The elevator dinged and Garrett stepped out into the large, carpeted space. Turning right, he headed down the hallway—to Colt’s room.
He knew he should go to Avery first. Especially since Colt had met them out on the dock when they’d first arrived.
As lame as it was, Garrett admittedly was using his brother as an excuse to put off having to face her. Because Colt was his blood.
Sure, he’d be pissed about the lies and secrecy. But in the end, the guy would still love him, regardless. Because they were family.
With Avery, Garrett didn’t have that same type of assurance. She could walk away free and clear if she wanted. But God, he prayed she wouldn’t.
Reaching Colt’s room, he lifted his hand and knocked. His brother opened the door, looking tired and worn, but not nearly as green as the last time he’d seen him.
Garrett braced himself. For a punch. A tongue lashing. Whatever Colt wanted to dish out, he’d take it in stride.
Fisting the front of Garrett’s dirty ass shirt, he fully expected his other fist to come flying. Instead, he found himself being pulled in for a brotherly hug.
“So damn glad you’re okay. Even if you are a lying asshole.”
“Love you, too, brother.” Garrett patted him hard on the back before pulling away.
Stepping into the privacy of the room, they let the door close behind them before talking again.
“You call Dad?”
Colt nodded. “Second I got the news that you’d been found, and you were okay.”
“He doing all right?”
“Yeah.” His brother shoved his hands into his short’s pockets. “You know Dad. He’s tougher than the two of us combined.”
“That he is.” Garrett ran a hand down his face and bit the bullet. “Guess I have some explaining to do.”
“Guess so.”
The two sat in the bedroom area—Garrett on the loveseat and Colt on the edge of the bed. And for the next thirty minutes, he told him everything.
How he sold insurance on the side as part of his cover. How he and his team travel the world saving hostages from bastards like the ones who’d taken them.
All of it.
“You could’ve told me, you know. Pops, too.”
“I know. I could’ve asked my boss for permission, and he probably would’ve granted it. But I know how hard losing mom hit you and Dad. Me, too, but you were always her favorite, and Dad, well…Mom was his everything.”
Just like Avery’s mine.
“Owens seems like a cool guy.” Colt smiled. “Bet that accent of his has the ladies pounding down his door.”
“Not sure about that, but yeah. Rafe’s a great guy to work for.”
During their earlier meeting, Owens had given him the green light to fill Colt in on his job. The only formality mentioned was that Colt would have to sign the same NDA required of all Tac-Ops spouses—should any of them ever got married.
I want to be the first.
Six months ago, the thought of marriage would’ve sent him running. Now it didn’t even make Garrett flinch.
Not anymore. Not since Avery.
“How’s she doing?” Colt asked, as if the guy could read his mind.