Katie was the first one to step forward. “Thank you, Mrs. Callahan.”
“How many times must I insist you call me Charlotte, Katie?”
“Probably a few more, at least, ma’am.”
Charlotte and Katie led the way farther into the home. Kyle managed two steps before he said, “I’m going to find the bathroom.”
Alexei shot him a hooded look before waving him off. “Go.”
Kyle knew he didn’t need to ask Alexei to cover for him, because his brother would do it anyway. Kyle spun on his heel and soundlessly climbed the stairs to the second floor, because that’s where Jamie was.
The door to Richard’s office was unlocked and it slid open at the touch of his hand to the control panel. Jamie stood behind his father’s desk, scowling down at the terminal as he logged in under his own account. He looked up at Kyle’s entrance, raising an eyebrow.
“Shouldn’t you be downstairs eating lunch?” Jamie asked.
Kyle ignored him, striding across the office and around the desk to reach him. Jamie straightened up, standing his ground as Kyle approached. He could see the tension in Jamie’s shoulders, the way he clenched his jaw out of anger now that they were out of the spotlight, with no one to take note of every little emotion filling their bodies.
Jamie was angry about a lot of things right now, but if there was one thing Kyle knew how to do better than shoot a gun, it was how to redirect that anger.
Kyle put his hands on Jamie’s chest and pushed him backward until his shoulders hit the wall between a pair of mounted shelves holding holopic frames. Jamie’s shoulders hit with a dull thump. Kyle held Jamie’s face in both hands as he rose up on the balls of his feet, kissing Jamie for all he was worth. Jamie yanked him close with hard hands, keeping him anchored there against the long, hard line of his body as they kissed.
If they had time, Kyle would go to his knees for him, would suck him off and let Jamie bury his anger deep in Kyle’s body. But they didn’t have time. It hadn’t felt like they’d had any for months and months.
So Kyle took what he could in those few seconds, reminding Jamie that he wasn’t alone, that he never would be again. Kyle might not have sat with him at the witness table today, but he’d been there, been present, and that would never change.
He would always be there for Jamie, no matter what.
The fiery heat of the kiss faded into something easy and gentle, until they were simply breathing against each other’s mouths. Kyle finally sank back down to the floor, Jamie’s hands never letting him go. They stared at each other in silence for several long seconds, blue eyes searching green, before Kyle spoke.
“This is not your fault,” he said slowly and clearly. “Do not fucking blame yourself for something you can’t control.”
Jamie’s grip tightened on his hips, strong enough to bruise, the pain hot at the edge of Kyle’s awareness. The bruises he knew were forming would disappear before he made it to the dining room table downstairs. Jamie’s marks never lasted, and the one permanent thing Jamie had ever given him couldn’t be worn outside their home.
Kyle missed the weight of his engagement ring during moments like this more than he would ever admit.
“I agreed—”
“Shut up,” Kyle cut in with a fierceness that was only ever directed toward the people he loved. “This whole fucking mission was done on orders we all had to obey, not just you. You didn’t think up this mission, didn’t greenlight it, didn’t do anything but say yes, sir. And that’s fine, Jamie. That’s what we do. But you don’t get to shoulder all the blame for it. I won’t let you.”
Jamie lifted a hand to touch Kyle’s face, thumb resting against the sharp jut of his cheekbone. Kyle leaned into his warm touch, never looking away.
“They aren’t going to stop until they win,” Jamie said in a low voice.
Kyle didn’t have to ask who they were. “I know. So don’t let them fucking win.”
“It’s not that easy.”
“It can be.”
Maybe they couldn’t fight the future, but they sure as hell could fight the people gunning for them. The MDF hadn’t started this fight, but if Kyle had his way, they’d finish it.
Jamie dug his fingers into Kyle’s body, holding him in place. “If you have the shot, you take it.”
Kyle nodded slowly, never breaking eye contact. “Gladly.”
He’d done it in Boston with Cillian, killing the Irishman when the brass had wanted that fucker alive. He would do it again without hesitation if he ever had Stanislav or Declan in his sights. The MDF could demand obedience all they liked, but the only orders that mattered to Kyle were the ones Jamie issued.
“Good.” Jamie leaned down and kissed him firmly on the mouth before gently pushing him away. “Go eat. I’ll be down soon.”
Kyle walked out of the office without looking back, knowing that Jamie would find his way back to him soon enough.
6
The Lonely Prison of Truth
The British Ambassador to the United States of America resided in a stately mansion on Massachusetts Avenue NW, locally called Embassy Row. It was located within a guarded compound that included the actual Embassy of the United Kingdom. Access was extremely limited, but Jamie had been pre-cleared last week at the urging of the President of the United States.
The negative spotlight surrounding the Callahan family would normally not lend itself to an intimate audience with members of the British Royal Family, but the man who greeted Jamie in the private library wasn’t just anyone.
“It’s been a while, my friend,” Lieutenant Colonel Liam Wessex said with a wide smile.
Jamie couldn’t help but return it. “Likewise.”
Liam, youngest son to Prince Samuel, Earl of Wessex, and thirteenth in line to the British throne, matched Jamie in height, build, and age. His dark blond hair had been styled for this trip in a trendy way that would’ve been ruined beneath a hard helmet. He was clean-shaven, hazel eyes steady and direct as he approached.
Royal protocol dictated a member of the public should bow their head or curtsy out of respect to one of royal blood. Liam had spent half his life in the military and wasn’t one to stand on protocol with close friends, which Jamie had always appreciated. Liam pulled Jamie into a backslapping hug before putting him at arm’s length, holding onto his shoulders.
“I don’t think many other people would notice, but you look terrible,” Liam said, searching his face.
Jamie rolled his eyes. “It hasn’t been an easy few months.”
“Try a few years.” Liam let him go, waving at Jamie to follow him out of the library. “Come along. We’ll have a cuppa before we leave. If Mother hears I left without offering you refreshments she’ll have my head.”
Jamie would have preferred they left right away, but he was no stranger to good manners when one greeted a guest. He followed Liam through the stately, historic mansion to a parlor that was furnished with modern pieces that didn’t quite mesh with the antique paneling and Queen Anne interior design.
Someone had set up a tea service on the low coffee table situated between four comfortable-looking armchairs. Jamie sank into the closest one, the leather armrests smooth beneath his hands.
“Are your parents here?” Jamie asked as Liam poured them both tea. He’d been so entrenched with working on base and helping out with his father’s campaign from a distance that he’d missed out on Liam’s arrival until he got a call from the other man last night.
“Father and Mother will arrive in two days. I’m a bit early, traveling under a private visit due to a slew of off-the-record meetings. You know how it is.” Liam waved his hand in a dismissive manner. “I’m sure you and I will be seeing loads of each other in the next few days.”
Liam was here representing not only the Crown but the United Metahuman Group. Certain levels of classified information were best transferred with someone of rank. Jamie knew tomorrow would most likely be back-to-back meetings for both of them
, but today their time was their own.
“Perhaps,” Jamie replied, thinking about the flurry of activity happening in the intelligence division Sean had warned him about.
“I know that tone. You have something fun lined up, don’t you?”
Jamie took a sip of his tea and shrugged. “If you mean lunch, then yes. Everyone should be there.”
“Sounds fantastic. I’m looking forward to a day of no glad-handing. I’ll get enough of that in the lead-up to the State Dinner.”
“You think you’d be used to that part of your job by now. You’ve only had thirty-two years of learning to perfect it.”
“Ha bloody ha. Please tell me you’re still attending the State Dinner?”
“Yes, though I don’t know how much we’ll get to interact. My family is a bit radioactive right now. If President Rodriguez hadn’t insisted we come at your specific request, I don’t think we would be going.”
“I suppose it’s a good thing I’m a prince, yes? I’ll make sure you’re given your due.”
“Don’t make me throw a sugar cube at you.”
Liam winked at him. “Finish your tea so we can leave.”
They spent a few more minutes chatting about innocuous subjects that wouldn’t be out of character for either of them. Jamie was under no illusion about the ambassador’s residence being primed for spying on guests. He’d be more shocked if recording devices weren’t embedded in the walls, or if the AI controlling the residence’s system wasn’t spying. It was the name of the game, even with the special relationship between the United States of America and the United Kingdom.
They left their empty tea cups on the table, heading for the front door, where neither were surprised to see Sir Philip Jones, British Ambassador to the United States, waiting for them. A man twenty years their senior, with brown hair going silver at the temples and piercing blue eyes, Philip had cut his teeth on politics.
For all his rank, Jamie knew the ambassador wasn’t read in on Liam’s classified identity, nor his own. So the tight smile directed at Jamie wasn’t really welcoming, but it was coldly polite, as only the British could do.
“I understand you won’t be joining us for lunch or dinner due to prior engagements. Is that still accurate, sir?” Philip asked, directing the question to Liam.
“Yes, Mr. Jones. Do tell Sophia I’ll make myself available when my parents are in town. I wouldn’t want her to think me rude,” Liam replied.
“Of course. I hope you and your…friend have a lovely day. If anything comes up that needs your attention, I’ll be sure to let you know.”
Jamie managed to hold back his laughter until they were in his Bentley and driving off the compound property.
“Your friend?” Jamie said around a laugh. “Either he thinks we’re dating or that I’m a bad influence on you.”
“Honestly, he’s had a stick up his arse since I arrived and refused the usual security detail. When he tried to go over my head, he got smacked down,” Liam sighed.
“Running your playboy persona while you’re here, I take it?”
“Not so much playboy as arrogant wanker.”
“If the shoe fits.”
Liam punched Jamie hard in the arm. Jamie barely felt the blow. “For that, I’m ransacking your whiskey collection.”
“Of course you are.”
Jamie flashed him a smile before focusing his attention on the road. He and Liam had been close friends since they were ten years old, despite the distance, with their lives following similar paths over the years. They’d been friends-with-benefits when a third party was involved for several years when they were younger before the novelty wore off. Liam’s rank as royalty aside, they moved in the same social circles, came from the same ultra-wealthy backgrounds, and had the same outlook on life. Before Jamie met Katie, Liam was his first, true friend.
Which was why when they finally made it to the condo in the West End where Kyle waited, Jamie had the good sense to apologize in the wake of Liam’s friendly outrage when the Englishman zeroed in on Kyle’s engagement ring.
“What is that?” Liam said in an affronted voice, pointing at the ring Kyle wore. “And why in bloody hell didn’t you tell me?”
“Probably because you haven’t visited us in months,” Kyle retorted as he turned around and headed for the kitchen. “Want a beer?”
“Whiskey. And am I the last to know?”
“My parents don’t know,” Jamie said pointedly. “Neither does the brass.”
Liam arched an eyebrow. “They won’t hear it from me. When did you two become engaged?”
Jamie ran a hand through his hair and shrugged. “Thanksgiving.”
Some of Liam’s playful anger drained away. “Ah. Well, then. You still should’ve found a way to tell me, Jamie. Perhaps given your second a holiday and sent her my way. I could’ve introduced her to a nice SAS gentleman or two while she delivered your message directly into my mind.”
“She’s taken.”
“We like Matthew,” Kyle added as he dug through the refrigerator.
“Pity.” Liam shook his head, reaching out to grip Jamie’s shoulder. “I’m happy for you, Jamie. I really am.”
Jamie smiled crookedly at him. “Thank you. I wish I could have told you sooner, but you know why I couldn’t just call you up and announce it.”
“I know. Security and all that bollocks. My lips are sealed, but I better have an invitation when you set the date. Front row, groom’s side, thanks.”
“You’ll be top of the list after family.” Jamie headed for the kitchen, waving at Liam to join him. “Speaking of family, thank you for watching Alexei and Sean’s six back in February.”
“If it were any of mine that had gone through what they did, and they’d been sent to the States, I know you would’ve done the same. No thanks needed, Jamie.”
Kyle slid two crystal rocks glasses their way across the marble-topped island, the smell of whiskey reaching Jamie’s nose. “If you won’t take Jamie’s thanks, then you can take mine. You’re an officer, so remember your goddamn manners.”
Liam laughed, picking up his glass and raising it in a toast to Kyle. “I know better than to argue with an NCO. To friendship.”
“To friendship,” Jamie echoed.
“To you eventually finding someone to keep you in line,” Kyle drawled.
Liam made a face as Jamie threw back his head and laughed.
“I should send Katie back to London with you to get that job done,” Jamie offered.
“Please don’t do me any favors,” Liam said with an aggrieved sigh. “She’s frightening enough as it is and would scare off any viable candidates.”
“So glad you think so,” Katie said from behind them as she walked into the condo with Matthew by her side. The tray in her hands was piled high with cookies that immediately made Kyle perk up.
“Let me have one of those before Annabelle claims them all,” Kyle said.
“She and Madison were parking when we got into the elevator,” Katie told him as she veered into the main living area to set the tray down on the coffee table.
Kyle hurried after her, stealing two cookies and staying over there to chat with her for a bit. Jamie watched them for a couple of seconds with a smile on his face before he turned to face Matthew and offer his hand in greeting.
“Glad you could make it,” Jamie said.
“Happy to be here. My team’s stuck playing the waiting game right now. You know how it is,” Matthew said with a shrug, blue-green eyes full of amusement in his tanned face.
Jamie did, because he’d been involved in the meeting with the director to work out the ground defense capabilities in the Washington, D.C. megacity in case of an attack. So far chatter hadn’t spiked anywhere on the dark web, the usual precursor to a major attack. That didn’t really put the MDF and other agencies at ease. When the director had requested several Strike Force teams to be on standby, SOCOM had agreed to provide them.
With Matthew and
his team having already assisted in the Arizona mission a week ago, they were a logical choice to assign to the MDF. That it gave him time to spend with Katie was a bonus in Jamie’s opinion. He liked the way Katie smiled when Matthew was around.
Matthew turned his attention from Jamie to Liam, taking the other man’s measure with a quick flick of his eyes. “Do I bow, or will a handshake suffice, sir?”
“Call me Liam, not sir. I never stand on protocol when I’m a guest in Jamie’s home,” Liam said firmly as he extended his hand to Matthew for a quick handshake.
“Matthew.”
“That I knew by the way Katie looked at you. You’re a brave man, Matthew.”
“The word you’re looking for is lucky.”
“That, too. What say you and I ransack Jamie’s liquor and get you a drink before the horde descends?”
Matthew cracked a smile. “Lead the way.”
Jamie left them to their quest, knowing that Matthew wouldn’t ask and Liam wouldn’t tell, when it came to Liam’s classified status. The world knew he was a royal and former SAS, but the metahuman aspect was classified. That didn’t mean Matthew wouldn’t put two and two together and come up with an answer he couldn’t confirm, but would blithely ignore. They all lived classified lives, and part of keeping secrets was never talking about them. Jamie was just glad Matthew was treating Liam like a normal person rather than getting nervous in the face of royalty as many people did.
The door to the condo slid open and Madison stepped inside, two gigantic bags of chips clutched in one hand and a grocery bag in the other, over-large sunglasses perched on the tip of her nose.
“All right everyone, the party has arrived and comes bearing snacks!” Madison said loudly as she raised her arms in victory, the bags crinkling in her hands.
“Payment was supposed to be in steaks,” Kyle told her.
“That’s Trevor’s payment. I was in charge of chips and dip.”
“Trevor is bringing chili. I ordered the steaks and they were delivered this morning,” Jamie said.
In the Requiem (Metahuman Files Book 5) Page 9