Wicked Intentions (Steele Secrurity Book 4) (26 page)

“No, it actually helps to have them here. Mom and I have been able to share stories about Dad with them. Talking about him helps because it makes me feel like he’s still here with me. Like you said.”

He lowered his head and softly kissed her lips. “If it’s any consolation, you’re completely safe now.”

“You got him?”

“He’ll never be seen or heard from again. I promise.”

She threw her arms around his neck and murmured against his skin, her words in a breathy staccato. “Thank you. So much. I’m so relieved.”

Rebel looked up to find Tucker watching them, his head cocked to the side and his eyebrow arched in silent questioning. “Fine. Tucker helped. A little.”

Heather chuckled and turned to locate him. “Thank you for helping, Tucker. I really appreciate it.”

“My pleasure.” He winked and chuckled.

“Was he the secret contact you met in the park?” Rebel asked Silas.

“Yeah. Tucker had been following Bill since he faked his death and skipped out of Miami. We knew he’d eventually meet back up with Rashad,” Silas confirmed. “We couldn’t risk taking them out too soon, but unfortunately, our sources didn’t have all the information about their plans.”

“You warned us about that from the beginning, Silas. We don’t blame either of you for what they did.” Rebel knew the guilt of that night stayed with Silas, and he tried to reassure him no one on the team held him responsible.

Roman dropped his eyes to the floor, and he didn’t seem to hold his shoulders as strong and proud as he normally did.

Heather noticed Roman’s remorseful expression. “We don’t blame you either, Roman. You tried to warn me, I remember that very vividly.”

“That’s right. Everyone in this room went above and beyond to help and support us during that time. We couldn’t ask for a better family.” Rebel made it a point to look each person in the eye, conveying the seriousness of his message.

“Speaking of family, I think Steve has an announcement he’d like to make now.” Heather released Rebel and moved to stand next to Steve.

The aggressive chemotherapy treatments had taken a toll on his body, leaving his muscles weak and his energy level at a negative number based on a scale of one to ten. Ever the nurse, Heather reached down to steady and assist him when he began to stand up and address the crowd.

“Yes, I do, my favorite nurse in the world.” Steve winked. “I’ve been a fighter all my life. I’ve worked hard, built a successful company, and took no prisoners. On the outside, everything in my life appeared to be the epitome of success. Houses, cars, money, nice things—on the surface, I had it all.

“It wasn’t until many years later when I realized everything I’d worked for and spent my hard-earned money on was worthless without my family by my side. As hard as this is to say, finding out I had advanced cancer was a blessing in disguise because it brought my kids back to me. With them, I gained another son, another daughter, and now a granddaughter. If I could just get Silas married off, I’d have one more daughter. Hint, hint.”

The room erupted in laughter, and all eyes swung to Silas.

“Yeah, don’t hold your breath on that, old man.” Silas laughed good-naturedly with his father.

“By extension, my new daughter brought Liz into the fold, who brought her son, my doctor, in. The cancer brought me here to Houston for treatment, where I met my favorite nurse in the world, only to find out her husband is one of my son’s best friends. While I hate cancer and what it’s done to my body, I wouldn’t trade one thing I’ve lost during the last several months of treatment for all the wonderful things I’ve gained.

“I love you all. I want to thank you for standing by me, checking on me, taking care of me, and making sure I got the best care possible. I would’ve been dead long ago if it weren’t for all of you. I would’ve missed my daughter’s wedding, getting to hold my granddaughter, and so many important events in my family’s lives.”

Sara sat behind Steve, sniffling and attempting to control her emotions. He turned to take her hand and jerk his head to the side, indicating for her to join him. The room was silent as Sara stood next to her husband, hand in hand, waiting for Steve to continue. The air hung thick with apprehension as they tried to gauge what he would say next.

“We received some unexpected news recently we haven’t had a chance to share with you because of everything that’s occurred. We wanted to tell everyone at the same time because of how much you all mean to us. Dr. Stanton put me through the full gamut of blood work and body scans, and he said the experimental treatment has been a success. There’s no sign of any cancer cells or tumors anywhere in my body.”

Tears of happiness and relief flowed freely among the shouts and cheers of excitement.

“It’s been a long, hard road. Many times, we weren’t convinced he could withstand another round of treatment. But he refused to give up. He kept saying his kids needed him, so he had to try anything they threw at him.” Sara spoke through her tears, sharing a tiny portion of the months of hell she’d witnessed firsthand. “With all the sadness that wicked man caused, we thought everyone could use some good news.”

“That is truly wonderful news, and I’m so grateful you shared it with us today. Seeing something good emerge after all the evil of the last few days lifts my spirits and renews my faith,” Kay replied. “I’m sure some will think I’ve made a rash decision, and maybe I have, but everything Steve said only reinforces to me it’s the right one.”

“What decision, Mom?”

“I’m moving to the Miami area to be close to my family. With Emmett gone, there’s nothing holding me here now. Honestly, we’d talked about moving there in a couple of years when he retired. He wanted to see the merger through first to make sure everyone’s jobs were preserved. My timetable has just changed. As soon as I can get odds and ends wrapped up here, I’ll join you in sunny Florida.”

“Mom, I’m so glad. I’ve been sick just thinking about leaving you.” Heather hobbled in her boot over to Kay and wrapped her arms around her.

“Bryan and Jackie, no pressure or anything.” Shadow playfully teased Rebel’s parents. “It’s not like everyone here is going back to Miami soon or anything.”

“We may just surprise you one day. You never know,” Bryan replied with a gleam of challenge in his eye.

“Joe and Emily, all eyes are on you now,” Silas added. “Don’t think you’re immune from the peer pressure of this group.”

“We are definitely going back to Miami,” Emily confirmed. “I never wanted to leave in the first place.”

“Since we’re all sharing good news, Colton and I have some news to share.” Chaise looked lovingly at her husband before turning back to her expanded family. “We’re pregnant!”

After a boisterous round of congratulations for Chaise and intentionally harsh backslaps for Bull, the mood in the group was decidedly upbeat and hopeful for the future. Everyone gathered on the back porch where the men argued over grilling burgers and hot dogs and the women chatted about the excitement their futures held.

Throughout the day, Heather and Rebel passed unspoken messages to each other. Messages that conveyed how thankful one was to have the other. Messages of the deep-rooted need for the other they shared. Messages that said they knew tomorrow wasn’t promised, so love would be given freely as if every day were their last day.

The wicked intentions of one man only served to strengthen their bonds of steel.

“
Y
es
!” Bull used his most commanding voice.

“No.” Chaise replied with her hand on her hip and a definitive dare in her gaze.

“Chaise, it’s time.”

“Colton, no it’s not.” She mimicked his take-charge stance and assertive tone.

“Baby.” He quickly changed his tactic and his tone, showing his charming side that was reserved only for Chaise. “Cason needs a little sister.”

“Cason is barely a year and a half old. He doesn’t need a little sister yet.”

“But Rebel and Heather are already talking about having another baby. We can’t let them beat us.”

“Colton, this is not a race.”

“Brianna is due any day now,” he continued his argument. With a bogus pout, Bull tried to make her feel sorry for him.

“That look doesn’t work on me.”

“I know what works on you.” Bull scooped her up in his arms, threw her over his shoulder, and marched toward their bedroom. “You love it when I’m a caveman.”

“You know I love it,” she replied seductively. “And I gladly invite you to try all you want, but it won’t work since I’m still on the pill.”

“Dammit, woman.” He playfully popped the rounded globe of her ass cheek. “Where are they? I’m flushing them.”

Chaise’s laughter echoed off the walls as he carried her down the hall toward the bedroom. “What if I told you I’ve actually already quit taking them?”

Bull stopped in his tracks and lowered her to her feet. His eyes narrowed in suspicion as he leveled her with his penetrating stare. “Are you fucking with me right now?”

“No, honey, I’m not. You’ve been after me for months to have another baby. I quit taking them about two months ago, so we should be good to seriously try now.”

“First man to the finish wins.” Bull replied confidently.

“Don’t even think about finishing before I do.” Chaise arched one brow in mock threat.

“You will ‘finish’ many times before I do. I
guaran-damn-tee
you that.”

* * *

“
B
abe
, can you put Kinsley down for her nap? I need to change Elias before I put him down.”

“You mean they’re both going to take a nap at the same time, so I can spend some alone time with my wife? Come with me, my beautiful baby girl. It’s nap time for my Kinsley.” He lifted his daughter, held her against his chest, and her head automatically lowered to rest on his broad shoulder. “I get Mommy all to myself for the next hour.”

“Don’t jinx us, Brax. I don’t think they’ve taken a nap at the same time more than once or twice in the last eighteen months since they were born.”

“I’m already getting a semi just thinking about it. Do you think we’ll have twins again?”

Heather’s jaw dropped open and she stared incredulously at Rebel. “Why would you even wish that on me again? Do you have any idea how hard it is to carry two of your babies at the same time?”

“I’ll help.”

After she quit laughing, she wiped the tears from her eyes and shook her head at him. “And how, exactly, do you propose to help with that?”

“Oh, you meant carrying them while you’re pregnant.” Each word was pronounced exaggeratedly, as if he had just caught onto her meaning.

“Yeah, don’t play dumb with me. What’s this about? You’ve been obsessed with having another set of twins. As quickly as possible.”

“I’ve just been thinking about it a lot lately. You know Brianna is due any day, so they’ll have two kids. Bull and Chaise are talking about getting pregnant again, so they’ll have two kids before long.”

“And?” Heather’s eyebrows disappeared under her bangs, she held her hands out, palms up, and narrowed her eyes.

“And,” he hesitated. “I just think it’s time we have another baby so we don’t fall behind.”

“Wait. Hold up a second. You want to have another baby, or two, right away, so our friends don’t beat us in the ‘how many kids do you have’ category?”

He shrugged one shoulder but avoided direct eye contact. “I like having more kids than they have. Makes me feel proud. Plus, I love seeing you pregnant, my baby growing inside you, knowing we made that little person you’re carrying. It turns me on.”

“I guess we’d better get them down soon, then. While they’re both sleepy. My husband just made my ovaries explode inside my body. I’ll be surprised if we don’t have triplets now.”

“Don’t tease me, woman.” He followed her into the twins’ bedroom and placed Kinsley in her crib while Heather put Elias in his.

“I wouldn’t dare tease a big, bad, Delta Force operative. You’re liable to handcuff me to bed and torture me in all kinds of devious ways.”

“Definitely.” He advanced on her, a predatory gleam in his eye and a determined gait in his swagger. “I’ll show you all the ways I play dirty.”

* * *

“
Y
ou know
, princess. I almost feel sorry for Bull and Rebel.” Noah casually broached the subject as he massaged lotion on his wife’s very pregnant belly.

“Why?” Brianna ask, her face scrunched in confusion.

“It’s purely conjecture, really. A vicious rumor about me. But apparently, somehow I instigated a bet with them. Just a little wager between friends, as they say. My understanding is Shadow and Silas declined to participate.”

“A bet, huh? And what was the alleged bet, exactly?” Brianna cut her eyes at Noah, titled her head to the side, and silently challenged him to confess.

“Somehow they got the idea that whoever has the highest number of kids by the end of next year wins bragging rights for life.”

Brianna threw her head back in laughter, picturing the three men arguing over who was the most virile. “Bull and Rebel both fell for that?”

“Hook. Line. And sinker. They’re just too easy.”

“Yeah, ‘too easy’ describes Bull and Rebel,” Brianna replied sardonically. “Let me guess. Not one of them has any idea we’re having twins in a couple of weeks, do they?”

“Nope. Not a clue.” Noah smiled widely and leaned over to kiss Brianna’s swollen belly. “You two little miracles will give me bragging rights for life.”

Brianna ran her fingers through his hair, lovingly stroking his scalp and watching him talk animatedly with their unborn children. Noah looked up and locked eyes with her, love radiating from every ounce of him.

“Actually, I have to take that back. Brianna, you gave me bragging rights for life the day you agreed to be mine. Now with our girls Amelia and soon-to-be Emery, and our soon-to-be son, Gray, my life is more than complete. It’s absolutely perfect.”