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“You may now kiss your bride,” the minister said with a grin.

Cheers and applause erupted from the occupants of the small church as Frisco, dressed in his formal uniform, wrapped his arms around Haven’s torso, dipped her, and then kissed the ever-living heck out of her.

The former undercover agent had been able to shed her wheelchair for the ceremony, and Carter had escorted her the short distance from the back of the chapel to the altar, before giving her away.

Aside from saying “I do,” it’d been the one thing Haven had wanted more than anything—to be able to walk instead of roll down the aisle.

She’d worked her ass off to get to that point.

While she was able to walk again, she tired easily and usually split her time between using the chair and crutches, but with Carter’s and then Frisco’s support, she’d been able to get through the ceremony without the devices.

It’d been a beautiful wedding, and Brad clapped along with everyone else, but his gaze wasn’t on the happy couple. It was on one of the two bridesmaids—his wife.

Nine months had passed since their vacation-turned-nightmare in Aruba where Avery had cheated the devil out of his perceived due.

As they’d been preparing to transport Avery and Zheng to the clinic for treatment, Ghost, Frisco, and two other Delta operatives, Fletch and Truck, had arrived on scene.

Gene McDaniel had gotten top-secret clearance for the four men to break air-speed records from Fort Hood to Aruba to serve as additional backup.

His reasoning had been it was better to have their boots en route and not be needed, than the opposite, and Brad was grateful for the man’s initiative.

Truck had brought a medic kit with him, and IVs were quickly placed into both victims before taking them for further treatment.

Meanwhile, Jordyn, Carter, and Jase had stayed behind and sterilized the scene.

The guns that’d been fired had been swapped out for the two Chao and his guard had in their possession.

The serial numbers of the two throw-away 9mms had been filed off long before they’d been used that day.

The covert operatives must’ve done a good job because an online newspaper article Brad read two days later reported that Lin Chao and his bodyguard apparently had an argument of some sorts.

Both men had fired their weapons, fatally striking each other in the head.

Lin Zheng had told the reporter he was devastated by his father’s death, but wasn’t surprised, given how violent the older man’s temper could be.

Chao had been known for belittling his employees, and it had been only a matter of time before one of them snapped.

There would be no funeral, Zheng had stated at the time, just a private memorial as his father had requested in the past.

After being rehydrated, having her injuries treated, and receiving some heavy-duty pain killers, Avery had been released from the clinic with no record of her having been there.

Brad, Jordyn, Carter, and the Deltas had immediately taken her to the airport where an unmarked Army KC10 tanker was waiting to fly them back to the States.

As far as the airport authorities in Aruba knew, it had been an American Airlines passenger plane that had come to pick up several company executives after their vacation had been cut short.

Jase, Kell, and Troy had left the island on the same planes they’d flown in on. Before they’d departed, Brad had thanked them tremendously and told each of them if they ever needed anything from him, all they had to do was call. He’d forever be in their debt.

Once they’d heard Avery was safe and would be okay, Cameron and Lori had gathered their things, along with Avery’s and Brad’s, and met them at the airport.

No one had been upset about cutting their vacation short.

In fact, everyone had been relieved and anxious to touch down on US soil again.

The whole flight home, Lori had checked on Avery as she slept, almost as much as Brad had.

Truck had also stayed close by, monitoring Avery’s vital signs as instructed by the doctor.

During the five-hour flight, Brad and Lori had sat down for a long conversation.

The first thing he’d immediately realized was he was back to being “Dad” or “Daddy” for the first time in twelve years, give or take a year.

While they’d always loved each other, the distance of several states had made their relationship strained at times.

But those days appeared to be over. By the time they’d reached Fort Hood and put Cameron and Lori on a plane at the Killeen-Fort Hood Regional Airport, en route to North Carolina, the father and daughter had given each other their blessing.

Brad had admitted he was in love with Avery and planned on marrying her the first chance he got.

He’d also told Lori he’d be proud to have Cameron as a son-in-law, as long as he could still drop hints about burying the Marine’s body if he ever did Lori wrong.

As Brad had expected, Cameron had completed his training a few months ago and was now a member of MARSOC.

His Marine Corps special-ops team was stationed out of Camp Pendleton in California, and Lori had moved out there about six weeks ago to join him.

She’d gotten a job at a nearby tattoo parlor and was already getting noticed for her talent.

Cameron had called Brad the other night to ask for permission to propose to Lori sometime today and had received it with full approval.

Brad was anticipating a call from his daughter in a few hours, announcing she was engaged.

It’d taken Avery almost a month to recover from her ordeal.

Brad had helped treat the wounds that’d covered her torso and legs, his anger simmering just below the surface as he’d gently applied antibacterial cream to each one.

The bruises had gone from black and purple to yellow and green before slowly fading away.

As soon as the last one had disappeared, Brad had taken a knee and proposed, wanting to start new, happy memories for them.

Avery had enthusiastically said yes. They’d eloped two weeks later after Brad had managed to swing another week’s leave—he’d rarely taken them over the past ten years, so his superior had been all too happy to grant it as a wedding present.

Although they’d taken some flack about eloping from their family, friends, co-workers, and teammates, Brad and Avery wouldn’t have changed a thing.

Brad had never looked forward to going home every night. He’d lived and breathed the Army and Deltas for years. But knowing Avery was waiting for him each day had him wishing the clock would move faster so he could get back to where he wanted to be more than his next breath—in his wife’s arms.

The guests laughed as Frisco swooped Haven up into his arms and carried her down the aisle.

The flower girl, Fletch’s young daughter, Annie, wearing a white and gold dress and Army boots, skipped behind them.

She was followed by Carter and the maid-of-honor, Jordyn, then Avery, who was being escorted by Frisco’s cousin, who’d served as best man.

Brad went down a side aisle and met Avery at the back of the church.

As he tucked her into his side, she smiled up at him. “Hey, Shrek.”

“Hey, yourself. Did I tell you how beautiful you look today?” She was wearing a gold, knee-length dress that hugged her curves, and he couldn’t wait to peel it off her at home later, after the reception.

Her grin widened as they stepped out of the church.

Two Delta wives were handing out little, mesh bags filled with birdseed, which was to be thrown instead of rice when the newlyweds made their grand exit from the church.

Avery took one for both of them before answering him “Only three or four times. You’re slacking.

Usually you’re up to seven or eight by this time of the day. ”

Brad laughed. “I didn’t know you kept count.

Let me see what I can do about rectifying that.

” He bent his head and brushed his lips against hers.

Everyone else faded away. When she regarded him with that look in her eyes that said she loved him, he felt ten feet tall and bulletproof.

“You’re very beautiful today, my wife. More than yesterday, and less than tomorrow. ”

“I love when you get all romantic,” she teased as she ran her palms up his chest to his shoulders. “And I know I’ve mentioned this before, but, damn, you’re incredibly handsome in your formal uniform. It does something to me.”

His eyes danced. He bent down until his lips met her ear and then lowered his voice, so only she could hear him. “Something like get you wet?”

“Mm-hmm. And very, very horny.”

He barely held back the groan that tried to emerge from his throat. “Have mercy, Mrs. Barton.”

“Never.”

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