Page 93 of Raven's Curse
Kash held up one hand. “Don’t blame the messenger, buddy. You’re the one who knocked her up.”
Zain beamed, the ass, looking more than pleased with himself. “I’ll just be happy when this phase is over.”
“Assuming it ends.” Kash shrugged. “Some women puke the entire pregnancy.”
“It’s like you just can’t help yourself.” Zain motioned to the door. “I’ll go check on her. Make sure Atticus doesn’t break anything before we get a chance to use it.”
“I heard that.” Atticus made those weird ‘watching you’ fingers at Zain as he followed after Saylor.
Chase tapped Foster on the arm. “When do Keaton and the Florida crew arrive?”
Foster checked his watch. “They should be here any minute. Along with Nick.” He nodded at Greer. “Did Nick tell you why he’d changed his mind and decided to visit? Because I thought he was on some top-secret assignment.”
Greer shook her head. “All he said was to make sure everyone was here.”
Chase smiled when Greer nuzzled Ember closer, his chest tight. They’d talked about starting a family. Not full on trying, yet, but she’d suggested removing her implant. That it was coming due, anyway, and maybe they should just let nature take its course. See what happened.
He’d agreed, secretly terrified he’d turn out like his old man — carry on the curse he’d always feared lived inside him. Greer hadn’t called him on it, a fact that had made him love her even more. That she accepted him, flaws and all.
Now, watching her rock Ember in her arms, it all clicked into place, that curse finally fading into the past. Overshadowed by the sheer joy on her face, the way she looked up at him — smiled. Her face practically glowing. And he knew, no matter what happened, he was finally free.
Greer snugged in beside him, leaning against his chest as she rocked the baby. “We need to do something about Bodie.”
Chase frowned, glanced at the man in question as he laughed with Kash and Foster as if he’d been part of the team all along. “That sounds ominous. What happened? Did you discover he’s a sleeper spy or something?”
Greer elbowed him. “He needs someone.”
Chase laughed. “You sure? Because women are a lot more work…”
His voice trailed into a grunt when Greer elbowed him, again. Harder. “I thought he was seeing that nurse from Providence.”
“They broke up. Something about him being too military. Not that I know what that even means. Sure, he’s got that situational awareness you all have, and I guess he can be a bit intimidating if you’re on the wrong side of the law, but…”
Chase sighed. “I’ll chat with Jordan. Maybe she knows another Shadow Ops agent looking to switch gears.”
“You’re an ass.”
“The one you know and love. Though, that reminds me. How’s Buck doing?”
Greer beamed. “He’s like a new man. Or maybe more like he used to be. But as soon as Bodie offered to have him do some tracking for his security company, it’s like a switch flipped. He’s still… adjusting. But he’s solved half a dozen crimes already. Has this uncanny ability of being in the right place at the right time to gather evidence. If he does any better, I might have competition for my job.”
“I doubt that but… I’m glad. The guy saved our asses.”
Greer looked up, beckoned him down for a kiss. “You saved my ass that night. A few times over.”
Chase smiled, dipped in for another. “Purely selfish reasons.”
Kash groaned. “Are you two kissing in front of Ember?”
Chase flipped him off. “Like you two haven’t been doing that non-stop. Though, why the hell aren’t you taking advantage of us holding Ember? You could have a quick make-out session on the couch. Make Atticus’ blood pressure rise.”
Kash grinned. “Every now and then, brother, you actually come up with a great idea. Jordan!”
He struck off, yelling out his intentions, Atticus already rolling his eyes.
The day wore on, Foster’s cousin, Keaton and the rest of his crew arrived in a flurry of chaos. Fletcher and Bailey’s two boys ran through the house, playing tag and hide and seek while Nyx followed on their heels, ever the nanny. Bailey looked happy, despite running off to pee every hour, her pregnancy nearing the end.
The toddlers stumbled around on the floor, Dawson and Keaton diving left and right when one of them teetered, somehow catching them before they tumbled. Hayes stood beside Chloe, his hand resting on her rounded belly, looking as if he enjoyed the noise and the mess. Not that Chase blamed him. After everything both teams had been through, they’d earned this moment.
