Epilogue
Two months later…
“I, Natalia Sofia Foster, take you Jagger Theodore Brooks to be my lawfully wedded husband.”
Jagger would never remember the rest of the vows his bride spoke that day. He was too busy losing himself in her stunning gaze and committing every detail of how she looked in that moment to memory.
Talia’s dress was simple yet elegant. Just like the woman herself. Its ankle-length hem offered a peak of her sexy, strappy heels. Jagger particularly liked the thin, white leather that hugged her delicate ankles.
Might have to keep those on later, when I take off that dress.
That and the white flower holding up one side of her hair with a gem-studded clip.
So beautiful.
“For better or worse.” Talia’s smile held steady. “In sickness and in health.”
Those last words he caught had Jagger’s gaze falling to her left shoulder. The dress’s halter top design kept the still-healing scar from being seen. But he knew it was there. A permanent reminder of how close he came to having lost her forever.
The hands holding his gave a tiny squeeze as his soon-to-be-wife finished with, “As long as we both shall live.”
As long as we both shall live.
Jagger forced his wandering thoughts to abandon the hidden evidence of the past and forced his wandering thoughts to focus on the future. Their future. As man and wife.
“And now to the exchanging of the rings.”
He and Talia shared a loving smile before turning toward the man who’d just spoken. Liam was grinning ear-to-ear, like the goofball he was. But at least he was wearing a tie.
Jagger and Talia had shared the news of their engagement almost immediately. That very same day, Liam had gone online and gotten himself officially ordained. When the crazy man practically begged to be the one to do the ceremony, neither Jagger nor Talia had the heart to tell the excited man no.
They considered it part of their wedding gift to Liam, since Delta’s computer genius extraordinaire and Allison had also recently been wed. And, in a surprise move the other couple had been keeping secret from the entire group, Liam had also officially adopted Allison’s daughter, Maddie.
The adorable little blonde had made the perfect flower girl for Jagger and Talia’s day. They’d forgone the traditional best man and maid of honor, however, keeping the event as small and intimate as possible.
Aside from Liam, their friends all faced them from their chairs as they witnessed yet another unbreakable union between a Delta Team man and the woman he loved.
“With this ring, I thee wed.” Jagger couldn’t wait to place the simple gold band on Talia’s left ring finger.
In turn, Talia slid a matching ring onto his. “With this ring, I thee wed.”
Their hands became intertwined as they stared into each other’s eyes while Liam said a few more eloquent words, bringing the wedding to a close. Jagger was so hypnotized by the love he found reflected in Talia’s eyes he almost missed the best part of the whole damn thing.
The kiss.
“By the power vested in me by the state of Illinois…and some internet site I can’t remember…I now pronounce you husband and wife.” The computer genius turned his toothy grin Jagger’s way. “All right, brother. It’s official. You’d better hurry up and kiss the—”
Jagger pulled his smiling bride into his arms.
A tiny cry of surprise barely made it past his new wife’s lips before he lowered her into an old-fashioned dip and covered her mouth with his. Several whoops and whistles came from the small crowd as they cheered the happy couple on with vigor.
“Congratulations, brother.” Liam yanked Jagger into a tight bear hug the second the kiss was over.
“Thanks, man.” Jagger gave his friend a few pats on the back. “For everything.”
A high-pitched squeal announced the arrival of the women in attendance, who came rushing their way to greet the bride.
“You did it!” Christian’s wife, Megan, was the first to reach Talia. “I am so freaking happy for you two!”
The petite brunette wrapped her arms around Talia, and the two shared a congratulatory embrace.
“Thank you.” Jagger’s wife beamed as she returned Megan’s hug.
My wife.
He became hypnotized by her laugh as she continued talking with the girls. In a million years, Jagger never could have predicted that this would be how things ended.
Only things hadn’t come to an end. They were only just beginning. And he couldn’t fucking wait to get started.
Several changes had already occurred in both their lives since that horrifying night. Both the personal and professional kind, starting with Talia’s resignation from Homeland Security.
The woman had signed the papers to make it official before she’d even been discharged from the hospital in D.C. When Jagger had asked if she was sure, the fiery woman hadn’t hesitated with a confident yes.
I’ve given my all to two separate agencies within the government, and twice, I got burned. There won’t be a third time, Jagger. I’m done.
It was a choice he fully supported.
“I’m sure going to miss you being in D.C.” Scarlett O’Neil smiled sadly after she and Talia shared a quick hug. “You never even finished unpacking from the move there before taking off for Chicago.”
“Sure made packing for the trip here a lot easier, though,” Talia joked.
“Don’t get me wrong.” The redhead looked at Jagger. “I’m deliriously happy for you both.” Her pretty gaze turned back to the bride. “Just sucks that I finally found someone I actually enjoyed working with.”
“Hey, now. We may still end up working together in the future.” A glimmer shone in Talia’s eyes as she shrugged. “You never know.”
“Well, either way, you’d better still come back for the occasional visit. With everyone in an uproar over dirty agents and spies coming back from the dead, I’m going to need some serious girl time soon.”
“You got it.” Talia looked at the other women standing around. “What do you say? Girls trip to D.C. soon?”
The other Delta wives clapped and made their excitement at the idea known. Jagger and the men, however, all shared the same look. One that said they’d make sure there were eyes on their women if and when such a trip occurred.
Have to keep them safe. Always.
“Okay.” Allison demanded attention as Maddie came rushing to her mother’s side. “What’s this big announcement we keep hearing about?”
“For real,” Ro shot Jagger a look. “Brody refuses to tell me, no matter how much I beg.”
“After the wedding.” Raegan impersonated her husband impressively well. “That’s all Rocky keeps saying.”
Kerrigan’s fingers were linked with Cade’s as the pretty doctor joined in on the bantering fun. “They’re right, you know?” The tall blonde sent a pointed brow Jagger’s way. “The wedding’s over, and a deal’s a deal, so…let’s have it.”
“Yeah, Talia.” Megan pretended to pout. “Spill the tea, already.”
Jagger’s wife—his wife—turned to him with a knowing grin. “Well? You want to be the one to tell them, or should I?”
His heart gave an extra-hard beat at the knowledge of what was about to be revealed.
“Wait!” Ro interjected at the last second before Jagger could respond. “I bet I know what it is.” To Talia she grinned. “You’re pregnant, too…right?”
The too was because at Allison and Liam’s wedding, in addition to the news about Maddie’s adoption, the other couple had also announced that they were expecting.
“Oh, my gosh!” Megan’s eyes widened as they bounced between him and Talia. “Is that it?” She nearly squealed again. “Are you guys seriously having a baby?”
“Someday. Hopefully.” Jagger took his bride’s hand in his and winked. “But no. We’re not pregnant.”
Not yet, anyway.
Though if it were up to him, they’d start trying soon. Like maybe tonight.
“Okay, well if that’s not it, then what’s this big thing y’all have been keeping from us the last two months?” Allison’s big, round eyes searched his.
Before either of them could respond, a deep, almost commanding rumble sounded from Jagger’s left.
“Congratulations, you two.”
The group of Delta men and women turned to see Jake McQueen smiling back at them with an outstretched hand.
Jagger shook the hand of the man responsible for R.I.S.C.’s very existence. “Thanks for coming, Jake.”
“Wouldn’t have missed it for the world.” McQueen smiled.
His short, brown hair was sprinkled with silver, as was the matching scruff covering his jaw. The former leader of Alpha Team held the highest position within the elite, private security company known across the globe.
“Your timing is impeccable, as always.” Talia and the other man hugged.
“You look beautiful, Talia.”
“Thank you.” She smiled.
“Yeah, what he said.” Derek West, Alpha Team’s resident tech genius grinned.
The man was in his forties, now, but still looked the part of a California surfer and acted like he was all of sixteen.
“Hey, Derek.” Talia and the other man hugged, as well. “Glad you could make it.”
The Alpha operative flashed her a smile.
“Someone had to make sure the big Boss Man kept himself out of trouble.” His broad shoulders shook with a chuckle.
“Seriously, though. This is awesome. I’m really happy for you, both.
Oh, and Charlie sends her love, too. She would’ve come, but the doctor said it was too risky to fly this close to her due date. ”
“How’s she doing with all that?” Jagger asked the expected father with genuine concern.
The couple had tried for the past few years to get pregnant. From what Derek had shared with him once during a corporate R.I.S.C. meeting, the two had finally accepted a baby wasn’t in the cards.
Instead, Derek and his wife, Charlie, chose to adopt two adorable twin boys early last year. Fast-forward to now and, by some miracle, they were expecting their first biological child in a couple of months.
So many R.I.S.C. teams, so many growing families…
“Charlie’s doin’ great.” Derek beamed. “Being cautious, but so far, the pregnancy has gone off with a hitch.”
“Well, I’m glad she’s being safe.” Talia rested a hand on the man’s arm. “Give her our best, yeah?”
“Of course.”