Page 16 of Act of Passion

Corbin groaned. “Boomer told me about the, uh, measuring incident earlier, and Edee asked more about it. Striker offered to take her upstairs and show her what a real Highlander came built with. She in turn offered to remove anything he showed her with a butterknife.”

Brooke snorted. “Sounds likeEdee.”

Corbin grinned. “She’s refreshing and seems more than capable of dealing with Striker. Never thought those words would fall from my lips. I’m considering hiring her just to babysithim.”

“So why does he look like he’s being punished?” askedMalik.

“Oh, he’s by me because he and Duke wanted to team up and see if they could bring Russia to his knees,” said Corbin, sounding exhausted. “Garth and I grew tired of putting out that fire so we thought it best the main instigator be separated from the other two. Hence, Striker is beingpunished.”

Malik took Brooke’s arm gently and led her to a chair at the table. He held the chair out for her and then made sure she was seated and comfortable before taking the chair next to her, leaving Duke seated to hisleft.

Corbin returned to his side of the table and sat across from Malik. “Edee didn’t mention what you studied while atuniversity.”

Brooke smiled and smoothed her long brown hair behind her ears. “Computer science engineering with a focus on cybersecurity.”

“Interesting,” said Corbin. “Have you started your job searchyet?”

She nodded. “I have four great offers that I’m thinking about while here. One is with the DOD and the others are with the privatesector.”

“I hate computers,” said Duke before he lifted his glass of wine and gulped it down. “And if you’re smart, you’ll avoid the DOD like theplague.”

“I love computers,” said Brooke, her eyes lighting. “I love everything to do with technology. I hope to one day own my own cyber security firm. Edee just laughs. Though, I don’t know why. She’s a total science nerd. Molecular science. Nothanks.”

“I laugh because you’re a social leper. Instead of meeting men, you spent your time hacking. Brooke, how are you going to get laid if you hide away all the time? You’re young and hot, you only live once,” said Edee loudly from the other side ofDuke.

Brooke rolled her eyes. “Can we not discuss my lack of a social and sex life in front of people we justmet?”

Rurik lifted a dark brow. “You are very attractive, for anAmerican.”

Brooke eased her chair closer to Malik, looking nervous. “Um,thanks.”

He put an arm around her. “He’s harmless. Just loud and very proud to beRussian.”

“Russians are arseholes,” said Striker, earning him a nod fromDuke.

Garth touched Rurik’s shoulder, keeping his second-in-command in his seat for the time being. “What did we talk about,Rurik?”

Rurik grunted. “My temper is warranted around them. Let me kill one of them and then I’ll promise to behave. Just one. You pick the one. Doesn’t matter tome.”

Brooke’s giggle eased the tension at the table. She lifted a glass of water that was in front of her. “How long have all of you beenfriends?”

Malik cleared his throat. “Some days it feels likeforever.”

“Because you’re ancient, old man,” said Boomer under his breath. “Old as fuckingtime.”

“Dick,” returned Malik, partially underhis.

Brooke laughed again and sipped her water, her hand finding histhigh.

Instantly Malik’s throat went dry. He grabbed his water goblet and downed it before taking Duke’s and doing thesame.

Duke stared over at him and grunted. “What is with you tonight? Normally you’re the picture of suaveness, saying all the right things to the ladies, making us all look like Neanderthals. You’re acting like you’re about to get laid for the first time. Not like the sixthousandth.”

Brooke’s hand moved quickly off his thigh and she eased away from himslightly.

Malik turned a hard gaze on his longtime friend.Do not ruin this forme.

What the hell has gotten into you? You’re picking fights in public. You’re nervous as shit at dinner. Seriously, what’s with this piece of ass?askedDuke.

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