Epilogue

Two months later, Ohana's bar…

Kian stood behind the bar, cracking open another beer before handing it to one of the servers. She thanked him then strode off, laughing with the group of tourists sitting on the far side. Waylen was rocking the place with a pretty impressive version of a classic Bob Seger song on the piano, with Presley adding some harmonies. Harlan and Raider were sitting with Storm and Piper at another table, tapping along to the music as they laughed at something one of them had said.

All it all, it was a perfect grand re-opening night for Ohana's bar.

Kian shook his head. He still couldn't believe they'd bought the place. Sure, they all loved unwinding here after working for the Brotherhood Protectors — a gig that kept them far busier than Kian could have predicted — but buying the bar had been special. Their own little slice of paradise that guaranteed to keep the team together, no matter how their lives changed.

Which still shocked him. How they'd all found someone special from that unscheduled eruption. Not that he'd embraced that part of living on the Big Island. But seeing how it had brought Blake into his life, he was learning to make peace with the constant threat of fire-breathing mountains.

The door opened as Blake swept into the bar, her helmet under one arm, a folder under the other. After living in the loft apartment in her hanger, they'd finally found a quaint little cottage to call home, and she'd stopped to pick up the paperwork after her last flight.

A shiver wove down his back, but he shook it off. Despite having a couple of badass guards give Russo a few intense warnings not to mess with her, Kian still didn't feel at ease when she was on her own. Which wasn't often. Between him and his team, they found a way to ensure she always had backup. Hawk's guys pitched in, too.

And of course, U.S. Deputy Marshal Adam Porter had become a regular visitor — hell, part of the family — spending most of his free time on the Big Island. Having a chopper at his disposal hadn't hurt any, but Kian had an inkling the man would have found a way over, regardless.

He was definitely one of the good guys. Had made it his mission to source out who had been helping Russo track Blake. And while he hadn't made any arrests, yet, he'd told Kian he was close.

Blake smiled as she stopped to say hello to his teammates before heading for the bar. She rolled her eyes at Lane and Cassie kissing off to one side, sliding into the seat in front of him. Kian leaned over — tugged her in for a long, wet kiss.

She stayed half-bent over the counter, looking him in the eyes as if he was the answer to the mystery of life, before finally sitting back down. "If I'd known you were going to kiss me like that, I would have gone straight to the back so you could pin me to the wall."

He coughed, groaning against the sudden tightening in his pants, before shaking his head. "You said that on purpose."

"Maybe. But I promise to help you out as soon as you take me home. Speaking of which… it's official. As of next week, we no longer have to live with the smell of jet fuel and oil cans."

"As hard as it will to be to give that up…" He dodged the swat she aimed at his chest. "I can't wait. You do realize we'll need to christen every room, right."

She merely smiled. "Some more than once."

"Jesus, you're already married. Feel free to stop with all the mushy shit." Waylen joined them at the bar, Presley on his arm. She was only just starting to show, but Waylen enjoyed teasing her about how she wouldn't be able to see her toes, soon.

Kian waved him off. "I can't help it if I'm so damn sexy the lady can't keep her hands off me."

"The lady's crazy." Porter joined them at the counter, looking more than a bit unsettled. "Do you know how close to the volcano she took me on the way over? The woman's insane."

Blake merely shrugged. "Those geologists wanted more photos. I don't make up the assignments. I simply fly the helicopter."

"Insanely. You fly the helicopter insanely, Blake." Porter tugged on his jacket. "So, this place is finally the team bar. I love the new turtle logo as the O in Ohana's."

Kian beamed. "Blake had that made for us. A thank you for helping her out with Russo even though we told her she didn't owe us, anything."

"I owe you far more, but the sign's a start." Blake raised her brow at Porter. "So, who was the blonde I saw you chatting up outside? I seem to recall she's been in here before. Like every time you've been here for the past month."

Porter didn't so much as smile. "Someone not involved with Henry Russo, the Marshal Service, or any form of organized crime." He ordered two beers. "And if you ask me any more questions, I'll arrest you."

"So, she's special. Got it."

"You are such a pain in my ass. Let me know when it's karaoke time. I might be drunk enough to give it a go."

Blake leaned over as Porter joined the blonde Blake had mentioned at a secluded table in the corner. "You guys can run a check on her, right? I don't want anyone messing with Porter."

Waylen snorted. "I'm pretty sure Porter runs background checks on everyone. He's as paranoid as Harlan."

"I'm not paranoid, I'm cautious." Harlan sidled up to the bar, ordering more beer for his table. "And I already ran a background check on Porter's friend. She's a paralegal at that new law firm. Doesn't have so much as a parking ticket on her record. Her father's a cop, so… I think they might actually have a shot."

"Have Raider and Piper found a place, yet?"

Harlan chuckled. "She's got a pretty substantial list of must-haves. I think they'll be looking for a while, yet. Not that Raider seems to mind. He's as lovesick as Kian."

Kian swatted Harlan with the end of a towel. "I'm a happily married man, now."

"Yeah, a lovesick one."

Blake leaned back over and kissed him, again. "Don't listen to him. You're gorgeous."

He kissed her, ignoring the comments his buddies tossed his way because there was nothing better than having Blake touching him. Whatever way he could manage.

She wiped her thumb across his mouth once they'd parted. "Can you keep my helmet and the folder behind the bar? Us girls are going to take a turn singing."

"Anything for you, sweetheart."

The way she blushed… It was as if he'd lifted all that darkness she'd been drowning in. Brought her back into the light.

Blake slid off the seat, took a few steps, then darted back over, dragging him down for one more drugging kiss. "There's a surprise in the folder. In case you want to have a look."

Kian arched a brow as she skipped off, hooking her arm through Presley's as they grabbed the other ladies — made their way to the stage.

Waylen coughed. "That didn't sound ominous, at all."

Kian opened the folder, lifting an envelope off the stack of documents. It felt heavy. Definitely more than just paper inside.

A quick slice of a knife, and he had the side open — was able to shake out a small picture frame. He turned it over, staring at some weird image that looked vaguely human only amidst some kind of snowstorm. He read the note stuck to the glass. "Looks like Waylen was right, after all."

He paused, letting all the words sink in before he all but dropped the damn thing, looking over at Blake. She smiled at him, inhaling when he vaulted over the bar, quickly closing the distance before lifting her up — swinging her around.

She grasped his shoulders, kissing him again when he pulled her in close. "So, I assume you're okay with the new development?"

"Okay, I'm… fuck, I don't know what to say. You…"

This kiss was carnal. Enough that everyone started hooting. Telling them to get a room, but he didn't care. Would take all the ribbing because she was his.

Blake palmed his jaw. "We'll talk after. I just couldn't keep it a secret any longer. Now, go… We've got some serious songs to butcher."

Kian gave her ass a swat, knowing she'd get him back later as he returned to the bar, shaking his buddies' hands as they passed the photo around.

Waylen held out his hand. "I believe you owe me fifty bucks."

Kian shoved his hand away. "For what?"

"For being wrong."

Kian shook his head but handed the guy a few bills. "You're an ass, you know that?"

"A rich one."

Kian glanced over at Lane. "So, you and Cassie thinking about kids?"

Lane laughed. "We just got married. One milestone at a time. Besides, you and Waylen seem to be having enough for all of us."

"Tick tock, my friend."

"Shut up." Lane pointed at Harlan and Raider. "Let the rest of the team make it official, then I'll start thinking about kids."

Waylen snorted. "Wanna put fifty bucks on that?"

Lane gave him a side eye, still sipping on his beer, when he motioned toward a table off to the side. "I've been meaning to ask, who's the reserved table for?"

Kian frowned. "I don't know. It was like that when I got here."

He waved Raider over, nodding at the reserved sign sitting in the center. "Who are the VIPs?"

Raider shrugged. "No idea. Hawk asked if I'd set a table aside for him. Something about a training team coming in tonight."

"A training team?"

"To be honest, I don't think Hawk knows much about them, either. Apparently, this came directly from Hank. Some favor for an old friend. But why don't you ask Blake? She might have more intel since she flew them in."

"Blake flew them in with Porter?"

Kian looked over at Blake, wondering how much longer their song would be, when the door opened, again, a few large silhouettes filling the doorway. Four men shuffled in, scanning the place, and there was no missing the telltale look in their eyes. The ones Kian knew he and his team shared. That spoke of hard decisions and ugly memories.

They glanced over at the bar, eyes widening before their mouths kicked into a hint of a smile.

Kian shook his head, slapping Waylen on the back as he nodded at Lane and Raider. "Well, I'll be damned. Talk about a small world. Look who just walked in."