The front door opened and closed. Jacob came into the living room and walked directly to the bar. After pouring what appeared to be a triple shot of Johnny Walker Blue, he sat down across from his brother.
Jared lifted his own drink in a silent toast. “Get fired?”
“Yeah. I believe this is the thirteenth or fourteenth time since he hired me. Where are the ladies?”
Jared snorted. “Right now…upstairs. Thought they were going to kill each other.”
Jacob’s head snapped up and his eyebrows rose. Jared nodded. “It’s true, no bullshit. Tori called out Jewel’s department’s competency in order to make a point. Of course, Jewel wasn’t thinking straight and was an emotional wreck. I wasn’t getting through to her. Victoria’s tactic was probably the only way to make her see it wasn’t her fault. They went toe-to-toe, and your woman didn’t flinch. Not once. Shit. I would’ve flinched.”
Jacob closed his eyes and leaned back in the chair. “That’s only because Jewel beat the tar out of you growing up and mom wouldn’t let you lift a finger to defend yourself. Jade is the only one who scares me. But I agree with you. My Tori is an amazing woman.”
Both men turned toward the door hearing footsteps coming down the stairs. Tori smiled brightly and walked directly to Jacob sitting down in his lap and kissing him soundly. Taking his glass, she sipped the scotch and leaned back into him.
“She asleep?”
Tori nodded. “She was sitting on the bed watching me try on clothes and the next thing I knew she was out. I tucked her into bed, and I borrowed some of your sister’s clothes.”
“Which sister?”
“I borrowed Jasmine’s. Jade’s taste is a little too…provocative?”
Both men laughed at the statement.
“Good, Jasmine won’t mind. Jade has issues sharing. Getting along…being civilized.”
“Really? Is she that bad?”
Jacob’s eyes widened. “Yep, she’s one of a kind.”
Jacob took the glass sipping some whiskey before handing it back to Tori. “Well, I would say that’s a nice way to put it. Jade’s taste in clothes has caused a lot of trouble. We don’t like it, but she’s a grown woman and more than capable of staving off the wolves.”
“Well, Jasmine has a lovely white silk skirt and blouse that I’m going to borrow. Jewel texted her to make sure it was alright, and Jasmine told us where to look for the matching shoes and purse.”
Jared chuckled. “I’m assuming by your tone that’s important.”
Tori stuck her tongue out at him and elbowed Jacob. “Men!”
Jacob winced in mock pain. “Hey, I didn’t say anything!”
“It doesn’t matter, you’re guilty by association.” Scrunching her nose at him, she took another sip of liquor.
She ran her hand through his thick black hair. “Did you get fired again?”
“Yep.” He took the glass back and finished the rest of the scotch in one large swallow.
“What else happened?”
“Got hired again. Received a brief on other pertinent international events. Worked out the travel and logistical support required for tomorrow’s ops. Stopped by the jewelry store and picked up your wedding ring.”
Tori bounced around to face him and immediately patted down his pockets. Jared’s laughter when she found the ring box was echoed by Jacob. When her soon-to-be husband refused to let her look at it, Tori nearly vibrated off his lap.
“That is not fair! I should at least get to see the engagement ring! Right?” Tori pouted like a two-year-old as her gaze bounced between the men.
Jared shook his head knowing exactly when to stay out of an argument. “Don’t look at me. I’m so not getting in the middle of this.”
Jacob kissed her on the nose and chided her. “No. The ring is one of those all-in-one thingys, engagement slash wedding-band-combo-unit-thingy.”
Jared laughed again. Damn it was good to see Jacob happy. “Smooth little brother. I can honestly say I’ve never heard of a wedding ring described that way. Ball and chain or horse collar yes…all-in-one thingy? So smooth.” Jared’s mocking laughter ignited another round of Tori trying to get to the box.
Jacob was resolute and grabbed both hands trapping them with one of his. As Tori pouted, he lifted his glass towards his brother.
Jared rose and refilled Jacob’s glass as he refilled his own. The doorbell sounded and both men tensed immediately.
Tori sat up and looked towards the door. “I take it you don’t receive many visitors?”
Jacob rose and slid Tori to a stand before he unhooked the leather tab of his shoulder holster. “Not unannounced.”
Jared pulled a large caliber automatic out of the drawer next to the chair where he had been sitting.
Jacob motioned for Tori to go into the kitchen. “Top cabinet over the refrigerator, Sig Saur .9mm.” Tori nodded and moved silently into the next room and retrieved the weapon. Coming back to the kitchen door she nodded at Jacob.
He held his gun steady at eye level and covered the front door as Jared moved to open it. The doorbell rang a second time as Jared opened it with a monstrous pull. Three guns centered on the man and woman who stood at the door. Both Jacob and Jared lowered and holstered their weapons immediately. Tori followed the men’s lead.
“Gabriel. What in the hell?” Jared’s disapproving tone was more from the thought they might have shot him rather than him being at the door.
“Yeah, Gabriel. What in the hell?” Jacob echoed his words.
“Good thing you didn’t shoot. My security detail would’ve had to return fire and it really wouldn’t have ended well for anyone. Not to mention I’d have to fire you.”
A beautiful brunette standing next to him gave a laugh and added. “Again.”
She walked in completely ignoring Jared and Jacob and headed straight for Victoria. “Hi! I’m Anna, Gabriel’s wife. I understand you’re marrying one of these lugs tomorrow?”
Tori slid the safety on the automatic and set it on the table beside her. Taking the woman’s hand, she smiled and nodded her head. “Victoria, Tori. Yeah. I rode out, lassoed, and hogtied Jacob, but don’t tell him. He thinks all this is his idea.”
Anna laughed and turned toward Jacob and Gabriel. “Oh, you are in trouble. I like her and she is country through and through.” Anna smiled and cocked her head as she looked at Tori.
“I would say Wyoming or one of the Dakotas. Ranch girl, right?”
Tori lifted an eyebrow. “South Dakota and, yes, I grew up on a ranch.”
Gabriel shut the door behind him and put his hands in his pockets. “Really Jacob? You do realize these country girls are hard to tame, don’t you?”
Jacob shook his head. “No, not really. You got to gentle them. Remember, I’m a country boy too, not a city slicker like you.”
Gabriel laughed. “Good luck my friend. I know it’s late, but we stopped by to take you and your bride-to-be out to dinner. Anna is flying out tomorrow but we, and by ‘we’ I mean Anna, wanted to meet your bride.”
Tori looked at her jeans and shirt. “How about I make dinner instead, or call for takeout? I’m afraid I haven’t the clothes to go out. The stores were closed by the time we landed and the clothes I had at the ranch aren’t appropriate for D.C.”
Anna immediately slid out of her expensive designer coat and dropped it unceremoniously on the couch. “Only if I can help. Gabriel would you please bring me a drink?” Grabbing Tori by the hand, the women disappeared into the massive kitchen.
Jared stared blankly at their boss. His mind just didn’t seem to be processing what he was seeing.
Jacob cleared his throat. “Ahh…wife? I had no idea you were married.”
“That makes two of us,” Jared added glad that someone was able to put the question out there.
Gabriel shrugged his shoulders and walked to the bar. “She’s put up with me for a long time. If it weren’t for her and my kids, this job would’ve consumed me.”
Jared shook his head and pushed his hands through his mop of dark brown hair. “Excuse me? You have children?”
Gabriel poured a large glass of red wine from the decanter and turned back towards the room. “I wasn’t hatched, asshole. I’m perfectly capable of attracting a woman and having a family.”
“No, seriously…you’re telling me you have kids?” Somehow the concept escaped logical comprehension.
“As a matter of fact, I have a beautiful and incredibly talented daughter who just turned twenty-one and twin sons who are driving me bat-shit crazy. They’re nineteen and if they don’t straighten up, they might not see twenty. I just may end them and put myself out of my misery. My youngest daughter is seventeen. That one will be the death of me. The girl has absolutely no fear.”
Gabriel dropped a couple ice cubes from the bucket into the wine and swirled it, chilling the room temperature merlot. “God only knows why she likes her red wine chilled, but for the last twenty-odd years I have had a refrigerator full of the horrid stuff.”
“Twenty years?” Jacob’s question forced a chuckle from Gabriel.
“Yeah, Anna put me through one hell of a chase. She was protecting me from a threat that no longer existed and lived off the grid while she was pregnant with our oldest daughter. Interesting story. Get me drunk sometime and I’ll tell you about it.”