Damage Control (Valiant Knox) Read Online Free PDF Page A

passed out—”
    He clamped his teeth against a grin, and just like that, the unease he’d been feeling drained away. She looked up at him, an expression of antagonism tightening her lovely features.
    “You’re sorry for passing out, like that’s something you could have controlled? Well, that’s a new one.” He moved to lean a hip against the edge of her bed. “Look, I’m not one for giving out a lot of praise, but you did good back there at expense to your own well-being. That’s more than anyone can ask of you, and isn’t a skill they teach when you attend pre mil training. You earned my respect, and that’s not something easily done.”
    Hell, he hadn’t meant to say so much. Maybe the news of a possible traitor in his squad had done a number on his mind. Yet even as he said the words, he realized they were more than true. He did respect her.
    He probably shouldn’t have been so forward with her. Except what did it matter? By laws of statistics, she’d more than likely been assigned a ground posting. After today, he wouldn’t see her again. So he let his guard down for one second, let someone know they’d done good for a change, instead of being the unfeeling, hard-ass CAFF.
    She pressed her lips together, not seeming the least mollified by his speech. He studied her stubborn expression. Though he hated admitting it, even to himself, the girl was damned gorgeous. And probably a good fifteen years younger than you, pervert .
    He cleared his throat and forced the thoughts away as he straightened. “I’ll give you some advice.”
    One of her eyebrows lifted and he nearly wanted to grin, but worked to keep his expression stoic. He could all but hear her thinking, Oh yeah?
    “Some days you’ll love your job, think you’ve landed exactly where you were meant to be. Other days, a lot of days, you’re going to hate it. But if you hold on to whatever it was that made you put the life of your friend before your own, you’ll go a long way. And sometimes you’ll be able to look back and be satisfied that you did what you could.”
    Her head tilted, and her lips parted slightly on a soft breath. “Is that how you feel?”
    He stared at her for a long moment, and something unfurled within him. He’d been responsible for saving a lot of people, and some of them had thanked him. But he’d never met anyone he’d felt instantly comfortable with. Yet with her sitting there, looking like she actually cared, things seemed a whole lot simpler.
    Just for a split second, he wished he could get to know her better. And with no age gap between them that left him feeling like he’d be taking advantage of her.
    He nodded. “That’s how I feel. Of course, some days I feel like the damned reaper, sending good men to their deaths. Never can tell when a simple mission is going to go to hell.”
    “The responsibility must really weigh on you.”
    He laughed, though the sound was grim. “You have no idea.”
    The alarm reminder in his watch went off, vibrating against his wrist. He tapped it silent and then looked back up at Mia. If she took a ground posting, would she become a casualty one day soon? The thought made his insides clench. Or maybe he’d be the one heading into the black sooner rather than later.
    The depressing notion was, of course, the only reason he let his guard down long enough to wrap his fingers around hers. He gave her hand a small squeeze, knowing he’d crossed a big fat line and not giving a damn about it. Since they’d never see each other again, he just wanted to steal one slice of the forbidden for himself, touch her even though he shouldn’t.
    “Captain Alphin—”
    “Leigh. Only don’t ever tell anyone I said so.”
    A small smile tugged at her lips. “Leigh, there’s something you need to know—”
    His watch vibrated again and he swore at the damned precise contraption. He didn’t have any time left to linger here.
    “Tell me next time we see each other.” Which would likely be