WARRIOR (CROSSFIRE SEALS, #5) by Gennita Low

action, the admiral had taken to working with even more underground networks.
    The move had paid off, netting Dragan Dilaver, the one responsible for the SEAL deaths, among other international crimes, with the help of Amber Hutchens. She was what Lucas would term, one hot chica. And she was also Hawk’s fiancée. His team commander had met her during the Dilaver operation and had fallen in love.
    Not only beautiful, but one hell of a fighter too. Lucas recalled when the team had learned how she’d saved Hawk’s life all by herself, with a big bag of weapons and some grenades. Right now, she was bent over helping the tech get the live feed to work properly, giving the roomful of appreciative male eyes a nice view of...Lucas looked away, pulling a chair out, and nodding at Mink and Dirk to join in. They were gazing raptly at Miss Hutchens too and he gave them a meaningful look. They shrugged and came over. Okay, so it wasn’t politically correct to check out any women in the war room, especially one his own commander was about to marry, but thank the Lord for hot and capable women, anyway.
    Mink echoed his thoughts. He leaned over and whispered, “Pity we can’t make remarks about both women. Taken.”
    Dirk nodded. “Taken down ,” he said, in a mournful voice. “All casualties on our side too, dammit. Miss Hutchens has Hawk’s number. Jazz went down easy. And there’s Joker’s pining for his hot mama. Zone’s revealed he’s going out with a senator’s daughter. Cumber’s got Kit on his mind. We’re being taken down one by one.”
    “Kit and I just met,” Lucas pointed out. A month could be a lifetime out here in the arena, though.
    “Yeah, and got you texting her non-stop whenever we’re near a hotspot.”
    “Maybe she’s his hotspot, ever think of that?” Mink quipped. He looked at the front of the room, and added, “At least she’s normal, not like Miss Hutchens and Mrs. V-Z with their penchant to play with guns and take out gangs of thugs.”
    They had all agreed to call Jazz’s wife, Mrs. V-Z. Verreau-Zerringue was just too big mouthful. BZVZ, actually. Because that GEM operative sure kept their other commander, Jazz Zerringue, on the move, hopping continents chasing her in between missions. He finally caught her, though, and they’d recently tied the knot. Their wedding had been a huge celebration—all the SEALs and even the admiral attended, not to mention Jazz’s eight sisters and his best friend Hawk’s large family.
    Needless to say, the stooges had a good time. Lucas grinned, remembering all the fun chasing the sisters and partying all night.
    Taken down. Damn. Dirk was right. His team was losing its bachelors one by one.
    The large screen flickered for a few seconds and then Admiral Madison appeared. Everyone stood at attention. ‘Mad Dog’ Madison was Lucas’ personal hero.
    The man was a legend. Every young trooper had heard the story of young Lieutenant Mad Dog’s heroic rescue in Operation Canyon Blitz of 4 SEALs, 3 army Rangers, 3 CIA operatives and 25 civilians who were cornered by the enemy whenever war stories were brought up. Every Navy SEAL wanted to be like the young tough SEAL, Mad Dog Madison.
    Now in his mid-fifties, he was well-respected by everyone, Army or Navy. War hero, famed combat commander, leader of the US Special Operations Command, good friend of the President, perhaps heading for the top seat of Supreme Commander.
    Lucas stared up at his idol. Once upon a time, they even had a song about him to which to march. He still remembered mouthing the words while trying not to eat sand during BUD/s. He wondered whether his team mates had the lyrics in their heads after one of Mad Dog’s pep talks.
    We wanna be tough like Mad Dog Madison!
    How tough is Mad Dog Madison?
    He eats lightning and craps thunder
    We wanna eat lightning and crap thunder
    Just like Mad Dog Madison!
    “At ease,” Admiral Madison’s smooth voice came through the speaker. “Congratulations