Page 100 of Code Name: Atticus

“He even asked me,” said Luke.

When his eyes met mine, I no longer saw anger. Both Brenna and I had talked to him on our own, and he’d said he forgave us. Adding that he supposed he had to with me since I was going to be his boss.

The six ofus settled at the dining room table for dinner after Andy opened the bottle of champagne he said he’d been saving for this exact moment.

“I’ve got one with your name on it too,” he said to Luke, who turned ten shades of red.

Cathy immediately started listing possible venues that we’d have to book soon if we wanted to marry in the next year.

“Mom, wejustgot engaged,” Brenna said, rolling her eyes before turning to Emma. “So, before my mom takes over planning this entire wedding, will you be my maid of honor?”

Emma’s composure cracked for the first time since I’d known her. “I—yes. Of course. I’d be honored.”

“And you,” I turned to Luke. “Best man?”

He raised his beer. “Likewise, honored. But, fair warning, my speech will include several embarrassing stories from our days at the academy.”

“I wouldn’t expect anything less.”

Luke nudged Emma with his elbow. “Looks like we’ll be spending lots of time together between now and the big day.”

Emma’s lips twitched, then she smiled and winked. “You say that like it’s a bad thing.”

The surprise on Luke’s face was priceless, but I couldn’t help think about Kodiak and wonder if Emma was just teasing Brenna’s brother or if the two were really flirting.

Either way, it didn’t matter. Brenna and our life together did.

Our wedding tookplace a month later in the Austens’ backyard garden on a perfect August afternoon. The temperature had miraculously dropped below ninety, the humidity was manageable, and hundreds of flowers were in bloom, their scent mixing with the garden roses in Brenna’s bouquet.

I stood at the altar—really just an arch drowning in more flowers that Cathy and her garden club friends had spent three days assembling—with Luke beside me. He checked his pocket every thirty seconds to make sure the rings were still where he’d put them.

“Nervous?” he whispered as guests settled into their seats.

“Terrified. Is it too late to elope?”

“Brenna would murder you. Then marry your corpse. I swear she’s been planning this since she was nineteen.” I smiled when he elbowed me.

I looked out at the gathered guests. My parents, sisters, and their husbands were seated in the first row on my side of the aisle. Admiral, Alice, and their baby sat right behind them.

Kodiak, Tank, and Dragon, along with some of the other people from the Sentinel Cyber crew, spread out further back, and Brenna’s family and friends filled the rest of the chairs that had been set up.

When the music changed from a classical guitar to piano, Emma appeared and walked in our direction. She glanced to the side just once, at Kodiak, who beamed.

Then the music changed again, and everyone stood.

Brenna appeared at the back door of her parents’ house with her arm through her father’s. She was radiant as she floated toward me in a simple white gown that moved like water. She looked perfect. Was perfect. And she was mine.

“Hi,” she whispered when Andy placed her hand in mine, his eyes suspiciously wet.

“Hi back. You look…like a dream.”

She pinched my arm. “I’m very much real, Mason Finch.”

“Thank God.”

The ceremony was short, and when the officiant finally said I could kiss my bride—my real, actual, legal, no-surveillance-required bride—Luke whooped loudly enough that all the birds that had been perched in the trees scattered in all directions.

“Really?” Brenna hissed at her brother.