by E C Sheedy
"No problem. I prefer my tigers in my gas tank—or better yet, my bed."
"Funny."
"I take it she doesn't know what her father does when he isn't making billions for Derek Industries."
"No. And it's your job to keep it that way."
Jesus! He tossed a wad of hundreds on the 'counted' side of the bed, and ran a hand through his wet, tangled hair.
He'd been with Raven Force for eight years, run ops from the seething East-bloc to war-infested Africa, but he'd never received an assassination order before. Abort mega weapons deals and kill the bad guys, sure . . . and get their money—that was the best part. But terminate the man who masterminded Raven Force? A man whose brilliant, Byzantine plots had saved thousands of lives—and taken down dozens of murdering warlords?
This order had to be bullshit. Had to be. "You sure about this, Holister?"
Tanner heard a hard breath come down the line. "He specifically asked for you—says you 'don't blink.' So get your ass to London ASAP." Pause. "And clean up before arrival, okay? Suit. Tie. The works. The Dereks don't do casual."
"Oh goody, a shopping spree."
Holister ignored the joke. "And remember this is what Derek wants. This is his plan. And whatever that man wants, he gets."
"Even to choosing his own time and place to die." Tanner rubbed his jumpy gut.
Silence, a full five seconds of it, then a hard exhale. "Yeah, even that."
Tanner took just as long to answer. "Shit," he said, because there was nothing else to say. But a lot to think about. Like why in hell Derek asked for him. You owe the man, Cross, maybe this is his way of calling in the debt. And like it or not, this was an order.
When Holister hung up, Tanner stared at the phone, working to get his thoughts in a line that made sense.
He didn't know what was worse, being ordered to kill Joe Derek, or seeing Laine again.
He picked up his beer from the floor beside the bed and took a long pull. Hell, chances were good she wouldn't even remember him.
EC Sheedy who also writes as Carole Dean, lives in British Columbia. She is an island dweller—and loves it. Every morning she wakes to the ever changing sound and colors of the ocean outside her window. Whatever its mood, summer calm or winter storm, she finds it the perfect background for writing romance. She lives with her husband of many years and a Rhodesian Ridgeback who has convinced them both he is a person in dog's clothing.
For more about EC Sheedy and to see some views from her window, visit EC's webpage www.ecsheedy.com
Or follow her on Twitter @EC_Sheedy
To contact EC Sheedy, email: [email protected]
Table of Contents
Cover
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
A Note from EC Sheedy
Excerpt from ONE TOUGH COOKIE by EC Sheedy
Excerpt from CALIFORNIA MAN – The Author's Cut Edition by EC Sheedy
Excerpt from OVERKILL, a short story by EC Sheedy
Meet the Author