Epilogue
Several months later…
“I knew hiring your team would be a giant pain in my ass.”
Chase leaned against the door frame as Atticus surveyed the new setup in Foster’s house.
The grand opening of Raven’s Watch’s official headquarters.
Chase wasn’t sure when Foster had gotten onboard with the idea.
But somewhere between all of them getting married and Mac giving birth to a healthy baby boy, he’d reconfigured the back half of the manor house to accommodate a permanent dispatch center.
Foster walked across the room, taking the radio mic out of Atticus’ hands. “Pretty sure, you’re the one who’s a pain. And everything’s live, so… Don’t start chatting on the airways for fun.”
Atticus rolled his eyes, grumbling under his breath when Mac entered the room, holding Sean Joshua Rhett Beckett. Sean cooed, little hands waving beneath a blue onesie.
Atticus’ gaze softened, and he smiled down at his grandson, talking gibberish in some weird voice that made Chase laugh.
The older man snapped his gaze to Chase’s, frowning. “You got something to say, Remington?”
Chase removed his phone and snapped a photo. “Just wanted proof that your mouth actually curves upwards.”
Atticus glared at him, then looked back at the baby, another smile gracing his face.
Mac joined Chase, leaning into Foster when he wrapped his arms around her. “It’s kinda scary how smitten my dad is with Sean. I wasn’t sure what to expect.”
Foster leaned in. “I’m just happy he hasn’t eaten him, yet.”
Mac elbowed Foster. “He’s not that bad.”
“You keep saying that, sweetheart.”
The floor creaked, Kash and Jordan slipping through, Nyx bounding along beside them, their newborn daughter swaddled in a pink blanket.
Mac inhaled, then darted over, smiling at the tiny face sleeping in Jordan’s arms. “You’ve both got to be exhausted. You didn’t have to come over.”
Kash scoffed. “And have Atticus rip me a new one? Besides, Jordan threatened to shoot me in the ass if I stopped her from getting out of the house.”
Jordan shook her head. “He’s exaggerating, though, I was looking forward to a change of scenery.” She walked over to Chase and motioned for him to hold the baby. “Not to mention a few more arms to utilize.”
Chase froze. It wasn’t that he hadn’t been around babies, but… She was so small, so fragile.
Kash laughed as he nudged Chase. “Relax, you’re not going to break her.”
“Says the guy who sent out a blanket nine-one-one to us when faced with the first diaper change.”
“Fair.” Kash glanced down when Nyx sat at Chase’s feet, gaze locked on the baby.
“She’s fine, Nyx. No one’s hurting her.” Kash sighed.
“And I thought Nyx was protective of all of us. You should see her when we put the baby in the crib. Who needs a laser grid when you’ve got eighty pounds of muscle and teeth. ”
“Who’s getting a laser grid?”
Chase turned as Greer ambled into the room, Saylor and Zain trailing behind her. Greer darted over, grabbing one tiny hand as Chase held the newborn against his chest. “It’s for the baby’s room, not that they’re paranoid.”
Kash shook his head. “We’re not paranoid, we’re proactive.”
Jordan moved into Kash’s arms, looking more than a bit radiant. “We’re still discussing it, but with my past…”
Kash kissed her temple. “No one’s getting to you or the baby. Promise.”
Greer straightened. “Especially now that we have a few more recruits. I already have them making extra rounds out this way, just in case. Though, speaking of the baby, any thoughts on a name, yet?”
Kash glanced at Jordan, smiled. “Just one. Ember.”
Jordan bit at her bottom lip, a rare moment of indecision. “Unless, that’s too…”
“Perfect.” Greer motioned for Chase to hand her the baby, instantly rocking back and forth as soon as she cradled her in her arms. “I think it’s perfect.”
Chase grinned. “Very fitting. Just remember, kids have a way of growing into their names, so… I’m thinking a double laser grid. One inside, one outside for when she starts trying to sneak out.”
“She can’t even roll over yet, jackass. I think we’ve got some time.” Kash glanced over at Saylor and Zain. “Someone looks green.”
Saylor glared at Kash, then raced off, nearly hitting Bodie as he ambled through the doorway.
Zain sighed. “Way to jinx it, brother. She only just stopped puking.”
Kash held up one hand. “Don’t blame the messenger, buddy. You’re the one who knocked her up.”
Zain beamed, the ass, looking more than pleased with himself. “I’ll just be happy when this phase is over.”
“Assuming it ends.” Kash shrugged. “Some women puke the entire pregnancy.”
“It’s like you just can’t help yourself.” Zain motioned to the door. “I’ll go check on her. Make sure Atticus doesn’t break anything before we get a chance to use it.”
“I heard that.” Atticus made those weird ‘watching you’ fingers at Zain as he followed after Saylor.
Chase tapped Foster on the arm. “When do Keaton and the Florida crew arrive?”
Foster checked his watch. “They should be here any minute. Along with Nick.” He nodded at Greer. “Did Nick tell you why he’d changed his mind and decided to visit? Because I thought he was on some top-secret assignment.”
Greer shook her head. “All he said was to make sure everyone was here.”
Chase smiled when Greer nuzzled Ember closer, his chest tight. They’d talked about starting a family. Not full on trying, yet, but she’d suggested removing her implant. That it was coming due, anyway, and maybe they should just let nature take its course. See what happened.
He’d agreed, secretly terrified he’d turn out like his old man — carry on the curse he’d always feared lived inside him. Greer hadn’t called him on it, a fact that had made him love her even more. That she accepted him, flaws and all.
Now, watching her rock Ember in her arms, it all clicked into place, that curse finally fading into the past. Overshadowed by the sheer joy on her face, the way she looked up at him — smiled. Her face practically glowing. And he knew, no matter what happened, he was finally free.
Greer snugged in beside him, leaning against his chest as she rocked the baby. “We need to do something about Bodie.”
Chase frowned, glanced at the man in question as he laughed with Kash and Foster as if he’d been part of the team all along. “That sounds ominous. What happened? Did you discover he’s a sleeper spy or something?”
Greer elbowed him. “He needs someone.”
Chase laughed. “You sure? Because women are a lot more work…”
His voice trailed into a grunt when Greer elbowed him, again. Harder. “I thought he was seeing that nurse from Providence.”
“They broke up. Something about him being too military. Not that I know what that even means. Sure, he’s got that situational awareness you all have, and I guess he can be a bit intimidating if you’re on the wrong side of the law, but…”
Chase sighed. “I’ll chat with Jordan. Maybe she knows another Shadow Ops agent looking to switch gears.”
“You’re an ass.”
“The one you know and love. Though, that reminds me. How’s Buck doing?”
Greer beamed. “He’s like a new man. Or maybe more like he used to be.
But as soon as Bodie offered to have him do some tracking for his security company, it’s like a switch flipped.
He’s still… adjusting. But he’s solved half a dozen crimes already.
Has this uncanny ability of being in the right place at the right time to gather evidence.
If he does any better, I might have competition for my job. ”
“I doubt that but… I’m glad. The guy saved our asses.”
Greer looked up, beckoned him down for a kiss. “You saved my ass that night. A few times over.”
Chase smiled, dipped in for another. “Purely selfish reasons.”
Kash groaned. “Are you two kissing in front of Ember?”
Chase flipped him off. “Like you two haven’t been doing that non-stop. Though, why the hell aren’t you taking advantage of us holding Ember? You could have a quick make-out session on the couch. Make Atticus’ blood pressure rise.”
Kash grinned. “Every now and then, brother, you actually come up with a great idea. Jordan!”
He struck off, yelling out his intentions, Atticus already rolling his eyes.
The day wore on, Foster’s cousin, Keaton and the rest of his crew arrived in a flurry of chaos.
Fletcher and Bailey’s two boys ran through the house, playing tag and hide and seek while Nyx followed on their heels, ever the nanny.
Bailey looked happy, despite running off to pee every hour, her pregnancy nearing the end.
The toddlers stumbled around on the floor, Dawson and Keaton diving left and right when one of them teetered, somehow catching them before they tumbled.
Hayes stood beside Chloe, his hand resting on her rounded belly, looking as if he enjoyed the noise and the mess.
Not that Chase blamed him. After everything both teams had been through, they’d earned this moment.
The sun was already heading for the horizon, when the front door creaked open, Nick walking into the room, bringing a swirl of cool spring air with him.
He stopped just inside, nodding at Chase before tugging Greer in for a hug.
The man seemed harder, colder, his face more weathered than Chase remembered. As if time had spun faster for him.
Greer stepped back, tilted her head to the side. “You look like shit.”
Nick chuckled. “Thanks, Greer, you look great, too.”
“You know that’s not what I meant.” She glanced back at Chase for a moment. “Are you okay?”
Nick plastered on a fake smile. “Dandy.”
“Right. I don’t suppose this haggard look has anything to do with you and Kate splitting up? All those missions you’ve been going on despite claiming you’re not a field agent, again.”
“Not a single thing. And those were just temporary. I had a few loose ends I needed to tie up before I stepped back.”
“And did you? Tie up all those ends?”
Nick grinned. “Mostly, though, there’s one that turned out better than expected. Chase? Brother do me a favor and get your buddies.”