Page 56 of Jack

Jack leaned around his brother to the woman who had long since become a sister to him. “Hey, I listen.”

Aubrey raised one eyebrow. “Do you remember that, Astrid?” She looked around him now, and he leaned back so the girls could see each other.

“To be fair, he did listen when Valentina and Rafe told him to wear the arm guard when he was playing target for Ajax and Diablo.”

“Good job, too or I’d only have one arm left. Those two are brutal.”

“But so well trained. Val has them eating out of her hand.”

“That’s what I pay her for.”

“Again, you listened when you were told you needed a dog unit. Good job, honey.” Astrid looked at him with a wink, and he shook his head, pulling her closer to kiss her cheek.

“You two are nauseatingly sweet,” Will groaned.

“Don’t be jealous, bro. You have Aubrey.”

“Yeah, but she’s mean to me.”

Aubrey glared at Will. “Um, excuse me?”

“You took my red lace candy away.” Will pouted, and Jack laughed.

“Good for you, Aubrey.” He held up his fist, and she bumped it with a smile. “You need to start eating like a grown up.”

“Oh please, I’ve seen the sour Haribo’s in your drawer at Eidolon.”

“Boys, please. Let’s agree you’re both awesome and leave it at that, shall we? And for the record, if I didn’t love you, William Granger, I wouldn’t give a shit what you ate, so stop being a baby.”

Jack smirked at his brother who glowered at him and mouthed. “See what you did?”

Jack kept quiet, not really wanting to cause a fight and just letting the banter take away the tension of not knowing what was happening with his mother. He knew Will was doing the same.

“How are Valentina and Rafe fitting into Eidolon?” Aubrey asked as she linked her fingers with Will’s and his brother kissed her shoulder, the love between them deep and strong.

“Good, they’ve settled in well. It wasn’t easy letting a new person into the team, let alone two, but I have good recommendations on both, and they work so well together. The dogs are amazing and a massive bonus for what we can achieve in such a short time.”

“How many dogs do you have now?”

“Six. Ajax and Diablo are German Shepherds, Loki and Tiny are Bernese Mountain dogs. Buddy is a Cocker Spaniel, and Ziggy is a Malinois. I’m actually going to see if I can get Val and Rafe to teach the rest of the team how to work with the dogs too.”

Aubrey grinned. “I’d be up for that as well if it’s possible.”

“Me too. I love dogs.”

Jack squeezed Astrid’s hand that hadn’t left his. “You don’t need an excuse to come and see me at work, firefly. We talked about this, and you’re welcome to come to see me at any time.”

Astrid swatted his arm. “Arrogant jerk and it wasn’t an excuse. I’d love to work with them. Roz is thinking of getting some for Zenobi.”

“Then I’ll make it happen.”

“I knew you would.”

He felt his blood heat with desire for her when she smiled at him as if he could fix anything in the world with just his will alone. Astrid always believed in him and never failed to show it or have his back. Even when it was someone teasing as Aubrey had been, she’d still stood up for him and he loved her for it.

“Mr Granger?”

Jack and Will stood with the women they loved by their sides as a doctor called them through and asked them to take a seat in what was he knew a relative’s room and, in his mind, it didn’t bode well.