Dare You to Run Read Online Free PDF Page A

leader a mildly amused look, facing off with a frame that was just as wide and a confidence that was well earned. “It’s been three years, a little late to be tossing me to the press at this point. Go find some kid fresh from Afghanistan to be your pretty boy. I don’t need a medal. I sure as hell don’t need a medal from Damascus Ryland. Can’t believe you think her daddy is going to be too happy about having me anywhere near his precious little princess.”
    Kagan grunted and leaned against the side of the van. “I thought you were smarter than that.”
    From some men, those words would have been a dig, nothing more than a halfhearted attempt at getting him moving. But from Kagan, they were more. Any man with half a brain would be wise to remember that Kagan was a section leader for a reason. The man knew his shit, and some of the crap he had rattling around in his head, a wise man didn’t want to know but was still curious about.
    Vitus contemplated his superior for a long moment before he levered himself out of the van and yanked his dress uniform jacket from where it was resting over the back of one of the seats. “Explain.”
    Kagan snorted. “That time off softened your brain.”
    Vitus finished buttoning the tunic-length jacket and flashed Kagan a single finger salute. “Proven fact: Being pissed off lowers intelligence. Since Tyler Martin took my badge, I was at liberty to be pissed at him. There was little to occupy my brain.”
    Kagan offered him his hat before they both started walking toward the back entrance of the White House.
    â€œIt’s simple really,” Kagan offered softly. “Tyler Martin is still out there. You and your brother think it’s Jeb Ryland who pulled the strings to get him freed after that business with the Magnus family.”
    â€œSo do you,” Vitus responded. “The good congressman is gunning for me, and in his entitled way of thinking the bastard believes he has the right to go after my family. Tyler seems to have signed on for the duty. Tyler was in control of assigning that Magnus case to my brother—he had a nice little vengeance death planned out. Tyler rolled over for someone who demanded it. Only person I can pinpoint on that list is Ryland.”
    â€œSo what are you going to do?” Kagan asked seriously. “Sit back and wait for the man to make his next attempt?”
    Understanding dawned on Vitus. They were getting close enough to see the glow from the lights. They passed Secret Service personnel with high-powered rifles, Vitus cutting a few officers salutes. It had been a long time since he’d been in uniform, even longer since he’d been respectable. Congressman Jeb Ryland had made sure he lost his shield when he returned his daughter to him, and there wasn’t a decent outfit willing to test the congressman’s good will and hire him on. Which was going to make tonight’s award ceremony interesting to say the least.
    â€œFill me in.” Vitus said to avoid thinking about Damascus Ryland. He was on the congressman’s turf now and needed to stay focused. Thinking about Damascus was a one-way track to disaster. Three years hadn’t been long enough to loosen her hold on him and apparently, neither had losing his shield. Her face was floating through his mind even as he tried to focus on Kagan, on the very real fact that his brother Saxon had nearly been taken out in some crazy quest for vengeance by the congressman.
    Nope. None of it mattered. He clearly saw her. Ginger curls that fluffed up when she didn’t have a team of servants to keep her looking perfect. Blue eyes that reminded him of the way the water looked on the beaches of Hawaii. Lips the color of dawn in those moments when you first woke up and believed that anything was possible if you just got moving.
    â€œSimple,” Kagan said. “I want you to push against the bastard’s comfort