Chapter Forty-Eight
Colton
The clock on the nightstand showed just past midnight. I sat in bed, the sound of Isabella’s even breathing comforting as she slept beside me. I watched her for several minutes, memorizing the peaceful curve of her lips, the way her hand rested protectively over her stomach even in sleep.
I slipped from the bed with practiced silence, careful not to disturb her. Pregnancy exhaustion had finally overcome her determination to review every surveillance feed one last time. After our lovemaking, she’d fallen into a deep sleep that I refused to interrupt, especially on this night when rest was the greatest gift I could offer.
I pulled on a pair of sweats and moved quietly to the study, leaving the bedroom door slightly ajar to hear her if she stirred. The ultrasound images were now scattered across my desk—concrete evidence of the miracle growing beneath Isabella’s heart.
Twins. Two sons. Two brothers who would share blood and bone and breath like Cooper and me.
I checked my watch; it wasn’t too late to call. Cooper had taken Steele’s jet back to Italy this afternoon. He would likely be reviewing security for tomorrow’s operation or coordinating with Steele’s teams. I hesitated only briefly before calling his cell phone on our secure line.
Cooper answered immediately, his voice tense with anticipation.
“Is everything on schedule?” he asked without preamble, pure tactical focus in each word.
“Yes,” I replied, keeping my voice low despite the soundproofing Stryker had installed in the study. “The final pieces are in place. Sari confirmed the shipment details. Interpol teams are prepared for coordinated raids.”
“Good.” I could hear him shifting papers, probably reviewing operational maps. “Our team will be in position at the Rotterdam facility by 0400. Steele’s people are already establishing the perimeter.”
“That’s not why I called,” I said, watching the cars on the street below through the darkened windows.
A pause, then with characteristic perception: “Isabella?”
“She’s asleep,” I said, glancing toward the bedroom. “Finally resting before tomorrow.”
“And you’re not,” Cooper observed, not a question but an understanding. “Pre-operation jitters?”
I almost smiled at the familiar teasing. Despite everything, despite the danger surrounding us, some patterns between brothers never changed.
“Not jitters,” I corrected, settling into my desk chair. “Just...I needed to tell you something. Before tomorrow.”
“I’m listening.” His tone shifted, the tactical commander giving way to my brother.
I drew a deep breath, surprising myself with how difficult it was to say the words aloud.
“It’s twins. Both boys.”
The silence that followed was profound. I could hear Cooper’s breathing change through the encrypted connection. When he spoke again, his voice carried something I rarely heard from my irreverent brother—raw emotion.
“Like us,” he said quietly.
“Yes.” I picked up one of the ultrasound images, studying the grey shapes that would become my sons. “Doctor Eisenberg came out today. Which is why I had you cover for me.”
“You’re worried,” Cooper said, understanding immediately. “About tomorrow.”
I didn’t deny it. Cooper knew me too well for such pretense.
“If anything happens to me tomorrow—”
“Don’t start,” Cooper cut me off, his voice hardening. “Nothing is happening to you. The plan is solid. The teams are ready. You’ve calculated every variable.”
“There are always unknown factors,” I countered, legal training asserting itself even now. “Rodger is desperate. Desperate men make unpredictable moves.”
“And prepared men anticipate them,” Cooper replied firmly. “You’re more than prepared, Colton. You’re not the same man who left London months ago. Stryker says your combat skills have progressed remarkably.”
“It’s not about combat skills,” I said, though the assessment was gratifying. “It’s about what happens after. If everything goes as planned, if we dismantle the entire network...” I paused, searching for words. “I need to know that if something happens to me, Isabella and the boys will be taken care of.”
“Nothing is going to happen to you,” Cooper repeated, but I heard the shift in his tone. He understood what I was really asking. “But yes, Colton. You know the answer is yes. They’re family. My nephews. Isabella is as much my sister as Allegra is yours.”
“And the Tuscany property?” I pressed, needing absolute certainty. “The paperwork—”
“Is already being processed,” he confirmed. “The estate will be ready by the time the boys arrive, with or without you. Though I fully expect you to be supervising every detail of the renovation with your usual obsessive precision.”
Despite everything, I laughed softly. “Someone needs to counterbalance your tendency toward extravagance. I’ve seen the fountain you installed at the villa.”
“Allegra loves that fountain,” he defended, good humor returning to his voice. “And Clara uses it as a wishing well. Some traditions are worth preserving.”
The mention of traditions sobered me. “They’ll have each other,” I said quietly. “Like we did. Whatever happens.”
“Yes,” Cooper agreed, his voice gentling. “Though what will happen, brother, is that tomorrow you will dismantle a trafficking network, rescue innocent lives, and return home to your wife. Then you’ll move to Tuscany with Isabella and terrify the local contractors with your renovation specifications.”
The certainty in his voice was almost convincing enough to banish the shadows of doubt. Almost.
“And you’ll spoil my sons,” I added, redirecting the conversation away from fears neither of us could fully voice.
“Relentlessly,” he agreed with obvious delight. “Ponies. Sailboats. Whatever horrifies you most.”
“Isabella will be your willing accomplice,” I said, smiling despite myself.
“Naturally. She has excellent taste.” A brief pause, then: “Have you thought about names?”
“Not specifically,” I admitted. “Though Isabella mentioned wanting something with meaning. I’m going to let her choose.”
“Wise,” Cooper agreed.
I could hear Allegra’s voice in the background, though I couldn’t make out her words. Cooper’s response carried clearly through the connection: “Yes, angel. I’m already telling him.”
“Telling me what?” I asked, wariness creeping into my voice.
“That we’re here,” he said simply. “Not just in a metaphorical ‘if something happens’ sense. Steele’s jet landed with Allegra in London three hours ago. We’re at Steele’s hotel, The Black Hedges. Clara is safe with Ashlynn in France.”
Surprise rendered me momentarily speechless. “The original plan had you coordinating from Tuscany.”
“The original plan was adjusted,” he replied, unapologetic. “I’m not letting my brother handle this alone. You came for me when Allegra was taken. You think I’d do any less for you and Isabella?”
The emotion that rushed through me was unexpected—gratitude tinged with irritation at his typical disregard for established protocols.
“You could have mentioned this during yesterday’s briefing,” I pointed out, though I couldn’t summon genuine annoyance.
“And miss the rare opportunity to surprise the man who plans everything?” I could hear the smile in his voice. “Not a chance.”
The security panel near the study door blinked once—a notification that Isabella was moving in the bedroom. I glanced toward the door, noting the shift in shadow beneath it.
“I should go,” I said, regret coloring my voice. “Isabella’s awake.”
“Of course.” Cooper shifted back to operational mode seamlessly. “0700 tomorrow. Everything proceeds as planned, just with your brother watching your back instead of doing it from another country.”
“Cooper,” I said before he could disconnect. The words caught in my throat—too sentimental, too revealing. But after everything, after nearly losing Isabella, after discovering we were having twins, some things needed to be said. “Thank you.”
His answering chuckle was warm, understanding all I wasn’t saying. “That’s what brothers do, Colton. It’s what we’ve always done.”
I ended the call as the bedroom door opened. Isabella stood there, wrapped in one of my dress shirts, hair tousled from sleep.
“Checking the timeline again?” she asked, her voice soft with lingering sleep.
I crossed to her, pulling her softly into my arms. “Something like that.”
“Everything’s ready,” she murmured against my chest. “We’ve planned for every contingency.”
“Yes,” I agreed, pressing a kiss to her temple. “We have.”
I didn’t mention Cooper’s presence in London. Didn’t mention my fears for tomorrow. Instead, I guided her back to bed, tucking her against my side where she belonged.
“I love you,” I whispered against her hair as her breathing evened out once more. “All three of you. Whatever happens tomorrow, remember that.”
She murmured something unintelligible, already drifting back to sleep. I held her close, memorizing the weight of her in my arms, the scent of her skin, the quiet certainty that everything I needed in this world was right here.