We clean up fast, anxious to return to bed. This time, I let him be the big spoon and revel in the safety of his arms.
Epilogue – Four months later
Anders
“Hawaii is so nice this time of year,” Omar says as he rubs more sunscreen on his broad, bronzed shoulders. He’s wearing light-blue James Bond shorts, and his ass is making focus of any kind incredibly difficult.
Rafi nods in agreement and turns to his boyfriend. “Ev, let’s come back here next year when we aren’t scheduled for an op.”
Omar, Everett, Rafi, and Thane are on the beach in front of our rental, well within my line of sight, ready to come in at a moment’s notice.
Meanwhile, I’m next door, standing in the yard of Joshua Tremaine. He’s now known as Kristoffer Brand, an enlightenment guru with a healthy local following. I’m sweating in black combat gear, anxious to get back to the beach with my sexy boyfriend.
But first, there’s work to be done.
Getting onto Tremaine’s security team was surprisingly easy, considering that he is surrounded by old guard. I chalk it up to Jake’s genius hacking skills. Real talk, though, it’s been hard for me not to just pop off and kill all these motherfuckers, knowing they would’ve blown up my parents’ house just as easily as the assholes who did.
They killed for him, they covered for him, and now they’re going to die with him.
Jake’s soothing voice comes through on the coms. “Hey, y’all. Tremaine is pulling into the driveway. Looks like it’s him and one bodyguard.”
Omar glances at the beachfront property. “There are three big boys in the exterior yard, and the jackass with the blue sunglasses is our friendly.”
I stand off to the side, out of the line of fire from the other guards, and adjust my blue sunglasses. Smiling a jackass grin, I give the go-ahead. “Sounds like now’s as good a time as any.”
Rafi, in his floral nut-huggers, runs up to our rental house, and the rest of us wait for his signal. Within a few minutes, the distinct sound of chewing can be heard on the line. “I’m in position. Looks like he’s going upstairs to his room.”
“Dammit, Rafi,” I whisper, affronted by his thievery. “Did you steal my pipikaula ribs? That was going to be my breakfast.”
“Oh shush, Anders. It was just a bite.”
“You’re still chewing.”
“Okay, fine. I got a rib. But just the one.”
“Babe, we can always go back to Helena’s,” Omar whispers over the line.
“It was an hour-long wait!”
From my position, I see Omar gesture broadly.
Oh yeah. We’re in Hawaii. What the fuck do I care about time?
Odd’s voice comes across the line from the PTN in Austin, uncharacteristically impatient. “Guys, do you think we could focus just a little?”
DB, sounding like he could’ve used a trip to Hawaii, pipes up. “Yes, thank you, Odd. Could we possibly get back to the matter at hand?”
Everyone settles down and waits for the next word from Rafi.
“All right. He’s alone in his room. I’ve got the shot. Fourth goon is heading downstairs.”
“Jake, you still have the video feed from the house and the neighbors?”
“Yep.”
“Rafi, do you have the shot on all three?” DB asks.
“Yes, if I take it now.”
