by J. L. Drake
“Smart.” I nodded. “We need to change things up, and until we know who is a good fit, it’s best to start slow.”
“I think I might build a new team, take them directly from Camp Green. Groom them myself. It will be a lot of work, but it’s the right call.”
“Agreed.”
Cole sank back in his chair with a heavy sigh. We both stayed silent while we mulled over how quickly our lives were changing. “When did this happen? It used to be so simple, and now there’s all this entwined with the job.”
He looked so stressed I had to smile, but what I was about to say was cut short as we both looked at the door at the sound of the twins running down the hallway while Mia huffed threats after them.
I stood and opened the door then pointed down the hall with my chin. “When we all found someone.” I shrugged. “It’s not just the five of us anymore. We have more to protect, more of a reason to come home.” I chuckled lightly, loving how this conversation finally included me. “Our days of playing reckless heroes are long gone, my friend.”
“I suppose you’re right.” The lines around his eyes softened and lit up when Olivia appeared outside the door holding Ethan’s Nerf gun with pride. She held a finger to her lips to hush us and giggled when Cole gave her a high five in the air.
“God, I love that kid.” I gave her a thumbs up. “Can you imagine that little lady running this house someday?”
“And that reason right there is why you need to have a kid or two of your own. You can’t leave her alone with the twins.” He laughed as foam bullets sprayed down the conference room hallway.
“I think she’ll be just fine.” I was happy to see the stress leave Cole’s shoulders. He carried a lot these days, and it was important for us to remember to enjoy the times we had before we couldn’t anymore. Kids were not at the top of my list right now, and I knew Sloane felt the same. We were more interested in spending time alone together. There were lots of kids for us to enjoy right here. The pure joy I got at being able to hype Mark’s twins up on sugar and then send them back right at bedtime like wound-up cats on catnip was awesome.
“Babe?” Savi called from the other side of the glass door. “We’ll need to knock out the wall in the playroom.” She smiled as she held up a pregnancy stick that read positive.
“Holy shit!” Cole jumped up from his chair and raced out to wrap Savi in a huge hug.
“See, you just evened out the score.” I slapped Cole on the shoulder and kissed Savi on the cheek. “Congratulations, guys. I’m so excited for you both.”
“Thanks, John.” She wiped her cheeks dry and beamed up at Cole. “Wow.”
“Wow.” He mirrored her excitement. Cole really needed that right now.
“Oh,” I turned around, “and before Mark gets his bets in, I’m calling it now. It’s a girl.”
Savi laughed and buried her head into Cole’s chest.
“All right, I’m out.” I waved at them to give them their moment and blocked Ethan’s path when he tried to race by.
“Uncle John!” he shouted, and I laughed all the way outside.
***
The warm morning sun beat down on our backs as we climbed the mountain for the twenty-some odd time this year. I was proud and honored Sloane took such an interest in something I loved to do. She probably would never climb without ropes or a helmet, but the fact that she’d been pushing her limits since Christmas was impressive. She wasn’t going to let this cliff beat her.
“You think you have enough in you to keep going?” I asked when we were about three-quarters of the way up. We had yet to reach the top of the peak in any of our climbs, but I knew that was her goal for today.
“Why? Are you tired, Black?” She beamed at me, and I saw her determination to make it. That was good, because I needed her to.
“Just making sure.” I motioned with my head for her to keep going. Just like Mike and I had taught her, she went slowly and made sure every move was calculated and well thought out.
“Oh, your brother called yesterday. Said he and your parents are coming in tomorrow morning. I thought I’d bring Mark, and we’d grab them on the way through town.”
She laughed and hooked her rope through the next loop. “Poor Mark. You just like to see my father make him sweat.”
“That’s exactly why,” I answered without an ounce of shame. “Besides, he’s a charmer and gets your mother all flustered.”
“That is pretty funny to watch.” She paused when her hand suddenly reached the top of the ledge. “Oh, my God,” she whispered through a smile, and her eyes sparkled with excitement.
“Use your arms to hike yourself over and hook your leg,” I started to direct her, but I might as well have saved my breath as I saw her adorable ass disappear above me, and I quickly followed suit.
“John?” She stood a few feet from the edge while I hopped to my feet. “What is this?” She stood, holding a small box of tiny heart-shaped cookies I had placed there for her.
“This…” I brushed the rock dust from my hands and wrapped an arm around her and turned her to face back out over the house. “This is me making something right.”
“What do you mean?”
I rested my chin on her shoulder and kissed her slender neck. “See, right there,” I pointed to the lake by the house, “this view is my most favorite place in the world. It’s where I come to think, where I shake off the stress of a mission, or just to get away. I’ve only ever shared it with Mike, but now…” I held her tight to my chest. “Now I get to share it with you.”
“I love that.” She kissed the side of my jaw. “Thank you.”
“No, Sloane, thank you.” I hated how my emotions were all over the place lately. Though life had settled back into a rhythm, the aftermath of losing most of North Rock still lay heavily on our souls. We just needed time. “So, let’s go through the checklist. One, you made it here. Two, it is my absolute favorite spot to be. Three, we have cookies Savannah made, and Keith didn’t get a single one. And four, what’s four again…?” I teased as she turned in my arms to look up at me, no doubt confused. “Oh, yes, of course.” I slowly lowered onto one knee. “A proper proposal.”
“John, you don’t have—”
“But I do. You deserve not to be pushed into a marriage with the fear I brought you that day. No, you, Sloane,” I took her hand in mine, “deserve the world, and I intend to give that to you.” Her free hand flew to her mouth as her eyes got glossy.
“Sloane Harlow, you came into my life, and I made it nearly impossible to be around me. I didn’t understand how the wall I built up for years could crumble with a single look from you, my beautiful woman. You are smart, quick, and strong. My life isn’t like most. It will test you; it will hurt you and stress you out to no end.” I took a moment to get my words in order. “I promise you, if you choose me, I will make it my life’s mission to always come back in one piece.” I gave her a wink, and she laughed a little. “And that I will love you with all my heart. So,” I pulled the diamond from my pocket that she had taken off to prepare for her climb and left at the Tin House and held it up for her to see. “Sloane Harlow, in front of every living creature watching us with curiosity and right here above the world, will you marry me?”
Her lips pressed together as tears leaked down her pink cheeks. “Yes, John Black, I will marry you.” When the ring slipped over her finger, she dove into my arms and kissed me with all her might. We spent the rest of the morning eating our treats before we headed back down to the house to get ready for tomorrow.
***
“Well? What do you think?” My father stood next to me at the back of the barn as we looked around at his temporarily transformed ten thousand square foot barn. The old wooden structure looked pretty damn perfect to me.
“I think Savannah missed her calling,” I joked and tugged at my tie and fiddled with Paul’s pin that he was given when he started with Blackstone. I missed my best friend every day, but I knew he was here with me
right now smiling down.
It had taken Savi three months to plan and direct everyone to put together the perfect wedding for us. We wanted simple, elegant, and rustic for our theme, and that was just want we got. Plus, the weather was cool enough that my dress blues weren’t suffocating me.
White chairs were five people deep on each side of the aisle. White flower petals were strewn along the pathway for her to follow to me. White lights and long lengths of white silk fabric were draped through the beams in the rafters above. Small half barrels filled with light pink roses were strategically placed throughout the old barn. I smiled at the rusty old Chevrolet truck Ellie and I used to play in. It was backed up to the edge of the barn, and inside its flatbed was a mountain of ice loaded with beer and white wine for the guests.
“Did you see these?” My mother held up one of the metal horseshoes from a basket that sat on the table outside. “They’re placeholders!” Her excitement mirrored mine. It was all pretty damn impressive. More twinkle lights were woven into the trees, and about a billion candles in jars were strategically placed to give more depth to the property. They flickered in the early evening, and I knew they would look pretty cool as the sun went down. Mom held up the tag that read Luck found us, and we are hoping it finds you too. “Sloane wasn’t just lucky for you, son. She was for the whole family.”
“And team,” Mike chimed in from somewhere then chuckled about how his sister’s heart would be broken after this.
“Agreed about the team,” I called, ignoring his comment about his little sister, and then addressed my mother. “I can’t believe Ellie.” I thought about how my sister’s fate had looked so bleak, but now she was showing more progress than we could have ever hoped for. It gave me such a rush when I first realized she had retained who Sloane was. She seemed a lot happier and was using the tools she’d learned in therapy, so her meltdowns were now few and far between. None of that would have happened if it wasn’t for Sloane showing us how to live again.
“We’ve gained a part of her back.” Mom sniffed and tried to keep it together as the rest of the guys joined us.
“Last one to get hitched. Not having second thoughts, are you?” Keith joked as he helped his Nan into a seat then fixed her sweater to cover her bare shoulders. The moment his back turned, she let the fabric drop and eyed my uncle when he came in. I hid my smirk from Keith.
“None.” I glanced at the time. “Just want to seal the deal so she’s mine.”
“I know that one,” Cole muttered as he looked around for his wife.
When the minister came in and gave us the cue that they were about to let the guests in, I slipped out back and waited. I couldn’t choose a best man. That would have been like choosing a favorite kid.
Olivia.
So instead I asked my father, the one who showed me how to be a man and how to love through thick and thin. Though my father had lost his way when Ellie got hurt, I was able to show him the light without even knowing it.
The music started, and my father and I moved to stand in front of all our family and friends. Olivia made an adorable flower girl, and Baby B looked handsome as the ringbearer. Against Sloane’s protests, Mia did not want her twins in the wedding causing shenanigans. In fact, I heard a rumor that Mark was going to tie them to a tree during the ceremony.
My heart almost stopped when I saw my twin standing with a bouquet of pink flowers between her hands. She smiled when she spotted me and started to walk forward. I could tell she was nervous, but having Dad and me in her sights helped.
Sloane had made my sister her maid of honor. Holy shit. The thought of that made me fall in love with her all over again.
“Hi, little brother,” she whispered as Mom pointed to where she needed to stand. “I hope you and Sloane will be very happy together.”
I blinked back the pesky tears that broke through my dam. My sister was able to remember my soon-to-be bride’s name. That was the best gift I could have received.
“Twins before anyone else.” I winked, and I saw her face light up. “I love you, Elle.”
“I love you too.”
I heard my father sniff, and I kept my eyes on the floor as I reined in my own emotions. I never thought I’d have such a moment with my sister again, let alone in a public setting.
A sudden silence, then the gasps and my father shifting to stand a little straighter. I savored the moment, waiting for the perfect time to look up and see my future wife.
One, two, three.
There she was, in a form-fitting white lace dress, hair down in big curls but pinned up on one side, and her light pink lipstick matched the color of the flowers. And when her deep blue eyes latched on to mine, I knew we were meant to be here, right here, right now. This moment in time was written for us.
I barely recalled holding her hand, listening to the minister, and saying our vows. When I did snap back to the present, it was when he finally said I could kiss my wife. Just as I was about to lean in, I felt a peck on my shoe and looked down at Doug, who was making his silly chicken noise. Sloane laughed and scooped him up before I could react, then she grabbed me with her free hand and kissed my open mouth madly while the entire place roared with happy laughter and cheers. I grinned like an idiot, taking Doug from Sloane before he could do any damage to her lovely lace dress.
“Well, Doug, it is your house, after all,” Sloane laughed, “and you are his best friend. Glad you could join us.”
I took her hand, and we walked down the aisle together while thousands of white petals floated around us like butterflies. We took our place at the table and spent the next two hours listening to funny stories and laughing with friends.
“I don’t think I can look at another piece of cake for as long as I live.” Catalina flopped her head onto Mike’s shoulder. Dinner was impressive, and so was Savannah. She had listened to both of our wishes on how we wanted the wedding to be, and she never once went overboard. The barbeque dinner was perfect and the cake simple.
After the party started, we headed for the spot where bales of hay were pushed together to form a circle of couches with blankets draped for comfort. Savannah said she’d made this place for us, so we could escape all the people and be with our loved ones.
I sat back and took in the scene. I watched my brothers with their wives, I watched the kids playing with little battery-operated lanterns throughout the fields, and I spotted my parents on the dance floor holding one another and my sister coloring a picture with my aunt. I suddenly felt at peace.
Somehow, I had found the courage not only to live again but to love.
“How are Davie and Dell working out at Dusk?” I asked Chamness as he leaned into the doorway that looked out over the party.
“I’m pretty impressed, actually.” He sighed, and I saw the weight of his family’s loss hanging over him like a dark cloud. “I think I might stick around and do a few missions with them. Teach them what I know.”
“I’d appreciate that.” Cole raised a beer to him.
“Make sure they aren’t using those shit neck radios.” He smirked at me. We’d had many debates over which radios were the best, and it took years for Frank to change them up.
“Touché.” I chuckled, happy that his sense of humor hadn’t disappeared completely.
Sloane squeezed my leg to grab my attention as she unlinked our hands and pulled my arm around her shoulders.
“This was pretty perfect.”
“It was.” I kissed her softly and drank in her scent.
Cole shifted Savi from his lap to retrieve his phone. He looked at it and then at me.
“Logan,” he answered as a greeting. “Now is not the—” He paused, and I saw his face tighten, and we all tuned quickly in to his mood.
“All right, boys.” He stood and kissed his wife.
“Wait, what?” Sloane looked around, confused, while I shot up and tugged at my collar.
“We gotta go.” I felt the rush that always came with our missions.
> “What?” She shook her head, but instead of getting upset, I saw she understood. There were no days off when it came to our job. This was what we did.
I wrapped my arms around her and kissed her hard before I whispered, “Be naked when I get home. I’ll meet you at the peak.” I growled, wanting her right then.
“Well, that’s a promise I can look forward to.” She laughed as I walked backward with a dirty grin full of promises about just what peaks we could reach together.
“Welcome to Blackstone, baby.”
Epilogue
Sloane
“All right, ladies.” I turned my back to the guys and inspected my team. Our uniform consisted of white knee socks, tight black shorts, and deep blue t-shirts that read “Ladies of Blackstone.” Eye grease lined the tops of our cheekbones to cut down the glare from the summer sun. Today, we were not the wives of our beloved husbands. No, today, we were here for war. We were here to beat the boys at their own game.
“You look cute.” John came over and tried to wrap me in his arms.
“Oh, no.” Savannah held her hand up and pushed John backward. “This,” she pointed to the rest of the guys, “is because of what you all did. No touching until after we kick your asses.”
“Your wife is scrappy, Logan!” John called over his shoulder.
“But she’s so cute when she’s scrappy,” he said and laughed back.
“Save it for the bedroom.” Savannah smirked and pulled me back toward the girls. Her son Easton sat snug as a bug in his grandmother’s arms. June held Reagan, Lexi’s daughter, who was now nine months old. She was the perfect mixture of Lexi and Keith.
Daniel walked to the center of the lawn and held up a megaphone. Then, in a very important voice, he directed us to move into place.
“Hands in, ladies.” Lexi put her hand out, and we all joined in. “Lips, bits, and tits, hooah!”
