Six weeks later

Rogan's palms grabbed my ass and squeezed. "Hey! I'm trying to concentrate here."

I lined a chunk of Rogan's hair between my fingers and snipped off the ends. "You're finally letting me cut your hair. I want to do a good job."

"Your tits are in my face."

I bent to look into his eyes as he sat in a chair in the backyard. "I know. I feel your eyes and your breath on them."

He chuckled and his laugh echoed inside my heart.

"I think I'm gonna love cutting your hair. It's incredibly sexy."

"Oh really? Let's do this inside." He flicked open the top button of my jeans.

"No. Let me concentrate for one minute."

"No." He went for the second button of my jeans.

I clicked on the electric razor and buzzed it next to his ear. "Hands off or you'll lose an ear, Boggs."

He dropped his hands, and I grinned while I carefully shaved the hair around the nape of his neck. "I have a theory about Dallas and Brock."

"I thought you were trying to concentrate."

"I am. I can talk, just don't touch me."

"Lots of rules for this haircut."

"Please cooperate."

"Sure. So what's your theory?"

"They're secret princes."

He chuckled. "Uh-huh."

"They are. And they live a normal life in Boston, but have bodyguards because their country has sent them here for their safety during a huge civil uprising."

"All that, huh?"

"Am I right?"

"Uh. No."

"Tell me."

"Dallas and Brock have a history similar to mine, but grander on every scale. Higher up in the military, black ops they can't talk about. Dallas runs a network for vets to find jobs when they get discharged. Brock is his right-hand man."

"But why did Lachlan say they kill for blood and money?"

"I wish he hadn't said that in front of you."

"Do the Monroe brothers kill for blood and money?"

He took a deep breath and spoke slowly, choosing each word carefully. "The kinds of jobs soldiers are best at aren't always on the top side of the law. I can't tell you any more, and it's best you don't ask." Rogan held up one finger and lifted his phone to his ear. "Boggs."

Oh, he never answered the phone that way.

The longer he listened, the lower his shoulders fell. His gaze flitted to Takoda's spot where she rested in the sun. "Thank you. I'll get back to you."

He ended the call and looked up at me with crestfallen eyes. "Brightman wants to retire Takoda."

"She does?"

"She's earned thirteen thousand combat hours."

"Wow. Really? Would we get to keep her, or would she go to some doggie retirement home?"

"We'd keep her."

"That's good." I set the razor on the table to focus on him.

"I've been awarded a silver medal of honor," he said in a flat tone.

"Wow. You're not happy with that?"

"Not interested in accolades for doing my job." He placed his hands on my hips.

"But still. They want to recognize your service."

"In my line of work, I don't wanna be recognized."

"For your safety?"

"For yours." He pulled me closer so his lips were on my belly over the open button of my jeans.

I held his head and rubbed the newly exposed skin on his nape. "Oh."

"And Savannah's kids. Cyan, Dallas. Anyone associated with me is at risk."

"Hmm."

"She wants me to come to the White House for some ceremony." He dipped his tongue in my belly button.

I ignored the flood of desire to jump his bones. "That would be exciting."

His lips brushed my stomach as he shook his head. "Not interested."

I bent my knees to crouch down in front of him and placed my hands on his neck. "What's wrong, babe? This all sounds like good stuff."

"She's disbanding Alpha Squadron. Offered me a position as commander of a new Beta Squadron. Same missions as before, but a different team."

"Would you want that?"

He shook his head slowly. "Don't feel confident putting my life on the line without Takoda or my unit taking my six. There might've been days I'd take that risk, but now—no."

"What're your other options?"

"Honorable discharge. Everything forgotten—going MIA, disobeying orders, escaping confinement—all pardoned like it never happened. Make the fake story true."

"Wow."

"She's offering me an out because of you." He brushed my hair behind my ear.

"This is about me?"

"In a lot of ways, I think it is. She's still trying to make it up to me. Giving me freedom to be with you."

"Whatever you choose, I'll support you."

"A man needs purpose in his work."

"Is there some meaningful work you can find as a retired vet?"

"I could work for Monroe, but like I said, the work he does crosses the lines of civilian laws." He chewed his lip and stared into my eyes. "I've been thinking of starting a private security firm here. Have the guys from Alpha Squadron work for me."

"So, go out on your own?"

"Yeah. It'd be harder in the beginning, but more autonomy in the long run. I could do things my way. Really help people. Keep it legal."

"Would that give you purpose?"

"Yes."

"Then that's what you should do."

"I need to get in touch with Falcon. He probably got the same phone call I did."

"Go call him." I blew the shavings from his neck and kissed him. When I pulled away, I combed his hair into place with my fingertips. He stared at my chest for several deep breaths.

"You okay?" I trailed my fingers down his shirt and pressed his dog tags to his heart through the fabric.

He looked down at my hand, reached under his collar, and pulled the chain over his head.

"C'mon." He grabbed my wrist and led me inside to our bedroom. He stopped at my jewelry box and opened the door.

Slowly, he hung the chain on the hook and closed the door.

"How does that feel?" I asked him.

"In a way, it's giving up. Something I never thought I'd do."

"Life takes us on journeys we can't always predict."

"But closing this door also opens a new one. I'm free to love you. To build a new life. To work for a new purpose."

I kissed him, and he unbuttoned my pants with one hand while curling his fingers into my hair with the other. Then he made love to me, with renewed purpose. And as usual, he succeeded because I came four times and fell infinitely deeper in love with my man.

***

On a dusky fall morning, at the Idaho courthouse, Savannah's palm sweated in my hand. She stood on my right and Rogan was on my left. Timandra—who'd changed her name from Temperance— Jasmine, Mercedes, Phillip, and Milo flanked us on both sides as a silent courtroom waited for the verdict.

"With regards to the count of murder in the first degree, we the jury find the defendant, Jebediah Barebones, guilty."

Rogan squeezed my hand and a collective exhale from all of us filled the silence. Tori, who had fought hard through the whole trial, dropped her head and her beautiful red hair covered her face. She didn't want anyone to see the hard-nosed attorney cry.

"On count one of aggravated sexual assault, guilty." The juror continued to read guilty verdicts for all his accused crimes— twelve other counts of aggravated sexual assault, human trafficking, tax evasion, WIC fraud, bigamy, racketeering, child labor law violations, everything.

Lachlan Cutlass pumped his fist in the air. He gave me a thumbs up and a reassuring smile that said everything's going to be okay. And I believed him. This was a new beginning for me and all the women who had left the compound to start new lives on the outside. The sister wives and witnesses gathered at the courthouse clapped and cheered. My father called out, "This is religious persecution," but no one paid him any attention through our celebrations.

At the sentencing two days later, the judge sternly handed down three consecutive life sentences with no chance of parole or early termination.

Tori came to me and hugged me. "Good job, Tessa. It's done. They're free."

"Yes." All the stress of testifying was worth it.

Zook Guthrie negotiated a plea bargain for two years for his charge of sexual assault, reduced from five years because he provided critical information leading to the murder and rape convictions. My heart ached for Zook because I knew he never would've raped Lyric if my father hadn't forced him to do it. Four other seed bearers were convicted of aggravated sexual assault and given maximum sentences.

***

Rogan

"This cornbread is the bomb," Blaze said.

"It's spoonbread, man," I replied.

"Whatever. It's good."

I shook my head and took the last bite of my Christmas dinner. When I stood and raised my glass, the chattering stopped and all eyes turned to me. "I'd like to make a toast." They picked up their glasses too and held them in front of them. "This Christmas is a first in some way for all of us. For Timandra, Phil, Heather, Mercedes, and Milo, it's their first Christmas." It felt good to call them by their new names. Milo chose to keep his. "For Savannah, the first as their mother. For some of us, it's our first Christmas married to our soulmates." I bent to press a kiss to Tess's temple. "But for all of us," I swung my glass past Falcon, Diesel, Blaze, Brock, Dallas, and Cyan, "it's the first as a family. We may not have been born into this family, but we sure as shit are one now."

Milo covered his mouth and giggled at my cuss word. "Uh, damn." I always forgot. "And cursing is part of life, so fucking get used to it." Tess coughed next to me, but everyone laughed. "And as a family, we celebrate freedom. Freedom to live and love as we choose. I choose to love this angel right here." I looked down into Tess's shimmering eyes. "I'd like to thank my brothers for taking my back with the new business and making Z Security a huge success in its first year. And let's all thank Tess and her sisters for preparing this kickass meal."

Everyone mumbled thank you and really good.

Tess stood next to me. "I'd like to thank you all for supporting my charity to help Brotherhood families get settled and start new lives."

I nodded because Tess had collected enough money to provide homes, clothes, tutoring, medical care, and a ton of other supplies for the families left behind at the compound. Soon, she'd expand from Idaho to Utah to help other women in similar situations.

"We all know what it's like to go without," I said to the group. "Not a soul here takes the gift of this day for granted. So I raise my glass to you all. May life offer you a colorful bounty, and may you be smart enough to take it."

***

Five months later

My Harley hummed between our legs, and the Carolina wind whipped our faces on the ride to Wilmington National Cemetery. Tess's hands wandering up my chest made it a challenge to focus on the road, but it felt good having her on my bike and pressed up against my back.

Crowds milled about the grounds on this Memorial Day weekend.

I held her hand and walked her through the grass to section two, space forty-five. Zander Saxton's gravesite.

"Pops, this is Tess. My wife. She found me and brought me back." She squeezed my hand. "Been twenty-two years since you gave your life. Always thought I'd join you here by now." I scanned the array of white memorial stones. "But looks like I have some living to do. This woman right here," I held up our joined hands, "gives me a new purpose. And I'm gonna fight like hell to be the man she needs."

"You are, Rogan. All I need."

"Doesn't seem fair. Me walking away breathing, with all my limbs still attached. But that's the way this mission played out. I gotta roll with it, like you always said, things get fucked, adjust on the fly."

Tess placed a bouquet of red, white, and blue flowers at the base of his stone. "Say hello to my momma. Tell her I love her." She sniffed and wiped her eyes. "Tell her the kids are happy and free. Tell her I found my joy."

I pulled her up against me. "Tell her I did too, and I'll take care of her girl. If she ever loses sight of that joy, I'll help her find it again."

She smiled through her tears. "You think my mom and your dad could be up in heaven knocking boots?"

I laughed and lifted her up for a kiss. "Could be."

I set her on the ground and tugged her hand to the south corner of the lot.

Tess placed a bouquet of violet roses on Eden Langbow Saxton's gravesite where she was buried next to her brother Nathan Langbow.

"Hello, Eden." Tess blinked back tears.

My throat clogged and I couldn't move. Staring at that stone hit me different this time. It always obliterated me, but now the hollowness at the bottom of the grief had a solid bottom. The endless chasm I'd always dropped into was finite.

"I figured if I came here often enough, the pain would lessen," I said to her. "It never did."

Tess wrapped her arms around my waist and squeezed.

"Not till today."

"Thank you for taking me here. And for sharing Eden with me."

I tucked my wife into my chest and held her tight.

Thank you, Eden. For letting me go so I could love her.

***

Bang-bang-bang! The headboard of our four-poster bed banged against the wall. Her wedding ring glinted in the lights I'd installed in the ceiling for exactly this reason. Tess struggled like a trapped doe in her bonds, and I wanted to see it bright and clear.

"Take it. Stop wigglin'."

She was on her knees facing the headboard, hands tied wide to each bedpost. I liked her that way. Tits totally free for me to play with. I was on my back between her legs, pinching her nipples hard and tugging.

She stilled and looked down at me.

"Good." I spread her knees till her sweet cunt smashed to my lips. The second my tongue hit her slit, the board started banging, and she squirmed like crazy again.

That's okay. I liked her wiggling on my face. I plunged my tongue deep inside her, enjoying the tease, knowing she wouldn't come like this.

"Ahh! Please, Rogan. Lick it where I need it."

"Nah." I kept at her entrance and moved one hand to her ass, sweeping in the crack and brushing her hole. "This is too much fun." My other hand pinched harder and lifted her tit up.

She threw her head back and moaned.

"I'm gonna leave you tied like this all day so I can take lazy sips from you whenever I want."

She growled. "No. Want your cock. Please."

"In due time. Tilt."

She tilted her hips, giving me optimum access to her clit.

I worked her where she wanted it. She screamed and pulsed against my lips as she came hard. My girl always came hard for me.

"Now you get my cock." I slid out from under her and pulled up on my knees behind her. "You ready?" I probed her slit with the tip.

"God, yes. Fuck!"

"Oh, she's cussing now and takin' the lord's name in vain. That means she's ready."

"Yes!"

I entered her in one swift thrust. "I'm in you. On you. All the time."

"Yes."

I pumped into her slowly and looked down to watch my cock disappear inside her. "My Sunshine, my mermaid."

"Faster. Deeper."

I reached down her front to feel my cock sliding between my fingers in and out of her sweet pussy. "I'm taking my time. Enjoying the beauty in front of me." My palm smashed her clit. "You should feel our connection. Oh wait, you can't. Your hands are tied."

"Gah! Please, more."

"As you wish, my love." With one hand on her hip, the other grasping her cunt, I drove in to the hilt. I pummeled her over and over, each stroke a taste of heaven.

"You need to find it, babe, because I'm there." I ran my finger up and down her clit and drilled in on my target.

"Ahh!" She clenched and came all over my cock.

"Beautiful." I slammed in a few more times, trying to make it last, but it was too good. It overtook me and I let it all go inside her.

I curled around her back, and her head fell back onto my shoulder. I kissed her sweaty neck, smoothing the hair from her face. "Sublime fucking you. Better every time. Never get enough."

I untied her bindings, and she collapsed on her stomach. Keeping my dick buried in her, I rolled us to our sides, her back to my front. No more fear. We could sleep with her curled in front of me every night, and my wife would feel safe. I brushed my lips over the tattoo she'd made out of her scars, a fence with a dancer leaping over it.

"Brock gave me something tonight."

My arm clinched around her waist. "Woman, do not say another man's name when I'm still hard inside you."

She pulled away and my dick slipped out as she grabbed an envelope from the drawer of the nightstand and held it up.

"Oh shit."

She peeled open the flap. "A letter you gave him the night before you left. You must have written this after our dance at Siege. I dunno, maybe you wrote it before."

"Fuckin' hell." I scraped my hands through my hair.

She read my own words to me.

"If you're reading this, I'm already with my dad.

My father gave his life for our freedom, and I've always been prepared to do the same.

But if I don't come back, you need to know one thing,

I loved you.

I was too fucked in the head to show it to you like I should've, but I loved you.

And if I die out there, I'll die with one regret; I never made love to you.

Now, if I do make it back, I promise you I'll be fucking you long and hard every sunset and sunrise of each day we spend together, so I'm praying like hell right now you'll never read this letter.

Anyway, I hope you find joy because you're an exceptional woman. Strong, smart, beautiful, brave. You deserve it. You brought a shit ton of joy to my life in the short time I knew you. The man who gets to call you his will be the luckiest man alive.

I wish it could've been me, but I was stupid and got blown up.

Live your life free and in full color. Maybe spend a minute thinking of me on Memorial Day, but on other days, focus on the beauty in front of you."

She put the letter down and twisted to kiss me over her shoulder. "Thank fuck you made it back."

I chuckled. "I'm making good on my promise too. Sunrise and sunset."

"You are. And I'm lovin' the beauty in front of me." She trailed her fingers over the T on my left bicep. "And behind me."

"Love you, Sunshine."

"Love you too, babe."

"That fucker," I said.

"Who? Brock?"

"He gave me his word he wouldn't give the letter to you."

"He lied."

She rested her head on the pillow and gasped as I pushed my hard-again cock inside her.

"It's all still true. I loved you then. Love you more now. Gonna keep loving you sunrise and sunset till the day I die."

"I'm pretty sure you'll find me in heaven and knock boots with me there too."

"Damn straight."

###