You Only Love Twice (Masters and Mercenaries #8)(122)

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 pi?a 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.