Total pages in book: 141
Estimated words: 133213 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 666(@200wpm)___ 533(@250wpm)___ 444(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 133213 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 666(@200wpm)___ 533(@250wpm)___ 444(@300wpm)
So the uncles were hard at work. “Ian knows you’re here.”
“He is my boss,” Tristan replied. “And he wants you safe, too.”
“What do you think is going to happen? Beyond Carys and I getting married? I assure you my father is paranoid enough. He and Aunt Erin and Uncle Theo did a perimeter sweep before they let the bridal party in. We’re not using the venue’s security staff. From what I’ve heard, they’re worried about TJ being here. I have no idea what TJ did, but I’m not letting any more spy shit disrupt my wedding.”
He’d had to talk fast to convince one of his favorite people in the world to come to his wedding. He’d grown up with TJ. They were basically cousins since TJ’s mom had been his father’s partner for as long as he could remember. TJ was his best man. It would have been one more piece missing.
“It’s not shit,” Tristan said with a sigh. “And the threat to TJ is real, but I understand. It’s why we’re being careful. But this should do it, Aidan. This should prove to anyone watching we’re no longer together. You won’t be a target.”
“Yes, it will prove it because it’s true. We’re not together and haven’t been for a long time.” He was angrier than he thought he was. Tristan was here and playing games again. “After today, we’re done. I can’t lie to her. I’ll keep all your secrets but after today, there’s a line in the sand.”
“Aidan…”
Aidan shook his head. “If this isn’t what you want, then stand beside me the way you were supposed to. If you want this to work, then walk up there and talk to her. I can’t do this anymore. I can’t wait. She can’t wait. You chose this path. You can get off it, but this is the last exit ramp, man.”
Tristan’s face fell. “I can’t. It’s too dangerous. Aidan, it’s worse than I’ve told you. I wanted to keep you out of it.”
Aidan brought his hands up, putting some distance between them. “Then I’m out of it. Like I said, have a good life, Tristan. I’m going to go take care of my girl. You take care of yourself. You’re good at that now.”
“You’re not being fair,” Tristan said.
It probably wasn’t, but it was how he felt. Angry. Antsy. Like all of this was a terrible idea and it shouldn’t be this way. “Good-bye.”
Aidan took a deep breath and forced himself to walk through those doors, to climb the stairs, to smile as he took his place next to TJ.
TJ Taggart gave him a big grin. “Hey, I was worried you weren’t going to make it.” He leaned over, and his voice dropped to a whisper. “You should know I think Tris is here.”
It was good to know he was still a loyal friend. TJ worked with Tristan, so his loyalties were almost certainly conflicted. “I can confirm he is, but he’s planning on staying in the shadows. I’m fine.”
“He talked to you?” TJ asked.
They’d been dancing around this for weeks now. TJ had suspicions. Finally figuring out his love life seemed to have made TJ smarter. Or maybe Louisa Ward was rubbing off on him. Lou had also been in their group, growing up alongside the twins and Tash and Cooper McKay.
They’d all gone off to the Army or Navy or college far away and they’d all ended up in the same place. The CIA.
“He told me he’s protecting us and getting married without him will throw off whoever is pursuing him.” Aidan forced a smile on his face as he straightened the jacket of his tux. The ceremony space was intimate, with less than a hundred seats, and not all of them were full. They’d wanted to keep it fairly small, though family alone was a lot. They hadn’t had a bride or groom’s side since they’d all grown up together. He looked out and saw his father and mother sitting in the front row along with his sister’s fiancé’s family.
But right behind them in the second row was the Dean-Miles family. Adam Miles and Jacob Dean sat together with Serena in between Jake and her daughter, Brianna. Who had been a bridesmaid at one point but had dropped out when it became clear her brother wasn’t coming home. Serena dabbed her eyes with a tissue while Brianna held her hand.
What the hell was he doing?
“He is trying to protect you, but I think he’s going about it the wrong way,” TJ whispered as the pastor of the church they’d all attended since childhood moved in behind them. “We’re going to talk when you get back from your honeymoon. I promise I’m going to work this out for you and Carys.”
That was TJ. “It’s okay. There are things we can’t fix, and this is one of them. Carys and I are going to be fine.”