Total pages in book: 160
Estimated words: 149137 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 746(@200wpm)___ 597(@250wpm)___ 497(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 149137 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 746(@200wpm)___ 597(@250wpm)___ 497(@300wpm)
Ten shook his head. “Are you seriously tattling on me like a damn four-year-old?”
Henry’s smile was brilliant as he put a hand on both the badass ex-operatives. “Boys, let’s go grab a beer and you can tell me all about it. I was kind of hoping I could catch a ride back to the States. After all, we have more to talk about. I need you to fill me in on what’s left of Hope McDonald’s experiments. I think it’s all about those boys.”
“Yeah, we know about that.” Ten looked back at the three bodyguards. “Come on, then. Let’s leave the lovebirds. We’ve got a plane to catch in a few hours.”
They would be going home, but she was staying here with Josh. They would need bodyguards, but she would find some who lived in the area and not in her house. She could handle his protection when they were alone.
But she would miss her boys.
Tag stayed for a moment while the men filed out. He stared at Josh. “You take care of her or you’ll deal with two mad dads and me. Not sure which is worse.”
Tears misted her eyes. “Thank you for everything, Ian. And don’t think I’m gone. We got word this morning that the studio is looking for someone to play Tex Jones in the new Soldiers and Doms movie. I’m going to convince Josh. He would definitely have to do his research.”
“No, he wouldn’t if he’s playing Ten. He just has to talk real slow and pretend he’s got a brain in his head. Well, he shouldn’t pretend too hard.” Tag smiled. “Seriously, don’t be a stranger. Either one of you. And if you see anything suspicious, call. You might not be on the payroll any longer, but you’re both family now.”
He strode out the door.
“Your family is scary,” Josh said, standing up and closing the space between them. “I like them.”
She went up on her toes, wrapping her arms around him. “I think they like you, too. And I know I love you.”
He kissed her, a sweet brushing of his lips. “I love you, too. Does that mean you’ll marry me? You know after I sufficiently wow you with a spectacular proposal?”
Her whole soul felt light and happy. “I think as long as the proposal is suitably extravagant, the answer will probably, absolutely be a yes. But you should know my dads are going to want a hell of a wedding.”
“Jared is trying to train the dolphins even as we speak. I thought they would make excellent bridesmaids,” he teased and then got sober. “Baby, I’m going to tell my story to the press. To everyone.”
Her jaw nearly dropped. “You don’t have to now. There’s no more blackmail.”
“But I do have to. I have to tell it for every kid who’s in danger. I have to tell it for everyone who went through it. I have to tell it for Hannah. I have to tell it for me because I’m done being ashamed. I was a victim then and now I’m a survivor. If I can help one person, then all the flack I’ll get will be worth it.”
Now she was crying for another reason. Because she was proud of him. “You are the strongest man I know. And I’ll be by your side the whole time. Anyone says shit and I’ll assassinate him.”
His smile took her breath away. “My own personal bodyguard.”
“You better believe it.”
She would protect him for the rest of their lives. Hey, a girl couldn’t ask for more.
She kissed him again and looked forward to the rest of her own personal happily ever after.
* * * *
London, England
Two Weeks Later
Ezra Fain stood outside the door, looking straight up into the camera. It was the first time in weeks he’d wanted someone to see his face. After a second the door clicked open.
It was time.
It had been two weeks since he’d woken up in a hospital in Mexico City, barely hours out of surgery and knowing damn straight he wasn’t going to lie in that room and recover like a normal person. Oh, no. He’d known from the grim look on Case and Theo’s faces that his rest period was over.
Burned. Disavowed.
A decade of his life he’d given to the Agency and they had chosen Levi Green over him without even giving him a trial. It seemed that the powers that be at the Agency were more interested in what Green had promised them than in what was right or moral. It had been naïve of him to think it would be different.
His chest still ached where he’d pulled out the tube. Luckily, Faith Smith had been waiting on the plane with her husband, Tennessee. Faith had stabilized him again while Ten and Ian and Bishop talked about what to do now.