Read Running Hot for Free Online

She was career MI6 and had spanked CIA guys older than Ward on jobs when they got in the way. “It’s a small island. I’d know if there were more of you.”
    â€œYou willing to take that chance? To possibly let Tigana slip away?” Ward asked in an even, emotionless tone.
    The guy had developed a poker face all of a sudden. His blank expression didn’t give anything away. Good trick .
    It was an impressive bait-and-switch. She’d been sold one version of Ward. Now she faced down another. Commanding, a guy fully in charge and trained as a weapon.
    He just got hotter, which sucked for her.
    â€œHe has to go down,” she said referring to Tigana, though it applied to all the men she knew on the island at this moment.
    Ward nodded. “Then we’ll do it together.”
    â€œAw, how sweet.”
    Yeah, the likelihood of her shooting Ford grew with each passing second when he said things like that. But she kept her attention on Ward. She hadn’t seen it before, but it was clear now: he was the one she had to go through to get anything done.
    He just needed to realize she was in charge, so she acted like it. “For the next two hours, we’re on the same side. We check the area, gather intel, then meet back at my room at the resort. We need to know how many men Tigana has, the structures, the resources. And I’ll look for Gareth.”
    Ford elbowed Ward. “She thinks she’s the boss.”
    She answered that. “She is.”
    â€œYou forget we have the guns.” Ward held his weapon up again, just inside her line of vision.
    She wasn’t any more impressed this time than the last. “It’s cute you think that means something to me.”
    Ward’s lip twitched. “Then lead the way, boss.”

Chapter Four
    A FTER BREAKING OFF from Ford as planned, Ward and Tasha walked in silence for fifteen minutes. Ward kept track of her, the weapons, and the area around him. Even now, a gun touched his back, one rested against his palm, and another thudded against his leg in his pocket as he walked.
    Ford had given the prearranged radio signal confirming her cover checked out. Getting the intel so fast meant someone in the United States or the United Kingdom—or both—played hardball or called in favors. Both countries likely denied being in Fiji. Ward didn’t want to know what Ford said or what threats passed back and forth to get the information on Tasha. Well, he did, but he could wait until after they grabbed the Stinger missiles away from Tigana.
    But Ward wasn’t sharing anything he’d learned from Ford’s simple coded message with Tasha right now. No, the next move belonged to her. Ward vowed to stay quiet, even if it meant he had to chew through his tongue to bite back some smartass comment or worse, keep from making an unfortunate and untimely pass at her.
    With each step, they tunneled deeper into the greenery. Humidity slapped his face. The grouping of trees grew thicker until the leaves had to be swatted away. The whole time, Ward waited for Tasha to unload, yell, issue orders—something.
    In minute sixteen, she broke.
    â€œIf we find Tigana, I’ll decide what we do next.” She pushed a branch to the side as she forged a trail where none existed.
    There it was . “You’ve made it clear you think you’re in charge.”
    â€œI know that tone and your type.” She shot him a sideways glance that telegraphed you’re an asshole without actually saying it. “Don’t pretend we’re agreeing with each other.”
    He watched his footing, careful to make as little noise as possible as he placed each step. Not easy to do when a guy weighed one-eighty, but Ward had honed this skill. He could sneak in and attack without warning.
    â€œIs it just me, or do you have a problem with Americans in general?” he asked.
    â€œYour country is fine. It’s your intelligence service that