Dangerous by Jacquelyn Frank Read Free Book Online Page B

neglecting her kid, and Kellen was determined to prove he was more than just a pretty face. Inez had been denied SWAT, and though they’d never say it right to her face, it was obvious that being a single mother had been the reason. She’d quit the force because of it. Kellen had made it all the way through FEDOPS training and three years of active missions before resigning for what he simply called ‘personal reasons.’ Then he’d been surprised to find that the civilian world had a hard time taking him seriously on account of his looks and laid back personality. Employers mistook all that natural charm and easygoing attitude for weakness. It made the pair of them a couple of very serious overachievers, forging the perfect team, and also the perfect friendship. Liam had never had a doubt about either one of them.
    His eyes then sought out Colin. Colin was doing equipment checks before final load, testing lights, cameras, sensors, and the like. He was the only doubt Liam had ever had in all of his hires, and he would probably continue to doubt himself until the day he died . . . or the day his baby brother did. Considering the considerable danger on this pending assignment, Liam thought he was probably more sensitive to his doubts than he might normally be. It wasn’t that he questioned his brother’s skills in the least. Colin was a fine soldier, and an excellent subordinate. He’d been born to take and follow orders with a sense of duty and precision that would make any commander proud and fully trusting of him.
    It was more a matter of Liam feeling the weight of the responsibility he had taken on every time he gave Colin an order or duty that could cost him his life. However, he’d made a measure of peace with himself about it, especially after a night not too long ago when he and Colin had kicked back with a couple of beers and had a heart to heart about it. Colin had reminded him that there was more danger under someone else’s command than there would ever be under Liam’s experienced hand. Since Colin was determined to be in the business, it was actually safer for him to be under Liam’s watch.
    Liam’s phone buzzed, tugging him out of his contemplations.
    â€œNash,” he greeted.
    â€œDevon friggin’ Candler! You sonofabitch, I didn’t think you had it in you!”
    â€œWhat’s up, Micah?” he asked, smiling at his partner’s usual enthusiasm. He had known that Micah was going to orgasm when he heard about NHK landing the Candler job. Micah loved to make money, and Devon would be paying out a great deal of it over the next few months.
    â€œWhen this gig came up, I thought for sure you were going to blow it. I thought, ‘Sure! Ripest plum to ever plop in our laps and I’m stuck in Milan, leaving the man with the personality of the Antichrist to seal the deal!’ But Glory just told me you handed in signed contracts good for six months of 24/7 coverage, with an option to pick up. Now, we both know it wasn’t your winning charm, because you don’t have any when it comes to handling business, so how’d you get the contract?”
    â€œOh, we have an expertise no one else can claim,” Liam told him, taking no offense whatsoever to Micah’s colorful description of the facts.
    â€œAnd that is?”
    â€œSomething I won’t discuss long distance, Micah,” he said directly.
    â€œAh. No problem, I’ll catch up when I get back.”
    â€œWhen is that, by the way?” he asked, grinning into the phone and knowing what the gist of Micah’s answer was going to be already.
    â€œIs Roni still mad at me?”
    â€œLet me put it this way,” Liam said with a laugh, “when you come home and you can’t find your car in long-term parking at the airport, don’t call the cops.”
    â€œOh, hell! She didn’t!”
    â€œWould I lie?”
    â€œCrap!” Micah added a