

  “I got this. You and the little one just hang tight. I’ll do my best to return soon.” He eased from her body and gathered her into his arms. “Have you thought about any baby names?”

  He was telling her what she wanted to hear and changing the subject to keep her from dwelling on the worst-case scenario. It killed Brea, but she put on a brave face because she believed in Pierce. If anyone could end Montilla, he could. Still, his question snaked pain through her chest. They both knew that if they didn’t have this conversation now, they might never have the chance.

  She sniffed back tears. “Do you have any suggestions?”

  He shook his head. “I’ve barely had time to get used to the idea you’re pregnant. Tell me the ones you’ve been considering.”

  “If it’s a girl… My mom’s name was Lavinia, Liv for short. Since that’s a mouthful, maybe Olivia?”

  “That’s pretty. My mom was Rose. That might be a nice middle name.” He stroked her hair and kissed her gently. “What do you think?”

  Brea tried not to sob at the thought that he might be long dead before his son or daughter was ever born. “I love that. And if it’s a boy, I was thinking Pierce Jasper, for you and my dad.”

  “I’m touched, but I’m not worth naming him after. Why don’t you—”

  “I think you are. I think you’re the best thing that ever happened to me. You didn’t wrap me up and tell me I was too young or fragile for the world. You’ve encouraged me to be strong. You’ve taught me pleasure and love and…” The dam broke on her sobs. They wracked her whole body, and she couldn’t stem their tide. “I don’t know what I’m going to do with you gone.”

  Especially if you never come back.

  “Hey…shh. You’re going to be great. You’re signed up to learn what you need to know. Get every ounce of knowledge about home security from Matt when he comes. He’ll help you. So will Cutter. Lean on your dad. Everyone else? Fuck them. If they want to pass judgment, they should start by looking in a mirror. Focus on a healthy you and a healthy baby. The rest…we’ll take care of all that together as soon as I get back.”

  She prayed more than anything that would be possible, but what was one man in the face of a murderous drug lord and his army?

  “I will.” She sniffled.

  “Oh, pretty girl. Don’t ever gamble. You have a terrible poker face.” He held her closer. “I’m here if you need to cry.”

  “I’m so afraid. I’m trying to be brave for you, but…”

  “I know, baby.” He cradled her cheek and brushed a kiss across her lips. “You can lean on me as much as you want right now. I got you.”

  “I’ve got you, too.” She clutched him tight. “I need you to know that.”

  Pierce looked inside her as much as he looked at her, as if he saw the real, deep-down her. “I do.”

  Brea wished she could lose herself in his arms forever. “I love you.”

  Something on his face changed. His expression opened, and for the first time, she felt the vulnerability under his strength. “The night I met you at the EM barbecue, I wasn’t looking for anything except brownie points from the bosses for making an appearance. When I left there, I already knew you’d change my life forever. I love you. No matter what happens, never forget that.”

  Brea nodded as she wiped away hot new tears. “I won’t.”

  Pierce eased from the bed and bent to kiss her again. “Neither will I.”

  Her heart clutched as she watched him dress. She bit back the urge to promise him that if he didn’t come back, she would raise their baby to know his or her father was an amazing man, a fierce warrior who loved them with his whole heart, and had made the ultimate sacrifice to protect them. But she didn’t want Pierce to think she didn’t believe in him. She didn’t want to jinx him, either. So she swallowed her worries and slipped back into her nightgown and panties. She felt a chill without his arms around her, his skin blanketing hers, his flesh heating her, and his heart beating against hers.

  Would she ever really be warm again?

  “You’re really leaving tonight?”

  “Yeah. From here, I’m heading to the office to tie up some loose ends. And this is important: If I don’t make it back, go see Logan. He’ll have all my paperwork and he’ll know what to do.”

  “Pierce…” Her voice cracked. “Don’t say—”

  “I’m being practical. It’s all right. He’ll make sure you and the baby are taken care of. Then after I’m done at the office, I’ll be heading to DFW for my flight later.”

  “Where are you going?”

  He hesitated. “After I land, that’s something I’ll have to figure out.”

  “But you must have some idea…”

  “No. And even if I did, you’re safer without that information.”

  He was leaving her no way to find him—on purpose. She understood, but it made her angry. “Don’t do this. Please.”

  Pierce sighed. “We’ve been over this.”

  They had, and she was only making things harder. Brea took a deep breath and clutched him as close as she could while pressing his big palm to her belly. “We’ll miss you.”

  “Oh, pretty girl, I already miss you and the baby so much.”

  “Will you think of us?”

  He settled his lips on hers for a soft kiss. “I won’t think of anything else. But I don’t want you to focus on me, just worry about you and the baby. If things go my way, I’ll be back for you two. I’ll meet your father and explain everything.”

  “Then we’ll live the rest of our lives?”

  “Yeah. That’s what I want.”

  “Do you, really?”

  “More than anything, Brea Felicity Bell.” He took her hands and stared into her eyes. “I do.”

  His words rang with the solemnity of a wedding vow, and she felt his commitment all the way to her soul. “Pierce Jackson Walker, I do, too.”

  They sealed their impromptu vow with a lingering kiss that Brea wished would go on forever.

  But an unexpected tap on the door cut it short. The clock in her line of vision said it wasn’t even five a.m.

  “Brea?” Her dad’s voice had her eyes widening in panic.

  He never knocked this early.

  Pierce gripped her shoulders and whispered, “It’s okay. I’m going. I’m leaving my phone behind, so I’ll be underground for a while.”

  She tried not to cry again even as she clung to him, wishing she could melt into him and become one with him. “You haven’t even left and I’m terrified.”

  “I know.” He kissed her forehead. “But I’ll do everything in my power to come back.”

  “If you don’t?” She barely managed to get the words out.

  “Be happy and don’t forget I love you.”

  “I love you, too,” she sobbed. “Pierce…”

  “Shh. Take care of you both.” He dropped his hand to her belly.

  “Brea?” Daddy asked a bit more loudly through the closed door. “Who are you talking to?”

  “J-just a minute.”

  She didn’t dare speak another word to Pierce. Instead, he pressed his lips to hers, lingered through a few short heartbeats, then eased away with a caress. She was still clutching his hand when he climbed out the window, looking back at her with a black-eyed stare full of longing she’d never forget—as if he meant to memorize her.

  Then he was gone.

  With her heart wrenching and clutching, she tried to stem the tide of her tears as she smoothed her hair, tossed on a robe, padded to the door, and pulled it open.

  Daddy stood in the portal, his phone in hand. He raked her body up and down, focusing on her middle. A frown furrowed his brows. “We need to talk.”

  Her heart stopped. He’d read the gossip. He knew she was pregnant.

  It had become an ingrained habit to conceal her relationship with Pierce, along with the life that had resulted from it. But she was tired of hiding her love. She wasn’t going to keep acting as if she was ashamed. Yes, she’d be cautious about Daddy’s heart, have her phone ready and an aspirin nearby. But she was done burying her head in the sand.

  Pierce was facing their obstacles head on. It was time for her to do the same.

  “All right.”

  “I’ve made a pot of coffee. Why don’t you get dressed and come to the kitchen?”

  After a quick few minutes with her toothbrush, she dragged on some yoga pants and a baggy T-shirt with shaking hands. Everything else in her closet was getting too tight. Once she’d donned fuzzy socks and pulled her hair back, she padded out to the kitchen, grabbed the bottle of aspirin, took a deep breath, and met her father’s gaze. “You want to ask me if I’m pregnant.”

  He looked taken aback by her directness. “Yes.”

  “I’ll save you the breath. I am. I’m sorry if that disappoints you—”

  “It’s not Cutter’s, is it? You’re pregnant by the man who left you.”

  “Pierce. That’s his name. Yes, the baby is his, and I love him. He didn’t leave me, Daddy. In fact, he was just here to explain how he intends to keep me safe. His job is dangerous and—”

  “Now that you’re expecting, his most important job is to take care of you. And he’s…where? It seems as if he’s shirking his responsibility.”

  She got mad on Pierce’s behalf. “You don’t get it. He’s leaving tonight, alone, to hunt down a man the whole world views as a criminal. For me. And all he’s asked me to do is wait here and continue pretending I’m engaged to Cutter so I don’t become a target. Pierce is risking his life in the hopes the three of us can have a future together, but we both know full well he may never come back. And he still didn’t hesitate for an instant to put his life on the line for us.” She cradled her belly as her tears fell. “So don’t lecture me about his lack of responsibility. And don’t tell me that what I’ve done is an affront or a sin to you. I love you, Daddy, but this is my life. And Pierce is my choice. I love him.”

  He came closer, his expression placating. “I appreciate that he wants to keep you safe, but if he can’t be here and provide for you, maybe his nobility is misplaced.”

  “I can provide for myself and the baby. I’m not worried about that. But I fell in love with Pierce because he’s so larger-than-life. He’s a warrior and a protector. I can’t ask him to be someone else just because I’m pregnant.”

  “Have you thought at all about your reputation, your standing in the community, your livelihood, your—”

  “I’ve been worried about those things since the moment I found out I was pregnant. I wish now I had that time back to focus on what really matters.”

  “This man?”

  “Yes. Pierce loves me, Daddy. More than anything.”

  “Cutter doesn’t like him at all.”

  “I can’t help that. And I know none of my choices are making anyone’s lives easier. But you’ve always said you want me to be happy. Every moment I’m with Pierce, I’m ecstatic. He understands me. He encourages me.” She caressed her stomach. “I’m glad that, no matter what, I’ll always have a part of him.”

  He sighed, clearly wanting to understand but struggling. “He impregnated you without marrying you. Has he even proposed?”

  “It’s not really important anymore. I refuse to care what other people think.” She glanced at his phone. “I’ve seen what the world is saying about me right now, and it’s horrible. But I know the truth. The gossip will blow over once the paparazzi finds a new scandal. Our love and our baby? That’s forever. And if it’s too much for you to accept, I understand. I’ll move out if you’d like me to.”

  “No.” He looked shocked. “No. I would never force you to go. You’re my daughter.”

  “No matter what, I always will be. And I’d rather not leave, because I’m worried about your health—”

  “Oh, honey… I’m worried about yours. You’ll be going through childbirth. Your mother—”

  “I know.” Mama’s tragic death had crossed her mind. There was no way it couldn’t. “But I have to have faith. Don’t you always preach that? Medicine is better now. I’m strong. My will to live so I can raise my son or daughter will see me through. I owe it to my child. And I owe it to Pierce.”

  Daddy looked at her, blinking hard in confusion. “You really aren’t a little girl anymore.”

  “Because I’m pregnant?”

  He shook his head. “Because you’re not hiding or leaning on me the way you used to. You’re a woman who knows what she wants in life now. I realize I’ve been overprotective. Cutter has been just as bad. Together, we smothered you so much that we kept you from growing.”

  “You can thank Pierce for the change in me. He made me see. He made me a woman, and I don’t mean that figuratively. He forced me to look at myself and face hard realities. And for us to have any kind of future, I have to drown out all the judgment, the disappointment, and the whispers. I know that I may have to start my business over. I know I may no longer be welcome in everyone’s good graces. But I know who I am. And none of their opinions matter more than that and Pierce’s love.”

  He stared at her for the longest time. “Wow. I’m proud of you.”

  Brea had never expected that, and it made her heart light up. “Thank God. Do you know what would make me happy?”

  “What?”

  “You being happy. I think you’ve had your life on hold for fear of upsetting my status quo. Stop that. If you want to marry Jennifer Collins, then propose to her.”

  A guilty smile flitted across his face. “I’ve been thinking about that since my first heart attack. I didn’t do it at first because I didn’t know if or when I’d get better. Then…you seemed to be going through something, so I was afraid to rock the boat. But I’d love to have Jennifer as my wife. It’s past time.”

  Brea smiled, happy that her dad had finally found a partner and helpmate after over two decades alone. “It is. I also want you to promise me that if Pierce makes it back, you’ll welcome him as a part of my life.”

  Daddy sucked in a breath. “You’re asking for a lot since I don’t know this man.”

  “You have a big heart. I know you’ll come through.” Brea did her best to smile for him. “But I’ll warn you now, he probably hasn’t spent a day of his life in church and he has one of the foulest mouths I’ve ever encountered. Sometimes I want to shake my head at that man, even as I say a prayer for him. But his heart is pure. He’s a good man, so put whatever Cutter told you out of your head and judge him for yourself.”

  “You’re right. I owe you that much. I hope he’s everything you want and that he makes you happy for the rest of your life.”

  “Me, too, Daddy.” She sighed, worry for his safety already crushing her. “Me, too.”

  At DFW Airport, Cutter stepped through the revolving door from the terminal located on the far side of the bag claim, falling in inconspicuously with a group of students as he slung a duffel over one shoulder and pulled a ball cap low, his sunglasses firmly in place. One-Mile probably wouldn’t have recognized him if he hadn’t known the guy’s walk—though hampered by a bullet that had grazed his thigh mere hours ago—and the other man’s watchfulness, which came from their sort of training.

  A few press types clustered around the terminal exit closest to the flight’s assigned baggage carousel, waiting for their prey. One-Mile just shook his head at them as he peeled away from the wall and followed.

  When Brea’s bestie reached the sliding double doors that led outside, a gust of northern wind swept in to tug at his cap. Dressed in jeans and a short-sleeve gray T-shirt, the other guy grimaced against the chill of the mid-forty-degree weather.

  “You’re not in sunny LA anymore, Boy Scout.”

  Cutter whirled, caught sight of him, then huffed in irritation. “What the fuck are you doing here, Walker?”

  “Is that him?” A woman’s voice sounded about twenty feet behind them.

  “Right height. Right build,” answered the man with her, holding a camera and shoving a portable microphone in her hand. “I think so.”

  As they darted for Cutter, the rest of the paparazzi contingency caught on to the fervor and started running in their direction, too.

  “I came to take you to your car. Or I can leave you here with them to figure it out. Your call.”

  “Cutter, did you shoot Shealyn West’s boyfriend in a jealous rage?” shouted one reporter dashing in his direction.

  “Were you so violent because she’d kicked you to the curb?” another demanded, sprinting toward them.

  “Word is you were shot, too. Who pulled the trigger?” asked yet another, quickly closing in. “What is the extent of your injuries?”

  With a snarl, Cutter turned to him. “Fine. I’ll ride with you.”

  “Smart man.”

  “Asshole.”

  One-Mile laughed. “You’re welcome. I’m parked in the garage across the street. Give me your bag.”

  Bryant gripped it tighter. “I got it.”

  “Oh, so you can lug it and outrun that crowd chasing you after someone took a hunk out of your thigh a few hours ago? Fine by me.”

  Cutter thrust the duffel at him. “Let’s go.”

  One-Mile shouldered the bag and jetted to his Jeep, unlocking it with his fob just before he wrenched the door open, dumped Bryant’s bag, and hopped in, the reporters mere seconds behind. The second Cutter’s ass hit the passenger’s seat, One-Mile screeched out of his parking spot and surged toward daylight.

  “Why are you here?”

  Normally, One-Mile appreciated people who didn’t waste his time with blah-blah-blah bullshit. In this instance…he’d spent his six-hour drive from Lafayette trying to figure out what the hell to say. If asking the Boy Scout for a favor had only been for his benefit, he would have skipped the whole thing. But this was for Brea, and he wasn’t letting Cutter leave this Jeep before he agreed to protect her.

  “I know we’re never going to be pals, but—”