Way of the Warrior (Troubleshooters #17.5)(16)
“All clear?” Michael asked him, turning toward the table to re-arm himself and don the rest of his gear.
“You betcha.” Bran nodded, his eyes quickly taking in Harper’s bare feet and the fact that Michael’s hair was sticking up every which way, proof her fingers had been buried there not too long ago. When the guy’s teeth flashed white against his dark beard, she felt her cheeks heat. Luckily, he refrained from commenting on the obvious and instead went with, “The TTP holding O’Leary hostage came out of the offices. I think they thought if they used the ambassador as a human shield, they’d be able to escape the embassy. They were quickly taken down.”
He made it sound easy. But Harper was smart enough to know it had probably been anything but.
Michael did, too. Evidenced by his next question. “All the guys okay?”
Bran winked. “No worries. We’re all as pretty as we ever were.”
“And the ambassador?” she asked. Because even though the yellow-bellied ol’ fart had been happy to throw her to the wolves, O’Leary was still her responsibility.
“Safe,” Bran said, and she heaved a sigh of relief. “The building is clear. And the wounded Marines are being evaced. It’s over.”
Michael moved to stand beside her and, as always, his heat reached out to her in a soft caress. “That’s good,” he said, handing over her shoes. She dropped them to the floor, quickly stepping into them. “So then we’re ready to blow this popsicle stand, yeah?”
“More than that.” Bran’s grin widened. “We’re ready to blow this whole friggin’ country. Word from Washington says the embassy will be shut down immediately, and all personnel are to report back stateside. You know what that means, paisano? We’re outta here!”
Michael’s smile lit up his whole face, and he and Bran exchanged high fives. Then he turned to her, his expression sobering as he held out his hand. “Harper, I think you might want to keep your eyes closed while we exit, okay?”
She swallowed, knowing there were things out there she didn’t want to see—namely, the numerous bodies of the Taliban fighters that the Navy would no doubt take out to sea and deep six, Osama Bin Laden–style. Couldn’t leave them behind to be buried so that other radical militants could make shrines of their graves. Lacing her fingers through his, she screwed her eyes shut and nodded her readiness to be led from the room.
But he didn’t guide her toward the door. Instead he leaned close, his warm breath ruffling the hair near her temple. “So what do you say? You want to try being civilians together?”
“Are you kiddin’ me?” she asked, her heart so full of hope and anticipation it was a wonder the silly, lovesick organ didn’t burst wide open. “I say lord, yes!”
And when she stepped out of the panic room with Michael at her side, she knew she was stepping into the future she’d always dreamed about…
Order Julie Ann Walker’s next book
in the Deep Six series
Hell or High Water
On sale July 2015
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
I’d like to take a moment to thank all those involved with this, the project of my heart…
First up are the fabulous authors who so graciously donated their time and talent. Thank you all a million times over for sharing your amazing stories with me and with the world.
Next is my publisher, Dominique Raccah, and the wonderful staff at Sourcebooks. Thank you so much, not only for embracing the idea of a charity anthology, but for taking it on and making it your own.
I can’t forget the awesome Deb Werksman, my editor. Deb, none of this would have been possible without your tireless efforts during every step of the process. And for that, I’ll never be able to thank you enough. Simply put, you rock!
And, finally, there’s my agent, the amazing Nicole Resciniti. Nic, my humblest thanks. You helped me realize a lifelong dream.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Julie Ann Walker is the USA Today and New York Times bestselling author of the Black Knights Inc. and Deep Six romantic suspense series. She has won the Book Buyers Best Award and has been nominated for the National Readers Choice Award and the Romance Writers of America’s prestigious RITA award. Julie is prone to spouting movie quotes and song lyrics. She’ll never say no to sharing a glass of wine or going for a long walk. She prefers impromptu travel over the scheduled kind, and she takes her coffee with milk. You can find her on her bicycle along the lakeshore in Chicago or blasting away at her keyboard, trying to wrangle her capricious imagination into submission. For more information, please visit www.julieannwalker.com or follow her on Facebook, www.facebook.com/jawalkerauthor and/or Twitter @JAWalkerAuthor.
IN PLAIN SIGHT
An Elite Force Novella
CATHERINE MANN
CHAPTER 1
“This is 9-1-1. What is your emergency?” a masculine voice rasped through the cell phone receiver.
“Help me, please,” Stacy Currie hissed between her clenched teeth, terrified of revealing her hiding place in the laundry room but needing to ramble out as much information as possible. Her life depended on it. “I live at 21 Goldenrod Lane. My ex-husband is trying to break into my house. I have a restraining order. He’s going to kill me.”