Page 53 of Wild Card (Men of Action #4)

TALON

“Never been that scared.” Ace’s admission cuts like a knife.

He scrubs his hand over his jaw for the fifth time since we gathered in the empty hospital room next to Harley.

“The baby was coming fast, she was hurting, and there wasn’t a fucking thing I could do.

In the rare calm moment, she was worried about me. ”

“She’s a fighter and a protector.” I feel his pain, knowing the last few hours have been hell.

“I’m supposed to be the protector.”

“When Jewls was in labor and refused to consider the alternative, I wanted to take that bullet to the chest over and over again if it would take away the pain,” Major confesses.

“Yeah,” Ace agrees.

“With that being said, you have to trust she knew her limits.”

They share a look that we all understand. Any of us would suffer to protect these women.

“What the fuck is taking them so long?”

Right then, a pert nurse appears in the doorway. “Daddy, we’re all?—"

Ace is at her side in a flash, taking the bundle from her arms. He clutches the baby to his chest and inhales deeply before turning back to us.

It’s a silent invitation we all accept, stepping up to see his newborn son swaddled tight.

There’s a collective quiet chuckle at the teensy USMC beanie covering his head.

“Achilles, Harley is ready.” Amanda, Harley’s mom, closes in on us, running her finger over the baby’s cheek. “Perfection.” Her low voice catches. “I’ll let the others know.”

Ace shoots her a grin of appreciation, and we head next door.

Sandy, Ace’s mom, and Jewls are at the bedside.

Harley’s sitting up, wearing what I know is not a hospital-approved gown, and staring in awe at her husband carrying her son.

Tears slip down her cheeks when he sits on the side of the bed and places the baby between their arms.

The moment is huge.

Quiet footsteps shuffle in, and I sense her presence before she folds into my side.

Tom beats Shayla to the bedside, staring down at the baby before focusing on Jay. “You trying to give me a heart attack?”

“It’s not my fault he was anxious to arrive,” Jay replies sweetly.

“He gave you signs you ignored. You should have taken clues from Jewls’ experience.”

Jay takes his hand. “We’re all good, Tom. But next time, I promise to report every tinge and pinch when my baby dances on my organs.”

Shayla’s had enough, pushing Tom away and wading right into their space. “You gave birth to your husband. And he’s nearly as big.”

“Achilles was also over nine pounds,” Sandy confirms.

Willow’s arm tightens and she buries her face in my shoulder.

“No wonder he was ready to come early.” Shayla tries to lift him, and Ace grumbles, eyeing her harshly.

“Give him over, big guy.”

“No,” he answers sharply.

I know what’s coming since he’s already shared with us.

“Actually, he didn’t come too early. We um… we…”

“We fucked up the conception date,” Ace takes over for Jay.

“How do you mess that up? Aren’t there blood tests and other back-dating?”

“It’s not common, but possible,” Chase offers his opinion with a grin.

“Well, can we at least have a name?” Shayla snaps, but her eyes are dancing with hilarity. “Let me guess, Hercules?”

Harley bursts into giggles. “That was on my list and got knocked down. We settled on Maverick Blue Kingston.”

“Maverick Blue,” Willow whispers in amazement. “It’s perfectly fitting.”

Harley beams.

All the women swarm the bed, no one trying to hold Maverick for fear of Ace’s reaction.

It doesn’t take long for Ace to give us the signal he’s done.

Willow comes with me willingly as the others say goodbye.

“How long before you think he’ll let someone else hold the baby?” she asks me as we weave down the hallway.

“Give it a day or two.”

“She really freaked him out, didn’t she?”

“What makes you think that?”

“Wasn’t a secret.” She nudges me. “Even big strong cavemen can’t hide that kind of fear.”

“Jay’s stubborn.”

Willow steps in front, stopping me mid-step. “Tell me what happened?”

“She refused to stop trying, even when they pushed her to consider the c-section. They already knew he was a big baby, but thought they had more time to convince her.”

“She knew she could do it. We women know our limits.”

“Major said the same.”

“He’s a smart man who’s already been through this.”

“He lost his mind, too.”

She frames my jaw, tipping up to run her mouth across mine. “Chase will deny it, but he was the same. You men have to trust the process.”

“I’ll trust the process until the second you show signs of uncontrollable pain, then we go with option two.”

Her eyes glimmer in the magnetic green shade they transform to when I mention our future.

“I really love you.”

My chest tightens, feeling the familiar need simmering. I brush my fingers through her hair, skimming my tongue along her lips before slipping it inside. She lets out a little sound, giving me her weight and opening wider.

I take my time, exploring her mouth, caressing her scalp, groaning when she scales her nails through my stubble. She takes my cue, angling to give me deeper access and twisting her tongue with mine.

My dick hardens, blood scorching through my veins.

I want her now, fuck waiting until we get home.

I tear my mouth away, ready to find an empty room when Tom comes trampling by.

“Get your asses to Tom’s.”

“Not gonna make it tonight.” I position Willow to help cover my raging cock.

She rolls her hip, teasing me with a soft giggle.

“I don’t think it’s a request, honey,” she whispers.

“Call your doc friends and get them there, too,” Tom barks, ignoring my statement.

“Bex is with Wyatt, but Lucas may be available.”

“You,” he points at me, “call April and Mark, get them there. We’re fucking celebrating.”

With that, he stomps off.

“Fucking cockblocker.”

“Not exactly.” She takes my hand with a glint in her eye. “I know a lot about this hospital from visiting with my dad over the years. Including the out of the way offices that are unoccupied.”

“You gonna let me fuck you on a desk?”

“Always wondered what it would be like to be bent over…” The rest of her sentence is cut off by my growl.

“Get us there, now.”

She flashes me a smile that shoots straight to my soul.

My perfect fucking princess.

Robbie ambles through the bullpen, flicking to a few officers on his way toward me. I sign off on the report, piling the folder on the rest.

He perches his ass on the edge of the desk, crossing his arms.

“You get lost on your way home?”

“Not going home. My parents are with the kids.”

“Calling in a lot of favors lately.”

“Give it a few hours and you’ll know why.”

“Thought you said we could trust Cruz and Alex on this one.”

“We can. It’s my sister and her bunch of hoodlum friends that drag my wife into trouble. Add in Aunt Chloe and we’re fucked.”

“Guess I’m hitting a drag show tonight?”

“Whitman there?”

“Yeah, but Hollywood threatened to cut him off ‘til the wedding if he showed his face.”

Robbie smirks, knowing these women’s threats usually don’t hold out too long.

“We carpooling to the show? I get off in thirty.”

“Actually, we need to talk. You got a clean room?”

Every nerve in my body strings tight, and I’m on my feet heading toward the back conference room.

Our engagement with Hayes Security wasn’t public knowledge, but most within the department figured it out. The city’s recent seizures of illegal weapons and drugs made national news. It wasn’t a coincidence we were out on a special assignment when it all went down.

Which is why I’m not surprised about the curious eyes that follow our departure.

Robbie cuts straight to the chase when I close the door.

“My contacts tell me Max is in place. His assignment in San Diego had him reconning on chatter from the Middle East. Players involved hiding across the globe. No one confirmed, but I suspect he’s at an embassy just south of the border.”

“Fuck.” Memories of our mission in Columbia replay in my brain.

“I’m not worried about him. He handpicked his team for this.”

“Then what’s the issue?”

“Two of the men have gone no-contact.”

“Jesus. Any chance they went AWOL?”

“Always a chance, but Max wouldn’t put his ass on the line for flakes. He vetted these guys with the finest acuity. My gut says we have a hostage situation.”

“How many on the team?”

“Six.”

Six is a solid number, but with two NOCON, that means they have four left to cover the mission and a possible rescue mission. Not ideal.

“You need us?”

“Not yet. This information is still highly confidential. Pendleton has a team prepping now. Dad, Finn, and I thought it best to lay low until we know more.”

“Why bring this to me tonight?”

“Because if we need to get involved, I want you four on my team again.”

“Ford’s getting married in two weeks. A wedding that Max is in.”

“And Ace has a newborn at home. Major has two boys now.”

“That leaves me.”

“I’m not questioning those men’s dedication or ability. But this thing goes down, I need a man on the ground. Dad’s intel is solid but we’re in the waiting game. Wanted to give you a head’s up.”

“The other guys need to be read in.”

“Figured, I’m not trying to keep this from your crew.”

I blow out a breath, Willow’s face flashing in my mind.

The video she sent earlier of all the girls in the limo, her face flushed from laughing. The skintight red dress, her dark hair falling in waves, the happiness in her eyes.

Full of life.

So goddamned beautiful.

“I know the battle you’re waging, Talon. You’ve left this life behind. No shade if this escalates and you’re not interested. I can use you behind the scenes just as well as on the ground.”

“There’s a crew in MARSOC. I’d trust them at my side. The time comes, you get in touch with them.”

“You gonna forego your team?”

“Not by choice, but if we’re walking into a hostile situation, I’ll do what I have to.”

“Don’t see them accepting that.”

“Let’s hope like hell it doesn’t come to them making a choice.”

The door swings open and Capt. Boyd stands there with a stony glare. “Rumor that you were in my department.”

Robbie shoots him a lopsided grin. “Yo.”

“Yo? You prance your ass through my station, causing all sorts of distraction, and say ‘Yo’?”

“Not my fault I catch the attention. It’s a gift.”

Boyd looks between us with a fiery gaze. “Do they train you Marines to be egotistical sons of bitches?”

“It’s a course in boot camp, right in line with sand pits and The Crucible.” I wiggle my eyebrows.

“Cocky ass,” he grumbles, aiming at Robbie. “Why are you here at this hour on a Saturday night? Don’t bullshit me.”

“Sorry, man. You know the rules.”

We all know the closer we get to transferring to SWAT, the closer Boyd is to retiring and joining Hayes Security.

“This about Max Roberts and his team?”

Robbie nor I move, neither confirming or denying, giving him his answer.

“James read me in on the basics. You taking my men again?”

More silence.

Boyd’s gruff attitude morphs to resignment. “I’m in on this one, Robbie. These are my men until they transfer. James will agree.”

Robbie tips his chin in agreement.

“We done here? I have a drag show to crash.”

“Jesus, you rookies are killing me.” Boyd shakes his head in disappointment. “Drag show? Ford know about his woman’s bachelorette?”

“What do you think?”

“I think it’s a miracle you fools found women who put up with you.”

“For once, I agree with that.”

“You going to hitch the PT to you permanently before she sees the light?”

“Working on it.”

Robbie’s phone chimes and he grunts when he checks the screen. “Gotta go, Ember’s on stage.”

“Right behind you,” I call to his back on the way out the door.

Boyd’s eyes bore into me, his mind rolling. “Simms, I may not have the details, but I do know you don’t always have to be the damn hero.”

“Hero is my middle name.”

He hangs his head, rubbing the back of his neck for a few seconds before focusing back to me. “The time comes you’re needed, be careful.”

“Always.”

I slap him on the shoulder and head back to the bullpen.

I’m ready to get to my woman.

Tomorrow, we’ll deal with the rest.