Free Sinner (The Hades Squad #1) by Jianne Carlo Page A

just don't want you wearing any when we're alone. I prefer unfettered access. See?” He winked when she scowled, and he kneaded one ass cheek. “All your bounty laid out for me.”
    “Why won't you put me down?”
    “I like having you right here.” He snagged her bottom lip between his teeth. “You smell good. You feel great. I'll let you cook breakfast after I talk to Satan. How's that? Now cuddle up while I get him on the line.”
    Linc used his foot to drag the stool to the right of the chest under the small built-in desk and then sat. He tucked her head under his chin, picked up a small navy radio, and stabbed Open Call. Waves of static coasted around the small room.
    “Sinner calling Satan. Come in, Satan.”
    A long beep, then another, a series of high-pitched squeaks, the sound of a snarled expletive. “SITREP, Sinner. You okay?”
    “No injuries. Holed up at Keechum. No worries.”
    “Keechum? I'm guessing you're not in a hurry to be found.”
    Why in fucking hell did Satan have that devil in his voice?
    “Spill.”
    “Demon loaned Keechum to a certain luscious editor. I'm guessing you're sinning your way to Hades.” A snicker followed by a snorted guffaw broke over the airways.
    “Stand down, Satan.” Linc tried to grab Destiny before she squirmed off his lap, but she batted his hand away and snapped, “Twit. Egotistical maniac.”
    Certain Satan had earned the monikers and not him, Linc cut her a glance. She seemed totally unaware of her near nudity or the chill in the room; hands planted on hips, she glared at the radio he gripped.
    “By the way, the rest of the squad's on location.”
    What in fucking hell had happened between Destiny and Satan?
    Adding his own scowl to the Motorola unit in his hand, he asked, “Fire?”
    “Not enough moisture coming down and the wind speed's picking up.” A two-second pause. Lincoln gritted his teeth as a whispered conversation he couldn't make out wove in and out of the static. “Lucifer reckons two days before it's contained.”
    “Weather?”
    Out of the corner of one eye, he spied Destiny's bare foot tapping on the wooden floor.
    “Lull's expected to last another hour. No break then for two days.”
    He hated having his squad fighting a blaze without him. Adolescent friendship cemented by serving on the same team since their first deployment, he and Satan, aka Lorcan McGuillycuddy, didn't need words to communicate. Satan's retirement to Healy a year ago hadn't changed that fact. He hadn't begun to voice the next question before Satan spoke.
    “Not your fault, Sinner. Nothing you can do. By the way, Demon reminded me there's an emergency generator at the back of Keechum, near the tree line. It'll power the basics, a couple appliances.”
    “Could have used that info yesterday.”
    “You weren't picking up yesterday. I wonder why.” Satan snickered. “Those tits as juicy as I imagine?”
    “Stand down, Satan,” Linc growled when Destiny cuffed his shoulder, and then she set up for a right jab, feet diagonal in classic boxing stance.
    Crap.
    Linc rose and moved to the right of the desk, out of target distance.
    Nostrils flaring, eyes narrowed to slits, lips flattened into a thin line, she shuffled forward.
    What the fuck had her in such a temper?
    Nope, no steam rose from her ears, but something had stoked her to near-exploding. Quickly he replayed the conversation with Satan.
    Was it the line about her tits?
    Time to end the radio communication.
    “Same time tomorrow, Satan. Over and out.” Lincoln settled the mic back on its stand and then turned to study her, his thumb scraping his jaw.
    “ That was Lorcan McGuillycuddy, wasn't it?” Black eyes snapping a firestorm, she spat, “ He's the one who has Nadine all riled up. He's the reason she wants me demoted.”

Chapter Five
    Destiny stood, feet planted, hands fisted in front of her face as her scumbag ex-boyfriend Kenny had taught her.
    Kenny, who'd been having an affair with her ex-best