the shot of whiskey and welcomed the burn. It helped to keep the tears at bay. He’d forever miss Stanton, and when Logan closed those strong arms tightly around him, it helped to heal his heart.
Logan
“Stick around, I have accommodations for you all.”
His gaze followed Macy as he stripped out of his tactical vest and tossed it aside before plopping down in one of the chairs.
A smudge of grease marred the perfection of Macy’s face and the long strands of his hair were tangled, but he’d never looked more beautiful to him. Call him corny as hell, he didn’t care. That Macy was safe and the threat against him annihilated was all that mattered.
“Unfortunately, Mac, Storm, and I need to be getting back to our families,” Wild broke into his fixation on Macy.
“Thank you.” Macy hopped up and offered his hand to Mac, Wild, and then Storm.
“Thank you,” Macy told US Marshal Mackenzie. “I wouldn’t have made it without you.”
“I don’t believe that for a minute.” Mac smiled, shaking Macy’s hand. “I’ve heard you’re an excellent agent.”
The blush that filled Macy’s cheeks was adorable. When Macy turned to offer Storm his hand, the operative frowned at the slim palm and then carefully grasped the hand. Macy’s looked tiny in the giant’s grip.
“I owe you all so much.”
“No, you don’t,” Wild said.
Storm followed Wild’s comment with, “I hear you bake.”
“I do.” Macy’s smile was impish.
“That’ll do,” Storm rumbled.
The team laughed and after Logan thanked all three men and told them he owed them a debt he could never repay, they left.
Four days later
“Never in a million years did I think Siegel would show up at that warehouse,” Macy said. The man was sitting in one of the office chairs at a desk in the command center on the third floor.
After flying to California to attend US Marshal Stanton’s funeral yesterday, they’d returned to his office to tie up loose ends.
Logan drew his gaze from the report in his hand. “I think the chance of killing you outweighed his need for survival.”
Macy’s pretty mouth grimaced. “I think you’re right.”
“Hungry?” he asked. Putting down the report, he rounded the desk and held out his hand. When Macy took his extended hand, he pulled the slender man to his feet.
“I could eat.” Macy dropped the papers he was looking over.
“How about O’Malley’s?” Hayden called from where he was seated one desk over.
He could use a break and knew Macy could too. Not only was the young man still grieving for his lost friends, but over the past four days, they’d been traveling and working non-stop wrapping up the case. Their hard work had paid off, though, they had arrested the remaining three men of Siegel’s crew.
“I could use a beer,” Felix called out.
“It’s only one thirty,” Hayden scolded.
“It’s five o’clock somewhere,” Hitch piped up and the room groaned.
“So old, dude,” Felix razzed the techie.
Hitch flipped Felix off with a grin. Alexander had left a few days ago, but had left Hitch to assist with the paperwork.
Jaxon stood and stretched. “I just shot Ryder a text, he’s on his way and bringing Harrison.”
O’Malley’s was on the way home, so they didn’t stop to change.
When they arrived at the local bar and grill, they found SWAT, FBI, and the DPD were already there. It was a typical hang out for law enforcement and filled with noisy laughter and camaraderie.
Logan ordered both him and Macy a beer and then found them a spot in the booth Felix had snagged for the team.
Squished up together, he finally took a deep breath and after swallowing a few sips of beer, he looked over at Macy. The man had tied his hair back during the last few days, but it now hung loose over one shoulder.
“What?” Macy blinked up at him and whispered. He was absolutely breathtaking.
“Just looking my fill.”
“Oh?”
“Mhmm.”
“That was a close one.” Shadows swirled in the younger man’s gaze and Logan knew without a doubt, Macy was once again thinking of Siegel and the gun to the back of his head.
He slipped his hand into Macy’s and linked their fingers. “It was, but it all turned out okay.”
“I don’t ever want that to happen again,” Macy muttered.
“You know, in our line of work…” he left the rest hanging.
“I know.” Macy sighed out the words, like saying them pissed him off. He then lifted his glass and sipped the beer before running his tongue over his plump bottom lip.
“We’ve both been a bit crazy trying to protect the other,”