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CHAPTER TWELVE

MITCH

“ T hanks.” Mitch accepted a glass of champagne from Logan.

They were standing in a large suite, one floor below the ladies, that had the same view of the lawn below. He called over his shoulder, “What’s taking so long? Do you need help, Gage? Been a while since you put on a suit?”

“Funny,” Gage called back. “I’m helping Dad.”

A moment later, the other two Callahan men entered the room. Dermot Callahan smiled at his sons as he held out his arms. “Not so bad. I clean up pretty well still, or at least that’s what your mom used to tell me.”

“You look great, Dad,” Logan commented as he handed his father a glass of champagne. He gave one to Gage, and then the four men stood in the center of the room, glasses touched together.

“A toast to my amazing sons. I am so incredibly proud of all of you. Your mother would be as well if she were here to see this.” He sniffed. “Mitch, I wish you and Alex much luck and love in your new life together.”

Logan’s cell dinged, and he glanced at the screen. “The ladies are still doing some last-minute adjustments. Lacy says we have about twenty minutes before Mitch needs to be at the head of the aisle.”

Mitch shook his head. “I still can’t believe you pulled all this off without me realizing.”

Gage grinned. “And you didn’t wonder why Logan was always asking for your opinion on things?”

“I did, actually,” Mitch confided. “I even commented to Alex about it, and she said Lacy was doing the same thing. I just assumed it was because you were nervous.”

“I was nervous,” Logan confirmed, taking another sip of his champagne. “Getting everyone here without you two noticing, getting the decorations done and the food. It was a lot to do without you catching on, but Lacy is a pro. She made it work.”

Mitch took a sip of champagne. “The whole Guam thing was genius. Seriously… genius.”

Logan took a bow. “I am rather talented on occasion.”

Their father laughed. “You’re all talented. You’ve done so much more with the business than I’d ever dreamed of.”

“We learned it from you,” Gage said.

“No, but I’ll take the credit,” his father said.

“I’m just glad Gage is here. This would’ve been ugly if things hadn’t gone our way,” Mitch said as he played with his champagne glass. “There’s no way we would’ve gotten married without you.”

His father frowned. “Why would Gage miss it?” He glanced around at his sons. “What aren’t you telling me?”

Mitch glanced at Logan and realized he should’ve kept his mouth shut. “Sorry,” he mumbled.

Gage took a large swig of his champagne, swallowed, and started the story. “Well, you see, Dad, I was in Central Park the other night and the police thought I broke into the Met and stole a statue.”

“What?” A frown creased his father’s forehead. “Why would they think that?”

“They had proof,” Logan supplied.

Their father put down his champagne and held up his hands. “Okay, start at the very beginning.”

Gage gave his father the story with all the gory details.

“Oh my God. Are you sure you’re okay now? You’re off the hook?”

“Yes, Dad. I’m fine,” Gage said.

“I have to say, though,” Mitch added, “they weren’t wrong. The guy in the video, once Dani peeled your face off his body, his resemblance to you was uncanny.”

“You could see his face?” his dad asked.

“Just the jawline,” Logan supplied. “He was wearing a hat, but Mitch is right. The guy’s build is the same as Gage and his jawline is also very similar.”

Mitch glanced at his father. He seemed lost in thought.

“Are you sure?” his father asked.

“That this guy looked like Gage? Yes.” Mitch’s gut tightened as suspicion tingled along his senses. “Why do you ask?”

His father again seemed to lose focus, and if Mitch wasn’t mistaken, he’d actually gone pale under his Florida tan.

“Dad?”

“Yes?” he asked.

“Why are you asking about the other guy?” Mitch watched his father closely. Something didn’t sit right with him. Something about this conversation had his alarm bells sounding louder than the wedding bells in his mind.

He glanced at Gage, who was also studying their father. He was feeling it too. Something wasn’t right.

“Time to go,” Logan said as he got to his feet, staring at his phone screen. “We don’t want you to be late for your own wedding.”

Gage followed suit and nudged their father, who was still somewhat lost in thought. Mitch watched them start to head out of the room. “Logan, hang back a sec.”

Logan waited by the doorway for Mitch while watching Gage and their father head down the hallway.

Mitch came to a stop beside his brother. “I just wanted to say thanks. What you’ve done here…it’s amazing. Above and beyond. I can’t thank you enough.”

“You don’t have to thank me. It was a pleasure. It’s also my way of saying sorry.”

“Sorry? For what?”

Logan shrugged. “When I think back to our childhood, I think you were right. Maybe, Gage, and especially me, locked you out in certain ways. I regret that more than I can say. I wish I had behaved better. But I am eternally grateful that we’re on good terms now.”

Mitch swallowed an unexpected lump in his throat. “We’re more than on good terms. I would be lost without you and Gage. Family is everything.” He immediately wrapped his brother in a bear hug.

Logan broke the hug. “Now let’s go get you married.”

Mitch couldn’t believe his luck. He’d married the love of his life in front of all their friends and family.

As he watched Alex and Leo dance together, his heart was full.

Seeing Alex come down the aisle toward them, looking so stunning that she took his breath away and brought the prickle of tears to his eyes. It was like some kind of miracle.

When he’d been a SEAL, he’d seen the kind of love members of his team experienced with their wives and girlfriends.

The worry on their faces that this might be the last goodbye.

But they faced it by knowing the depth of their love for each other.

He’d been envious, and more than a little afraid he might never find that with anyone. But now…

He’d never thought when they’d started the expansion of Callahan Security that not only would they be successful, but that he would find the woman of his dreams. The woman who made him want to wake up every day.

Alex brought spice and laughter to his life, but most of all, she brought love. And for that, he was truly grateful.

And the love wasn’t restricted to Alex. He discovered how much he loved his brothers, even when they were major pains in his ass. He couldn’t fathom a way to do life without any of them.

He was…complete.

“Are you going to stand here all night or go dance with your bride?” Lacy teased as she and Logan danced by.

“I’m going,” Mitch commented and then went and cut in on Leo.

“Hello, wife.”

Alex grinned up at him. “Hello, husband. Wow, that is such a weird thing to say.”

“But good though, right?”

“Oh, so good. I am…” she swallowed as tears filled her eyes. “I am happier than I ever thought possible.”

Mitch leaned down and put his forehead to hers. “Me too.” Then he whispered in her ear. “When do you think we can ditch this crowd and go celebrate in private?”

Alex laughed. “We can’t go before we cut the cake.”

Mitch sighed. “Seriously? When is that going to happen?”

“I’ll see if I can speed it up,” she said with a wink, “but until then, let’s see if we can find a quiet corner.”

“Now you’re talking,” he commented as Alex pulled him off the dance floor. They left the circle of light and Mitch pulled her behind a large sheltering tree. “You have made me so happy.” He smiled and then kissed her.

“You changed my life.” Alex blinked back the tears that were gathering in the corners of her eyes. “I never ever thought I could be this happy.”

As Mitch lowered his head to kiss his new bride, the opening strains of the Macarena sounded, and the crowd let out a loud cheer. Mitch started to laugh and then captured his new wife’s mouth with a scorching kiss.