Under Fire (Elite Force 3)

The cabin windows were thick but surprisingly clean. Above the windows, there were metal roll-down shutters. And as she looked closer, she saw the generator he’d mentioned. It wasn’t just large. It was huge.

Liam vaulted onto the dock and doubled up the tie-offs. The dogs leaped up and onto the planked walkway, sniffing. Intrigued, she climbed out. Even from the outside, she could see now that the cabin offered more than she’d expected, sprawling back with an unseen added space, enough for a couple of bedrooms.

Boat secured, Liam charged ahead of her. Sunlight glinted off his chrome weapon as he advanced toward the shack. He held up a hand for her to wait, reminding her again that while they both had rescue experience, he had a whole added level of combat training. But he blended the personal and professional parts of his life so much better than she did. One minute he was kissing her hand and the next he was ready for a shoot-out.

Watch his back. Sunny’s advice filtered through her mind, sparking an idea she should already have considered if she’d been as good as Liam at staying clearheaded.

She touched his arm and whispered, “Wait.”

He glanced back. “What? Is something wrong?”

“Send Disco in. He knows how to sweep a building. He’s trained.”

Liam blinked in surprise. “Uh, okay. Sure.”

“Open the door. I’ll send him in.”

Liam lifted a small wooden plank beside the window and exposed a security system. He typed in a code, then leaned to twist the doorknob. The hinges creaked.

Kneeling, she looked Disco in the eyes as she’d done dozens of times for searches over the years, not so much lately. “Ready?”

Disco’s ears twitched forward, his body rippling with tensed muscles. Good boy. She unclipped his leash.

“Go find,” she ordered softly, intensely. “Go find.”

The black Lab launched forward in a sleek bolt of determination, sniffing, zigging and zagging into the cabin. He thrived when working. She’d forgotten how much Disco put into his job. A job she’d denied him over the past six months. She blinked back tears.

God, why was he taking so long? Fang started to whine beside her. She petted the pup to calm her, to silence her. Fear burned as she thought of something happening to Disco if he actually found someone. Had she sent him into a trap? Liam kept his gun leveled the whole time, his arsenal-filled duffel on the dock beside him.

Eventually—after what felt like forever—Disco trotted back through the door and stopped in front of her. She dropped to her knees in front of him.

“Good, boy, Disco.” She ruffled his ears. “Good boy. Good work.”

Liam caught Fang by the collar before she could bolt away into the house. “Are you sure?”

She looked up. “I trust him. If Disco says it’s clear, then it’s clear.”

“Okay then.”

Liam started toward the cabin, but she noticed he didn’t put his weapon away. She followed, dogs at her side.

The place darn near sparkled, it was so clean—much like Liam’s place. The kitchen included a two-burner propane stove with a huge white farm sink. The shelves over the stone counter were stocked full of jarred food, boxed milk, juice, and cans of mosquito repellent. A round rough-hewn oak table filled the middle of the room, with bar stools around it. Cane fishing poles were propped in a corner alongside high-tech reels.

And there were electrical outlets. Heavy-duty outlets for major equipment. She looked at the trunks behind the sofa with interest.

She started down the narrow hallway, finding a bedroom on either side and a bathroom at the end. The thought of a shower or a nap only made her throat close with memories of how close she and Liam had been a few hours ago.

How long did she and Liam have here before everyone else showed up? Would they be setting up or shooting the breeze? Or just making love again so they didn’t have to talk? They had so much emotional baggage between them, they needed a freakin’ moving truck to hold everything.

The sound of an approaching boat snapped her back around. Liam was already at the door, weapon drawn. “Wait inside.”

“Like hell,” she whispered.

Heart in her throat, she pulled her Baby Eagle from her backpack and wished she’d had time for the shooting lessons.

Tucking behind him, she raced out onto the porch. She shaded her eyes against the high noon sun. A new airboat rounded the bend with five people on board. Five?

God, she hoped they were friends, because if not, she and Liam were seriously outnumbered.