Part 38 (1/2)

Nate nodded. ”What if you had kill chips embedded in your spine that would detonate in five years?”

Chance rubbed his nose. ”Well, hmmm. I guess I'd spend nearly five years preparing for war. Just in case.”

Jory nodded. ”Welcome to Sins Security-the company of ex-soldiers we've built over the last five years.” He rolled his shoulders. ”I guess you're part owner now. You, Wade, and Kyle.” He turned toward Matt. ”Right?”

”Definitely. Every brother gets a share.” Matt kept his voice level.

Chance shot a jerky hand through his hair and sucked in several deep breaths of air. He blinked rapidly, slowing his breathing. A mere moment later, the kid eyed them all, back in control. Tough, wasn't he? ”Great. Let's go to war,” Chance said.

Four matching sets of gray eyes all focused on Jory. Waiting.

He let his brain go through the problem, and their decision made no sense. So he let go of thinking and opened his heart. They belonged together, and when one was missing, they all hurt. Finally, he gave in. They had to save him as badly as he'd wanted to save them, and he was just as important to the family as anybody else. He mattered. ”I get it. Let's plan for war.”

Nate stood by the board, marker in hand. ”We need to diagram the layout first.”

Jory sat back, and within half an hour, they had a plan. It took fifteen minutes to put the first part in action-mainly, they called in their employees. The master plan would be risky and quite possibly involve treason and death.

He was already facing death.

Exactly an hour after starting to plan, they all trooped upstairs.

Matt paused. ”One hour, and then we suit up.” He faced Chance. ”You're right about going, and I'm leaving it up to you. But make peace with Wade and Kyle just in case something goes wrong, they're okay. I'm not taking them-too young.”

Chance nodded. ”I don't want them to go. Neither has killed yet, and I'd like to keep it that way.”

Jory didn't move and kept his expression blank. As did Matt. ”Good,” Matt said, shooting Jory a hard look.

Yeah. He'd killed by Chance's age, so it shouldn't surprise him. Yet something in his gut hurt. Bad. They'd have to deal with that if and when they returned. For now, he had to talk to Piper. To tell her what she meant to him.

He found her in his bedroom, staring out the sliding gla.s.s door at the darkened sky. For once, the night was clear. Stars dotted the night, showing hope, although midnight and death waited for him mere hours away. He opened the door and gestured her outside into an unseasonably warm night.

She stood in the moonlight and turned to face him. So d.a.m.n beautiful his chest hurt. ”Did you come up with a plan?”

”Yes.”

”Which is?” she asked.

”To attack, find the cord, and take the chip out.” He wanted to touch her, but he wanted to commit the moment to his heart. Of her in the moonlight, love and concern in her eyes.

She smiled, her lips trembling. ”Sounds easy enough.”

”I know, right?” He moved toward her, needing to touch. Gently, he ran a knuckle down the contours of her face. ”I couldn't imagine anything more beautiful than you.”

She slipped her hands beneath his s.h.i.+rt. ”Oh, I can.” A low hum whispered on her lips as she shoved his s.h.i.+rt up.

He ducked to help her take it off. ”I'll do my best to get back to you.”

”I'm coming with you.” She leaned in and licked his right nipple.

He s.h.i.+vered. ”No.”

She nipped. ”Yes. I'm the hero of my own d.a.m.n story, Jory Dean. Protect me all you want, but this once, I'm needed with you. War or not.”

If something happened to her, he'd f.u.c.king die. Well, if he didn't die in a few hours, anyway. ”I can't do what I need to do with you there.”

”I'm a hacker, Jory. Even with the right cord, we may need to hack into the chip.” She nibbled up his chest to kiss under his chin. So gentle and so d.a.m.n sweet.

”I don't want you to see me like that.” To see the real him, the one that could turn off all emotion and kill so many d.a.m.n ways.

She sighed, her eyes luminous. ”I love all of you, Jory Dean. Every facet, the dark and the light. And I won't let you die. You need me there.”

Worse yet, she was right. He might need a hacker.

His brothers could hack, but chances were they'd be busy shooting and preventing the commander's men from getting into the infirmary. With a jolt, Jory realized that not only was Piper needed on the mission, but so was Laney. Would Matt realize it? If not, they'd have to make do. Matt would have to cut out Jory's chip.

”Fine,” Jory murmured, grateful for any extra moments with her, even spent in battle so long as she stayed safe. ”But you'll follow orders. You'll be armed, and at all times, you'll be surrounded by guns. Can you handle it? Agree or it's off.”

”I agree.” She grabbed his hair and yanked his mouth down. ”I'm glad you're seeing reason.”

He ripped her s.h.i.+rt apart, nearly shocking himself at the raw need to keep her safe. To take her and make her his. No matter what-forever. ”Remember how I imagined us?”

She gasped and glanced around. ”Yes.”

”Good.” He stepped back. ”Take off your pants.”

Her eyes widened, and she shoved off the worn jeans. Her bra and panties were next.

Yeah, she was perfect.

He shucked his clothes, watching her watch him. With curiosity and need-and a small amount of trepidation. Good. He liked her off balance. Getting Piper out of her head, even temporarily, was a challenge he'd love to meet every single d.a.m.n day.

So he tangled his fingers in her hair, effectively tethering her. A soft gasp whispered from her when he twisted. Then his mouth took hers.

No persuasion, no gentleness-just a hard and fierce claim. He thrust deep, tasting her, taking what he wanted. She was exactly what he wanted.

She pressed against him, her hands flattening on his pecs, trying to get closer. Accepting who he was, what he wanted, and giving even more. The woman gave everything.

He lifted her, laying her down on a settee on his patio. She reached for him, and he flattened a hand on her abdomen. A couple of kisses to her thighs were all the warning he allowed before tasting her.

She hissed out a breath and lifted her hands to her face.

He grinned and sucked her c.l.i.t into his mouth.

She gasped and writhed against him. ”Too much. Toooooo much.”