He’d already known what they were going to say, and he’d already begun formulating counterarguments in his head. In the end, Elizabeth had convinced him he had to run again for the good of the people. Besides, he wanted to see what the country would think of their gorgeous, intelligent, gracious and tough–as-hell First Lady.
He held up his hand to stay their debate. “I’m running. And it’s for that very reason Shorn will see reason and step down before my next term. He ‘wants to spend more time with his family.’ Because I agree that we can’t let those bastards win, and Connor has agreed to go back to the Agency to run a special division focused specifically on threats against the presidency, Secret Service, and our intelligence officers. We won’t let them infiltrate us like that again. Dax, we’re hoping you’ll come on board, too. I know you two had plans to start your own firm.”
Dax waved a hand. “They can wait. I would be more than happy to serve my country again.”
“Mad, are you ready to make your debut? We’ll schedule a splashy press conference in the next day or two.” He sent his friend a wry grin. “Do we have a reason you faked your death besides dodging angry drug dealers?”
Mad managed to look hurt. “I don’t mess with illegal substances. Well, not anymore. I’m a perfectly respectable husband and almost-dad now, thank you very much. And I faked my death because I caught wind of the assassination attempt and spent weeks underground putting all the pieces together so I could help foil it, of course.”
Trust Mad Crawford to come out of this situation better than ever before.
“And I was in on it.” Sara slipped her hand into Mad’s. “We can say our relationship developed then, too. It’s less tragic, and makes him seem way smarter than he actually is.”
Mad simply grinned and gave him a thumbs-up.
It seemed his friends had everything handled. And now, he was almost ready to retire for the night. Today had been the longest of his life, and more than anything he wanted to put it behind him. He needed time to process everything, especially that, despite his father’s arrogance and disregard for Zack as a human with wants and feelings, old Frank had still saved him in the end.
Elizabeth stood, stifling a yawn, and took charge. “I’m going to head to bed. Thomas, I cannot thank you enough. Go see your wife.”
Thomas frowned. “I’m not sure I should leave.”
“We’re one hundred percent sure about our remaining agents, and I’ve got a couple of Agency operatives I trust implicitly watching the residence tonight,” Connor assured. “Go home. Kiss your wife and hug your kids, Thomas. Tomorrow we’ll be back to work.”
Elizabeth turned Zack’s way and kissed him as the other women all stood and headed for the door. “I’m going to get Sara and Mad set up in a more comfortable bedroom upstairs.”
“We’re fine where we are.” Sara squeezed Mad’s hand before following Elizabeth. “We’re actually kind of fond of the place.”
“We’ve made some awesome memories there.” Mad winked. “Besides, I don’t want to prematurely spoil my big back-from-the-dead surprise.”
Liz laughed, just like he did. “What about you, Freddy? The Lincoln Bedroom is lovely.”
“Nah.” Freddy shook his head. “I like the air ducts. They’re very comfy.”
Zack rolled his eyes. Eventually, he’d have to deal with the phantom of the White House. But for now, Elizabeth and the women all wandered out in a cloud of soft chatter. He was alone with his closest friends.
“How about a nightcap, guys?” Roman started pouring Scotch into the crystal glasses.
Zack could certainly use one. Then he would join his fiancée—he really needed to get her a ring—and hold her all night. But first, he had to take a moment with these men who had formed the foundation of who he was, and today had helped to save his life. If it hadn’t been for Mad, Gabe, Connor, Dax, and Roman, he would have become exactly the man his father had tried to turn him into. He would have been taught that only his name mattered, that the only thing of value he had to give was his legacy. These men, his brothers, had shown him the true meaning of family.
“You okay?” Roman patted his shoulder and pressed the glass in his hand. “That was one hell of a rough day.”
“But it’s over.” Gabe reached for his cocktail. “And we can move on with our lives.”
“We still have to be vigilant.” Connor smiled. “But I think we’re back in control.”
Mad held his glass up. “Then let’s get ready to have some fun because we have two of our own to marry off in style.”
Zack shook his head. “Since I’m president, my wedding will be very circumspect. And very soon.”
“How soon?” Dax asked, brows raised.
“Next week…if I can wait that long. I want Elizabeth to be my wife now. We’ve already lost too much time. We’ll have a small ceremony here at the White House. You guys, your lovely ladies, and her family will be the only guests in attendance.” He turned to his chief of staff. “But Roman’s wedding…that will be a blowout.”
“Hey, let’s talk about this…” Roman began.
“Nope, you’re getting the full treatment, brother, because then we’ll all be married and having kids,” Dax explained.
“Tell me you and Liz aren’t going to try to have a couple of little monsters soon,” Gabe challenged. “I know Everly and I are going to announce our first at a proper time and place when she’s ready to talk about it. But not now. Even though it’s happening.”
Everly was pregnant? He reached out and shook Gabe’s hand. “That is amazing news, brother.”
“You knocked up my sister?” Mad demanded.
“I couldn’t let you do the dad thing alone,” Gabe answered with a grin.
Mad gave him a shoulder bump. “No, you could not. Good job, man.”
“But seriously, Everly wants to have a party and make an official announcement. Pretend to be surprised,” Gabe insisted. “But I had to tell my brothers.”
Zack raised his glass. “To the Perfect Gentlemen. We found our perfect ladies. Let’s try our damnedest to be perfect dads.”
They all agreed, though Zack knew there was no such thing as perfect.
But these men and his bride-to-be were pretty damn close.
He was content.
Epilogue
Connecticut
Twelve years later
“Does anyone know what this is about?” Mad slipped off his Yankees cap as he entered the small waiting room to the principal’s office.
He and Sara had moved out to this small Connecticut town, though they kept a place in the city because neither he nor Gabe would ever leave the city behind. Zack and Elizabeth had followed them to this sleepy suburb after their Washington years.
Zack shrugged. “I don’t.”
That made Mad’s frown deepen. “Are we here for the OGs or the next generation?”
They’d grouped their children in three groups. Mad had named the first six the OGs out of his love for gangsta rap and not at all because their oldest children had formed a gang themselves that often made Zack long for the days when he could call in the National Guard. Maddie Crawford, Alex Bond, Karlie Sparks, Jordan Spencer, Helena Calder, and Nicholas Hayes had all been born within a year and a half of one another and they’d been tight ever since.
Nick and the OGs were all in fifth grade, and apparently had taken the place by storm, despite the fact that school had only been in session for two weeks. Now they’d been called into the principal’s office.
“I didn’t get any details,” Sara admitted softly.
Mad sighed. “I know it’s not the crazy babies or we’d be at the preschool, and I was just there yesterday when our son decided to explain to his teacher that she was outnumbered.”
“He really said that.” Sara winced. “He was leading a revolt because they changed the milk from chocolate to plain.”
Zack shook his head and tried not to laugh. “I’m pretty sure we’ve been summoned
to deal with the older kiddos because Roman and Gus are on their way, too.”