Page 59

“Roger that.” She sends me the most beautiful smile and turns us around, heading back to pick up our crew.
Staring at her strong, stunning profile, emotions pummel me.
And I know, without a doubt, I’m looking at my future.
∞∞∞
Once we land on the helipad and I’m on solid ground again, my confidence returns. I grab Hunter, push her up against the helo and kiss the hell out of her. My hand is sliding over her ass when a whistle pierces the air, and I reluctantly pull back. Ryder, of course.
Torres’ guards—the ones who didn’t run scared like little bitches—have been taken down. My entire crew, along with Ryland and Saint, are heading toward us. I can already see the looks Ryland and Saint are exchanging, but I don’t care. Hunter is mine, and I plan to tell the entire fucking world.
“Something you want to tell us, Pyro?” Saint asks, crossing his huge, inked arms. Beside him, Ryland places his hands on his hips, eyes narrowing.
“Yeah, what did we miss?” Ryland asks.
They’ve got a good intimidation game happening, but I’m not scared. Not at all.
Before Hunter can respond, I wrap my arm around her waist and tug her close. “I love this brave, beautiful woman,” I announce to everyone, “and I hope she’ll give me the chance to prove it to her every single day. Because there’s no way in hell I’m letting her walk away from me.”
“Oh, lighten up, fellas,” Brighton says cheerfully, playfully elbowing Saint in his side. “Can’t you feel the love in the air?”
“Hunter?” Ryland turns his full attention to their former pilot. “We need some intel here.”
“Yeah, do you love this pretty boy, or do we need to kick his stalker ass?” Saint asks.
Hunter looks up at me and arches a teasing brow. “Weeeellllll…”
I squeeze her side and she squeals, twisting away. But I catch her and reel her into my embrace. “Well?” I echo, looking into her pretty molasses eyes. The sunlight glints off the reddish strands in her hair and my heart squeezes as I wait for her answer.
“I love him,” she whispers, throwing her arms around my neck.
I pick her up and spin her in a circle. As a round of cheers surround us, our mouths collide in a kiss.
And my world is suddenly complete.
Chapter Twenty: Hunter
After defeating Torres and announcing to everyone that Knox and I are in love, the gang wants to celebrate. We go to a restaurant overlooking the Mediterranean Sea, eat far too much food, drink even more wine and spend hours talking and laughing. Ryland and Saint join us and bring along their wives, Harper and Mia. It’s the first time Addie has met her brother’s wife and they immediately hit it off. Harper is pregnant and Addie is thrilled she’s going to be an aunt.
When I mention Torres fell out of the helo with the emerald, Addie smirks.
“No, he didn’t have the emerald,” she replies with a mysterious smile.
“But I saw it,” I insist.
“We lured him in with the real emerald, then I swapped it forhisfake one. Did you really think I’d let him get away with the real one?”
“My sister is a master magician when it comes to sleight of hand tricks,” Ryland confirms.
“You’re pretty good with your hands, too,” Harper adds with a naughty smile, and we all laugh.
“What can I say? Mom taught me well.” Addie flips her long, blonde hair over a shoulder. Then she reaches into her bag and pulls out the huge, green stone. “Time to return this beauty to its rightful owner.”
Ryland arches a surprised brow. “You’re not keeping it?”
“No, brother dear, it’s not mine to keep.” Ryland nods, and I can tell he likes her answer. In fact, he looks damn proud of her. “We will be returning it to its rightful owner, the Princess.”
“Princess?” Linc echoes then lets out a snort of disbelief. “What princess?”