Giving It Up: Pushing the Boundaries, Book 1 by Audra North Read Free Book Online Page B

asshole over on Claremont. Kidnapped his thirteen-year-old son from the mother’s house and is holding him hostage with a grenade.”
    Fuck. Thirteen years old. Nate was thirteen. Warren couldn’t imagine his nephew going through something like that, and because of his own father.
    Of course, the closest thing Nate had to a dad was Warren, which made it even worse. And now he had to lead this mission?
    His lungs felt tight and his hand clenched on the door of his locker. Fuck fuck fuck.
    At least he understood now why he’d been chosen. He knew how to deal with explosives. They’d have to put in protection around the block, and going in there with a bunch of firepower would only put them all at risk…
    He was already formulating a plan. Stepping into the role. Taking control.
    But damn if he didn’t feel exhausted by it even before it had begun.
    “You’re taking your orders from Davis today.” The deputy chief clapped him on the back. “Now get suited up and head out.”
    The deputy chief turned to Warren and added in a low voice, “Avoid casualties at all costs, Davis, and minimize the property destruction. You’re in charge of this shit. Keep it under control.”
    With that, the other man walked out, leaving Warren to dress. Keep it under control.
    Of course he’d keep it under control. It was the story of his whole fucking life. Always in charge. Always in control.
    It was a burden he’d been carrying alone for far too long.
    Tomorrow couldn’t come too soon.

Chapter Four
    Wednesday morning was finally here, after what had seemed like a slow crawl through time. The standoff between that scumbag who’d kidnapped his own kid and half of the substantial Greenbriar police force had lasted several hours. The entire time Warren had kept coming back to thoughts of Beatrice to keep him calm and focused.
    He’d seen her appear on the scene about half an hour after they’d set up the protective perimeter. She’d been snapping photos on behalf of the city newspaper, but he hadn’t had a chance to talk to her. They’d kept the press way back, beyond the area they’d cordoned off after evacuating the other residents in the apartment complex where the perp lived. She’d been too far away for him to even catch her eye, but he’d felt her looking at him.
    He’d thought of her when they’d finally gotten the guy to release his kid, and the boy had come stumbling out, putting on a brave face until he’d reached his mother’s arms. The entire crowd had erupted in emotion along with the mother and son.
    But Warren had to stay in control.
    He’d thought of her when another hour of passing notes back and forth to the man still holed up the apartment had gone by, and he wanted to snap and tell everyone to fucking storm the building and bring the guy down.
    But Warren had to stay in control.
    And he’d thought of her when it had finally ended with the sound of a gunshot from inside the apartment, when the notes stopped completely, and when camera surveillance revealed the kidnapper had taken his own life. He’d wanted to go home and not bother directing the crew that needed to come in and clean up afterward.
    But control…
    He’d gone to bed thinking of her, of the way she’d given him a mere taste of the mastery he craved, and still it almost hurt how much he wanted her…
    While she wanted his money.
    He hated to admit that. But he wasn’t a fool, and there was no use pretending she was doing this for any other reason. After all, what else would a woman like her see in a guy like him?
    He hadn’t even been able to hang on to Jen, who had grown up in a neighborhood like his with a cop for a father, like Warren’s dad had been before him. They’d dated for six years and he’d thought he was going to marry her. They’d had an understanding . He’d lavished attention and care on her, like guys were supposed to do for women, and in return she’d let him be in charge. Deferred to him and his decisions.
    But