Targeted Risk (R.I.S.C. #7) - Anna Blakely Page 0,7
the team or something?”
“What?” Jake swung his gaze to the table and back to Mike. “Hell no, they haven’t said anything. Nothing bad, anyway. In fact, Mac told me the other day that it felt as if you’d been part of the team from the beginning.”
The Mac Jake was referring to was McKenna Kelley, the only female member of Alpha Team. Like Coop, who was also her fiancé, Mac had been an Army Ranger prior to joining R.I.S.C. Also like Coop, the woman was one hell of a sniper.
“Speaking of Mac...” Mike decided to change the subject. “How come she never plays cards with us?”
“Because I work too damn hard for my money.”
Speak of the devil.
Both men turned to see the woman in question approaching them. Standing all of five-five with long, blonde hair and big blue eyes, Mac looked nothing like the deadly operative Mike now knew her to be.
“One of those for me?” She eyed the bottles of beer on the counter.
“Sure.” Mike handed her one, then went to the fridge to get a replacement. “And I only asked about you not playing cards because I noticed none of the women do.” He glanced over to where two other wives were still hanging out and talking by the fire. “Didn’t want you thinking y’all weren’t welcome at the table with the guys.”
“Oh, don’t worry, brother.” Jake took a swig from his bottle. “Mac knows we’re an equal opportunity team, here. Don’t ya, Mac?”
“Yep.” The adorable government-licensed killer grabbed the bottle opener from Mike’s hand. “These guys all know I could pick them off in their sleep from a hundred yards away if they ever pulled any of that male chauvinist bullshit with me or any of the other girls. But I prefer to spend my money on tangible things like shoes and handbags, rather than line the pockets of my oh-so-endearing teammates.”
The sugary-sweet smile she gave them made Mike snicker. “Shoes and handbags?”
Mac grinned. “I keep forgetting that your new-ish. Jake? Maybe you should fill him in. I have to go get more Lilly cuddles before my poker-impaired fiancé over there loses his share of our monthly freebie allowance.”
Jake nearly spit out his beer. “You put Coop on an allowance?”
“We both agreed to cut back on our frivolous spending. Weddings are expensive as hell.”
“Not if we had it here!” Coop hollered across the room. Thanks to the open floor plan, the young sniper had obviously overheard the conversation.
It still floored Mike that the teams two snipers were engaged. Most teams like theirs would separate couples if they became romantically involved. Too much of a risk for personal issues at home affecting their performance and concentration on the job. But somehow, Coop and Mac made it work, so Jake allowed it.
“That’s right.” Jake nodded. “Liv loved the ceremony we had out back. And Grant and Bryn had theirs here, too. It’s like a R.I.S.C. tradition, now.”
“The Bravo Team guys have all done their own thing,” Mac pointed out with a grin.
A little over a year ago, Jake decided to expand the business and hired on a second team of guys to help with the overload of ops being thrown their way. Mike hadn’t spent much time around those guys, but from what he knew of them, they were as solid a team as the one he was now a part of.
“Okay, fine.” Jake stood corrected. “It’s an Alpha Team tradition, then. Either way, there’s more than enough room, and more importantly, it would be free.”
“He’s right.” Olivia walked into the kitchen area with Lilly propped up on her hip. “We’d love to host the ceremony. But only if that’s what you want. It’s your wedding, after all.”
“Ahem, isn’t it our wedding?” Coop butted into the conversation again before tossing down his cards with a scowl. “Damn it.”
“Free location or not, there won’t be a wedding at all if you lose every time you come here.”
“Not true.” Coop stood and headed their way. “One, I’m still within the limits of my budgeted spending, and two”—he snaked an arm around Mac’s tiny waste and pulled her to him—“there ain’t nothing gonna stop me from marrying you.”
The room groaned in unison as their teammates shared a kiss.
Mike chuckled, but inwardly he was filled with an unfair resentment toward the young couple. “Think that’s my cue to leave.” He grinned. “But first, I’m going to go say goodbye to my adorable niece.”
Taking the baby from his sister’s arms, he relished in the little