Epilogue
EPILOGUE
“ A nything?”
Jordan looked up from her phone to see Iker and Zain standing in the doorway. They were both dressed in civilian clothes. It had been two weeks since the prison break, and Mac was still in the hospital. He hadn’t woken up after the surgery yet. The doctors were unsure why he wasn’t waking up. Every day, each member of the SWAT team came to sit with Sarena and Mac’s family members. They didn’t want the MacArthur family to think they had abandoned Mac or them.
Jordan adjusted where she sat in the waiting room. Sarena was back in the intensive care unit with her husband. She had been gone for a little while, and Jordan had got bored and was scrolling on her phone.
She tried to block the images of Mac in his hospital bed with so many tubes and machines around him. It was hard to see the man who she’d looked up to appear to be so vulnerable.
“Not yet.” Jordan cleared her throat. She popped her phone back in her jeans pocket. Her eye caught on the large diamond engagement ring that Rhys had slid onto her finger that night. Two weeks had flown by, and she still couldn’t believe she was going to marry the man of her dreams.
Nova had been thrilled at the news when they’d broken it to her the next morning before she’d left for her trip.
“Sarena went back to speak with the doctors, and Mac’s mother just left a bit ago to go home to rest.”
The elder Mrs. MacArthur was a caring petite woman. Jordan had even met Mac’s brothers, Stone and Lincoln. It was amazing to think those men had come from her. Mac, Stone, and Lincoln held a strong resemblance. All Navy men. Mac’s younger siblings even had the infamous scowl their elder brother was known for.
Iker and Zain came into the room and took the seats that were across from where she was sitting. She and Sarena had been the only ones in the family waiting room.
Things at work just hadn’t been the same. Spook had made Jordan take a few days off after the prison break. She even hadn’t minded the desk duty for the first day or two back. With her bruising on her face and neck, she was sure to scare the public. But at least she still got to put on her uniform, her badge, and sheath her gun on her waist.
SWAT still operated, but they were missing an integral member of their team. They wouldn’t be whole until Mac returned. Jordan refused to think of anything else but Mac returning. She missed hearing his growl and curses when they were out on missions. He was the big brother she didn’t have. Hell, she’d inherited seven brothers when she’d joined this team and she would feel the same if any of them weren’t there.
“So when’s the big day?” Zain asked. He jerked his chin toward her hand.
She smiled and held it up for all to see. She wasn’t above showing off the rock that Rhys had bestowed upon her.
“We haven’t figured out a date yet, but it will be soon. I don’t want to give him a chance to change his mind,” she joked. Not that she was truly worried. Rhys wasn’t going anywhere. That man loved her and proved it to her every single day.
He’d been cleared by the internal investigation and had been allowed to return to active duty at work. It had been nice to spend a few days on the farm alone with him—and Honor.
Iker and Zain chuckled.
“Where is the crazy son of a bitch?” Iker asked.
Jordan glanced down at her watch. By the looks of it, he should be off work. He had texted her earlier that he knew she was going be at the hospital and would just meet her there.
“He should be on his way here,” she replied.
She leaned back and tried to keep the smile off her face. Everything was going perfect now. With Bravon gone, she was no longer having to worry about him. The death of Viktor Huff and the arrest of Sergio Cabal was a large blow to the Demon Lords’ organization. The feds had run through the gang, and there had been a slew of arrests. All of the high-ranking members were now behind bars and awaiting their day in court.
Jordan breathed a sigh of relief. It was time to get her life together. She had decided she would sell her home and move in with Rhys permanently on the farm. She had planned to go there on her next weekend off to pack and purge her place. It was pointless for her to return there. Out on the farm with Rhys was where she belonged.
“Well, whatever date y’all decide on, can you please let your sister know ASAP?” Zain groaned. He ran his fingers through his dark hair.
Jordan chuckled at his pained expression. Omara had been bugging her to set a date, but she’d hesitated, and Rhys understood why.
She wanted her brothers in blue to stand with her at their wedding.
All of them.
So she was waiting on Mac.
“I will. It will be soon. I promise,” she said.
“What are you in here promising, woman?” Rhys ambled in the room.
Jordan’s heart skipped a beat at the sight of her man decked out in his police K9 uniform. There was something about a man with a gun strapped to his thigh and a ballistics vest on his chest. Honor trotted alongside her handler. Her tail wagged immediately when her gaze landed on Jordan. Rhys released her from her harness, and she beelined it to Jordan.
“Hey, girl.” Jordan laughed at the doggy kisses that were raining on her face.
Honor tried to climb into her lap, but Jordan had to push her away.
“Down, girl.”
Honor got down and then turned her attention on Zain and Iker. She went over to them as they greeted her with rubs to the head and her belly. Jordan stood and walked over to where Rhys has perched himself against the wall.
“Oh, just that we won’t make them wait long for our wedding,” she said. If she wasn’t waiting on Mac to wake up, she would have dragged Rhys down to the courthouse immediately to exchange vows.
“Ah, is that so.” He tugged her hand and brought her flush to him.
He lowered his head and quickly kissed her lips. With her injuries, he had been so gentle with her. The last few days she was able to kiss him without being in pain. She rose on her tiptoes and wrapped her arms around his neck to hold him in place. He wasn’t getting away with just only one kiss. Nope, she needed a few more.
“I love you,” she said softly. She didn’t care that Iker and Zain were in the room. Those two were head over heels in love with their women and should understand.
“I love you, too,” Rhys replied with a sexy grin.
“Oh, please. Go find a room,” Iker muttered.
Jordan raised her hand without looking over her shoulder and gave him her infamous finger. Rhys shook his head at her antics. Her grin widened. She loved this man and didn’t care who knew it.
“I didn’t realize we had company,” Sarena’s soft voice sounded in the doorway. Tears streamed down her cheeks.
The bottom of Jordan’s stomach gave way. Her smile disappeared as she released Rhys. She immediately strode over to Sarena.
No.
Not Mac.
“What’s wrong?” Jordan asked.
The scraping of chairs on the floor sounded behind her. Iker and Zain came to stand beside her. Jordan held her breath watching Sarena reach up and wipe her tears away.
“He’s awake. Marcas is awake,” she hiccuped.
Jordan flew forward and wrapped Sarena up in a tight hug. Sarena squeezed her tight as her body shook. Warm tears seeped from Jordan’s eyes. She was truly thankful for this moment.
Sighs of relief echoed behind Jordan and Sarena.
“I’m so happy,” Jordan said.
Sarena pulled back and smiled at them.
“Sorry I was gone for so long. That man wakes up and immediately began making demands.”
They all shared a good chuckle. That sounded like Mac. Even in the face of danger he was making demands. Jordan didn’t expect anything else from the man.
“Sounds like Mac. Go to the hell and back and have a list of shit for us to do,” Iker said.
“He probably concocted new drills for us while he was slumbering,” Jordan joked. A giggle broke from her that morphed into a full-blown belly laugh.
They all joined her. Sarena shook her head at them.
“He’s asking for you, Jordan,” Sarena said. She rested a hand on Jordan’s shoulder.
Jordan’s smile disappeared. She grew nervous at the thought of seeing him after the hell they had gone through.
“Okay.” Jordan stood to her full height and glanced over at Rhys.
His bright-blue eyes met hers. He gave her a small nod, and it was all she needed to gain confidence to go see Mac.
I love you , she mouthed to him. He tossed her wink and smiled.
“Come on. I’ll go with you,” Sarena said.
Jordan walked along with Sarena down the hall and past the nurses’ station. The medical personnel appeared to be having busy shift. The hustle and bustle of staff in the intensive care unit was a little overwhelming for Jordan. She stayed close to Sarena as they navigated the unit. They arrived at the door to Mac’s room, and Jordan paused. Sarena gave her a curious look before opening the door. Jordan followed her inside. What she saw was not what she was expecting.
Mac was sitting up in the bed, freshly washed up. His dark hair was slicked back from his face. Those intense eyes of his focused on Jordan, and as always, it appeared as if he could see through to her soul. He took her in, his gaze traveling from the top of her head down to her feet, but then made its way up to land on her ring finger.
The man never missed anything.
“It’s about damn time,” Mac said. His voice came out gravely
“Marcas,” Sarena gasped. She marched over to her husband’s bed and perched on the edge of it near him.
Jordan walked in and stood at the foot of the bed. It was damn good to see him awake with a healthy coloring to him. Jordan pushed down memories of their time in the woods when he was bleeding out. He’d been whiter than a ghost.
“I’m talking about the ring on her finger.” He smirked.
Jordan grinned at him. That smirk meant the world to her. To see him sitting up and getting scolded by his wife made her day. Relief filled her. Everything was officially going to be okay. She could feel it in her bones. She was getting married to the love of her life, and all of her brothers would be there to witness it.
Jordan folded her arms in front of her and tilted her head to the side. Now that the big man was awake and issuing orders, it was time for her to start being a pain in the ass again.
“Well, it’s about damn time you woke up, sleeping beauty.”