Sweet Little Spies

Book 3: Masters and Mercenaries: New Recruits

by Lexi Blake

Genres: Contemporary Romance; Military Romance

Synopsis

Since he was a kid, Aidan O’Donnell has known two things about the world. Tristan is his best friend, and Carys is the love of his life. Sharing her with Tristan was oddly easy. They both loved her deeply, and they never cared what anyone else thought. They were a team and everything was wonderful. Until the day it ended.

Carys Taggart has spent the last year and a half of her life living a lie. A lie Tristan forced on them all. She understands that it was meant to protect her and Aidan, but lately when Tristan says he doesn’t love her, it feels more like the truth. The wedding she’s dreamed of has been put off far longer than he promised. When he asks her and Aidan for another delay, she’s ready to move on without him.

Tristan Dean-Miles has a good plan and the best of intentions. Go undercover as a ruthless arms dealer so he can find a deadly bombmaker at the top of the agency’s wanted list. It might be taking longer than expected, but he’s so close he can taste it. Unfortunately, getting this close meant getting in way too deep. He knows he will succeed, but if he can’t convince the love of his life and his best friend that he’s worth the wait, his victory will cost him everything.

 

Read more

Release date: September 17, 2024

Publisher: DLZ Entertainment, LLC

Print pages: 344

Reader says this book is...: action-packed (1) emotionally riveting (1) entertaining story (1) happily ever after (1) high heat (1) rich setting(s) (1) sex scenes (1) strong heroine (1) suspenseful (1) triggers (1)

Sample

Chapter One

 

Carys looked at herself in the mirror and wished her smile was brighter.

Fuck Tristan Dean-Miles. He was ruining her wedding day and the bastard wasn’t even here.

“Okay, if you look like that in the pictures, your future children will worry you were forced into this marriage. You want to run, cousin?”

She glanced back and Tasha Taggart stood in the doorway looking gorgeous in her bridesmaid dress. It was a blush pink with a plunging neckline flowing to a fitted skirt. Carys stopped and sighed because it truly was lovely. Everything was beautiful.

She was letting one thing ruin the most special day of her life.

A little thing like one of her grooms wasn’t here.

Still, she had to put on a brave face because Aidan was here. Aidan had been at her side the whole time, and he needed to know how much she loved him. She needed to believe they could make this work on their own. Without Tris.

“Devi did an amazing job,” she said, forcing a smile on her face. She wasn’t this mopey girl.

Tash walked in, setting her bouquet aside. “She did indeed, but you should know Kala is complaining the skirt is too tight.”

“I said no weapons.” Yes, she was the bride who had to tell her bridal party they shouldn’t strap on an armory, and it proved beyond a shadow of a doubt her family was filled with psychos.

Psychos she adored. Her family could be intense. Though her father had left the military and security business before she’d been born, most of her family still had feet planted firmly in that dangerous world.

She’d made peace with her cousins long ago. Her cousins hadn’t forced Tristan to work with them. She’d come to the conclusion that if her cousins hadn’t offered Tris a place on their team, he would have found another way. She didn’t have to lose her family because one man couldn’t love her the way she needed.

Tasha grinned. “Oh, you can ban weapons all you like, but I assure you there are some here, and it’s not just my gang.” She closed the door behind her. “Why are you in here all alone, Carys?”

“I needed a couple of minutes.” Her mom was running around ensuring everything was perfect. Avery O’Donnell was dealing with the photographer.

She didn’t like to think about Serena Dean-Miles being left out. She was merely another guest at this grand affair when she’d been such a big part of the planning.

I know he’s going to come around, Carys. I know he loves you. I think he’s in trouble and he doesn’t want to bring you into it.

Serena had tears in her eyes the night of the rehearsal dinner. She’d had some wine and gotten emotional.

Carys had been shut down. Like she always was now. She was standing here in the dress of her dreams, ready to marry a man she loved, and she felt…numb.

“You could change your mind. You could walk out there and tell them you want to turn this into a fun party and wait,” Tasha offered.

“Would you like to tell me why I would call off my wedding?” The words came out harsher than she meant them. Or maybe not. Maybe this was one of those times when she resented her cousins’ secret world.

Tasha’s face fell. “I would like to, but you know I can’t. I can only tell you he loves you and he wishes things were different. We’re going to figure this out. I promise. Right now I don’t think it’s safe for him to be around you.”

“Are we talking about Tris? Because it’s so not safe for him to be around,” another voice said. “Carys, dude, how am I supposed to kick ass in this thing? I can’t even hide a knife with how tight this is, and Devi was real rude when I suggested an adjustment.” Kala Taggart. The murderiest of her cousins was in the house.

“Hey, stop. We talked about this.” She was followed by her twin sister. Kenzie was Tigger to Kala’s kind of evil Eeyore persona. She was bouncy bouncy bouncy bouncy, fun fun fun fun fun. Right up until she had to assassinate someone, but then Carys was sure Kenzie did it with pep to her step.

The twins were perfectly identical physically. Down to their scars. Seriously, when one got shot, the other had to find a way to fake the scar if it was visible to the public. From what Carys understood from context, the twins were known through the intelligence world as one person. They’d run an op at the club she and Aidan played at a few months back. Aunt Charlotte had sat down with the women of The Hideout and explained they were to call Kenzie Kara for the night and to not ask about why Kala was hiding in the locker room while Kenzie hung out with some dude who was probably a spy.

Carys had done what she always did these days. She’d convinced Aidan to take her to a privacy room and pushed him to spank her until she cried. She’d avoided all the spy stuff.

“You are not ruining the lines of that gorgeous dress with a small sword on your thigh.” There was only one way to deal with her cousin. Boundaries. They had to be firmly in place. But simply because she had some rules didn’t mean she hadn’t thought of Kala. For all her rage, there was something oddly fragile about Kala Taggart. A deep vulnerability that always made Carys think about her comfort.

Kala frowned, looking at her sister and then her twin like she’d been caught doing something terrible. “I’m sorry. I was joking.”

“No, you weren’t.” Sometimes it was fun to get Kala in an awkward position. Carys couldn’t help the impish feeling rising inside. It was good to feel anything at all.

Maybe she was coming out of her broody era. Maybe she could do this.

Kala looked to her twin. “I don’t know what to say because she’s right. I’m not joking. I know, like, we’re supposed to be all about the bride, but what if someone decides to attack the wedding? This bouquet thing doesn’t even have thorns. I can probably take out a couple of eyes with my shoes, but I’m at a loss for anything else.”

Yes, it was fun to tease her, but it was time to let her off the hook. After all, she’d thought of everything. “No, but I made sure the bouquet is long enough and wide enough for you to hide a knife or a small pistol in.”

Kala’s eyes lit up. “Seriously? Because my mom threatened me with a bunch of stuff I’m scared of if I screw this up for you.”

Only one person had screwed it up, and he wasn’t here to feel her wrath. She gave her cousin a smile. “Seriously. It’s not like your dad’s not packing. There’s a reason there are no metal detectors. I would be a heinous misogynist if I didn’t allow you to defend us simply because you’re wearing a dress.”

Kala breathed a sigh of relief. “Thank god. You’re the best, Car. I’ll be back. Lou’s got my emergency pack in her car.”

She did not want to know what Kala considered emergency supplies for a wedding. Something lethal, for sure.

Kenzie turned as her twin walked out yelling for her bestie. “She’s right, you know. You are the best.”

Carys held up a hand because her cousin had a very specific look on her face. The one warning Carys she was about to get all emotional and girlie. Girlie in the best way, in the way only women ever truly got with the people they loved. “Do not make me cry.”

She’d cried enough. She’d cried every day for the last month, hiding out in the call room at the hospital so Aidan wouldn’t see her. He was being strong. She had to be strong, too.

“Don’t ruin her makeup. We can tell her how amazing she is and how grateful we are to have her in our lives when she is not wearing a pristine white dress and hasn’t spent two hours on hair and makeup,” Tash said with a sigh, sitting down on the luxurious couch. “But she is. Amazing. So now the question is why she didn’t let us get dressed in here with her.”

“Well, the room is pretty small,” Carys tried.

Kenzie’s pink hair was in an elegant updo. “It’s huge and literally built for like eight women to get dressed.”

Carys turned back to the mirror, taking a long breath. “Kenz, I’m barely holding on. I can’t lose it today.”

Kenzie moved in behind her. “And if we were in here, you would?”

“If my closest family and friends were in here, I would…” She blinked, forcing herself to stay calm. “I would think about him, and that’s not fair to Aidan.”

If she let herself truly feel the gravity of the day, she would melt down, and she wasn’t about to do that to Aidan. She had to think about the man who actually loved her.

The man who also needed Tristan. Was she forcing Aidan into a position where he had to choose? Would he resent her for the rest of their lives? Would he wonder what could have happened if they’d waited longer? Fought a bit harder?

Why was she having these thoughts now? It was her wedding day. It was supposed to be the best day of her life and she was plagued with doubts.

Kenzie had tears in her eyes. “I love you. I could kill him for you. Well, I could let Kala do it. She wouldn’t mind getting her dress dirty, but I think I look really good.”

She turned to her cousin. This might be the right time to ask a few very specific questions. “Is he involved in something dangerous?”

Kenzie’s gaze didn’t falter. “Yes. Yes, he is, but it doesn’t mean he should shut you out. My father would never shut my mom out. He wouldn’t care about clearance. I’ve tried to talk to him.”

And this was why she didn’t blame her cousins. She put a hand on Kenzie’s shoulder. “I know. I know you didn’t bring this down on us. Tristan chose this. If he’s worried he’ll lead us into something dangerous, well, he forgot who my family is.”

“He forgot who his family is,” Tasha corrected. “I assure you his mother wouldn’t let herself be left out of things. Even if they were dangerous.” Tasha frowned. “Sorry. I meant to not mention anything about Tris. You should know we’ve all registered our disapproval.”

Kenzie stepped back, and she was the one on the edge of wrecking her makeup. Tears pooled in her cousin’s eyes. “Are you sure you want to go through with this? It might only be a couple of weeks. I understand more about the situation now. I can’t talk about it, but I think we’re going to fix this.”

Ah, so he’d been a secretive bastard with everyone. She’d rather thought that was part of the problem. Her cousins, for all their ability to keep secrets, wouldn’t leave her dangling if they had any wiggle room. The fact that Kenzie was letting some light through meant she’d only recently discovered whatever games Tristan was playing. “I don’t want to put you in a bad position.”

“We’ll tell you what we can,” Tasha promised, sitting up and offering the seat next to her.

“Everything we can.” Kenzie moved over to the elegant buffet table where the owner of this gorgeous venue had set out light snacks and champagne to be shared with her bridesmaids.

Carys had asked a secondary spread be made available in the room she’d set her bridesmaids up in. Now that she thought about it, it was kind of a bridezilla move. “I’m sorry I shut you out.”

“I understand, but you need to think about why you’re doing it.” Tasha was always the voice of reason while Kenzie popped the cork on the champagne. “This is supposed to be a joyous day. Not something you survive.”

It looked like the most practical of her cousins was going to push her. “Aidan thinks this is the way to go, and I can’t let him down. Of course I have mixed emotions. I know everyone thinks I should push the wedding again, but the third time’s the charm. How close are you to magically fixing the problem so Tristan could potentially come home if he wanted to? Or am I asking for classified intel?”

“You know he works for other teams.” Kenzie handed her a glass and poured one for herself and her sister. “Cooper and Zach do, too, but only occasionally. I think Tristan’s gotten in deep.”

Tasha sighed. “I don’t think anyone would care if I gave you a projected date if I had one. I don’t. The case is ongoing and serious. I only recently learned how serious. There’s a reason for him to stay away from you.”

She’d thought this over a million times. Whenever she would go to a family function and see he wasn’t there, she’d asked the question. When Tristan sent her flowers or long letters where he told her how much he loved her, how much he missed her but didn’t mention why he had to stay away, she’d asked this question. “Then he should have talked to me. He should have sat down and explained to Aidan and me why he chose this path and why he thinks we can’t handle whatever damage he thinks he’s going to take. I’m not some naïve, coddled child, Tash. I’m not some security expert, but I know how to duck, and I take it all seriously.”

“He’s being overly cautious,” Kenzie said, sitting down, careful to not wrinkle her dress.

“I don’t know about that,” Tasha hedged. “I think this might be much more dangerous than he’s letting on. I know Dad is concerned. But there’s no question in my mind he still loves Carys.”

“Just not enough to let me stand beside him.” Carys took a long breath. There was something they weren’t considering. “Guys, you want me to wait, but he doesn’t. Tristan made it clear Aidan and I shouldn’t wait for him anymore. He asked us to go through with it this time. We’re here today because Tristan wants us to be.”

It hurt more than she’d imagined. After she’d read his text from an unknown number months and months ago, she’d blocked him and changed her number and then blocked him again.

 

I love you so much, baby. I miss you. My heart isn’t whole without you, and it will kill me to know you’re saying I do to only Aidan. But it’s not forever.

 

Then tell me why.

 

Because I have to protect you.

 

By staying away from me for years? You don’t want a wife. You want a piece of property. I’ll marry Aidan but don’t text me again.

 

She had the messages memorized. She’d hoped they would fade in her brain after she’d deleted all of them, but nope. They were engrained there. “I know he thinks he still loves me, but it’s not enough. Honestly, I think it was always going to happen this way. We were together for so long. It was inevitable at least one of them would need to see more of the world.”

“He’s not interested in other women,” Kenzie said.

“Around you he’s not.” Carys took a sip of champagne. It would be better once the ceremony was over. It was what she told herself. She would get through the ceremony, say I do, and then the party would happen and she would know it was done and there was no more potential, no more chances he would change his mind. She would start her life with Aidan and it would be okay. “Of course he doesn’t want to piss off his family, but honestly, this is an excellent way to get out of a relationship he doesn’t want anymore.”

“He’s not trying to get out of the relationship.” Kenzie sat back. “But I understand why you would think it’s possible. He’s very secretive. I know a little about what’s happening, but he’s holding out on all of us. He doesn’t want us to talk about it with anyone, even his family.”

“Which could mean it’s highly classified, although our group knows how to keep quiet. Or it’s a front for what he really wants. His freedom.” She’d had to come to the conclusion since he wouldn’t talk to her or Aidan. With the exception of those texts and the gifts he’d sent her, there had been no meetings, no phone calls. Aidan had even less.

The way he’d treated Aidan was far worse than what he’d done to her. He’d cut his best friend out of his life, and she’d been helpless to watch it.

This was what Tristan wanted, and he was going to get it. Then he would know she and Aidan would take care of each other and he could pursue his own life.

“I’m worried he thinks someone might be after him, and this is his way of throwing them off,” Tasha offered.

“Then he should have told me. You guys find ways to tell us to be careful without telling us everything.” She’d been around the spy stuff all of her life. It might not always have been CIA operatives, but even before her uncle and aunt had gone back in to watch over their daughters, they’d had their secrets. And not once would her uncle have left her father and mother on the outside if he could help it.

There was a knock on the door, and her mother was suddenly there. She looked gorgeous in her emerald green gown. “Hey, sweetie. It’s almost time. Are you ready?”

What her mother was truly asking was—were they going through with this?

Yes. She would because she was done waiting and hoping. It was time to be with the man who’d loved her all of her life. Carys stood and smoothed out her gown. “I have to get my veil on and then it’s time to get this party started.”

Her mom stepped in. “Hey, I wanted you to know Serena and Adam and Jake are here. They came with Brianna, and they’re sitting close to the front. I didn’t want you to be surprised.”

She reached for her mom’s hand and gave it a squeeze. “I appreciate them coming and I’m thrilled to have them. Is Serena okay?”

Serena had been so happy the day they’d announced the engagement. She and Carys’s mom and Aidan’s mom, Avery O’Donnell, had been the best of friends for years, and they’d been so happy to plan their children’s wedding. Not a one of them had batted an eyelash. Especially Serena, since she’d raised Tristan in her own throuple. She and Adam and Jake had been happily married for decades, and she’d seemed thrilled her son was carrying on the tradition.

She’d cried when Carys had told her she was marrying Aidan and it was okay if she didn’t want to come.

“Like I said. You are amazing, cousin.” Kenzie stood and placed her champagne glass on the buffet. “I’m going to go and make sure my sister doesn’t decide to overstuff her bouquet, if you know what I mean.”

“And I’m going to go and ensure Daisy isn’t making out with her groomsman.” Tasha shook her head. “Did I mention my brothers are both upset they have to escort their sisters down the aisle? I think they were planning on hitting on all the bridesmaids they weren’t related to. Then they got a list of the bridesmaids.”

Carys snorted at the idea of her horny cousins hitting on everyone. “If they thought I had hot friends, they do not understand the life of an intern. All my friends are family.” Including the ones she didn’t share any blood with. “I’m sure Lucas is right there with them.”

Her youngest brother was a menace.

Grace sighed. “I love my son.”

“But?” Carys grinned her mom’s way as her cousins ran off to get everything ready.

“No but,” her mom said with a sigh. “Just I love him. I have to remind myself sometimes. He was hitting on the wedding planner earlier. One day he’s going to meet a woman who knocks him on his ass, and I pray she takes him. I really do. I wonder how Liam did it.”

Carys snorted, an inelegant sound, but there was no other way to react. “Nate took one look at Daisy and fell madly in love. Well, he spent one hot night with her at the club and he hasn’t looked back.”

She was thrilled for Aidan’s sister. Daisy had recently gotten engaged to the Dom of her dreams, and Carys couldn’t wait to see what would happen at their wedding. Trouble often followed her almost sister-in-law, but she was adorable and always made the best of things.

Like Carys was going to do.

“Here. Let me help you with the veil.” Her mom picked up the gossamer creation and placed it on her head with a sigh. “I can’t believe you’re getting married. You were a baby yesterday.”

“She was a hope yesterday,” a deep voice said. “She was the reason I made guacamole for nine months straight.” Her father was still devastatingly handsome in his tux. Sean Taggart had been the male authority figure in her world, and she adored him. He’d managed to build a restaurant empire without ever making his children feel like they were second place. “You look gorgeous, sweetheart. You look like your mom.”

Her brother stood beside him, and there was a reason all the girls loved Luke Taggart. He was following in their father’s footsteps career wise. Luke was an up-and-coming figure in the culinary world. In the dating world he was mostly the stud du jour among the younger D/s groups. “You look great, sis, but couldn’t you have, like, brought in some hot bridesmaids?”

Her dad shook his head and ignored her brother. “I’m serious, Carys. You look stunning, and I’m so proud of you and Aidan. This is all going to be all right because the two of you… Well, let’s just say I’ve watched him for years, and he’s loved you since he was a child. You two are going to be fine.”

Nope. She wasn’t going to cry. She wasn’t going to think about the fact that once there had been three of them. “Thanks, Dad.”

He stared for a moment as though taking it all in and then held out an arm. “Ready?”

Not in any way. But she smiled and took her dad’s arm. “Ready.”

 

* * * *

 

Aidan O’Donnell stepped out on the balcony. The rest of the groomsmen were getting ready inside, joking and farting around, but he needed some quiet.

Just a few minutes more and he would be Carys’s husband.

He loved her so much, but there was an ache in his soul because Tristan wouldn’t be standing beside them.

He stared over the green fields. They’d selected a venue in the country. It was beautiful, with rolling hills, and the stars would light up the night when they danced their first dance as man and wife.

We have to figure out how to tango as a threesome. Carys likes to dance. It could get our wife all hot and bothered and ready for the honeymoon.

Aidan forced the thoughts away. He wasn’t giving Tris headspace today. He was doing what the fucker wanted. He was marrying her to throw off the bad guys Tris had gotten involved with. That was all the space Tris got today.

Damn. Should he be this angry on his wedding day?

You can’t tell her. Promise me. If you tell her, she’ll never stay away. It won’t be long. I promise.

Promises. Fucking promises.

Somehow he’d thought Tristan would show up today. He’d thought he would ride in on a white horse or something and tell him everything was okay and they could finally get on with their lives.

Years they’d spent perfecting their roles, and Tristan had blown it all up for a job.

He’d thought Tristan would tell him he was done pretending to be some arms dealer and ready to get back to real life.

All he’d gotten was a single text.

Take care of our girl.

She wasn’t going to be their girl after today. He had to pray she never found out he’d been talking to Tristan all this time. He’d played a part in keeping Tris’s secrets. If she did, she might never forgive him.

At this point he had to think it wouldn’t matter because she would never come back from Tristan’s distance. This was the rest of his life. Life without his best friend. Without the family he’d wanted to build.

It would be enough. It had to be.

At least he would have Carys when they eventually heard Tristan was dead. He was certain this ended in one way. He knew it in his soul.

He glanced down and saw a shadow moving through the building across the large patio where everything was set up for the party they would have after the elegant dinner. There were tables and a bar and a stage where the band would play. Seth Taggart was taking care of the music this evening, with some of his friends coming in to back him up.

They would dance under the stars and then go on their honeymoon.

His gorgeous wife was perfectly fine with her honeymoon being in Montreal where he would be attending a special symposium on cutting-edge surgical techniques.

But then neither of them had a lot of enthusiasm for a week at the beach. A luxurious week at the beach had been the plan in the beginning. Hole up on an island with a staff to take care of them and lay out in the sun and fuck their wife.

It was better this way. After all, it wasn’t like he could afford to rent a villa in Barbados like Tristan had planned.

He watched the shadow move across the dining hall. Likely one of the venue’s workers making sure everything was perfect since Chef Taggart was here. Boy, all the kitchen workers had freaked out when they’d realized who would be planning the menu and overseeing the dinner. Not Sean, of course, but his longtime partner Eric Vail was somewhere in the back of the reception hall braising a shit ton of meat.

He was almost certain it was a man who stopped at the doors to the kitchen and paused as though lost and then turned to walk back down the hallway.

Something about him. There was something familiar about the way he walked.

“Hey, it looks like this train’s about to get rolling, son.” His father stood in the doorway. “You look good, boy. Are you feeling okay?”

His da. Liam O’Donnell had been born in Ireland, but he’d raised his family in Texas. Not that anyone could tell given his accent. His father had been known to slip back into Irish when he got emotional. Aidan hadn’t bothered to learn Irish past how to curse and say I love you. It had been his sister who’d made a study of the language of their ancestors.

“I’m good. I’m ready.”

His father sighed and closed the French doors behind him. “Aidan, you don’t have to go through with this. I can walk down there and tell Adam and Jake to get that son of theirs here. Shotgun wedding works for me.”

A smile curled up Aidan’s lips because his father would do it. “I’ll pass on the forced marital vows. It’s better this way, and don’t make me say anything else, Da. I need some delusion today.”

His father moved in and put a hand on his shoulder. “All right, then. Let’s go because it’s almost time, and I know you don’t want Carys to be worrying you won’t show up. Let’s get the heavy stuff over and welcome your bride into our family properly.”

By properly his father meant with a whole bunch of whiskey and shenanigans. He suspected there would be a very Irish party at the end of the elegant ceremony and dinner. It was probably exactly what he needed. “Let’s do it.”

He followed his father back inside, gathering the groomsmen who weren’t currently acting as ushers, seating guests in the gorgeous outdoor setting Grace and his mother had crafted.

Though it had been Tristan’s mom’s idea. She’d been the one who’d found this place. It was only twenty minutes west of Fort Worth, but it was like they were in another world. A simpler world.

“Hey, everything is ready. I saw Sean heading into the bridal suite.” His mother stood in the entry hall. There were lovely covered walkways connecting the buildings in the venue. His mother was in front of the one that would lead them all to where the ceremony would take place. The bridal suite led right out onto the big balcony space where they would make their vows. The groom, however, had to make the long walk around, climbing up a set of winding stairs. “Everything is in place. Oh, Carys looks so beautiful.”

His father reached for his mother’s hand. “She’s not the only one. Come along, my darling. Let’s watch our son get married. Aidan, don’t take too long, son.”

His mom practically glowed as she let his father lead her away.

Aidan stood at the bottom of the stairs and heard the string quartet playing above. The afternoon sky was a perfect blue. Everything about the day was perfect with the singular exception of who was missing.

He pulled out his cell. He should have left it upstairs, but there was some hopeful part of him still praying Tris would change his mind. He pulled up the number he used to contact his best friend. It was listed as Dr. Jerry Smith in case Carys ever saw the contact come across his phone. She wouldn’t question a doctor calling him, and there were so many in his department she wouldn’t expect to know them all.

Keeping secrets. It was what he did these days. He kept Tristan’s secrets, and it was killing him.

He typed in what was going to be his last message.

Don’t call me after today. I told you what would happen if you let it go this far. I love you, man. But I have to pick her, and that means cutting off contact. Have a good life.

He hit send and immediately saw a set of typing indicator bubbles. So Tris had his phone.

There is no good life without you and Carys. I thought you understood. Come on, man. I love you and I love our wife. I’m trying to protect you.

It was what he always said. Aidan wasn’t sure how to reply. He’d said it all a thousand times.

“I am trying to protect you,” a quiet voice said.

Now he knew why the shadow he’d seen before had seemed so familiar. He turned and Tristan was dressed as a security guard with a ball cap pulled low on his head.

“I thought one of the ways you were going to protect us was staying away,” Aidan said, not moving toward him.

Tristan clung to the shadows. “I had to see her. I had to watch over you both. There’s a room above the ceremony space. I think it’s where they store all the lighting and stuff. It’s also got a small security station. I’ll be up there.”

So the uncles were hard at work. “Ian knows you’re here.”

“He is my boss,” Tristan replied. “And he wants you safe, too.”

“What do you think is going to happen? Beyond Carys and I getting married? I assure you my father is paranoid enough. He and Aunt Erin and Uncle Theo did a perimeter sweep before they let the bridal party in. We’re not using the venue’s security staff. From what I’ve heard, they’re worried about TJ being here. I have no idea what TJ did, but I’m not letting any more spy shit disrupt my wedding.”

He’d had to talk fast to convince one of his favorite people in the world to come to his wedding. He’d grown up with TJ. They were basically cousins since TJ’s mom had been his father’s partner for as long as he could remember. TJ was his best man. It would have been one more piece missing.

“It’s not shit,” Tristan said with a sigh. “And the threat to TJ is real, but I understand. It’s why we’re being careful. But this should do it, Aidan. This should prove to anyone watching we’re no longer together. You won’t be a target.”

“Yes, it will prove it because it’s true. We’re not together and haven’t been for a long time.” He was angrier than he thought he was. Tristan was here and playing games again. “After today, we’re done. I can’t lie to her. I’ll keep all your secrets but after today, there’s a line in the sand.”

“Aidan…”

Aidan shook his head. “If this isn’t what you want, then stand beside me the way you were supposed to. If you want this to work, then walk up there and talk to her. I can’t do this anymore. I can’t wait. She can’t wait. You chose this path. You can get off it, but this is the last exit ramp, man.”

Tristan’s face fell. “I can’t. It’s too dangerous. Aidan, it’s worse than I’ve told you. I wanted to keep you out of it.”

Aidan brought his hands up, putting some distance between them. “Then I’m out of it. Like I said, have a good life, Tristan. I’m going to go take care of my girl. You take care of yourself. You’re good at that now.”

“You’re not being fair,” Tristan said.

It probably wasn’t, but it was how he felt. Angry. Antsy. Like all of this was a terrible idea and it shouldn’t be this way. “Good-bye.”

Aidan took a deep breath and forced himself to walk through those doors, to climb the stairs, to smile as he took his place next to TJ.

TJ Taggart gave him a big grin. “Hey, I was worried you weren’t going to make it.” He leaned over, and his voice dropped to a whisper. “You should know I think Tris is here.”

It was good to know he was still a loyal friend. TJ worked with Tristan, so his loyalties were almost certainly conflicted. “I can confirm he is, but he’s planning on staying in the shadows. I’m fine.”

“He talked to you?” TJ asked.

They’d been dancing around this for weeks now. TJ had suspicions. Finally figuring out his love life seemed to have made TJ smarter. Or maybe Louisa Ward was rubbing off on him. Lou had also been in their group, growing up alongside the twins and Tash and Cooper McKay.

They’d all gone off to the Army or Navy or college far away and they’d all ended up in the same place. The CIA.

“He told me he’s protecting us and getting married without him will throw off whoever is pursuing him.” Aidan forced a smile on his face as he straightened the jacket of his tux. The ceremony space was intimate, with less than a hundred seats, and not all of them were full. They’d wanted to keep it fairly small, though family alone was a lot. They hadn’t had a bride or groom’s side since they’d all grown up together. He looked out and saw his father and mother sitting in the front row along with his sister’s fiancé’s family.

But right behind them in the second row was the Dean-Miles family. Adam Miles and Jacob Dean sat together with Serena in between Jake and her daughter, Brianna. Who had been a bridesmaid at one point but had dropped out when it became clear her brother wasn’t coming home. Serena dabbed her eyes with a tissue while Brianna held her hand.

What the hell was he doing?

“He is trying to protect you, but I think he’s going about it the wrong way,” TJ whispered as the pastor of the church they’d all attended since childhood moved in behind them. “We’re going to talk when you get back from your honeymoon. I promise I’m going to work this out for you and Carys.”

That was TJ. “It’s okay. There are things we can’t fix, and this is one of them. Carys and I are going to be fine.”

The music changed to Pachelbel’s Canon in D, and all heads turned as the bridal party began to walk down the aisle.

Carys’s niece, Diana Hawthorne, looked adorable in her pink dress. The four-year-old skipped down the aisle, joyously tossing rose petals.

Her mom, MaeBe, bit back a laugh as she walked down the aisle with Carys’s brother Kyle. All of Carys’s brothers were in the wedding party along with their wives, his sister, Daisy, and her fiancé, Nate, and her Taggart cousins. Tash walked down the aisle with her brother Travis, Kenzie with Carys’s younger brother Lucas. Kala walked beside her brother Seth.

And then the world narrowed to one sight.

Carys stood with her father, the sun shining down on her like a fucking spotlight. Like it couldn’t help but caress her with warmth, giving her a glow.

He let go of everything in that moment. Aidan allowed all of his worry to wash away because no matter what happened, she was the important part.

His love. His life. Everything revolved around the gorgeous woman who started walking down the aisle.

Her eyes caught with his, and a smile crossed her face. A real smile. A “we’re in this together and it’s going to be okay” smile.

It was going to be okay.

He glanced over and noticed Carys’s uncle had stepped away from his chair and walked to the back of the space, standing near the railing overlooking the grounds below. Ian Taggart’s body was stiff, as though he was on edge.

Something was happening. If he trusted anyone’s instincts, it was Ian’s.

A buzzing sound could be heard over the stringed quartet who’d started up with the wedding march.

“Is that a drone?” TJ stepped up onto the platform where the pastor stood. “Fuck.”

“TJ,” the pastor admonished.

Sean had stopped in the middle of the aisle, looking over to Ian. “I’m sorry. It’s probably press. They’ll go away. Someone shoot it down.”

“Taggarts,” the pastor sighed under his breath.

“I’ve got it,” Kala announced, pulling a SIG out of the center of her bouquet.

There were suddenly a whole lot of guns.

Carys’s father was a celebrity chef. Sean Taggart was known in culinary circles—and food-related television—as the Soldier Chef. It wasn’t terrifically surprising celebrity media would want pictures of his daughter’s wedding, although they’d been careful about keeping the logistics quiet.

“Maybe we should think about this,” Aidan said.

“I’ve got the shot,” Kala announced.

Of course she did.

Carys sighed. “Have we thought about pictures of the twins getting released to the public? I thought we were trying to pretend there was only one of them.”

“Shit.” Uncle Ian looked back, his cell in hand.

“I need a laptop.” Adam Miles moved out of the aisle. “I can probably hack into it and figure out how to stop those pictures.”

“You’re getting soft in your old age,” a feminine voice said. Chelsea Weston sat beside her husband, and she had her phone in hand, working on the problem. Chelsea was one of the world’s best hackers. “I’ve already got it on my phone. Give me a second and I’ll figure out who sent it. Sorry, guys.”

“Diana, don’t climb the trellis, sweetie,” MaeBe was saying.

Carys strode to him. “I’m sorry. I should have known better. We should have been inside. I don’t understand why they would want pictures. I’m not a celebrity.”

“They don’t,” Chelsea said. “It’s weird. It’s not taking pictures. It’s… Ian, it’s sending back markers. Directions.”

Aidan’s father was on his feet. “Bloody hell. Everyone out. Move to the stairs as quickly as you can.”

Kyle Hawthorne scooped his daughter off the trellis, while MaeBe picked up their son. Tessa Hawthorne had been sitting next to Grace, and David began hustling them toward the stairs.

Then he heard a deeper thud than any drone could make.

He didn’t have to be in the military to know the sound. Helicopter.

He barely had time to push Carys to the ground before the world exploded.

 

Copyright 2024 Lexi Blake