Pushing all that away, Kat brought her thoughts back to the present and why they were here.
Today, Bravo team had come back together at Jake’s ranch for a belated celebration of Nate and Gracie’s nuptials. The couple had returned from their Vegas honeymoon the same day Kat was admitted to Homeland’s hospital.
At first, Nate had been beyond pissed that no one had told him what was going on sooner. Especially since Adrian Walker had been involved.
However, once Jake explained it was his decision to keep it quiet, Nate relented. Though he still gave Matt crap about it from time to time, Kat could tell, deep down, the man understood.
The two newlyweds decided to hold off having a party in their honor until Kat was well enough to attend. She still couldn’t believe how instant everyone had accepted her as part of the Bravo family. Part of the R.I.S.C. family, really.
Looking around at those in attendance, Kat felt such a sense of love and family. It was so strong, it was almost overwhelming. But in a good way.
All of Alpha Team had come to celebrate today. Bravo, too…minus Zade.
Her heart felt heavy when she thought of her new friend. He’d nearly died protecting her. As had so many others.
When Zade requested some time off from the team, he’d sworn to Matt and the other Bravo men he was fine. Said he needed some time to recharge before coming back to work, now that his shoulder was almost fully healed. Kat suspected that was far from the truth.
The man was hurting, and Kat could tell the pain wasn’t all physical. Something had changed inside the fun-loving guy. Something she had a feeling he’d left in order to find.
“I still can’t believe you shoved a syringe into your bullet wound.” Olivia, Jake’s very pregnant wife, spoke up. “I’ve seen grown men come through the ER crying and passing out from getting a few stitches. And that’s after they’ve been given lidocaine.”
Refocusing, Kat chuckled at the woman’s comment. “To be fair, I didn’t exactly shove it in.”
The woman looked horrified. “Still. And then to fight off the Iranian Army’s general…with a toilet lid, no less?”
The memory threatened to become prevalent, but Kat forced it into the background. It was still hard to believe she’d killed a man, but surprisingly, that thought wasn’t what kept her up at night.
“Well I wouldn’t have been able to if it hadn’t been for the serum,” she explained.
“The drugs may have taken away your pain, but the fighting? Girl, that was all you.” Olivia raised her glass of milk in a toast. “Trust me. What you did took a lot of guts, sister.”
“Here, here!” Gracie, Nate’s new bride, agreed while lifting her glass of champagne.
“I second that,” Sarah, Kole’s wife and Gracie’s sister agreed. “To Katherine the Great!”
Choking on the sip of champagne she’d just taken, Kat pressed her lips together to keep from spitting it out. After a few, hard coughs, she held her drink up with the others. “Well, thank you. Although, ‘Katherine the Great’ might be taking it a bit too far.”
“Oh, I don’t know about that, Doc,” a deep voice rumbled from behind her. “I think you’re pretty great.”
Kat looked up from where she was sitting to see Matt standing over her shoulder. She smiled wide. “Hey, you.”
He leaned down, his lips brushing against hers as he spoke. “Hey, yourself.” His warm lips pressed against hers in a sweet, sweet kiss.
“And, that’s our cue.” Gracie hopped up out of her lawn chair. “Come on, girls. I could use a refill.”
“Another one?” Sarah teased her sister. “That’s like, what? Your third?”
“It’s my wedding celebration…barbeque…thingy. I should be able to drink however much I want.”
“Yep. Sure sounds like you need another one, Sis.” Sarah rolled her eyes and snorted as she and her sister walked past Kat.
“Sure, Gracie.” Olivia grunted as she struggled to stand. “Rub it in to the girl who hasn’t had a single drop of alcohol in months.”
Kat couldn’t help but smile at Olivia’s round, pregnant belly as she waddled by.
“You want one of those?” Matt asked as he crouched down beside her chair.
“Another glass of champagne? No, I’m good. But thank you.”
