“No,” Matt said softly. “It was the commander and Dr. Madison’s fault. Not yours. Your brothers won’t blame you.”
The pain radiating from the kid dug deep under Ryker’s skin, and he moved closer to provide a shield, just in case.
“They should blame me,” Greg said, his lips twisting in fear.
Snow scattered outside, and a helicopter dropped onto the field. A second later, the back door slid open, and a large kid leaped out into the snow and ran straight for the deck.
Greg breathed out heavily.
The door burst open, and the kid stood there, gray eyes, black hair, rigid jaw. His hands were clenched, and his chest heaved. He looked just like Matt. He stared at Greg. “Greg?” he whispered.
“Chance.” Tears filled Greg’s eyes.
Then they moved. Both kids leaped across furniture, catching each other like two bucks clashing horns. A table lamp smashed to the wood floor, scattering shards of glass.
“You’re not dead.” Chance laughed even while tears flowed down his hard face. “Shit, man, you’re not dead.” He hugged his brother. “God. Wade and Kyle.” He turned, and two other boys ran into them, knocking them all over the couch onto the coffee table, which crashed down.
There was a flurry of hugs, laughs, and lots of tears, and more broken furniture.
Ryker grinned even as tears pricked the backs of his eyes.
“Should we help them?” Zara asked, her face wet, staring at all the broken glass.
Ryker shook his head. “Not in a million years. Let them break everything.”
Two more men loped inside and stood next to Matt. Ryker’s breath caught, and he studied them.
“Whoa,” Zara whispered. “The second guy could be your twin.”
Ryker nodded.
Matt cleared his throat. “Ryker? Meet Shane and Nate.”
Nate. Ryker and Nate had very similar bone structure. Did they share genetic material? He moved across the room, taking Zara with him, and held out a hand.
Nate grinned and yanked him in for a hug. These guys sure liked to hug.
Ryker turned and nodded at Shane before peering closer. “Heath has the same birthmark below his left ear,” he muttered.
Shane paled. “I need to track him down, then.”
The enormity of Dr. Madison’s experiments dropped onto Ryker’s shoulders, and he steeled himself for a moment. How far had her studies gone?
It took nearly two hours and seven pizzas to calm everyone down and catch everyone up on Greg’s life, Ryker’s life, and the rest.
Finally, the boys headed for a bunk bed loft upstairs, and Zara excused herself for the master bedroom.
Ryker found himself in front of a crackling fire, bourbon in his hand, facing three men who could relate to his creation and past. “So,” he said.
Nate just looked at him. “You sure are good looking.”
Matt snorted.
Nate cleared his throat. “Ah, just to catch you up a little since there seems to be no doubt we’re genetically linked. I married Dr. Madison’s daughter, and she’s pregnant.”
Ryker’s mouth dropped open.
Matt snorted. “Audrey is a sweetheart who’s nothing like her mother. She’s due in two months.”
“You’re gonna be an uncle,” Nate said with a grin.
Ryker lifted his eyebrows. An uncle? He smiled. “Congratulations.”
“Thanks.” Nate sipped his glass.
Wow. Ryker tried to make sense of his past. “Heath just checked in. He finished helping in Cisco and then headed out to work on a case. I’m following him after I get Zara settled somewhere.”
“Speaking of which—” Matt started.
“No.” Ryker took a deep drink. “Not right now.”
Nate lifted an eyebrow. “You two fighting already?”
“No,” Ryker said, pausing when a figure paused at the bottom of the stairs.
Chance moved into the room, all grace, all young muscle, to reach Ryker. He held out a hand. “I’m Chance. I guess we’re all family.”
Ryker stood and studied the kid. He had gray eyes and Matt’s jawline. What the hell. Ryker drew him in for a hug. “It seems like we all hug.”
Chance hugged him back. “You get used to it. Sometimes they get a little girly, but what are you gonna do?” He leaned back. “Thank you for keeping Greg safe.”
“He’s family.” Jesus. Now Ryker sounded like Matt.
Chance snorted. “He’s good, too. Just asked if I was gonna give him some space or spoon him to sleep.”
Ryker grinned. “Smart-ass.”
“Yeah.” Chance sobered. “He likes you, and he really likes your lady.”
Ryker paused. “We like him, too.”
“But he’s coming to Montana and not staying with you. Period.” Chance’s gaze hardened, and he looked exactly like Jory.
Ryker slowly nodded. “Agreed.” Based on the security measures he’d just heard about, the Montana ranch was the safest place for the kids, especially since Dr. Madison was still gunning for them.
“Maybe you should relocate there?” Chance said.
“I’m working on that,” Matt chimed in.
“Good.” Chance turned and headed for the stairs. “I think I’ll go spoon the smart-ass.” He disappeared.