“It’s strange not having you here next to me, my girl.” His grief nearly derails me.
“It is for me too,” I swallow back a sob. “I am still your daughter and a Blackwood, even though now I’m a MacTavish as well. I love you. Please be safe.”
“Always,” he says with a bit of his old swagger.
Looking up, I see Dougal leaning against the doorway, arms folded and a soft smile on his handsome face. “Ya’ called yourself a MacTavish, wife.”
“I can be both,” I say, tilting my head for a kiss as he takes my backpack. “I have to um… tidy up and change quickly.” I’m blushing and he gives me the I’m The Man smirk. “Out of my way, ya’ lummox,” I push him away, heading for the bathroom as he gives a low chuckle.
Freshened up and in new clothes, I’m back in the entryway in ten minutes. “Before we head out, can we stop by the Armory?”
Dougal gives me a wink, “Ya’ found a few favorite friends down there, did ya’?”
“That entire floor is gun porn and ya’ know it,” I mutter, knowing his brothers are both fighting a grin, too.
Moving swiftly, I pick a couple of good sniper rifles, a bulletproof vest, the Glock I’d been practicing with, and a Desert Eagle, along with as much ammunition as I can carry.
Cormac picks out a couple of beauties for himself. “I have to respect a woman who packs light on clothes and heavy on weaponry.”
“One can never be too prepared,” I say primly as Dougal laughs.
The lighthearted moment is over when Cameron gets another call, swearing viciously. “These feckers just tried to light up my place. My team drove them off, but the police are coming down hard on an attack in a civilian neighborhood.”
“Aye, your rich neighbors can’t be happy,” Dougal agrees.
“This shows the enemy is stupid and reckless enough that they don’t care who they endanger,” I say, “was Morana there?”
“No, fortunate, that. She and Miss Kevin were already on their way to the estate,” Cameron sighs.
“Miss Kevin?” I arch a brow.
“Our butler,” he explains, “your husband used to have quite the crush on her.”
“Really,” I drawl, “His Grace and the forbidden love with your butler Miss Kevin? Sounds like a romance novel waiting to be written.”
“Shut it, Cam,” Dougal scowls. “Stop riling up my bride and let’s get to work.”
“He’s very sensitive,” Cameron mock whispers on our way out of the Armory.
The drive to the estate is tense, with two cars full of security in front of us, two more in back, I can only hear snatches of the brother’s conversation while I load my Glock and keep watching the streets.
There’s more guards patrolling the MacTavish Estate than there are at Buckingham Palace, but I understand it. Dougal’s mother greets each of her sons with a regal, but fervent kiss on the cheek and warmly squeezes my hand.
“I’m glad you are here, dear.” She eyes my bulging rucksack. “And you come with an arsenal of your own, I see.”
“One can never be too prepared, Mrs. MacTavish,” I smile sweetly.
As everyone heads into the great room off the main hall, I pull Dougal aside. “I need a phone. I have to be able to stay in touch with my father.”
He pulls a fancy new iPhone out of his jacket. “It’s already programmed with all our family numbers, along with Angus’. There’s a tracker as well, of course.” Handing it to me, he gives me a filthy smile. “Will ya’ send me a saucy picture of ya’ later?”
“You’re perving on me at a time like this?” I click my tongue.
“I canna help it,” he says unrepentantly. “It’ll inspire me, wife.”
“Well then, of course, husband.” His brothers walk back into the hall, groaning loudly as they spot him kissing me.
“We’ve got work to do, you arsehole!” Cameron says. “I was never this irritating as a newlywed.”
