Read Online SEAL Under Covers (SEAL Brotherhood Series Book 3) by Sharon Hamilton - Free Book Online Page A

Sam showed up in the same foul mood he’d had the night before. Gina watched him bang into chairs and bluster, as if every movement involved great effort or pain. He ignored his other UCDs, who in turn eyed him carefully, trying to avoid the bull in the china shop. She didn’t doubt he was feeling pain, and secretly relished the thought that Armando had done this to protect her.
    Wanting to be prepared, she ran several scenarios over and over in her mind, deciding she was going to push back just as hard as he did. She thought the other guys would pile on if Sam started going after her, so she’d have to do it smart. If she got lucky, maybe Sam would go off on one of his legendary tirades in front of the brass. As she watched him bite his lower lip and devour the stubble growing just below, she knew he was close. Very close. It wouldn’t take much. Everyone in the room was watching him.
    After the initial group chastisement for a mission almost blown, she and Sam were asked to stay behind and talk to their sergeant in private. The glass door was closed, but long looks from the bullpen didn’t give her any feeling of privacy.
    Suck it up, Gina. You’re a big girl. Wanted to play in the big leagues? This is how it’s done.
    Wasn’t going to be anything easy about this.
    “There a problem here you two can’t handle?” Sergeant Kozinski had a walleye and Gina wasn’t sure whether he was looking at her or at Sam.
    “No, sir. I’m good.” Sam spoke up first before Gina could respond. Like hell he was good. He hadn’t been good since the day after he’d charmed her into his bed. That Sam she never saw again after Night One.
    “Gina?” Kozinski asked.
    The quiet pause in the room highlighted Sam’s laborious breathing. She could tell he was suffering and had probably spent the night getting shit-faced. She was hoping Kozinski noted the bloodshot eyes, the stench of alcohol a fresh shower and a pint of aftershave couldn’t mask.
    “Sir,” she began. She adjusted the little girl voice that wanted to come out first. “I don’t want Sam working on this case. This is my undercover detail. I’m the one in jeopardy. Wasn’t expecting him to do anything on this but run his snitches. Didn’t know until last night he was part of it.” She looked at her sergeant. “And I don’t like it one bit, sir.”
    So far, so good.
    Kozinski nodded. “It wasn’t something I approved. Sam used his own judgment, under the circumstances. Ton of Scorpions at the bar. Backup was needed. At least, that’s what I was told.”
    “But I didn’t call for backup, sir, and it would have been my call to make.” Gina was going to keep tossing hooks out there, hoping one of them would snag Sam. “And even if I did, he’d be the last person I would request.”
    Her jab began to work as she heard Sam’s quick inhale and the squeaking of his steel-toed lace-up boots.
    “Just who the fuck do you think you are, Gina? A rookie pulling rank?” Sam was red-faced, and exactly the right kind of belligerent to make Gina’s case to the sergeant. She could have kissed him, she was so happy at the display.
    “Hold it, Sam. Back off,” Kozinski warned.
    “Maybe you better tell Kozinski about your little lap dance in the back seat with the SEAL?” Sam spewed, ignoring his sergeant.
    “You have no idea what went on in the back seat, Sam. I’m working the case the best way I can.” Gina tried to sound calm, but she was feeling the ground falling out from under her.
    “What’s a SEAL doing here? Someone talk to me,” Kozinski asked as he shifted his gaze from Gina to Sam. He finished eyeballing Gina. “Gina, what the hell’d you do?”
    “Nothing, sir. I was playing the part I was asked to play. We noodled around a bit. Nothing I can’t handle. And we’re both adults. I’m single. So is he.” She glared at Sam and could see her gaze left its mark. She glanced down at his left hand and noticed his wedding ring was gone. “It won’t