The group lingered on the field talking with each other, but when the stadium lights shut down, they made their way into the building and out to the parking lot.
“Should we head to Mom and Dad’s?” Caroline asked. “Tell them your exciting news?”
“Great idea,” Sydney said. “Tank, yes? No?”
“Absolutely,” Teddy replied. “Right now, I’m so damn stoked we got Haqazzii, I’d agree to anything.”
Sydney waggled her brows before addressing her sister. “We’ll meet you guys there. I want to pack up and get out of Creepy Secret Zone.”
“Yay!” Caroline put her arm around Sydney. “You’re moving back home.”
“I think I’m gonna stay with Tank,” Sydney said. “The condo is too small for all of us.”
“You sure?” Teddy asked.
“Absolutely. I can hear them doing the horizontal Argentine Tango in the next room.” Sydney grimaced.
Teddy chuffed out a laugh. “My place.”
“I told Dakota I’d love for us to do some prelim house hunting,” Sydney said. “He said he’d send over some listings tomorrow.”
Up went Teddy’s eyebrows. “No day off?”
“Hell, yeah, I’m taking a few days off,” she replied. “With you.”
“Where are you thinking you’ll want us to live?”
“Alexandria, near your restaurant,” she replied. “Sound like a plan you can get behind?”
“It sounds perfect,” he replied, as he clasped her hand. “Absolutely perfect.”
SYDNEY
Saturday evening,following Christmas, Santini Ristorante was bustling with lively conversations. The restaurant was closed for a private holiday event, and Sydney couldn’t be happier. The Christmas decorations and lit trees made her heart happy, but it was the people at the party that made it so special— a union of her and Tank’s families, along with their extended ALPHA and BLACK OPS family. Life was good… for the moment, and she relished in the reprieve from the mayhem that had been her constant companion for so many years.
The Day of Destruction mission had beenofficiallyclosed out by ALPHA. It was considered the organization’s greatest success to date.
She was engaged to the love of her life, and they’d made two offers for homes in Alexandria. That week, she’d interviewed at ALPHA HQ with Providence and Cooper, but shehadn’t heard back. Still, she had every confidence they’d offer her a job.
She and Tank were finishing up a conversation with Stryker and Emerson when Sydney’s parents entered the restaurant. Tank clasped her hand and they made their way around the guests and over to them.
“You made it!” Sydney said before hugging her mom.
Tank shook Mark’s hand before Mark pulled him in to hug it out. “Happy Holidays.”
“Merry Christmas,” Tank replied as he hugged Kathrine. “Welcome to Santini Ristorante.” He checked his phone… again.
Sydney knew Tank had been worried about Gabriel. Though G. could take care of himself, Sydney wasn’t going to tell Tank to stop being concerned. Gabriel’s last known whereabouts had been two weeks ago in Italy. Luciano had been the last to see him before G. vanished.
Even though Gabriel hadn’t responded to their calls or texts, she had every confidence he was okay. It was impossible for her to consider anything else.
Evelyn and Sean Baker made their way over. After hugs hello, Sydney introduced her mom and dad.
“How do you know Tank?” Kathrine asked.
“Greystone has been our son since he was sixteen,” Evelyn said. “Tank is the latest addition to our growing family.”
The parents continued talking as Tank eyed his phone…again.
