SEAL Under Covers (SEAL Brotherhood Series Book 3) (3 page)

Fredo put on the brakes and nearly was rear-ended. “You wanna walk? You’re usin’ my petrol for your own devious little plan. I’m just along to make sure you don’t get your ass busted.”

Armando started to open the door and Fredo grabbed his shoulder. “Get the fuck back in the truck, Armani. I’m just messin’ with you.”

“Okay, then shut the fuck up.” They rode in silence for a few minutes. Armando was twirling the comment Fredo had made over and over in his brain. He couldn’t hold it in any longer. “Obsessive compulsive?” he demanded.

“No shit, Sherlock. Like you have to put plastic down on the couch yesterday before I could sit down.”

“That’s because you were working out before you came over. You were sweaty, man.”

“Yea, well, don’t you get sweaty balling all those coeds on your couch? You think I mind if I sit my ass down on some teenage cum?”

“They’re not teenagers. You know that.”

Fredo humphed. The silence continued. Then Fredo spoke up. “I clean my truck on the first of every month, and always before deployment.”

“That’s a very good thing. No telling what could grow in the back seat in six months unattended. Might have to have a HazMat clearance.”

“That’s Coop’s problem, with all that Kambucha he drinks. I think it’s disgusting to drink fungus piss.”

“Well, hell’s bells. We finally agree on something.” Armando smiled at his Mexican friend and found Fredo chuckling as well.

They looked like a couple of guys looking to find some action as they cruised down across the tracks towards a run-down commercial district in one of the seedier parts of town. Fredo’s truck was barely still green, it was so thoroughly covered with rust and scrapes. But everyone on SEAL Team 3 knew underneath the front seat was a container welded to the frame that could hold enough firepower to start a war in a small country. Normally there would be duty bags with special demo equipment and ammunition tossed on the second seat behind them. Tonight they were traveling light. Anyone who tried to mess with the box underneath the seat would be met with an electric charge strong enough to send him to the hospital, courtesy of Fredo’s best friend, SO Calvin Cooper.

Armando easily spotted Mia’s white Nissan glowing in the moonlight. He grimaced when he saw it was parked haphazardly, one wheel up on the curb. A variety of older cars and a few tricked-out, lowered ones with blackened windows dotted the nearly deserted alleyway. Fredo found a parking space nearby. A dark cat darted across the street and disappeared on the other side.

“Bet you bought her that car too, huh?” Fredo said.

Armando ignored him as he looked in the doorways of several clubs and saw women and an odd assortment of men lingering there. A string of Harleys that was way too nice for the neighborhood stood to attention right outside one particular bar. Armando thought if there was any kind of action at all, his sister would go for the bikers before the bangers.

Fredo continued, “You ever think that, like, maybe Mia doesn’t want you going around interfering with her life? She’s had that conversation with you, I know.”

“Did that ever stop
you
?”

Fredo shook his head. “Not the same thing, Armani. I don’t go check up on whom she’s goin’ out with. But I would, if you gave me—”

“That’s not going to happen, Fredo. Mia’s my responsibility.”

“Except…what if you’re pushing her away? You can’t lead a horse to water.”

“Depends on how fucking big the horse is.”

Fredo laughed. Armando felt good having his Team buddy at his side, and giving him shit was part of the fun. They crossed the street and walked towards the entrance of Babes.

Guttural saxophone music blared from the pink wash of light spilling out from the opened doorway of the bar. A big guy with more exposed tats than bare skin was there to collect their ten bucks.

He saw the pink flash of a girl’s rear end on stage just before the stage lights went out. The house lights came on, but it didn’t help much. He eyed the skinny gang members congregated at the stage, noticing that several of them were weaving and glassy-eyed. At the counter, a bevy of beefy guys dressed in black were hovering around someone seated there. Armando had a sickening feeling that someone was his sister.

Fredo stepped in front of him. “Don’t be stupid, Armani. I’m not into getting the shit kicked out of me tonight.”

Armando noted that every single one of the guys behind Fredo outweighed him by more than forty pounds. They also were about a foot taller than Fredo. But Armando would take them on any day with one of his teammates on hand to back him, regardless of the size or weight difference.

“Dude,” Fredo insisted. “No drama, okay? You don’t need some asshole taking pity on her, ‘kay?”

Adrenaline did a double tap to Armando’s heart and he sucked in a deep breath. His hands made fists before he was conscious of it. He tensed his thigh and felt the knife strapped there. It was always like this in the war zone. Except he didn’t have the H&K slung over his shoulder.

Relax, but be prepared for anything.

Without saying a word, Armando parted the crowd and wasn’t surprised to see his sister sitting right in the middle. He
was
surprised to see her friend Gina next to her. The feeling must have been mutual, because Gina sat up straight, her eyes going wide for a second before she resumed that cocky attitude that matched her dress. Damn, but the lady was practically poured into that fuzzy red thing. Armando’s body liked the view, the scent of her perfume all but sending him into a trance.

Down, boy.

Mia scowled when she saw him. “What the fuck are you doing here?” she demanded. He could see her cheeks flush red. A really big guy had his arm around her waist and pulled her even closer.

“I guess wanna ask the same about you,” Armando began, slowly scanning the faces of the males in front of him, especially the big guy. “Fredo and I stopped by the house and were going to cook up some steaks, since you said you were going to be home.”

“We changed our minds—right, Gina?”

“Damned straight,” Gina said between chomps of her bubble gum. “She need permission or something? I don’t see no dog collar.”

Armando wanted to make her spit out that double wad of gum so he could grab the woman and lay a decent kiss on her bright red lips, but he quickly banished the thought when one of the bikers stepped between him and the girls. Armando watched the others to make sure they weren’t also getting aggressive.

“These ladies are taken,” said the man in front of him. “Now why don’t you go get yourself some company elsewhere?”

Mia was grinning behind him.

“That’s my little sister,” Armando began. He hoped that’s all he would have to reveal.

“I think we can handle this,” the larger one said as he stood up. Then he pushed aside his friend and stared directly into Armando’s eyes with a sneer. He suddenly broke out in a smile. “But you can try your chances with this one over here,” he nodded to Gina. “If you can stand the competition, that is.” He winked at Gina.

Armando looked at the stained blue shirt and decided to take a chance. “How could I trust my little sister to a guy who slobbers all over himself?” Armando pointed to several large rhubarb-colored stains on the guy’s shirt. “Or did you get fresh with one of your buds?”

“You fuckin’ punk. I think you need to leave,” the giant said, taking the bait and stepping dangerously close to the two SEALs.

Armando was quick to grab the guy’s collar and pull him so their faces nearly touched. “I’m not afraid of you, Gringo,” he said to the giant. Armando could faintly hear Fredo give a light moan of disbelief. He released the big guy with a shove. The moose looked stunned.

“Shit, Armani. Wasn’t planning on getting bloody tonight,” Fredo muttered behind him.

Armando shrugged off Fredo’s words, irritated he was being publicly reminded to stand down. But he knew it was the right thing to do. He just didn’t want to.

Mia was on her feet, fire burning in her eyes. She tried to get in front of the leather-clad monster, but a beefy arm pushed her back behind him.

“Hey, pick on me, why don’t you?” Armando added, “Or are you one of those guys that like to beat up on women?”

The big guy was thinking about something. Armando could see he was barely reining in his anger.

“Oh, stop it, you two,” Mia said just in time. “He does this all the time,” she said to her entourage.

The big guy stepped back but was still blocking Armando’s access to his sister. The awkward seconds were broken when Mia added, “I can fuckin’ take care of myself, Armani,” she said from behind the man. This made the guy smile, his eyes narrowing as he tilted his head. Armando saw something dark and damaged in there.

“Like the little lady said,” the biker began, “she doesn’t need any help. We’re here to take good care of her.”

Armando’s fists were itching to connect with the guy’s fleshy cheeks.

“Just because they’re SEALs, they think they can do anything,” Mia muttered and started to get back up on the stool.

Mia had broken the unspoken rule, and Armando’s anger flared. He also could feel a current of energy filter through the group. Someone inhaled sharply. He usually told strangers he was a UPS driver.

Fredo stepped close in behind him. There was a waver in his voice, “Wow. That was a stupid thing to say, Mia.”

“Fuck off, Fredo.”

“Honey, we’re just looking out for you. You make your brother crazy—”

“Fredo, that’s enough,” Armando said. He put his hands on his hips. “I’m taking my sister home,” he said to the group as he scanned their faces. His gaze lingered on the big guy. Fredo swore softly behind him.

“Like hell,” Mia chirped. “We was just getting acquainted.”

But Armando noticed the big guys did seem to back off slightly. Something had broken the tension in the room. He didn’t buy it was entirely out of respect for his skills or that he was a SEAL.

“Another time, Mia.” He reached for his sister but missed. Then he turned to Gina. “You need to come along, too. I’m not leaving you alone in here.”

“And who appointed you king of my life?” she said with a sneer.

“Mia’s told me you’re smarter than that, Gina. Or you gonna tell me these guys are your type?”

Armando saw a little spark in Gina’s face as her eyes darted to the big man. She broke into a full-on grin. “You’re right about that. I have no intention of getting anywhere near him.” She flashed white teeth and Armando found himself getting aroused.

Gina took Mia by the arm, sliding her friend’s enormous purse up to her shoulder. “C’mon, Mia. I say we split. Testosterone is like perfume. Too much is unbearable. It makes me think stupid.”

Armando watched the way Gina’s buttocks quivered under the red, form-fitting dress as he followed them out of the bar. Her small waist accentuated her large breasts. He could imagine her naked in spite of the fact that it was a really dumb idea to entertain such thoughts.

Chapter 3

Fredo grabbed Mia’s car keys. It happened so quickly, Gina knew it must have been a choreographed sequence between the two SEALs.

Divide and conquer the enemy.

Mia flustered and argued, but got inside her own car at the last minute, allowing Fredo to drive her home.

That left Armando holding the door open to the old beater truck. Damn, but the guy was cool. The happenings in the strip joint hadn’t seemed to ruffle him one bit. He’d have been just as comfortable getting black, blue, and bloody. Gina wondered where he would draw the line.

Do I know where to draw the line?
Well, his was personal. Hers was her job. But it was definitely fucked that her ex-boyfriend had to land himself in the middle of her professional world too.

But that’s what kind of a choice you made, Gina.
Always making the wrong choices when it came to men. In a way, very much like Mia.

She watched Armando standing there, waiting for her. The other car was waiting for her as well.

Never waste an opportunity to make another bad decision.
Her roommate in college used to say that every day, while at the same time managing to bed most of the football team and as many of the soccer players as she could get. Gina always waited up for her, just in case she needed a ride or got too drunk. Just like she was now trying to do for Mia. It was the reason she became a cop. Another bad decision? Well, it certainly was something that had been locked and loaded way down inside her soul after she got the call from the police that fateful night. That night when her roommate became someone’s victim and Gina had sat waiting for a call that would never come.

She wondered what would ruffle this man of steel, amazed that he could make choices so quickly as he had just now. Was he ever afraid in his job like she was in hers?

What threshold am I walking through tonight?

She leaned over to look around the SEAL, checking on Mia in the passenger seat of her own car. Of course she would be safe with the little warrior, a guy who would probably die trying to protect her, from what Mia had said. But this one standing in front of her, balancing on one hip, leaning against the door, his muscular arms worthy of any Popeye character, was dangerous.

To her heart.

“Do I have a choice?” she said to him, watching that smirky little smile and sexy eyes making fun of her while her heart did flip-flops. She’d been close to peeing on herself while she sat and watched her ex-boyfriend nearly call out the brother—the
SEAL
brother of the woman they were working. It had been wrong on so many levels, even the Pope couldn’t dish out enough forgiveness.

“Get in.” It was a command that made her tense, but the smile he flashed afterwards made her panties wet. Suddenly her ankles wobbled and she nearly fell, which would have been totally uncool. And damn, if he didn’t reach out and put a strong, muscled arm around to steady her. He let her go after he gave her one hurried squeeze, just tight enough for her to learn he was aroused.