Page 1 of Paradise Ties

Chapter 1

Lauren could feel the palpable excitement through the cabin of the Boeing 787-9 as everyone chattered and laughed. She, Dane, their twins Aaron and Leah, along with their friends and family, were finally on a flight to Saint Kitts Island where she would marry the man of her dreams in a double wedding with Dane’s sister Lucy and her fiancé Jace. Will, Jace’s cousin who also happened to be a multimillionaire computer genius, had upgraded them all to first class as a wedding gift and Lauren couldn’t be happier. The men and Lucy all worked for Fortis Security and Lauren considered them all family.

Leah bounced on Dane’s legs, his big hands holding her safe as she squirmed and wriggled to get free. Lauren studied him as he spoke to his best friend Daniel, who was cradling his own sleeping daughter against his chest.

Zoey had come into the world five months ago, and she’d never seen Daniel so happy. Her best friend Claire, who had been married to Daniel until she’d died, would be pleased to know the man she’d loved was finally living life again with Megan, the woman he adored who also happened to be Dane’s little sister. Megan had also become a mother to Claire and Daniel’s daughter Paige.

Claire’s murder at the hands of a madman had been a catalyst for so many things, including her and Dane getting together. She’d also discovered Drew, the brother she’d never known she had and who’d also joined Fortis.

Dane must’ve felt her stare because he turned to her and smiled. Her heart stuttered at his look, there was so much said in that one expression. When they had buried Claire, she’d never in her wildest dreams imagined she’d feel joy again in her life.

“I love you so much,” she blurted, her eyes liquid with unshed tears of happiness.

Dane’s face went soft and he lifted his hand to her cheek, stroking it softly as she leaned into him. “I love you too, Lauren. More than words will ever express.”

“They don’t have to. You show me every day.”

“Don’t be cute when we’re surrounded by people and trapped in a flying sardine can.”

Lauren felt a flutter in her womb as desire flooded her body at the heated look in his eyes.

He read her body’s reaction and growled low in his throat, making her smile. “Minx, we’ll finish this when these two hellions are asleep,” he said, indicating Leah, now tugging on his hair, and Aaron, who was shoving his hand down Roz’s shirt while she mock glared at the toddler.

They laughed at the sight of one of the most feared assassins—male or female—and leader of Zenobi and Lucy’s former boss being groped by a toddler. That was something Lauren knew Dane still had trouble getting his head around—that Lucy had once worked for Zenobi as an assassin. He’d always been a protector and knowing his sister was as deadly as he was, if not more so, was proving a difficult pill to swallow.

“I think he’s like his dad,” Lauren teased.

“Damn straight he is.”

Movement in front of them made her turn as Lucy popped her head over the seat. “Hey, there’s my favourite little monster,” she said, holding her arms out for Leah, who quickly abandoned her father in favour of her cool aunt Lucy. Dane let her go as Lucy disappeared with their daughter.

“I can’t believe we’re finally doing this,” he said, leaning his body into hers.

“I know. It feels like forever since you proposed. So much has happened.”

“Yes, good and bad, but mostly good,” Dane said as his eyes glanced across the aisle to Drew. Her heart broke for her brother who’d had nothing but shit shovelled at him his entire life. First from their disgusting excuse for a father, followed by finding out the woman she considered to be the evilest female on the planet was their aunt, and finally losing his leg when an operation went wrong.

That had been the most significant blow. Being an operative for Fortis was everything to Drew, it had given him the extended family he’d never had. To become an amputee just when he was starting to get his life on track had been the one thing she worried he wouldn’t recover from.

Drew was physically strong, but mentally, he was far more fragile than her in a lot of ways. His newly-found confidence had been shattered, leaving him a shadow of the man she knew he was underneath the baggage he lugged around.

“Do you think he’s alright with the flight?”

Dane angled his head to her as he lifted her hand and placed it against his leg. “Hard to tell. He’s been like a locked vault since the accident. He’s only showing us what he wants us to see.”

“I know, and it worries me.”

“He’s talking to the therapist, though, and that must help.”

“Is he training with you guys yet?”

Drew had refused to return to any sort of involvement with Fortis, stating he wasn’t ready. They all knew he was ready physically but not mentally.

“No, although he did start some one-on-one with K last week.”

Lauren perked up at that. Kanan, or K as he was more commonly known, was Roz’s husband. “Really, how come you never said?”

“Because, my love, you have enough on your plate with the kids and the wedding, and I wasn’t sure if he’d stick it out.”