Overkill (The Mammoth Book of Special Ops) Read Online Free PDF Page B

“Drink?”
    “Sure.”
    Joe brought him his drink and they sat in the two chairs in front of the fire. “Does Laine know?”
    “Yes.”
    He cursed softly, put his head down, rubbed his forehead with the glass. “Now what?”
    “You’re asking me?”
    “About now I’m supposed to be a dead man, so I’m fresh out of ideas.” Joe downed his scotch in one jerky movement.
    He’s finding it harder to face the unknowns of the surgery than death itself. Tanner got that, figured he might be the same in his shoes.
    “You want a plan, here it is. First, I don’t leave your side until they wheel you into that operating room. Then”—he took a drink, leaned back in his chair—“we take Jacobsen’s advice, ‘let the chips fall where they may.’” He gave Joe a steady-on look. “And if you’re concerned about the Raven Force, don’t be. I’ve got your back, for as long as it takes.”
    “I arranged for you to take charge, you know. The money, the contacts, all of it.”
    “I know.”
    Joe raised a brow.
    “Laine found your notebook.”
    He cursed, rubbed his forehead again. “That girl is so smart it’s scary.”
    “Won’t argue with that.”
    “About the surgery...” Joe looked at him a long time, his expression that of man who wanted to be convinced, but wasn’t.   “The best ‘chip’ would be my dying on the table. Better for the Ravens.”
    “Negative that. The best chip is your waking up at a hundred percent, and a few months from now, giving me your blessing to marry your daughter.”
     

     
     
    Two months later
     
    Laine rested the back of her head on the tub’s porcelain rim and closed her eyes, fragrant minty bath oil wafting up her nose. “I think there’s a law against this. Has to be. Somewhere.”
    Tanner, occupied with massaging one of her soapy feet, said, “And what law would that be?”
    “I don’t know... something about not being allowed to be this happy. Like, ‘Thou shalt not have more than your share of bliss.’”
    “Nope. No such law. You can have all the bliss you want.”
    “We’re not really right for each other, you know.”
    “I know.” He gave her foot a nip before releasing it back into the water, and resting his arms along the sides of the tub. “I knew you were wrong for me the minute I met you. Trouble, that’s what I thought.”
    Laine pulled herself up, happy to see Tanner’s attention gravitate to her naked breasts. Breasts were a nuisance when you were trying to fit a damn bra—but absolutely great at times like this. “You like trouble, Tanner Cross.” She lowered herself over him, and he did what she wanted him to do, cupped her breasts. So good...
    He licked each nipple, kissed them. “That I do.”
    “I taste like soap.”
    “You taste like heaven.”
    She knelt between his legs, and took the length of him in her hands. His inhalation was sharp and powerful. “God, damn it, ” he whispered, “I love your hands on me.” He closed his eyes, and she stroked him until his broad chest quaked under his short, rapid breaths. Finally, he grabbed her hand, inhaled deeply, and in an urgent tone said, “Let’s get out of this tub and—”
    Her own breathing no better than his, she managed a smile. “—go find some trouble?”
    Returning her smile, he said, “All you can give me.”
    Two hours later, the only light in the room from the dying fire, Laine woke up to find Tanner looking at her. Did his dark blue gaze wake her? She didn’t know, but with the firelight dancing across his features, she’d never seen him more... beautiful—or intense. His face, cast in shadow and gold, appeared almost stern.
    She touched his cheek. “Tanner?”
    “I love you, Laine.”
    The words took their place between them, whole, fresh and full of promise.
    What took you so long, you mule-headed male! But oh, she loved him for waiting. “I love you, Tanner,” she said, her heart near to collapsing under the weight of it.
    “Thank, God. I’d have