His short, brown hair was sprinkled with silver, as was the matching scruff covering his jaw. The former leader of Alpha Team held the highest position within the elite, private security company known across the globe.
“Your timing is impeccable, as always.” Talia and the other man hugged.
“You look beautiful, Talia.”
“Thank you.” She smiled.
“Yeah, what he said.” Derek West, Alpha Team’s resident tech genius grinned.
The man was in his forties, now, but still looked the part of a California surfer and acted like he was all of sixteen.
“Hey, Derek.” Talia and the other man hugged, as well. “Glad you could make it.”
The Alpha operative flashed her a smile. “Someone had to make sure the big Boss Man kept himself out of trouble.” His broad shoulders shook with a chuckle. “Seriously, though. This is awesome. I’m really happy for you, both. Oh, and Charliesends her love, too. She would’ve come, but the doctor said it was too risky to fly this close to her due date.”
“How’s she doing with all that?” Jagger asked the expected father with genuine concern.
The couple had tried for the past few years to get pregnant. From what Derek had shared with him once during a corporate R.I.S.C. meeting, the two had finally accepted a baby wasn’t in the cards.
Instead, Derek and his wife, Charlie, chose to adopt two adorable twin boys early last year. Fast-forward to now and, by some miracle, they were expecting their first biological child in a couple of months.
So many R.I.S.C. teams, so many growing families…
“Charlie’s doin’ great.” Derek beamed. “Being cautious, but so far, the pregnancy has gone off with a hitch.”
“Well, I’m glad she’s being safe.” Talia rested a hand on the man’s arm. “Give her our best, yeah?”
“Of course.”
“Olivia, too.” Jagger added, referring to Jake’s incredible wife.
“I will.” Jake nodded. “She wanted to be here, as well, but with the kids and work?—”
“Yeah, yeah, yeah.” Ro waved a hand in the air between them. “Back to the announcement that apparentlyisn’ta baby.”
The entire group—including Jake, who’d just been interrupted—released a collective laugh. When the joyous sound died down, Jagger pulled in a deep breath and made the big reveal.
“Okay, well…you all know Talia resigned as an agent with Homeland before moving in with me here, in Chicago.” When he was met with the women’s wide, expectant stares, he continued with a smirk. “I’m sure you also remember how many of youhave given your guys grief these last few years about how Delta Team doesn’t have any female operatives.”
“No way!” Megan nearly shouted as she turned her gaze toward Talia’s. “Oh, my gosh, is he serious? Are you really going to join Delta?”
“Please tell us that’s it,” Raegan pleaded. “These guys are in serious need of a badass female cohort.”
With a smirk of her own, Talia told Rocky’s FBI agent wife, “Funny. I thought that was you.”
Raegan snorted. “Please. Rocky and I would probably kill each other if we both workedandlived together.”
“What makes you so sure these two won’t do the same?” Derek teased.
Jagger and Talia shared a look that told him all he needed to know.
“We already know we make a great team.” He leaned down and gave his wife a short, sweet kiss. “Isn’t that right, darlin’?”
“Yep.” She didn’t so much as pause before giving her answer. “In and out of the field.”
“So…” Megan looked to the bride with a hopeful expression. “It’s official, then? You’re actually becoming a Delta Team member?”
When Talia nodded, Ro clapped her hands together so loudly, the sharp sound echoed throughout Christian and Megan’s outbuilding-turned-wedding-venue.
