On Edge

by Kim Cong

  His arms went around me, holding me for long moments. Daniela, his wife, joined in and soon their four children were hanging off me as well.

  “I’m sorry.” Marco’s whisper was fierce, broken. “I never knew. I should never have left you and Courtney. I’m so sorry, Jetta.”

  I shook my head. “Don’t be. We were all taken for a ride.” I pulled back, wiping my eyes. “Besides, if you hadn’t left, there would be no Daniela or any of the munchkins.”

  He looked at me, his eyes still haunted. “We’re moving back.”

  I glanced at Daniela, who was nodding.

  “You don’t have to do that. I have a family now. We’re okay.”

  He shook his head. “No. Daniela’s parents are gone and she has no other relatives there. My parents are in Sydney and you and Courtney are here.” He shook his head again. “No, it’s time to be a grown-up and own up. I ran. I ran and kept away because it was easier. Daniela has been on me for years and now is the time.” He smiled. “So prepare for babysitting duties, Jet Plane!” Something warm hit my stomach.

  “Can’t wait.”

  He passed me gently off to Anthony and Angie. Both pulled me close, sobbing into my hair. “My poor Jet Plane. My poor baby.” I let them have their moments, feeling the love and guilt.

  “I’m okay,” I reassured them, stepping back. “Really, I’m okay.”

  Anthony shook his head, an arm still around Angie. “Bad shit, Jetta. My best friend. Bastard took us all for fools.”

  I nodded, squeezing his hand. “Yeah, but it’s okay, Anthony. Shit happened and I’m okay.”

  He shook his head. “Won’t ever forgive myself, Jetta.”

  “You will.” I pulled him back in for another hug. “You have to because it’s not any of our faults.”

  Courtney had already emerged and gone through the same process. She was seated between Suit One and Sawyer. Pax pulled me away from Anthony and over to where they were sitting.

  “Jetta, this is Brean.” Brean’s name sounded like Breee-an. It was lovely and suited the attractively built man before me.

  “Pleasure to finally meet you in a less scary capacity.” I held out my hand but he pulled me in for a hug instead.

  “I’m sorry for the kidnapping. If it helps, you bruised my arm when you bit me. I had to get a tetanus shot,” he joked.

  I pulled back, laughing. “It’s good to know that I can damage people if I need to.” We grinned at each other, my slight fear completely gone. Looking at him, I could see he was a good guy.

  Sawyer waved from beside Courtney. “Jetpax!”

  I caught Pax’s eye roll at the couple name and grinned. “Sawyer.”

  “You two have no idea—no fucking idea how long I have waited for this moment.” He was bouncing around his chair, looking like a three-year-old on a sugar high.

  “What moment?” I reached for one of the chocolate croissants on the table. The damn things were tempting me with their crisp golden flakes.

  “This!” He threw a hand out to Courtney, who was laughing. “I’m the president of the Olives! You have no idea how long I have waited for this! To meet the goddess.” I lifted an eyebrow at Courtney, who shrugged, still laughing.

  “The Olives?” Brean asked the question.

  “Only the bestest fan group known to man, celebrating all that is Courtney Oliver! Quick!” He held up his phone, posing with Courtney. “It’s been five minutes since our last selfie!” He snapped a few off with Courtney pulling various poses and funny faces.

  I laughed, letting the innocence and joy of the moment wash over me. It felt so good to see Courtney laughing and smiling, returned from the stranger she’d been the last few years.

  The day settled into a rhythm. People came and went. Paxton kept me on his lap on his recliner. People brought their own chairs and set them up all over the house. Food was brought in or ordered, drinks miraculously appeared every now and then, and people just generally celebrated the fact that they had taken down the bad guys and everyone was alive.

  It felt good. It felt right.

  And best of all, it felt like I finally had a family and friends who cared, not just about who my family was, but about who I was.

  Bed was a long time coming. When we finally fell into it, Pax pulled me tightly to him. He made no move to make love, instead lying next to me, his hand gliding up and down my back slowly in the darkness. I snuggled close, my body relaxing under his touch.

  “Do you think Courtney’s okay?” My sister had taken herself off to the spare room.

  “Considering Sawyer offered to sleep at the end of her bed, I think she’s fine.” We both laughed softly.

  “How you doing, princess?” His voice was soft. I tilted my head back, loving the warm look in his eye.

  “I’m alright.” My hand came up to squeeze his bicep. “I’ll be okay.”

  His hand swept back down to cup my arse.

  “How are you doing? Still no clock?”

  His head dipped to my shoulder; a long sigh brushed my hair. “I was an idiot.”

  “No, you were traumatized,” I corrected.

  “Whatever the case may be, I nearly screwed us up over something that was in my head.” He pressed a kiss to my shoulder. “I’m going to see someone. Actually talk through this shit. Luc gave me the name of the guy his mum forced him to see, said it helped.”

  I pressed a kiss to his cheek. “I’m so glad, Pax.”

  “It’s over, but I want you to do the same. Not just because of Paul and Esso, but also for you. And for all we’ve been through and all that will come.”

  I nodded. “Yeah. Yeah, I can do that.” We both fell silent for a few minutes, just gently touching.

  “I’m still struggling to reconcile that it was Paul,” I admitted, hearing the lingering pain and confusion.

  “I know.”

  “It’s—he admitted to it all, but it’s like he was someone else. Someone I never knew. The man I called uncle was not the man who pulled the trigger at my temple.”

  Pax didn’t answer, just drew soft circles along my back, letting me get it out.

  “Courtney goes back to rehab tomorrow.” I sighed. “I’m going to miss her. She’s doing so well.”

  “She called Dylan today.”

  I pushed up, looking down at him in surprise. “Did she?”

  “Yeah. She didn’t want you to worry so while you were in the shower, she asked for his number. Dylan was relieved to hear from her. He was worried she’d slip.”

  He pulled me back down, rolling so I was on top of him, my head resting on his chest.

  “Do you think she will?”

  “It’s early days, Jetta. The fact she knew to ask for help and didn’t reach for anything today, not even a beer when offered, is a good thing.” He kissed my nose. “Take it as a win.”

  I relaxed on him, smiling. “When did you get so smart?”

  “I think you’ll find I’ve always been this smart.” He tweaked my butt. I squirmed in response, hands moving down his body.

  “No, I would have noticed that.” I laughed as his hand shot out, halting me from slipping mine under the elastic of his boxers.

  “We don’t have to, not tonight. Not with your ribs and bruises.”

  I grinned. “Don’t worry, Pax. I won’t hurt you.” I winked as I slowly moved down his body. “Just lie back and think of England.”

  Jetta

  Luc had bought a house. It was large and just around the corner from Pax’s. The style was a match for Paxton’s, but the whole thing desperately needed repairs. His yard and pool, however, were to die for.

  It was three weeks after the last drama and we were celebrating Evie being released from hospital earlier that week and Luc’s housewarming. The barbeque was on, the drinks were cool, and the weather was amazingly perfect.

  I was sitting in the pool area with Addie and Kel, the three of us enjoying the last of the summer sun. March had hit and the nights were rapidly cooling. Ap
ril was just around the corner and with it, the start of winter.

  I watched Paxton throw screaming children into the pool. They rapidly resurfaced, scrambling out to be thrown back in. All his team were there, eating and laughing. Luc was tuning up with his band on the far side of the pool area.

  Evie entered the yard from the house, carrying a platter loaded with food in one hand. She still moved slowly, using her walking stick to navigate the pool area and avoiding children who ran around yelling and laughing. She was dressed in a pretty but baggy sundress, her hair pulled back in a high ponytail.

  Addie nudged me. “Check out Lucien.” We all looked over at Luc, who was watching Evie move through the crowd toward us. His hands were rolling cord, but his eyes were fixed on her.

  I grinned. “Someone has a crush.”

  “Thank God.” This came from Kel on my other side. “Luc is a manwhore. It’s about time someone took him down a peg or two.”

  Addie shook her head. “Not our little Evie. She’ll be eaten alive.”

  We shut up as Evie finally reached us. “Your majesties.” She winked. “I have brought the magical delights.” On the large platter was a selection of desserts.

  “Fuck yes!” Kel scrambled up reaching for a cake pop, while Addie took the platter from Evie. “Evie, marry me.”

  “You’d be sick of me in a week.” She gingerly sat on the edge of the sunbed, rubbing her side. “Besides, you only want me for my chocolate ability.”

  “Don’t ever underestimate the power of chocolate.”

  Luc’s band started up, with Luc holding the microphone aloft. “Dearest family, friends and randoms who have turned up just to eat.” We all laughed.

  “I want to thank you for coming to warm my house.” He turned to us, a hand out to Evie. “And to celebrate Evie getting the all-clear.” We all cheered, gently slapping Evie on the back, who blushed.

  “And now, I would like to invite a special guest to the stage.” Luc grinned straight at me, his eyes twinkling. I felt my heart seize. “She’s an Oliver of the Oliver’s. A woman who knows how to shake it. She’s got the voice of an angel and the arse of a stripper.”

  Luc’s mum gave him the stink eye, calling, “Lucien!”

  We all laughed. “And now I call up the one, the only,” he whirled to his left, away from me yelling, “Courtney Oliver!”

  My heart got back into gear, all the fear gone, replaced by excitement, surprise, and joy. Courtney, looking like a million bucks, bounded through the side gate and straight over to the makeshift stage area, her grin finding me.

  “Surprise!” She laughed into the microphone. Tears hit the back of my eyes as my beautiful, talented, funny sister proceeded to charm everyone at the gathering.

  “And so—forgive me if I sound rusty, I’m a bit out of practice—but I dedicate this one to my sister, Jetta.”

  Luc and his band started playing the intro to A Great Big World’s “You’ll Be Okay.” Through tears, Pax helped me up, leading me to the small dance floor Luc had set up earlier. He pulled me into his arms as my beautiful sister and Paxton’s best friend sang. We swayed through the song, my cheek pressed to his chest.

  “Happy?” Pax’s lips found my ear.

  “Absolutely.” I smiled up at him.

  His lips found mine and I knew we’d found it.

  Bliss.

  Acknowledgements

  I’d like to take a moment to thank all the wonderful women and men from Readers and Writers Down Under 2015 who planned, attended and shared. Hearing your stories I gained such a wealth of inspiration to actually undertake this project.

  Thank you to the authors who inspire me. Women like Kristen Ashley, Jay McLean (Team Penis), Amity Cross, Velvet Reed, Aleya Michelle, River Savage and Nina Levine are the reason I gave Paxton and Jetta their story.

  When asked what I should do, they all answered with, “just write.”

  Liz, we’ve only been friends a short while but your support has been steadfast. Thank you for believing in this book and in me.

  Thanks also to the many, many women who read and edited my work. I appreciate all of your effort and belief. On Edge is so much better for it.

  To Hang Le who made the most beautiful cover, thank you for taking all that was in my head and creating the most perfect of designs.

  Fiona, you’re awesome! Don’t change.

  And thank you to the bloggers who have taken a chance on Pax and Jetta. You have no idea how much this has meant to me.

  And to Rooks - you know why.

  About the Author

  Kim Cong is a transplant to Australia’s only inland capital city, Canberra. While most people curse it as the place of all things politics (and therefore evil), Kim loves the food, the weather, the mountains and even the roundabouts.

  She is a part-time aspiring writer, full-time worker bee and lover of all things romance. Kim lives with the hero of her own love story, their dachshund and their house full of books.

  Connect with Kim!

  Website

  http://www.kimcong.net/

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  https://www.facebook.com/KimCongAuthor

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  https://twitter.com/KCongB

  Goodreads

  https://www.goodreads.com/KimCong