Free Dare You to Run by Dawn Ryder

was unexpected. The man was getting a Congressional Medal of Honor. His brother was sure to be on the guest list.”
    â€œI haven’t changed my mind about what I want done.” Jeb leaned closer to Tyler. “I want that family taken down. In name and blood.”
    â€œSure you want to risk another attempt at that?” Tyler inquired softly. “It’s a mighty risky thing, going after a decorated military hero. The voters won’t take kindly to any hint of involvement.”
    â€œWhich is your job to make sure it never happens,” Jeb responded. “I told you the price for bringing you along and taking you under my wing. If it wasn’t for me, you’d be rotting in a ditch somewhere with a bullet in your skull after that botched operation with the Magnus family.”
    â€œIf it wasn’t for you, I never would have been involved in that operation,” Tyler answered. “I’ve got nothing against them.”
    The congressman’s eyes narrowed. “I told you the price for becoming my head of security. Pay it or leave.”
    â€œI can’t go back,” Tyler answered. “You know that. Cut me and I’ll draw blood on my way out.”
    Jeb smiled at him. “Wouldn’t have you any other way. See? You understand this world. If I fail to deal with Vitus Hale, rumors will get around that I’m soft.” He took a look around to ensure no one was close enough to hear. “I’d be a washed up shit-bag at that point, nothing to offer you except the chore of watching me fade away. That’s not exactly what you signed on for, is it?”
    â€œI’ll work out some ideas,” Tyler said. He didn’t bother to make it clear that he’d also be considering some fallback plans. With a man like Jeb Ryland, it was a safe bet to assume he might need a safety net, but he didn’t let that sour him to the relationship. The higher the risk, the greater the payoff. That was just the way life was, and he was looking forward to hitting the jackpot.
    The congressman had nodded once before moving away from the White House to where his car was idling. Tyler pulled open the door for him before taking the passenger seat. He settled in, enjoying the prestige of being the congressman’s number-one man. It was a position he’d worked hard for and one that he wasn’t done paying for. Men like Ryland didn’t play by normal rules. They expected a lot, but they offered more payback too.
    Tyler Martin had no intention of risking his neck for thirty years as a special agent only to get rewarded with a meager pension and the joy of knowing he had to look over his shoulder for the rest of his life for anyone with a grudge against him. No. He was going to get more for the dirty work he’d done for men like Ryland and the president. When Ryland went to the White House, Tyler was going with him as his head of security.
    It was going to cost him. That had never been in doubt, but the thing with Ryland’s daughter was beginning to wear on his patience. So she’d fucked Vitus Hale. Big deal. She was back on the leash with enough promised repercussions to keep her there. From what he could see, Damascus didn’t have enough spine to buck off the chains her daddy had on her. Maybe she was going to give Carl Davis a little run around the garden before getting caught, but that might just be her way of making sure she enjoyed getting put on her back.
    Tyler didn’t fucking care.
    The only thing he had to care about was dealing with Ryland’s insistence that he gain vengeance. That was a damn pain in his ass, but one he was going to have to deal with. He’d almost gotten it wrapped up when Kagan interfered.
    He contemplated the Hale brothers. They were the best. It made it shitty that he was going to have to take them out, but a man had to do what he had to do to ensure his place. It was the new order, one where the superrich