Hero - The Ambush: Special Forces Romance by M. S. Parker Read Free Book Online

“You know she has a boyfriend, right?”
    “Ricky? He's an asshole.”
    Ian nodded. “He is, but they're together.” He sighed. “She claims that Ricky's the only person who really understands her.”
    “Besides you,” I said.
    Ian lifted a shoulder. “Yeah, well, we don't talk like that.”
    While I wanted to keep him safe, I had to know something. “Are you actually comfortable leaving Leighton in the loving arms of that asshole while you re-enlist in the army?”
    “No.” Ian shook his head, and then he grinned. “I never said that. I hate the guy. I feel comfortable about leaving because she's got you.”
    “Believe whatever you want.” I tried to keep my tone casual. “But tell me who else I should keep an eye on besides her so-called boyfriend.”
    “Good luck keeping tabs on everyone Leighton knows.” He chuckled. “She may not have a lot of real friends, but she has a ton of acquaintances.”
    “Anyone stand out as more than simply being jealous or wanting to pick at Leighton? Anyone you might call an enemy?”
    Ian shot me a sharp look. “Why do you want to know about Leighton having enemies? Is there something you're not saying?”
    Shit. The kid was even smarter than I thought.
    “I'm saying I'll watch over her while you're gone. I don't want her to get hurt, and she's already upset about the idea of you leaving.”
    “The idea?” Ian asked. “You did it again, sounded like my grandfather. I've made my decision. I'm re-enlisting.” His voice was firm. “I know it'll hurt Leighton, and I know it'll upset my grandfather. I know if I get killed in action they'll be broken up. But I still know it was what I was meant to do.”
    I studied him for a moment, sizing him up, sizing up the truth of his words. Finally, I nodded.
    “Then you have to do what you think is right, Ian,” I said. “Just make sure you tell your family what you've told me.”
     
     

Chapter 6
    Leighton
    I laid on the deck chair and told myself that drinking too much last night had been completely justified. It didn't, however, help my pulsing headache or how pissed I was at myself for going there again.
    The ocean waves surged below, the sun was already hot, and the breeze was cool. An absolutely perfect day. I had hoped to wake up at Ricky's beach house refreshed and ready to find some project to take my mind off Ian. Instead, I was almost immobile with no one but myself to blame.
    Except Haze, I thought petulantly.
    It was Haze's fault Ian had convinced the army doctors to assess him again. Haze had given Ian the idea to work on his feet. One part physical therapy, the other building proof that his injury didn't prevent him from doing the sort of physical things that Grandfather had used as excuses to push through the honorable discharge. Haze's idea had worked, and I knew I should have been happy for my little brother. Instead, I was angry, miserable, and afraid.
    Ian was going to re-enlist in the army and leave me, maybe never to return, and it was all Haze's fault. How could the very man who'd saved my younger brother in the first place encourage him to go back?
    “Leighton, get up. Get in the house.” Haze strode out onto the deck and grabbed my arm.
    “Excuse me?” I snapped as I tried to pull my arm back. “You work for me, remember?”
    “Someone jumped the front gates and is sneaking around the back. You need to get inside and lock yourself in the bathroom. Now.”
    He hauled me up from the chair and wrapped my sarong over my string bikini, not even bothering to tie it so I could move. I was tangled up and held too close to his chest, the feel of him making my stomach clench. I tried to push back, but he didn't react as he opened the sliding glass door. His expression was grim, the muscles in his jaw tight.
    Shit. He wasn't just worried about some asshole photographer getting a shot of me in a bikini.
    “You're serious?” My pulse skyrocketed. “You think someone's here to hurt me? Why would you think