Final Strike

  Everyone stopped what they were doing and waited. Mel felt like a bug under a microscope as everyone’s eyes swung to her first and then Harper who had walked in behind her.

  “Okay,” Harper whispered. “Awkward.”

  “Sorry, ladies,” Sable laughed and waved them into the kitchen. “We are rude like that. I just wanted everyone to introduce themselves in person. I mean, our men are going to be in each other’s lives so we had better get along.”

  “Oh…well, no worries there. Mel and I can get along with anyone,” Harper said and pushed Mel further into the room. “She is a little more reserved than I am though, I think she is shy. Me? I am an open book.”

  The other women laughed and Mel shook her head and said, “Yeah, as long as the book is about guns, we are good.”

  “You are just jealous of my baby,” Harper said and pulled out her custom-made 9mm. The women all paused and Mel held her breath because there were children in the room.

  “Hell yeah, I am jealous, where did you get that,” Sable asked and looked closer. “Put it in the safe and we will go shooting later, the guys have a range set up behind the barn.”

  Harper’s eyes lit up and Mel laughed, they were all going to get along just fine. The chaos resumed until the men came through the door, then it was mayhem.

  Chapter Seventeen

  The next morning, Thane woke up and looked around his room. It was like the others in the huge farmhouse. Last night they had gotten to bed late, as they were talking about everything. When they came up into his room, they had just fallen asleep. He turned and looked at Mel who was snuggled in between them. She looked so peaceful. When his gaze moved to Dario he found the man staring at him intently.

  “Are you sure about this?” Dario asked. He had posed the same question several times over the last few days. It seemed his friend was not going to let it go until they had a long talk about what was bugging him.

  Thane sighed and looked at Mel again and then back to Dario. “Why won’t you let this go? We have Mel, and everything is sorting itself out.”

  “Because somewhere and sometime, there are going to be questions about me. It maybe next week, or ten years from now, but you know as well as I do that in the intelligence world I have a huge target over me. Diego Dragomir, the terrorist who fooled the world, will forever know me as the son of Amani Faisal, and brother. I will be questioned every single time something comes up. Did he know? Was he involved?” Dario said and sat up. “I don’t want you or Mel to be labeled because we are close.”

  Thane sighed and looked at Dario, “If I actually gave a shit about what people think this could be an issue. However, contrary to popular belief, at this point, I don’t think any of us care about what anyone thinks but the people on this ranch. They are family, and every single one of them know that you weren’t involved and were just as much a victim of circumstance as the rest of us were.”

  Dario argued, “That is not realistic, and you know it. The FBI or the CIA could determine tomorrow I am a threat and off I go. The uncertainty of that is no way to live, we have all had our share of drama to last a lifetime.”

  “No they won’t, I told you we are going to figure this out. Dallas and Noah already have a team of lawyers working on your citizen status. You are an American even if you weren’t born here,” Thane said.

  “And they can deny the application, Vince may be my father, but I was born in my mother’s country, and that is what they go by,” Dario snapped. “I will never get away from her and her lovely legacy.”

  “You would if you would stop blaming yourself for being born,” Thane grumbled. “You are not responsible for your family’s actions, I thought we talked about this.”

  “I should have known,” Dario yelled and got out of bed. Mel turned over, rubbed her eyes, and looked at the two men who had stolen her heart and she frowned.

  “What did I miss?”

  “Nothing new, Dario is beating himself up,” Thane said frustrated.

  “Like someone else we all know and love,” Mel laughed and looked at Dario who was pacing. “What seems to be the problem?”

  “Everything,” Dario muttered. “The uncertainty, the change.”

  Mel nodded and looked at Thane who was shaking his head. “He thinks because of what his family did, he will always be a target.”

  “Oh,” Mel laughed and nodded. “Yep, you will. I won’t lie, it is going to be an uphill battle, but Thane and I will be right there with you.”

  Dario frowned and looked down at her. “That is the point. I don’t want you to have to deal with my shit.”

  Mel laughed harder, looked at Thane, and then shook her head. “He doesn’t get it, does he?”

  “Nope,” Thane smiled.

  “This is not funny,” Dario yelled. “I am serious.”

  “I know you are and that is what is so incredibly sad. You need to trust us. We are not going to leave you hanging. This is all so new, the relationship, the changes, everything. I think we just need to settle a little and things will work out,” Mel said softly. “But never question my love and commitment to you both.”

  Dario paused and looked at her. She had said what he had been too afraid to hope for. Three little words that could heal his broken heart and she had said them.

  “I love you,” Dario said and went back to the bed and sat down, he opened his arms and she moved into him.

  He kissed her, trying to show her the depth of what he was feeling. In all of this, Mel and Thane were his anchors. She arched against him and wrapped herself closer; he needed this, to feel connected again. Mel pulled back and smiled, then turned to Thane and crawled to him.

  “I love you,” she whispered and Thane grinned.

  “Darlin’, you have my heart,” he said and kissed her.

  Mel pulled back with a mischievous look in her eyes and said. “I have been reading up.”

  “On what?” Thane said confused.

  “Menages,” she laughed. “My favorite authors always have a place in the book where the two men take their woman together, like joining them.”

  “Oh yeah?” Dario said, shifting closer and kissing her shoulder.

  “Yeah,” Mel said breathlessly.

  “Are you saying you want us like that?” Thane said.

  “Please,” Mel said.

  “We will take it slow, if it is uncomfortable or hurts, tell us,” Thane said and ran a hand down her arm.

  “I trust you,” Mel laughed and pulled her t-shirt over her head that she’d worn to bed. She sat up straight and opened her arms. “Ready.”

  The guys laughed and shook their head. “So are we.”

  Thane reached for her and then pushed her back until she was resting against the pillows. With his thumbs, he scraped across her nipples, making her moan and close her eyes. She felt herself already getting wet, and both men now had their hands on her.

  They didn’t tease her at all, both took a nipple in their mouths, and she felt their hands seeking lower. She arched her chest and felt Dario reach the apex of her thighs first. He slid his finger through her folds and into her pussy without hesitation. Thane joined him and played with her clit.

  Dario pulled back and whispered, “She is already wet for us.”

  “Not wet enough,” Thane growled and leaned forward and captured her mouth. She felt Dario move and kiss down her body. They continued to touch her nipples, making them hard and needy until she wanted to tell them hurry.

  “Give me some more of that sweet cream, sweetheart,” Dario said thickly as he traced his tongue down her slit, taking the same path as his fingers had. Mel wiggled trying to get his mouth where she wanted it, but Dario was having none of that. He grabbed a hold of her hips and held her still. “I will take care of you.”

  Together they drove her crazy, Thane at her top, moving between kissing her until she couldn’t breathe, and then moving to first one breast and then the other, while Dario lapped at her pussy, making her feel like she was on
fire.

  Mel felt her climax coming hard and fast as she panted, “I need.”

  “We know what you need, darlin’,” Thane said thickly and sucked in her nipple and made her scream. “So beautiful,” Thane whispered when she quieted down.

  “You are gorgeous when you come, sweetheart,” Dario said and licked her slowly.

  They removed their boxers and t-shirts and Mel smiled. “You are the ones who are gorgeous, and all mine.”

  “Yours,” Thane said and pulled her up and laid down, then pulled her down so she was straddling him. She felt Dario move behind her and run a hand down her back.

  “I love your ass,” Dario murmured and pushed her forward. “Let Thane get you hot again.”

  “I’m already hot,” Mel groaned as she leaned forward and kissed Thane.

  She felt Dario move and she jumped when he licked her from pussy to her rear entrance, spreading her cream and preparing to get her loose.

  She felt a finger trace around her starlet and held her breath when he pushed a finger into her, causing her to flinch. “Relax, sweetheart. Trust me,” Dario said, rubbing her back with his other hand. Once the initial bite of pain eased, it felt so good, she thought as Thane reached between them and added a finger to her pussy.

  They teased her and stretched her, adding two and then three fingers until she was ready to scream at them she was ready. The things they did to her, she knew no man would ever be able to make her feel the same. They consumed her, and she loved them for it.

  “Oh God,” Mel cried when they both withdrew from her and she felt Dario grab her hips.

  “Easy, sweetheart,” Dario whispered and kissed her neck. She felt him move his cock until it was at her entrance.

  He felt his head enter her and Thane swallowed her cry as he kissed her. Then Dario eased inside her a little bit more. She arched a little and gave him better access.

  “Fucking amazing,” Dario said and pushed in slowly. “You are so tight, sweetheart, holy shit.” He moaned and Mel shuddered in Thane’s arms. Dario pushed and withdrew a little at a time until he was fully seated inside her and Mel leaned back a little and smiled.

  “Oh, Dario,” she whispered, reaching an arm around so she could touch him. She needed to feel them both.

  “I’m right here, sweetheart,” Dario said to her.

  Then Thane shifted a little until his cock lined up with her pussy and the passion began to swirl around them.

  “Are you ready?” Thane asked.

  Mel bit her lip and nodded. Thane pushed just the tip of his cock in and she shivered. The pressure was amazing, she felt the sting of being so full, and she moaned.

  “So good,” she said.

  “We are gonna make you scream,” Dario promised and he kissed her shoulder and trailed his tongue up her neck as Thane worked his way inside.

  “Oh my God,” Mel yelled repeatedly until Thane was fully in her as well and her men paused.

  “I love you,” she screamed when they started to move. Dario pulled back while Thane stayed still, and then as Dario began to push back in, Thane slid slowly out of her. She could feel the friction, it was amazing.

  “No,” Mel cried. “I need more.”

  Then they began to move in earnest, and she gasped. She felt herself unravel as they pounded back and forth into her, gripping her flesh together, holding her still so they could take her.

  The sensations took over as she tried to gasp for air. She felt her orgasm begin to start and she tried to hold it off. They drove into her hard and she screamed. As her body began to milk them, Thane and Dario yelled their completion too. They slumped together, falling to the bed in a heap on their sides still joined.

  “BEST SEX EVER!” Mel yelled and the men laughed. “Those books were so right.”

  They showered with Mel in between them before they went down for breakfast. They were the last to arrive and none of the people would meet their eyes. Thane cleared his throat and frowned as he sat down.

  “Good morning,” he said gruffly while Lou bustled around the kitchen making coffee.

  Finally, Jessie looked up, and he saw the look in his friend’s eyes and waited for it. “Yes, it was for some of us.”

  The room burst into laughter and Mel felt her cheeks turn red. Harper smiled at her, “We will discuss the details later, but considering we all heard it, it may be a short conversation.”

  “Come on,” Dario groaned and put a cup of coffee in front of Thane and Mel before grabbing his own and sitting down. “They are just jealous.”

  “Hell yes, why do you think I asked for applications for babysitting,” Jessie laughed.

  Brin frowned and slapped Jessie on the shoulder. “Keep talking and you won’t need a babysitter, you will need a couch.”

  “So what is everyone doing today?” Lou asked. “I would bet vacations are over.”

  The men chuckled and began to plan on the best way to catch up at the ranch.

  Chapter Eighteen

  The first few days back passed in a whirlwind of activity. The men got back into the swing of things, and had already made plans to increase their herd, and expand the horse breeding and training as well. The VA assigned a counselor in the area to help the men. Their first appointment was next week. The women all knew the anniversary of the bombing was in a few days and the men were on edge.

  They were having their party welcoming them home on the same day. Thane had requested it that way; it seemed appropriate. None of the fallen men had made an appearance since they had been back, and the guys thought they had moved on. Mel could still feel Sam and knew he wasn’t gone yet, but she didn’t say anything.

  Mel went with Harper to see the building their new offices would be held in. “So,” Harper said and they walked around. “You are accepting the position?”

  Harper was going to be the liaison between outside agencies and the company. She would be the go-to person if anyone wanted to request their help with a case. Dario and Thane both were going to be leading the training facilities, and were talking about starting classes for the locals on self-defense.

  “Joel and Drake are each going to lead a team, and with Tank and Riker leading the other two, we will be set with four teams to start with. I, of course, will consult on all of the cases until I find someone I like to help me out,” Harper said.

  “When do you think we can open?” Mel asked.

  “Oh, we are open,” Harper laughed and turned to look at her. “I haven’t told the guys yet, but we have our first case.”

  Mel laughed and shook her head, she should have known. “What is it?”

  “The FBI is asking for help from an outside agency. They need fresh eyes on the files they recovered from Amani. Men from the FBI have been compromised but they don’t know who. We are being tasked to investigate,” Harper said.

  “Oh shit,” Mel said slowly.

  “Yeah, Tank is going undercover. They reinstated him to the local field office in Colorado. He is working with the Joint Task Force out of Boulder, Colorado. He leaves in a few days,” Harper said.

  “When are you gonna tell the guys?” Mel asked.

  “Tonight,” Harper said and looked at Mel. “I wanted to give you the heads up first. Just so you know, Dario is not being brought in at all. His lawyers are doing their job. But you know how they are.”

  “Yes, I do,” Mel sighed. “He will be worried. Thanks for telling me.”

  “No worries, us spouses need to stick together,” Harper laughed.

  “Spouses?” Mel teased. “Did something happen that we need to be celebrating.”

  “What? Oh hell no. I was just saying, in general terms.” Harper blushed and then sighed. “But I am hoping someday.”

  Mel shook her head. She was hoping as well that someday this would be behind them. For now, she was content with everything they could give her. The healing she had already seen by being here was enough make her realize that soon, very soon, she would get the happily ever after she had
dreamed of. They all would.

  Thane stopped brushing his horse and looked to where a huge truck was driving down the road. There had been so many deliveries, he wasn’t even questioning why it was coming their way, he was wondering who ordered what now.

  His friends all stepped into the yard to watch as well. None of them seemed excited and so it made Thane wonder what was going on.

  “What’s coming now?” Dario asked. Thane shrugged and looked at his friend. He was relaxed, something Thane was really happy to see. It had taken a few days for him to stop wondering if someone was going to come and get him. When his lawyer finally convinced him that it was being taken care of, they had all seen a difference in Dario.

  Vince and Dario had spent time over the last few days getting to know one another, and Thane couldn’t be happier for them. Even though they started out on a strange foot, they knew that soon they would be able to talk without being pissed at Amani from taking all those years away from them.

  Everyone had pitched in on the ranch, and soon they had it all whipped back into shape, not that it had been bad, but they liked to think the ranch suffered a little without them. Harper’s company was almost ready to launch, and if anyone were to actually say things were going to good they would have been hit on the back of the head, because to be honest, they were all waiting for the other shoe to drop.

  As the truck pulled into the drive, Alex stepped forward and waved to the driver. The man nodded and jumped from the truck and looked around. “This the Second Chance Ranch?”

  “Yep, what do you have there?” Alex asked.

  “A delivery for Thane Grete,” the delivery guy said and looked around. Thane shifted on his feet, he hadn’t ordered a damn thing.

  “That would be me, who is it from?” Thane asked warily.

  “Uh…this letter was supposed to go to you first,” the driver said uncomfortably.

  Thane looked at his friends, shrugged, and held out his hand for the tattered envelope the men held. It only said his name on the front of it.

  Thane opened the letter and sucked in a deep breath. “It is from the Commander.”