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)
Tristan’s own family was down there watching as the love of his life married another man. Well, most of them were. His sister, mother, and one of his dads were politely turned to the aisle with the rest of the guests.
His most military dad, however, had turned and looked up. Like Jacob Dean knew he was there, knew he was hiding.
It was obvious his father wasn’t happy with him. None of them were.
It was precisely why he’d had to stay away. His parents would get far too curious. He would actually be surprised if his fathers hadn’t already done a lot of digging. They wouldn’t find anything because the Agency knew how to hide intelligence.
Still, he took a step back in case his dad could see him. He wouldn’t put it past Jacob Dean to storm the castle.
Just a few more minutes and they would be safe. He didn’t think anyone had figured out his true identity, but he’d come to believe it was only a matter of time, and time was what fucked him over when it came to this op. He’d already taken too much of it, and he couldn’t promise anyone when this op would be over.
His cell beeped and Tristan pulled it out. This wasn’t the one he’d used to text with Aidan over the last couple of years. This was the one only a few people had the number to.
“Hey, Tris. I’ve picked up some weird stuff on the web about The Jester.” The young woman who served as his technical support when he was working outside the family team was one of the people who knew this particular number.
Tara Hahn was a cutie, but he’d always seen her as a sister. Every woman was a sister when a man had found the right one. “I’m kind of in the middle of something.”
“Are you in the middle of nowhere in North Texas?” she asked.
Down below he watched as Uncle Ian stood and stepped away from the crowd. He was on his cell, too.
“What have you got?” Tristan felt his blood go cold, an icy professionalism coming over him.
His whole family was down there. What the hell was that? There was a black thing coming into view. Not a bird. A drone.
What the fuck was a drone doing out here?
Gathering intel.
“I’ve got movement from one of the groups we’re monitoring. From what I can tell, they flew into DFW yesterday. I’m sorry I’m late with this, but they were good at covering their tracks. Honestly, if I hadn’t known you were in Dallas this weekend, I might have let it go,” Tara was saying. “I think I’ve tracked them meeting a person we consider… Well, he’s basically a logistics guy for the Dark Web. He’s a broker of sorts. He can get you anything you need.”
A hole opened in the pit of Tristan’s stomach as he heard a familiar thud.
A broker who could get a guy whatever he needed. Like guns and drones and a fucking helicopter.
Tristan dropped the phone and started down the stairs. He managed to make it to the landing as the guests were running from the upper floor.
“Move,” he called, waving through the parents with kids. It was obvious even in panic mode, his family prioritized the kids. They moved quickly.
“Hey, my sister is still back there.” Kyle Hawthorne had his daughter clinging to him as his wife moved past, followed by Carys’s other brothers. David and Lucas were each carrying a child while David’s wife, Tessa, led the older kids.
“I’ll get her,” Tristan promised. “You get them inside. Away from the windows.”
“I’ll be back,” Kyle told him but called out for everyone to follow him.
The chopper closed in as he saw his mom and sister with Grace and Avery and Daisy. Daisy held her mother’s hand as they navigated the stairs.
His mom’s eyes widened when she saw him, and she started to move his way. He shook his head.
“Get her to safety. I’ll get Carys and Aidan,” he shouted, and suddenly a massive dude was at their backs, moving the women along.
Nathan Carter sent him a nod and a look that told him he would ensure everyone was safe. Nate was former Aussie Special Forces, and Tris trusted him.
Now he had to deal with the rest of his family, the ones who wouldn’t be running to safety.
Where the hell was Aidan? From what he could hear, the chopper would be right on them now. Tristan rushed onto the big balcony in time to watch the helo swing in and gunfire start.
An explosion came from his left. Grenade? They were lobbing fucking grenades at his wedding? Anger and fear flared, but he shoved them down as smoke covered the balcony and the sound of gunfire exploded through the air.
He barely avoided one of those bullets as he crossed the space, trying to work his way to the altar where he saw Carys on the ground, covered by Aidan. Sean had moved in, lending his big body to protect his daughter, too.