Unpredictable Risk (R.I.S.C. Book 5)

by Anna Blakely

  The ceremony lasted all of five minutes, but when it was over, they were married. And that was all either one cared about.

  “Damn, man,” Coop muttered beside him. “You’ve got that look again.”

  Grant turned to his teammate. “What look?”

  “You know, the one that says, ‘I want to take my wife home and have my way with her’.”

  He just grinned.

  “Pretty sure I wear that expression every time I see my Gracie.” Nathan Carter slid Coop a narrowed look. “You got a problem with that?”

  Coop smiled back at the Bravo Team member. “Not at all, Nate. Hell, I’m used to seeing it on the rest of your ugly mugs. Just shocks the hell out of me every time I see it on Hill’s face. That’s all.”

  While the other men laughed, Grant flipped his teammate the bird and smirked. “Just wait, smart-ass. Your time’s coming.”

  With a shake of his head, Coop snorted. “After seeing the shit you all have gone through? No, thanks, man. I’m good.”

  Despite the guy’s word’s, Grant noticed the almost indiscernible way Coop glanced at Mac from the corner of his eye. Whatever was going on between those two wasn’t any of his business, but Grant had a feeling it would come to a head soon...one way or the other.

  Later, after the presents had been unwrapped and the food eaten, the group sat around the fire shooting the breeze. When he noticed Brynnon trying to hide a yawn, Grant made the executive decision to call it a night.

  “Come on, Princess. Time to head out.”

  She smiled up at him. “I’m good. We can stay a longer, if you wa—”

  He pressed a finger to her lips, cutting her off. “You’re tired. So, we’re leaving.”

  “Grant.” She moved his hand from her mouth. “I love that you want to take care of me, but I’m a big girl.” She’d no more gotten the words out when another yawn hit.

  “A big girl who’s dead on her feet.” He grinned. “Come on. Let’s go home.”

  She frowned. “You’re bossy.”

  Leaning down next to her ear, Grant whispered, “You like it.”

  He saw the shiver race down her spine as Brynnon looked back up at him with a heated gaze. “Yeah,” she whispered back. “I do.”

  Smiling from their secret conversation, they said their goodbyes and headed for home.

  A few miles down the road when Brynnon spoke up. “You know, bossiness is sort of pre-requisite for parenthood.”

  Confused, Grant looked over at her. “I suppose it is.”

  His gorgeous wife bit her lip nervously. “So, I guess it’s a good thing you’ve already got that part down so well.”

  He chuckled. “Just try to remember that when we have kids someday.”

  “Someday.” Brynnon shrugged. “Nine months from now...”

  Her voice trailed off, and it took Grant half a second to catch what she was trying to tell him. His eyes flew to hers, the joy there confirming his suspicions.

  Nearly jerking the car to the shoulder, he slammed the gearshift into park and turned to her. “Seriously?” He didn’t even bother trying to hide his shock. “You’re pregnant?”

  She nodded. “Yes.”

  Grant couldn’t seem to catch his breath...or construct a coherent sentence. “What...how...when...”

  With a soft giggle, Brynnon reached across the truck’s bench seat and covered his hand with hers. “Take a breath, big guy. To answer your questions, yes, I’m pregnant. Pretty sure you know the how. As for the when, the doctor estimates I’m about two weeks along.”

  The doctor. She’d gone to the doctor yesterday for her final check-up. Grant had been to all her other appointments but had been called into the office to discuss something related to their next op. Brynnon had gone to the doctor alone.

  As if reading his mind, she explained. “After the doctor cleared me physically yesterday, she ran a blood panel, just as an added precaution. It’s still really early, and I don’t want to tell anyone else yet, but my HCG levels were already high enough to be detected.”

  “The pill?” Grant asked, his mind whirling.

  She looked chagrined. “Apparently, the antibiotics they put me on after I was shot diminished my birth control’s affect.”

  Grant’s mind whirled.

  Brynnon was pregnant.

  He was going to be a father.

  “We’re having a baby.”

  His whispered words of awe must have worried her, because Brynnon sounded nervous when she asked, “Are you mad?”

  “Mad?” He looked back at her as if she’d lost her damn mind. “Fuck no, I’m not mad. I’m...I’m...”

  Shit. He was screwing this whole thing up. Inhaling slowly, Grant blew out a slow, controlled breath before unbuckling his seatbelt and sliding over to her.

  Taking her beautiful face between his, Grant kissed her softly. “Baby, mad is the furthest thing from what I’m feeling right now.”

  “Really?”

  He kissed her again. “Really.”

  “So, you’re happy?”

  Grant shook his head. “Happy isn’t a strong enough word for what I am.” Kissing her again, he took his time, doing his best to show her without words exactly how the news she’d shared had affected him. When he pulled away, he asked, “What about you? Are you happy?”

  Brynnon’s smile made her eyes dance. “Very.”

  “We’re going to have a baby,” Grant whispered to his wife.

  “Yes.” Brynnon nodded. “We are.” She leaned up, initiating the next kiss. “I love you so much, Grant Hill.”

  “I love you, too, Princess.” Grant slid his hand down to her flat belly and smiled. “I love you both.”

  ****

  Coop watched through the curtain as Trevor and Mac stood outside on Jake’s porch. He was hoping to figure out just what in the hell was up with those two, but they were both speaking two low for him to hear anything through the window.

  Damn.

  He didn’t know what they were up to, but something was definitely going on. And from the look on Mac’s gorgeous face, it wasn’t good.

  The pint-sized blonde was staring up at Trevor, her long ponytail swaying back and forth as she shook her head at something the former Delta operator was saying.

  As a sniper—first in the Army and now with R.I.S.C.—Coop had studied enough faces through his scope to recognize fear when he saw it. And Mac looked terrified.

  What the hell?

  Mac was the strongest, most courageous woman he’d ever met. Like him, she was a former Ranger and, though he’d never admit it, was an even better sniper than he was.

  The five feet nothing spitfire could outrun, outshoot, and outsmart most men he knew. She didn’t flee in the face of danger. She thrived on it. So, seeing the fear clouding her eyes now? That turned his blood cold.

  As Coop continued to watch the odd exchange, his mind raced to think of what she and Trevor could be talking about so intently. An affair was out of the question. No way were Mac and Trevor involved romantically.

  One, Trevor loved his wife to the moon and back. The guy would sooner lay down his life than hurt Lexi.

  Two, the former Delta operator may be good looking as fuck—the bastard—but Mac sure as hell wasn’t a home wrecker.

  Something was definitely going on, though. And as her partner, Coop intended to find out what. Starting now.

  Having had enough of the pair’s covert crap, Coop stepped out onto the covered porch and shut the door behind him. “All right.” He crossed his arms at his chest. “Spill it.”

  His team members swung their heads around, both wearing a deer-in-the-headlights expression.

  “Spill what?” Mac asked too innocently.

  Coop rolled his eyes. “That girl-next-door act doesn’t work on me, remember? Now, what the hell is going on?”

  Mac slid a quick glance to Trevor before looking back at him. With a shrug of her delicate shoulder, she said, “Nothing’s going on.”


  “Bullshit.” Coop dropped his arms to his sides. “You two have been sneaking around for the last two weeks, having your private meetings and these little side conversations. I’ve kept quiet up to now, but enough is enough.”

  Trevor looked to Mac, as if he were waiting for her to say something, but she simply broke eye contact and remained silent.

  Throwing his hands to his hips, Coop’s eyes narrowed to thin slits. “Seriously? I’m your fucking partner, Mac.”

  Angry blue eyes flew up to his. “Being partners on the team doesn’t mean I have to tell you everything.”

  “No.” Coop shook his head. “It doesn’t. But it sure as hell means we should trust each other.”

  Mac’s expression softened. “I do trust you.”

  “Then tell me what has you so scared.”

  Admission flashed behind her eyes before she could stop it. Still, the stubborn woman said, “I...I can’t.”

  Refusing to let his disappointment show, Coop shot back with, “Can’t or won’t?”

  Mac bit her bottom lip nervously. Ignoring how much he wished it were his teeth nibbling her there, Coop sighed. “Come on, Mac. Part of being partners is knowing you have someone to lean on when you need it.”

  Clearing his throat, Trevor spoke up. “He’s right, Mac.”

  Coop’s gaze slid to the other man’s. From behind her, Trevor gave him a single nod before heading for the door. Looking back over his shoulder, he said, “Told you before, the story is yours to share. Tell him or don’t tell him. The choice is yours.” The guy shrugged. “Just remember...you’re not alone in this.”

  With those parting words, Trevor went back into the house, leaving the two of them alone.

  Coop shoved his hands into his pockets. “Well, that sure as hell didn’t make me feel any better.”

  A corner of Mac’s enticing mouth turned up for only a second before falling back into a straight line. Swallowing hard, she looked back up at him. “I trust you with my life, Sean. You have to know that. I always have.”

  “So, trust me with it now.”

  Her hesitation was palpable. “I’m leaving tomorrow.”

  Coop took a step back, the shock from her words damn near knocking him on his ass. “You’re leaving? Where are you going?”

  “I can’t tell you.”

  “Goddamn it, Mac.” His anger swelled. “You just said you trusted me.”

  She closed her eyes. “You’re right.” Inhaling deeply, his partner opened them back up and met his stare. “I could tell you. But I won’t.”

  Pain stabbed him in the heart. “Why the hell not?”

  “Because it isn’t safe.”

  “For you?”

  Mac shook her head. “For you.”

  Coop ran a hand over his short hair. “Okay, you’re going to have to explain that one.”

  Walking over to the edge of the porch, she looked out at the snow-covered lawn. “I’m working a solo op.”

  If she’d punched him in the jaw, he wouldn’t have been more surprised.

  “The fuck you are.” He went to her side. “R.I.S.C. doesn’t do solo ops. Not ones that are known to be dangerous, anyway.” When she opened her mouth to argue, he shut her down. “I’m talking about more than the occasional solo bodyguard gig, and you know it. Whatever this job is, it has you scared to death. I can see it in your eyes.”

  Mac’s shoulders fell in an uncharacteristic show of defeat. “You’re right.” She looked back up at him. “I am scared.”

  When Coop saw the way her body shivered, he instinctively knew it wasn’t from the cold. “Jesus, Mac.” He took her shoulders between his hands. “You’re shaking like a leaf.”

  She swallowed nervously. If he didn’t know any better, Coop would have sworn there were fresh tears trying to fight their way free.

  She’s scaring the hell out of me.

  “Talk to me, McKenna. Please.”

  “This job...it has a personal connection.” Mac licked her lips. “One from my past.”

  Mac had always kept her time before R.I.S.C. close to the vest. Out of respect for her, Coop had never pried. Now, he wished like hell, he had.

  “Okay,” he nodded. “Whatever it is, I can help.”

  “You can’t.”

  “Sure, I can. Jake will give me the green light if I ask. If not, I’ll put in for vacation time.”

  “It’s not about getting permission, Sean.”

  “Then let me go with you.”

  She shook her head. “I can’t.”

  “Why not?”

  Yelling, Mac blurted, “Because I care too much about you!”

  Okay, so he wasn’t exactly expecting that answer.

  “I care about you, too, Mac. A lot.”

  She squeezed his arm. “I know you, do. Our partnership...our friendship means more to me than you’ll ever know. It’s one of the biggest reasons I have to do this alone.”

  “You’re not making any sense, McKenna.”

  “I know.” She smiled sadly. “I wish I could tell you more, but I can’t run the risk that you’ll get hurt. Not because of me and my fucked-up past.”

  Coop was still trying to understand what the hell she was talking about when Mac leaned up and kissed him on the cheek. “Take care of yourself, Sean. And...thank you.”

  He frowned. “For what?”

  “For being the best partner a girl could ever have.” Pulling the keys to her Jeep Rubicon from her pocket, Mac turned and walked down the porch steps.

  Coop shouted her name, ordering her to come back, but she ignored his pleas. A minute later, he was still standing on that damn porch, feeling as though her goodbye had been final.

  It was a loss he felt to his soul. One that damn near brought him to his knees.

  The utter terror he’d seen in her eyes and the trembling of her voice when she’d admitted how scared she was damn near brought him to his knees.

  Fuck that.

  McKenna Kelley may be the epitome of strength and female independence, but she was also the woman who owned his heart. Even if she didn’t know it, yet.

  She was his partner. His friend. And, even though he’d never admitted his true feelings for her, his woman.

  Screw invasion of privacy. He was going to dig as far and deep as he had to in order to figure out where she was going and what the hell she was getting herself involved in.

  Whether she liked it or not, Mac was his to protect. And the first chance he got, Coop was going to make damn sure she knew it.

  ****

  Want more Coop and Mac?

  ULTIMATE RISK—R.I.S.C. Book 6—will be available for pre-sale soon! (Release date: May 26, 2020)

  Want to read more from Ms. Blakely’s R.I.S.C. Series?

  See how it all started with Jake and the rest of Alpha Team by checking out the other books in this series:

  Book 1: Taking a Risk, Part One (Jake & Olivia’s HFN)

  Book 2: Taking a Risk, Part Two (Jake & Olivia’s HEA)

  Book 3: Beautiful Risk (Trevor & Lexi)

  Book 4: Intentional Risk (Derek & Charlotte “Charlie”)

  Check out R.I.S.C.’s new Bravo Team! Click below to read the first in Ms. Blakely’s new R.I.S.C. spin-off series in Susan Stoker’s Special Forces: Operation Alpha World:

  Book 1: Rescuing Gracelynn (Nate & Gracelynn “Gracie”)

  Coming Soon:

  Book 2: Rescuing Katherine (Matt & Katherine) – March 2020

  Keep reading for an excerpt from Rescuing Gracelynn...

  Rescuing Gracelynn Blurb

  (Book 1 in Ms. Blakely’s new R.I.S.C. spin-off series, Bravo Team)

  “Anna Blakely has another hit book! This exciting story is filled with action, drama, excitement, romance, terror and much, much more. If you want a book that pulls you in and keeps you excited to turn the next page, over and over again, then I highly recommend reading RESCUING GRACELYNN!”

  - Bookbub reviewer

  HE NEVER BELIEVED IN TRUE LOVE...UNT
IL HE MET HER.

  Bravo Team’s technical analyst and confirmed bachelor, Nathan Carter, is happy being single and has no intention of falling under the spell of a woman. Ever. Then, he meets Gracelynn. Before he knows it, the sweet, tenacious woman has Nate questioning his long-standing doubts about love, soul mates, and happily ever after.

  Gracie McDaniels is happy with her new life and loves her new job. Working closely with the hunky guys on R.I.S.C.’s Bravo Team, including her future brother-in-law’s best friend, doesn’t seem as if it’ll be an issue. Then, she meets him.

  Nate’s smart, funny, and handsome...everything she’s ever wanted in a partner. But just as they start to grow close, an innocent friendship from Gracie’s past comes back to haunt her. When her life is threatened, Gracie instinctively turns to Nate for protection and soon he and the other members of Bravo step up to keep Gracie safe.

  With help from Ghost and his friends, the Delta Force and Bravo teams find themselves racing against the clock to save the only woman Nate has ever loved...before it’s too late.

  Excerpt from Rescuing Gracelynn

  “Are you okay?” Her question came out much softer than she’d meant for it to.

  Nate gave her a humorless smirk as he shoved his hands into his pockets. “I should be asking you that question.”

  “I’m...better.” And she was. The pounding in her head had quieted to a dull ache, and the intense trembling had subsided.

  When he continued to just stand there, staring without saying another word, Gracie realized he was probably waiting for an apology. One that was well-deserved.

  Standing, she laid what was left of the ice pack down onto her seat’s cushion and began to say what needed to be said. “I’m really sorry, Nate. We never should have left the building without one of you. Or, at the very least, we should have checked with you beforehand.”

  She waited, but he remained silent. Okay. Apparently, more groveling was going to be involved.

  Stepping toward him, Gracie nervously continued. “I-I know it wasn’t very smart of us, and you and Kole have every right to be upset. It’s just that, I was exhausted from going over everything with Jake and the others, and then doing the sketch with Dalton. Sarah mentioned coffee and I...”