Boone's Cowboy [Rescue for Hire 8] (Siren Publishing Everlasting Classic ManLove) Read Online Free Page A

always resented using any of his disability money to buy those brats stuff. But Judy insisted they needed things she called necessities.
    “The way I see it, Eddie, you only have two choices. Give up or die. Which one are you going to pick?”
    Eddie laughed and stood up. “That’s where you’re wrong, Shane.” He held the rifle in one hand, and with his other hand, he lifted his shirt, revealing the bomb strapped to his belly. “I think this will give me a free ticket out of here.”
    The cold, sharp edge of steel against Eddie’s neck had him freezing in place. “I don’t think so, Eddie,” whispered a deadly voice in his ear. Goose bumps crawled over his skin, and Eddie felt his death racing toward him.
    Eddie dropped the gun and went to push the button that would detonate the bomb. A hand caught his wrist, and fingers dug into his flesh. His hand immediately went numb.
    The razor edge of the knife at his throat sliced into his skin. “Don’t move, Eddie. I have no problem ending you.”
    Eddie let go of his shirt and reached down to grab the gun tucked into the waistband of his pants. He’d managed to bring the gun partway up, pointing it at the teenagers sitting on the floor, when his breath was cut off. A terrible, wet, bubbling sound filled his ears as he struggled to breathe. Heavy, liquid coated the inside of his throat, oozing down toward his lungs and making it impossible to pull air into them. A curtain of gray cloaked his sight, and the last thing Eddie felt was hands grabbing him.
     
    * * * *
     
    “Get the hell out of here,” Treble Walker yelled at the wide-eyed teenagers. He would have laughed at how fast they scrambled around him and Eddie and ran across the court if his situation hadn’t sucked crap so badly.
    “Someone better get over here and take care of this bomb,” Treble called out. Shit, not only was Eddie bleeding all over him, but now, the man’s stupidity might blow them both the hell up.
    “Don’t move, man. I’ve seen those things in Iraq, and they do a number on the body.” Gabriel came into Treb ’s sight with a look of concern.
    “Does anyone know how to disarm it? Can I set him down?” Treb’s arms were starting to protest under the weight of Eddie’s dead body.
    “I’ve worked on a few of these types of bombs before. I’m not an expert, but give me a second to take a look at it.” A wave of relief washed over Treb at the sound of the commander’s voice.
    Treb watched the commander crouch down to study the bomb. “Doesn’t this city have a bomb squad?” he asked.
    “The police chief informed me that the closest bomb squad is three hours away,” the commander answered.
    “Well, shit, can you do something? He’s getting heavy,” Treb complained.
    “Your call, Treb.” The commander looked Treble straight in the eyes. “I’ll help you hold him steady until the bomb squad gets here, or I can cut that wire that I’m almost positive will disarm the bugger.”
    “We’ll help hold him up, too, Treb,” Rock said.
    Behind Rock stood the rest of Treb’s teammates, Gabriel, Tony, and Treb’s beloved Damian. If Treb were the teary-eyed sort, he might have been a little choked up at his teammates’ show of support.
    “I trust you, Commander,” he said.
    “All right then, let’s do it.” The commander pulled a multipurpose tool out of his utility belt.
    None of his teammates moved away to a safer distance. They stood by him in a show of solidarity. Treb’s eyes met Damian’s. If this was their last moment on the earth , then so be it. Treb couldn’t think of a better way to die than immersed in the love of his life’s beautiful blue-green eyes.
    Treble heard a sharp snap.
    “That’s it. It’s dead, Treb. I think you can let him go,” the commander said.
    “Let me help.” Gabriel stepped forward.
    Together, they gently placed Eddie on the floor. Now the authorities could come in and deal with the aftermath of Eddie’s destruction.
    “We