Lost & Found (Possessed 3)

“Dad,” Nick warned, not wanting to deal with that just yet. He wasn’t lying when he said he’d support any decisions she made about staying or leaving, but it didn’t mean he wanted to hear about them yet.

“She wants to go, you boys better follow her.” He pointed at Nick and Ace, then drilled James with the same look. “She wants to stay, you better tell her you’ll come as often as you can. And if, heaven forbid, she tells you all to take a hike and moves in with me, you better back off or meet the funny end of my shotgun. We clear?”

“Yes, sir” rang through the room as they all fought back laughter about his last threat. If Nick didn’t love his father so much, he’d toss the old man out on his ass for making such a threat. Taking their woman? Hell to the no.

“I can hear you, you know,” Pepper murmured from her spot, making everyone burst out in laughter.

“Good,” Jake told her, “that means you can tell these fools you’re coming home with me.”

She shook her head at his antics, but otherwise, didn’t say a word in response. She did, however, ask them about their plan for catching Alex.

“Until we know where he is, I’m not sure,” James explained.

She looked up at Nick before darting a glance at Ace, hoping one of them had an answer.

“He was here twice, at least,” Nick replied. Talking to the room in general.

“The bear trap,” Ace answered, reading his thoughts.

“Also, the open window the night the power went out,” he admitted.

Pepper’s gasp of horror could be felt through the room as she whipped around to look at him with a glare. “You made me feel like that was in my head.” She was hurt.

Running a finger down her tan cheek, he reassured her. “I’m sorry, baby. I didn’t want you to worry about anything when I wasn’t sure if it was even him or not.”

“Okey doke, boys!” Jake clapped. “Let’s get this sorted out so we can have ourselves a wedding!”

“Uh, what?” James looked just as bewildered as Nick felt.

“Oh, did I not mention that?” His dad had a coy look in his eyes that he didn’t quite trust.

Ace couldn’t believe Jake. Well, actually he could. His uncle had always been a bit of a free-spirit, beat to the march of his own drum kind of guy. But to blindly announce a wedding threw them all off.

“Who’s getting married?” Pepper whispered out the side of her mouth, not realizing Jake wanted the three of them to unite.

“You are, sweetheart,” he told her calm as could be. Like he was announcing the weather.

“Ummm,” she was bewildered.

“Don’t worry, I’ve already got the pastor ready and willing.” Jake ran roughshod over her, and Ace realized he couldn’t tell if the man was kidding or not in order to lighten the mood.

“But,” she tried again.

“Dad,” Nick warned again.

“Well, it’s perfect timing. Her brother’s here to walk her down the aisle and everything. I think she’ll look lovely in your mother’s wedding dress, too.” He continued ignoring their protests.

“First, we catch this guy,” James chimed in.

“Wait just a damn minute!” Ace finally protested. As much as he’d love for Pepper to be tied to them, he wouldn’t do it because Jake was an impatient bastard.

“Could it be in the meadow?” Pepper asked shyly. He and Nick both stared at her in shock, neither able to form a coherent thought.

She wasn’t saying what he thought she was, was she? Her sly smile had his chest releasing the breath he held. Whether in disappoint or relief, he didn’t know.

“He’s kidding, guys,” she said.

“You didn’t think I’d actually plan that before you popped the question, did you?” Jake asked them, shaking his head. “For badass soldier boys, you sure are skittish.”