“….. and that is why Axe and I will be forever bonded as brothers. Now everyone, please raise a glass to the happy couple, Mr. and Mrs. Axel Walker. And their son, of course, Walker Jr.”

Everyone roared and I couldn’t help but think, wow, for a small group these country folks sure now how to throw down.

I mean, it’s not like I’m from a big city… but Axe’s ranch really was in the middle of nowhere. A beautiful nowhere, I suppose, but nowhere nonetheless.

There were a hundred or so guests at the wedding and Axe’s house, no, Axe’s mega-mansion and the many houses on his property, were big enough to have every single one of us stay over for his wedding weekend.

I for one was grateful for the break. I was granted a short leave from duty to attend my best friend’s wedding and I intended on taking advantage of my brief return to civilization.

Just four days ago I was in North Africa sweating buckets and being eaten alive by insects as big as my fist. I was quite frankly just happy to see indoor plumbing and a clean bed. But of course Axe’s ranch had a lot more than the basic necessities. The guy had a helicopter landing pad for heaven’s sakes.

Sometimes I wondered where his money came from—I mean, the guy lived on a secret compound with enough houses to have a hundred people sleep and eat comfortably, what’s up with that?—but I guess that’s a story for another time…

Axe’s house was on the main grounds, where he, Honor and their son were going to live, and it was massive. I suggested he get some dogs or maybe open a hotel to keep from getting lonely.

“What can I say, we like to have room for our guests,” was all Axe said with a smile as he whacked me on the back playfully. “Even the feral ones, like you, Ty.”

It’s true.

While I wasn’t the daredevil of the group (that was Wyatt Ford, for sure, another EFP brother) I was without a doubt the trouble maker. The Dennis the Menace, if you will. The one who will never settle down, never be boring, and absolutely no question, no way, no how, ever have a wife or kids.

I mean, for God sake’s I’m a detonation expert. I literally play with things that go kaboom for a living, how tameable can I possibly be?

Besides, when you are part of the American Military’s Secret Six, there isn’t a lot room to have a family. I mean, c’mon, our unofficial motto is off grid for good. We aren’t exactly the type of guys who come home from some boring job at exactly six o’clock to greet our kids and wife and yell, Daddy’s Home!

Don’t get me wrong, I was so happy for Axe. But he was born to be a family man, even if it took him a little while (and the right woman) to figure it out.

Each of us in the EFP’s had our own specialty and Axe’s was asset extraction, otherwise known as rescuing cute little kids who had been kidnapped.

How sweet is that?

How could he not be a natural father and husband? The guy was all heart. Honestly, he was the salt of the earth. The best friend a guy could ask for.

But like I said, my specialty was explosives—or rather, stopping explosives. Not that I minded blowing shit up, either... come to think of it.

Axe and I had spent the last ten years dropping into heinous situations that had become too dangerous for the average soldier. Sometimes I couldn’t believe all the shit we’d seen and experienced together—fighting those bastards in The Fear Division all over the world—nothing could take that away from us.

Except of course, a wife and kids.

That was the one rule when it came to the personal life of the Elite Force Protectors: no wives, and no kids. Never mind the fact that Elite Force Protectors travel literally 100% of the time (no wife would stand for that) the risk is simply too great…

You see, once The Fear Division knows you have a family, they’ll stop at nothing to come after them. It’s not a quick or dignified death either and they don’t quit at wives and kids…

They call it “trimming the tree” as in, the family tree… they go after sisters, brothers, grand parents, you name it… anyone who’s ever meant anything to the soldier is at great risk.

So, after ten years of active service, Axe would be moved into the role of Recruiter for the EFP’s: he’d be touring different bases and military schools looking for the best of the best. He’d scout the kids with the greatest potential and then act as a mentor during the long process of training to become one of six EFP soldiers.

Since Axe was skilled at extraction of high value assets he would probably be looking to replace himself with a new young recruit. It was a damn respectable skill set to have but of course, I always teased him.

“How hard can rescuing those little rug rats possibly be?” I laughed, “they are like, what, the size of a sack of potatoes?”

“A bag of flour, actually, you jackass,” Axe always laughed wholeheartedly, as though it was coming from deep in his belly. “And what do you do that’s so special, Ty? Oh, that’s right. You blow shit up. Way to go. You’re like a delinquent eleven-year-old with hyperactivity issues.”

“Correct,” I nodded with a smile. “And that is why you won’t see me getting married any time soon.”

Aside from the obvious reasons why I could never get hitched, I kinda liked being the guy that girls hooked up with right before they decided to settle down. Aside from explosives, being the “send off” guy had become my other specialty.

Yep.

It’s true.

I was the “one last wild night” guy. The “I’ve never done this before” guy. And the “help me find my panties!” guy.

Not that I was disrespectful, far from it. It’s just that my heart belonged to my country. And to catching bad guys. And of course, my Elite Force Protectors band of brothers. Oh and also, Axe was right… I do love to blow shit up.

* * *

“Ty, come here for a minute,” Honor called over to me. She looked radiant as she graciously made her way around the room greeting guests.

The sun was setting and people were really starting to party. A band was well into their first set and a couple of small groups of people were already on the dance floor.

“There’s the beautiful bride,” I grinned as I kissed Honor on both cheeks and held her hands in mine, “you call me when you get bored with that husband of yours.”

Honor laughed and smiled genuinely.

I so appreciate a woman with a good sense of humor. Obviously I had no interest in Honor despite the fact that she did make a beautiful bride (or maybe because of it).

Still, I had to admit that Honor had a very sweet and laid back vibe to her, her dress hung close to her body and I tried to admire her curves without being caught by Axe who would surely whack me upside the head for even looking in his lady’s direction.

But from nowhere, a figure appeared…

“I’d like to introduce you to my best friend, Lizzy,” said Honor. “She arrived just before the ceremony so you two haven’t been formally introduced.”

The hazel-eyed girl said nothing but extended her hand and stared at me while the earth crumbled beneath my feet.

Who is this wild beauty?

As I surveyed the girl in front of me, I felt as though I was being struck by a wave of shrapnel, but only more impactful. She wasn’t just someone who occupied space. No. Her presence was a force. Like a storm. This woman was undeniable in every sense of the word. Thank God Axe saved me with a whack upside the head.

“Like what you see, buddy?”

What!?

Huh?!

Shit.

Busted.

Axe continued, “just remember, she’s my wife now, so no ogling Mrs. Walker, okay?”

A wave of icy cold relief washed over me, “o, o, okay.”

It was all I could manage.

I was so thankful that Axe had mistakenly thought I was speechless over Honor—not that she wasn’t gorgeous in her own way—but who was this girl?

I’d seen her from afar before, as she walked Honor down the aisle, but admittedly my focus was on Axe at the time and standing beside him as his Best Man. But now, up close, this girl… my God… it was like going to nose to nose with an untamable mustang. Or the centre of a hurricane. Forget being at a loss for words, I was completely without breath.

Unlike Honor who had a sunny, spritely energy to her, this girl was pale but powerful. Intense and mysterious; like a secret in human form. I had to figure her out.

Her hair was long and just a little bit wavy, chocolatey-almost, and her eyes were the perfect mixture of grey, blue, and green, like a wildcat. Her lips were full and peach-colored, I couldn’t help but stare at them.

I wonder what those lips taste like…

I tried not to let my gaze fall too low though, but it was impossible to miss her perfect figure. She was shorter than most girls but oh man, her body, those breasts, her collarbone, I scolded myself for being so obvious.

Finally, after what felt like eons, I regained the ability to speak and uttered a pathetic, “Ty, Ty Powers.”

“Well hello there, Ty, Ty Powers,” the girl locked her foxy eyes on me as she mocked my stuttering attempt at an introduction. She smiled cheekily and I almost fell over but thankfully she changed the subject, “nice job on the Best Man speech. How did you enjoy the wedding ceremony?”

I was slowly starting to recollect my composure—and sense of humor which is mostly why women sleep with me, either that or they’re drunk—so I offered a silly, “I give it a year.”

The beautiful girl threw her head back and let a genuinely amused laugh escape, “that’s what I said!”

Honor nodded and rolled her eyes playfully, “aren’t you two just a match made in jerk heaven.”

Axe jumped in and grinned widely, “let’s leave these two jackasses alone.”

“Whatever boring married people,” Lizzy waved Axe and Honor away without so much as looking in their direction as she casually grabbed a glass of white wine from a passing waiter’s tray.

Holy shit I have just met my match.