Epilogue
Six weeks later…
The sun glinted off the rolling ocean, staining the sky a deep, sapphire blue as the surf surged against the shoreline, spitting crystalline water into the air before it crawled back out to build again.
Gulls cried overhead, a few scattered clouds gathered on the horizon as the morning headed toward noon, the scent of sea salt and promise drifting on the breeze.
Buck stood at the stove, cooking eggs while the coffee pot chirped in the background, the fresh scent filling the kitchen with a warm comfort he hadn’t experienced since childhood.
And all because of Tierney.
He glanced over at her as she slipped through the sliding door, mug in one hand, the other swinging at her side. She’d lost the sling, had trained her way back to a decent amount of mobility, but he knew the memories still lingered, still whispered in the dark.
Malcolm Whitmore.
Avery’s team had recovered his body, had shipped it back to London, but the cut he’d inflicted in Tierney’s soul hadn’t fully healed, lingering like an unwanted guest. MI6 had stepped up.
They’d found his offshore accounts, seized his assets, all but painted a scarlet letter across his legacy — ensured he’d be remembered as a corrupt traitor, not the distinguished operator he’d tried to sell.
But it hadn’t quite eased the pain he’d inflicted. The betrayal.
They’d offered her reinstatement — her choice of divisions. To run her own team. She’d told them all to lose her number. Permanently.
He smiled.
He loved that she didn’t mince words. Stood her ground whether it was viable or not. And he knew, he’d never find someone who believed in him the way she did. Who saw him — Buck Landry.
Not the conspiracy theorist who’d lived the past few years in his RV, trying to forget.
He sighed.
While he’d realized he needed to move beyond his old trailer, having it destroyed had left him feeling just a bit off kilter. Nothing serious, just the occasional shiver when he realized he couldn’t scoop Tierney up, take off to some obscure dirt road no one else even knew about.
Tierney had suggested he replace it, but he’d been worried he’d slip — fall back into old patterns when he craved the new version of his life.
The one that wasn’t a hollow shell carved out by a car bomb.
The one with her as his better half.
Tierney came up behind him, wrapped her arms around his chest as she smiled against his back. “And here I thought I was having you for breakfast.”
He nearly dropped the eggs as he scooped them onto twin plates. “That’s definitely on the table.”
“Isn’t that where I belong?”
He coughed, handed her a plate. “Eat first, make love after. Especially if you’re going to insist on hiking that new route later.”
“I already told you, I could scout it alone.”
“Not a chance in hell, sweetheart. You’re stuck with me.”
She sat down at the table on the deck, reached over and squeezed his hand. “Good.” She winked at him. “I have big plans for the tent.
She ate a few bites, gaze still making the rounds — doors, windows, shore, woods. An old habit she couldn’t quite shake. Not that he cared. Vigilance kept her safe, and that was all that mattered.
It wasn’t as if he’d lost all his idiosyncrasies.
Hell, the first thing he’d done after they’d bought the sprawling piece of Oregon coastline was replace all the windows with shatter-proof glass.
Installed solid steel-core doors at all the entries, with cameras panning the perimeter — a few early warning tripwires tossed in for good measure.
Knowing that she appreciated his attention to detail warned his chest. Reminded him how close he’d come to losing her.
Tierney kicked at his leg, arching a brow. “Everything okay?”
He smiled because, damn she was breathtaking. Hair in a messy bun, skin sun-kissed, her blue eyes the same color as the sky. He still had to pinch himself to believe it wasn’t all a dream.
He leaned in and kissed her. “Just thinking it might be time for second breakfast.”
She slid onto his lap, straddling him. “Then, what are you…”
A low growl drowned her out, a deep vibration shaking up through the ground. He reached for his sidearm when Tierney tsked, shook her head.
She kissed him, then climbed off, holding out her hand. “Relax, it’s a surprise. Though, Dalton’s early. I told him not until after noon.”
Buck frowned. “Dalton?”
“You’ll see.” She tugged on his hand. “C’mon.”
She headed off, fingers intertwined, looking so damn beautiful he could barely breathe. They slipped through the sliding doors, across the great room, then out the front door, stopping on the covered porch.
Shadows stretched across their winding driveway, a wind chime softly sounding in the breeze.
Buck froze, mouth hanging open, a dull roar in his head.
Parked out front was a massive, matte-black, heavily armored, state-of-the-art expedition RV.
It looked like something built for the apocalypse, complete with solar panels, satellite dishes, a reinforced chassis, and off-road tires.
The windows looked as if they were reinforced safety glass, and he didn’t miss the extra plating on the bottom.
Dalton slipped out of the driver’s door, the rest of his crew pulling up in Bodie and Nick’s trucks a second later. They jumped out, joining Dalton at the side of the RV.
Buck glanced at Tierney, his tongue not quite working, a huge lump blocking his throat.
She smiled, dug into her pocket, then handed him a set of keys. “I know the house is nice, but you said Raven’s Security needed a mobile command center. And I know you don’t sleep well unless you have the perimeter secured, and a bug-out vehicle waiting outside.”
He stared at her, utterly speechless. “Tier, I…”
She laughed. “Have a closer look.”
He turned, walked over, trying to take it all in as he circled the vehicle, stopping at the back as he stared at the words, Area 52 written subtly on the back in slate gray.
Tierney shouldered up to him. “I thought it suited her, because we all know Area 51 is just a smoke screen for the real thing.”
He laughed, picked her up and swung her around, ending with a long, hot kiss that had his buddies telling them to get a room.
He brushed his thumb along her mouth, shaking his head. “I don’t know what to say. How to thank you. This…”
“You don’t have to say anything. You’ve already shown me how much you love me. I thought it was only proper to return the favor.”
“Like I said, all I need is you. But thank you. I…”
Bodie sauntered over. “Try not to blow this one up.”
Buck flipped the guy off. “This calls for beer. And food.”
They headed inside, ended up making a day of it, that hike of Tierney’s getting sidelined to the following morning. The sun sat low on the horizon by the time his teammates left, their engines fading into the encroaching darkness.
Buck stood on the driveway, staring at the machine, wondering what deal he’d ever made to get this lucky, when Tierney laughed.
She sidled up to him, shaking her head. “Just go inside, already. Geek out. We both know you want to.”
“Damn straight. And for the record, I was just thinking…”
“About what?”
“Us. This.” He gestured to the house, the RV. “We’ve got a fortress, a mobile armory, and according to Sloane, we’re both officially off the black market. Makes me wonder, what’s next?”
“Sounds like it’s time to get back to work.”
“We could…” He nodded toward the RV. “Or we go break in the mattress in Area 52.”
Tierney grinned, taking his hand and pulling him toward the massive RV. “I thought you’d never ask.” She stopped at the door and smiled when he scooped her up, carried her inside. “I love you, Buck Landry.”
“Love you more, Tierney O’Rourke.” He headed for the back bedroom. “Now, let’s get this baby rocking.”