Page 69 of Bullets and Dandelions

“Get in the jeep,” Pops ordered.

Kaboom!The ground shook beneath our feet. A fireball rose high into the air.

I glared at Pops. “You made a goliath bomb, didn’t you?”

“I wanted to see if the Alpha Dogs were as good as everyone claims,” Pops said without an ounce of remorse.

A black helicopter raced across the desert.

I watched it for a moment. The pilot was good. Flying that low was hard. “The hunters aren’t going to be happy you blew Roberts into itty-bitty pieces.”

Without even a goodbye, Pops jumped in the jeep and took off.

“Coward,” I yelled after him.

Alex held out his hand. “Ready to go home?”

“Yes, I am, but first can you uncuff us?”

“Yes, ma’am.”

Chapter Sixteen

I sat on the back porch swing and watched the sun come up. For the first time in my life, I was truly happy. I had a family and a home. What did my future hold? Who knew.

If I married Alex, my father would keep trying to kill him. There was so little left of the body found at the bomb site that the CIA couldn’t verify the remains were Roberts’. If he was still alive, Roberts would redouble his efforts to kill us.

“Good morning.” Alex leaned down and kissed me.

Wowzers, could that man kiss. I smiled at him. “Good morning.”

Alex put a handful of dandelions on the patio table. “I brought you some flowers.” He sat next to me and his foot tapped nervously.

“Thank you.” Those weren’t flowers. They were weeds, but what the hell, it was the thought that counted. “Is everything okay?”

“Yeah.” His foot kept tapping.

I placed my hand on his leg. “You’re acting kinda weird and that scares the bejesus out of me. Who’s trying to kill us now?”

“The usual suspects.” Alex handed me a small box. “I bought this for you.”

I shook it. “No one has ever given me a gift before.”

“Never? Not even for your birthday or Christmas?”

“Nope. What is it?”

“Your ring.”

“My what?” I opened the box. It held a simple gold wedding band. I took it out and read the inscription.Finders Keepers.I bit my lip to keep from laughing. The love of my life was so romantic. “It’s perfect.”

The tension drained from Alex’s body, and he slid it on my ring finger.

“I haven’t said yes, yet.”

Alex’s smile bordered on smug. “You will.”

“What makes you think that?”

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