Ghost was frowning when they finished. “HOT can’t go after a scumbag for making a threat, but if you boys happen to make yourselves busy finding out where the Kings of Doom are trying to set up operations this time, I won’t stop you. Keep me informed of any new developments.”
“Sir, yes, sir,” Neo replied.
“Carry on, men,” Ghost said.
After he was gone, Viking grinned. “You heard the man. Let’s start tracking down Dal Gentry and find out where he’s living and who’s with him on this one. And let’s get the security camera footage from the salon and the street outside. Maybe we can get a plate number.”
Blade and Money didn’t move as the others walked away. They looked at each other, then at Neo.
“You know Ella and Quinn set up a foundation to help women recover from abusive relationships, right?” Money asked.
“Yeah, I know,” Neo said. Both women had inherited fortunes, though you’d never know it to hang out with them. Both were down to earth, kind, and giving.
“Either one of them would give Kayla the money to pay off Gentry,” Blade added. “I think you know that too.”
Neo’s throat was tight. He loved these guys. “Yeah, but you know it won’t be enough. You know he’d keep coming back for more. If he got the idea he could use her like an ATM, he’d do it. She’d never be free and neither would Ana. I can’t let that happen.”
Blade put a hand on his shoulder. “Understood. I know what Ghost said, but you know we’ll do what it takes to stop those bastards from hurting Kayla and Ana. I got no problem doing some off duty ass-kicking.”
“Me neither,” Money said.
“Thanks, guys. I appreciate it more than I can say.”
“You know,” Blade said, turning back once he’d taken a couple of steps, “I could get the cash from Quinn and we could put a tracking device in the bag. Might be a good way to make Gentry come out from under his rock if we don’t track him down before the deadline.”
Neo hadn’t thought of that. Mostly because he’d never ask either of these guys—his brothers—for that kind of dough. “That could work. If we don’t find him, I’d be willing to try it.”
“Let me know,” Blade said.
“Hey, you trained killers getting to work or what?” Dirty called out. “We’ve got some biker assholes to find.”
“Copy that,” Blade replied with a wink.
“Hold onto your shorts,” Money drawled. “We got this.”
Neo sucked in a breath as he watched his teammates grab computer terminals and get to work. His eyes pricked and he blinked in surprise. What the hell was what? Tears? He shook his head to clear them. No fucking way was he crying over these guys and their help.
But, damn, this was what it meant to be a family. He wanted to give that feeling to Kayla. She’d spent her entire life believing that relationships weren’t permanent and life was meant to be complicated and unpredictable. He didn’t know what the future held for them, but he knew he was going to do everything he could to make her smile every day they were together.
She needed that in her life. And she deserved it.
At eleven o’clock on Friday, Kayla and Zach stood in front of the courthouse and waited for Alexei and Bailey to arrive. Ana was staying with Ella McQuaid again today. Zach had wanted to bring her at first, and Kayla loved him for it, but they’d ultimately decided it would be easier to do things without her since they had to go to the base after the ceremony and fill out paperwork.
Kayla worried the inside of her lip, but Zach had a firm grip on her hand that kept her grounded. She hadn’t seen Bailey since she’d called her sister last night and told her about the wedding, but Kayla couldn’t forget the long silence on the other end of the phone as her sister processed everything.
“Are you sure this is the right thing, Kay-Kay?” she’d finally asked.
“Yes,” she’d said with a confidence she didn’t quite feel. Not because she didn’t want to marry Zach—because she did—but because it wasn’t a wedding that was happening for any of the usual reasons. “I love him, Bale. I want to marry him.”
So much it scared her. And now they were here, about to walk inside and say vows that legally bound them together. For better or for worse….
“You okay?” Zach asked.
She glanced up into his handsome face and her heart squeezed. “Yes. You?”
“I’m fine. They’ll be here, Kayla.”
“I know. I can’t help but feel like Bailey doesn’t approve. I hated that we had to tell her about Dal Gentry.”
But at least Bailey hadn’t gone into disaster mode over it. Kayla couldn’t help but think that had everything to do with Zach’s involvement.
He squeezed her hand. “I know you wanted her to get through her wedding first, but it’s just not possible any longer. She needed to know what the danger was.”
A minute later, Alexei and Bailey came striding up the sidewalk. Bailey was wearing a cotton summer dress and looked vibrant and happy, her head thrown back to laugh at something Alexei said to her. He stopped and tugged her into his arms, kissing her thoroughly, and then dragged her toward them while she laughed some more.
Kayla felt like she’d been launched into an alternative reality as the woman approaching them smiled broadly and threw her arms around Kayla. Where was the worrier and planner she knew so well?
“Honey, you look fabulous! Did Chloe do your hair?”
“Um, yes,” she said, squeezing her sister gratefully.
Kayla’s hair was a mass of fat spiral curls that flowed over her shoulders. She’d chosen to wear a simple sheath dress in a creamy white color with little blue flowers sprinkled over the fabric. She even had
