Page 32 of Covert Temptation (SEAL Team Blackout Charlie #4)

D ante leaned back against the stiff hospital pillows and glared at the lunch tray on the rolling table.

“Tell me that’s not supposed to be lasagna.”

Kennedy, perched on the side of his bed, laughed. “You’re looking at it like it committed a war crime.”

“It did. Against the Italians who make good lasagna.”

She laughed again, and damn, it was good to hear the soft, musical sound. It was better to see that twinkle in the depths of her dark eyes. Since he was shot, he had watched her go through hell and back.

Something he never wanted to see again.

He hated putting her through that. She hadn’t left his side the entire time, not even after he came out of the operating room. He woke to see her sleeping in the recliner covered with a thin hospital blanket, the bruise on full display on her arm.

Seeing it had filled him with so much rage that his heart rate spiked, which brought the nurses into the room and woke Kennedy in the process.

But that was behind them now…part of their story.

Just like their rocky beginning as enemies was.

He reached out and caught Kennedy’s hand. She looked up at him in surprise. Then her eyes hooded at what she saw on his face.

“Dante—”

“Kennedy.”

“I’ve told you. We can’t…you know.”

“Who says?”

“Pretty sure the doctor says.”

He reached out and snagged his discharge papers off the table.

He pretended to skim the pages and then tossed them down again.

“Nope. Nowhere does it say I can’t make the woman I love scream my name until every person on this floor knows me.

” He flashed a grin when her cheeks infused with a pink glow.

He gently tugged on her hand, pulling her across the bed until she was sprawled on top of him.

“Dante!”

“Shh. You know you want me.” He pressed his lips to hers.

“You were just shot.”

“I’ve been shot before. Having the woman I love in my bed is new.”

Her lips curled up at that, her eyes going hazy with his words.

He claimed her mouth again in a soft caress that lingered for several heartbeats. When his traitorous stomach gave a thunderous rumble, Kennedy practically leaped off him. “See? You are hungry.”

“Not enough to eat that.” He waved at what passed as Italian food in this joint. “I can’t wait to get back to the base and have a pizza.”

She stood next to the bed, holding his hand just like she had been every step of his recovery. “But is that pizza better than our pizza? The one we shared in the safe house?”

He swung his legs over the side, ignoring the fire of pain from his surgery to repair the damage that bullet had done, and drew her to stand between his knees. “Nothing is better than you.”

She wrapped her arms around him and leaned in closer. He threaded his fingers in her soft hair, drawing her mouth to his. Every minute of this stay had been pure torment with Kennedy fussing over him. All he wanted was his own bed—with her. Riding him.

This kiss took on new meaning. She let slip a moan as he deepened it, swirling his tongue over hers and tugging on her plump bottom lip with his teeth.

When she drew back, she was shaking.

More kisses might’ve followed if the door hadn’t creaked open.

“Ride’s here,” Steele announced, stepping into the room like he owned it. “Hope you’re decent.”

Dante grinned at seeing his brother-in-arms. Members of the team had been in and out all week long, checking in on him and sneaking him junk food contraband. But he was so damn glad to see his friend.

“Steele.” He walked over to him, fist out.

Steele rapped knuckles with him and gave him a once-over. “Con told me to make damn sure you’re ready to leave.”

“As if Con has anything to say about it. I’ve got my walking papers, so I’m walking.” He nodded to the table.

Kennedy scooped up the papers along with his go-bag that had been collected from the safe house. Steele reached out for the bag. “I’ll get all the luggage. You make sure he doesn’t hurt himself getting into the wheelchair.”

Dante jolted. “Who said anything about a wheelchair?”

“Hospital protocol. Don’t bother complaining either.” Kennedy’s warning tone only warmed Dante from the inside out.

When Kennedy stepped out of the room to get the wheelchair waiting for him, Dante turned to Steele. “Remind me to deck you later. You interrupted something.”

Steele smirked. “Good—we don’t need any little Dantes running around the base.”

The brief ride in the hospital elevator seemed to take longer than the chopper ride back to base. Kennedy didn’t even complain when Steele handed her the blackout hood.

But watching her draw the cloth over her shining hair made Dante wonder how long it would be before the team trusted her the same way they trusted Sophie, Alyssa and May.

Back at the base, everything was in motion, the usual organized chaos only Charlie could pull off. Phones rang, the game was on too loud and someone yelled for more bacon for the pizzas being assembled in the outdoor kitchen.

It felt good to be back. Even if his side still felt like it was being jabbed with a red-hot poker every time he moved wrong.

As soon as they stepped in, Con and some of the other guys came out to welcome him back. He was swallowed by the group, receiving careful pats on the back and fist bumps. Meanwhile, Steele stood guard over him like he was precious cargo.

The act wasn’t lost on Dante. It was something Denver would have done. While his friend would forever be missed, it now felt like Steele carried the torch for him.

Henner stepped up to Dante. “Bro, you almost look worse than some of us do.” He pointed a finger at Steele, who was sporting a fresh line of stitches on his forearm. Henner himself had a gouge on his cheek that was probably making May more than a little upset.

Henner’s gaze wandered to Kennedy, hanging back from the group, her suitcase sitting next to her. Then his gaze shifted to Dante when he opened his mouth.

“She’s the one who went through it.”

“We’ll take care of her,” Steele said in a low voice. Then he raised it to address her. “Kennedy, what kind of pizza do you want?”

“Uh…” She stopped as Alyssa stepped into view. The two women locked gazes, and then Alyssa dashed forward to embrace her assistant.

Seeing that they had some things to discuss, Con gestured for Dante to follow him.

Steele raised his jaw in their direction. “Don’t keep him too long, Con. Bro has been living off hospital food. He deserves some pizza.”

Dante warmed again at being considered. Being included.

In Con’s office, Dante dropped into a seat across the desk from him. They eyed each other.

“How you doing?”

“I’ll be good as new in a couple weeks.”

Con gave him a look. “Doctor told me six weeks.”

“I don’t want to be benched that long. I already feel like I’m sidelined, stuck behind computers.”

Con contemplated him for a long moment. “I can see why you’d want to be in the thick of things, and we could use you. There are holes in the team, and you’re a damn good special operative.”

Throat thick with emotion, he could only incline his head in gratitude for the praise.

“Tell me what’s happening with the guy who was coming for Kennedy.”

Con launched straight into the story. “After you were taken by ambulance, the cops caught the man Cipher sent to bring Kennedy to him.”

He nodded. “The guys filled me in.”

Con continued, “The FBI’s crawling all over the bastard like fire ants on a carcass.”

“I’d like to get my hands on the motherfucker too.” He clamped a fist on his knee, wishing it were someone’s throat. Even though he’d taken out the man who kidnapped Kennedy, the second one had terrified her just as much.

A knock on the door put a pause on their conversation, even as it provided a moment to breathe.

“Yeah?”

“Pizza delivery.”

Con’s lips twisted in amusement as he called out for the man to enter.

Steele dropped into the seat beside him and handed him a fresh slice of oven-fired base pizza on a paper plate.

Dante slid him a look. “Thanks. We were just discussing the guy the cops captured.”

Steele grunted. “From what I’ve heard, the FBI’s already breaking him.”

Con nodded, acknowledging the fact.

“Think he’ll give up Cipher?” Dante asked.

Steele raked his fingers through the longer hair over his forehead. “Eventually. He’s a hired hand. He has no loyalty. Only fear.”

Dante was going to see red for a long time to come. It would take him longer to heal from what Kennedy went through than his own injuries.

“You didn’t hear what she went through,” Dante grated out. “I want to take down every last person who wronged her.”

Steele’s face darkened. “I’m with you, bro. She’s one of us now.”

That struck deeper than Dante expected.

“One of us,” he echoed. “And part of me.”

Con crossed his arms, watching him with an inscrutable expression.

He met his commanding officer’s steady stare. “So, what’s going to happen to her?”

Con didn’t answer right away. Instead, he nodded toward the window where Kennedy stood. To Dante’s surprise, she was speaking to a couple of government suits.

He started to get up, but Steele put out a hand to stop him. “She’s all right. Alyssa and Chase are with her.”

He swallowed hard. “Then tell me what happens to her.”

If he lost Kennedy now…he didn’t know how the hell he’d go on.

“You really want to know?” Con asked.

“Yeah.” His voice cracked. “I do.”

“We’re going to offer her a position,” Con said plainly.

Dante blinked. “Like, a job?”

“Analyst,” Con confirmed. “She’s got instincts, background with international relations, the ability to keep secrets and, unfortunately, experience with Cipher. That makes her valuable. And you know how the government treats people with useful skills.”

“They use them,” Dante said grimly.

“She’s good, Dante. She could really help.” Steele sat back, looking relaxed, ankle hooked over his knee. The special operative was known for being chill. Few things ruffled him. But Dante always suspected Steele just hadn’t yet encountered something that would.