Sean liked Siobhan, and Kane needed to slow down. Siobhan might be the only woman on the planet who could entice him to take it easy. “I told you, Kane—my house is your house, too.”
“It’s a big place. In the suburbs.”
“It’s one of the oldest established neighborhoods in San Antonio.”
“Too many people. I’m not a city person. Hidalgo suits me.”
“Don’t be a stranger.”
“I’m proud of you, kid. You’re better than all of us.”
Sean shook his head, but Kane kept talking.
“I should have told you about Liam. I should have told you the truth from the beginning, let you come to your own conclusion. I manipulated you—told you what I wanted you to know—maybe because I was worried you would join them on their fool crusade, or some such thing.”
Sean put up his hand. “It’s done. I wish I’d known the truth—but the Rogans have always been a dysfunctional family. We never had a normal life. I loved Mom and Dad, but they kept a lot of secrets as well. They didn’t seem to know what to do with any of us.”
“It is what it is.”
“You are my brother, in every sense of the word, and I love you. I’m trying to forgive Liam and Eden. It’s hard—” Sean shook his head. He would not go back into that dark place when he had realized that Lucy had been captured by the Flores cartel. “And now he’s gone. Eden is going to spend at least five years in prison.”
“Would you have it any other way?”
Sean shook his head. “But she’s our sister. I told her she wasn’t my sister anymore, but she’s still a Rogan.”
“Rick is going to have someone look out for her. She’s in federal prison. She’ll be protected.”
Sean knew that, though it didn’t make knowing his sister was in prison for kidnapping Lucy any easier. Eden had agreed to the plea deal—five to ten years. When she was released, she’d have a clean slate—all her other crimes would be erased.
Sean clapped his hand on Kane’s shoulder. “It’s done. This is my wedding day, and Lucy is—” What could he say? She was beautiful. Amazing. The most important thing in his life.
Kane hugged him. The affection was rare—had Kane ever hugged him? Sean couldn’t remember.
The door opened again. Patrick, Jack, and Duke walked in. His other brother and his two soon-to-be brothers-in-law.
Duke crossed over to him and shook his hand, then pulled him into a tight hug. “Sean. I’m so proud of you.”
Duke’s voice cracked. Sean couldn’t handle all these emotions from his brothers, two men who never showed emotion.
“I’m sorry,” Duke said. He stood back. His eyes were moist.
“We should both be sorry. But not about what you think.” Sean glanced around, straightened his spine. “You did the best you could. I didn’t make it easy. And … I’ve never said thank you.”
A lot had happened between Sean and Duke over the years—and maybe Sean would still butt heads with him over the job. Duke might never understand Sean, but that was okay. Sean could handle whatever was thrown at him. He was far more comfortable with his own decisions, with his mind, with his goals.
And his first goal was to get married.
“Look—the love of my life is waiting to come down that aisle,” Sean said. “I don’t want her to wait another minute.”
“Good,” Patrick said, “because Father Mateo wants you out now. Guys, we have some escorting to do.”
Sean exchanged glances with Jack. They didn’t need words. In some ways, having Jack’s respect was more important than having that of any other Kincaid. The colonel was walking Lucy down the aisle, but it was Jack’s approval that mattered the most. Jack nodded, then followed the others out. Sean had asked Jack to carry the rings. Odd, perhaps, for a forty-something-year-old man, but it meant something to him to have Jack part of the wedding. He too was in his dress blues. Army, a different uniform than Kane’s, but with just as many medals and commendations.
Sean was proud of both of them.
Sean took a deep breath, adjusted his tie, and walked out to the altar. Father Mateo smiled and winked. Sean tried to relax. He rolled his shoulders, looked out at the crowd that was waiting—none of them were even half as excited as he was.
The Rogans didn’t have much family—a few cousins whom Sean didn’t feel the need to invite. He and Lucy wanted to keep the wedding small, intimate, though there was nothing intimate about the Kincaids.
Nora, Duke’s wife, was on the groom’s side, along with Molly, who was now six months old, dressed in pink. Siobhan was playing the guitar, and Sean realized then that everything happened for a reason. Siobhan had walked back into Kane’s life—against her will—in June and hadn’t left. She was as stubborn as he was.
Also on the groom’s side were the boys Sean and Lucy had rescued from a violent cartel last March. They lived in the house across from St. Catherine’s, and Sean had somehow adopted them. The boys had no one then, having been used as drug mules, and now they had the church, their guardian Father Mateo, and Sean. He’d built them a pool, he came over to help them with math homework, and he listened.
Sometimes all kids needed was someone to listen.
If Jesse could have been here, the day would have been perfect. It was perfect, Sean reminded himself. And he’d see his son soon—the marshals were already working on a visit before the end of the year. Sean had hoped after Jasmine Flores was killed that Jesse wouldn’t need witness protection, but Carson Spade had a lot of information on a lot of cartels and criminals, and until the US Attorney’s Office finished with their work and handed down indictments there would be no way Jesse could leave.
But maybe it wouldn’t be forever. It might not even be the full six years before Jesse was eighteen. There was a new light at the end of the tunnel, and Sean would persevere. He would find a way to get through this. Having Lucy at his side made it so much easier.
He glanced at the crew from Rogan-Caruso-Kincaid. He had returned to the fold, but on his terms. He’d only invited those closest to him. JT, of course—he was practically a brother. Mitch and Claire Bianchi, who were now working with Patrick in DC since Sean had moved to Texas; the DA of Sacramento, Matt Elliott, who’d served in the Navy SEALs with JT; and Rick Stockton. Sean wasn’t surprised that the assistant director of the FBI had chosen to sit with his old friends. Matt’s girlfriend—wife? Sean couldn’t remember if they’d gotten married—used to be a cop, now worked for RCK. And then Dean Hooper and his wife, Sonia. Sean and Duke had once been hired to protect Sonia’s adopted parents from her criminal father; Dean was a fed—specialized in white-collar crimes—and the last person Sean would ever expect to have as a friend. Yet here they were.
His friend pool was a lot bigger than he’d thought.
Lucy’s entire family was there—brothers and sisters and their spouses. Dillon sat with his mother; Jack’s wife, Megan, next to Dillon; Carina’s husband, Nick, had the baby John Patrick in a car seat in the pew. Connor and his wife, Julia, were there with their niece Emily. Elle Santana, Patrick’s plus-one, sat with Connor’s family. Lucy’s mother had wanted to invite extended family and many other friends, but Lucy put her foot down. She gave in to almost everything else her mother wanted, except for the guest list. The only extended family in attendance were Lucy’s aunt, the only sister of the colonel, and her immediate family.
Nelia, Lucy’s oldest sister, hadn’t come, but Lucy told Sean she was relieved. Nelia had sent Lucy a long letter, and that had given Lucy a peace she hadn’t known for a long time. At the end, Nelia had written: I’m truly sorry for how I treated you after Justin was killed. You did not deserve my grief, my pain, my rage. You were a little girl who was forced to grow up too fast. You have grown into an amazing woman, and the empathy and compassion you show crime victims is the greatest tribute Justin could have had. Forgive me.
There were numerous FBI agents and cops in the room. Maybe more of them than family—and there was
a lot of crossover. Most of Lucy’s Violent Crimes Squad were there—Nate, Ryan, Emilio, even Kenzie, who had distanced herself from Lucy after a whole bunch of shit happened on the job, but they’d seemed to be getting along better. DEA Agent Brad Donnelly, whom Sean grudgingly respected; Agent Suzanne Madeaux’s boyfriend Joe DeLucca—Sean and Lucy had met him a few times in New York when they’d worked cases with Suzanne and last summer when they’d spent a long weekend in the city. Assistant Director Hans Vigo had flown in from DC with Rick and sat in the back, next to Noah.
Noah looked like he hadn’t slept in a week—and maybe he hadn’t. He’d been through hell and back, and Lucy had confided in Sean that Noah was thinking of resigning. Sean hoped Noah didn’t—and had tried to explain that he didn’t harbor any ill feelings toward him for anything. Not for half loving Lucy, not for shooting Liam, not for arresting Eden. Noah was a rare man, and Sean knew the FBI would be worse off without him.
Sean took a deep breath as the guitar stopped playing and the organ started another song. Siobhan walked over and sat next to Nora.
The room turned to face the doors in the back.
Duke escorted Suzanne Madeaux up the aisle. Suzanne wore a pale-lavender dress, simple, flowing, classic. She had been a good friend to Lucy over the last couple of years and was a sharp FBI agent.
Then came Kate Donovan, Dillon’s wife, wearing an amethyst dress in the same style as Suzanne’s, a few shades darker than the lavender. Kate walked with Kane, both of them looking a bit nervous. She didn’t come from a large family, and the Kincaids had overwhelmed her. But she had become Lucy’s best friend and closest confidante. Kate didn’t like crowds, but she loved Lucy and so she had sucked it up and walked down the aisle.
Patrick, Sean’s best man and Lucy’s brother, escorted their sister Carina, the matron of honor. Carina was stunning in deep purple. No one would guess she’d given birth four months ago. Carina had taken over the planning of the wedding for Lucy, knowing Lucy wouldn’t have been able to do it and her job. Sean and Carina had butted heads the first time they met, but after they had planned the wedding together Sean had grown to respect her and had a bit more insight into how the Kincaids had grown up. He and Carina might not ever be close, but Sean would do anything to keep Lucy happy, including getting along with all her brothers and sisters.
Jack walked up alone, and the doors closed behind him. Sean swallowed; his mouth was dry. This was it.
Jack stood to the side of the altar. The music switched. The doors opened again in the back of the church and everyone stood.
Sean saw nothing and no one, except for Lucy.
She glided down the aisle, the train of her long strapless dress flowing behind her. Her hair cascaded down her back in curls pinned back with diamonds. Her light-brown skin practically glowed and her lips curved when Sean locked eyes with her.
This was it. His wedding. His and Lucy’s.
Patrick hit Sean in the arm. Sean realized Lucy’s dad was waiting to hand Lucy off to him. Sean walked down the three steps, shook the Colonel’s hand, then took Lucy’s arm. Led her to the altar. They’d rehearsed the wedding ceremony the night before, what they were supposed to say and do, but all that disappeared from Sean’s head. He leaned down and kissed Lucy.
Father Mateo cleared his throat. “You’re supposed to wait until after I pronounce you husband and wife.”
Light laughter from the crowd. Sean whispered, “I rarely do what I’m supposed to do.”
Lucy’s eyes moistened, but she smiled brightly. She leaned forward and kissed him back. “I love you, Sean Rogan. Now let’s get married.”
* * *
Noah approached Rick Stockton at the reception. Everyone from the wedding was at Sean and Lucy’s house—though Noah suspected the bride and groom would be disappearing in short order. After what happened last week, he didn’t blame them.
Rick was talking to Kane. Noah didn’t know Kane well but doubted he had ever been as relaxed as he was right now. Maybe it had something to do with Siobhan, whom Kane couldn’t keep his eyes off of. She was across the room, laughing at something one of Lucy’s brothers said—Connor, Noah thought his name was. The PI. Or was that her brother-in-law Nick? Noah couldn’t keep them all straight. He was an only child.
Noah had known Lucy came from a large family. But seeing them all together at the wedding, and now at the reception, reminded him that he had no family. His parents had been older when they had him. His dad had died years ago, and his mom had moved to Florida, where she was very much enjoying retirement. Noah saw her twice a year, it was pleasant, but he had never felt particularly close to either of his parents. They were good people who loved him but hadn’t expected him and didn’t really know what to do with a child when his mom found herself pregnant at the age of forty.
“Do you have a minute?” Noah asked Rick. Rick had a flight out early in the morning—that he could break away from headquarters for a couple of days had been a feat unto itself. But Rick had a lot of secrets, Noah had begun to realize.
Kane said, “Glad that you came, Noah,” and shook his hand.
“I wouldn’t have missed Lucy’s wedding.”
Kane nodded. It wasn’t that, and Noah knew it. Everything that had happened this last week had a dampening effect on his relationships with—well, everyone. It wasn’t that the Rogans didn’t want Eden in prison. But they’d lost their brother, and Noah didn’t think that had sunk in yet. Or was that Noah’s own guilt clouding his perception?
Maybe Kane had always believed that Liam was dead, at least in spirit. Yet … Noah had been there. He’d seen the pain Kane tried to hide.
Noah understood the need to keep emotions locked up tight. Still, he’d never forget what had happened. Or his part in it.
Most of the guests were either in the large living room, where every door was opened onto the back patio, or outside, where there was a full bar and beautifully catered buffet. Rick motioned for Noah to follow him to Sean’s office. He closed the door. “I expected this.”
“What?”
“You want to leave.”
“No, I—” He stopped. Rick was right.
Rick continued, “I don’t want you to go.”
“I’m having some difficulty reconciling your role in the FBI and your role with RCK.”
Rick nodded, then sat down on the couch. He waited until Noah sat down in the chair across from Sean’s desk, then said, “It’s complicated, but Kane, JT, Matt Elliott, and I are brothers in every sense of the word except parentage.”
“You think I don’t understand?” Noah shook his head. “It’s the gray area I’m having a hard time with. You sent Nate Dunning to Mexico, knowing I was going to go. I went on my own, expecting a reprimand. Expecting I might die. Or that I might create an international situation. Or that I would be fired. It was my choice. Dunning didn’t have a choice.”
“Everyone has a choice.”
“Dammit, Rick, you know that’s not true.”
“I asked Dunning to protect you, because I knew you had an emotional reason for following Eden Rogan.”
“I can separate my feelings from my job.”
“But if it was just the job, you wouldn’t have gone.”
Noah shook his head. Rick was right—and Noah didn’t like that his boss might understand his actions better than he did. “I don’t know anymore, Rick. I have always prided myself for being a good soldier, a good leader, a good agent. I believed in the system, and now … I don’t know if the system works. I’ve broken more rules than I care to admit. I’ve violated the law. I’ve done things I’m not proud of, but the alternative would have been worse. I don’t know who I am anymore. I need to leave, figure out what lines I can live with crossing, which lines I can’t cross. Everything is blurry right now.”
Rick leaned forward. “I don’t want you to go. It’s because you believe in the system that I have groomed you for the cases I’ve sent you on. The cases are complex, and a less ethical—l
ess noble—agent could have made very bad choices. I trust you.”
“I don’t know that I can trust you, Rick.” Noah almost couldn’t believe he’d said that, to the assistant director of the FBI, but it was the truth.
A flash of pain and surprise crossed his face, then Rick nodded. “I understand.”
“I don’t think you do.”
“I do. But I’m not accepting your resignation.”
“You don’t have a choice.”
“Take a sabbatical, Noah. Will two months give you enough time to wallow in self-pity?”
“That’s not what I’m doing.”
“Isn’t it?” Rick stared at him. The man was one of the most tactically brilliant men Noah had known. For all his loyalties to others outside of the FBI, he also believed in the system, in justice. What was right and wrong? Who made that determination? It was these gray areas that bothered Noah, but for the longest time he had been comfortable with Rick Stockton making the final call.
Now, not so much.
“You arrested a woman you once loved. You can lie to yourself and say you no longer had feelings for Eden Rogan, but you did. You still do. Now she’s in prison and she’s not getting out for a long time. You killed Sean’s brother. You had no choice—Kane could be dead right now if you didn’t take the shot. But Sean is your friend, and you’re having a difficult time accepting that this was a clean kill. The important thing is you saved Kane from killing his own brother. I know that is hard on you, and I have never once seen or heard Kane hesitating or being indecisive. Until now. He hesitated and Liam was able to get two shots off. Kane would have been dead if he weren’t wearing a vest—or was hit in the head. Kane would have come out on top, he would have drawn and killed Liam, but you took that awful decision out of his hands.”
Noah hadn’t thought about the situation exactly like that. Kane and Liam were brothers, but they were so different that Noah almost forgot.
“We can play Monday morning quarterback for the next year and never know if what each of you did in Tampico was the right thing to do,” Rick said. “But in those circumstances, at that moment in time, it was the only thing that could have been done.” He paused. “If Liam had killed Kane and you didn’t stop the threat, you wouldn’t be here now. Because you wouldn’t be able to look Sean in the eye and tell him you did everything you could. But you’re here, and I know that you did everything that could have been done. You went above and beyond. You instinctively know that, even if you haven’t run through all those thoughts.
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