Shadowed by Kariss Lynch Read Free Book Online Page A

slipped from their target’s head
and they discovered Janus was actually a woman. He wished he could put a real name
with her face, a motive for her methods. But he was still in the dark.
    Micah’s voice broke his reverie. “Think she’ll actually give up the big fish if we
catch her? She was one of the coldest targets I’ve ever come across when we saw her
in that bungalow in the jungle. I’d never seen someone so icy.” He studied Nick.
“Although . . . ” His cheeky grin was back in place. “You come pretty close when
something ticks you off. I usually know when to steer clear.”
    â€œDid you just compare my anger issues to a known terrorist?”
    â€œIf the shoe fits.”
    â€œHarsh, Bulldog. Harsh.”
    â€œNow, see, that’s the look I’m talking about. Like you want to kill me.”
    Nick smirked. “Don’t tempt me.”
    Micah pulled a black-capped pen out of his pocket. “How many ways could you kill
me with this?”
    Colt tipped his Angels baseball cap up from his eyes across from them where he’d
been dozing. “Twenty-three,” he answered. “Want me to demonstrate?” His eyes held
that crazy streak he got right before he did something stupid. Nick blamed his hippie
upbringing. He didn’t doubt this kid could deliver.
    Micah tossed Colt the pen and the rest of the team came alert, eager to see what
the team daredevil would do next.
    â€œThe easiest and most obvious way would be to shove it through someone’s jugular,
making sure to hit the major artery in the process.” Colt uncapped the pen. “Like
so.” In one quick move, he aimed the pen at Logan’s throat and with incredible speed
moved in for his faux kill.
    Matching his speed, Logan’s hand came up and grabbed Colt’s wrist, turning the pen
and pinning Colt’s arm in a position where the point now faced Colt’s neck.
    The team roared with laughter as Logan offered Colt a cheeky grin. “Never try to
trick a dad while he’s sleeping. I’m used to nightly attacks from arms much shorter
than yours.” He patted Colt on the cheek before letting him go. Colt’s tan skin deepened
to a brownish shade of red.
    â€œSmooth move, dude. You’ll have to teach me that sometime.”
    Logan settled back against his seat crossing his arms over his chest and closing
his eyes again. “I can’t give away all my secrets. Time to get some shut-eye, men.
Who knows how much sleep we’ll get on this mission.”
    Nick watched as one by one his teammates fell asleep. Exhaustion tugged at his eyelids,
and his mind wandered back to the beginning of his SEAL career in BUD/S, where he
first learned the life skill of sleeping wherever he could, whenever he could. He
gave in to the urge and closed his eyes while his mind wandered. The drone of the
plane lulled him to nostalgia, and he remembered the way he felt the first time he
met Kaylan.
    Sarah Beth and Kaylan were out on the lake in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, riding the family
jet skis. Kaylan pulled a quick figure eight in the water, spraying Sarah Beth with
white foam, her musical laugh echoing over the engine. Kaylan’s hair hung limp in
a ponytail and a few strands draped over her eyes. Her freckles stood in stark contrast
and her cheeks tinged a faint pink from her day in the sun. Her joy washed over him,
brightening the summer day. Sarah Beth and Kaylan anchored the jet skis and approached
him and Micah on the deck, their laughter echoing on the lake.
    Micah had run forward and picked Kaylan up, spinning her around in a hug. Her joyful
spirit lightened the air around them. He felt a magnetic pull and knew without a
doubt that Kaylan was someone special. She radiated life.
    â€œMicah, put me down!” As he set her on the deck and turned to hug Sarah Beth, she
approached Nick.
    â€œYou must be Nick. I’m Kaylan.”
    He stuck out his hand.