Page 79 of Unplanned Target

Owen turns to my brother, appearing shocked. “You and Becca are getting married?”

“Not officially.” Tony angles a brow. “Don’t look at me like that. We all know you’re gonna try to wife up my sister the first chance you get.”

“He doesn’t have to try.” I shift around, trying to find a more comfortable position. “And for the record, I told those guys my husband was going to kill them when he found me, so if anyone asks, we’re already married.”

“Anyone who would ask is dead.” Owen’s voice is hard. “Because you were absolutely right about me killing them when I found you.”

“It’s kind of crazy that you did find me.” I adjust the pillows behind my back, barely getting them shifted around before Owen is right beside me taking over. “Happy accidents for the win.”

“I don’t like how fucking casual you’re being about this.” My brother scowls from where he stands in the corner, arms crossed over his chest. “You could have died.”

I smile, feeling pretty fucking medicated and also pretty fucking smug. “Now you two know how I feel every time you go out on a mission.”

“Take it easy on him.” Owen finishes positioning my pillows. “He’s had a bad fucking day.”

I turn to Owen, pointing at my swollen and bruised face. “He can join the crowd.”

I do acknowledge I’m not freaking out like I would have expected. I think it’s mostly because of how close my daughter came to joining me on my little adventure. The relief I feel over her being here safe and sound cancels out everything I feel for myself.

“I’m so fucking sorry.” Tony drags a chair closer to my side. “If I’d known this would come back on you⁠—”

“You better be about to say you’d do it all over again.” I know my brother feels bad that his actions put a target, not only on my back, but also on Allie’s. “We saved six girls today, on top of the ones you and Becca got out of that house in Memphis.” I stare him down, needing Tony to know how serious I am. “Does it scare the shit out of me that Allie could have gotten hurt? Of course it does.” I take a calming breath before admitting the rest. “But we’re all going to have to get used to that. Because she’s not going to stop trying to take men like this down.” And I couldn’t be more proud of her for it.

Hopefully today I made her proud of me.

EPILOGUE

OWEN

I move carefully, keeping my steps silent as I close in on my target. Holding my breath, I continue to close the gap between us, looking for any sign my approach has been detected.

Once I’m within range, I slowly lift my weapon, take aim, and shoot.

An enraged scream cuts through the air as my victim spins in place, trying to find the location of my hit.

“Damn it.” Allie’s eyes fly wildly around the arena, seeking out my location. “You jerk.”

I chuckle, stepping out from behind the wood structure I used for cover. “Pretty sure anyone trying to hunt you down isn’t going to be nice, Al.”

I know she’s annoyed, but I’m not going to just let her win. It won’t do either of us any good. It won’t make her better and it won’t make the training I’m offering her any more successful.

Allie groans, head falling back. “I know. But I’d like to get to shoot you at least once.”

I stretch both arms out, giving her an unobstructed view of the target strapped to my chest. “Then shoot me.”

She doesn’t even hesitate. Without blinking, Allie aims and fires, setting off the lights and making the electronic patch vibrate.

I angle a brow at her. “Feel better?”

Allie smiles. “Yes.”

“Good.” I hold one hand out for her weapon. “Then let’s put everything back where it belongs so we can get back home before your mom starts calling.”

It turns out I wasn’t the only one longing for a very specific sort of home. After years of making dinner for just herself and Allie, Miranda has really become a stickler for having meals together every night we possibly can.

As a family.

After putting our target vests on their chargers, along with the weapons that activate them, Allie and I make our way through the building and out into the neighborhood we all call home. It looks a lot different than it did when Miranda first came here. There’s more houses. More trees. More people. It’s still not quite like the subdivision where they lived in Memphis, but it’s getting closer every day.