Page 66

Tory

Jaxson and I arrived at Aria and Xander’s farm mid-afternoon, and the sun hung low in the sky, casting golden glows over the rolling paddocks. The landscape looked like something out of a postcard, lush and endless, with the kind of beauty that made me stop and breathe it in.

Following Yasmin and Cobra’s lead, we made our way around the house toward the backyard, where the hum of voices and laughter grew louder. A large white marquee stood at the center of the yard, with rows of chairs lining the grass, ready for the wedding ceremony.

“Oh yay, you’re here,” Zena said, appearing with a tray of canapés in hand. She thrust it toward us. “Here, eat.”

I selected a smoked salmon tartlet and took a bite.

“This looks beautiful,” I said, gesturing toward the setup.

“Doesn’t it?” Zena replied with a shrug. “Maya knew exactly what she wanted. And Maya always gets what she wants.”

“That sounds like her,” Cobra said with a chuckle. “Zac’s going to have his hands full.”

“He knew what he was getting into when he chased her,” Zena said, sharing a knowing look with Cobra. Whatever the story was, it seemed like there was a lot more to that comment.

It was one of the things I loved about these guys . . . there was always something interesting going on. And for the first time in years, it didn’t involve bad guys, guns, drugs, or Nazi gold. Just good people, laughter, and enough drama to keep things lively.

In the distance, horses grazed with their tails flicking lazily in the warm breeze.

A few curious sheep wandered near the rustic wooden fence, joined by a lone llama that watched us with comical intensity.

The air was warm, and an impossibly blue Queensland sky stretched overhead, making the world feel alive and vibrant.

Jaxson slipped his arm through mine, leading me toward a group gathered near the back steps of the house. “Hey, guys,” he said as we approached.

The group parted slightly, revealing Viper in a wheelchair.

“Viper,” Jaxson greeted, extending a hand. “How’s the recovery going, mate?”

“Too fucking slow,” Viper growled, shaking his hand.

“It always does,” Jaxson replied with a knowing nod. He gestured toward me. “Viper, have you met Tory before? She’s with Border Force.”

I stepped forward and extended my hand. “It’s nice to finally meet you.”

“And you,” Viper said, gripping my hand so hard he nearly cut off my circulation. Releasing his grip, he let out a low whistle. “Heard about your plane crash. Lucky you survived that.”

“And the armed bastards who chased her into the swamp,” Jaxson added.

“And Jaxson’s driving,” I said, smirking.

Jaxson feigned offense, clutching his chest dramatically. “Hey, what’s wrong with my driving?”

“If it’s anything like Whisper’s, I get it,” Cody said, earning a laugh from the group.

“Hey!” Whisper protested, swiping playfully at him. “There’s nothing wrong with my driving.”

The sound of heels clicking on the deck at the top of the steps drew my attention, and I glanced up to see Aria descending.

She wore a sky-blue off-shoulder dress that made her olive skin glow, the soft fabric cinched at the waist with a gold belt that perfectly accentuated her stunning figure.

For the first time since I’d met her, Aria had her hair down and long dark waves cascaded over her shoulders as she leaned forward to greet me with a warm hug.

“I’m so glad you could make it,” she said, her smile radiant.

“Wild horses wouldn’t stop me,” I replied with a grin.

“What’s that about wild horses?” Xander asked, stepping down to stand beside Aria.

Aria tilted her head at him. “Don’t get him started. He’s already been bucked off the wild brumby he’s trying to tame out there.” She nodded toward the paddock in the distance.

“I’ll tame her,” Xander said with a sharp nod. “She’s just a bit feisty, that’s all.”

“Just like this filly,” Cody teased, wrapping an arm around Whisper’s waist.

Whisper scowled at him, her eyes narrowing. “Did you just call me a filly?”

“Nope.” Cody jerked back, holding up his hands in mock surrender.

“You should see your face.” Whisper burst out laughing, and everyone else did too.

A piercing whistle cut through the laughter, snapping everyone’s attention.

“All right, you lot, grab a seat,” Blade called out from across the yard. “The ceremony’s about to start. And trust me, you do not want to keep Maya waiting.”

Jaxson hooked his arm through mine, leading me under the marquee. Each chair had been decorated with a small sprig of eucalyptus tied neatly with twine, while fairy lights were threaded around the marquee poles, promising a magical glow as the sun dipped lower.

Everything looked perfect. Including Jaxson. His charcoal suit hugged his broad frame perfectly, and his deep forest-green tie matched the accents in my dress so well it looked like we’d planned our outfits.

Jaxson and I sat near the middle of the aisle with our fingers laced together.

I couldn’t stop smiling. Everything about the day felt perfect . . . the laughter, the anticipation, the love that seemed to fill the air like something tangible. I glanced at Jaxson, and my heart gave that familiar flutter when I caught the way he looked at me.

His thumb brushed over the back of my hand, and I leaned into him.

“I feel so lucky to be here,” I whispered.

“I reckon, considering your recent near-death experiences,” he teased, a hint of mischief in his tone.

“No, silly,” I said, waggling my head. “I mean to be at this wedding, with these amazing people. They’re all so nice.”

He nodded, and his expression softened. “Like family.”

“Yeah,” I murmured, squeezing his hand. “Exactly.”

Up near the altar, Zac shifted in his tailored electric-blue suit. He looked like some kind of Hollywood star, and I had no doubt Maya had chosen that suit for him. Despite his polished appearance, he fidgeted with his cuffs and shifted from foot to foot.

Standing beside him were Blade and Levi.

Unlike Zac, who looked comfortable in his suit, Blade and Levi resembled caged animals, itching to rip off their jackets and bow ties.

Levi leaned in close to Zac, murmuring something that made him laugh.

Even so, Zac didn’t take his eyes off the back of the marquee, probably scanning for his bride.

A woman shuffled into the seat beside me, brushing her blonde curls away from her face.

“Made it just in time,” she said, sounding slightly out of breath. “I forgot about Zena’s mini tarts in the oven and nearly smoked the whole house out. Maya’s going to be furious if she smells like smoke because of me.”

“Nah . . . she’ll be on too much of a high to even notice,” I said with a grin.

“Doubt it. Maya misses nothing.”

Another woman slipped into the seat beside her, and the first woman leaned toward me, lowering her voice. “I’m Brooke, Zena’s sister, and this is my wife, Tiffany.”

“Hi,” I said, offering a smile. “I’m Tory, and this is Jaxson.”

Tiffany’s eyes lit up. “Oh, I know who you are,” she said. “I tried to get an interview with you after your plane crash.”

“You did?” I asked, frowning as I tilted my head .

“Yeah, I’m a reporter for the North Queensland Chronicle , but your boss blocked me.”

“Oh.” I bit back a smile, imagining the scene. Ryder probably hadn’t let her finish her request before ending her call. Ryder hated reporters; and with good reason.

Jaxson leaned toward me, his voice low but loud enough for the others to hear. “Did you know Brooke and Zena are Risky Shores heroes?”

I raised an eyebrow, smirking, half-expecting him to be joking. “No.”

“They saved Risky Shores’ water supply from being poisoned,” he said.

“And the turtles,” Tiffany added.

“Yeah, and?—”

A sudden blast of music erupted from the speakers, making everyone jump. In the front corner of the marquee, Cobra shot forward, reaching for the sound system, and the music cut off abruptly, leaving a faint buzz in my ears.

“Sorry!” Cobra called out, raising his hands in an apology as he returned to his seat.

The tension broke with a soft cry, and everyone turned to Billie as she scooped baby Jack from his pram.

“Shit, sorry,” she muttered, holding him against her tiny frame as she hurried to the back of the tent.

“See what you did, numb nuts?” Levi said to Cobra.

“Leave him alone,” Yasmin said, draping her arm over Cobra’s shoulder.

Levi strode after Billie with a fierce, protective expression on his face.

As the crowd hushed, a soft melody floated through the air, and every head turned toward the back, where Harper was seated in the last row.

Harper’s honey-blonde hair was pinned back in soft waves, and her dress shimmered faintly in the afternoon light.

Beside her, Viper sat in his wheelchair, his suit jacket straining against his muscular frame.

The scars marking his face and neck from the warehouse explosion gave him a fierce presence, like a man ready to crush an army .

The cast on his leg added to his battle-weary vibe, and I could only imagine how much he hated being confined to that wheelchair.

But the way Harper looked at him left no room for doubt about their love for each other.

She only saw him . The real Viper. The man who would do absolutely anything for her, and for everyone in that marquee.

The music changed to a soulful, romantic melody, and the crowd hushed.

We all turned toward the back of the marquee, and as I squeezed Jaxson’s hand, and my heart did its own melody in my chest, I watched the back of the farmhouse, waiting for the bride to appear.

Maya stepped onto the back deck with a grace that stole my breath.

Her dress was a classic white gown with a fitted bodice and a massive, flowing skirt that seemed to float as she descended the steps.

Her long blonde hair was swept into an elegant updo, a few loose strands delicately framing her face.

Behind her, a veil trailed like a soft whisper, carried by Aria and Zena.

Zac’s breath hitched as his eyes locked onto Maya as if she were the only woman in the world. Maya glided toward us, beaming like a princess.

“She’s stunning,” I whispered to Jaxson.

“Just like you.” His low voice was filled with that warm, teasing affection that always made my chest ache.

Maya slowly strolled down the aisle with a spectacular grin and her gaze pinned on Zac. When she reached him, he took her hands in his and squeezed hard as if he needed her strength to keep him upright.

The music stopped, and the marriage celebrant began the ceremony.

But I barely heard any words. I couldn’t tear my eyes away from the way Maya and Zac looked at each other like they were the only two people in existence. It reminded me of how Jaxson looked at me.

The ceremony was beautiful, heartfelt, and filled with laughter. When Zac finally kissed Maya, the crowd erupted in cheers, and he swept her into his arms.

“Yeehaa! We’re married!” Maya cried, tipping her head back as Zac spun her in a wide circle. Her laughter rang out like music as she kicked off her shoes. “Now get those chairs out of the way, turn up the music, and let’s dance!”

Jaxson pressed a kiss to my temple in a way that felt so comfortable and natural. “Do you want to dance?” he asked.

It felt like a loaded question. “Not really. Do you?”

“Phew,” he grinned, “I was hoping you’d say that.”

I burst into laughter, and when he laughed with me, it was genuine and real.

I leaned into Jaxson with my heart full to bursting.

This wasn’t just a wedding, this ceremony was a reminder of everything we’d all fought for: love, safety, and the kind of peace that came after even the wildest storms.