“He’s so, so tiny,” Beau whispered huskily. “He’s… he’s… God, he’s beautiful, Kelsey.”
The big guy holding the little guy gulped, and yeah. Alex damned well knew Beau was remembering the sweet little angel that had been the one bright light in his miserable childhood. The veil between heaven and earth was very thin today. Births and deaths worked that way. The people who loved you were never very far away, and today, those spirits were close enough to help a guy remember.
Reverently, Beau closed his eyes and pressed his lips to Bradley’s forehead. The little guy never squirmed or fussed, just lay there like a wrinkly, little old man with that funny, quirky newborn baby smile twitching his lips.
Alex caught the affection glowing in McKenna’s eyes when her shaggy-haired husband whispered, “Sleep tight, little man. You’re safe. You’ll never not have guardian angels on your six.” If Alex were a betting man, he’d put a hundred on McKenna and Beau making another baby real soon.
Skillfully, Beau handed the sleeping babe back to Kelsey, and manfully, he dashed his knuckles over his eyes and growled at Maverick and Hunter, “Yeah, I cry. So what? Get over it.”
But they looked as sappy as he did.
Alex shook his head at the mystery that was his life. He’d planted the seeds of an enterprising covert surveillance company. That was all. He’d hired kick-ass warriors, male and female. But what did he get? The best damn family a guy could ask for.
He slapped Beau’s broad, muscular back and muttered, “You’re all right.”
But then, out of the corner of his eye, Alex caught sight of the gray-haired old man blocking Kelsey’s door, standing there, like he belonged. In a heartbeat, he was on his feet, his Irish instantly up, hot, and ready to strike. One hand curled into a fist, his other pressed Kelsey to stay still behind him. “What the hell do you want?”
Chapter Two
Of course, he came into the friendly throng like the slimy snake he was, smiling like he always did, acting as if he cared, which he never had. As if he belonged inside this battle-hardened family where true warriors stood with their wives and their children, no matter how hard life became. As if he were one of the gang and supposed to be here, celebrating. As if he were the least bit welcome.
The truth was a far cry different. This was the bastard who’d deserted his only child the day after that son’s mother had died of cancer, and three days before she’d been buried. Imagine the balls it took to do that. A liar and a cheat, Mel Stewart had only ever cared about himself. Figured he’d show up today. The man had always spoiled family events. Birthdays. Christmases. Any day that ended in a Y. Why would this uniquely special morning be any different?
Everything warm and kind inside Alex fell silent. The room chilled as The TEAM closed around Kelsey and Bradley. Instantly, Rory stepped in front of Ember. That brought back the memory of the time he’d confronted Alex the day long ago he’d tossed his chair out his office window. Kelsey had been kidnapped and missing then, and Rory had been one brave son of a bitch to have faced the desperate, feral man Alex had become. Rory was still a brave son of a bitch today. And still standing with Alex.
Alex stared his old man down, daring him to take one more step forward. Just one. He didn’t need this showdown today. Surely didn’t want it. It’d been a long time coming, but God, not today. Mel Stewart could take his worthless hide back to Hell for all Alex cared.
The ass shrugged, almost coyly. Played dumb, as if he were the harmless, innocent victim here, and his son was the aggressor. So be it. Alex rolled his shoulder, old enough and strong enough to knock the bastard on his ass this time around. Sure as hell ready to make up for every hit he’d taken as a kid.
His inner dragon growled, “I’ll ask you one more time. What the hell do you want?”
The coy shrug again. The half-friendly smile. Those damned icy blue eyes. God, it was like looking in a mirror. “Ain’t you gonna introduce me?”
“No.”
“Heard you was here. Just thought I’d stop by and—”
“You heard? How?”
Both shoulders lifted again. “Called your office. See you’re a big man now. I’m proud—”
“You were never proud of me. Stop the bullshit and go.”
“Heard you’s a new daddy. Congratulations, son.”
Shit. Now everyone knew. As if they hadn’t already noticed the resemblance. Alex took a deep breath, needing to explain to his wife and TEAM, but needing a helluva lot more patience first. “This is a private room. Back off and get out.”
Both Mel’s callused palms came forward as if he were simply placating an unreasonable child. “Okay. I’ll just wait for you at your place, your home then, and we can—”
Alex bristled at the persistent conniving manipulation. “No. Leave the city. Leave the state. I don’t care, just leave.”
His old man’s fingers trembled as they raked over straggly gray hair, then combed down through a tangled, silvery beard. Dressed in what looked like hand-me-downs, he could’ve passed for one of Alexandria’s many homeless people.
“Son, I—”
“I’m not your son.” Alex made each word a bullet. “You gave up that right the day you walked out on me and Gramps and Gram. And your wife! Christ, you left before Mom was even cold.” Okay, that was more than he’d meant to share, but maybe it was time everyone knew what a bastard his father was.
Mel’s chest puffed up. “I was a Navy SEAL, boy!” he bellowed. “I had a call to action, so I went. I served! You were a Marine. You know how that works. I had no
