Sniper's Kiss Goodnight: Securities International Book 5.5: Securities International, #5.5

By E.M. Shue

Happily, ever after usually starts with I do!

Duncan is ready for the next stage of his marriage to Maya. He holds his 'worth it' in his arms every night, while their passion grows ever stronger.

Maya used to fear the future until she met Duncan, but now she's ready to live. She's finally willing to let someone else behind the scope and be a leader.

But their past is about to collide with their future. When the shot is dead center, who will walk away?

• Language: English
• Publisher: E.M. Shue
• Release date: Apr 26, 2019
• ISBN: 9781386457329

Book preview

CHAPTER ONE

DUNCAN

Fast thumping sounds around the room, reminding me of a washing machine but faster. There’s a second thumping in the background, slightly slower, like it's in stereo on a delay. My heartbeat increases. This right here is my reason to fight every day. The reason I wake up and why I won't work away from home anymore. My eyes don’t waver from the small screen, watching as an alien-like arm moves across it, then a leg, and a tiny bum. A head and another arm. How the technician is able to keep track of all the movement is beyond me, but I watch in fascination. Without thought my hand squeezes hers tighter, and when she squeezes back, I finally turn and look down at her. My wife, my love, my heart.

Maya… My throat clogs, and the rest of the words die as my vision blurs. My wife and twins. Two babes. The fact I almost lost them all two months ago still burns. I could have lost them before I knew about them. That's what makes this more precious than anything.

I know. The love and joy on her face overwhelms my heart. I lean down and kiss her gently on the lips. Her lips move against mine and I'm ready to take this further when the thumping changes. I pull away and look at the screen, then to the technician, expecting there to be a problem.

After a year and a half of marriage and all the issues we've faced, waiting for the other shoe to drop has become the normal. Since Maya killed Marcus two months ago it's been quiet, but my gut churns knowing this is only the calm before the storm. Somewhere out there is a man who called Marcus father. A cousin to me but a man that, I feel, is going to be worse than Marcus ever was. Bekah and Timothy haven't been able to find anything on him, but our company computer gurus haven’t been working together, either. They’ve been fighting for the last few months as Timothy was still upset with Bekah for lying to us and running away. Just yesterday Timothy finally buried his anger. Now with both of them working together, I expect them to find something.

The babies are fine. I'm just taking some measurements before we see if they are going to cooperate with us so we can see who’s in here. The tech goes back to her work.

I wanted Dr. Finley to do this test, but she assured us we didn’t need her as this is just an anatomy check, and that her technician is highly trained. I watch the technician move the probe over the same area of Maya's stomach several times, but it’s the biting of her lip and tightening of her brow that makes me want to run from the room and get Jennifer—full schedule be damned.

Jen's married to one of my best mates and practically family. I trust her; I don't know this technician.

Um…give me a moment. I'd like to get the doctor, the tech stammers out as she quickly runs from the room.

It's okay, Duncan, they just want to be thorough. Maya tries to calm me.

What?

You growled at the technician, Big Guy. She’s never coming back in here without backup now. You scared her.

Well if she knew how to do her job, I wouldn't have scared her.

Duncan, she is the best ultrasound tech around or Jen wouldn't have hired her. Jen's new practice has higher standards than the hospital. She partnered with one of the best neonatologist, a dietician, a reproductive endocrinologist, general obstetrician-gynecologist, and a slew of midwives. Jen's practice tops any in Edinburgh or even London. We are lucky we get the family discount.

I nod, she's right. My eyes travel to her lips and I decide I'm going to get another kiss. The small taste a moment ago was like a tease. I lean over again and claim her mouth like I do her desires. She's been the salvation to my soul and the fire in my blood. My lips slant across hers and she opens, allowing me to plunge my tongue into the depths of her sweet tasting mouth. She tastes of toothpaste, hints of the mint tea she had to settle her stomach, and her. I'm about to deepen the kiss and take her where we always end up.

Ahem, excuse me. Jen clears her throat and I pull away as Maya starts laughing, ruining the moment. I look up, still leaning over Maya, and watch as Jen walks in with the technician following behind her.

Sorry, Maya says, her voice full of desire. Ever since I found out she was pregnant, I haven't been able to keep my hands off her. But she jumps me every chance she can too, even before I knew she was pregnant.

I trample down the hurt I still feel over missing the beginning of her pregnancy. Her hiding it from me was one of our biggest arguments. My wife hid it for months, knowing I wouldn't let her help her brother get Bekah back when she ran. I wouldn't have allowed her to lay in that field waiting for the shot that ended Marcus' life. I wouldn't have let her go in that bloody club in Darwin with Bekah. But my wife didn't give me the chance to forbid it, she just kept it secret.

I can't stay mad at her that long, though. She is my everything. I've wanted a family for a while now, but I was letting Maya get over some of her insecurities before we pushed that. My beautiful wife lost her family when she was young. She worries about losing me all the time. I know she still deals with wanting to control every situation and protect her heart from losing me or any of our now huge, extended family.

…Like I was saying, Jen continues to the technician. I've done two other ultrasounds and there was nothing surprising about them. I realize I was off in my head and not paying attention. Everything is looking good. Heart rates are perfect. Size is good, maybe a little big but nothing to worry about.

But, Dr. Finley, look. The tech points at the paused screen, and I try to see what she could be seeing. I can make out the two babies, one laying on the other, cuddled together.

Yes, I see that, Jen states.

Dr. Finley, they are both in the same sac, but look here… The tech points to what looks like a shadow of another skull. Jen takes the probe and squirts some gel on it and begins to search around.

Duncan, can you help her roll toward me please?

I help Maya to her