Page 93 of Covert Temptation

It felt good to be back. Even if his side still felt like it was being jabbed with a red-hot poker every time he moved wrong.

As soon as they stepped in, Con and some of the other guys came out to welcome him back. He was swallowed by the group, receiving careful pats on the back and fist bumps. Meanwhile, Steele stood guard over him like he was precious cargo.

The act wasn’t lost on Dante. It was something Denver would have done. While his friend would forever be missed, it now felt like Steele carried the torch for him.

Henner stepped up to Dante. “Bro, you almost look worse than some of us do.” He pointed a finger at Steele, who was sporting a fresh line of stitches on his forearm. Henner himself had a gouge on his cheek that was probably making May more than a little upset.

Henner’s gaze wandered to Kennedy, hanging back from the group, her suitcase sitting next to her. Then his gaze shifted to Dante when he opened his mouth.

“She’s the one who went through it.”

“We’ll take care of her,” Steele said in a low voice. Then he raised it to address her. “Kennedy, what kind of pizza do you want?”

“Uh…” She stopped as Alyssa stepped into view. The two women locked gazes, and then Alyssa dashed forward to embrace her assistant.

Seeing that they had some things to discuss, Con gestured for Dante to follow him.

Steele raised his jaw in their direction. “Don’t keep him too long, Con. Bro has been living off hospital food. He deserves some pizza.”

Dante warmed again at being considered. Being included.

In Con’s office, Dante dropped into a seat across the desk from him. They eyed each other.

“How you doing?”

“I’ll be good as new in a couple weeks.”

Con gave him a look. “Doctor told me six weeks.”

“I don’t want to be benched that long. I already feel like I’m sidelined, stuck behind computers.”

Con contemplated him for a long moment. “I can see why you’d want to be in the thick of things, and we could use you. There are holes in the team, and you’re a damn good special operative.”

Throat thick with emotion, he could only incline his head in gratitude for the praise.

“Tell me what’s happening with the guy who was coming for Kennedy.”

Con launched straight into the story. “After you were taken by ambulance, the cops caught the man Cipher sent to bring Kennedy to him.”

He nodded. “The guys filled me in.”

Con continued, “The FBI’s crawling all over the bastard like fire ants on a carcass.”

“I’d like to get my hands on the motherfucker too.” He clamped a fist on his knee, wishing it were someone’s throat.Even though he’d taken out the man who kidnapped Kennedy, the second one had terrified her just as much.

A knock on the door put a pause on their conversation, even as it provided a moment to breathe.

“Yeah?”

“Pizza delivery.”

Con’s lips twisted in amusement as he called out for the man to enter.

Steele dropped into the seat beside him and handed him a fresh slice of oven-fired base pizza on a paper plate.

Dante slid him a look. “Thanks. We were just discussing the guy the cops captured.”

Steele grunted. “From what I’ve heard, the FBI’s already breaking him.”

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