Edged (The Invincibles Book 2)

by Heather Slade

  Her hands remained with mine, and that had to mean something. As she forged ahead in her new life alone, having me nearby, close even, might not be such a bad thing.

  The dismissal of the charges against Rebel was a formality hurried along when Mac stopped in to ensure the judge knew the details of the case. He also explained he wouldn’t be pressing charges for the death of the ranch hand. After his investigation, he told the judge he’d determined she acted in self-defense.

  No mention was made of Rebel almost killing a federal agent. That part didn’t surprise me. My assumption was that Rile had somehow smoothed that over with the feds.

  Sometime in the midst of his appearance, I noticed Lynch leaving the courtroom. He’d be getting the full Invincible-style workup when I got back to the ranch later. If he had as much as a failing grade in secondary school, we’d know it.

  “Do you have to get back right away?” I asked Rebel after we exited the courtroom and Hammer left.

  “I guess not.”

  “What do you say we drive into Austin and celebrate?”

  “Are you sure?”

  “I’m not exactly certain what you’re asking, but if it means I get to spend time with you, then, yes, I’m sure.”

  I had a favorite place on South Congress that I thought Rebel might enjoy, so I rang them while we were on our way to the truck and made a reservation. Then I had another idea.

  “The Trail of Lights Festival along the river opened last weekend. We could walk through it and then have dinner a bit later.”

  “I’ve never been to Austin, so whatever you suggest, sounds fine to me.”

  As Rebel and I walked through the myriad of Christmas light displays, it was painfully hard not to take her in my arms and kiss her. As difficult as it was, I vowed to respect her wishes and prayed that one day I could hold her once again.

  “It’s so beautiful,” Rebel murmured when we walked through a tunnel of a million multi-colored lights. “It’s been so long since I’ve celebrated Christmas, I forgot how magical it can be.”

  My heart hurt thinking about her Christmases past and mine. I didn’t remember many when I wasn’t on a mission somewhere in the world where the holiday wasn’t celebrated. Or if it was, I didn’t partake.

  “What would you say…no, never mind.”

  “No, tell me. What were you going to say?”

  “It’ll sound daft.”

  She smiled and tucked her arm in mine. “Tell me anyway.”

  “I was thinking of putting up a tree this year. I’ve no ornaments or other Christmas decorations, so…daft, right?”

  “Ornaments don’t necessarily make the tree, you know?”

  “No?”

  “There are so many other things we could do. String popcorn and cranberries. We could dry orange slices and hang them from ribbons, and tie cinnamon sticks together and do the same. Oh, and I’ve even seen oranges dotted with cloves.” She tapped her finger to her bottom lip, something I’d noticed Tee-Tee often did. “One year, I remember my grandmother and I made ornaments. I think the recipe was half applesauce and half cinnamon. We rolled them out, used cookie cutters to make shapes, and then let them dry. They smelled so good.”

  “Sounds brilliant.” Was she saying she wanted to do all these things with me? It sounded as though she was. “So…you wouldn’t mind hanging out with me like that?”

  “Like that?”

  “You know. As friends.”

  “I’d love it.”

  After we’d made our way through the light show, we took a car service to South Congress. It was easier to leave the truck parked where it was than try to find a spot in the popular neighborhood where five-star restaurants dotted every block.

  “Do you fancy Italian?” I asked as the driver wound his way through the crowded streets.

  Rebel looked over at me and smiled. “I fancy English more.” She had the sweetest look on her face.

  Gawd, I wanted to kiss her.

  “Hey, what are you two doin’ here?” I heard a voice I didn’t recognize say as we walked into the restaurant where I’d made the reservation. I turned in time to see Rebel wrap her arms around the Long Branch’s former bouncer.

  “Steel! It’s so good to see you!” She pulled me closer. “You remember Edge?”

  It must have dawned on her when he would’ve seen me last. Rather than a sweet smile, she frowned. I leaned forward and whispered in her ear. “None of that, now. We’re celebrating new beginnings. That was in all of our pasts.”

  “Right,” she said, a smile plastered back on her face. “So, Steel, is this where you work?”

  He told us it was and then introduced us to some of the other staff. It seemed like a friendly bunch, and the clientele was nothing like those who frequented the Long Branch. Not that there was anything wrong with that group; this was just slightly higher brow.

  After we finished a fabulous meal, during which we both ate far too much, the server Steel had insisted wait on us, brought a dessert tray to the table.

  “Wow,” Rebel said, her voice full of awe. “These are so beautiful. Do you make them in-house?”

  At that very moment, Steel stopped back by. While Rebel continued to ooh and aah over the desserts, I filled him in on her job at the dining hall.

  “You should taste the things she makes,” I told him proudly.

  “Hey, Rebel, you wanna meet the pastry chef?”

  Her head spun so quickly I laughed.

  “Seriously?”

  Steel nodded. “I’ll take you back to meet her.”

  “Would you mind?”

  “Not in the least, sweetness.”

  She leaned over and kissed my cheek. “I’ll be right back.”

  A few minutes later, Steel rejoined me. “They’re still talking. I thought I’d keep you company.”

  “Appreciate that.”

  “You wanna tell me what went down?”

  “How long will she be?”

  “Long enough for the short version.”

  Steel was shaking his head when Rebel came back to the table.

  “What did I miss?” she asked.

  “Not a thing, dollface,” he answered. “We missed you, though.”

  She rolled her eyes and punched his arm. “You were always such a flirt.”

  As I watched and listened to them banter, I realized that the Rebel seated beside me tonight, was likely the woman she’d been when her mother was still alive. Before the overdose, before Possum, before vengeance poisoned her beautiful soul. She smiled easily and laughed with her whole body. I’d seen so little of her this way. She was right when she said I didn’t know her.

  Rebel nudged me. “Why so glum?”

  I shook my head. “Not glum at all. Just so bloody happy to see you smile.”

  She leaned in closer to me so only I could hear her. “You really do care about me, don’t you, Edge?”

  “More than you’ll ever know.”

  “I hope that isn’t true.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “I want to know that you care about me.”

  “I do, sweetness.”

  “I have something to tell you.”

  I laughed. “You look like the cat who ate the canary.”

  She leaned closer still and whispered, “The pastry chef wants me to come back for an interview. To be her apprentice.” Her face lit up like the thousands of Christmas lights we’d seen.

  “That’s fantastic!”

  “You think so? I mean, what about Tee-Tee?”

  “Discuss it with her. You should have no doubt that she’ll be honest with you.”

  Rebel laughed out loud. “You have her pegged.”

  Thoughts raced through my mind. Would she have to move away from the ranch? Live in Austin full-time? And more worrisome, was there a connection between her former attorney and the threat the now-dead ranch hand had delivered?

  “This is like a dream come true,” I heard her say under her breath after Ste
el left us alone. “And all because you brought me to Austin.”

  “I’d say fate put you here more than I.”

  Rebel shook her head. “No, Edge. Every good thing that has happened to me in the last couple of weeks has been because of you.”

  “I appreciate that, sweetness, but you’re giving me too much credit.”

  She turned her body so she faced me. “There’s something else I need to tell you.”

  35

  Rebel

  The look on Edge’s face broke my heart. The man had done so much for me, and he’d come to expect that whatever I said would be something bad.

  Like he’d done to me so many times, I cupped his cheek with my palm. “I don’t want you to say anything, okay?”

  He nodded and I smiled. “Good boy.”

  Edge shook his head and laughed.

  “I told you before that both Tee-Tee and Casper warned me not to mess things up with you, and I told you my fear that I would, because that’s what I do.”

  He kept his eyes glued to mine but didn’t speak.

  “After Casper stopped by the dining hall to apologize, as she was leaving, I told her I owed her my life. She said I was wrong, that I owed my life to you. Don’t,” I added when he tried to shake his head. “It’s true, Edge. The night you pulled Possum off of me in the parking lot, you saved my life.”

  That he seemed to accept.

  “And then you continued. Maybe you didn’t save my life in the same dramatic way you did that night, but you gave me a life. I made one meal, and you immediately picked up on my dream to be a chef. No one knew that. Not even my mother. Yet, you knew it right away. It was your idea to ask Tee-Tee if I could work in the dining hall. I really don’t know how to thank you.”

  His eyes darted back and forth between mine.

  “You can talk now.”

  “I know exactly how you can thank me, Rebel.”

  “Bake you an orange cake?”

  He smiled. “Be happy. Embrace your life and live it to the fullest. Nothing will bring me more joy.”

  “Again, nothing for yourself, only for me.”

  “Believe me, I’m not as selfless as you may think. It’s taken every ounce of self-control I possess not to touch you, kiss you, pull you into my arms, and never let go. But I care so much for you, I will do anything to respect your wishes. Even if that means letting you go.”

  The idea that he would, made my heart hurt, but it’s what I’d asked of him. “I still want us to be friends, Edge.”

  “We are, sweetness.”

  “We’ll decorate your Christmas tree together, right?”

  “I won’t do it without you.”

  After taking a car service to Edge’s truck, our drive back to his house was quiet. I had no idea what he was thinking about. Maybe it was the possibility I’d be leaving the ranch. Or maybe it was the public defender showing up in court today.

  “I never put it together.”

  “What’s that, sweetness?”

  “My lawyer and Lynch. I only met with him a couple of times, but you’d think I would’ve remembered his name.”

  “Even if you had, our approach would’ve remained as it was.”

  “Do you think I’m in danger, Edge?”

  He scrubbed his face with his hand.

  “You aren’t answering.”

  “Right. My answer for now is that I’m not certain. I intend to do some investigating on my own to determine whether or not I believe Mr. Lynch poses a threat.”

  “Do you really think I should tell Tee-Tee about the apprenticeship?”

  He looked at me and smiled. “You know the answer.”

  “So you think I should?”

  “For now, it’s an interview. I’ve no doubt you’ll be offered the position, but address that with her once you have.”

  “Susan is at the courthouse.”

  He smiled again. “I remember. I was thinking you might want to pick her up tomorrow.”

  “Thank you for not making fun of me over naming my car, and yes, tomorrow would be easier. I’m sure Tee-Tee can give me a ride.”

  “I’ll take you to get Susan.”

  “Edge…”

  He reached over and took my hand. “Until we’re certain that there’s no connection between the threat against you and your former public defender, please let me continue to ensure your safety.”

  “Thank you,” I murmured as his thumb continued to stroke the back of my hand.

  It was mid-afternoon before I had a chance to take a break. One of the other cooks had taken a sick day, so Tee-Tee and I were busier than normal. The interview I’d yet to schedule was on my mind constantly. Every time I tried to bring it up, either she or I were interrupted.

  “Mija, where is your mind?” she asked when I went into the storeroom and came back without the one thing she’d asked me to fetch.

  “I’m sorry, Tía.”

  “Come and sit. Tell me what happened yesterday.”

  “We don’t have time, dinner is—”

  She sighed and folded her arms. “The way things are going with you, dinner won’t be ready until tomorrow anyway. Now, ¡siéntate!”

  I pulled a chair up next to her desk and told her everything from my attorney thinking Edge wasn’t coming, to seeing my public defender, and finally, to seeing Steel at the restaurant in Austin. The one thing I didn’t tell her about was the conversation I’d had with their pastry chef.

  She rested her hand on mine. “Something is troubling you. I can feel it. Is it the lawyer?”

  I shrugged. “Partially. And Edge. He’s so good to me, Tía. I feel like such a bitch for leaving in the first place, but now that I have, I know it’s the right thing for me. I can’t just live with him, because the sex is off the charts. Ya know?”

  As soon as I said the words, I realized what words I’d said. “I’m sorry, Tía. That was inappropriate.”

  She sat back in her chair. “Do you think I don’t have sex?”

  “Uh…no…I…um…”

  “I…um,” she mimicked. “You aren’t the only one who had a hot date last night.”

  I raised my eyebrows.

  “That’s right, Mija.”

  I hoped she didn’t continue. I knew the point she was trying to make without needing her to go into graphic detail.

  “What do you want, Mija?”

  I had no idea. I’d gone from having zero choices in my life to having too many. I took a deep breath, knowing that if I put it off any longer, I’d only continue stressing myself out. I closed both my eyes and blurted, “The pastry chef at the restaurant Edge took me to in Austin ask me to come back for an interview to be her apprentice.”

  I slowly opened one eye and then the other, so afraid of the look I’d see on Tee-Tee’s face. There were tears in her eyes, but she didn’t look unhappy. She took both my hands in hers and squeezed. “Oh, Lucy! I’m so happy for you!”

  “It’s just an interview, Tía.”

  “Tell me more about it. What did she say? Don’t leave anything out. I want to know every word.”

  I’d just finished reiterating the conversation to her, repeating certain things two and three times, when we heard someone enter through the dining hall’s front door. It was far too early for anyone to be here for dinner.

  I stood slowly and put my hand on the gun tucked into my waistband.

  36

  Edge

  There was no easy way to tell Rebel that her car was gone. It wasn’t actually gone, but the extent of the damage done by the vandalism made it impossible to repair. The harder part was telling her it wasn’t a random act. The messages spray-painted on the exterior were directed at her personally.

  “What’s wrong?” she asked, approaching me slowly.

  “I have unfortunate news.”

  “Should I sit down?”

  “It might be a good idea.”

  I sat too, and she reached for my hand. “Just tell me, Edge.” I remembered the times I
said those same words to her.

  “Susan was broken into last night. There was extensive damage. Irreparable, in fact.”

  Rebel leaned back and put her hand on her heart. “Oh my God. You scared me. I was sure you were going to tell me someone died.”

  Her eyes bored into mine when I showed no sign of relief at her reaction.

  “There’s more, isn’t there?”

  “I’m afraid there is. Whoever did it, intended to send a clear message.”

  “It isn’t over, is it?”

  I slowly shook my head.

  “What do I do?”

  “For now, there’s nothing for you to do. Continue on as you are. As long as you’re on the ranch, you’re safe.”

  “I wasn’t before.”

  “Right. And believe me, additional measures have been implemented to ensure that you are.”

  “Do I have to come back to live with you?”

  I put my hand on my heart, hoping for a moment of levity. “I will spare you such torture, sweetness.”

  As I hoped she would, Rebel smiled.

  “We’ll find who did this, just like we found Possum’s killer. I promise you.”

  “I guess the interview is a no-go, then.”

  I’d given that a lot of thought on my way back from the courthouse after Mac had called to ask me to come and see the vandalism for myself. I hated the idea that this lovely woman would be forced to put a dream on hold due to the likes of criminals. It was a tragedy, really.

  “No. Schedule your interview.”

  “But—”

  “If not by me, you’ll be escorted to and from by a member of our team. And that is in the event we haven’t yet located those still posing a threat to you.”

  “Okay.”

  I motioned with my head toward the kitchen. “Have you spoken with Tee-Tee?”

  “Yes, and she’s very excited about it.”

  “It’s because she loves you.”

  “You’re making this very hard on me.”

  “I’m sorry.”

  “Aren’t you going to ask what I meant?”