Page 39 of Brave as It

She looks to Emmalee and back to me. She’s holding firm to her position. I shake my head. Dia shakes hers back.

“Can’t do this standoff thing with you right now, babe. Need to sort out O’Leary and have Emmalee back on my lap.”

Dia looks to Emmalee like she’s breaking some kind of sisterhood code.

“Dammit, Dia, get in the fuckin’ van. I promise you I’m fuckin’ here for you, but her too. For the love of everything, get in the van. I would like to take care of my woman without the distraction of you doin’ something stupid because you’re fucking crazy like that. Stone here, he gets it. You aren’t gonna be pushed around because he has a dick, and you don’t. We got it.”

At my harsh tone and only after a nod from Emmalee she makes her way into the van sitting in the seat beside me. She lets out a huff making sure I’m aware of her dislike for the situation.

With the van door open, O’Leary takes in my cut. “Hellion, you can hitch a ride with us. I am not here to hurt Emmalee. She didn’t ask to be part of this.”

“You’re right she didn’t.” He underestimates me and thinks I’ll ride along to my death while giving him leverage over Emmalee because she cares for me.

I don’t lower my weapon that is aimed at him while his is on Emmalee. We are locked into a true standoff. Emmalee keeps her eyes to mine. I try to convey so much without words.

“Baby girl, you okay?”

She gives me a soft smile. “Okay isn’t the word I would use, but it’s good to see you, Busted.”

“This little reunion is cute and all,” O’Leary firmly speaks. “We got places to be. You got the offer, Hellion.” He looks at my legs. “Not sure you can keep the pace after all, Hellion.”

He begins to back them towards the plane. I keep my eyes on Emmalee as she is the one to speak. “Shouldn’t underestimate him. You’re making an assumption that’s gonna get you killed, Mr. O’Leary,” she says to him softly.

“Baby girl, you’re makin’ me hard when you’re talkin’ all sweet to this fuckface. Don’t think he’s gonna heed your warning.”

She gives me her shy smile that I have missed. I don’t take my eyes from hers hoping she can read my unspoken cues.

“Three things you should know O’Leary. There are only two things I kill for in this world anymore. The first is family, but the single most important is in your arms. That’s not where she belongs.” I give her a nod. “One,” I say the word in the countdown I was giving her, Emmalee drops, and I fire the kill shot.

“It only takes one shot to end it all,” I whisper as she runs right into the van jumping in my lap.

Cupping her face, I press my lips to hers. Stone or someone presses the button to close the van door while I kiss the woman I fucking breathe for. I get lost in her mouth while Stone makes a call to his guys to finish clean up.

I hear Dia beside us. “Could I use someone’s phone, please?” I don’t pull away from Emmalee. There is movement and I think Racer gave her his phone. She begins dialing.

Giving my attention back to my woman, I can’t believe she’s here. I’m touching her. Holding her. Emmalee’s lips are soft and her in my arms again is like coming home.

“BW, it’s me,” Dia says her voice cracking.

As much as I want to keep kissing Emmalee and feel her here in my arms, I break away for a moment, “fuckin’ love you, Emmalee. Need you to know that through and through.”

“I’m sorry,” she whispers pressing her lips to mine.

“No apologies,” I tell her kissing her back. “This is behind you and the rearview is no more. Look ahead, baby girl. Whatever it is, you look ahead.”

In an instant, Dia is beside us chatting with her brother like she didn’t almost die. “Tell dad I’m okay. I’m with Busted.” She pauses. “BW, I know we’re gonna get shit for takin’ off. I’ll deal with all you hot headed alphas when I’m home. For now, I got shit to do here in Florida. Just tell Dad, I’m good so he can calm mom down. The rest of you will be fine ‘til we get back.” Dia pauses again, I assume BW is talking. “Busted’s tangled up with Emmalee right now. I don’t know about Maritza,” her voice halts as she lets out a sob.

That is Dia Crews. The danger is over and she’s taking in how bad things are and could have been. She’s also eating herself up with guilt about getting separated from Maritza and Hollis.

Emmalee stops our kiss and looks to me. “She’s gonna be okay,” I whisper as Dia takes in what BW is saying.

“Karma is with her. You know all this already, BW? How? Right okay. Hollis, is he okay?”

“I’ve caused a mess to your whole family,” Emmalee says dropping her head to my shoulder. “God, I’m so stupid. I should have known when my mother left, she intended to leave mebehind. She didn’t even visit me in the hospital when I got shot in the head.”

“Baby girl, you are my family. This is our family. You haven’t done anything. It’s on him not you.”

She shakes her head as the tears fall down. “I knew better. Deep inside there was more to this than I was seeing. I just didn’t know what to do. And in the end, I made every wrong choice there is to make.

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