For once in her life, Ellie fell asleep unconcerned about what tomorrow would bring. Now that she had Zane beside her, Ellie would have the one thing she’d always wanted. She’d know that no matter what the future held for her, she’d always be loved.
Six Months Later…
As Blake Colter watched Ellie pledge her life to Zane’s, he was feeling restless. Not that he wasn’t happy for Zane—because he was glad his younger brother had found the woman he wanted for the rest of his life. Ellie and Zane deserved every bit of happiness that they were experiencing right now.
Ellie looked beautiful, her blonde hair upswept and her face glowing with love for her groom. Chloe was standing beside her, looking elegant in her matron of honor gown. Marcus was beside Zane, standing as his best man.
Blake couldn’t imagine what it would be like to willingly commit himself to another person completely, like Tate and Chloe had done, and Zane was doing right now. With his political ambitions a priority, it left very little room in his life for a relationship, even if he could find a woman who wasn’t impressed by him being a senator and a billionaire.
When he was home, he had to attend to ranch business. When he was in DC, he had a job to do. Although those two things were good excuses, Blake knew the biggest reason he wasn’t seriously involved with a woman was because he hadn’t found one that he couldn’t live without.
Women used him because he had money and some political power. He used them for sex.
Truth was, he hadn’t even found a woman who looked at him like Chloe looked at Gabe, or like Zane looked at Ellie.
Blake looked at Ellie and then at Chloe, both of them looking radiant and happy. Just like when they were kids, the two best friends were often together, and now they’d brought Lara into their circle. The three of them had gotten very involved with Asha’s Fund. He found it pretty amazing that two women who’d been so damaged were now helping other women to escape from the hell they’d both been through, and Lara, with her psychology background, rounded out the threesome of friends perfectly.
The ceremony was over quickly, and everyone followed the wedding party to the reception, which just so happened to be in the same place: their mother’s resort.
Aileen Colter had been delighted when she’d heard Ellie and Zane were getting married, and she’d fussed over every detail since Ellie’s mom hadn’t been around for the planning stages.
Everybody flowed from the large hall and into the ballroom easily. Blake followed the crowd, hoping he could get something to eat. He’d gotten in late last night, and he was starving.
Before he could go fill a plate with food, Marcus approached him and nodded for Blake to meet him outside. He exited onto the balcony, Marcus right behind him.
Blake’s twin didn’t mess around with the niceties. He got right to the point. “You know how I asked you if I needed a favor if you would do it?”
“Yeah,” Blake answered cautiously.
“I need that favor.”
“Now?” Blake asked grumpily. Hell, he’d just gotten back home, just gotten a break from Congress.
“I’m sorry. I know it’s shitty timing, but lives are at stake right now,” Marcus answered grimly.
“Are you planning on telling me what this is all about?” If he was going to help, Marcus couldn’t keep him totally in the dark.
“Some,” Marcus agreed. “But only what you need to know.”
Blake shook his head. “Everything. Marcus, I know something is up. I’ve sensed it for a while now. Come clean with me. This isn’t just about the CIA stuff.”
“No. It has nothing to do with that. Look, I want to tell you, but it’s an election year for you, and I know you’d never lie. It might be better if you didn’t know too much. Then you could honestly claim you didn’t know.”
“Didn’t know what? If I’m going to help you, I need details.”
Marcus paced the small patio, his expression grave. “I’ll tell you, if that’s what it’s going to take to get your help.”
Blake listened while Marcus started explaining. To say he was surprised at what he didn’t know about his twin was an understatement. Marcus led an entire portion of his life that not a single one of the Colter family even knew about.
When had he lost track of his twin brother and exactly what was going on in his life? They used to share everything.
“Why didn’t you tell me before?”
“Because I gave my word that I wouldn’t.”
“Your plan will never work.”
“It has to,” Marcus countered. “The consequences of failing are not an option.”
His brother was right. If the plan failed, lives could be lost.
“You two need to come in and eat,” Aileen Colter directed them from the doorway of the patio. “Now,” she insisted. “You both just got in last night. You have to be hungry.”
Blake and Marcus exchanged a silent communication as they started to leave the patio. “We’re on our way,” Blake said loudly enough for his mother to hear. In a softer tone, he said to Marcus, “We need to talk about this later.”
“We’ll get together at my place when the reception is over,” Marcus agreed.
“Actually, I am hungry,” Blake confessed.
“Me, too. And we have a bride and groom to celebrate with. I didn’t think Zane would ever get married.”
“He’s happy,” Blake informed his brother as they stepped back into the ballroom.
“So is Ellie.”