Page 32 of Code Name: Tank (K19 Sentinel Cyber #4)
TANK
Atticus, who served as my best man, grinned as he held our rings.
He’d spent the morning making jokes, including one about me getting hitched to someone who I’d have to learn to keep up with intellectually.
I’d tuned most of them out but was grateful when Alice threatened to duct tape his mouth shut.
“I have to say, getting married on Independence Day is perfect for you two. You’re finally declaring your independence from bachelorhood, and Dragon’s breaking free from her trust issues.
Very patriotic of you to make it a national holiday,” Atticus had said earlier when I handed him the rings.
While he meant it as a joke, it hadn’t come across that way.
“Thanks for standing up with me,” I said, squeezing his shoulder.
Alice stood to Piper’s left as matron of honor, beaming at us both, having taken full credit for our romance since she’d been the one to insist we work together.
Lark, Dante’s wife, sat two rows from the front, holding the baby boy Admiral and Alice had named Nicholas Stone Kane after the man I’d never known he directly descended from.
My family filled the first two rows on the right side.
Mom was already dabbing at her eyes with a tissue, while Dad sat stoically beside her, though I caught him wiping away a tear when he thought no one was looking.
Cameron and Carter were there with Powell, Sophie, and Riley, who kept trying to wriggle from her dad’s grasp to chase butterflies.
Powell had appointed himself the unofficial wedding photographer, armed with a disposable camera and taking his job very seriously. “Uncle Tank, you need to smile bigger!” he instructed while we waited for the ceremony to begin. “This is your wedding! You’re supposed to look happy!”
“I am happy, buddy.”
“Then, why do you look like you’re about to throw up?”
Sophie shushed him, then said, “You look very handsome, Uncle Tank.”
On the left side, Piper’s mother, Tamara, sat in the front row, looking elegant in navy blue.
She’d been staying at Cedar Point for the past month, helping with the wedding preparations and rebuilding her relationship with Piper.
The change in their dynamic was remarkable to watch—tentative conversations had evolved into genuine friendship.
“She’s nervous about walking down the aisle,” Tamara had confided to me yesterday. “Not about marrying you—she’s certain about that. But about all these people watching her.”
“She’ll be fine,” I’d assured her. “Once she sees me, everything else will fade away.”
I’d been right. As the music began, Piper walked toward me, her eyes locked on mine, and I could see the moment her nerves settled.
She was radiant in ivory silk, her honey-blonde hair swept up in an elegant twist that showed off the delicate pearl earrings that had been her grandmother’s.
As she walked toward me—carrying a bouquet of sunflowers, peonies, and dahlias—her smile took my breath away.
Gone was the guarded, wary woman who’d walked into our command center all those months ago.
In her place was someone confident and glowing.
Admiral walked beside her, having volunteered for the honor of escorting her. His pride was evident as he guided her toward me, and I felt a surge of gratitude for the man who’d brought us together, even if he hadn’t intended to play matchmaker.
“Take care of her,” he said quietly as he placed Piper’s hand in mine.
“Always,” I replied, meaning it with every fiber of my being.
The ceremony was simple and heartfelt. When it came time for our vows, I looked into my bride’s eyes and spoke from the heart.
“Piper, you taught me that love isn’t about protecting someone from the world—it’s about standing beside them as they face it.
You’re my partner in everything, my equal in all things, and the strongest person I know.
I promise to support your dreams, celebrate your victories, and love you through whatever comes our way. ”
Her own vows brought tears to my eyes as she spoke about trust, partnership, and the courage to love completely.
“Tank, you showed me that love doesn’t make you weak—it makes you invincible. You proved that the right person will never ask you to be anything other than yourself. I promise to be your partner in missions and in life, to trust you with my heart, and to love you fiercely for all our days.”
When the officiant pronounced us husband and wife, our kiss was sweet and full of promise.
The reception, held on Cedar Point’s main lawn, was magical, with strung lights twinkling after sunset. Alice, my mom, and Piper’s mother had outdone themselves with the planning, creating an atmosphere that felt both elegant and relaxed.
Our first dance was to an acoustic version of “At Last,” and as I held my wife in my arms, I marveled at how a case about financial theft had led me to the love of my life.
“Happy?” I asked as we swayed to the music.
“Completely,” Piper said, her hand resting over my heart. “Though I still can’t believe all of this is real.”
“It’s real, Mrs. Abrams. You’re stuck with me now.”
“Mrs. Abrams,” she repeated, smiling at the words. “I like the sound of that.”