Read Online Fire for Effect by Kendall McKenna - Free Book Online Page A

looking at me like that, we won’t get back to this tonight.”
    “Yeah, well, there’s always tomorrow.” Kellan grinned, openly flirting. He saved and closed all of his secure files, then he got up from his chair and moved into the warm circle of Jonah’s arms.
    “You haven’t gotten tired of having me under foot twenty-four-seven, yet?” Jonah asked, running his palms over Kellan’s back. The question seemed casual, even humorous, but Kellan suspected it was a diversionary tactic.
    “Not at all,” Kellan replied with conviction. “You don’t regret taking an office job, do you? Not wishing you’d promoted to Master Sergeant and stayed with a combat unit?”
    “No,” Jonah replied so quickly, Kellan nearly doubted him. “I hate having to wear the service uniform—fucking ties—but I like using my brain this much. This is important work, too. This matters.”
    “I’m glad you think so,” Kellan said quietly against the warm skin of Jonah’s throat, relief washing through him. He inhaled and caught the scent of the cologne Jonah had begun to wear. He hadn’t asked but Kellan assumed Jonah had never worn cologne regularly because he spent so much time getting sweaty, dirty, or just plain wet. Marines were amphibious, after all.
    “Are you coming to the same conclusion I am, about all of this?” Jonah’s question confused Kellan momentarily.
    It took several moments to realize Jonah was referring to the issue with Restrepo. “Probably, but what conclusion are you reaching?”
    “Someone has been lying about what happened inside that house in Fallujah,” Jonah replied. “We might need to conduct our own interviews.”
    Kellan had been coming to that conclusion over the last several days, yes. He was still hoping to find a way around it. “If we want to continue pursuing this; if we want the truth, regardless of what that truth is, I believe that is what we’re going to have to do.”
    Jonah made a frustrated sound. “Send someone else, this time.” It sounded almost like a plea.
    “I’m not sending anyone to do something I’m not willing to do myself.” Did Jonah expect anything else from him?
    “Yeah, I know,” Jonah replied with resignation. “I’m going with you, you know.”
    “You are my military aide.” Kellan pulled back to meet Jonah’s eyes. They were standing in the dining room of a small house in Virginia, casually discussing the fact they were going to have to head directly into a war zone.
    Kellan sighed inwardly. Always a Marine.
    “Don’t get kidnapped this time,” Jonah said in mock annoyance.
    “Why not? It was such a fun experience the first time.”
    Jonah rolled his eyes. Kellan laughed.
    “I’m getting out of this monkey suit,” Jonah said, heading for the bedroom and stripping off his uniform tie.
    “Oh, hey, wait for me!” Kellan chased after Jonah. “I want to help!”
    § § §
    Kellan was a little more superstitious than he liked to admit. When the universe kept aligning in such a way to either thwart or facilitate something he wanted to accomplish, it was difficult not to be.
    When Senator Gilchrist had told Kellan to get to Camp Pendleton to start re-interviewing the Marines involved in the battle that had taken Sergeant Restrepo’s life, Jonah had coordinated the logistics of the trip. Neither of them had been aware that they were arriving just in time for the 2 nd Annual Recon Challenge. They couldn’t have manufactured a better cover.
    “Jonah?”
    They both turned at the sound of Jonah’s name.
    Jonah’s features split into a grin. “Yarwood,” he greeted, extending his hand.
    Corporal Corey Yarwood approached, dressed in full utilities including the eight cornered, billed cover. He’d changed since Kellan had last seen him. Corey was the same height, but he held himself a little taller. He seemed broader in the chest and shoulders. Two years had matured Corey, that much was obvious. He’d still been boyish, when Kellan had met him.