Act of Surrender: An Immortal Ops World Novel (PSI-Ops / Immortal Ops Book 2) by Mandy M. Roth Page A

operations.”  
    “Or people’s lives,” said James.
    Duke’s eyes widened. “Yeah, or that.”
    The door to the lab opened and it took all of James to keep from laughing as the captain entered, his hair seeming even pinker than when James had last seen him.
    “Captain Cotton Candy,” said Striker, spinning around in a circle. He saluted Corbin, but the shit-assed grin on the man’s face said he was being anything but respectful at the moment.
    Corbin’s unamused gaze locked onto the Scot. “Why, exactly, are you being led around the lab by Boomer as if this is a ballroom and you’re the female lead?” he asked, his words clipped with a British accent.
    Striker shrugged. “Och, do nae judge. Yer head is pink.”
    “I really wish I could fire you,” returned Corbin.
    “You and the rest of PSI.” Striker blew the captain a kiss. “You’d miss me. I’m special like that.”  
    James hid his laugh. Oh, Striker was special all right.
    “Want me to off him?” asked Duke, a hopeful look on his face.  
    Corbin rubbed his jaw as if considering the offer.
    Striker grunted. “Do nae make me suggest we all take one of the jets and fly somewhere.”
    Duke crossed his arms over his chest in an angry protest. “I fucking hate to fly.”  
    “We know,” said the men together, snorting as they did.
    Striker turned and shook his ass, holding his kilt out, lifting it to the point it just barely covered all it should. He shook his backside back and forth. “That’s right. Can’t get enough of the Scot love machine.”
    Corbin’s attention went to Duke. “I’ll give you a thousand dollars if you find your wife and have her shoot Striker with another tranq dart.”
    Duke laughed. “Ah, I’d do that for free.”
    James laughed. “Ask him about his milkshake.”
    “About his what?” questioned Corbin.
    James snorted. “You probably don’t want to know, sir. If I were you I’d run away while you still can before they suck you into their dance routine.”
    “How long before they sober up?” asked Corbin.
    “Depends on how much sedatives Mercy gave them,” answered James. “I’d say a couple of hours.”  
    “Great.”
    “Hey, Captain Cotton Candy Head,” called Striker. “Is it nae about time for you to take a tea-and-crumpet break?” Striker and Boomer both bent forward, laughing as if Striker had said the funniest thing ever.  
    Corbin eyed James, looking unamused with the men’s antics. James knew better. He knew that under the layer of stodgy that Corbin seemed to shroud himself in lay a man whose passions ran deep and who enjoyed the banter and playful ribbing. “Here’s to hoping they sober up sooner rather than later.”

Chapter Six  

    The burner phone Laney had been using longer than she should rang. She should have dumped it that morning at the very latest, but she’d been too busy talking to Hagen to stop and think about it. And now she’d given him the number and didn’t want to risk missing a call from him. She’d try her luck with it another day or so and then get a new one.  
    She picked it up and kept typing. “Yeah?”
    “Nice way to answer the phone. And what in the hell are you doing? I should have gotten a text from you this morning with your new number. Why is this one still active?” asked Harmony, her voice light and airy.
    “Erm, running a little behind. No worries.”  
    Harmony huffed. “Said the girl who does nothing but worry the Man is watching her.”
    “Hey, just because I’m paranoid doesn’t mean someone isn’t out to get me,” returned Laney with a half-laugh.
    “Weirdo.” Harmony blew a bubble and it popped loudly over the phone. “I thought I’d be interrupting some hot monkey phone sex with your wolf boyfriend. Have you used the toys I brought you yet?”
    Laney grinned, knowing Harmony was talking about Hagen. “They’re still in the boxes. I took one look and then thought, holy moly, that is supposed to go there? ”
    Harmony