The JFK international arrivals terminal was a chaotic sea of faces, luggage carts, and emotional reunions. I stood near the gate, leaning against a pillar with my hands in my pockets. For once, I wasn't wearing a tuxedo or a tactical suit. I had opted for a simple leather jacket and jeans, trying to blend in, though my height and the way people unconsciously cleared a path for me made it difficult.
Emily was supposed to be here with me. She had been counting down the days until her brother's return from Spain, but an emergency surgery at the hospital had pinned her down.
"I'm so sorry, Andrew," she had whispered over the phone, sounding breathless. "He's going to be so disappointed. Please, tell him I'll make it up to him with his favorite dinner tonight."
"Don't worry about it, Doc," I had replied. "Focus on the patient. I'll handle the brat."
A loud, boisterous whistle pierced through the noise of the terminal. I looked up and saw a tall, athletic figure with a messy mop of hair and a bright yellow suitcase. He was wearing a Spanish national football jersey and had a pair of sunglasses perched precariously on his head.
Leo.
He spotted me instantly. A massive grin broke across his face—the kind of grin that usually preceded some sort of trouble. He didn't just walk over; he jogged, weaving through the crowd like he was on the pitch.
"Andrew! Or should I say... My Favorite Brother-in-law!" Leo shouted at the top of his lungs, ignoring the confused stares of the travelers around us.
He practically tackled me with a hug, nearly knocking me over. "Look at you! You look like you've been eating nothing but money and protein shakes. Where's my sister? Did she realize she's punching too far above her weight and hide in the hospital?"
"She had an emergency surgery, Leo," I said, laughing despite myself as I patted his back. "And stop calling me that. People are staring."
"Let them stare! I'm back from the land of tapas and trophies!" Leo pulled back, looking me up and down. "Man, it's good to see you. But seriously, the sister is a workaholic. Good thing you're rich enough to buy her a private hospital so she can at least see you for lunch."
I grabbed one of his bags. "Let's go, kid. The car is waiting."
As we settled into the back of the black SUV, Leo didn't stop talking for a single second. He was a whirlwind of energy, a stark contrast to the quiet, calculating atmosphere I usually lived in.
"So," Leo said, stretching his legs out and leaning back into the expensive leather seats. "Tell me the truth. How much do you miss me? Scale of one to ten, ten being 'I cried every night' and one being 'I almost forgot you existed'?"
"Solid two," I deadpanned.
"Liar! You missed my charm," Leo joked, poking my shoulder. He looked out the window at the New York skyline, then turned back to me with a mischievous glint in his eyes. "But for real... I saw the photos Emily sent. You two look pretty cozy lately. I've been meaning to ask you something since I was in Madrid."
"What's that?"
"You guys are cousins, right?" Leo leaned in, his voice dropping but his tone still playful. "I mean, technically. I was wondering... how is it? Is the whole 'falling for your cousin' thing as scandalous and enjoyable as it sounds? Do you feel like you're in a forbidden romance novel?"
I let out a short breath, turning to look at him. "Actually, Leo, it's not exactly like that. We're cousins by name, but we aren't blood-related."
Leo blinked, his playful expression faltering for a second. "Wait, really? I thought your fathers were brothers."
"They were step-brothers," I explained calmly. "My father and Emily's biological father shared the same household, but they didn't share a drop of DNA. Their parents married later in life. Legally, we share a family tree, but biologically, we're complete strangers."
Leo's jaw dropped slightly. He sat back, processing the information. "Whoa. I actually didn't know that. I mean, I knew the Rose family adopted Emily before I was born, but I always assumed the 'cousin' thing was a biological fact on the Thompson side."
He then let out a sharp, barking laugh and slapped his knee. "Well, that makes things a lot less weird for the family tree, doesn't it? My sister's got a clear shot at the billionaire's heart without any genetic complications. Man, Andrew, you really are a lucky guy."
"I told you, Leo, stop calling me that," I muttered, feeling a slight heat in my cheeks.
"Call you what? Lucky? Or Brother-in-law?" Leo grinned, leaning over to mess with my hair. "Because I'm going to keep calling you both. You've been looking after her since I was a kid, even when you were hiding in the shadows. I'm just happy the shadows are gone."
I looked at him—the boy who had grown into a man while I was busy fighting a war. He didn't know the full extent of the "Hotdog" missions or the blood on my hands, but he knew I loved his sister. And in the world of the Thompsons, that was the most dangerous and beautiful truth of all.
"Just don't say 'Brother-in-law' in front of Emily yet," I warned. "She'll probably kick both of us out of the house."
"Oh, she definitely will," Leo agreed, his eyes sparkling with mischief. "Which is exactly why I'm going to say it at dinner. Tonight is going to be fun."
I leaned my head back against the headrest, a small smile appearing on my face. The house was about to get a lot louder, and for the first time in twenty years, I didn't mind the noise.