She stared back at him in shock. John had finally explained the agency to her. The Elite Ops, what they were, how he had joined, why he had joined. What they did. The idea of it had intrigued her, but she had never imagined this. Never thought this choice could come her way.
“Join the team?” she asked carefully. “I could work with him? Not separate from him?”
His nostrils flared as he straightened once again. “The two of you make a damned good team, and you’ve already fucked my life up by making yourselves a team. John Vincent is more than just a cover. He’s a connection, a pipeline into an underground force that we can’t afford to lose. You’ve already proven yourself as his partner. If you want to keep that position, then you damned well better learn to consider me not just your boss, your director, or your commander. Ms. Serborne, I’m your worst fucking nightmare.”
She was about to believe it.
She licked her lips and glanced back at Milburn. He was watching the show with a hint of amusement and satisfaction.
“Does John know?” she asked.
He frowned back at her. “John would have to answer his phone first, wouldn’t he?” he snarled back at her.
“You called me here because John wouldn’t answer your summons?”
“My calls,” he snapped.
“Your summons,” she informed him. “I heard the messages. You, Mr. Malone, have a god complex.”
“And you, Ms. Serborne, had better learn how to deal with it,” he snapped back in reply. “Do you want in? Or do I see how far away, and for how long, I can commandeer your lover?”
“My husband.”
His eyes narrowed. “Excuse me?”
“My husband, Mr. Malone. John and I were married in a private ceremony last night. I believe that marriage trumps your contract in several ways.” She lifted her hand. “Clause seven, paragraph three: ‘Married, and having formed a legally binding tenet with one whose classified rank matches or exceeds his own, requires that said agency, unnamed but existing, to ensure that said agent, namely one John Vincent, the choice of working with his spouse, or barring the ability to do such, the choice of ensuring proper marital time as befitting his rank and mission status. That time shall be not less than one month to every three, or one week to every three. Said agency is required to enact and ensure such marital time without restrictions.’ ”
His eyes narrowed. “He showed you the contract?”
“After the ceremony, of course.” She smiled coolly.
“Clause eight, paragraph four: ‘If unable to work with or aligned with said agent, spouse must accept that said agent must complete one mission before each marital benefit can be demanded.’ I determine the length of time a mission lasts.”
“It’s a good thing I enjoy working with him then.” She smiled cheerily. “You are required to allow him three months’ leave for a honeymoon, I believe.”
His lips parted.
“And,” she continued, “I believe Milburn will be hearing from my lawyers soon. The charities that the majority of the profits of my companies go to are being redirected, Mr. Malone, under certain conditions to a charity near and dear to our president’s heart. Have I mentioned the president and vice president are close family friends? The charities being redirected to are fronts, I believe, for the Elite Ops.”
His teeth snapped closed.
“I’m a businesswoman,” she stated. “I’m an agent and I’m John’s wife. I don’t need you in my face over the fact that you lost control for a few seconds of your agent’s life. Console yourself that you gained an agent instead.”
“It’s a damned good thing I can respect a strong woman,” he snapped back. “That doesn’t mean you won’t follow orders. You can shove that money right back where it came from if you think it’s going to change how you’ll be trained, or how you’ll be treated.”
She grinned at that. “It won’t change John either. I believe he’s on his way to debriefing this afternoon. You’ve likely missed him.”
John had never had any intentions of breaking faith with the contract he had signed. But neither of them was willing to do without the other.
“You’re going to make his life hell,” he growled. “And mine.”
“And it’s something she’s damned good at,” Milburn laughed, causing both of them to turn to him.
He pulled his rotund body from his chair, adjusted his glasses, and smoothed back his thick graying hair.
“Congratulations, Jordan.” He moved around the desk and clapped the other man on the back. “You just acquired one of my best agents.”
“You said she was one of your biggest headaches when she was in Atlanta,” Jordan growled.
“One goes with the other,” Milburn laughed. “Trust me, son, one goes with the other.”
As they stepped outside the office, the door to his assistant’s office opened, and John walked through, escorted by several guards.
“I invited him,” Milburn laughed at Jordan’s scowl as John moved to her, curved his arm around her waist, and pulled her against his body.
“Causing trouble again, love?” He smiled down at her before giving her a quick, warm kiss.
“Always,” she agreed. “How did you know?”
“Your director called just after you left.” He nodded to Milburn, he glared at Jordan.
“Hell.” Jordan glowered at both of them. “You do know everyone involved in the Ops is now calling me head matchmaker rather the brilliant commander I started out as.” Irony filled his tone.
“You’ll live?” Bailey suggested.
“Or he’ll be next,” John chuckled. “How’s Tehya doing by the way?”
“Three months, no more,” he snapped. “Don’t make me send a team after you or I’ll assign you both to opposite ends of the damned planet.”
He stalked from the office as Bailey stared at him in surprise and John obviously fought to hold back his laughter.
“You’re the troublemaker,” she accused him.
“Actually, I’m the matchmaker,” he assured her. “Wanna help me work on him?”
Bailey’s laughter mixed with Milburn’s. “I’d love to. I’d absolutely love to.”
She was going to. She could just imagine how crazy both of them together could make Jordan Malone. And they’d have help. After all, she was certain they weren’t the only ones he’d attempted to keep apart. He wanted his agency nice and cool and umcomplicated.
It was time to complicate Jordan Malone’s life.
Heat SeekerCOVER
TITLE
COPYRIGHT
DEDICATION
PROLOGUE
CHAPTER 1
CHAPTER 2
CHAPTER 3
CHAPTER 4
CHAPTER 5
CHAPTER 6
CHAPTER 7
CHAPTER 8
CHAPTER 9
CHAPTER 10
CHAPTER 11
CHAPTER 12
CHAPTER 13
CHAPTER 14
CHAPTER 15
CHAPTER 16
CHAPTER 17
CHAPTER 18
CHAPTER 19
CHAPTER 20
CHAPTER 21
CHAPTER 22
Lora Leigh, Heat Seeker
(Series: Elite Ops # 3)
Thank you for reading books on BookFrom.Net Share this book with friends