The Return Home: The Aegis Network Read online

  “We didn’t fight. We just liked beating the crap out of each other,” Dylan said. “I like the look of the house, but what does the inside look like?”

  “Oh, it’s amazing,” Mia said. “Four bedrooms upstairs and it’s got a bedroom and full bath in the basement. Great for when Kinsley’s mom comes to visit.”

  “It’s also got two laundry rooms,” his mother said as she stepped from the garage carrying a tray of food.

  “Where’d you come from?” He stood, limping over to help his mother, aware that everyone stopped and noticed. Even if he hadn’t fallen in love with Kinsley, his days in Delta Force would have been over. He had two surgeries and would have to have another one and his leg would never be the same. He could have stayed in the Army, but it wouldn’t have been in the field. At least with Aegis, he’d be able to test his limits, be gainfully employed, and spend time with all the people that mattered the most.

  “I had left this at Logan’s, which is where I’m staying since Mia has horrible morning sickness.”

  “That sucks,” he said, taking the tray as he kissed his mother.

  “You know what really sucks,” Nick said. “A kid that wakes at three in the morning ready to party. I swear, if we ever get Emmerson to sleep through the night, it will be nothing short of a miracle.”

  “You didn’t sleep through the night until you were two, so it’s payback,” his mother said.

  “Best part is I have Emmerson trained to want his daddy,” Leandra said proudly.

  Dylan set the tray on the table and sat back down, looping his arm over Kinsley. In a weird way, getting tortured had been a blessing because it brought him to Kinsley.

  It brought him home to his family.

  And it made him whole again.

  “So, can we afford this house?” he asked, leaning in and stealing another kiss.

  “We won’t have a lot of extra cash, and there is one other slight problem, though it’s not a problem, just something we’ll have to figure out.”

  “I don’t like the sound of that.” Dylan said.

  “Neither do I,” his mother added. “That house is well in your price range, and you’ve been building your practice here pretty well. Dylan starts his new job in three weeks. What could be wrong?”

  “It’s not wrong, just a wrench in our well-laid plans,” Kinsley said with a big smile.

  “What kind of wrench?” Dylan asked.

  “Since our relationship was aired on the national news and has never really been private when it comes to this family, it seems only fitting to tell you in front of everyone, I’m pregnant.”

  “You’re what-gnant?” He literally stuck his finger in his ear and wiggled it. “How did that happen?”

  “You had sex in the bathroom,” Abigail said matter-of-factly as she climbed on one of the chairs to get some cheese and crackers. “It’s how all babies are made. Didn’t you know that?”

  Everyone at the table bit their lip, trying not to laugh too hard.

  Everyone except Dylan. He was still trying to wrap his brain around the word ‘pregnant.’

  “You’re having a baby?” he asked.

  “We’re having a baby,” Kinsley said. “It might be physically coming from my body, but this will be a we program.”

  “Holy shit,” he mumbled. “I’m not ready for this.”

  “You’ve got about seven and a half months to get ready,” his mother said. “I’m so happy for the both of you.”

  “A baby,” Dylan whispered. He cupped Kinsley’s chin. “I love you. I really do and what a nice way to return home.”

  “You are my home,” she said before kissing him.

  His father would be so proud.

  I want to thank you for taking the time to sit down and read THE RETURN HOME. I hope you enjoyed Dylan and Kinsley’s story as much as I did. Please feel free to leave an HONEST review on Amazon and/or Goodreads.

  Be on the lookout for Catherine’s story, The Matriarch. The Sarich brothers will have fun helping their mother find love again.

  Sign up for my Newsletter (https://dl.bookfunnel.com/rg8mx9lchy).

  Join my private Facebook group (https://www.facebook.com/groups/191706547909047/) where she posts exclusive excerpts and discuss all things murder and love!

  Welcome to THE AEGIS NETWORK

  The Aegis Network is the brainchild of former marines, Bain Asher and Decker Griggs. While serving their country, Bain and Decker were injured in a raid in an undisclosed area during an unsanctioned mission. Instead of twiddling their thumbs while on medical leave, they focused their frustration at being sidelined toward their pet project: a sophisticated Quantum Communication Network Satellite. When the devastating news came that neither man would be placed on active duty ever again, they sold their technology to the United States government and landed on a heaping pot of gold and funded their passion.

  Saving lives.

  The Aegis Network is an elite group of men and women, mostly ex-military, descending from all branches. They may have left the armed forces, but the armed forces didn’t leave them. There’s no limit to the type of missions they’ll take, from kidnapping, protection detail, infiltrating enemy lines, and everything in between, no job is too big or small when lives are at stake.

  As marines, they vowed no man left behind.

  As civilians, they will risk all to ensure the safety of their clients.

  A note from the Crafty Word Slingers

  THE AEGIS NETWORK falls under the umbrella of the CRAFTY WORD SLINGERS, Casey Hagen and Jen Talty. We’re two writers, with a low tolerance for bullshit, a high standard for professionalism, and a voracious ability to feed off each other creatively complimenting each other in every way. Now, we’ve come together as business partners to create the best books possible for our beloved readers. THE AEGIS NETWORK is just one of our many endeavors together. We also have a series called: THE COLLECTIVE ORDER, which dabbles in the psychic abilities and the uses and missuses of it in both the military and civilian worlds.

  To learn more about us, please visit our website: www.CraftyWordSlingers.com where we discuss everything from our writing aches, pains, and successes, the craft of writing, the ever-changing business of publishing, to the inner workings of our twisted, dirty minds.

  Welcome to our world!

  Grab a drink, put your feet up, dust off your sense of humor, and join us for the ride!

  Books by Jen Talty

  Meet the rest of the SARICH BROTHERS of THE AEGIS NETWORK

  Logan Sarich, the oldest of four boys and the first brother to join THE AEGIS NETWORK. He spent 6 years in the Amy Infantry, then 6 years in Special Forces. He’s content with his life, but never satisfied and has never been in love. Not that he doesn’t want a woman in his life in a forever way…but no one has never been able to steal his heart and soul until he’s sent to his hometown in Jupiter, Florida to serve as a bodyguard to one of the most brilliant ethical hackers in the country…who happens to be his high school sweetheart.

  Nicolaus Sarich is eighteen months younger and started his career as a local police officer. After losing his wife in a boating accident three months after they’d married at the ripe old age of 20, Nick followed in his brother’s footsteps and joined the Army. When his brother gets him an interview with Athena Madero and Grey Holden (the founders of THE AEGIS NETWORK), Nick jumps at the chance to work side by side with his brother. Nick vowed to never lover again…but it won’t last when his first assignment is to find and rescue a powerful business man’s adult daughter who has been kidnapped.

  Ramey Sarich is two years younger than Nick, but the first of the boys to graduate from college…specifically, West Point Military Academy. Ramey is a test pilot for the Army and when one of the planes he’s testing goes down, he uncovers it was no accident. Wanting an outside source, he contacts his brothers at THE AEGIS NETWORK and they send help in the form of an ex-military female pilot now part of the Omega Team…together they unravel a twisted plot,
while entangling their hearts.

  NY State Trooper Series

  IN TWO WEEKS

  DARK WATER

  DEADLY SECRETS

  MURDER IN PARADISE BAY

  TO PROTECT HIS OWN

  DEADLY SEDUCTION

  WHEN A STRANGER CALLS

  Other novels

  REKINDLED

  JANE DOE’S RETURN

  THE BUTTERFLY MURDERS

  The Aegis Network

  THE LIGHTHOUSE

  HER LAST HOPE

  THE LAST FLIGHT

  THE RETURN HOME

  THE MATRIARCH

  The Collective Order

  THE LOST SISTER

  THE LOST SOLDIER

  THE LOST SOUL

  THE LOST CONNECTION

  Special Forces Operation Alpha

  BURNING DESIRE

  BURNING KISS

  BURNING SKIES

  BURNING LIES

  BURNING HEART

  BURNING BED

  About the Author

  Welcome to my World! I’m an Award-Winning and Bestselling Author of Romantic Suspense, Contemporary Romance, and Paranormal Romance. DARK WATER, book 2 in the NY STATE TROOPER series hit number 10 in Barnes and Nobel overall. THE BLIND DATE hit number 1 in the Contemporary Romance/Kindle Worlds List on Amazon. JANE DOE’S RETURN won both THE MOLLY and the BEACON before being published by the WILD ROSS PRESS.

  I first started writing while carting my kids to one hockey rink after the other, averaging 170 games per year between 3 kids in 2 countries and 5 states. My first book, IN TWO WEEKS was originally published in 2007. In 2010 I helped form a publishing company (Cool Gus Publishing) with NY Times Bestselling Author Bob Mayer where I ran the technical side of the business through 2016.

  I’m currently enjoying the next phase of my life…the empty NESTER! My husband and I spend our winters in Jupiter, Florida and our summers in Rochester, NY. We have three amazing children who have all gone off to carve out their places in the world, while I continue to craft stories that I hope will make you readers feel good and put a smile on your face.

  To learn more about me please visit my website: jentalty.com

  Sign up for my Newsletter (https://dl.bookfunnel.com/rg8mx9lchy) where she often gives away free books before publication.

  Join my private Facebook group (https://www.facebook.com/groups/191706547909047/) where she posts exclusive excerpts and discuss all things murder and love!