Erin

“Are you ready?”

I finished adjusting the pearl necklace my mom had given me and turned from the full-length, mahogany mirror and faced my dad. I was mesmerized by the cheerfulness in his smile. It had been a hard six weeks, but seeing my father so happy soothed my nerves. I wasn’t nervous about marrying Colin. I knew he was who I was meant to spend the rest of my life with. No, my anxiety came from the media circus that had surrounded the White House.

My dad had stood tall and proud in front of the American people and had blown the lid off the NSA’s Angel program. On national television he’d explained that the privacy of millions of Americans had been trampled. His top advisors had begged him not to. But my dad believed in truth and above the truth was the constitution. He’d exposed the vice president’s complicity, explaining that Mr. Perkins had known the program was running even after my dad had instructed that it be shut down. He’d denied it, of course, leaving his campaign scrambling to do damage control. Tex wasn’t able to prove the vice president’s involvement in my dad’s or my kidnappings, but Colin and the rest of the guys were positive he not only knew, but had a hand in the planning. It was a mess, but, in the end, truth won out. I was proud of my dad, not only as a parent, but as my president.

“I am,” I finally answered.

My dad stood in front of me and took both of my hands in his. “My beautiful, sweet daughter. I’ve heard that no father is properly prepared to give his daughter’s hand in marriage. But I want you to know, I am. Today when I walk you to the man who will become your husband, I will do so with confidence. And not because I know he’ll provide for you and love you and protect you with his life. It will be because I know you will do all of those for him as well. You’ll provide him with the comfort and love he’ll need to calm his restlessness. You’ll cherish and appreciate him because he will adore and spoil you. And I know if the day should ever come again where you need to stand beside him, you will. All the lessons your mother and I have taught you about courage, honor, and bravery did not fall on deaf ears. We are so very proud of the woman you’ve become. I am proud.” He squeezed my hands and smiled. “So, I’ll ask you again, Erin Lynn, are you ready to go out there and get married?”

“Thank you, Daddy. I am now.”

“I’ll never tire of hearing you call me daddy.”

“Everyone is ready for you,” Gerard said from the doorway.

Thankfully, Gerard had made a full recovery, my dad had offered to transfer him to a less dangerous detail or to a different agency if he wanted, but Gerard had refused to leave my dad’s side. I think he was relieved when Gerard wanted to stay. Now, more than ever, my dad needed people around him he could trust.

He let go of my hands but before he could lead us out of the Lincoln bedroom, down the center hall, and finally into the Yellow Oval Room where Colin and my family were waiting for me, I needed to tell my dad a few things.

“Thank you for being such a great dad. I know I wasn’t always easy, especially the last few years. But I want you to know, my behavior had nothing to do with you. It was me feeling . . .”

“Stifled?”

“Yeah, a little bit. Anyway, I’m sorry if my actions worried you, but I’m not sorry I pushed and rebelled. I think I needed to. There were a few things I did and said I regret, but only the things that hurt you and Mom. Other than that, I learned some stuff about myself, I grew as a person, and I found Colin.”

“You should regret nothing, Erin. Live. Be who you were meant to be and never let anyone stop you. You are a force to be reckoned with.”

“Thanks, Dad.” I straightened his bow tie. “You sure do look handsome today.”

“I know your mother is happy you agreed to postpone the wedding. She said my face would’ve ruined your pictures. I told her that you’re going to be the wife of a tier-one mercenary, you should get used to black eyes. Your mother disagreed, and, smartly, I saw the light.”

The thing was, in all the years my parents had been married, he’d always seen it her way. There were very few things Clarissa Anderson wanted for. If my dad could give it, he did.

I placed my arm in the crook of my dad’s elbow, and we followed Gerard down the hall.

“Are you still scared?” my dad whispered.

“How’d you know?”

“I know my girls.”

“Not anymore. You reminded me I was enough for him.”

“Goddamn right you are, you’re an Anderson.”

“Actually, I’m a Doyle.”

The large opening of the room came into view, and I saw a tall, beautiful woman in a Navy dress uniform standing with Colin’s parents. The three of them smiled at me, and I recognized the woman right away.

“How did you get Keira here?”

“One of the many perks of being the president. When I request the presence of a particular sailor, no one questions my order.”

“Thank you. They all must be so happy to see her.”

“Least I could do for the man who saved my life.”

“What about for the man who loves your daughter?” I joked.

My father stepped in front of the white runner that had been laid over the marble floor and faced me.

“For him? I would give my life.”

Tears sprung to my eyes, and I didn’t bother trying to stop them as they rolled down my cheeks. I knew my dad meant those words. With a wink and a smile, he walked me toward Colin.

My breath caught in my throat at the sight of him. If I’d thought he was a good-looking man in a pair of cargo pants and a T-shirt, he was absolutely man-of-the-year sexy in a tux. Zane, Leo, Jax, and Linc all stood beside him, looking handsome in their wedding finery. When my gaze slid to the other side of the aisle and I saw Ivy, Liv, Violet, and Jasmin all staring at their men instead of watching me walk down the aisle I couldn’t help the laugh that slipped out. I couldn’t blame them one bit.

My eyes finally met Colin’s and the humor faded. I’d never felt so treasured from one look. All his focus was on me, everyone else could’ve disappeared, and he wouldn’t have noticed. When my dad stopped in front of him, he still hadn’t looked away.

My dad’s deep chuckle echoed in the room, and the rest of our families followed suit.

“She’s all yours, son.”

My dad placed my hand in Colin’s and stepped back.

“Damn right, she is.”

Colin

“Any word from Declan?” Fletch asked from across the table, throwing down his second full house in a row.

“Damn. Harley’s gonna kick my ass if I lose anymore money,” Coach griped with a shake of his head and a smile on his face.

“It’s no surprise you keep losing, you suck at poker.” Hollywood chuckled.

“Who wants another beer?” Ghost stood to go to the fridge.

After waiting for everyone’s drink order, Ghost ambled off and I answered, “Yeah. He and the guys are still in Bahrain tracking the money. Tex gave them a good place to start.”

“Tex, king of the dark web. Don’t know how the hell he does what he does, but grateful he’s on our side,” Truck mumbled, throwing his cards onto the pile in the middle of the table.

We fell into a companionable silence as Beatle shuffled and dealt a new hand. The warm Texas breeze blew, and my mouth watered from the smell coming from the smoker. We still had a few hours until the women would be home from shopping, and the food would be ready, a few hours to sit around on the patio and bullshit with Fletch and his team. Ghost returned, set the beers down, and leaned back in his seat.

“Almost like old times,” he mumbled.

“Better than old times,” Blade corrected. “Old times means it was just us sad saps sitting on Fletch’s patio wishing we had what we all have now. I think I speak for all of us when I say I like life better now.”

Fletch looked around his old backyard, then to his teammates, and the pensive looked turned into a grin. “Yeah, you can say that again. Lots of good times in this backyard.”

“I’ll drink to that.” Ghost held up his beer and everyone touched bottle necks. “What about you, Colin?”

“What about me?” Ghost motioned to seven bottles touching in the middle of the table and I lifted mine. “To the future.”

Glass clinked, and brews were chugged.

“Hurry up and finish dealing,” Truck instructed. “We have ninety minutes until the women get back. Let’s see how much more of Coach’s money we can take.”

Sitting around the backyard bullshitting with the guys, giving them a little piece of their history, even if the present and future were better and brighter than the past meant a lot to me. The only thing that would make it better was Erin sitting on my lap. Not only because I loved my wife and hated being away from her, but she was a card shark, and I was losing my ass.

Erin

We pulled up to Linc and Jasmin’s house, and I couldn’t stop the fit of giggles.

“Who would’ve ever thought?” The front of their porch was covered in balloons. “I wonder whose idea it was to decorate the front of the house?” I asked.

In the two years since Colin and I had been married, a lot had changed. Children had been born, the guys had gone on countless missions, and my parents had moved back to Texas. The one constant was my cousin. Sure, in the beginning, after the twins were born, she’d softened a skosh. But the tiny bit she’d changed had taken nothing away from her badass demeanor.

“My guess is Linc. Sometimes I think he’s the more sensitive one in their relationship,” Colin joked.

I found that highly unlikely. Lincoln Parker was all man. Not that I’d say that to my husband, who was all alpha male himself, but there was no questioning Linc’s manhood.

“If you’ll grab Lexi, I’ll get the presents,” he continued.

Careful not to wake our daughter, I took the car seat out of the back and waited for Colin before walking to the house.

“Do you think you got them enough toys?” he asked, carrying a stack of boxes and had gift bags hanging from his fingers. “They’re only two.”

“You mean, we? And yes, we got them enough.”

Colin was still shaking his head when we walked through the door. Thankfully, Lexi was a good sleeper because the house was utter chaos. Kids and toys were strewn about, adults weaved around the little ones, and laughter filled the space.

Nothing better.

“There you two are,” Livie greeted. “Bummer, she’s sleeping,” she added when she peeked at Lexi.

“Sorry we’re late. She went down for her nap early today.”

“Oh.” Liv laughed. “I see.”

“The only thing you see is I was able to take a shower today without a bouncy seat in the bathroom with me.”

Colin deposited our gifts next to the huge pile and was back at my side, taking the car seat from me.

“Where’s Giorgia?” I asked about Leo and Olivia’s first-born daughter.

“Already running around out back with Robby and Asher.”

“Here, let me hold Francesca.” I held my hands out and waited for Liv to pass me the baby she’d been cradling.

“Ready for another one?” Colin leaned down and whispered.

“Lexi is three months old. You’re crazy,” Liv answered for me.

“Who’s crazy, tesorino?” Leo asked, joining us.

“Colin. He wants another baby.”

“And? I’m ready to put another one in you. As a matter of fact, I think it happened last night.”

“Nice.” Olivia rolled her eyes. “We’re done for a while. Giorgia runs me all day and now with Francesca here . . . just no. Don’t even think about it, Leo.”

“Yo!” Zane bellowed from the floor, his one-year-old son lying in front of him, struggling to roll over while Zane worked hard to keep him on his back.

Ivy, Jasmin, and Violet were nowhere to be seen. I was getting ready to ask where they were when Jaxon and Linc joined our huddle.

“The girls ran to the store,” Linc said.

“And they left all the kids here with you guys?” I asked.

“Nope. That’s why I stayed,” Liv cut in.

“You do realize what we do for living, right?” Linc chuckled. “We hunt terrorists. We’ve survived in the worst conditions. I think we can handle seven children.”

“Christ, what does your mother feed you?” Zane complained. “How is it possible baby shit can be purple?”

Olivia and I had matching raised eyebrows in answer.

“All right, I’ll give you Zane, he’s a little squeamish when it comes to diaper changing,” Linc admitted. “But the rest of us can handle—"

“Daddy!” One of the twins ran in the house covered in mud. “Robby pushed me.”

“Shit. Where’s your Uncle Jax? He was supposed to be watching you.”

“Mason fell down. Dirt in his mouth,” Asher explained why Jax wasn’t watching him and his brother. Mason was Jax and Vi’s son. “I got the hose.”

“The hose. Shit. Is your brother wet?”

“Yes.” Asher smiled.

Jaxon came in the back door holding a dirty Mason. A soaking wet Robby followed.

“Jasmin’s gonna kill me,” Linc muttered.

“So, seven kids, huh?”

Robby took off across the living room, dripping water as he went.

“Shit.”

“I don’t know how you do two. I’m done. One is plenty.” Jax still hadn’t moved from the doorway.

“Where’s Gia?” Leo asked.

“Here,” a cute little girl called out from the kitchen.

“Come here, tesoro.”

Giorgia came into the living room and seven adults all muttered a collective oh, fuck. Gia’s face was covered in what I assumed was icing from Robert and Asher’s birthday cake.

Olivia and I broke out in a round of laughter.

“It’s not funny,” Linc growled.

“It kinda is,” Liv barely choked out the words.

“Jasmin’s going to kill me.”

“No, she won’t.” I tried to assure him.

“Yes. She is. It’s the twins’ birthday.”

“Is anyone hurt?” I asked.

“No.”

“Then she won’t care. Shit happens. Life happens. The only thing Jas cares about is that we’re all together and her sons are smiling. Who the hell cares if they’re a little dirty.”

“Or wet,” Liv answered. “For a group who’s used to adapting and regrouping, you all sure looked panicked.”

“Mission shift, boys. Kids out back, hose them off, and we’ll clean up the kitchen,” I called out. When I glanced at Colin, his lips were twitching. “What?”

“You’re goddamn sexy when you’re bossy.”

“Is that so?”

“It is. And, tonight, I’m going to show you how hot I think it is.”

“Looking forward to it.”

“I love you, sunshine.”

“Love you.” I rolled up to my tiptoes and gave Colin a peck. Sadly, it was not the way I wanted to kiss my husband. One thing was for sure, over the last couple of years, even while pregnant and right after, our need and passion for one another had not waned. I wanted him now just as much as I did the first time I saw him. I kept my promise and loved him everyday like it was our last. Colin was a good man, a great husband, but an even better father. He loved Lexi beyond measure. Both of them filled me with so much love and joy I was busting at the seams.

The men left the house with all the kids minus a still sleeping Lexi and Olivia, and I went to the kitchen.

“You know he’s gonna try to knock you up tonight, right?” Liv asked. “They’re sneaky, all of them. It starts with a tough guy act, then they throw in the sexy smirk, they make their voices rumbly, and bam, panties drop. Careful, friend, don’t fall for his tricks.”

“I’m counting on it.”

“Counting on it?” Liv laughed.

“We’re working on giving Colin’s mom the eighteen grandkids she wants.”

“Your poor vagina.”

“Mine? You’ve already popped out two. Leo walks by you in the hall and you wind up pregnant.”

“He does more than walk by, trust and believe that.”

The two of us laughed and cleaned up the crumbs and icing off the floor and counter. Luckily, most of the cake was intact. But even if it wasn’t, it wouldn’t have mattered. We were all together, the kids were happy, and life was good.

Zane

“Eric, why is your sister crying?” I asked my son.

“I don’t know, Dad. I guess she’s still mad at me.”

I looked at my son doing his homework and thought for the five-hundredth time how happy I was my boy was born first and he’d gotten my genes. He was tall, as much as it cost us keeping him in pants and shoes it was well worth it. He watched over his sister and it was necessary. My girl may’ve only been fifteen, but she was a knockout and looked like she was eighteen. I blamed it on Ivy, but my wife said it was my fault because Rose got my blue eyes. I had to disagree, they weren’t mine, they were bluer and they sparkled like Ivy’s when she smiled. Except, my girl wasn’t smiling now. Something was making her cry.

“Why is your sister mad at you?”

With a heavy sigh, Eric put down his pencil and looked up at me. “Today after practice Rose was walking by the field and this asshole said it was a shame she didn’t put out because she’s the hottest girl in school.”

My blood pressure spiked and, not for the first time, I wanted to kick a teenage boy’s ass. I was going to have to talk to Ivy about this shit. I didn’t want little pissants talking shit about my little girl.

“What’d you do?”

“Put him on his ass and told him if he ever talked about my sister like that again he’d be walking away with more than a bruised ego.”

“Good man.” I was damn proud of how my son handled the situation. “So why’s she mad?”

“She has a crush on him. I guess that’s why she was hanging out after practice ‘waiting for me.’ She wanted him to ask her to the dance.”

“You tell her what he said about her?”

“Yes. And I told her, the last thing she wanted was to go anywhere with Pete. He’s a douche and even if she doesn’t put out, he’ll tell everyone she did. I tried to tell her she doesn’t want that kind of reputation.”

“Not tracking why’s she angry at you.”

“Because I told her she was too good for asshole football players. And I’ve already put the word out if anyone dares to touch her, they’ll be dealing with me, Asher, Rob, and Mason. Now she’s really pissed and says she’s going to be the only girl to graduate high school without a boy kissing her.”

“I see no problem with that,” I told my son.

“Neither do I. I don’t want my friends talking about banging my sister.” The growl that slipped out was unintentional. “Sorry, Dad, you know what I’m saying.”

“You did good today. You straight? School going well?”

“Five by five. Counting down to summer.”

With a pat on my son’s back, I walked into the living room and went to the couch where Rose was crying.

“Sugar plum, look at me.”

My fifteen-year-old did what teenager daughters did best and rolled her eyes. She hated the silly nickname I’d given her when she was a baby, but that was too bad, I wasn’t stopping.

“I know you’re pissed at your brother right now, but he’s doing what he’s supposed to do.” I put my hand up to stop her rebuttal. “I want you to know your mom and I are so proud of the young woman you’re becoming. You’re smart and funny. And so damn independent you drive your old man nuts. You are also beautiful. I know you want a boyfriend. The only thing I ask is before you let any boy place his lips on yours, ask yourself if he’s worth it. Is he worthy of your time, your affection, and the gift of you? If your answer is yes, proceed.”

“How will I know?”

“You’ll know. And the fact that you’re asking, means you haven’t met him yet. Because when you do, deep in your bones, you’ll know he’s the right one. Until then, you focus on you.”

Not waiting for Rose to respond, I went in search of Ivy. Gone were the days of us living in the penthouse way up high above the city. Ivy had talked me into buying a house, complete with a white picket fence, down the street from Linc. It took months for the guys to stop giving me shit about it. I gave zero fucks I was the butt of their jokes. I was living the dream.

I made my way to the bedroom, finding Ivy getting ready for a shower.

“How was your class?” I asked.

Three times a week, she and the girls did yoga or Pilates or some shit. I didn’t know what it was called and I think the class changed each time they went. What I did know was her ass looked fantastic.

“Jeeze. You scared me. It was good. Mason has a new girlfriend, and Vi hates her. Francesca has a boyfriend, and Leo has all but lost his mind, both of his daughters are dating. He’s complaining Marco, Dante, and Nico aren’t watching out for their sisters like they should be. Erin is freaking out that Colin’s mom planned a trip to Florida and is taking Lex, Tommy, Max, and Ben for a week. Colin is—”

“Baby, I appreciate you giving me a rundown on everyone’s kids, but I don’t give a shit what Colin is. Though, I can imagine he’s probably thrilled to get his wife to himself while his mom takes the kids.”

“You’d be right. Class was good,” Ivy said, peeling off her skin-tight spandex pants.

“Sore?”

“No.”

“Good.”

I yanked my shirt off and tossed it on the bathroom floor next to her discarded pants.

“The kids?”

“Occupied. After we’re done, remind me to talk to you about homeschooling Rose.”

“We’re not homeschooling her.”

“Yes, we are. Those little fucks at school keep looking at—”

“Zane. Do you wanna stand here and talk about homeschooling or do you wanna get in the shower and help me wash my back?”

Homeschooling was the last thing on my mind when she tore off the loose T-shirt and sports bra. Standing in only her panties, I took her in from top to toe and back again. I was one lucky son of a bitch. I’d never understand how I got so fortunate or how and why Ivy put up with me. And I wasn’t asking.

“Shower, now.” I stepped out of my pants and palmed my semi-hard cock.

“Can I take my undies off first, Mr. Bossy?”

“Only if you’re quick.”

Her thumbs went under the elastic, and ever so slowly she pulled them down. The minute they pooled around her feet, I was on her. I lifted her, and she wrapped her legs around my waist. Two strides and we were in the shower, two more her back was against the wall. And one single thrust later, I was home.

“God, I love you,” she moaned.

“With every breath, I love you more.”

Lincoln

Watching your child take the oath of enlistment is a surreal experience, watching your twin sons take it was exceptional. Overwhelming pride washed over me, and I squeezed Jasmin’s hand.

I could still remember the day I swore in. I was running, looking for an escape, and serving my country seemed like the best option. It had been good enough for my brother, Zane, I figured it was good enough for me. When I went to BUD/s I wasn’t prepared, not that one could actually prepare for the worst experience of your life, but I hadn’t had a clue. I hoped I’d prepared my sons. Today both of them were swearing in to the United States Navy, and while I was proud as hell they’d joined, I was still worried. The world we lived in was a brutal place.

I knew Jasmin was thinking about the day she enlisted, too. She stood tall and brave next to me, just as I knew my little hellcat would. I also knew she shared my fears but would never show it. Not now, not in front of her boys.

“. . . so help me God.”

Robert and Asher lowered their right hands and remained at attention while the other recruits filed out of the room. This was it. The busses were lined up, waiting to take those who were shipping out to the airport.

My sons turned, and Jasmin’s quick intake of breath was the only sign she was affected.

“You guys set? You have your orders?” she asked.

“We have everything,” Asher answered, not surprisingly. He was always the one to talk for the pair.

“Good. Come here and give me a hug so you can say goodbye to everyone else.”

Asher stepped forward and pulled his mom into his arms. He was so much bigger than Jasmin, she all but disappeared. He kissed the top of her head and moved to his Uncle Zane. Jax, Leo, Colin, and Declan all waited to wish my boys well. Not boys, my sons, they were men now. Eighteen and off to start their lives. I’d tried to get them to go to college first, God knows they had the grades and athletic ability to go anywhere, but neither of them would hear of it. Asher was soaking up all the last-minute advice from the men who’d helped raised him, when I noticed Robert still hadn’t said goodbye to his mother.

The two-minute warning was called, and we needed to make our way outside. My wife’s stoic mask was firmly in place, while Violet, Ivy, Olivia, and Erin were all sniffling and wiping away tears.

Just when I was getting ready to kick Robert’s ass for not talking to his mom, he stepped in front of her, preventing her from exiting the building.

“Mom.”

Jesus, when had my son’s voice taken on such a hard edge? Where had the last eighteen years gone?

“You better hurry. There’ll be hell to pay if your ass isn’t planted in that seat in about sixty seconds.”

“Mom. Look at me.”

Jasmin, being the stubborn woman she was, shook her head. “Linc, tell him. They need to—”

“Look. At. Me.”

Her eyes shot up to his, and I knew why she’d been refusing. There were tears.

“We got this. You know we do. You and Dad gave us everything we needed. In nine weeks, we’ll see you at our Pass in Review. This is a walk in the park.”

“I know,” she clipped.

“Right.” Robert smiled at his mom’s short answer. “I love you, Mama.”

Jasmin nodded.

“It’s an easy day.”

She nodded again.

“We’ll be careful.”

“Promise?” she muttered.

“Promise.” Robert yanked his mom forward, and she collided with his chest. Her body shook, and Asher walked to the pair and wrapped his arms around both of them.

“I love you both so much. Watch each other’s six. No matter what, you two stick together.”

“We will,” Asher said.

“Shit and damn. Now I’m crying. I don’t freaking cry. Hurry up. Get to the bus.”

Robert passed Jasmin to me, and she tucked in close, just like she’d done for the last twenty years. With a lift of their chins, my sons were boarding the bus to basic training.

“Good old Great Mistakes.” I laughed.

“I miss them,” Jasmin whispered. “Already, Linc. I fucking miss them so much I feel like my heart has been ripped out.”

“I know you do, sweet Jasmin.”

“What do we do now?”

“Now we get to sit back and wait.”

“For what?”

“For greatness. For them to need us again. I figure we got at least ten years until they learn that just because you’re men doesn’t mean you don’t need the guidance of the men and women that have gone before you.”

“That long?”

“Baby, they’re your sons, we may have to wait closer to fifteen.”

“Are you saying I’m stubborn?”

“As they come.”

“You trying to piss me off?”

“Is it working?”

Her pretty eyes narrowed as she caught on to what I was doing. At least she wasn’t crying anymore.

“You guys ready?”

When I turned to reply to Zane, the significance of the day hit me. Not just my sons leaving but the families we’d created. Never would I have thought two kids growing up in West Virginia the way we did would have all this. For a long time I’d been afraid my brother would let his misplaced guilt keep him from finding happiness. Then Ivy had shown up and rocked his world. When Ivy was pregnant with Eric, I paid him back for all the shit he gave me when Jas was carrying the twins. If everyone thought Leo and I had been over the top when our wives were pregnant, Zane was worse, way fucking worse. And Leo, the overachiever that he was, had filled his home with two daughters and three boys. He would’ve kept going but Olivia announced she was done after Nico. Three little Leos running around was more than she could handle. Jaxon and Violet were the only smart ones out of the group and happily stopped after Mason. Erin, much like Olivia, gave up after her third boy in a row. She and Lexi were outnumbered in the Doyle house.

“We did it,” I said, instead of answering.

My brother’s gaze left Ivy and came to me. “That we did.”

Six men and one woman stood in front of a granite headstone.

“It’s been a long time, brother,” Jaxon started. “Twenty damn years since we’ve seen you.”

“We kept moving forward, just like we promised. We didn’t squander your sacrifice,” Leo said. “Gia’s getting married. I wanna hate the little fucker, but I can’t. He’s a good kid and loves my girl. His only problem is, he’s in the damn Chair Force.”

“Fuck off.” Jaxon laughed. “I never heard you bitchin’ about the Air Force all those years when I was saving your ass.”

“Right. That’s why your boy, Mason, went into the Army,” Leo continued.

“I blame that on Jasmin. She got her hands on Mas and sold him on that human intel shit, and it was all downhill from there.”

“Downhill?” Jasmin laughed. “You’re full of shit.”

“Did Rob and Asher get their orders? Are they splitting up?” Colin asked.

“They’re both going to Virginia. The higher ups saw the value in keeping them together.”

Zane was only half listening to his men’s banter. This is what they did, what they promised each other. Visiting Eric Wheeler’s grave was not the time nor the place to mourn. Some might think it disrespectful standing in a cemetery laughing and joking with a dead man. But not them. Eric had lived and died a hero. A man worth celebrating, a man worth remembering. And they did remember. His memory would live in each of their children. The families they were all afforded by Eric’s sacrifice.

The fuck of it was, Zane still harbored guilt. Now it wasn’t the guilt over the men he’d lost, but knowing he wouldn’t change anything. Eric giving his life for his team meant that fourteen souls were born into this world. Grief and loss had turned into happiness and family. Over the last twenty years, Eric’s light had never dimmed; it was still shinning upon them, breathing life into their families. And at the end of each one of the days, Zane and his team knew family was all they had, the families they’d created, and the bonds they’d forged.

The laughter began to fade as the time came to leave. Each one touched the headstone as they made their way to leave. Zane lingered for just a moment, allowing the grief of Eric’s absence to soak in.

“Miss you, brother. Every fucking day. Rest easy.” With a slap of his palm on the cold granite headstone, Zane left.

Long Live the Brotherhood.

*

Be sure to read all the other books in Edward’s Red Team series and be on the look out for the new GOLD Team books coming soon!

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Also, if you enjoyed seeing Susan Stoker’s characters in this book, check out and find out all about how Rayne and Ghost’s honeymoon in London went!