Breaking Rules (Delta Force Strong #2) - Elle James Page 0,4

was slippery and completely heartless. He had to be stopped.

Racing toward their temporary quarters where they’d stashed their go bags, Blade veered right to his tent, while Dash veered left and rounded the corner of a building. Before he could stop himself, he ran into the back of someone carrying a heavy object over his shoulder. The person and his burden crashed to the ground with a grunt.

Dash landed on what appeared to be a body bag like the ones used to ship dead servicemen back to the states. He struggled to untangle his weapon from the squirming contents.

The man he’d knocked to the ground crawled out from under the bag and Dash, leaped to his feet and tore off, running away as fast as he could.

By the time Dash rose to his feet with his weapon in his hands, the man had disappeared around the corner of a row of tents.

Dash started after him.

“Help,” a voice called out behind him.

Someone from inside the squirming body bag the man had been carrying called out, “Please, help.”

Halted in his tracks by the decidedly feminine tone, Dash fought the urge to go after the man. Instead, he remained where he was and searched for an opening.

Holding his rifle in one hand, he pulled at a zipper. A female emerged, with curves in all the right places and a mane of shiny, light-colored hair that had turned a shadowy blue in the moonlight.

She wasn’t wearing a desert camouflage uniform, nor was she wearing Army PT shorts and a shirt. Instead, she wore sparkling high heels, a short skirt and sequined tank top.

What the hell?

He held out his hand.

When she placed hers in his, he hauled her to her feet.

She swayed and fell against his chest, tears smearing the makeup on her face. “Oh my God. Thank you,” she cried, wrapping her arms around him.

Footsteps pounded, racing toward them.

Dash slipped his arm around the woman and turned his body to shield her with his, bringing his rifle up to point at the owners of the footsteps rounding the corner of the building.

Two uniformed soldiers with black military police armbands, four men in black leather jackets and Dash’s Delta teammate, Blade, skidded to a stop at the end of his rifle barrel.

“Dash, someone abducted Sunny Daye,” Blade’s wide eyes narrowed. “Hey, why are you pointing your rifle at us?”

Dash lowered his weapon and moved slightly, exposing the woman he’d found in the body bag.

His arm still around her, he frowned down into her eyes. “I take it you’re Miss Daye.”

She nodded, her arms slipping around his waist. For a moment, she held him close. Then she squared her shoulders and lifted her chin, swiping at her wet, makeup-smeared cheeks. “That’s right. I’m Sunny, and this man saved my life.”

Chapter 2

Sunny Daye stood close to the man in the combat uniform, helmet and bulletproof vest, feeling safer than she’d felt since she’d stepped foot on the arid soil of Afghanistan. “You know who I am… I’d like to know the name of the man who saved me from being carried away in that…that…bag.” She shivered as she stared down at the dark bag someone had thrown over her head.

“Jesus, Dash.” A man, dressed like the one who’d saved her shook his head. “That’s a body bag.”

Sunny’s blood chilled, and she shook uncontrollably.

Her rescuer pulled her up against him, his arm securely around her waist.

All four of her bodyguards frowned and took a step closer.

She held up her hand. “I’m okay. But I wouldn’t have been if this man hadn’t tackled the man who’d grabbed me.” She looked up at him. “Is your name really Dash?”

The soldier’s lips twitched. “That’s what my friends call me.” He held out his free hand. “Sergeant Ryan Hayes, at your service. You can call me Dash, if you like.”

She remove her arm from around his waist and took his hand in hers. “Dash, words aren’t enough thanks for what you did. But, thank you.” She leaned up on her toes to kiss his cheek.

Before her lips touched his camouflage painted face, he turned. Their mouths met in a brief and electrifying kiss that sent ripples of shock waves throughout her body.

Sunny jerked back, her eyes wide.

Dash’s eyes widened, and then narrowed.

Had he felt it, too?

Shaken by the entire experience, Sunny stepped backward, her heel catching on the black bag at her feet. She tipped and started to fall.

Dash’s arm snaked out and caught her around the waist, bringing her back to