Chapter Twenty
Kala blinked as she woke, the world still hazy. She’d been in the house again. The one that haunted her dreams sometimes. But this time Cooper had been there. This time Lou had reached out across time and space and wouldn’t let her go. This time she wouldn’t hide and shove what happened deep inside.
She coughed and winced.
Everything hurt. Especially her chest.
Damn it. She’d had another heart attack. Huisman’s drugs sucked. 0 out of 5. Would not recommend.
“Hey, kid.”
Her father stood over her. He looked haggard, his dark clothes wrinkled and a long scrape on his cheek. It appeared someone had stitched him up in the field.
“You’re in a hospital in Virginia,”
he said quietly. “You’ve been out for roughly six hours. The doctors say you’ll be fine in the short term, but they want someone to watch you for a while. Aidan is talking about setting you up with a portable monitor for a couple of months. They don’t know what the experimental drugs did. What kind of damage.”
Probably a lot, but she was already feeling better because she glanced to her left and Cooper was asleep in a chair beside her bed. Beyond Coop, Lou and TJ were curled up on what appeared to be the world’s most uncomfortable cot. TJ’s legs hung off.
“Is everyone okay? You look worse for the wear.”
She glanced around the room. “Mom and Kenz? What happened with Eve? Devi told me she was alive when Lena took us.”
“Eve is recuperating nicely. I talked to Alex about an hour ago, and they’re going to send her home tomorrow. The first thing she did when she came out of surgery was ask about you. Now I can tell her good news. Your mom and Kenzie are grabbing some coffee,”
her dad explained. “Tasha is with Tristan, trying to track the cars in case one of them contains Zach and Devi. As for the team, everyone’s fine. I got into it with one of the guards. It’s nothing. By the time we got in, they were mostly fleeing, so we didn’t even get to fight much. It’s you we’re worried about. We were lucky to have Aidan with us.”
“I’ll be okay,”
she whispered back to her dad. How much had this job of hers cost her parents? “The last time he worked me over for way longer, and I was fine a couple of days later. But I think I should come out of the field for a while. Maybe a long while.”
A long breath huffed out of her dad, and his shoulders slumped. He reached for her hand. “I thought…”
“You thought you would have to fight me,”
she surmised, squeezing her dad’s hand. She’d learned this lesson. “You thought I would do anything I had to do to keep my job. I’m more than my job, and I don’t want to find that bullet with my name on it. I think one day I’d like to actually work at McKay-Taggart, and I want to start learning how to run the place. I’m pretty sure Coop will be there with me, and we’ll keep the name going strong. But it’ll have to wait a couple of years. Dad, we have to see this one through. After we catch Huisman, we can all decide what we want to do, but we have to deal with him.”
Or the world would burn. She knew that. She’d known for a long time. But it didn’t look like she would be the one to take him down. She would be relegated to being behind the scenes.
And she was okay with that. Her sister could finish this job, and Kala would be cheering her on all the way.
“I promise we won’t let him get away with it.”
Her father brought her hand up to his lips, kissing it. “I thought I lost you.”
She gave him a smile. A weak smile, but a smile. “I’m tougher than that.”
She glanced over and Coop was still asleep, looking adorably rumpled. “Did he lose his shit? Did someone take video this time because I would like to see it.”
Her father’s eyes rolled. “No. He did not. He got you out of the house and then started CPR. Aidan took over as soon as he could. He had adrenaline in his pack and got your heart restarted, and here we are.”
“And in the chaos Huisman escaped.”
But he wasn’t the only one. One of the last things she remembered was watching her cousin being carried out like she was Persephone being dragged to the underworld. “How did Zach get away?”
Her father growled a little. “From what I can tell, he had someone waiting for him. He’s in the wind. Do you think he plans to hurt your cousin?”
She managed to slightly shake her head. She was going to talk to Cooper about his CPR techniques. Or Aidan. One of them had nearly cracked her ribs, it felt like. Otherwise, she seemed to be in decent condition. “He’s in love with her. I think he knows his time is limited, and he wants to protect her while he can. And probably sleep with her. A lot.”
“Too much information. I’m going to kill that kid when we catch him,”
her father grumbled. “I could help him. I’m not going to turn him over to the damn Agency. Your mother wouldn’t let me.”
Her mom had a soft spot for Zach, but then she also knew what it meant to be beholden to a criminal parent. Although she was pretty sure Shannon Reed wasn’t like her grandfather, the hard-core syndicate boss. She was about to do a lot of research into Cooper’s biological mother. “He needs to do this. I think Devi will prove harder to deal with than he imagines.”
The door opened, and she heard a soft gasp. “You’re awake.”
“Thank god you’re awake.”
Her mom and Kenzie. They rushed in, cups of coffee in hand.
Cooper stirred, and then his eyes went wide as he sat straight up. “Kala.”
Her guy looked so relieved. He scrambled up, reaching for her hand. Her dad stepped back, an oddly wistful look on his face.
Then Cooper had all of her attention. He stared down at her like she was some sort of miracle.
“I’m okay.”
She needed to calm him down. She could only imagine how she would feel if he was the one lying in this bed. Hell, she might be overly dramatic and cause a massive scene. He was worth it. “I’m not going into the field again anytime soon, but I’m okay.”
She heard a gasp, knew what she’d said was going to be a shock to her twin, but it was the right thing to do. For her future. For Cooper.
Cooper leaned over and kissed her forehead. “I can’t tell you how happy that makes me.”
Lou had rolled out of bed and joined Cooper. “You scared us.”
It was no surprise to her that TJ was still sleeping. “Sorry. Also, you should know that I intend to listen to every lecture you give from now until the end of time.”
Lou’s grin kicked up. “Glad to know because I have some thoughts on our comms unit.”
“We’re going to let you get some sleep,”
her mother said. “We’ll be back in a couple of hours. I think they’ll release you and let you go home because we have Aidan with us. He’s been a godsend dealing with the doctors here.”
She was ready to be home. “Good because we have a wedding to plan.”
Cooper settled in beside her. “We do, though I’m willing to give my mom an extra week. She got shot, after all.”
Her mom frowned. “We need six months.”
Cooper yawned and gently wrapped an arm around her. “Nope. We’re getting married in a couple of weeks. If you and Mom want to plan a big old reception in six months we can talk, but I’m locking her down. I’ve waited way too long and seen her almost die too many times. We’re getting married at the courthouse.”
“We’ll see about that,”
her mother vowed, a steely look in her eyes.
“Good luck,”
her dad said and frowned Cooper’s way. “But no one is calling me Grumpa.”
Kenzie reached out and squeezed her hand. “I’ll call Travis, and we’ll start teaching Colton immediately. It fits. And we’ll talk later.”
Her twin was going to be a problem, but she knew what she had to do. Take care of herself because Cooper deserved a partner who did.
Because she deserved to be loved. Even by herself.
Cooper laid his head on her shoulder. “Can I get you anything?”
She shook her head. She had everything she could possibly need. They all settled down for a couple more hours of sleep before taking the journey home.
There would be more missions, more danger to come. Probably a shit ton more drama.
And she was ready for it all.
“I need ketchup,”
TJ mumbled as Lou snuggled close.
Kala yawned and fell asleep to the steady sound of her cousin snoring.
All was right with her world.
* * * *
Three Weeks Later
“I can’t believe they did it,”
Charlotte said, looking over at the dinner reception playing out at Top. The whole restaurant was decorated for a party and filled with family. “I thought I would be able to talk Cooper out of the whole three-week wedding thing. I knew I wouldn’t be able to convince Kala, but I thought I could guilt Coop into it.”
Eve McKay was just happy to be upright. Getting shot sucked. It was why she was really more of a behind-the-desk employee. Of course, having all her kids home made up for some of the pain. Vivian had come home from England, where she shared a flat with Sophy Weston. Both had hopped the first plane they could find, and they’d stayed for the wedding. Having her baby girl home for a while was lovely. Since Vivi was home, Hunter and Cooper had been coming over most days. Being with her family was the best thing in the world.
And all she had to do was take a bullet.
“You should be grateful,”
Eve told her friend. “You have plenty to do with Tasha’s wedding, and don’t bring up the double-wedding thing. You know Kala would die before sitting around picking flowers and DJs. Tash is more than happy to have a big to-do.”
Tasha’s wedding to Dare Nash was coming up in a few months, and Charlotte was deeply invested.
Charlotte whined a little because she was deeply invested in all of her kids. Even the ones who wouldn’t like a big wedding. “But I could have done it for her.”
Eve looked out over the gathering. Top was closed for the evening, the entire restaurant filled with friends and family celebrating a wedding that felt like it would never happen. They had managed to convince the bride and groom that they could do a pared-down service here at Top. The ceremony itself had been brief and beautiful, with Kala surprising everyone she knew by giving her vows in the form of a poem.
And she let her brother play guitar, so it was almost like a song.
It had been a beautiful, romantic gesture from a woman who didn’t make them. Except for her husband. Cooper had found a rare treasure in his wife. “It was what they wanted. They didn’t want to wait, didn’t need anything more than this.”
Charlotte sniffled. “I suppose. I just wish her cousin could have been here.”
Devi was still missing. The team had been trying to track Zach but had come up with nothing. They’d had a bit more luck with Huisman, who seemed to be in Asia. They were working with other intelligence agencies. Specifically in Nepal. She would have to watch her son and new daughter-in-law go back into danger, and way sooner than she would like. Which was never.
As long as Huisman was out there, no one in their world was safe. Maybe no one in the world was safe. But she had faith. If anyone could save the world, it was their kids.
So proud. She was so damn proud of them all.
“Well, she’s not here because she’s a dumbass,”
Erin said, walking up to join them. She was accompanied by Serena Dean-Miles. There was a glass of champagne in her hand and a frown on her face. “I still can’t believe she ditched her guard. I told Zach he should spank her ass good. I hope they’re holed up in a club and she gets acquainted with a spanking bench. I knew timeouts didn’t work. Especially when her father would sit there with her. I blame Theo.”
“He wasn’t much of a disciplinarian,”
Serena noted. “Which is why all the kids adored him.”
Eve felt her eyes go wide because Serena was missing the point. “You talked to him?”
“Of course,”
Erin replied. “He keeps us up to date, and Devi complains bitterly. Do you seriously think I would be calmly hanging out here if I didn’t know she was safe?”
Serena nodded. “I’ve talked to her, too. Devi is Brianna’s best friend. She was planning some crazy stuff. Those girls do not leave each other behind.”
Erin stared at Serena. “Yeah, it was all about Bri. Tell me you’re not plotting the book right now.”
Serena was a romance writer. A grin crossed her face. “It’s going to be fabulous. The kids are really giving me vibes. I think I’m even more prolific now.”
“He contacted us two days after he took her,”
Charlotte explained, eyeing her sister-in-law. “Though that’s supposed to be confidential.”
Erin waved it off. “I’m not Agency. I don’t have to keep their secrets. Besides, that boy is good with technology. Tristan’s been trying to catch his signal when he calls, but he can’t do it. We’re pretty sure they’re in the States. Or Europe. Or we don’t know and my daughter has a mouth on her. I’m proud of her for that. Less proud that she was a dumbass and got Eve shot.”
“I don’t blame her for that. It wasn’t like she pulled the trigger,”
Eve argued.
“She didn’t understand the situation, and she thought Zach dumped her,”
Charlotte tried to explain.
“She was acting out, but it’s understandable,”
Serena agreed. “She didn’t think Zach cared enough about her that his enemies would think she was a good target.”
“Well, she’s aware now that he was always interested,”
Erin quipped. “It’s a weird life, my friends. I feel like I have couples sessions with my daughter and her kidnapper, and I often come out on the kidnapper’s side.”
Eve gave her a half hug, leaning into Erin. “If it helps, I think he’s desperately in love with her.”
Erin sighed. “And I know she loves him, but I worry this is going to end in tragedy. I’m not worried about her being in danger. Zach is very competent, and I believe him when he tells me if he needs to, he’ll bring her home. I think Zach is trying to spend what he thinks are his last days with her. It makes my heart ache.”
She took a long breath. “But I’m so happy for Kala and Cooper. And you guys didn’t even have to do the whole wedding-plan thing. Daphne is serious about wedding planning. Lou is too busy working. TJ only cares about what food is going to be served, so someone had to step up and wedding plan with our future in-laws.”
Charlotte grinned. “Theo’s doing a great job. The peonies he selected are going to be lovely at the church.”
“Oh, and I’ve seen his color scheme for the reception.”
Grace walked up with Avery O’Donnell. “Their venue is going to be gorgeous, and it will be Theo’s doing. Daphne, for all her enthusiasm, is more about the cake and trying to force Lou into a wedding dress. Theo could go into wedding planning.”
“I know I talked to him about the outdoor wedding Daisy and Nate are planning, and he had so many helpful hints,”
Avery added and then frowned. “He also told me I should be prepared for any number of weird weather things to happen. We are talking about Daisy, so it’ll probably be a tornado, but Theo has thoughts on how to plan around it.”
Erin laughed. “That’s my guy. Eve’s the only one who’s getting out of this easy. We’ve all had to plan weddings lately. The good news is we’ll be experts by the time Vivi and Hunter are ready to settle down.”
“Hunter will be a while,”
Eve mused. “He’s having too much fun. Vivi, on the other hand, well, I’m pretty sure she’s got someone she’s either seeing in London or wants to be seeing. She’s very mysterious about it. I hope it’s Archie and not his brother. She’s working for Damon Knight, and she talks about his kids a lot. Archie is very normal. Oliver thinks he’s James Bond and acts accordingly.”
She really, really hoped it was Archie. Oliver Knight hit on every woman he found even vaguely attractive. Including her. And all the women standing near her.
Charlotte shook her head. “Oliver. How that kid came out of Penny’s womb I have no idea. I mean I do. He got his dad’s height and his mom’s hair and eyes, but he got neither of their personalities. It’s a shame.”
It was fine because Vivi just had a crush, and she would likely get over it the next time a hot bodyguard got hired on.
Her daughter was smart and kind, and she would figure it out.
The way her baby boy had.
“Oh, no. She’s got mama tears,”
Avery said with a grin. She moved in and gave Eve a hug.
Once she’d felt so apart from everyone in her life. She’d survived something unimaginable and told herself simply existing was enough. She’d held herself apart until these women had shown her a different way.
First Grace had come into her life. Her resilience and determination had sparked something in Eve. Serena’s zest for life, her deep belief in happily ever afters, had been the first time Eve considered that maybe her story with Alex didn’t have to be over. Avery had taught her the greatest gift she could have was to forgive herself. Charlotte was a force of nature who moved them all forward. And Erin was proof that second chances could be the best thing life could offer.
These women had changed her in so many ways, and now she got to go through life with them, got to share these moments. All the good was made more special because she was a part of them. All the bad was easier because they carried her through.
She reached out and hands were suddenly in hers, these magnificent women surrounding her with love.
“I think they’re happy tears,”
Charlotte said with a few of her own in her blue eyes.
“Very happy,”
Eve agreed. “I’m so blessed to be here with you guys. Thank you for helping create this amazing family of ours. Thanks for being the best sisters I could have had.”
“Well, fuck, now I want to cry,”
Erin complained, but she leaned into Serena.
“We’re kind of the best,”
Avery said with a big smile. “And pretty soon we’re going to have babies around again.”
Babies. She might have grandbabies to love soon. She couldn’t wait.
“I hear we’re calling Ian Grumpa from now on,”
Serena said.
Charlotte groaned.
“Hey, if the shoe fits,”
Erin countered.
“Ladies, can I steal my wife for a moment? I’d love a dance with the most beautiful woman in the world,”
a deep voice said.
Her husband. Alex looked gorgeous in his suit. He held out a hand as Seth began to play a slow song.
Ian was with him, holding his hand out to Charlotte. “They want the parents to show off our moves. How about it, baby?”
Eve joined her husband and moved toward the dance floor.
This night and all the nights with him were perfect.