“We’re taking fire in the hallway just outside the stairwell,” Macy hissed just as another bullet tore into the wall near his head.
Felix lunged out, laying across the hallway, and fired off a few rounds. Someone at the other end yelped and then Felix crawled back to his side. The stairwell door cracked open and Macy moved, firing off several rounds to provide cover for Wild, Alexander, and the mountain that was Storm.
Storm had night vision goggles attached to his helmet. Macy could definitely see why the guy was lethal. One more yelp and another scream occurred simultaneously when Storm fired only two rounds down the hallway.
He’d lost sight of Logan and searched the dimly lit hallway.
“Drop your weapons or he’s dead.”
The sinister voice sent chills down his spine and then bile up his throat when Tony Siegel stepped out from the doorway with a gun to the back of Logan’s head. Logan’s gun swiveled freely between two fingers and his lover’s eyes held his.
Fear paralyzed him.
All the things he wanted with Logan flashed through his mind. He refused to lower his gun in case he had an open shot. Siegel was ducked behind Logan, with just one eye peeking out from behind Logan’s head.
“Fuck you, Siegel. It’s me you want,” he snarled, stepping forward, leaving himself an open target. Fire flashed in Logan’s eyes. He clearly didn’t like that he was making himself vulnerable, but Macy didn’t give a shit. Fear for Logan clawed at his throat.
Logan’s fingers on his right hand were fisted, and then one shot out, then another, and Macy realized it was a silent count down.
“Let him go and take your best shot at me,” he sneered, baiting the asshole, trying to help with whatever Logan had planned.
“Don’t mind if I do.” Rage flashed in Siegel’s eyes and the hot retort came quick.
A few things happened in the blink of an eye. Logan sent out a third finger and then plowed his elbow back high and cracked it against Siegel’s nose, and when the man’s hand came up in reaction to the pain, Logan dropped to the ground and swiped his legs out.
Siegel lost his balance, gun waving in the air.
Macy didn’t hesitate, he fired three bullets, hitting Siegel in the chest.
Siegel stumbled, but didn’t go down. The bullets weren’t doing any damage. The fucker was wearing a vest.
Another echo of gunfire followed and a small spot appeared on Siegel’s forehead.
Macy shot a quick glance to his right and found Storm.
Storm lowered the gun he’d used to put a bullet perfectly in the center of Tony Siegel’s forehead. Yeah, the sniper was a much better shot than any of them.
Siegel crumpled to the ground and Logan spun, kicking the perp’s gun away.
It had all happened in a matter of seconds.
Macy flew across the hallway and then Logan was holding him tight.
“You had a plan.”
Logan huffed. “Always.”
He’d known it, but his heart was still racing. Bullets cleaved into the doorway next to them and the group plastered back against the wall again.
“Not out of the woods yet,” Logan grumbled and then said over his head to Storm, who stood next to them, “Thank you.”
“Yes,” Macy said to the silent mountain. “Thank you.”
“Don’t mention it,” Storm rasped and carefully stepped past them, moving in the direction of the gunfire. Wild was on the man’s six.
They cleared rooms across the third floor as they worked their way through the warehouse, finding a few perps that quickly gave it up when they learned Siegel was dead and therefore, they had no paycheck.
Macy could have laughed if he hadn’t been so shaken from almost losing Logan. He kept one hand touching Logan as they moved, just to reassure himself that Logan was alive.
Reaching the end of the warehouse, they found a trail of bodies. Macy stood open mouthed, but he couldn’t help it.
There must have been ten perps sitting zip-tied and gagged, some injured and some not from the three-man team. Jaxon, Hayden, and Brick had literally cleaned fucking house.
“About time you all showed up,” Jaxon drawled.
“You said there were two,” Macy managed to say and Jaxon grinned at him.
“Siegel’s dead,” Logan responded.
“No shit?” Hayden asked.
“No shit. Courtesy of the big guy there,” Macy said with a jerk of his thumb at Storm.
Storm grimaced and tucked his gun away.
Wild laughed and patted his husband on the back. “My hero.”
Storm was a hero, and Macy would forever be in the man’s debt.
Logan’s arm slipped around his waist and drew him out of the way as SWAT filled the room.
It felt almost surreal that Siegel’s reign of terror was finally over.
“That was too close.” He fisted his hands in Logan’s shirt.
Logan drew him close and held him tight.
They regrouped back at Logan’s office building, on the third floor. Everyone, including DPD who had been instrumental in the cross-task force operation, stood gathered around for a small, informal debriefing. This gathering was more for them, for friends, and for family.
Hitch stood at a table filling shot glasses with whiskey and some with sparkling cider and encouraged them all to take a glass.
There was a long, solemn few minutes when they raised their glasses in honor of the fallen men.
“Both Frank and Stanton saved my life,” Macy began and raised his glass. “They will forever be heroes.”
“Here, here!” Nathan lifted his glass high, tears welling in his eyes.
Whip Tauber lifted his glass. “Stanton and I knew each other from college. He was an honorable man. He could kick my ass, and that’s no small feat.” There were murmurs of agreement and even a chuckle or two before Whip turned to the man standing at the back of the room.
“Mac, Stanton and I graduated the US Marshals’ academy together. Of course, Mac came in late because he was wavering about joining the FBI.” Whip made a face.
“Hey now, don’t hate,” Alexander grumbled, and the room broke out in laughter.
Mac Mackenzie pushed from the wall, the man had yet to say a word since he’d arrived, but he did so now.
“Stanton was a good friend of mine. He left this world doing what he loved. Be happy with the memories he gave us.” Mac glanced at him and lifted his shot glass.
“So, let us drink,” Macy said around the tightness in his throat. “Not only for Frank and Stanton, but for all the men and women who have given their lives to save another in harm’s way.”
As a collective whole, the room lifted their drinks high, those closest to one another tapped their glasses.
He downed the shot of whiskey and welcomed the burn. It helped to keep the tears at bay. He’d forever miss Stanton, and when Logan closed those strong arms tightly around him, it helped to heal his heart.
Logan
“Stick around, I have accommodations for you all.”
His gaze followed Macy as he stripped out of his tactical vest and tossed it aside before plopping down in one of the chairs.
A smudge of grease marred the perfection of Macy’s face and the long strands of his hair were tangled, but he’d never looked more beautiful to him. Call him corny as hell, he didn’t care. That Macy was safe and the threat against him annihilated was all that mattered.
“Unfortunately, Mac, Storm, and I need to be getting back to our families,” Wild broke into his fixation on Macy.
“Thank you.” Macy hopped up and offered his hand to Mac, Wild, and then Storm.
“Thank you,” Macy told US Marshal Mackenzie. “I wouldn’t have made it without you.”
“I don’t believe that for a minute.” Mac smiled, shaking Macy’s hand. “I’ve heard you’re an excellent agent.”
The blush that filled Macy’s cheeks was adorable. When Macy turned to offer Storm his hand, the operative fro
wned at the slim palm and then carefully grasped the hand. Macy’s looked tiny in the giant’s grip.
“I owe you all so much.”
“No, you don’t,” Wild said.
Storm followed Wild’s comment with, “I hear you bake.”
“I do.” Macy’s smile was impish.
“That’ll do,” Storm rumbled.
The team laughed and after Logan thanked all three men and told them he owed them a debt he could never repay, they left.
Four days later
“Never in a million years did I think Siegel would show up at that warehouse,” Macy said. The man was sitting in one of the office chairs at a desk in the command center on the third floor.
After flying to California to attend US Marshal Stanton’s funeral yesterday, they’d returned to his office to tie up loose ends.
Logan drew his gaze from the report in his hand. “I think the chance of killing you outweighed his need for survival.”
Macy’s pretty mouth grimaced. “I think you’re right.”
“Hungry?” he asked. Putting down the report, he rounded the desk and held out his hand. When Macy took his extended hand, he pulled the slender man to his feet.
“I could eat.” Macy dropped the papers he was looking over.
“How about O’Malley’s?” Hayden called from where he was seated one desk over.
He could use a break and knew Macy could too. Not only was the young man still grieving for his lost friends, but over the past four days, they’d been traveling and working non-stop wrapping up the case. Their hard work had paid off, though, they had arrested the remaining three men of Siegel’s crew.
“I could use a beer,” Felix called out.
“It’s only one thirty,” Hayden scolded.
“It’s five o’clock somewhere,” Hitch piped up and the room groaned.
“So old, dude,” Felix razzed the techie.
Hitch flipped Felix off with a grin. Alexander had left a few days ago, but had left Hitch to assist with the paperwork.
Jaxon stood and stretched. “I just shot Ryder a text, he’s on his way and bringing Harrison.”
O’Malley’s was on the way home, so they didn’t stop to change.
When they arrived at the local bar and grill, they found SWAT, FBI, and the DPD were already there. It was a typical hang out for law enforcement and filled with noisy laughter and camaraderie.
Logan ordered both him and Macy a beer and then found them a spot in the booth Felix had snagged for the team.
Squished up together, he finally took a deep breath and after swallowing a few sips of beer, he looked over at Macy. The man had tied his hair back during the last few days, but it now hung loose over one shoulder.
“What?” Macy blinked up at him and whispered. He was absolutely breathtaking.
“Just looking my fill.”
“Oh?”
“Mhmm.”
“That was a close one.” Shadows swirled in the younger man’s gaze and Logan knew without a doubt, Macy was once again thinking of Siegel and the gun to the back of his head.
He slipped his hand into Macy’s and linked their fingers. “It was, but it all turned out okay.”
“I don’t ever want that to happen again,” Macy muttered.
“You know, in our line of work…” he left the rest hanging.
“I know.” Macy sighed out the words, like saying them pissed him off. He then lifted his glass and sipped the beer before running his tongue over his plump bottom lip.
“We’ve both been a bit crazy trying to protect the other,” Macy said.
“True,” he agreed.
“Let’s not do that anymore. I mean, we can protect without stifling each other, yes?”
“Yes.” Logan brushed a thumb along the man’s jaw and smiled at the shiver that went through Macy.
“And you’re not giving up what you do just as I won’t give up being an agent.”
Now, there was his little pistol and he smiled.
“True.”
“So, you just need to promise me not to take any chances.”
“I promise.” He crossed his heart with his free hand and ordered, “And you promise the same.”
“I do.”
“Sounds like a vow,” Logan teased.
“Does it?” Macy grinned up at him.
“Yes.”
“Will you?”
“Will I what?” He blinked in confusion.
“Will you marry me?”
“Yes,” Logan responded with a pounding heart. The question had been so unexpected, but that was Macy. Always keeping him on his toes. Logan wasn’t going to miss this golden opportunity.
His response must have surprised Macy, as was evident when the man stopped with his glass half way to his lips and gaped at him.
“You will?” Blink, blink, blink.
“You can’t take it back now,” he warned with a teasing scowl.
“Oh, hell no, I’m not taking anything back,” Macy said, the look in his eyes fierce and possessive.
“Good.” He plucked up Macy’s free hand and gazed into cornflower blue eyes. “We’ll get the rings tomorrow.”
“M’kay.” Dimples popped.
Logan lifted a hand to brush the long strands of hair from Macy’s shoulder, toying with the silk.
“Did I just overhear a proposal?”
Logan sliced a glance over to Felix, who was on Macy’s other side.
“You did!” Macy said with a happy laugh.
Felix pounded on the table before picking up a fork and tapping it against his glass.
While most of the bar stayed noisy, Cobalt Security and the FBI agents turned as one toward their table.
Before Logan could open his mouth to tell Felix to shut the hell up because he might jinx this moment, Macy took over the table.
Shoving upward until he was on his knees on the leather booth, Macy lifted his glass to his men and the agents.
“I just popped the question to Logan and I’ll be damned if he didn’t say yes.” Macy lifted his glass higher to the sudden smiles and calls of congratulations.
It wasn’t how he’d pictured it in his head. Macy was right, he did like calling the shots, but with Macy, he frequently found the wind knocked right out of his sails.
In a good way.
In a very good way.
Life would certainly be interesting with this man by his side.
“Now,” Macy turned to him. “We just need to decide where to live. Crumpet or Denver.”
Oh boy.
Two months later… because why wait?
Macy
Justin and Sam walked on either side of him as he headed down the aisle. Reaching the front of the room at the country club, he turned and waited.
Logan, along with Liam and Elijah, walked down the aisle. Logan looked like a dreamboat wearing a black tux with trim that matched the green of his eyes.
The room was not only filled with FBI agents and Cobalt Security, but also members of Infinity, a Special Forces unit that Logan’s twin brother, Colonel Liam Cobalt, commanded. Beyond the faces of Infinity were the members of Phoenix and the US Marshals. It was a unique group that he was happy to be a part of. Ashley and her beau, Sheriff Teddy Chance, as well as Tinley, were sitting in the front row.
They had an aisle down the middle, but since he and Logan had taken a few trips over the past few months, Macy knew everyone. The guests filled up both sides of the aisle, taking seats wherever they could fit in the large area.
Logan reached the front of the room and took the place by his side.
They turned as one to face the minister.
With a racing heart and too full of love to do nothing more than shakily voice his vows, he linked himself to the man of his dreams.
Logan responded, stumbling with nerves, reverently promising words to love and cherish him until the end of their days together, while Macy struggled to keep his tears at bay. No way did he want his eyeliner running
on this day.
In another few moments, Macy reached for the ring pillow that Wild’s youngest son, Chase, held up. The little boy looked adorable in his tux, and beside Chase stood Wild’s daughter. Megan wore a pink, frilly dress and tossed rose petals at their feet.
It was absolutely perfect.
He slipped the white gold ring onto Logan’s finger and then Logan took the matching band and slipped it snug against the expensive diamond engagement ring.
Smiling at the rings, they blurred when he remembered Logan surprising him with the diamond a week after his proposal.
It was the rarest of rare, a pink diamond, and he absolutely loved it. He’d argued that it was too much, but despite his protest, Logan had assured him it wasn’t.
And, he had to admit, the color perfectly matched the pale pink polish on his nails.
Logan lifted his hand and touched his lips to the rings and his finger, drawing his gaze upward.
“I love you, sunshine.”
Because he’d hated being called baby so much, Logan had chosen another endearment and Macy loved it.
“I love you too,” he breathed.
Logan
The same look was on Macy’s face the day he’d surprised him with the rare pink diamond. It was as if Macy thought he didn’t deserve such a priceless gem. Truth was, Macy was worth more than any gem on the face of the earth and if it took the rest of his life to prove that, he would.
The pure white tux was poured on Macy’s long, lean frame, the only color that of the palest pink in the shiny shirt beneath the jacket and the hot pink bow tie.
He fucking loved it and found his mouth drying up when he’d tried to say his vows. He’d stumbled, but then Macy had tightened his grip and Logan had drawn in a breath and professed his love for this man. Before their family and friends, he’d vowed to cherish and love Macy until eternity ended.
The ring Macy slid onto his finger felt right. It all made sense, they were meant to be together.
Macy clutched his hand and he turned to the crowd, drawing Macy forward.
“I now give you Mr. and Mr. Cobalt,” the official said.
Without Fear Page 17