Page 103 of Peyton's Price

“Congratulations,” Ethan said, putting his hand out to shake.

Liam hesitated, but he took his hand. “Thank you for coming. I know it was a trek.”

“Like I was telling Peyton, I wouldn’t have missed it.” Ethan turned to Matthias. “Nice country, Mr. President. Or are you prime minister?”

“Neither,” Matthias said, putting his hands in his pockets. “We decided on a feudal matrilineal system.”

Ethan frowned. “Wait, doesn’t matrilineal mean…”

Peyton held up her glass of champagne. “That’s right. I’m the queen.”

The FBI agent nearly doubled over laughing. When he recovered, he held his glass high. “Well then, long live the queen!”

“I’ll drink to that,” Liam said, joining in with his own glass.

For the first time in her memory, Liam and Ethan talked like two normal human beings. Peyton wasn’t sure they would ever be friends, but it was nice to see them being cordial to each other.

Eventually, the conversation turned to Interpol and the mole. “I heard you offered Mason a position,” Ethan said, turning to Matthias.

He nodded. “Ward’s done an excellent job of bringing the perpetrators of the Belarus incident to justice. That, and he brought down most of the ring that took Peyton.”

“Well, he had some help,” Ethan observed. “FitzGeorge kept meticulous records on the people who paid his bribes. We didn’t even need him to testify. He’d recorded so many details in his books that the agency had plenty to work with without his direct input.”

Both David Travis and Clyde FitzGeorge had both tried to make deals, but Matthias and Liam used their clout to make sure neither man got what they asked for. Both were facing long prison sentences.

“I heard you were at that raid,” Peyton said after a moment. “Mason told us. Thank you for that.”

He waved her thanks away. “They made the mistake of doing their business on American soil. I’m just sorry the one you call mega-bitch got away.”

“For now,” Peyton said. “She’ll make a mistake sooner or later. I have faith she’ll be brought to justice.”

Ethan nodded. “Yeah. Mason’s on it.”

“Unless he accepts my offer,” Matthias observed.

“Well, you’ve got competition now. Interpol offered him FitzGeorge’s old job.”

“I see.” Matthias raised a brow. “Perhaps I need to make a counter-offer.”

Rolling her eyes, Peyton nudged Matthias hard in the hip. “Enough business talk. It’s Carsonia’s first national holiday.”

Matthias took her hand. “Yes, My Queen.”

Liam echoed his words a beat later.

She giggled. “That’s never going to get old.”

The strains of a waltz began. Waving goodbye to Ethan, she grabbed her men, pulling them on the dance floor set over the flagstone tiles.

“I don’t know how to waltz as a threesome,” Liam admitted as they came to a stop in the middle of the courtyard.

She raised her arms, spinning to make her skirt flare out. “Who cares? We’ll figure it out.”

Matthias laughed and Liam shrugged, taking her hand to spin her until she whirled into Matthias’ arms.

Whoops and cheers followed. The dance was silly, completely unplanned, and occasionally awkward—and it was almost too much fun.

Soon, their friends and family joined in. At one point, Peyton jumped, leaping into Liam’s arms.

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