Total pages in book: 83
Estimated words: 82187 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 411(@200wpm)___ 329(@250wpm)___ 274(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 82187 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 411(@200wpm)___ 329(@250wpm)___ 274(@300wpm)
Free had called out positions, redirected flanks, timing each movement down to the second.
They were amazing.
Wes sat down hard on the bench in the gear room, still trying to breathe like a normal person, pulling on the tactical vest that didn’t feel like it belonged to him.
Because it didn’t.
This wasn’t a stunt set. There were no foam walls or safety wires, no cut or reset.
This would be life and death every time they burst through a door.
“You didn’t respond to my text last night. I was hoping I could come over.”
Wes ignored him.
“I wanted to talk, Wes, that’s it, promise.” Law glanced around, lowering his voice so the admin stocking the shelves couldn’t hear him. “I just wanted to hold you.”
Wes didn’t look up. He couldn’t. He already knew Law was watching him with those eyes that were always a bit warmer when he was being tender.
“These guys are insane, Law.” Wes shook his head. “You saw the videos. They like this shit. They laugh while getting shot at.”
“I think it’s inspiring. They’re a real team.”
Wes turned, scowling. “You really think this is the way to show Hollywood that we’re not reckless? Blowing shit up for a city-funded hit squad.”
“Don’t exaggerate. You always do that. They’re the good guys, Wes. They’re cleaning up the streets…the ones we both grew up on, unless you forgot.”
Wes gritted his teeth. “I don’t wanna help clean up anything. Fuck this, I’m calling Forest. I don’t care how early it is on the West Coast. I’m gonna tell him to get me outta this fuckin’ city, out of the entire state on the next thing smokin’. I belong on a set where my colleagues don’t possibly end up in body bags.”
Law gripped Wes around his waist and backed him against the locker.
“You are not calling him,” he growled.
“I’m dialing him tonight.”
“And when you do, I want you to put him on speaker so I can remind him who the hell you belong to.” Law held on tighter. “No matter how much you scream, curse, and fight, I’m not letting you go.”
Wes turned furious, his breath shortened, heating as if he were about to ignite.
Law grinned. “There it is. There’s your love for me.”
Wes stared hungrily at Law’s tongue when he dragged it slowly over his bottom lip.
Wes’s dick jerked hard in his tight jeans. He opened his mouth, but nothing came out.
Goddammit.
Law leaned in until they were inhaling the same breaths.
“We can get through this, Wes. You know I’d die before I let anything happen to you.” Law stroked the back of his hand down his cheek, and before Wes knew it, he was leaning into the touch.
“There you are,” Law whispered against his lips. “Don’t leave me.”
“Like how you left me when our careers blew up. You say we need each other, but you bailed when shit got too messed up, even for you.”
Law closed the last couple of inches and kissed him. Slow, tender, with the slightest tease of heat. His lips lingered, coaxing rather than taking, and Wes’s fury began to melt away.
“Don’t call Forest, please.”
Wes moaned against his will, and just as Law eased his tongue inside, someone cleared their throat.
“Time to get started,” Syn rumbled, not batting an eye at their closeness. “Let’s go.”
Lawson (Law) Sheppard
Law glared at the task force training lot like it owed him money.
The simulated battlefield stretched for half a block, outlined with demolished walls, concrete slabs, stripped car frames, and blackened apartment windows. It was designed with a lot of places to hide and even more places to be killed.
Syn’s gravelly voice cut across the field. “You’re not here to look good. Today we wanna see your instinctive survival skills.”
Law shrugged. “I’ve been surviving all my life…so no problem.”
Wes rolled his eyes at him.
The enforcers were stretching, cracking knuckles, and grinning at them like rabid animals.
Ruxs and Green were already talking shit, and taking bets on how many taser shots they’d get in.
Steele was wrapping his hands with athletic tape as if he was prepping for a sparring match. Tech adjusted his bow tie a second before he attached two suppressors to his twin Glocks.
“What the hell? Are you guys using live ammunition?” Wes yelled.
“Hollow points.” Tech chuckled. “Same impact but not lethal. I still suggest you try to avoid getting hit.”
“Fuckin’ seriously, Law,” Wes bitched.
Behind the enforcers were three of Captain Hart’s SWAT members, wearing tactical gear and cunning smiles.
The female in the front had smooth brown skin and long black dreadlocks that she’d wrapped into a thick ponytail. She swept her gaze over the field as if she’d already calculated an effective game plan.
“This is my sergeant, Dinah.” Hart thumbed over his right shoulder. “Don’t be offended if she takes you down.”
“When she takes you down.” she corrected.
Syn gathered everyone in a tight huddle. “I need to see their reaction time, and just how much training these pseudo rookies are going to need before we can use ’em on the streets.”