Epilogue

Holding his beautiful bride, her body swaying with his while music swirled around them, Xavier wasn’t sure he’d ever known a happier moment.

A swell of emotion washed over him as he looked down at the woman in his arms. Earlier, when she was walking down the aisle toward him, it was all he could do to stand still and wait for her to reach him. He had never wanted anything more in his life.

“Jasmine McAlister Quinn,” he said roughly, “did I tell you that you’re the most beautiful bride I’ve ever seen?”

Her eyes glittering like diamonds, her face flushed with love, she grinned up at him. “Yes, you did, Xavier Quinn, but I don’t mind hearing it again.”

The expression on her face was one he would remember forever. He didn’t think he’d ever seen her like this. This was what he wanted for her—to feel happiness and excitement for the rest of her life. He would do everything he could to make that possible.

Things were in place to make that happen. He’d gotten word just before the wedding started that Oscar Sullivan had abruptly canceled all his meetings to go out of town. Cagney’s team would detain him once Sullivan arrived at his destination. Xavier knew his lovely bride would like to meet the man, and Xavier looked forward to having a chat with him, too. It might be a bit of an odd beginning to their honeymoon, but not for two seasoned OZ operatives.

Once that immediate danger was out of the way, he would encourage Jazz to meet with the attorney in charge of the Byrne estate and claim her inheritance. She had described what she wanted to do with the money. He not only wholeheartedly approved, if possible, it made him love this woman even more.

As if she’d read his thoughts, she gazed up at him and whispered, “I love you, Xavier.”

Shutting out the music and all the chattering around them, Xavier lowered his head and kissed his beautiful bride with all the love and tenderness he had in his heart. She had given him so much, and in return he wanted to give her the world.

When the kiss ended, her eyes were glazed, and the pink flush in her cheeks had deepened. The buzzing noise of a text arriving on the phone in his pocket pulled him from the sweetness of the moment. He was waiting to hear from Cagney’s team and didn’t want to miss anything, but he didn’t want to let her go either.

A tap on his shoulder brought his head around. Hawke stood behind him. “Mind if I dance with your bride?”

To see his friend standing there, alive and healthy, was one of the best things Xavier had ever seen. He’d talked to him several times since he’d been injured and knew he had recovered, but to see him in person made all the difference. Xavier had told him how Clay Cotton had reached out to him with the backstory on the shooting. Even though Hawke had every reason to be angry, Xavier knew he held no ill will against Cotton. If another shooter had taken the job, the outcome might’ve been much worse.

Another buzz reminded him he had a text. Before handing his bride over to Hawke, he gave her a quick kiss and whispered, “Be right back.”

The delighted smile on her face as she went into Hawke’s arms told him she was thrilled to be able to dance with one of her favorite people.

Xavier grabbed his phone, glancing at the text as he strode toward the door. When he saw that it wasn’t from Cagney’s team, he jerked to a stop. The instant he read the short, terse message, he took off running.

Jazz took another swallow of iced tea. She had danced with Hawke, Liam, Gideon, and Ash, as well as Serena’s dad and all of her brothers. She was having too good of a time to be tired, but she did need a break to catch her breath.

Hearing a childish giggle, she looked up to see Nikki, Hawke and Olivia’s daughter, trying to catch the attention of Josh, Jules and Ash’s son. The two looked delighted to have found each other.

The fact that all of her OZ teammates were here, along with Aubrey, Liam’s wife, and their new baby daughter, Lily, melted her heart.

“I can’t believe everyone was able to get here so quickly.”

Holding Nikki in her arms while Olivia held Josh, Eve said with a laugh, “You should have seen us. The instant Serena called and told us what was happening, we were scrambling to get dressed in the fancy clothes Rose got out for us. We looked like frantic circus monkeys.”

“I can attest to that,” Rose said, the twinkle in her eyes showing her amusement. “Ash and Gideon tried to get into the same pair of pants, and Eve stood in the middle of the room, laughing like crazy.”

“True story,” Eve said. “I only wish I’d gotten a recording of it.”

“Me, too,” Aubrey said. “I would have paid money to see that.”

“Speaking of seeing, where did your handsome husband get to? I haven’t seen him in a while.”

At Rose’s words, Jazz looked around for Xavier. She had been so involved in catching up with her friends, she hadn’t noticed that he hadn’t returned from whatever message had pulled him away from the party.

Worried now, she stood, ready to go find him. When she spotted him heading her way, relief rushed through her. Silly, she knew, but until the threat against her was over, she wanted to know where he was at all times.

The look in his eyes said he had something on his mind, but the instant their gazes met, a smile lit up his face.

Suddenly needing to be in his arms, Jazz practically ran to him. “I missed you. Where have you been?”

“Just seeing to some unfinished business. Follow me.”

Intrigued, she allowed him to pull her out of the tent to the parking lot. He led her to a car and helped her inside, then got into the driver’s seat. Two minutes later, they were stopping in front of the little cottage she and Xavier had been staying in since he had arrived.

Only half joking, she said, “If we’re starting our honeymoon already, give me five minutes to put on the black lace lingerie Eve gave me.”

“Now that’s something I look forward to.”

Hand in hand, they walked onto the porch, and then, giving her a thrill and a giggle, he scooped her into his arms and carried her over the threshold.

When he dropped her to her feet, she said, “That’s an excellent beginning to a honeymoon.”

“I need to get something.” He pressed a kiss to her forehead. “Go on into the den. I’ll join you in a moment.”

Excited to see what he had for her, Jazz went quickly to the den and stepped inside. Her mind on just what Xavier had planned, she was almost in the middle of the room before she sensed a presence. Looking around, she came to an abrupt halt, her body frozen in place and all breath leaving her in an audible gasp. She knew that face, and she knew those eyes.

“Brody?” she whispered.

“Hey, Little Mighty,” he said softly.

With a soft sob, she flew across the room and into his open arms. When they closed around her and he whirled her around like he did when they were kids, Jazz cried against his neck, “Brody, oh, Brody, I didn’t think I’d ever see you again.”

“I know, Jazzy. I’m so damned sorry for leaving you like that.”

She couldn’t respond, the emotions so big and overwhelming all she could do was hang on and treasure the moment. Her beloved, wonderful brother was here with her. She had never given up on him, but she wasn’t sure she’d believed she would ever see him again.

“Come on, let’s sit down. I can’t stay long.”

She told herself to get her act together. Brody was already planning to leave, and she had so many things she wanted to ask him, so much she needed to say. She let him lead her to the sofa, and she sat beside him but refused to let go of his hand.

“How did this happen? How did you know where I was?”

“Your husband sent me a message.” He squeezed her hand. “I wish I could have given you away, but it’s best that I stay in the shadows.”

“Why, Brody? What do you do? What happened to you?”

“That’s a long story for another day, Jazz. I just wanted to see you and wish you happiness. I know I let you down all those years ago, and not a day goes by that I don’t hate myself for it.”

“No, Brody. Don’t say that. Kate told me what happened. You protected me the only way you knew how.” She took the hand she was holding and kissed it fiercely. “Thank you for always looking out for me. I’m so sorry you went through hell for me.”

And he had gone through hell, there was no question in Jazz’s mind about that. The eyes might be the same, as well as his features, but the Brody she remembered as a child was no more. In his place was a scarred, hard-looking man with a fierceness that would have scared her if she hadn’t had experience with hard, scary-looking men. Whatever Brody had gone through had changed him in drastic and dramatic ways.

“I’m just glad you’re all right, Jazz. Mom and Dad would be so proud of you.” His mouth tilted slightly, the closest he’d come to a smile, as he said, “You look so much like our mother.”

Our mother. Brody’s birth mother had taken off a couple years after he was born, and Papa Mac had raised his son by himself until he’d married Jazz’s mom. From the moment Brody had met her, he’d looked upon Eliza as his mother. And she had loved him like he was her own son.

“Do you know what happened to them, Brody? Do you know who killed them?”

“Not yet, Jazz.”

“Let me help.”

“You help by staying safe. Okay? Make sure that big lug of a husband takes care of you.”

When he went to his feet, Jazz’s heart wrenched. She jumped up and grabbed his hand again. “Don’t go.”

“I can’t stay, Jazz. I just wanted to see you and tell you how proud I am of you and how happy I am for you. Quinn might be an ass, but he loves you, and that’s what matters most.”

She could only imagine the conversation Xavier and Brody might have had. She was sure there had been plenty of threats thrown back and forth. Such was the way of tough, grumpy, overprotective men.

“Will I see you again?”

“Maybe not for a while, but I’ll try. Okay?”

“Okay.”

When he pulled her into his arms, she hugged him as tightly as possible and said, “I love you, Brody. Thank you for being such a wonderful big brother. You’re still my hero.”

He gave her one more hard squeeze, a gruff, “Love you, too,” and then he was gone, striding rapidly out the door. Jazz wanted to run after him. Wanted to demand that he stay and tell her what he was up to and promise her he’d never leave her. But she knew he couldn’t do that. Brody had an agenda, and he wasn’t going to let anything or anyone get in his way.

“Are you okay?” Xavier stood in the doorway, his expression a mixture of concern and anger. “If he upset you, I’m going to kick his ass.”

Unable to speak, she just shook her head. Xavier scooped her into his arms and sat down with her in his lap. A part of her wanted to cry, but another part felt so incredibly blessed.

Today, she had married the man of her dreams. She had seen and talked to her beloved brother. And she had more family than she’d ever dreamed possible.

Cupping her husband’s face, she spoke against his mouth, “Thank you, Xavier. For helping make my dreams come true.”

“Thank you, Jazz, for being my dream come true.”

The kiss they shared was a culmination of both their dreams. Jazz knew that with Xavier by her side, she would always have his love and devotion. Her dreams, both big and small, had come true.

Only by concentrating on his goals was Brody able to walk away. Seeing Jazz again and talking to her had been the most emotional thing to happen to him in years. He did not do emotions, and this… Well, this had been too much. This couldn’t happen again.

She had people who had stepped up for her, loved her. There was no one more deserving than Jazz. The onerous weight he carried on his shoulders for what had happened all those years ago wasn’t something he could contemplate. Even as he told himself he’d had no other choice, the memories would never leave him.

But she was happy now. Married to a man who would literally die for her. She had friends who would stand beside her, support her. All the things he’d always hoped for her were now hers.

His hand on the car door, he took one last look at the cottage he’d just left. She’d be all right. Quinn would see to that. An unusual longing had him taking a step backward as he hesitated. Maybe he?—

The ping of his phone drew him back to reality. Pulling the phone from his pocket, he swiped the screen to read the text, and his mouth twisted in a rare smile.

He quickly responded, accepting the job. And then he sent off another text, this one to Xavier Quinn to let him know he could call off the people he had following Sullivan.

Brody slid into his car and started the engine. Sometimes, karma came at just the right time. Oscar Sullivan was about to have a very, very bad day.

And Brody was one step closer to his goal.