As the door closed, Keegan's mind wandered back to their last bathroom experience. It had taken every last ounce of self-control he had not to walk right back into her bedroom after his shower. He would have preferred to spend the few hours he had to sleep with Nikki wrapped in his arms.

Less than two minutes later, she stepped back in to the bedroom. "You ready to eat, Border Patrol?"

"You bet. Come on, I'll show you something that will amaze you."

"I've seen food before."

"I'm not talking about the food." He directed Nikki down the hall with his hand at the small of her back. The contact was minimal but it appeased his desperation to touch her for the time being. This whole thing was so foreign to him. Margot had been attractive and he never had trouble responding to her but Nikki's presence kept him in a continuous state of arousal. There was no way around it. If she wasn't physically with him, his thoughts stayed on her.

At the end of the hall he steered her to the right and they stepped into the great room. At one end was the family room area with Clara's newest acquisition, a theater sized flat screen television. A huge sectional sofa was arranged in front of it, large enough to accommodate the entire family. At the other end was his mother's pride and joy—the kitchen and dining area. Clara was a hostess. It was ingrained in her DNA to serve large, home cooked meals to as many people as she could as often as possible.

"Wow. This place—I mean, just wow." Nikki was looking around, trying to take it all in. "Did you grow up here?"

"No. We had a little place in town. Mom waited until the three of us were on our own before building her little empire. She does insist we visit as much as we can though."

"Food's getting' cold!" Clara called out to them.

Keegan walked over and pulled a chair out for Nikki. Once she was seated, he kissed his mother on the cheek. "Good morning, Ma. This looks fantastic as usual."

"And smells even better," Nikki said.

"Hi, I'm Angelina but the family here calls me Angie, much to the dismay of my mother." Logan's wife smiled and gave Nikki a quick hug from her seat beside her.

"I'm Nikki."

"I know. We have already heard all about you from Cousin Will over there."

The ATF agent waved to Nikki from across the table. "Don't worry, I didn't tell them everything."

Keegan shot him a scowl before picking up the platter of scrambled eggs and scooping a pile on to his plate. "There isn't a lot to tell."

"Oh, I'd say there are a few things left to discuss," Kaiden said. "Like who is responsible for the gun running operation."

"Is it terrorists?" Clara asked around a forkful of hash browns.

"No," Keegan replied, turning to face his cousin. "Logan, Angie, we thought you should know. Kaiden got some intel last night that the gun runners are a part of the Ricci family."

No one spoke or said anything. The only sound was the crash of Angelina's fork against her plate when it fell from her stunned grasp.

"The Riccis are here?" Angelina finally managed to whisper. "I thought Salvatore and his father were in prison."

"Daddy Ricci is still locked up good and tight," Kaiden said. "But, the junior was just released on an appeal about six months ago. There was some kind of major error during the trial that got him off on a technicality."

"Oh, man, that sucks," Will said, shoving a forkful of eggs into his mouth. He was the only one still eating.

"Where are your agents?" Keegan asked.

"Left them at a motel in town. They wanted to sleep instead of eat. I told them they were nuts but they haven't yet experienced a James family meal."

"Can we get back to the people who tried to kill me, please?" Angelina asked, her hands resting protectively on her pregnant belly. "What are we going to do about them?"

"You aren't going to do anything." Logan put his arm across her shoulders and kissed his wife on the cheek. "We will hunt down Salvatore and his crew and make sure he goes right back where he belongs."

"I want to help."

Logan shook his head. "Nope. You've already got an important job. Stay safe and make our boy strong and healthy. The ATF's got this one, right?"

Will nodded, his mouth full of potatoes. "There's a team on the way. Kaiden's lead says they are meeting their shippers at the place where the Blue Ridge Parkway starts tonight."

"What about the boat? You know, the one the guns were on when I fell into the water?"

"Turns out they were just storing them there overnight. Once you and my brother came across their hiding place, they needed to move the goods until it was time to truck them out here. Coast Guard told me this morning they kept an eye on the guys all night. They anchored a couple of miles offshore and have just been sitting there. "

"Hiding in plain sight," Keegan said.

"Yes," Kaiden replied.

"All right then, so we go after them and bring them down. I've been waiting for this opportunity." Logan rubbed his hands together in anticipation. "Just so there's no question, Salvatore Ricci is mine."

"He should be mine," Angelina said.

Logan leaned over and kissed her cheek. "I know, honey. But, I'll do a good job, I promise."

She smiled back at him. "I know. It's just personal."

"I get that, really, I do. But you and our son are personal to me. He hurts either one of you and I'll kill him. I don't want to raise our baby from federal prison."

"Maybe you should stay out of it, Logan?" Clara asked. "Let the ATF do their thing. Will here will be make sure he gets the royal treatment, won't you?"

"You know I will, Auntie Clara."

"Actually, I think you should hang back, Logan," Kaiden said. "You've interacted with some of Ricci's men before. There might be someone there that recognizes you and we can't risk that."

Logan let out a long sigh. Keegan understood how he felt but he agreed with Kaiden. "It's probably a good idea."

"Fine. But if that prick shows his face, one of you better get a swing in at him. Break his damned jaw."

"It's a promise," Keegan answered.

"Same here," Kaiden agreed.

Nikki had stayed unusually quiet during the exchange. In the short time he had known her, Kaiden had not witnessed a Nikki that didn't have a definite opinion about everything. Her expression showed nothing and that worried him.

"Breakfast was delicious, Mrs. James." Nikki pushed her chair back and rose with her plate.

"I told you last night, call me Clara. I insist."

Nikki nodded. "Sorry. I'll help clean up, Clara."

"No, ma'am. The boys here can do it. It's been their job for near to twenty years to clear up and do the dishes after a meal. Don't want to break with tradition."

She set the plate back on the table with a devilish grin. "If you insist. I want to make a few phone calls anyway."

"You'll have to take the cell phone outside, dear. No reception in my rock walled palace. Angie, can you show our guest where the patio is?"

"Sure." Angelina hefted herself clumsily from the chair. Nikki offered a hand but Angelina declined. "I'm not exactly graceful these days but I'll be okay. Thanks though."

Keegan watched the two women leave the room. When the front door closed, he fought the urge to follow them. Being separated from Nikki was starting to be something that bothered him.

"Come on, guys, let's get this place cleaned up."

Kaiden clapped him on the shoulder. "What's wrong, brother? You afraid your girl is going to escape?"

"She's not a prisoner!"

"Touchy, aren't we?" Logan asked, snapping him on the hip with a dish towel. "Don't worry, Angie will take good care of her."

"I hate you both, you know that, right?"

"Hate is just another word for love too much," Kaiden teased.

"Whatever. Let's just get this done."

"So, you can get done?" Will said.

"What's your issue, man?"

"Never met a man more in need of getting laid than you, my cousin."

Keegan balled up his fist and swung at Will who sidestepped the blow with a huge grin. "Point proven."

"Come on, Keegan, you know it's true." Kaiden stepped between the cousins. "Except maybe for Will's brother Ben. He's a total hermit these days."

Will laughed. "Ben's in better shape. He knows how to take care of business if he needs too."

"Keegan doesn't do one night stands. He wants love," Kaiden said, laughing.

Keegan punched his brother on the arm. "I can't believe I shared my placenta with you."

"You love me and you will never be able to get away from me."

"Now I know how the witch felt when Dorothy dropped a house on her."