Even Vampires Get the Blues: A Deadly Angels Book by Sandra Hill Read Free Book Online Page B

Avenil’s admonition about secrecy. “Besides, Geek and I won’t be starting our presentation until Monday. And . . . uh . . . I have a brother who’s a chaplain at Angola Prison that I wouldn’t mind visiting.”
    No one was more shocked by the offer than Harek himself. What in bloody hell am I thinking? Go with a woman—even a plain one, such as her—for two whole days? I am a Viking, not a eunuch. On the other hand, after the bone-deep cold of Siberia, the steam heat of the South would be a welcome change for Harek.
    “Oh no, that wouldn’t be necessary,” Camille demurred, and shot him a glare for having made the suggestion.
    “I didn’t realize you two knew each other.” MacLean studied them suspiciously.
    “We don’t,” Camille said.
    “We met earlier,” Harek blurted out, fool that he was, “but Camille is right. We don’t really know . . .”
    But MacLean was already nodding. “Good, good! Not ideal, but that could work. Mostly we’ll just be going over and over the data presented today, and engaging in physical training. The real work begins Monday with a trip a few days later down to San Clemente Island for jungle survival training. And, actually, Camo, you’ll probably learn more from Harek than you would here in a boring classroom.”
    “That’s what I’m afraid of,” he heard her mutter.
    Hey, he was the one being inconvenienced here. She should be thankful. Instead, once excused, she said, rather ungraciously, “I’ll give you the details about the wedding later.” And a piece of her mind, Harek was sure. “Do you own a tux?” she added.
    “Sure,” he said.
    Once she stomped off, Trond stepped up. “That was nice of you.”
    “Bullshit!” Harek replied.
    “Still smelling roses?”
    “Bite me.”
    “Nah. I think I’ll leave that to your weekend date.”
    “It is not a date.”
    “Seriously, Harek, what were you thinking?”
    “I wasn’t.”
    They both frowned at each other, and said as one, “Mike!”
    It had to be Michael, their celestial pain in the arse, who’d planted the idea in his head. Why, he hadn’t a clue, but it was exactly the way the archangel worked. Putting them in inexplicable situations, and leaving it to them to figure out why. Like they were puppets and he pulled their strings, giving them just enough leeway to fall on their faces.
    “Are you coming to the chow hall with me?” Trond asked. There were only a few people left in the room now.
    “No, I’m not hungry. Besides, I have to find someplace to rent a tux.”

 
    Chapter 4
    Some folks get their chocolate fix with candy, others . . .
    T he first chance Camille had to talk with Harek, who was obviously avoiding her since putting her in an uncomfortable situation with the commander yesterday, was mile four of their six-mile warm-up exercise the next morning, just after dawn. He was trailing at the end of the twenty members of the Deadly Wind team jogging along the sandy beach of the Pacific Ocean. She had to slow herself down to keep pace with the idiot.
    Active participation in the SEAL physical training during this two-week pre-op period was considered optional for the outside folks, though highly recommended. The Justice Department reps were certainly not about to exert themselves in this way. And she’d noticed the CIA guys showed up only midway through the run, having probably had a leisurely breakfast at the Hotel Del beforehand. A logical deduction since they were soon hurling the contents of their stomach along the way. Everyone knew you should eat after a long run, not before. Jeesh!
    Harek was wearing only running shorts and boots with white socks rolled over the top, like many of the men. She and the other five women out this morning wore the same, except covered on top with WEALS T-shirts.
    Despite being in seemingly good physical condition—in fact, really good physical condition, as evidenced by the striated six-pack in his abdomen and long, extended muscles in his