Line of Fire Read Online Free PDF Page B

fire with fire? He could manage a surprise for sweet Shea, all right.
    And he knew just the girl to start the blaze.

    Who knew weddings were so fucking much fun? Not.
    Especially wearing a heavy suit when it was hotter than the center of the sun—inside as well as out, thanks to a blown air-conditioning unit in the little church in Cheap Hill.
    Tommy’s gut did a barrel roll, taunting him with the reminder that the last three rounds of ole Jackie D. at Zack’s bachelor party last night hadn’t been a fantastic idea. At two in the morning, he hadn’t counted on being slow roasted like a chicken on a spit come this afternoon.
    Or on spotting Shea with her date the moment he arrived.
    Neither of which performed miracles on his headache. Or his sudden urge to commit homicide.
    “Can’t someone open a goddamned window?”
    “Jesus, was that a snarl? I think the kid has rabies,” Six-Pack announced with a grin. The only guy in the dressing room who didn’t snicker was Zack, who was too freaked out about getting hitched to do much but offer a sickly smile.
    Tommy shot the big man a withering glare. “Stuff it, Howie.”
    The snickers became snorts of laughter from everyone except Cori’s brothers, Joaquin and Manny, who looked on in puzzled amusement. Six-Pack hated that nickname. Tommy pretended to adjust his tie in the mirror while the other bozos waited to see how the man would react.
    “Nah, I’ve had better offers from prettier people,” Six-Pack drawled. The others lost it, loud whoops and ribald comments echoing in the small room. And in his brain.
    “Shitheads,” he muttered, scowling at himself. “And they call me a kid.”
    “Damn, amigo.” Julian appeared behind him and clapped him on the shoulder. “Someone needs to shove a rainbow up your ass.”
    Get a grip, man. He didn’t want to ruin Zack’s big day.
    Giving up on the tie, Tommy faced him and quirked a smile. “Think you’re man enough to do the job?”
    Julian waggled his brows. “If I swung that way, sure.”
    More laughter. “God, you guys are sick fuckers.”
    Six-Pack crossed his arms over his chest. “This little snit of yours wouldn’t have anything to do with the slick-looking fellow on Shea’s arm, would it?”
    “Got any idea who he is?” There. He could be civil about this.
    The lieutenant shrugged. “Seems vaguely familiar, but I didn’t get a real close look. I can try and find out, though.”
    “I’d appreciate it.” Then I can rip his lungs out with a spoon.
    “In any case, you’re not going to score any brownie points with Shea by killing her date,” Zack said, ambling over to join them.
    “Aw, come on. Just a little slow torture, then? Can’t I make him scream like a girl, just once?”
    “I can make the worm disappear for you,” Joaquin offered with a dangerous smile. “Permanently.”
    Zack rolled his eyes. “Ignore Al Capone. Murdering the competition is never a good plan.”
    “Neither is flaunting another woman in her face,” Julian said, shaking his head at Tommy’s stupidity. “Who’s the hot number you brought along?”
    “An old friend from high school.” Tommy sighed. “That was my dad’s idea, to make Shea realize I’m not a pushover.”
    “Could backfire, big-time.” The others made noises of agreement. Even Sean, who’d been sort of holding himself apart from the group.
    Tommy gave his friends a grin he didn’t feel, and elbowed Zack in the ribs. “Easy for you to dole out advice, lucky bastards. You’ve already got the girl.”
    “And most of us had to wait a lot longer than you,” Six-Pack pointed out. “What’s your hurry anyways? Don’t get me wrong, Shea’s a sweet girl, but what’s so special about her that’s got you in knots?”
    He tried not to bristle. “I’m plenty old enough to know the woman for me when I meet her. She’s fun, sexy, smart, and sometimes, when she looks at me . . . it’s like the world ceases to exist around us. Like she can see into