Under His Watch: A Brothers Synn Novel

by Light, Victoria

  A couple weeks passed, during which I received an occasional staticky satellite phone call from Ryan, still in Los Llanos, just checking in to make sure I knew he was alive. I never asked when he would be back, partially because I didn't want to interfere in his work, but more that I was afraid of getting an answer I wouldn't want to hear.

  I tried to put my thoughts elsewhere, which was pretty much impossible. I had no open contracts for a little while, so I was stuck by myself at home with nothing to do except work on my project car and think about Los Llanos.

  Gustavo was on my mind a lot, too. I wondered what would become of him, if he was okay, if he was safe or hungry. Ryan started a relief fund for Los Llanos that I donated half my earnings from the Castillo contract to, but I wished there was more I could do to help Gustavo. After serving in the Army for so long, one would think they would develop a way to cope with those situations, but it never happened. It was always just as heartbreaking. I found myself wanting to go back there, not just to be with Ryan but to offer my services. I felt like I was wasting my time here, sitting around waiting for my damn arm to heal.

  It was a warm afternoon, perfect weather to work on an engine. I stripped down to just jeans, enjoying a refreshing breeze that drifted in from the hills, rustling the leaves and kicking up little swirls of dust from the gravel driveway. I bent over the open hood of the Plymouth Duster and reached in with my torque wrench. I'd been restoring this car for a couple years now, one of Dad's favorites. 1976, V8, a gorgeous electric blue.

  I caught the sound of a vehicle rolling up the road towards the property. I checked my cell phone. No missed calls. I wasn't expecting anyone, and Sylus and Chris weren't at home. I set the wrench back in its tray and wiped the grease from my hands on a dirty rag draped over my shoulder. The mystery vehicle meandered up to the driveway, a rental SUV, and I immediately recognized who was behind the wheel. I almost didn't believe it, chalking it up to my mind conjuring up the things I wanted to see. But no, it really was him.

  He pulled up next to the Duster and threw the door open. Before I could get to him I was stopped by two blurs of fur that leapt out across his lap. They bounced up and threw their paws on me, nearly knocking me back. It was the two dogs from Gianna's neighborhood. They whined happily, hopping up and down on their hind legs, their tails going a mile a minute.

  "Hey, boys," I said, laughing as they licked my hands and my face.

  "Surprise," Ryan said, stepping out. "I hope you have enough room around here for a few strays."

  I threw my arms around him and just held him as tightly as I possibly could, feeling the reality of his body against mine. He was really here.

  "I knew you'd show up on my doorstep eventually," I said to him. "I've been waiting for you."

  We walked back to the barn, the dogs following after us. Along with his suitcase, Ryan carried in a large portfolio briefcase that he laid on my kitchen table. From it he produced a black binder, which he handed to me. On the front was a simple label that said, "Los Llanos Project."

  "These prints are for you," he told me, and I opened the binder. Inside were page after page of jaw-dropping photographs. There was one of me sitting on the hood of the Isuzu, rifle laid across my lap. One of the old mango farmer who'd given us directions. One of me cradling Gustavo in my arms.

  I looked up at Ryan and smiled. "These are amazing."

  There were shots from the poachers’ camp; visceral images of a place no one had seen before, as well as photos of the refugee camp.

  "I've already gotten some major offers for the work," Ryan said. "Gustavo's story is getting out there. People are hearing about it."

  "Did you see him at all?"

  Ryan nodded and slipped his hand across my thigh. "He's safe now. The fund helped relocate his family into the city."

  "Good."

  He reached into the case and pulled out another large photo. "I've got one more thing to give you."

  It was a black and white photo of me from Iraq, taken from a dramatic low angle as I was firing my rifle at some target out of the frame. To say it was a striking image was an understatement. It was the kind of photo that could stop you in your tracks.

  "Holy shit," I said. "When did you take this?"

  "After I was knocked over by an explosion. You ran over to save me. You have no idea how many awards this photo has won. In fact, I've got this photograph hanging inside my bedroom."

  "Your bedroom?"

  "I guess I couldn't forget about you, after all."

  I took his hand, leaning against the side of the kitchen table, and he slowly relaxed his body against mine. I wrapped my good arm around him, holding him close. He hugged me back and pushed his cheek against my neck. We were both ready to let go of the past. Not all the questions had been answered, and not all the problems had been resolved. We'd always carry those demons with us. But at least, we were ready to walk forward into the future together.

  Now, finally, my search was over.

  Afterword

  Thank you so much for reading Under His Watch! If you enjoyed this book but haven’t read the rest of the series, please consider purchasing books one and two and leaving your positive review on their Amazon pages. Your support means the world to me!

  If you want to be the first to know when I have new releases, you can sign up for my mailing list.

  Also, if you love MPREG, paranormal and omegaverse stories, please check out my alternate pen-name, Ashe Moon.

  Read Virgil’s story!

  Ford

  It’s my first time doing this kind of thing. I even gave him a fake name. After all, I’m never going to see him again.

  Virgil is nothing like my ex, and that's exactly what I want in a one-night stand. He’s alpha-as-hell, an ex-Marine, and when he takes me to his bedroom he checks off boxes I didn’t even know were there. Maybe I’m not as broken as I believed.

  It was supposed to only last one night—until Virgil shows up at my book shop driving a delivery truck. Great. Now we seem to be stuck together. There’s no way a man like him would ever fall for a geek like me—and for the best. I’ll never risk getting my heart broken again, no matter how crazy he makes me feel.

  Virgil

  I don’t usually go for stuck-up nerdy guys, but Ford is full of surprises. He seems reserved at first, but that all changes once I have him on his knees. Now, I can’t get him out of my head.

  Him turning up on my weekly delivery route guarantees we’re going to be seeing a hell of a lot more of each other. I don’t mind taking him home for another night or three, but anything more than that? No way. If a decade in the Marines has taught me anything it’s that life’s too short not to live it on the edge. I’m not going to be tied down.

  The problem is, the more I’m forced to see him, the more I realize he makes me feel alive in a way that nothing else does.

  Click here to read Not His Man!

  Also by Victoria Light

  The Brothers Synn Series

  Sylus Synn - In His Sights

  Virgil Synn - Not His Man

  Bautista Synn - Under His Watch