The Vows We Make (The Six Series Book 4) Read online

  The Six Series

  Book 4

  SONYA LOVEDAY

  This book is a work of fiction. Any reference to historical events, real people-living or dead, real locales is entirely coincidental and used fictitiously. Any resemblance to any person, living or dead, any place, events or occurrences, is purely coincidental. The characters and story lines are created from the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.

  The Vows We Make, Copyright © 2016 by:

  Sonya Loveday

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form without written permission from the publisher, except by a reviewer who may quote brief passages for review purposes. If you are reading this book and you have not purchased it or won it in an author/publisher contest, this book has been pirated. Please delete and support the author by purchasing the ebook from one of its many distributors.

  Cover created by: Sprinkles on Top Studios

  Interior book design by Sonya Loveday.

  Edited by Cynthia Shepp.

  ISBN-13: 978-1539714057

  ISBN-10: 1539714055

  First Edition

  Published by:

  Sonya Loveday

  TABLE OF CONTENTS

  Prologue

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Cole Enterprise

  Glasgow, Scotland

  Nadia

  “YOU DO REALIZE THAT A wedding will require a lot of planning for security… right?” I said, pinching the bridge of my nose to stem the throbbing headache I couldn’t seem to shake.

  It had been like that ever since Aiden called to ask about getting everyone together at the cabin in Alabama.

  Paige and Mark were getting married. There was no greater joy than seeing two people you’d watched grow up take the next step in life.

  Marriage could be a beautiful thing. It could also be the worst thing if one wasn’t ready for it.

  Grant’s hands came down on my shoulders, thumbs digging into just the right spot that melted me every single time. I’d spent years loving him, and I would continue to love him until my last dying breath. Even when there were days where I’d rather wrap my hands around his neck and strangle him, I still loved him.

  “It doesn’t matter. Does it? Next month or next year, it’ll be the same no matter when they get married. If anything, right now might be the perfect time,” Grant answered as he held me pliant under his touch.

  “It would be nice having something happy to celebrate. Not that I didn’t dance a fair jig when we terminated Robert de Fleur’s file. But still…”

  “But still, the data base corruption hasn’t been dealt with. I know. And we’ll deal with it. Our best people are working on it. They’ll find whoever did it, and then we’ll handle it. Like we always do,” Grant said, not giving me a chance to go off on my own tangent about deceitful people and all the security risks piling up like they do when undercover operations get exploited.

  “We got lucky, Grant. It won’t always be like that. And if anything happens to those boys…”

  His hands stilled on my shoulders as he spun my chair around and knelt in front of me. “Nothing. I repeat—nothing will hurt those boys. Not as long as there is a breath in my body. Okay?”

  The lines around his eyes crinkled as he squinted at me with a look of brutal honesty. I knew deep down in my heart he’d do everything in his power to keep Jared and his friends safe.

  “It’s not just the boys anymore. Their tight-knit family is growing as well,” I said, tracing my finger against the deep groove between his eyes. “How did they grow up so fast? It seems like it was just yesterday Jared brought his ragtag group of friends home and now…”

  “Our babies aren’t babies anymore,” Grant said, catching my hand in his and placing a kiss on my fingers. “Did you ever think when Jared was born he’d bring so many people into our lives?” His eyes closed briefly as a warm smile spread along his lip, revealing a glimpse of his teeth.

  To say we loved those kids as our own was a moot point. They were ours just as much as they were their parents, only we took so many more precautions than their parents would ever know about. Those boys had security detail on them from the time they showed up on our doorstep.

  From day one, we took their safety to heart. Never at any point did we not know what they were doing and whom they were doing it with. It would probably shock the hell out of them if they knew just how much we knew about them.

  Never in a million years would I have thought things would turn out the way they had. That not only would my son be working alongside us, but Aiden, Eli, and Ace as well. It wouldn’t be long before Mark, Paige, and Josh were brought in.

  What worried me the most was the intel coming in on Paige and Mark. After Jared’s kidnapping, and the takedown of Robert de Fleur in Scotland, I wasn’t leaving anything to chance. I was positive that Aiden’s file hadn’t leaked before I brought the system down, but that didn’t mean much.

  After Ace’s helicopter crash, I knew deep down something wasn’t right. Taking Ace off the grid and marking him deceased was only the start. Because as surely as I’d done everything to protect Jared and his friends, someone else was trying to oust them. But why?

  You know why, Nadia, the ever-present harbinger of doom whispered in my thoughts. Yes, I did know why. Grant and I had brought it on by deciding to have a family.

  After everything that happened in Scotland, I wasn’t taking any more chances with my family. Sending Aiden to Pennsylvania helped ease our minds for Josh, but it still left Mark and Paige defenseless.

  Calling in Ella from our Colorado location made the most sense. One, she wasn’t linked to the Six in any way, shape, or form. And two, she was damn good at her job. It took her less than a day to report back that my gut feeling had been right about keeping tabs on Mark and Paige. The photos she sent almost daily were solid proof that we’d have to step in and pull them into our world. No matter how much I didn’t want to disrupt their lives, it would be necessary.

  And if we were bringing in Mark and Paige, then I’d make the call to bring Josh in too. It was only a matter of time.

  “Do you think they’ll end up resenting us for this?” I asked, knowing Grant would understand what I meant. We’d been together so long that most days we could end each other’s sentences.

  He sighed, slipping his hands into his pockets, rocking back on his heels. “I don’t know. But I’m not sorry for any of it. We knew it wouldn’t be an easy life when we decided we could have the best of both worlds. Maybe it’ll be the same for them, maybe not, but what’s done is done. All we can do is keep them safe and watch them become something extraordinary.”

  Before long, a new bloodline would take the reins of Cole Enterprise’s operatives, and at least Grant and I could hand it all over without feeling as if we’d turned our backs on our responsibilities.

  “I’ll get in touch with Aiden later and get the dates worked out. We’ll need at least a week to have everything set up.
I don’t suppose they’ll have many out-of-town guests, do you think?” I asked, already planning in my head what would need to be done at the house once we got there.

  “I’m not sure. Why don’t you call Paige and make the offer for any out-of-town relatives to stay at the house with us? If we do that, security won’t be so widespread,” Grant said, unaware I’d already thought of it.

  Turning my face up for a kiss, I said, “Meddling in my thoughts again?”

  His lips touched mine, speaking against them. “I wouldn’t dare. Besides, your thoughts would probably shock my sensibilities.”

  I nipped his lip before he could retreat to safety. “And don’t forget it.”

  “So we’re having a wedding.” Grant’s eyes sparkled as he said it.

  “A beautiful one if I have my say.” I winked back at him.

  He grabbed his back pocket where his wallet rested. “Yep, feels lighter already.”

  Rolling my eyes, I picked up my cell phone from the table, noticing that if I called Paige right then, I’d catch her before she left for work.

  “I’ll leave you to it then,” Grant said, bending down to place a firm kiss on my forehead. “I’ll be in my office.”

  I UNLOCKED THE FRONT DOOR AND dumped my keys and purse on the hall entrance table, practically bursting with the news of my conversation that morning with Nadia. Every second felt like a second too long as I peeled myself out of layers upon layers of winter clothing. Winter in New York was chilled-to-the-bone cold.

  “Mark, you’re not gonna believe this, but Nadia called me this morning. And you’ll never in a million years guess what she said! I’m still in shock. Like really in shock. She told me she wanted to help with the wedding. She even said ‘whatever you want, I’ll make it happen’. Can you believe that?” I said, not even bothering with a hello as I repeated the conversation I’d had earlier with Nadia to Mark.

  I’d waited all day to tell him that. A very long and stress-filled day, with no chance of stopping to call him.

  When he didn’t say anything back right away, I spun on my heel, ready to give him shit for ignoring me. And ignoring me was exactly what he was doing. With headphones in, he sat with his back to me, images flashing on his screen as he sorted through his recent photo shoot.

  “Mark!” I called louder. Crossing the living room, I tapped on his shoulder.

  He turned, wide-eyed, in his seat. Mouth open with a spaced look on his face. He blinked once, and then pulled the headphones from his ears.

  “Hey, baby. How was your day?” he asked, pushing back from his desk and pulling me onto his lap for a bone-cracking hug, followed by a searing kiss.

  “Jared’s mom called me this morning…” I said, repeating everything he missed the first time I’d said it.

  Mark nibbled on his lower lip as he listened. When I wound down he said, “And what did you say to her?”

  He knew me so well. “I told her I appreciated the offer, but we had it under control. That all we want is for everyone to be there.”

  He smirked. “And how did that go over?”

  I shook my head. “How do you think it went? That woman is a force to be reckoned with. And I quote, “Well, if you’re sure, but, just in case, I’ll be sending you a package soon. It’s non-returnable. On that I stand firm.”

  “Gawd, you sound sexy with a Russian accent.” Mark wrapped his arms around me, lifting me up as he stood.

  “What are you doing?” I asked, watching his nostrils flare and his eyes go heavy.

  “You. In like thirty seconds,” he growled as he carried me down the hallway to our room.

  “Only thirty seconds, huh?” I teased as he lowered us to the bed.

  “Can’t help it. That accent. Fucking hot,” he said, biting at my lips, neck, and down my shoulder, pausing long enough to peel my shirt up over my head. His labored breaths panted against my skin. His fingers and lips were hot as they raced along every bare inch of flesh.

  “Need you. Right now,” he groaned against my lips, shifting to press himself against me, spinning us out of control.

  PAIGE LAY CURLED NEXT TO me with her head on my shoulder. Bliss. Being with Paige, holding her against me, was pure bliss. I can’t believe I almost lost her not so long ago.

  Leaving home had been life changing. Leaving my friends had been gut wrenching, but leaving her? That had been heartbreaking. She was the one for me. I’d known it for so long. I’d felt it all the way down to the center of my soul. We were meant to be, and it didn’t matter how or why—when or where. It would always just be.

  “Best thirty seconds ever,” she said, giggling against my neck.

  I smacked her backside, smoothing my palm over the sensitive spot after she yelped. “That was just a preview of our honeymoon.”

  “Unless we can get everyone together, there won’t be a honeymoon.” A hint of sadness tinged her words.

  Paige wasn’t a typical girl. She didn’t have fits of hysterics. She wasn’t a simpering mess, and she didn’t let the little things bother her. But the wedding, and having all of our friends together, weighed heavy on her heart.

  I wasn’t sure when she accepted all of us in to her life, or more so, into her heart, but she had. And it had been one of the biggest steps she’d ever made in allowing those sorts of feelings in.

  The fact that we refused to get married without the Six weighed on our consciences.

  “What could be so important that they’d take this much time getting back with us about the wedding?” she asked, snuggling a little closer as I pulled the corner of the bedspread over us.

  “I don’t know, but it’ll all work out,” I answered, only half believing it myself.

  “I hope you’re right,” she said as she pushed up from my chest.

  “Where are you going?” I rolled over, propping up on my elbow as she picked up her discarded clothes.

  “I’m gonna take a shower, and you’re gonna go order some food because I haven’t eaten all day,” she said, tossing her scrubs in the hamper before disappearing into the bathroom.

  From where I lay on the bed, I could see steam rolling up over the top of the shower curtain. Before I could think twice about it, I was out of bed and pushing the silver handle down. The toilet gurgled and swirled as I snickered.

  “Mark,” Paige screeched as she snapped the shower curtain open.

  I shot her a megawatt smile, and then bolted as she threw an almost empty shampoo bottle at me. Paige would never be able to say that life with me was dull.

  BY THE TIME PAIGE GOT out of the shower and dressed, I’d ordered her favorite Chinese food from the little place down the street. I wasn’t much for Chinese food, but she loved it. And it was a way of making up for the abrupt change in temperature of her shower. With any luck, the delivery guy would knock on the door before she took her revenge, and I’d be in the clear for the rest of the night at least.

  Sitting down at my computer, I pulled up the file I’d kept on my desktop. I’d waited for a long time to start working on the pictures I’d taken of all of us at the cabin before life took us in different directions. I wasn’t even sure why. The only picture I’d touched up was the one where we’d stood together in the shirts Riley had made for us. After I’d opened it and worked on it, I’d closed the file and left the rest of the pictures alone, as if leaving them frozen in time.

  It didn’t help though. Time moved forward no matter how much we didn’t want it to. And wasn’t that what life was about anyway? Moving forward. Creating our own lives?

  Maybe if I worked on the pictures and sent them each a file, it might guilt them into taking some time out of their busy lives to get in touch with us about the wedding.

  With my decision made, I clicked on the first photo and was sucked back in time. Back to the days when Ace, Aiden, Josh, Eli, Jared, and I spent more time together than we ever did apart. And Riley. She was the center of it—our friendship. We’d called ourselves the Six, but really, we were more than that.
More than a number. More than just a group of friends. We were best friends.

  Paige had come into our lives after Riley’s dad started taking on longer hauls to keep the roof over their heads. Riley and Paige had been friends for quite a while before Riley brought her around. I could only guess that Riley didn’t want us corrupting Paige. Riley should have known better; Paige didn’t do anything she didn’t want to do. With a stubborn streak about a mile wide, and quicker comebacks than even Jared, Paige settled nicely within our group. And, in my opinion, rounded out our close-knit family perfectly.

  “I really like that one,” Paige said, putting her hands on my shoulders.

  I tipped my head back with a sigh. “I thought maybe I’d—”

  A quick knock on the door interrupted me. Maybe it was for the best. There was no need to bring both of us down over old memories. Man, I missed my friends. I missed them so much it made my chest tighten and my eyes burn. What I wouldn’t give to have them all back with me.

  Paige squeezed my shoulder briefly and moved toward the door. “That’ll be the food. I’ll get it if you’ll grab the plates.”

  I made it halfway to the kitchen when she called out, “And bring me a water too, please.”

  I’d just pulled down the plates and set the silverware on top of them when I heard Paige suck in a startled breath.

  I left everything sitting on the counter and made my way back to the living room in time to see a stranger cross the threshold of the open doorway, forcing Paige to take a couple of steps back.

  “Oliver? What the hell are you doing here?” Paige demanded, looking behind him as if expecting someone else.

  The stranger didn’t answer her until he closed the door firmly behind him.

  “I’ll tell you in a minute, just…” He held his hand up in the air, calling for silence as he pressed his ear to the door.

  I watched all of it in complete disbelief as I held my hand out to Paige, silently asking her to come stand beside me. For once, she didn’t argue.