“Couldn’t think of better men to have on our team,” Micah told Quick and Jagger.
“I agree,” Alex said. Jagger had saved Micah’s life, the man would always have a place at his table.
“Did you hear?” Micah asked Quick with a smile.
“I did. Rossi called me.” Quick grinned and lifted Micah into a massive hug.
“Congratulations, Micah,” Jagger’s voice was softer, sad, but he could see the man was happy for them.
“Thank you.” Micah drew Jagger into a hard hug. “And thank you for saving me in Alaska,” He heard Micah whisper.
“Right back at you.” Jagger stepped back and smiled.
When Micah slipped an arm around his waist, Alex lifted his own and draped it around the man’s shoulders.
“Micah! Jagger! Come here, I want you to formally meet Logan’s brothers,” Noah called out and Micah squeezed his waist and stepped away.
“You too, Quick,” Noah shouted.
“See ya later,” Quick said and disappeared after Micah.
“Later.” Alex grinned and chuckled at the pained expression on Quick’s face when he was summoned. Jagger ducked his head and headed over to Noah.
Alex let his gaze trail after Micah. He personally knew both men, he’d served with Captain Elijah Cobalt and his brother, Colonel Liam Cobalt.
He watched and waited for the surprise of Micah, Quick, and Jagger when Liam turned along with Logan.
The pair were identical twins.
“Oh my god, who is who?” Micah gasped.
Alex chuckled and turned toward one of the interior doors and walked through the house and down a hallway. Laughter, music, and conversation followed after him from the room he’d just left. A few minutes later, Alex washed his hands in the spacious restroom and gazed at himself in the mirror.
Caleb was coming home. Happiness filled his reflection, a happiness he hadn’t felt in a long time. He grinned, shook his head, and headed back through the quiet living room.
Pictures of previous barbecues and beach excursions littered the wall and lined an open wall unit. Badges and certificates and honorary medals were displayed lovingly. Every single one of Phoenix was displayed in one photograph or another. Now he fully understood why this house and his own stood behind massive gates with a guard station out front. If anyone got their hands on these photos, the unit would be in jeopardy. He wanted to start a collection of their own photos.
“Alexander, defender of men,” Micah whispered, coming up behind him. His lover slipped his arms around his waist and the man’s lips kissed the back of his neck.
Alex turned, wrapping his arms around Micah’s waist and smiled.
“Defender?” he teased, quirking an eyebrow.
“It’s the meaning of your name. Alexander, defender of men.” Micah smiled up at him.
“Defender of you,” he murmured.
“And others,” Micah argued.
“Caleb,” he said with a smile.
“Yes.” The man’s eyes grew soft. “I love you.”
The look in Micah’s eyes took his breath away.
“I love you, Micah,” he said. “I think I’ll start calling you that at the office.”
“Oh no, don’t let that out at headquarters.”
“Why not? I like it. It’s sexy. Micah “Lash” Robertson.”
Micah rolled his eyes. “Technically, I don’t have a middle name.”
“We can make one up.”
Micah shook his head with a smirking smile. “You do know that middle names are a recent tradition in Western civilization, right?”
“Is that right?” Alex grinned with amusement.
“Yep.” Micah grinned back at him.
“Well, aren’t you just a fountain of information.” He hummed clutching his lover tightly and nibbling lips along his neck. Micah laughed and shoved him back to smile up at him.
“Yep, and that little thing on the end of your shoelace is called an aglet.” Micah looked pleased with himself.
Alex laughed. “Okay, know it all.” He pulled free.
“Give me a kiss,” Micah said, and tipped his mouth up.
“Just a sec, I have a text.”
Micah laughed and stood on his toes to kiss and nibble at his jaw and cheek while he checked his phone. “Come on, just a quick one.”
“Wait,” he said laughing and tapped at his phone. He then turned and kissed Micah full and deep on the lips, and then drew back.
“Wombat poop is cube shaped,” he said with a smile.
“Oh gross!” Micah burst out laughing and then stopped abruptly. “Wait a minute. You looked that up!” Snickering, Micah grabbed for his phone, but he held it up high over the man’s head. “Cheater!”
“You’re just jealous because mine was more interesting than yours,” he chuckled in triumph.
“Bullfrogs do not sleep,” Micah challenged with a smug expression.
“A butt load is a real measurement of weight.” Alex grinned right back.
“Oh hell no,” Storm muttered from the doorway. “I don’t even want to know what you two are fuckin’ talking about.”
Alex cackled at the sniper’s expression and Micah hooted with laughter.
Storm just gave them a disgusted look and stomped out.
“Party pooper,” Micah called after the mountain of a man with a lingering laugh.
Alex chuckled and linked their fingers.
“Ready?” Micah looked up with a grin.
“Definitely.” He brought Micah’s hand to his lips with a smile and kissed his fingertips. This man would forever hold his heart in the palm of his hand.
Together, they turned to rejoin their friends.
The End
Up next is Caleb’s story in Out For Justice: Book Five.
Human trafficking is a multi-billion dollar industry in the United States alone. It is estimated that 80% of people taken are sold and used for sex.
Approximately 30,000 victims of sex trafficking die each year from abuse, disease, torture, and neglect. 80% of those sold into sexual slavery are under the age of 24, and some are as young as six years old.
According to the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), over the past 30 years, over 30 million children have been sexually exploited through human trafficking.
Most human trafficking in the United States occurs in New York, California, and Florida.
If you see something, please say something.
humantraffickinghotline.org
If you’d like to get involved join the movement
www.StoppingTrafficMovement.com
—Reese
To my fans, this one’s for you.
Reese spends her time creating stories from the characters rattling around in her head. Her love of reading mystery, action and adventure, and fantasy books led to her love of writing. Reese works as a full-time writer. She loves to hear from her readers. Check out her website at reeseknightleyauth.wixsite.com/mysite. You can reach her on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Her email address is [email protected]
Destruction Page 24
