Total pages in book: 155
Estimated words: 146417 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 732(@200wpm)___ 586(@250wpm)___ 488(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 146417 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 732(@200wpm)___ 586(@250wpm)___ 488(@300wpm)
“Yes. I’m going to kill Levi,” Beck admitted.
Ariel’s expression changed to a sunny smile. “Oh, is that all? Of course you are. We can’t allow the bastard to live. He has a terrible habit of popping back up when you least expect him. Carry on, then. Let me know if you need a sniper.”
She gave him a wink and walked out to the pool where River waited to welcome her.
“God, I love that woman.” Rob had the goofiest look on his face.
But then they all understood that look. They were all still madly in love with their wives.
Theo took one of the shot glasses and held it up. “So one last mission?”
Owen held up his. “I doubt it will be our last. At some point we all know our kids will get in trouble.”
Tucker selected his. “Of that I have no doubt. The next generation is already giving us hell.”
Jax picked up the last two shots, handing one to Beck. “I’ve tried to keep my boys away from the Tag twins, but they’re practically in love. They already like dangerous women. I’m doomed. How about a toast? To making the best of a really bad thing.”
“To making the most of our second chances,” Theo said.
Owen lifted his glass. “To forgiveness and acceptance.”
“To finding family we didn’t even know we’d lost,” Tucker offered.
Rob put a hand on his brother’s shoulder. “To all the brothers who aren’t here. Who we did lose. May we remember them.”
Emotion welled up hard and fast as Beck raised his glass. “To Sasha.”
They all drank down the vodka Jax had brought. He’d likely had a choice of many liquors, but they always chose vodka in honor of the Lost Boy who wasn’t here to share it.
He’d fought and bled with these men. They were part of his family now, and standing here with them he realized he always held himself slightly apart. And he realized why. Because that part of his heart that could truly open up had been halfway around the world.
“I love you guys.” It was good to say it.
Owen’s eyes went wide. “Oh, he loves us now, does he? I wonder what caused this amazing turn of events.”
Jax snorted as he put his shot glass back on the tray. “We all know what did it.”
“Guys, come on. He’s had a breakthrough.” Rob was always the reasonable one.
“He had an orgasm.” And Tucker still said too much. Or what everyone else was thinking.
Beck laughed because these were his brothers. They’d been through something terrible and come out the other side. If there was one thing in the world he’d done right, it was helping these men. “Hey, I can take it. And he’s right. It’s been a long dry spell waiting for that woman to come back to me.”
The door to the house came open and Sean Taggart was suddenly there. “Hey, Beck. I think we’re going to need you in here.”
A chill went through him. He glanced back and Roman was being helped out of the pool by Ezra. Jamal Lewis was standing at one end of the pool and Charlotte at the other as all the kids seemed to be getting out.
Fuck. They were locking down the kids. That could only mean one thing. “Levi escaped, didn’t he?”
Sean held the door open. “Come inside. Ian has news.”
“I need to find Kim.” His heart had started to race. If Levi had gotten out or been freed by his friends, he would go straight for Kim. Levi was always going to come after her. No matter what he’d said.
“I think you should come in here first,” Sean said. “We’ve got some of the bodyguards bringing everyone inside. If she’s not already in the house, she should be here soon.”
“Come on.” Owen gestured to the door. “Let’s see what’s happening. I might need to call back home and have Rebecca lock down our house.”
“Dad?” Roman had a towel wrapped around him and his hair was still wet. “Is there something wrong?”
His son. He wasn’t sure he would ever get used to the emotion that threatened to take over every time he looked down at his son. “I don’t know, kiddo, but I’m going to take care of it, and Uncle Ezra is going to stay with you.”
Ezra nodded. “Yeah, buddy. Let’s go get you dressed, and I bet we can find some games to play.”
Roman wasn’t fooled. “Is Mom okay? Is the bad man here?”
Beck got to one knee. “I’m going to find out. I need to know you’ll stay close to your uncle.” Who was a priest and might not remember how to fight. He looked up and Jamal was a reassuring presence.
“I’ll watch out for them both, Beck,” Jamal assured him. “You do what you need to do. I’m going to take the kids inside, and we’ll keep them all together.”