Run (Benson Security, #6)

by Janet Elizabeth Henderson

“We boring you, Elle?” her boss, Callum McKay, barked, making her jump in her seat. Although, his tone wasn’t a sign he was annoyed with her, it was just a sign that he was a grumpy-arsed Scotsman. “Not you,” she said honestly. “The jobs. They’re mind-numbing. I’m fed up with background-checking boring people and combing through crappy private networks for bugs. Can’t we infiltrate an oppressive regime somewhere and bring down a dictator? Or even negotiate for a hostage or two? Surely someone, somewhere, has been kidnapped and needs our help.” Callum stared at her like she’d grown two heads. Meanwhile, Ryan Granger, the ex-soldier and native Londoner she considered a younger brother—despite him being marginally older—pointed at her. “What she said,” he told their boss before reaching for the last Danish pastry on the meeting room table. “I’m with Elle.” Megan Raast nodded. “I haven’t shot at anyone in months.”

Dimitri, Megan’s American husband, cocked an eyebrow at his wife. “You shot at me last week.” Megan waved a hand. “That doesn’t count. I wasn’t really aiming for you.” “You barely missed my leg,” the former army ranger pointed out. “Exactly.” Megan tossed her long blonde hair over her shoulder. “I didn’t hit you.” Dimitri’s grin summed up their marriage—crazy did it for him.

“I like the jobs we’ve been doing,” Julia Barone, their office manager, said. It was still strange to hear shy Julia talk during a meeting without being forced. It was even stranger to see her sitting at the table with everyone else instead of hiding behind one of the huge plants she’d positioned throughout the building. But then, she did have her husband at her side, and Joe wouldn’t let anything, or anyone, intimidate his wife. Ever. There were days when watching Joe and Julia together was just too cute for Elle to bear.

It was, however, the first time in a very long time that he’d been asked to betray someone he cared about. Because, until a cute little hacker with a penchant for pop culture, fifties dresses, and blue hair walked into his life, David hadn’t let himself feel anything for anyone in years.

This”—he gestured around the room—“is literally everything we have.” David pointed at himself. “One spy.” Then he pointed at each of them in turn. “One retired SAS officer, one non-active Marine, one former army ranger, an ex-soldier with skills and experience he doesn’t talk about, a first-class project manager who’s a savant when it comes to seeing patterns in situations, the best hacker in the world, and whatever Megan is.” He took a sip of his coffee. “This is everything we need.” They stared at him for a long moment before Ryan spoke. “I’m with the spy. I say we go all A-Team on their arses. I call dibs on Faceman.” “No way,” Joe complained. “I’m better looking than any of you, and I’ve got more charm. I’m Faceman.” “Well, I’m not going to be Howling Mad Murdock.” Ryan glared at Joe. “No, that’s obviously Megan,” Joe said. “You can be B.A.” “Bad Attitude Baracus? Are you nuts? That’s Callum!” From there, things quickly deteriorated into an argument about which A-Team character best suited whom.

“Nope.” She held up a hand. “I’ve had enough cowardly man-logic for one day.” She stared out the window again. “Callum, tell us what you want us to do.” * * * Cowardly? The word rang in David’s head. Repeating on an endless loop that wouldn’t quit. Cowardly? Had anybody ever called him that and lived? Was she right?