Not once had I gone against any command given by my father or my older brother. Had I questioned their decisions? All thetime. That was my personality, but going against my values or the family wasn’t something I would do.
However, now I realized I had another family that counted on me. While there was nothing formal in place, the protectiveness I felt for Josette and Indiana wasn’t going away. In fact, it was strengthening every day.
I’d promised her I’d never lie to her.
Well, I had.
I’d told her she could return to her normal life. That simply wasn’t going to happen.
But she’d changed me. My ideals. My beliefs. Everything.
Maybe I was going soft in my older age.
“We leave them for the cops to play with.”
Alexander laughed. “The lady has changed you.”
“Isn’t that what happened when you met Catherine?”
“That was different.”
We both stepped off the elevator together. “How so?”
“My incredible charm won her over, whereas you forced Josette into caring about you.”
“Right. Tell yourself another lie, brother.”
We stopped just outside the main door to Greg’s office. He turned toward me, nodding several times. “It’s good to see you happy. After losing Callista, I wasn’t certain that was possible. I’m going to give you a piece of advice.”
“From you? Mister sullen and grouchy?”
He glared at me. “Fine. Maybe I was, but no longer. Just remember what our father used to say about being in love.”
I had no idea what he was talking about. “Clue me in, brother.”
Alexander clapped me on the arm. “Happy wife. Happy life.” He laughed as he opened the door.
Meanwhile, I stood back for a few seconds. Maybe he was right. However, she was the one who’d made me happy. In turn, I planned on spending the rest of my life repaying her.
My way.
Sprinkled with a little discipline.
I chuckled to myself all the way down the hallway until hearing voices coming from behind a closed door.
We both stopped as our soldiers moved down the corridor. Now with weapons in our hands, we quietly opened the door, our men piling in behind us.
Even before a single person noticed our arrival.
Greg was the first, his eyes reflecting fear.
“Gentlemen, sorry for the interruption,” Alexander began. “But we need to talk.”
EPILOGUE
Seven weeks later
Josette
