Rockwell Agency: Boxset

by Dee Bridgnorth

  He was truly a man who had it all.

  Barrett walked over to Hannah and hugged her. He always had an extra special soft spot for her and her sweet disposition. He bantered with Jordan, and he nodded to Ryan, as he bumped his fist against Quentin’s shoulder. The spouses were all there, too, and Barrett put his hand on Angela’s rounded stomach, praising the little baby growing within her, that was kicking against his palm. He talked business with Wes, and he looked at pictures on Lydia’s phone of her honeymoon with Quentin. The happy couple had just gotten back. And he talked sports and Clan business with Ryan, who was the spouse who had taken the most interest in revamping the Rockwell Clan so that it was a thriving, but protected class of people within Baton Rouge.

  Eventually, they all sat down to a spread of gumbo and étouffée and a wide selection of fish dishes. Barrett stood at the head of the table, with Victoria by his side, and he held up his wineglass, raising it to all of them.

  “To each and every one of you,” he said, looking around the table. “For choosing this family. For fighting for everything that we get to enjoy tonight. And for showing me what love was, so that I would know it instantly when I found it for myself.” Barrett turned to Victoria and smiled. “And to my beautiful fiancée and the love of my life. I look forward to celebrating the beginning of forever with you every single year.”

  His friends chorused, “Hear, hear,” and drank from their glasses. But Barrett leaned over to Victoria instead, kissing her and looking into her eyes.

  “To us,” he said.

  She smiled back at him. “To us.”