Page 10 of Her Tempting Protector

“I don’t think rain has anything to do with it where we’re going,” Cullen smirked.

Raiden nodded his head in agreement. “So, Max, are we taking off as soon as the party-animals get here?” the man asked.

“Roger that. This is going to be the last mission without an additional man. Baranov pulled together Omega Sky after his old team was disbanded. He’s got a couple of men he’s recommending to me. We’re going to train with them when we get back and determine who would be a good fit.”

Cullen looked over to the loose circle at the other end of the tarmac. He had a couple of suggestions, but he highly doubted that Kostya would let them be released.

“Hey, are you ready to get this show on the road?” Asher Thorne called from across the airfield. The man was a loud bastard when he put his mind to it. All of them turned to look. It wasn’t often he saw his teammates dressed up in button-down shirts. Hell, was that gel in Kane’s hair?

“Hey, pretty boy, I don’t think you’re allowed on the plane looking like that. You’re going to be the first one the enemy shoots at.”

As the men jogged towards them, Raiden Sato took a step backward. “I smell perfume.”

“Fuck you, Sato.” Leo sighed.

Kane and Asher laughed. “We had to sit downwind of his date, between the big hair, high heels, claw-like nails, and perfume, she stood out like a sore thumb.”

“Hey, she had a couple of assets,” Leo protested.

“They were fake, and she barely had them covered,” Asher said with disdain. “You’re not really intending to see her again.”

“I’m sure not going to take her out on any more group outings, that’s for damn sure,” Leo said.

Kane let out a deep chuckle. “That’s probably for the best, A.J.’s going to give you shit for months as it is. I don’t think she was impressed.”

“We can’t all be so lucky as to find a woman while we’re on a mission,” Leo griped.

Max held up his hand. “Okay, enough fun time. We’ve got a job to do.”

“I’ll just be glad to finally see some animal besides a damn camel,” Asher said as he hoisted his duffel higher on his shoulder.

“Hey, you get to see “Lyons” damn near every day,” Cullen reminded him.

“You walked right into that one,” Raiden shook his head at Asher.

“Please, Max, I’m begging you, fill us in on the mission,” Kane said. “Don’t make me listen to this shit anymore. Cullen actually thinks he’s funny.”

“Get on the damn plane. We’ve got fifteen hours to talk. Hopefully, we won’t have to hear about Leo’s love life or any more smart remarks from Cullen.” Max jerked his chin toward the plane.

* * *

“Good God! Get your head down!” Cullen grabbed the private security man he’d met twenty minutes ago and shoved him to the ground. He didn’t know why he bothered saving his life. If he was so stupid as to pop his head up for a second time, like a meerkat coming out of its hole, while they were in the middle of a gunfight, he wasn’t going to live long anyway.

“Thanks, man,” Hans shouted above the gunfire. “Why are they shooting? I spoke to them two hours ago, they said they were going to leave.”

Cullen looked at him like he had grown two heads. Didn’t he realize he was trying to negotiate with butchers?

Where was this bastard from, the moon?

Asher glared at Hans and pointed at the floor. “Pick up your gun and start shooting,” he yelled.

“Oh, right.”

Cullen prayed to God that things were better for Max and Nick at the embassy. At least they were working with Marines, and not civilians!

“How many did you say were working with you?” Cullen asked again as he took another five shots at the targets that peeked out from behind the barricades. He needed to keep the assholes occupied while Raiden made his way to the hospital rooftop and eventually took his shot at the sniper in the building across the street. They’d been pinned down long enough. It might have been only twenty minutes, but anything over two minutes was too long as far as Cullen was concerned.

Once Raiden was in place, he could give Kane and Leo some direction since they were still at least three blocks over. How had this turned into such a shit-show so fast? He looked over at Hans and remembered why. Seriously, how had he ever been hired out as private security? He was supposed to make a situation better, not throw gasoline onto the fire.