Total pages in book: 61
Estimated words: 59119 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 296(@200wpm)___ 236(@250wpm)___ 197(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 59119 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 296(@200wpm)___ 236(@250wpm)___ 197(@300wpm)
Ryan looked at me. “Don’t think for a second that you can’t profile.”
I rolled my eyes and opened the door. “It’s a house, not a criminal.”
“That’s bullshit, and you know it. You’re a recon Marine, for chrissakes,” he told me. “Anything can be profiled—and needs to be. In our field, anyway. This is clearly someone’s vacation home, and chances of people showing up in the next few hours are slim to none. Good job. Let’s gear up.”
Fine. I guessed I could take the praise just this once.
I smiled a little to myself and popped open the back.
The tall hedges and the slivers of forest between the properties provided natural shelter, and I couldn’t spot a single window or door from where we were standing. In other words, no nosy neighbors.
I changed into the utility pants and kept my tee, since it was already black. Then I grabbed my vest and put that on too. This part, I knew so well. It was like riding a bike, and I could tell that hadn’t changed for Ryan either.
“Exit strategy in case we get him?” he asked.
“That’s where I’m drawing a blank, ’cause I don’t wanna bring him to the place Squeezy found us,” I replied. “We haven’t scouted that area yet—we don’t know what the neighbor situation is.”
He nodded once and began strapping gear pouches to his vest. Ammo, first aid, flashlight, scopes, night-vision monocular. “We don’t have any nearby safehouses we can use for interrogation, but I know of an abandoned house about two hours across the border in Italy. Coach owns the land, so we could easily make camp there.”
“Then we’ll do that.” I felt much better about that idea. I pocketed a handful of zip ties, one set of handcuffs, and the only thing I’d managed to smuggle onto the flight, a strong sedative. I’d packed the needles in my carry-on, making it look like it was for insulin, and the two vials with the liquid in my checked duffel.
The compound took about twenty minutes to put someone under, and then we’d hopefully have a smooth ride across the border, whether it happened tonight or a week from now. But I really fucking hoped for tonight.
I inserted my earpiece after he’d done the same, and I tested the signal. “Do we have any worries about the border crossing?” I’d been downright dumbfounded when we’d entered Monaco because I hadn’t fucking noticed. I’d asked Ryan when we’d get there, and he’d said we already were.
“None whatsoever—there’s an EU sign with Italia written in the middle. Europe’s a bit…” He made a gesture, and I chuckled. “Borders within the EU are more of a concept.”
“That seems…safe.”
“Don’t get me started,” he muttered, grabbing his carbine. He’d snatched the only M4, and I was slightly jealous. But he was the sniper, so… “But it works for us.”
True.
Ryan pushed forward. “Strategy if we gotta lie in wait?”
I blew out a breath and glanced around us. For the record, I knew what he was doing. This was just like when Dad texted me with a question about how something was spelled. Ryan and his over twenty years of field experience knew very well what our next move should be, regardless of the scenario.
“We can stay right here until the sun’s about to come up,” I said. “Then we’ll go to our cozy vacation rental and braid each other’s hair while we wait for our next opportunity.”
Ryan let out a silent chuckle and eyed me. “Ten years ago, I would’ve paid good money to watch my wife beat your ass.”
Duu-uuude.
I widened my eyes at him. “What did we say about kink, Ryan? And is she hot?” The profile photo where she and that other guy were kissing Ryan’s cheeks hadn’t revealed enough.
He coughed around a laugh and shook his head. “Before this op is over, I’m sure she’ll’ve sent you a Facebook request.”
“Sweet. I can probably convince her to leave you for me,” I said. “I won’t say no to a spanking.”
He grinned and put on his fingerless gloves. “You just lost her. Spanking won’t get you anywhere with my angel.”
I scrunched my nose. “So she’s the dominant or whatever?”
“Not with me. She’ll go berserk on our husband, though. And he would ask if she’d lost her touch if she spanked him.”
Jesus Christ, kinky folk.
“I could not be more vanilla,” I said.
“Don’t worry. I won’t hold that against you.” He smirked and bent down to tie his boots.
I flipped him off, even though he couldn’t see me.
“Your old man talked about some boyfriend you had in the past,” he mentioned. “I take it you’re bi?”
I scratched the side of my neck, then pulled my balaclava over my head so only my eyes were visible. “I guess.”
He straightened up again and glanced at me in question.
I shrugged. “Long story short, I’m more drawn to assertive men, but I’m a magnet for assertive women, and I don’t discriminate.”