Prelude to a Rumor, Part Two (Harmless Book 4) by Melissa Schroeder

CHAPTER ONE
    S ean studied the overhead screen and fought the need to curse. This was going to be a shit job. Sure, it was going to bring in some much-needed capital, but he didn’t know if it was going to be worth it. Now that he knew the risks, he was starting to have second thoughts—especially with a new partner.
    He glanced at Randy Young. When Lassiter had first told him whom he was working with, Sean wasn’t all that thrilled. The newest member of Lassiter’s motley band of contractors wasn’t Sean’s first pick, but he would do for this kind of job. As a former SEAL, Young had the experience. Young must have felt his study and gave Sean an understanding nod. He thought the job sucked too.
    It was hard to get a handle on the newest member of Lassiter’s team. He was a fucking god built of muscles and California good looks, hot enough to make Sean drool. But there was a brain in there too. Knowing he swung both ways like Sean made him almost irresistible. Young had been working his way through just about all of the operatives, with the exception of Sean.
    The man was long and lean, just about as tall as Sean, with laughing blue eyes. From the smooth, tanned flesh, he had been spending a lot of time on the California beaches, but for some reason, Sean was sure he was tan from the tips of his toes to the top of his head.
    Fuck, he didn’t need to become preoccupied with another operative. He needed to focus on the job at hand, no matter how much of a FUBAR it was.
    “I don’t like the idea,” Sean said. “We have to go in blind?”
    Lassiter nodded. “Yeah, and I know it sucks.”
    “It’s beyond sucking,” Randy said, his voice deadly calm and his usually jovial mood absent. “It could end up with both of us dead.”
    Lassiter shook his head. “You military folk always look at everything in worst-case scenario.”
    Lassiter had never been in the military. MI-6 was his only training and that’s why he had no problems cutting corners or taking chances—as long as other people were at risk. Sean was former Army and with Randy being a former SEAL, they both knew too well what could go wrong.
    “It’s one way to make sure we arrive alive,” Sean said.
    He didn’t mind taking chances, but he really did not like the idea of a suicide mission. This definitely had those markings and not for anything noble. Saving a life, that would have been worth it, but for money—no matter how much—he wasn’t sure this was worth it.
    “I wouldn’t send you if I thought there was a chance you’d be attacked,” his boss said, his voice as cool as it had been over the last year. Sean had started working for him when he and Jaime had broken it off. Well, more like she had broken it off, and Sean had left MI-6 for a fresh start. Lassiter apparently blamed Sean, even though he was the one who had wanted more. At least Lassiter had hired him outright.
    “What is actually the reason we are going?” Young asked. His new partner was definitely not sold on the mission.
    “Missionaries.”
    Sean paused. “We’re going after missionaries?”
    “They need transportation out. I had one of their friends contact me. He is the one promising the money.”
    “Who is after missionaries?” Young asked.
    “They aren’t your average missionaries. Rich do-gooders who have caught the attention of an Islamic terrorist group. MILF.”
    “MILF?” Sean asked.
    “The Moro Islamic Liberation Front.”
    “And I take it they want the young do-gooders’ money,” Young said.
    Sean nodded. Kidnappings were on the rise in Southeast Asia. Unfortunately, even if the kidnappers were paid on time, the chances their prey was still alive was slim to none. Still, most people would take that chance if it meant saving a loved one.
    “But, no contact?” Young asked.
    “Sean knows the area.”
    Young glanced at him. It was the first time since they had been sitting side-by-side in front of Lassiter’s desk that he had. The full attention of