Page 126 of Sweet Little Spies

So it was Kenzie walking in, looking lovely in slacks and asilk blouse. Her heels clicked across the floor as she entered and moved toParker’s bed.

“You look no worse for the wear.” Parker sounded wary.

“Oh, I assure you I’ll never forget what he did to me.”Kenzie stopped at his bedside. “Or what you did.” She leaned over, brushing akiss over his forehead. “Thank you, Benjamin Parker. I can’t imagine what itcost you to let him go.”

When she started to move away, he caught her hand, bringingit to his chest. “I would make the same choice again, Maggie. I don’t care ifyou think you belong to Cooper McKay. I would still come for you.”

Kenzie’s lips curled up, and she nodded. “I’ll remember.”Then she disentangled her hand from his and moved back to the door. “Try to getsome rest, Ben. You’ll need it the next time we meet.”

Parker’s eyes never left her. “How about you try not to killme next time?”

Kenzie winked his way. “Iwon’t. Promise.” Shelooked to Tristan. “We’re wheels up in half an hour, so we need to get to theairport.”

Aidan took Carys’s hand and Tristan the other. They followedher cousin out.

It was time to go home.

Epilogue

One week later

Bliss, Colorado

Serena Dean-Miles stood on the porch of the cabin they’dbought so many years ago and breathed in the scent of clean pine. When sheclosed her eyes and that scent caught her, she was back to a time when her kidshad bounced around the cabin and ran through the woods, when they’d eagerlygone off with their dad to fish or begged their papa to take them to the caféin town for pie.

Her baby boy had gotten married today. She felt a smileslide over her face. She’d never thought her son would get married at The FeedStore Church, but here they were.

“Well, I personally feel like we’ve won a war,” Jake said,joining her. He’d lost the tie and jacket he’d worn to the small ceremony. Ithad been far more intimate than the other tries. “We managed to get through awhole wedding without a single assassination attempt.”

“Do not even joke about that.” Adam rounded the corner. He’ddriven up moments before. Unlike Jake, he was in his full suit. “I’m stillhaving nightmares.”

He was, actually. He’d woken up in a sweat this morning, andshe knew it had to do with what happened in Toronto. He was playing it down forher sake, but she knew it had been bad. Carys hadn’t minded telling them allDr. Evil had almost started cutting off her fingers and then blown up the housearound them.

Adam had been there, watching their son nearly die. He’dalso watched him be a hero, getting Carys out.

Tristan had figured out what was important. He was makingdecisions like the husband he wanted to be. The way his fathers had taught him.

“The kids are happily settled into their honeymoon suite,thanks to Stef Talbot,” Adam announced. “And Brianna and Devi are staying withUncle Van and the group.”

Jake’s brother lived here along with his partner, Hale, andtheir wife Elisa. They had two girls who would love spending some time withtheir cousins. “Devi’s okay?”

Devi was the only one outside of immediate family who hadcome along for this hastily put-together wedding. Even so, they’d stilldescended on Bliss as a large group. Sean, Grace, and their family were inIan’s big cabin. The O’Donnells were at the new B&B in town.

“Devi says she’s great,” Adam replied. “She smiles at allthe right times, and I can’t tell if she didn’t care as much as everyonethought she did or if she’s planning a murder. Though she’d have to find thefucker first. I will give it to Captain Reed. The man knows how to disappear.”

Zach Reed’s disappearance and the fact that Emmanuel Huismanwas still out there were the reasons for the paired-down guest list. Carys hadinsisted on getting married as soon as possible. They all had. When they’dreturned from Toronto, there had been no hesitation in Tristan at all. He’dbarely touched down before he’d started planning a Vegas wedding.

She’d negotiated them down to Bliss, where at least thefamily could attend and they could keep the whole thing fairly quiet in casethe doctor decided to try again.

“Big Tag really doesn’t know anything?” Jake didn’t soundlike he believed it. “He worked with Zach for over two years.”

Adam sighed and sank down onto the big porch swing Jake hadbuilt years before. “I think Tag has suspicions, but he’s not going to voicethem without proof. You know Tristan doesn’t believe Zach truly betrayed theteam.”

Tristan wanted to reach out to the man who’d been his friendfor years. The rest of the team wasn’t as sure.

“I’m sure he has his reasons, but I’m worried about Devi.”Serena sat down beside him. “I don’t care about her smile. She’s devastated.She was in love with him. According to Bri, she’d had a crush on Zach prettymuch from the moment she met him. Bri and Daisy will take care of her, but Iworry about what happens if Tris is right and Zach comes back.”

“Devi seems so reasonable, but she’s got a lot of ErinTaggart in her genes.” Jake took his seat, the one beside her. He settled in, ahand on her thigh. “I’m more worried about Kala. Do you have any idea whathappened to her beyond that fucker fed her some drugs? I asked and those wereher exact words. It must be fun trying to get her to write up mission reports.”

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