Page 15

Epilogue

Four years later...

“Dax, darling, could you corral the twins and bring them to me?” Giva called out across the backyard of their cottage in a little village in the hills on the outskirts of Zurich. “We’re supposed to pick up your sister at the airport in forty-five minutes.”

“Yes, ma’am,” Dax responded. “We’ll be right there.” He leveled a cool, hard stare at Jordan and Joshua where they stood in front of an expandable play tunnel, the beginning of the mini obstacle course he’d designed for his sons. At the intrepid age of three years old, they were ready to follow in their parents’ footsteps as protectors.

They’d need to be strong, agile and ready for anything the world had in store for them. This obstacle course wasn’t the first Dax had created for his boys, and it wouldn’t be the last. And when his daughter was born, she’d join her brothers and probably kick their asses—especially if she had even a tenth of her mother’s genes.

Dax held up the stopwatch. “You’re racing through a narrow tunnel beneath the streets of an ancient city. You’ll have to duck low. When you come out of the tunnel, you’ll walk along a wall. Be careful not to fall off the wall into the water. From there, you’ll swing across a pit filled with poisonous snakes. Then you’ll have to climb over a wall to save the beautiful princess of a country called Croatia.” He paused and cocked an eyebrow. “Where is Croatia?”

Jordan’s hand shot up first. “In Europe, Daddy.” His brow wrinkled. “You know that.”

“What sea is next to Croatia?” he continued.

“The Adriatic Sea,” Joshua shouted.

“Where did Mommy fall in love with Daddy?” he asked.

“Croatia!” both boys shouted at once.

“Are you ready to save the world?”

“Yes!” Joshua and Jordan yelled.

“Ready... Set... Go!” Dax started the stopwatch and ran alongside the boys as they raced through the tunnel, climbed up on a balance beam and ran its length to the end. They jumped down, grabbed the rope dangling from a tree branch and swung across the sandbox, landing neatly on the other side. Then they ran toward an A-framed sloped wall four feet high and hurled themselves up the slick slope. At the top, they slung their little legs over and slid to the ground on the other side.

Both boys arrived at the beautiful princess, their Bernese Mountain Dog, patiently sitting where Dax had positioned her with a tiara perched on her head.

Dax pressed the plunger on the stopwatch and stared down at the timer as the boys hugged Princess, the crown slipping sideways off her broad, furry head.

“Great job! You improved your time by thirty seconds.” Dax grinned, gathered the boys into his arms and lifted them off the ground. As he turned toward the cottage, he caught sight of his beautiful wife.

Eight and a half months pregnant with their daughter, she stood with her arms crossed over her baby bump, shaking her head. “Really?”

He gave her a sheepish grin. “Don’t you want your rain-check babies to be ready to protect their little sister?”

“They’re three years old,” Giva said, her frown softening. “Besides, I’m betting their sister will fully be capable of protecting herself.” Her lips twisted. “Hmmm. Maybe it’ll be good for the boys to learn how to protect themselves from their sister.”

Dax set the twins on the ground. “Go wash your hands,” he said and gave them a nudge toward the house.

The boys took off like little rockets, racing each other to the back door.

“You make our daughter sound like she’ll be a little terrorist.” He smoothed his hand over Giva’s rounded belly.

“By the way she’s turning somersaults in here, she’s going to be a handful,” Giva said.

As if to prove her mother’s point, the baby inside gave a healthy kick at Dax’s hand.

He chuckled. “She’ll be a real ball-buster like her mother.” Gathering Giva into his arms, he kissed her gently.

She wrapped her hands around his neck and deepened the kiss, making him hungry for more.

When he raised his head, he stared down into her eyes. “Think my sister can get a taxi to bring her here?”

Giva’s eyes flared with desire. Then she shook her head. “How you can find this big body of mine attractive right now baffles me.”

He leaned back and stared down at where her belly pressed against his, his daughter kicking like mad inside. “Sweet cheeks, you’ve never been more beautiful. I love you and our rapidly expanding family and the life we have together.”

She smiled up at him. “Who knew pretending to be in love could lead to all this? I love you, the family we’ve created, and our extended family of the Brotherhood Protectors. We’re no longer alone in this big, crazy world. I couldn’t be happier.”

“Ditto,” he said and kissed the tip of her nose. “Let’s go get my sister. I’m glad she’s coming to live with us.”

“She’s so good with the boys, and she’ll be great with the baby when I go back to work.”

“I’ll be glad to have my partner back. We make a great team.”

She cupped his cheek. “Damn right, we do. As long as you let me drive.”

“Always.” Dax slipped an arm around her and walked with her into their home.