Read Online Hot & Bothered (A Hostile Operations Team Novel - Book 8) by Lynn Raye Harris - Free Book Online Page A

no.”
    Matt nodded. “All right. Now explain to me why you lost your cool back there.”
    Ryan’s throat was tight. “What’s there to explain? Ian Black isn’t trustworthy—and he lied to Emily to get her out here for his own reasons. He put her in danger, and she was stupid enough to believe him. She hurt Victoria by leaving—and Brandy too because he loves Victoria.”
    “And you. She hurt you too.”
    Fuck. He could deny it, but what was the point? “And me.”
    “I need to know if you’re going to be able to do this job with her here. Because she’s not leaving. Black isn’t forcing her to stay, and she doesn’t want to go. Not only that, she understands things about the Freedom Force that no amount of intel in the world can tell us. She lived with them, and she knows how they think.”
    Precisely why he wanted her gone. He didn’t want her to have to endure those people again. To relive the hell she’d gone through with Zaran bin Yusuf. It had to be costing her something to be in such close proximity to the life that had nearly broken her once before.
    “You don’t care that Black lied to her?”
    Matt’s eyes sparked. “How do you know he did? Maybe he has the connections to do what he promised.”
    A flash of anger rolled through him. “Now you believe this motherfucker? After what he did when he sent Victoria and Brandy after that Russian scientist?”
    “What did he do? He turned the virus over to us instead of selling it, which he could have done if he’d wanted. I don’t like him or trust him, but I believe we’re on the same side.”
    “We play by rules. Ian Black has no rules.”
    “Nope, I don’t think he does either. He’ll do whatever it takes to get what he wants, no matter how unscrupulous.”
    “Working with him is like teaming the police department with a vigilante group and giving them the same powers.”
    “Not gonna argue with you there. But this is the job, Flash. You know it as well as I do. Mendez sent us here to get a job done, and we’re going to do it. Those people out there who are scared and in danger—they take precedence over any feelings we have for Black. They also take precedence over this situation between you and Emily. I need you to be in control of your feelings about this.”
    “I am in control. How many missions have we done together? Have I ever failed the team in all that time?”
    “No, but a woman can have a way of fucking with a guy’s head.”
    Ryan closed his eyes and rolled his neck. “She’s not fucking with my head. I was surprised and pissed. I’ll get over it.”
    Matt leaned forward, his palms on his knees. “I have to report this to the colonel, but unless you give me a reason to remove you now, I’ll wait until the mission is over. The safety of the hostages takes priority.”
    Ryan hated that the overwhelming feeling coursing through him at the mention of Mendez was relief that Matt wasn’t telling the colonel yet. He’d have to face the music eventually, of course, but he was glad it wasn’t today. Even half a world away, the colonel was one badass, scary motherfucker. Ryan didn’t know what it was like to be on the man’s bad side, and he didn’t want to find out.
    Though he suspected this situation between him and Emily would push his relationship with the colonel into the danger zone. Mendez didn’t like surprises, and he certainly didn’t like having to clean up messes made by his own men.
    “I’ll do my job, Richie. Like always.”
    Matt stood and nodded. “Knew I could count on you.” He looked down at his watch. “Team meeting in twenty.”
    “I’ll be there.”

CHAPTER EIGHT

    MENDEZ SAT IN HIS OFFICE, poring over reports. It was already dark and he’d been at work since before dawn, but that’s the way his days typically went. He didn’t have much time for a personal life.
    Didn’t need much time for one either. About the only thing he required from his life that he didn’t get from HOT was sex,