“One of the dirt bags laughed and mimicked Mouse’s high voice. “Beckett, you’re stupider than I thought if you hire this bastard.”He grabbed the asshole by the throat. “Don’t make that mistake again, fuckbag.”Beckett lifted an eyebrow at the man in Mouse’s grasp. “Last time you’ll make fun of his voice, huh?”

“Mouse shook his head and locked eyes with Beckett. “He can make fun of my voice all he wants, but if he ever calls you stupid again, I’ll eat his brains for breakfast.”

“I can’t leave him here. Not with them. Not in the fucking dirt.” Beckett grabbed his flashlight with every intention of handing it to Eve so he could carry his friend—no matter how fucking big he was—to someplace better, when the light landed on Mouse’s bare chest.“What the hell?” Beckett touched Mouse’s chest again, and Eve took the light and centered it on the tattoo in question.Beckett traced it for a moment, his finger lingering on the knitting needles that set it apart from his own, and bowed his head. “Now that’s too fucking much,” he said softly. “That hurts too fucking much. Eve, not Mouse. He can’t be gone.”

“Stupid Chinese," muttered Bryce, "can't they make anything simple?" "Don't diss the Chinese just because they are smarter than you. It's unbecoming," Caedan said with a laugh. Bryce mimicked his brother in a high-pitched voice. "Don't be an ass, how about that?" he grumbled.”

“But Beckett never flinched. She felt his throat vibrate as he sighed her name with relief. He tilted his head back until it rested on hers.“Don’t ever die in my head again. Please, never again,” he told her, his voice raspy.”

“Where’s the bride-to-be?” Beckett held his arms open for Kyle and gave her a gentle hug. “Good on you, Fairy Princess, making an honest man out of my boy here. Jesus was treating him like shit; he was never getting laid. I hope you two have a million damn kids and name them all Beckett, boys or girls.”Kyle returned the hug and smirked. “We might name our dog Beckett, if you’re lucky.”Beckett laughed a bit too loudly. He seemed desperate to make up for lost time.”