Grizzly Love Read Free

as he weighed in. “Actually, a handful might work better. I was talking earlier today to our old sarge. He’s the one who confirmed the target landed in their area. He did also say if we ever popped over for a visit, or went on a hunt, to let him know. We’re not the only ones interested in the snake. Seems our old unit has been having problems too.”
    A thoughtful expression appeared on Boris’ face. “So it looks like we’d have possible reinforcements and access to equipment. Excellent. The airlines can be such assholes about letting me bring my guns on the plane.” Boris never left home less than armed to the teeth. According to his wife, Jan—also a gun nut—there was nothing sexier than watching him strip all the various weapons from his body.
    Personally, Jess couldn’t picture the giant moose of a man doing any kind of striptease, but a certain handsome grizzly though…
    She dug her nails into her palm to keep her mind focused.
    As talk splintered off with Gene and Boris discussing the merits of the latest assault rifle, Kyle added his two cents. “In case we run into trouble, I think it best if I put tracking devices on everyone who’s going. You know, just in case shit happens and we get captured again, or lost. Those sandstorms, as I recall, were deadly.” Kyle, their resident technical expert, was all about gadgets. When it came to computers, while not an expert hacker, he had connections and skills that would prove useful. At home.
    Jess cleared her throat again and ignored the ensuing groans. “While I think sending in a handpicked group is a great idea, given Kyle’s computers and network are all centered here and there’s no guarantee he could quickly set up a command center once you get there, he’d probably serve you better by staying put.”
    “What? No mission for me?” The caribou slapped his chest and mimed a faint. “You’re killing me, doc.”
    With a wicked grin, Boris slapped Kyle none too gently on the back. “Don’t worry, bud. I’ll make sure to show our enemy what a man with a real rack looks like.”
    “Don’t you dare compare those dull horns to my deadly set of antlers.”
    “Deadly?” Boris snorted. “I’ll show you deadly.” The two men stood toe to toe, their friendly rivalry a long-standing one.
    “Enough. We don’t have time right now to debate the racks.” Reid stepped between them and prevented any fist throwing. For now. They’d probably tussle on their way out once the meeting was over.
    “Yeah, what the boss said,” Brody chimed in. “Besides, everyone knows it’s all about the fangs and fur.”
    As voices rose in protest, Jess rolled her eyes and let out a whistle—a strident one.
    With a wince, the boys—and, yes, despite their age and experience, they were no better at times than teenagers—shut up.
    “Thanks, Doc.” Reid acknowledged her before addressing the remaining group with a frown. “That leaves only Boris, Gene, and Brody. Not much of a hit squad.”
    “I think we should bring Layla,” Brody suggested.
    “Bring a girl?” Gene grimaced. Given his mate, Vicky, was not only human but sometimes prone to fainting, Jess could understand his concern. But in this case it was misplaced. Layla wasn’t a shrinking violet.
    Brody argued his reasoning. “Not just any girl. You know Layla’s got powers we might find handy out there.”
    Did she ever have cool powers. While the inhabitants of Kodiak Point, for the most part, owned a beast, or avian, side, Layla was more exotic in nature. Some whispered magical.
    She held the power to control animals and some insects. Not shapeshifters or humans thank goodness, but anything else with a weak mind was fair game.
    Given her freaky ability, Jess could totally see the advantage Layla would bring to the group.
    “What about Jan and her dad?” Reid mused aloud. “She’s an awesome shot, and he’s just plain nuts.”
    “Negative.” Boris shook his head. “Neither of them is going