Page 69 of Pervade Montego Bay

“I resigned my Navy commission early.” Which blew that plan up.

I took my life and made it unrecognizable—then flew out of the ashes like a phoenix, rendering my enemies dead.

Xavier had been right there beside me as we’d taken on the British and Russian political oligarchs and brought them down one by one. The only man left to kill had been Ivor Mikhail, but I’d eventually caught up with him on Zane’s yacht. Revenge for Victoria’s death had finally been mine.

Though the pain in my chest still feels the same.

On that night, Emily had seen what I was capable of—yet she was still here, looking at me with a loving expression.

“Now you run Pervade.” She smiled at her mischief.

“You’ll never get to the center of him, Em,” said Xavier, smirking.

She stared down at me. “You have more secrets?”

“No,” I said with a shake of my head. “Nothing that would interest you, anyway. All boring matters that are of little significance.”

Xavier used his hands to imitate an explosion.

“Thank you for your discretion.” I emphasized my annoyance.

There were many secrets between us. We’d become dependent on each other, which had turned into a liability. On this island lay another secret…one kept for decades. One that could change the landscape of Britain if it was ever divulged.

Xavier was unabashedly staring at Emily’s breasts. She turned and caught him ogling, the look they shared sparking fireworks between them.

She sidled up to Xavier and tugged on the waistband of his shorts, exposing his erection. Laughing, she then turned and padded toward the sparkling pool, diving into the water. Xavier slipped out of his trunks and ran after her, completely naked. He jumped in and made a big splash, the droplets reaching me and cooling my skin.

I pushed myself up, intent on letting them have this moment alone together. After all they’d been through, they shouldn’t be denied. As I reached the door, I glanced back at the pool and felt a surge of joy when I saw them kissing.

Love would find a way…for them, anyway. Knowing they were happy would have to be enough for me.

When I made it to the kitchen, I found a glass and poured myself a drink. A sudden movement across the room made me jolt in surprise.

I drew in a sharp breath at the vision of Louis Coburg standing by my pantry door.

He looked so much like his father, a devastating reality we rarely spoke about. He’d been separated from his family at a young age, and that fact still caused my heart to flinch every time I saw him.

His high cheekbones and arched eyebrows made him painfully handsome—beautiful, really. That rare elegance of his could draw unwanted attention. He was only ten years younger than me, but I still felt paternal toward him. Even though he’d experienced a great loss in his young life, he’d always maintained a gentle outlook.

Louis stepped out of the shadows and gave me a warm smile…the kind that hid decades of him trying to deal with not only what he is, butwhohe is.

Every time I stood in the same room with him, I was filled with reverence.

“What the hell happened to you?” He was staring at my head.

I reached up and touched my bandage. “It was nothing, really. Merely had a run in with a jet ski.”

He gave me a pained expression. “You know, sometimes I think you’re completely mental, James.”

“Well, you’re far more important than me, Louis.”

“Not true.” He came closer. “Take better care. Without you, I’m royally fucked.”

Emily

Finally, I was able to breathe properly, because the sense of dread crowding my mind was lifting. I was feeling safe once more in Xavier’s embrace. Having watched him take a running jump into the pool reminded me of his playful side. We would always be drawn into each other’s arms.

Xavier beamed with happiness.