Phoebe fell in beside her brother as the first explosion occurred. She tried not to think about the two bodies she and Ten had taken out in the guard station. It had been necessary. They’d been ready to shoot, but still, it had been a long time since she’d been forced to kill a man.

“We’re going around back to make sure the dock is secure,” Ten said into his comm.

“I should be with them,” she whispered as they moved around the massive main house. She watched their back, making sure no one came around.

“You’re clear as far as I can see. Erin, good work on that door. You’ve got two coming in at three o’clock.” Hutch’s voice was a low buzz in her ear. He’d been left in the guardhouse monitoring the security systems. The compound had a complex set of cameras that seemed to cover every inch of the grounds.

Someone was a paranoid freak, and that totally worked in their favor.

She heard a volley of gunfire and then Erin spoke. “Got ’em. Do you have eyes on Murdoch? I don’t want to blow him up. Tag would send me to the doghouse. Seriously he bought one and he’s threatening to use it. I think that violates labor laws, right?”

“I got him. You’re clear to blow up anything but the center of the main house. He’s on the move and he’s being feisty,” Hutch said.

“Is he okay?” She couldn’t help but ask.

“He’s already taken out two. Simon, if you go through the hole Erin blew, you’ll see him going across the top of the stairs.”

“On it.” Simon came through loud and clear.

She breathed a sigh of relief. They weren’t out of the woods yet, but she felt better knowing Simon was about to have Jesse’s back.

They rounded the corner. The dock was up ahead.

Ten touched his earpiece. “Kash, you can bring the boat in. We’re a go.”

The boat Kash had bought was a small speedboat that would take them to a large yacht anchored in the gulf and waiting to haul it as fast as they could to Loa Mali and safety.

To her left, Phoebe watched as a door opened and five men started out. They surrounded a sixth.

She realized what would happen in a moment. The helipad was between them and the dock. If they saw the boat coming, they could easily shoot it out of the water. If they took off, it would be simple to gain the high ground and potentially take them all out.

But more than anything, if they turned soon, they would have her and Ten outnumbered. Even if they survived, that was al Fareed they were protecting and he was about to get away. Jesse wouldn’t be safe until the Caliph was dead. He would be out there lurking in the shadows and manipulating their lives.

It was time to gamble. They obviously knew she was with Jesse. Al Fareed’s intelligence was too good to not know that she was spending her time in the same room with Jesse. She would make an awfully good hostage in exchange for Jesse’s good behavior. She had to think they wouldn’t kill her.

She touched her earpiece. “Ten, find a sniper position. We have to take him out. Forgive me.”

She took off, screaming. “Jesse! Jesse!”

“Phoebe? What the hell?” Ten’s voice became a low growl in her ear. “I’m going to tell Murdoch to beat your ass for this. Don’t you fucking die. Not until I get the chance to murder you myself.”

She dropped her gun when they turned and gave her best impression of shrinking away in fear.

“Don’t shoot her. Bring her to me and then go and find the prisoner. I’m not leaving without him.” He spoke in Arabic to one of the men around him and he turned and ran to the chopper.

One of the guards grabbed her and dragged her back to al Fareed, who immediately brought her close, putting a gun to her head and using her to shield his own body. “You’re my dog’s little bitch, aren’t you?”

“I just came for Jesse. Please tell me where he is.” She wasn’t going to argue with the man. Certainly not when he pressed that gun so close to her temple. It hurt where he held her, too. So tight, as though he wouldn’t ever let go.

“How many did you bring with you?”

“It’s just me and a couple of his friends,” she replied, her voice shaking. How long would Ten need?

“A couple of friends destroyed my house?”

There was a volley of gunfire as his guards rounded the corner to get back to the front of the house. She prayed Hutch, the all-seeing, had warned Simon and Jesse.

“When they bring him to me after killing your friends, I think I’ll kill you in front of him. Or perhaps I’ll take you with me and you can serve as another method of control. That would be an interesting experiment.” He was dressed for the conference and his keffiyeh covered her shoulder. He spoke into her left ear and hadn’t seemed to notice that her right ear had a comm buried in it. She could still hear the team speaking.

“We have the package. Fall back,” Simon’s voice said in her ear.

They had Jesse. Jesse was safe. Now all she needed was for Ten to take his shot. He could give her cover after al Fareed was dead. He would have the high ground. She would run.

She was going to run all the way to Jesse and they would get away and they would be safe.

She believed. She would will it to happen. No more hiding.

“Get him to the damn boat.” Ten’s accent always thickened when he was pissed, and it was like molasses now. “I’ve got to deal with another issue. Al Fareed has Phoebe. She got it in her head she could stop him from leaving and then I would shoot the fucker. Keep Jesse away from the west side of the compound. I don’t need Romeo and Juliet playing out in front of me.”

She hoped Ten was getting into position.

And then she saw him. Simon rounded the corner and then seemed to hear Ten and paused, his hand coming up and making a fist. It was a clear signal to stop.

Jesse still came around the corner and she watched in utter horror as he caught sight of her. He was shirtless and she could see blood on his chest and arms. He moved without his usual grace.

What had he been through?

“Yes. Now you’ll come in handy.” Al Fareed pressed the gun to her temple. He walked across the grass, putting distance between them and the helicopter.

Phoebe struggled to stay upright. The ground around her was soft and her feet seemed to sink in.

“I’m almost in place. Almost there. I’ll take al Fareed first, but we still have to deal with the guard,” Ten’s voice purred in her ear. She’d watched her brother work before and invariably he calmed as he got close to doing the actual job. He would slow down and even his voice would slip into his deep, Southern accent when he focused. “Drop when I tell you and don’t give him a chance. I’ll take him before he knows what’s happening.”

She had to buy him some time because now they were in a standoff. The guard next to her had his weapon up, pointing at the same side of the house the other guards had disappeared behind.

Jesse walked out, dropping his gun to the ground and holding his hands up.

“That was inevitable,” Ten said and she could almost see him shaking his head. “Darlin’, I’ve got a shot lined up, but unfortunately your head is in the way. When I tell you to, you need to move about two centimeters to your left.”

This was going to get so icky. And then there was the problem of the gun to her head. It was pressing her to the right. And the problem of Jesse, who moved toward them with the singular purpose of a man who was going to save his woman no matter what the cost.

God, she loved him. She had a gun to her head and all hell was breaking loose around her and she thanked the universe for Jesse. And Jamie. And Ten. For the love she’d been given.

“Don’t cry, baby,” Jesse said. “I’m going to get you out of this.”

Simon and Theo stalked behind Jesse, their guns trained on al Fareed.

“Hand over the girl and we’ll let you get on that helicopter,” Simon explained. It was easier to hear now that they were away from the chopper.

She felt al Fareed’s head shake against hers. “I think you would simply blow up my helicopter. No, I’ll take one of you with me. I wanted to take them both, but I fear two would be too much.”

“Me.” Jesse stopped a dozen feet away. “You’ll take me. I’m the one you want. Let go of the girl and I’ll go willingly with you. Anything you say.”

“And if I want to put a collar around your neck and walk you through my training camp to show my soldiers how we should treat Americans?”

Her stomach churned because it was everything Jesse feared. And yet he simply nodded.

“Yes. Anything. Just let her go.”

Her captor started to back away, dragging her with him. “No. I no longer believe you. I think she’s the only thing that will keep you in check. You surprise me. I think I failed with you. I think I would always have failed with you.”

“No.” Panic was plainly stamped on his face and he started toward them.

One wrong move and al Fareed would shoot one or both of them. The guard moved with his boss.

“Si, you got a bead on the guard?” Ten asked. “Nod to verify.”

“Jesse, stay back.” Everything would go to hell if that guard got his hands on Jesse. She saw Simon nod.

“I can’t let him take you.” Jesse moved toward her.

“Three,” Ten’s voice said.

If he came closer, Ten wouldn’t be able to take his shot. “He won’t. Have faith in me. Don’t take another step.”

“Two.”

Jesse stopped. “I do.”

“Such a little fool,” al Fareed said in her ear. “Perhaps I will break you instead. Let’s go.”

“Now.” Ten’s voice was as calm as a man reading the news.

She went completely limp in al Fareed’s arms, ducking her head and trusting her life in Ten’s shot. She heard the ping and then she was falling. Before she could hit the grass, Jesse was there. He lifted her into his arms and then fell to his knees, but not before he pulled her free of al Fareed’s body. The guard dropped beside them. He’d never had a chance once Simon had him in his sights.

“Erin’s with the boat and I’m coming in,” Hutch said cheerfully as if he hadn’t just witnessed a bloody battle. “Simon, I’m going to need that chopper. Could you hurry? He’s going to try to take off.”

Simon moved in and there was the sound of another shot.

She looked in horror at Jesse’s back as she scrambled to her knees. It was a mass of welts and cuts. He was bleeding from his shoulder. “Oh, baby.”

He stared at al Fareed’s body, but the minute she spoke, he turned and reached for her. “It’s over now. Phoebe, we can go home.”

As gently as she could, she wrapped her arms around him. “My home is wherever you are.”

He held her tight. “Good, because the minute I can, I’m putting you over my knee.”

Suddenly Ten stood above them. “Murdoch, you all right?”

Jesse took the hand Ten held out, letting his future brother-in-law help him up before doing the same for Phoebe. “I’ve never been better. You gave up a lot to come after me.”

“I owed you, brother. I’m sorry I had to kill him. That was your right.”

Jesse shook his head. “No. I didn’t need to kill him. I already beat him. I beat him when I survived and I beat him again when I thrived.” His hand found hers and he threaded their fingers together. “And now we’ll move on and have a family. I wouldn’t have Phoebe without him. I won’t say I’m grateful to him, but I would go through it all over again to find my wife.”

She squeezed his hand. “Let’s get out of here.”

He nodded and started for the docks. Theo and Erin were already at the boat and she could see Kamdar hadn’t pawned the job off. He’d told her he would get off on the adrenaline. Simon waved at Hutch, who stepped over the pilot’s body as he got into the cab of the chopper. Hutch was taking the helicopter?

She looked back and her brother wasn’t behind her. Ten stood by the chopper as Hutch fired it up.

He looked so alone standing there. He nodded her way and held up a hand. His mouth moved, but she couldn’t hear him over the helicopter blades. She could see what he said.

I love you.

He hopped in, gave Hutch the thumbs-up, and the chopper lifted into the air.

“It’s okay,” Jesse said. “We’ll meet up in Loa Mali.”

He tugged on her hand and she followed, but she knew the truth. Her brother was gone. He was in the wind, disavowed and alone.

And very likely looking for revenge.

Still, even as she prayed for Ten, she followed Jesse because he was her future, her gift.

 

Two Months Later

Dallas, TX

 

“Are you sure you want to do this?” Big Tag asked the question in an exaggerated whisper. “Because we can still get you out of here. I’ve got an extraction team standing by.”

It took all Jesse had not to roll his eyes. Even in a situation like this, his boss was sarcastic. “I think the extraction team is all here.”

“That’s what I meant. We can get you out in a heartbeat. This is insane. No one does this willingly.”

“Oh and Charlotte had to drag you down the aisle?” After all, Tag was trying to save him from his wedding.

The big guy shrugged in his tux. “We eloped so it was all sex and a British Elvis impersonator. None of this fancy shit. That’s the way to go. I got married in a T-shirt and jeans.”

Alex McKay shook his head and passed Jesse a drink. Rum and Coke. He couldn’t stand that Scotch stuff. “Don’t believe him. I’ve seen the pictures. He was wearing a nice pair of slacks and she even got him into a tie. And Ian, I heard Charlotte tell Eve that she thinks you two should have a recommitment ceremony after the babies are born.”

Ian went a little pale. It was good to know one little sonogram could shake his boss. Charlotte Taggart was pregnant with twins. Big Tag didn’t half ass anything. “She’s high if she thinks she’s getting me in a monkey suit.”

Sean looked up from his phone. “Dude, you’re in a monkey suit now.”

“Yeah, but Murdoch here’s paying me.”

“No, I’m not.” He was enjoying the camaraderie of his brothers. Just the night before they’d arranged a bachelor party for him. Poker and piña coladas. It had been perfect.

“See, that’s what you think, but there’s always a price,” Tag replied.

The door opened and Simon walked in. Naturally his tux was perfect and custom made. No rentals for the Brit. “Theo and Case are here. They send their regards from the rest of the team.”

Ten’s team had reported to Langley, even Hutch, who had showed up a day late and claimed to have absolutely no knowledge of where their former boss was. Hutch claimed Ten had ditched him in Oman. Theo had told him and Phoebe that Ten wanted them to remain at the Agency. He hadn’t wanted a single one to sacrifice for him.

They were all on another team now. Only Ten had been disavowed. What Ten didn’t know was that every single one of them were still his men. They would fight for him when the time was right.

Where the hell was Tennessee Smith? He knew Phoebe was hoping he’d somehow hear about their wedding and show up, but that was a miracle that likely wasn’t going to happen.

Simon put a hand on his shoulder. “It’s time.”

Tag sighed and turned to Jesse as the rest of the men filed out. “You know Phoebe tries to kick my ass every time I call you a dumbass.”

His almost-wife was a little protective. “I’ll talk to her about it.”

Tag nodded. “Good because I’m not changing my management style just because my accountant is a delicate princess. I like her, you know. And I’m proud of you, Murdoch. I made the right call.”

Tag walked out to join the rest of the groomsmen, leaving him alone with his best man.

He’d grown up alone. His childhood had consisted of trying to placate a nasty old man. Alone had been his state of being, but now he was surrounded by family. Everywhere he looked there was someone he cared about, some kid he was going to get to watch grow up. The world had become a precious place.

“Are you ready?” Simon asked.

“I was born ready for this.”

He followed Simon out and took his place, surrounded by brothers but with the knowledge that two were missing. Ten and the brother he’d known so briefly, the only other man who knew what it meant to love Phoebe. He wasn’t here, but Jesse could feel his presence. Jamie Grant’s memory would always have a place in their home.

The music began and there she was. She wore a white dress and carried a bouquet of flowers, but all he could really see was her beautiful face.

“Hi,” she said with a glorious smile when she reached him.

“Hello, baby.” He took her hand.

They turned to the pastor and there among their family, Jesse and Phoebe began their forever.

 

Later that night…

 

Ian Taggart reached out and placed his hands on his wife’s belly. Smooth and round and one of the little fuckers kicked him firmly. “Charlie, that’s not a foot. It’s a horn. We’re having a demon. I know it.”

He couldn’t help it. He loved to tease her. It was his greatest joy in life.

She rolled her pretty eyes and sighed. “They’re your girls so they’re probably slightly demonic. Are you all right?”

He took a deep breath. He’d faced down a lot of shit in his time and nothing scared him quite as much as the feel of that baby kicking against his hand. The problem was there wasn’t just one set of feet in there. “I think the doctor was high and it’s just a really big boy.”

“With four legs?”

“Maybe that’s just his boy parts. Maybe he has two.”

“You’re insane, but I love you.”

He tugged on her hand, bringing her onto his lap. This was his favorite part of the day. He would pull her on his lap and just sit and watch the night while he cuddled his wife. Now he cuddled his children, too. It wouldn’t be long before they were squirmy little things, so he relished the peace of holding them all in his arms for the moment. His girls.

“It was a beautiful wedding.” Charlie leaned into him, nuzzling his neck.

“There was a Harry Potter cake, Charlie. And mai tais. Those two were made for each other.”

“I just wish Ten could have been there.”

He stilled because there were still some secrets he couldn’t tell his wife. Not yet. “If the bastard had shown up, I would have slapped him with the bill for Sanctum.”

She sat up and grinned. “I know that having the club blow up was horrible, but the new Sanctum is going to be so beautiful.”

He agree with her on that point because this time around, he’d built his personal heaven with one person in mind—her. Every piece of furniture and equipment had been chosen with her comfort and pleasure in mind. Every tiny detail selected to delight her. She was his queen and she would have her personal castle. A perverted castle, complete with a human hamster wheel. “It’s fuck all expensive.”

He noticed something out of the corner of his eye and realized the time had come. Someone was on his land and they’d managed to get around his security system. There was only person he knew who could manage that. He needed to get Charlie to safety until he figured out what was going on with his guest.

She helped him out by sitting up and stretching. “I’m going to take a shower and get out of this dress. You want to join me?”

More than anything. There was nothing he wanted more than to get in a shower and worship his reason for living. He stood and crowded her as much as he could with her big belly between them. He leaned over and brushed his lips against hers. “In a little while. I need to call Sean about something. I’ll meet you in bed and rub your feet and go over all the ways I’m going to torture your sweet ass when you’re able to play again.”

Her hands came up, sinking into his hair. His Charlie never shrank from a challenge. “You better come up with something good, Taggart.”

She walked away, the sway of her hips calling to him.

He stepped inside, grabbed the Scotch and two glasses, and then walked back out. He heard the shower turn on and settled down into one of the Adirondack chairs that sat on his big porch. He looked out into the trees that surrounded his house. “You can come out now. We’re alone. Did you enjoy the wedding?”

“It was beautiful. I wish I could have come to the reception.” Tennessee Smith came out of the woods like a wraith melting away from the camouflage and finding his form. He was dressed in black with a ball cap on his head and a backpack over one shoulder. And his face had exploded.

“Dude, you look homeless, and what’s all that shit on your face?”

Ten stopped and stared for a moment. “You know, I’m gone for months in a hostile place with everyone in the Agency looking to drag my ass in and your first words are about my beard?”

“Is that what that’s supposed to be? Because it looks like a fucking poodle died on your face.” He poured the man a Scotch because he really looked like he’d been through hell.

Ten shook his head and then laughed. “Fuck you, Tag.” He dropped the backpack and then stepped up, taking the glass Ian offered. “Damn but it’s good to see you.”

“It’s good to see you, too. You could have written. Maybe a call letting us know you’re all right.”

Ten shook his head and settled into the other chair. “Too dangerous. It’s why I forced Hutch to come home. I was in Saudi and then Iraq.”

“And now you’re home.”

“I am. Has there been any blowback from killing al Fareed?”

Tag shook his head. “No. The asshole you questioned couldn’t remember a thing and the whole incident was written up as a street crime. Albertson was fired from the senator’s team. What the hell did you do to cover up the op at al Fareed’s compound?”

“I talked to his brother,” Ten said. “Ibrahim al Fareed is as far from Hani as a person can get. He’s why Hutch and I didn’t get caught. He’d been suspicious of his brother for a long time. He was happy to cover it up. He doesn’t want the stain on the family name. He’s an ally.”

It was good Ten had found someone to help him. And definitely good to know the senator wasn’t coming after them anytime soon. It had been a peaceful couple of months. Tag was ready to kick a little ass. “Tell me you’re here for a reason, brother.”

Ten nodded, his mouth a grim line. “I’ve found it. I’ve found a way to get to Hank McDonald.”

The man who had used his influence to burn Ten. The man who had sold Jamie Grant out. McDonald was the reason Jesse’s unit had been murdered and he’d been tortured for months on end. Yeah, he wanted a piece of that. That pie was going to be filled with all kinds of revengey goodness. “Tell me.”

“According to my intel, he keeps all his records and files on a private system offshore. The bastard owns a compound in the Grand Caymans, and my sources say that’s where all the evidence will be.”

Ian was fairly certain he didn’t want to know how Ten had gotten that information. Ten looked older and infinitely harder, as though the last few months had taken all the party boy out of him and left nothing but the predator. “All right. How do you get on the island?”

Ten’s eyes gleamed in the moonlight. “He has a daughter. Once a year he throws her a no-holds-barred party there. I’m going to get an invitation to that party.”

“Nice. How are you going to do that?” His brain was already working. They would need to plant a few operatives in that house, maybe around the island, too. He wasn’t going to allow Ten to go in alone.

“By seducing her and becoming her boyfriend. There’s one problem with that.”

Tag saw the obvious problem. “Yes, that shit on your face. Unless she’s into Grizzly Adams, you’re going to shave.”

Ten’s green eyes rolled. “Not that, asshole. She’s in the lifestyle.”

Now it was Ian’s turn to grin. Oh, this was going to be so much fun. He slapped Ten on the shoulder. “Then it’s time to Dom you up, buddy. And I know just the place to do it.”

But the man had to shave. After all, Sanctum had its standards.

* * * *

Tennessee Smith and the rest of the McKay-Taggart crew will return in Master No coming August 4th, 2015.