Gone (Deadly Secrets #2)(98)

“Yeah, she will,” Bickam said. “And she’ll know how many people love her. You’re a lucky man, McClane. Don’t forget that.”

“Trust me, I won’t.”

They said their good-byes, and Alec hung up, thankful for the update from the FBI, even more thankful that everything was finally behind them. The Feds could sort out all the details. He’d leave them to it. The only thing he wanted to focus on now was his family.

He pulled the back door open, crossed the porch, and jogged down the steps to the patio. His father glanced up from the grill. “Everything okay?”

Alec slapped a hand on his dad’s shoulder, reached around, and grabbed a blueberry from the fruit tray his mother had set out on the counter earlier. “Everything’s great.” He grinned and stepped away. “Everything’s better than great.”

Michael McClane chuckled in his “I didn’t wash my hands” apron, the one he always wore when he played grill master because he thought the silly joke was funny. “That’s good to hear, son. Hunter, why don’t you go see if those women need more wine.”

“Sure thing, Mr. McClane.” Hunt set his beer on the counter and reached for the bottle of white Alec’s parents had brought. Under his breath to Alec, he muttered, “You didn’t mention I was playing glorified waiter all afternoon.”

Alec grinned and walked across the patio with his friend. “Minister, waiter . . . what’s the difference?”

Hunt huffed. “Careful. I get to stand up in front of all these people and talk about you.” His eyes narrowed in a sinister way. “Maybe I’ll tell Raegan about the time you got arrested in college for sneaking into that sorority’s sleeping porch.”

“Go for it,” Alec said. “She’s already heard that story.”

Hunt shook his head as he stepped out onto the grass and headed toward the women. Thankfully, Kelsey’s dick of a husband had decided not to show today. None of them liked the guy, but Hunt especially had no use for the man. Today of all days, Alec was grateful he wouldn’t have to break up any tense moments.

Ethan heaved the football toward Rusty. Just before it landed in Rusty’s hands, Alec jumped sideways in front of him and caught it. At his back, Rusty muttered, “Show-off.”

Alec turned and pitched the ball toward Thomas. “It’s all talent.”

Thomas laughed.

“Old talent,” Rusty called. “You don’t have the moves you did back in high school, loser.”

No, he had new moves. Alec’s smile widened when he remembered showing Raegan those moves last night in their bed.

“Daddy!” The sweetest voice he’d ever heard echoed around him, followed by chubby little arms encircling his legs and holding tight.

Alec swept Emma up into his arms. The doll his mother had given her this morning dangled from her hand. “Hey, princess.”

“Did you see me on the swing? I’m awbsum.”

He chuckled. “Yes, you are. You’re very awbsum.” His gaze drifted past her to Raegan, who was striding toward him across the lawn. “And your mom’s pretty awbsum too.”

Smiling, Raegan wrapped her arms around both of them and looked up. Love shimmered in her gorgeous green eyes. Love and a trust he was never going to betray again. “That’s because she’s got two awbsum people for parents,” Raegan said.

Alec leaned down and kissed her. In his arms, Emma made a bthbthtbthbt sound and giggled.

Raegan eased back. Around them, the family that had saved Alec from a life of misery laughed and chatted, but all he could see was the woman who’d rescued him from the darkness inside himself. She brushed a hand over his shoulder and down the sleeve of his pale-blue dress shirt. “Are you nervous?”

“No.”

“That’s good, because they’re going to love you.”

Alec really didn’t care if they loved him or not. “Even if they don’t, I’ve got everything I always needed right here. I’ve got you—”

“And me,” Emma piped in.

Alec smiled and kissed his daughter’s cheek. “Yes, and you, princess.” He looked back down at the woman who’d agreed to marry him again today in a simple backyard ceremony, and a wave of love swept through him. “I wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for you, you know. You never gave up on me.”

Raegan’s eyes went all soft and dreamy. “I never gave up on us. And I never will.”

He leaned down to kiss her once more.

“Alec?” His mother’s excited voice drifted to his ears. “They just drove up.”

Raegan drew back and grinned.

“They’re here?” Emma asked in a high-pitched little voice.

“Yes, they’re here,” Raegan answered with the same anticipation.

“More grandmas and grandpas?” Emma’s blue eyes widened. “Do you think they brought me presents too?” She wiggled against Alec’s hold, and he set her down. As soon as her sandals hit the grass, she tore off across the backyard toward the gate where Hannah McClane waited with a smile.

Alec watched the only woman he’d ever considered his mother swoop Emma up into her arms and thought about the people climbing out of their car on the other side of that gate. It had taken several months, but Hunt had helped him track down his biological parents. His mother had been a fledgling college kid in Idaho when he’d been born, working two jobs and going to school, his parents unmarried, neither with means. She’d taken him to a park with her books one afternoon to study and had fallen asleep in the shade while he played. When she’d awoken, he’d been gone. Alec had no memory of that day. No memory of her. But in the months since he’d found her, he’d gotten to know her through e-mails and texts; and his father too, who’d stuck around even after Alec had been taken.