Special Ops Christmas Read Online Free

nose. With a strained voice, she said, “In the
snow.” Aiden had taken her completely by surprise. They’d been dating for a year,
and to celebrate he took her up to a historical mining site to hike in the
snow. After they had peered in the opening of the mine and played in the snow,
she’d turned to start hiking back to the car. Glancing over her shoulder to see
what was holding up Aiden, she found him— kneeling in the snow and holding out
a small red, velvet box.
    Marry me, Vivianne. Marry me and make me the happiest man
alive.
    The sun glinted off the ring, throwing light in a million
directions. It was even more brilliant and vibrant with the light bouncing off
the snow. It glittered like the purest, rarest diamond. When she pulled her
eyes from the glow of the ring, she saw the love and earnestness in Aiden’s
face. He wasn’t just any man. Aiden was tall, handsome, strong, and caring. He
was a deep thinker and had so many smart ideas about everything. She loved how
active he was, and yet he could sit and talk till two in the morning about any
topic she chose. They were perfectly matched.
    It had been a surprise, but there was no question in her
mind. Her heart knew. Yes!
    Finally, Vivianne whispered, “Of course I remember.” They’d
been arguing about his work for so long… she realized they hadn’t held on to
their special times together.
    “So you’ll hold off?”
    She didn’t bother pretending that she didn’t understand this
time. “Yes, I can wait till after the holidays.” Even if they couldn’t fix
things, at least they wouldn’t end their relationship during the holidays. “But
time for what? We’ve talked and talked, and the same problems are always
there.”
     “Let’s save the talking for when we can talk face to face.
Just give me that, okay?”
    She mumbled an hm-hmm . It was her way of not
disagreeing or agreeing, and they both knew it.
    “I gotta go, Babe, but I want to talk to you soon. I love
you.” And he prayed she still loved him.
    “Bye, Aiden.”
    She hung up and wondered why she couldn’t tell her husband
that she loved him.

Chapter Five
     
    Aiden ended the call and walked back into a silent,
expectant room. He looked at Daniels, wearing a dead-serious expression, and
then at Tank, another member of their team. Aiden and Daniels both trusted
Petty Officer First Class Charles “Tank” Edwards with their lives. His nickname
came from his sheer size and strength. Tank always had a crass wisecrack at the
ready. But even Tank was holding his breath, waiting to find out how Aiden’s
call went.
    Aiden nodded, a smile creeping across his face despite his
best efforts to look nonchalant. Tank whooped. Daniels jumped to his feet and
pounded Aiden on the back. “I told you, you piece of shit quitter! We don’t
throw in the towel, not when it matters.”
    And this did matter. It mattered more than anything else in
his life. If only Vivianne knew that.
    “Okay,” Daniels turned, and Aiden noticed some writing
across the whiteboard. Blocky, red letters spelled out Special Ops Christmas along the top. And below that, in sloppier black cursive, How do we get
O’Riley’s sorry ass home in time for Christmas?
    “How’s this going to work?” Aiden asked, wishing he could
sound more positive and thankful.
    “We’ll make it work.” Daniels stood with his feet apart and
his hands in his pockets. He watched too many movies and always acted like the
tough commander characters in them, like Master Chief Billy Sunday played by Robert
De Niro in Men of Honor .
    With a burning in his chest, Aiden surveyed
the faces around the room one by one. He served with these men, trusted them
with his life, and he’d willingly give his life for any one of them.
    The beginning of the Navy SEAL Creed
played through his mind:
    My Trident is a symbol of honor and heritage. Bestowed
upon me by the heroes that have gone before, it embodies the trust of those I
have sworn to protect. By wearing