Till Death - Ace Merrill (BOOK 2)

We missed you too

Ace walked gently up the stairs as he saw Austin and Hugo standing outside the bathroom. He had baby Austin in his arms as he couldn't help but smile.

"I thought you two retired?" He asked

Austin and Hugo both shrugged as they grinned at each other.

"For old times sake." They said with a smirk.

"Well for old times sake, I think you both need to meet someone." Ace said as he gently pulled the baby from his chest.

Austin and Hugo smiled as Ace held out the baby. Austin instantly reached out to take him as they couldn't help but smile and coo down at the infant.

They had both quit before Oceane had even fallen pregnant and neither had met the baby. None of the old squad had.

"He's a fucking little looker ain't he?" Austin mumbled as he gently rocked him in his arm.

Austin squirmed against him as Hugo put out his arms to help his friend steady the baby. Austin gave him a grateful smile as he continued to stare down at the baby, who's big wide eyes stared straight back up at him.

"He's got her eyes." Austin mumbled.

Ace nodded in agreement. "Look I know you two don't work anymore but I-"

"Protect the girl." Hugo responded as he pulled his eyes from the baby to look up at Ace. "We got this."

Ace gave him a thankful smile as Austin shook his head.

"Screw you, this baby's my priority now." He mumbled with a small laugh as he continued to make faces at the infant.

Ace reached out and gently patted his arm. "We're gonna head out now. Tell her I said bye?" He said as he nodded to the bathroom door, still hearing the shower going.

They both nodded as Ace gave them one final nod before he turned and went downstairs.

Austin handed the baby over to Hugo as they heard the shower turn off.

Hugo happily bounced the baby Austin on his hip as the bathroom door finally opened.

Oceane beamed to see both guys fussing over Austin.

"Someone's made two new friends." She said sweetly as she reached up and gently brushed his cheek.

"He's perfect Oceane." Austin mumbled as he happily draped his arm around her shoulder.

She leant into him and smiled up at the man who had saved her life more times than she could count.

"You did a good job with him sweetheart." Hugo added as he looked up at her.

Oceane gave them both smiles. "You guys hungry?"

Austin scoffed. "Obviously."

The three laughed as Oceane led the way downstairs, getting everything ready.

*****

"You know I never actually had a sit down meal in this place." Austin mumbled as he looked around the diner.

"Didn't you guys eat when we were here?"

Hugo nodded. "Obviously but it was always on the go, takeout style."

Oceane nodded slowly as she remembered they rarely got to sit down and eat when they were with her before.

"I missed you both." She gave them both a sweet smile.

"We missed you too love." Hugo said with a smile as he gently bounced Austin on his knee. "But I'm sorry he's way freaking cuter than you."

Oceane laughed as even Austin agreed.

"So tell me everything." She said as she almost slammed her hands on the table. "I wanna know what you've both done."

Hugo laughed. "Most of it entailed teaching this guy to do stuff one handed." He nodded at Austin.

Oceane sat there with the biggest smile on her face as she sat next to Austin and happily listened to the pair discussing what they'd been up to.

From helping Austin to do everything with only one arm, to enjoying a lazy holiday by the beach. She didn't care.

It meant the world that they were back. However long for, she had two of her brothers again.

*****

Ace stood slightly up front from the rest as they stared at the B&B across the street.

"How are we gonna know which one he is?" Billy asked quietly as the nerves were beginning to come back.

"We take the list of all the guests and work through. See if one jogs your memory of anything or looks too stupid to be fake." Eyeball answered.

Ace nodded in agreement. "Ready?" Though he asked them all he directed his question at Charlie.

Charlie nodded slowly, "I'm good, don't worry."

Billy gently smacked his back. "We got this."

Ace gave them one final nod as each of them took off walking in sync over the road.

They stopped just outside the B&B as Ace turned to Charlie again. Charlie gave him a nod as he looked up to Billy. Billy gave him the nod as he turned to Eyeball.

Eyeball gave him the nod as he turned back to the front door, reaching out he grabbed the handle and pulled it open.

*****

"You recognise any of them?" Ace asked as they stood in the back staffroom and handed the guys the guest list.

Each of the cobras looked down the sheet as they all slowly began to shake their heads.

Ace groaned slightly as they handed him back the sheet.

"What now?" Billy asked quietly as he looked around.

"We got grounds for a room search?" Jack asked looking up at Ace.

"Which room?"

"All of them." Jack replied. "We can see what's in each."

Ace shrugged slightly. "Let's go."

*****

Each cobra had of course flashed their security badge and the receptionist had no choice but to agree.

Not only were they cobras but now they had serious US army relating jobs with security clearance to information that she couldn't even begin to comprehend.

They all stood outside a door in the long corridor as they exchanged a glance.

"I swear to god if I walk in on a couple fucking-" Charlie mumbled as the others laughed.

"Try knocking." Billy mumbled by his side.

"Oh yeah!" Charlie responded as he held his hand up to the door.

"Fucking moron." Eyeball mumbled as the group knocked on their doors in sync.