Veils: A Killers Novel, Book 4

by Asher, Brynne

  * * *

  Three months later

  Uganda

  Jarvis

  She’s in her element—and I’m not talking about the operating room, an ICU, or even someone’s backyard trying to stop the bleeding from a GSW.

  We’re at the end of a long day that’s at the end of a long week. We go home the day after tomorrow. I got her back here as soon as I could swing it with my work and her move to Virginia.

  I’m tired of traveling back and forth from Ohio to Crew’s camp to wherever else in the world I’m needed. I don’t have much downtime these days and being away from Gracie is downright painful. But she and her cat are officially moved into the tiny house on Addy’s property. That is, when she’s not in Paris with me between jobs.

  But that’s just for now.

  Not only am I a man with a plan, I’ve become the puppet master of the game I call my future, and I’m fucking killing it. Ask me what’s going to happen in nine months—I can tell you down to the porch swing and patio furniture Gracie and I will sit on as we grow old watching the landscape.

  That’s when our lives will start.

  I bought the farm on the other side of Crew’s land. It wasn’t for sale but when you make an elderly couple an offer they can’t refuse, they get to retire in Florida. And I get what I want. Though I didn’t want a farmhouse smaller than what Crew uses for his headquarters. I had that shit bulldozed the day after I closed and have been working with an architect ever since. Construction starts next week even though I won’t be there to witness it. It’ll be a decent sized house but the garage will be even bigger.

  And it’ll be done in nine months.

  It was the deal I made with Crew. He didn’t like it and offered me other ways out. When Grady got wind of my proposal, he went behind my back and offered to pay my way out for the sake of his baby sister. I might’ve lost my shit when I learned this. I could’ve bought myself out, but I don’t leave anyone in a bind, least of all Crew Vega or his outfit.

  Family—you have their backs and they have yours. It’s how the world turns.

  I know how long it takes to train someone like me. I would never leave Crew shorthanded. He took a chance on a guy who was fucked in the head because he lost half his SEAL team. I know the opportunity I was given the day I signed and don’t take that lightly. I told Crew I’d work nonstop if I had to for one more year and I will. Fitting at least two years’ worth of work into one is no joke but I’m willing to pay the price. Because during this year, I’m building the foundation for my plan.

  I’ve been at it for three months. Nine more and it’ll be done.

  Gracie was good with the plan. I told her to do whatever she wanted while I was fulfilling my commitment. She could work or not, travel or not, volunteer or not. As long as she was at the penthouse with me in Paris or the tiny house in Virginia when I was free. Sometimes it’s been a couple nights a month, others as many as five.

  But this week is different. I’ve had this week planned since before I got her passport worked out with the State Department. Most women want jewelry and flowers and meaningless shit for their birthdays.

  Not my Gracie.

  She wants memories.

  She’s getting them and more. A ten-day trip to an orphanage in Uganda was all it took to win me her tears. Every time I make her cry, it feels even better than the last, but I can’t lie, seeing her reaction to this gift was the sweetest I’ve seen on her yet.

  Serving others—it’s all she wants out of life. I’m a selfish fuck, because all I want is her.

  We’ve watched the sun set like Gracie insisted we do every day since we got here, and now, she’s sitting across from her friend Furaha while Eze sleeps against her chest. We’ve spent time with all the kids this week, but she and that boy are different.

  Magnetism: the physical phenomena arising from the force caused by objects that produce fields which attract other objects.

  If I weren’t in awe of it, I’d be fucking jealous of it. Most of us don’t get to pick our parents, but if this week has taught me anything, a very few special ones do.

  It’s why I’m here—to see, to witness it for myself.

  And it’s time I do something about it.

  I get up from where I’m sitting and don’t give a shit that I’m interrupting Gracie and her friend’s conversation about who knows what since I wasn’t paying attention. The picture of Gracie and my future son is all I see. After I do what’s become a habit and lean in to kiss her still-healing scar, I slip the ring I’ve been carrying around all week in my pocket on her finger. Her lips go slack when her big blue eyes look up at me.

  I brush Eze’s cheek with my thumb before looking back to her. “Give me a memory, Lover.”

  Her eyes glass over in an instant. “Noah.”

  “Let’s bring him home. We’ll start the paperwork tomorrow.”

  Then I realize I was wrong before.

  These tears—the new ones shed for us and the little boy she fell in love with in the middle of Africa—are the sweetest she’s shed so far. I’m not sure how I’ll ever top this but I’ve got a lifetime to try, and since I don’t half-ass anything, I’m determined to make it happen.

  * * *

  Years later

  In the middle of the boonies where Virginia is for Lovers

  Gracie

  My eyes flutter open when I hear the beeps of our security system being disarmed. They must have startled Eze too, because he kicks me in his sleep where he’s sprawled on Noah’s side of the bed.

  I had no idea the hoops we’d have to jump through to adopt internationally. My husband might be able to bypass TSA security and break the speed limit on a normal basis, but trying to bring Eze home proved that the man I love is merely as human as the rest of us. He had no pull with the Ugandan government and the process took all of nine long months.

  I might not be able to give birth to a child but I would put the nine months we fought for our son up against any normal pregnancy.

  I spent at least half of those months in Uganda with Eze. Noah joined us when he was between assignments and Grady spent more time with me there than he needed to. Crew and Asa even traveled with me at times. I think after what happened before, everyone was on edge about me making the long journey by myself.

  But the miles of red tape, the millions of documents, and all of the hours spent in front of a Ugandan judge were worth it. By the time Noah retired and our home was almost complete, we brought Eze to the USA. By that time, he and I had spent so much time together, it made his transition easier.

  He’s five now and not tiny anymore. He speaks fluent English, is tall for his age, and there’s no possible way on this earth we could love him more than we do.

  It’s why when Noah brought up adopting again, I wasn’t sure. In my heart, our family was complete but my husband disagreed, said I’m too content, and don’t think big enough.

  One night while lying in our bed, he opened a file on his phone and there was a picture of a baby girl—she was only a few weeks old. Her precious little soul was left at an orphanage in South Korea.

  Noah kissed my scar and told me to think bigger.

  I didn’t need any more convincing.

  It took more trips and another eight months but we brought her home before her first birthday. The orphanage named her Mishil—we call her Misha. She’s eighteen months old today and Noah often jokes that we’re building our own tiny United Nations.

  There was a time in my life where the thought of a family was downright painful. I had no idea how beautiful it could be.

  “You know, Lover, this doesn’t make it any easier to put them to bed at night.”

  I raise my head over Misha who’s curled into my chest because I’m sandwiched between our children. Noah is standing at the threshold to our bedroom and he’s wearing a shirt in his favorite color and a pair of pants with so many pockets, I don’t want to know what he does with them now that he’s mostly retired. He takes
an assignment for Crew every once in a while, but they’re coming fewer and farther between lately. He mostly recruits and helps train.

  And he spends time at home with us in the bubble he planned out meticulously.

  “You know I can’t help it,” I say from the middle of our king-sized bed. “There’s still room for you.”

  He pushes off the door frame and stalks toward us before stopping at the end of the bed to rip off his boots. “Eze’s getting so strong, I wake up with bruises from him kicking me. They’re going to their beds.”

  “Mm-kay,” I say and close my eyes.

  It feels like only moments later when our bed takes a big dip and I don’t have a baby snuggled to me any longer. My very naked husband pulls me into his body and says against my lips, “Can’t fuck you with kids in the bed.”

  I open my mouth under his. “Eze knows I won’t say no. I have no backbone when you’re not here.”

  “It’s okay.” He runs his tongue down my neck to my collarbone. “I love coming home to the three of you together.” He sucks the skin at the base of my neck as he nudges my panties down. “But I also need this.”

  I push my panties the rest of the way off. Noah wastes no time dragging my leg over his bare hip and sinking deep into me.

  I moan.

  “There’s my lover,” he murmurs.

  “Love you,” I whisper.

  “Love you, too.” He pulls back just enough to look down at me. “Give me a memory, baby.”

  I close my eyes and drink up my husband. Life is too precious not to take advantage of every single moment.

  Memories.

  Our hearts are bursting with them.

  Stay tuned for A Killers Novel, Book 5

  Read Crew and Addy’s story here: Vines – A Killers Novel, Book 1

  Read Grady and Maya’s story here: Paths – A Killers Novel, Book 2

  Read Asa and Keelie’s story here: Gifts – A Killers Novel, Book 3

  Read more by Brynne Asher

  The Carpino Series

  Overflow – The Carpino Series, Book 1

  Beautiful Life – The Carpino Series, Book 2

  Athica Lane – The Carpino Series, Book 3

  Until Avery – A Carpino Series Crossover Novella

  Killers Series

  Vines – A Killers Novel, Book 1

  Paths – A Killers Novel, Book 2

  Gifts – A Killers Novel, Book 3

  Veils – A Killers Novel, Book 4

  Until the Tequila – A Killers Crossover Novella

  The Montgomery Series

  Bad Situation – The Montgomery Series, Book 1

  Broken Halo – The Montgomery Series, Book 2

  Standalones

  Blackburn

  Acknowledgments

  Jarvis’s book has been my most requested story to date. I knew I had to do him justice. His and Gracie’s story was a labor of love, sweat, and tears.

  Speaking of tears, I’m sure I probably put my editor through a few since I asked her to turn this book around so fast. Thank you, Kristan with edit LLC, for working within my ridiculous schedule and making this book clean and beautiful just like you always do. Working with you has become seamless with each additional project and I don’t know what I’d do without you and your friendship.

  Ivy, Gi, and Laurie, you continue to beta read my books like the badass ladies you are. Your feedback is invaluable and I’m grateful for your time and attention to details.

  Penny and Carrie, thank you for your eagle eyes and always having my back.

  Heather, Dana, and Jamie, I’m in awe at the time and love you give me and my books. Your support and cheering me on means the world to me, and I can’t wait to hug you all in person.

  Layla and Sarah, thank you for being my people and my rocks and my daily springboard. Your friendship is everything and I wouldn’t be able to do this author thing without you.

  Elle, remember all those years ago when I asked you, “What if I tried to write a book?” Did you ever imagine we’d get to this? Because I didn’t and none of this would have happened without you.

  My Beauties, thank you for wanting my words, loving my cows, humoring me on the freakybook as we talk everything from shoes to clapping songs. I feel like you’re all my neighbors and every day is a block party.

  And finally, to Mr. Emoji, life only gets better with you as we make memories with the humans we’ve been blessed with. I want all your moments—and then I’m going to be greedy and ask for more. And because you’re you, you’ll give them selflessly. You get all my Xs, Ox, and <3s.

  Read a Sample from Broken Halo

  Prologue

  Ghosts

  Ten years ago

  Trig

  “Don’t make me leave you. Not yet.”

  Her words are heavy and labored, cutting through my chest, as painful as a rusty hacksaw. She’s come twice and it doesn’t matter how many times we’re like this, it’s always better than the last. Feeding my addiction. Digging its way into my bones in a way I’ll never shake her. I don’t know how this can keep getting better, but it does. She lets go more every time we’re together—learning her own body and what it can do.

  What I can make it do.

  How I can make her feel when she gives me everything and I take it like the motherfucking asshole I am.

  There are moments I hate myself. For bringing her here when she deserves better. For not saying no to her. For fucking taking her when I have no business being with my boss’s daughter. Hell, no Barrett should be with a Montgomery, let alone take one for their own like I have.

  I’m not weak and I never have been. The shit that life has laid at my feet has made me who I am—steeling my bones, my mind, my soul. I knew if I let anything in, it’d chew me up and spit me out, nastier than the Skoal my dad tried to hit me with back in the day ‘cause shit like that was fun for him.

  Survival.

  I’ve clung to it for twenty-two years. There’s not a memory in my head where I wasn’t barely clawing at life with my grungy, tainted hands.

  Unwanted and vile, because I’m a Barrett.

  Never should’ve let her get under my skin. I never should’ve touched her and I damn sure never should’ve taken her.

  But I did.

  Now I’ve gotta find a way to keep her. And that might just be the biggest feat I’ve ever had to conquer.

  I press into her one more time, and even though I just came, I could take her again faster than my heart has a chance to skip a beat.

  I roll, bringing her with me, off the thick blanket we keep out here, and onto the hard floor of her family’s barn. Her blond hair falls over my chest and her body rests limp on mine.

  I run my hands down her bare back, feeling every bone and lean muscle. There’s hardly anything to her—not one curve or swell. When we lie here in the darkness of the night, she tells me how many hours she puts in a day dancing, making her body what it is, but I think it’s because she’s barely a woman. She just turned eighteen last week.

  “The sun doesn’t come up for another few hours, Trig. Let me stay.”

  I close my eyes and wrap her up tight, not giving a shit how sweaty we are from the hot, Texas night and the even hotter sex we just had. “If we fall asleep and get caught, your daddy’ll skin me alive and move you around the world, baby.”

  She pushes up from my chest and her face is shadowed with only the crescent moon filtering in through the open window behind her. Her eyes—which are usually deeper, warmer, and bluer than my icy ones—are black when she looks down at me. “I made a decision.”

  I slide my hands down to her ass. “Yeah? This doesn’t surprise me since you’re so sure of everything.”

  “I am.” She’s so small, when she pushes up my body to press her pink lips to mine, she has to slide off my cock to reach my mouth. Her hair falls in a mess, caging us in. “I’m not going to New York.”

  My fingers press into her skin.

  “I’m going to
tell my parents tomorrow—or later today. Whichever.”

  “What?” The word slips through my lips with an edge to it as tense as my muscles.

  She shakes her head and brings a hand up, brushing her thumb across my bottom lip. “I’ll see if I can still get into SMU with Jen. If I have to beg my dad to make a donation to make it happen, I will. People do it all the time. Or I won’t go anywhere, I don’t care. I can’t leave you.”

  “You can’t stay because of me.”

  Her angelic face puckers. “There’s no other reason I’d stay.”

  “Then you’re definitely not staying.”

  It doesn’t matter how hard my voice turns, nothing fazes Ellie. She’s got the strongest will of anyone I’ve ever known, all encased in her small, perfect body.

  “You can’t tell me what to do, Trig Barrett.” She presses her tits into my chest, calling the attention of my dick. But when it comes to her, she wakes every inch of me, even nudging at the parts I didn’t know existed. “I’m going to tell them about us, too.”

  I exhale. “I don’t care about me. I’m sure I’ll have to find another job and I’ve told you before, I can do that. But if you think Kipp and Hattie Montgomery are gonna let the baby of their family be with a ranch hand, you’re crazy.”

  She kisses my jaw and whispers, “My dad loves you. You’re his favorite.”

  I roll her onto the blanket and rip off my condom before I cover her body with mine. “Him favoring me on his ranch is different than giving me the nod to be with his daughter. But none of that matters, angel. You aren’t giving up your chance at Juilliard to be with a guy who can barely afford to go to JuCo part time. You’re going to New York.”

  She pulls her knees up and wraps her legs around me. “We’re wasting precious moments arguing about this when we don’t have any real time together as it is.”