Page 123 of Silence and Surrender

“Is already being processed,” he confirmed. “The estate will be ready by the time the boys arrive, with or without you. Though I fully expect you to be supervising every detail of the renovation with your usual obsessive precision.”

Despite everything, I laughed softly. “Someone needs to counterbalance your tendency toward extravagance. I’ve seen the fountain you installed at the villa.”

“Allegra loves that fountain,” he defended, good humor returning to his voice. “And Clara uses it as a wishing well. Some traditions are worth preserving.”

The mention of traditions sobered me. “They’ll have each other,” I said quietly. “Like we did. Whatever happens.”

“Yes,” Cooper agreed, his voice gentling. “Though what will happen, brother, is that tomorrow you will dismantle a trafficking network, rescue innocent lives, and return home to your wife. Then you’ll move to Tuscany with Isabella and terrify the local contractors with your renovation specifications.”

The certainty in his voice was almost convincing enough to banish the shadows of doubt. Almost.

“And you’ll spoil my sons,” I added, redirecting the conversation away from fears neither of us could fully voice.

“Relentlessly,” he agreed with obvious delight. “Ponies. Sailboats. Whatever horrifies you most.”

“Isabella will be your willing accomplice,” I said, smiling despite myself.

“Naturally. She has excellent taste.” A brief pause, then: “Have you thought about names?”

“Not specifically,” I admitted. “Though Isabella mentioned wanting something with meaning. I’m going to let her choose.”

“Wise,” Cooper agreed.

I could hear Allegra’s voice in the background, though I couldn’t make out her words. Cooper’s response carried clearly through the connection: “Yes, angel. I’m already telling him.”

“Telling me what?” I asked, wariness creeping into my voice.

“That we’re here,” he said simply. “Not just in a metaphorical ‘if something happens’ sense. Steele’s jet landed with Allegra in London three hours ago. We’re at Steele’s hotel, The Black Hedges. Clara is safe with Ashlynn in France.”

Surprise rendered me momentarily speechless. “The original plan had you coordinating from Tuscany.”

“The original plan was adjusted,” he replied, unapologetic. “I’m not letting my brother handle this alone. You came for me when Allegra was taken. You think I’d do any less for you and Isabella?”

The emotion that rushed through me was unexpected—gratitude tinged with irritation at his typical disregard for established protocols.

“You could have mentioned this during yesterday’s briefing,” I pointed out, though I couldn’t summon genuine annoyance.

“And miss the rare opportunity to surprise the man who plans everything?” I could hear the smile in his voice. “Not a chance.”

The security panel near the study door blinked once—a notification that Isabella was moving in the bedroom. I glanced toward the door, noting the shift in shadow beneath it.

“I should go,” I said, regret coloring my voice. “Isabella’s awake.”

“Of course.” Cooper shifted back to operational mode seamlessly. “0700 tomorrow. Everything proceeds as planned, just with your brother watching your back instead of doing it from another country.”

“Cooper,” I said before he could disconnect. The words caught in my throat—too sentimental, too revealing. But after everything, after nearly losing Isabella, after discovering we were having twins, some things needed to be said. “Thank you.”

His answering chuckle was warm, understanding all I wasn’t saying. “That’s what brothers do, Colton. It’s what we’ve always done.”

I ended the call as the bedroom door opened. Isabella stood there, wrapped in one of my dress shirts, hair tousled from sleep.

“Checking the timeline again?” she asked, her voice soft with lingering sleep.

I crossed to her, pulling her softly into my arms. “Something like that.”

“Everything’s ready,” she murmured against my chest. “We’ve planned for every contingency.”

“Yes,” I agreed, pressing a kiss to her temple. “We have.”

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