Caitlyn O’Leary [O’Leary - Her Ruthless Protector (Night Storm Book 1)

Copyright 2019 Caitlyn OLeary

All rights reserved.

All cover art and logo Copyright 2019

By Passionately Kind Publishing Inc.

Cover Designer, Lori Jackson Design

Developmental Editor, Trenda (T-Bird) London

Editor, Rebecca Hodgkins

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systemsexcept in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviewswithout permission in writing from the author.

This was not going to be a cakewalk, that was for damn sure. Kane looked around the back of the sweltering truck and saw that his Night Storm teammates were tense and alert. After hours in the back of this piece of shit vehicle somebody better come up with something more interesting to say than Leo Perez talking about the last decent meal hed had or Zed Zaragoza talking about the latest home renovations hed done.

Kane McNamara was second in command of the Navy SEAL team Night Storm, and they had one hell of a mission on their hands. Kane looked down at his SatNav, it showed they had about thirty minutes before they would hit the little town of Jaar in Yemen.

He pressed refresh on his comp for the thirty-third thousandth time, and there still wasnt an update on the satellite images for their target. He glanced up at his lieutenant, who looked up at him. They could always read each others minds. Kane gave a slight shake of his head. Still no photos.

Lieutenant Max Hogan looked pissed. Kane refreshed his screen again, still nothing.

Itd been an ass numbing eight-hour trip from the coast of Yemen. The beginning of their trip theyd travelled in style on the aircraft carrier the USS Mason which had even arranged for a Seahawk to fly them to Aden at the start of this little jaunt.

Theyd landed well northeast of town and been met with some friendly Marines who were acting as their chauffeurs in this piece-of-shit truck. He took another look around the truck, then glanced back down at his SatNav.

Twenty-eight more minutes until they hit their target.

Kane sighed. Out of the corner of his eye he saw his friend, Cullen Lyons, smile and wink.

What did Cullen have up his sleeve?

Hey, Kane, did I tell you about the blind date I went on last month? Cullen hollered over the roar of the truck engine.

Oh, thank God, at last, somebody might have something interesting to say.

His friend was a consummate bullshitter, and you always knew that his story was going to be particularly good when he started speaking with a bit of an Irish brogue. Over the years, Kane had gotten pretty good at sniffing out the truth from the fictionnot that it mattered, since both were pretty damn entertainingand today Kane couldnt care less.

No, you didnt, he answered. Then he settled back in the truck, and ignored the rough ride over the sand, rocks, and boulders that were considered a road in this part of Yemen, and concentrated on Cullen.

You let someone set you up on a blind date? Nicholas Hale asked. He was the youngest member of the Night Storm SEAL team.

My two little sisters double-teamed me, Cullen said disgustedly. Do you have sisters, Nick?

The kid shook his head.

Be happy. They can be evil. Especially when they have a bone to pick with you. Cullen threw a twig into the middle of the transport.

Kane caught Zeds eye. Both of them had met Cullens sisters. They were a year apart and they had a wicked sense of humor. They also didnt appreciate their big brothers tendency to meddle in their lives. Kane looked down at his computer. Twenty minutes to go.

So, you actually showed up on this blind date. Why didnt you bail? Leo asked. For Gods sake Cullen, whenever it comes to a shitty assignment you always figure out a way to weasel. Are you telling me you couldnt figure a way out of this date?

They reminded me of all the times they covered for me with Mom. I was stuck, Cullen explained.

So, let me guess. Your date was nice and had a good personality, was that it? Raiden Sato guessed from the far corner of the truck. Raiden always preferred being in the shadows.

This girl was an old college friend of Chelles, Cullen said, referring to the older of his two sisters.

Quit peppering him with questions, Max commanded. Cullen tell your story.

They hit a huge rock, the truck took flight, and everybody bounced. Cullens story better be damned good to take Kanes mind off the hellish heat and his bruised ass.

Like the lieutenant said, start the damn story already, Kane growled.

After a week of Chelles and Bailys bitching, I called the woman up. She sounded nice enough.

Told you she was nice, Raiden chuckled.

Her name was Brittany, and she had Saturday free, but that was the day Id promised my Chelle she could borrow my Jeep. Should have known right then and there, that I had been set up, Cullen said disgustedly. Brittany said it wasnt a problem, shed pick me up, and I, being a dumbass, agreed.

She couldnt drive worth shit, huh? Raiden commented.

Oh, you do not know how evil my sisters are. Brittany shows up at my front door. She has the palest complexion Id ever seen with stark black hair. She looks like someone who should spend her days in a coffin and her nights avoiding garlic and crosses. Hell, shes even wearing black lipstick and black nail polish. Cullens shudder soon morphed into a smile.

I see that, Asher Thorne said as he pointed at Cullens face. Hed been waiting patiently for the punch line. Asher knew Cullen as well as Kane.