Scorch (The MacKenzie Family Book 17) Read Online Free Page B

back to Surrender and bring some backup then he’d make me regret it. I’m thinking by his tone he’s pretty serious about her.”
    Brady stared at him and shook his head in bafflement. “It sometimes amazes me how you’re so astute when it comes to our missions, but you miss things that are happening in everyday life. I’ve known you for almost fifteen years, and even I know that Declan’s been in love with Sophia Huxley for at least half of that time.”
    “Really?” Shane asked. He tried to think back and remember if Declan had ever mentioned her or brought her around, but he was coming up with a blank. “I don’t know, man. Declan’s a weird one. I can’t see him pining after a woman for that many years. Besides, she was married. And Kane Huxley and Dec were good friends. At least before Kane turned out to be a traitorous bastard.”
    “All I’m saying is there’s a story there. Dec loved this woman a decade ago, she goes and marries another man, the man dies on a mission in Central America, proof surfaces that Kane Huxley was a traitor to his country, then we find out he faked his death, and he sends a hit squad after his wife because she knows too much. Then Declan shows up to protect her and threatens his favorite brother if he doesn’t protect her too. It’s a hell of a love story, if you ask me.”
    “It’s fucked up, if you ask me. And I didn’t realize you were so interested in love stories. I bet you’ve seen The Notebook a dozen times,” Shane taunted his friend.
    “Only once,” Brady said. “I’m secure in my masculinity. Besides, I’m not opposed to romance. You should try it sometime.”
    “Hell, I’m the king of romance. I fucking love romance. In fact, after I get a solid eight hours, I’m going to look through my phone and see who wants a piece of my romance.”
    Brady snorted out a laugh. “You’re a jackass. You’re the king of one-night-stands. Believe me, it’s not the same as romance. Some woman is going to knock you on your ass one day, and you’re going to fall head first.”
    “I have no illusions of white picket fences in my future. I’ve got everything I want and need. You’re the one looking for Mrs. Right to share that monstrosity of a house you’re building. I’m perfectly content to be your best man once you find her and bounce your kids on my knee.”
    “You can’t command the team forever. Age is going to kick you in the ass one day. Haven’t you thought about what you’re going to do then?”
    “Hell, no,” Shane said. Even thinking the word retirement gave him an uneasy feeling. He knew he’d always have a place at MacKenzie Security. Declan had set it up so they all owned a small percentage of the company. But being a SEAL was what he lived for. “I’m going to be the Bullfrog,” he said, referring to the SEAL that has the longest active duty. “I’d rather them bring me home in a body bag than have to give it up. You saw what happened to Jenkins when he retired.”
    “He retired from active duty,” Brady said. “Not life. He was forty-two years old. The shit we do doesn’t get easier as you get older. And Jenkins is fine. He’s still in shape and he’s got that construction business now.”
    “He’s twitchy.”
    “Twitchy?” Brady asked, straight-faced.
    “I heard from Bartell that the last time he went to visit him, Jenkins rappelled out the second story window and tried to take him out because he thought he was a terrorist.”
    “He probably tried to take him out because it was Bartell. Bartell is an idiot.”
    “What I’m saying is that Jenkins misses the adventure. He has that look in his eyes of a man whose adrenaline is building inside of him with no outlet. I’m telling you, he’s going to explode one day, and it’s not going to be pretty.”
    “I’ll tell you what,” Brady said. “If I notice that you’re starting to get close to retirement age or are in danger of falling in love, I’ll just shoot you and