Nothing Special VI: His Hart's Command, page 1
part #6 of Nothing Special Series
Nothing Special VI (SWAT Edition)
His Hart’s Command
Published By: Via Star Wings Books
Author: AE Via
Copyright © November 2018
All Rights Reserved
Edited By: No Stone Unturned Editing
Cover Art By: Jay Aheer of Simply Defined Art
Proofreading By: Carra Saigh @ Making It Happen Book Blog
Formatting & Illustrations By: Casey Harvell of Fancy Pants Formatting
http://www.fancypantsformatting.com
All rights reserved under the International and Pan-American Copyright
Conventions. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the author, Adrienne E. Via.
No part of this book may be scanned, uploaded, or distributed via the Internet or any other means, electronic or print, without permission from Adrienne E. Via. The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal.
Criminal copyright infringement, including infringement without monetary gain, is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by up to 5 years in federal prison and a fine of $250,000 (http://www.fbi.gov/ipr/). Please purchase only authorized electronic or print editions and do not participate in or encourage the electronic piracy of copyrighted material. Your support of the author’s rights and livelihood is appreciated.
Atlanta Police Department
S.W.A.T.
Special Weapons and Tactics
SWAT officers are highly trained paramilitary personnel who tackle situations beyond the capability of conventional police forces. SWAT teams are called in when an incident presents significant risk to law enforcement officers or the public.
To the amazing readers and my fierce Alpha lovers.
Thank you for all the love and want for the next installment in this series. It’s been wonderful writing the guys again and believe me when I say they are back with more mischief and a lot more action. Just like you guys asked for. I certainly hope I delivered. Book six is the start of the SWAT edition within the Nothing Special series. This is just the start of showing how these two teams coincide and work together.
I want to first thank my family for being so supportive and understanding of the long hours needed away from them in order to write these books.
Also to the fabulous team I work with to bring you these novels. I adore all of you. We’ve had a long relationship in not only business but as friends and I can’t say how much I appreciate all of you.
Jay Aheer nailed this cover like she does every single one. She just knows me so well. Thank you so much for the beautiful art.
Sue Laybourn and I are really finding or groove together. She’s such an amazing editor, and teacher as well. She not only corrects my mistakes (which trust me, are plentiful), but she doesn’t mind taking a little extra time to explain my errors and what I can do to make my writing better. In my mind that’s the perfect editor. And, I’m so thankful and grateful for that.
Casey Harvell, you came through like you always do with great formatting. I know you only work as hard as you do for me because you love me so much. (I’ll flatter myself). Thank you as always, honey. I love you too!
To my best friends, TM Smith and Morticia Knight. Thank you girls for always sticking by me and talking me through some pretty rough times. I love you both so much.
Kathy at MM Book Escape. You are always there for me when I need you, even when you’re not feeling the best yourself. Without you my promotions would be drab and boring. Thank you so much for your art.
This is a M/M Romance and contains graphic content. It’s not intended for readers under the age of 18.
Title
S.W.A.T.
Acknowledgments
Disclaimer
Contents
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty-One
Chapter Twenty-Two
Chapter Twenty-Three
Chapter Twenty-Four
Chapter Twenty-Five
Chapter Twenty-Six
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Chapter Thirty
Chapter Thirty-One
Chapter Thirty-Two
Chapter Thirty-Three
Chapter Thirty-Four
Chapter Thirty-Five
Chapter Thirty-Six
Chapter Thirty-Seven
Chapter Thirty-Eight
Chapter Thirty-Nine
Bonus Chapter
About the Author
Also by A.E. Via
Free
“Okay, we’re gonna take a little shortcut, fellas. Make a left onto the dirt road right before the next stoplight.”
“We’ll lose them if we get off this street, Free,” Ruxs said.
“No we won’t. I still got eyes on them.”
“Then you’ll lose us,” Ruxs countered.
“Not for long.” Free was as calm as he always was, even with his good friends chasing down three heavily armed men.
“What’s the name of the road, Free?” Green asked.
Free could see the detective through his cabin dashboard camera as he masterfully handled the powerful F350, while Free navigated him through the sticks of Gainesville from the station. Free’s hands moved over his keyboard so fast, he no longer thought about it—only the results. He had multiple maps up on the screen to his left. “Hmm. It doesn’t appear to have a name.”
“Every road has a name, Free,” Tech argued.
Free saw his best friend’s scowl as he was jostled around in the back seat of Green’s truck. He zoomed in closer on the grainy satellite image. No street marker. Hmm. “Well this one doesn’t. Turn now!”
“Shit.” Green cursed.
The sound of squealing tires reached Free’s ears.
“Um. I don’t think this is an actual road, Free,” Tech said.
“We’re in the goddamn woods, Free!” Green yelled.
He flinched when he checked the monitor displaying Green’s forward camera. Branches and brush flew up in all directions, hitting the truck’s windshield.
“This is killing my truck,” Green rumbled. “You’re gonna pay Furious to fix all these dents, Freeman!”
“This isn’t even a road,” Steele grunted. “It’s probably called ‘Last-Minutes-of-Your-Life Trail’.”
“Keep going,” Syn commanded calmly.
The team’s sergeant stood behind Free while he worked, only chiming in when he absolutely needed to. He knew how to let Free do his job.
“The vehicle is still in my sight. Suspects are turning left on E Hall. Another seventy-five meters and you’re there,” Free said confidently, still watching the monitor displaying the satellite image of P Davidson Rd.
“Roger that,” Green gritted out through the radio.
Free never took his eyes off the screens. Over the thirty years he’d been engrossed in computer technology, he’d gotten used to simultaneously operating multiple devices and systems. It appeared difficult to outsiders, but hacking through satellites and databases was second nature to him. He was just happy to be doing it for the good guys, now.
The door to their office swung open, but Free didn’t turn to see who it was. Instead, he focused on his job. Four of Atlanta’s finest were in the field, in harm’s way and relying on him, so they had his complete attention. He’d been working with the amazing group of detectives for the past two months, and as of yet, he’d never let the team down. They all made one pretty impressive unit that the Mayor couldn’t have been more pleased with.
“Hart’s team is finished with their assignment. They’re finally on their way home,” God’s voice reached him from the other side of the large office.
Hart. Coming home. Free turned his head so fast he heard a slight pop in his neck. His lieutenants were both settling at their desks, powering up their computers. God and Day oversaw the Atlanta police department’s most successful narcotics task force unit. His best friend, Tech, had worked with them for the last three years before he’d decided he no longer wanted to be a technology specialist behind the scenes, and wanted to be front and center, kicking ass in the field right beside his lover. Free got it. When his best friend had called and asked for Free to replace him in his position, he couldn’t say no. He owed Tech his life.
“I hear the chief is happy as hell with Hart’s team and the job they did.” God’s grin was wide as he spoke about his friend.
“What else is new?” Day mumbled. “You and him thrive on praises and commendations.”
“Not true.” God frowned. “We’re good at what we do. Not our fault it gets recognized. I’m just glad my dog is coming home, though. And right in time for football season.”
/> “Free!”
Syn’s heavy tap on his shoulder jolted him before firm hands turned him back to his monitors. Oh shit. He scrambled to keep up with what he’d been doing, and what Green had just asked him.
“Not much longer,” Syn answered, instead.
“Thirty meters,” Free finally responded, suddenly feeling out of sorts.
“What’s in thirty meters?” Green barked.
“Huh?” Free blinked. He couldn’t stop himself from homing in on Hart’s name again. The big SWAT captain had been on his mind for weeks.
“Did you just say, ‘huh’?” Ruxs snapped.
“It’s the road. You’re about to intersect with E Hall. You’re already ahead of them,” Syn answered.
Free checked the monitor, swallowing roughly as he tried to drown out God and Day’s conversation in the background. His team cursed and hissed through the comms system. After taking a quick breath, Free fought to concentrate.
“Um. When you’re on E Hall, just face north and point your weapons,” Free told them, his brain having to reboot after hearing Hart’s name.
Green’s truck finally burst through the clearing. Free exhaled when he saw the road through Green’s dash camera, and no more forest. The rest of the bust played out in his ear as he kept the satellite image up for his sergeant to watch the takedown. The four enforcers who made up God and Day’s team moved effortlessly as they quickly threw out tire spikes, disabling the four-by-four Tacoma they’d been pursuing, and yanking the men out of the vehicle, bringing them face-first to the asphalt.
God and Day came over to his station at that moment, their attention locked on one of Free’s seven screens.
“Those the boys from the Cornelia gang?” God asked.
“Yep. They got ’em.” Syn nodded. “That’s the gang leader’s two biggest players and his little brother. All we need now is the head man himself.”
“Good work,” Day said, standing behind Free’s chair, gently kneading his shoulders. His lieutenant was a real touchy-feely kind of guy. Day could be a hard ass when he needed to get his men in line, but he was also the coolest friend a man could have. He was the complete opposite of his intimidating husband. God didn’t touch anyone unless it was Day, or to put a man on his ass.
Free turned his head to the side and let Day work on the knot at the base of his skull. He really knew how to give a massage, especially when he was mindlessly moving his hands in thought-mode. “Free, text Ro and get him in here to interrogate. He said he’d be in tonight at six, but tell him to make it sooner. I want this ruthless meth dealer in fuckin’ custody, yesterday. I got the chief riding my ass harder than God does.”
“Done,” Free answered. He was already tapping out the message as Day spoke.
“You’re so perfect for me,” Day said, finishing his massage.
Free laughed off Day’s remarks which never failed to make him roll his eyes. With the enforcers clear and headed back to the station, Free had a little time to take a break. The moment he swiveled his chair around, he came face-to-face with his sergeant.
He tried not to fidget under Syn’s tight scrutiny. “I’m gonna go grab a soda, Syn. You want one?”
Syn’s midnight eyes watched him carefully. In the several weeks Free had been working with the team, Syn had become one of his favorites. Since God and Day were often out of the office, it was Syn’s job to manage the department, and he did it with a firm but understanding hand. “No, I’m good.”
“Okay, then.” Free got up, avoiding contact with the perceptive man on his way past. Will I ever be able to hide anything, working for a bunch of detectives? He was relieved Syn didn’t dig into why Free had frozen in the middle of a job, but he knew the subject would eventually come up.
Free left his office and crossed the busy bullpen. Beat cops were at their desk grinding at five in the afternoon. Some were working on their reports of the day. Admin officers were interviewing witnesses or taking complaints, and various civilian personnel went about their business.
“Hey, Free. Freeman! Can you come over for just a second, please?”
Free automatically detoured between the rows of desks to Officer Mason’s. He had seven years on the force, and was damn good at profiling, but he sucked with technology. Free wasn’t sure how the man had passed the basic qualifications test, but he helped him any time Mason stopped him.
The moment the station had discovered that God had one of the best technology experts working for him, the bees had started to swarm. There was a select number of people who knew who he really was—one of the top five hackers in the world. When he walked through the station, he was always pulled in a million different directions—individuals needing him to fix any technical issue they had, whether it was a glitchy cell phone or a virus-riddled laptop. He didn’t mind. Free liked being helpful. Liked feeling needed for all the right reasons. No one there was trying to take advantage of him.
“I’m sorry to snag you again. You’re probably so sick of me,” Mason said, scrubbing his hand over his stern jaw with its twenty-four hour five o’clock shadow. His forehead was bright red, with drops of perspiration along his temples. He was a lost cause when it came to the precinct’s new interface system, but he couldn’t’ve been a more polite man. Mason had been one of the officers to go out of his way in the beginning, when Free had a question or needed help finding something.
“Not possible. You know we’re cool.” Free smiled. He dropped into one of the interview chairs Mason had beside his desk, and peered over at his monitor. “If you need me, you just keep hollering.”
Mason nodded. The mechanical grimace he’d been wearing a moment before was replaced with a crooked smirk. “Okay. Well thank you, Freeman. You keep saving me from the ridicule. When I ask my annoying partner for help, he always wants to give me his two cents first. Computers don’t come easy to everyone, man.”
“True. Now, what’s going on here?” Free asked. He already had control of Mason’s mouse and was opening his file explorer, because nine times out of ten, he was sure that Mason thought he’d lost another file.
“I saved all the client’s notes from the Silvia case in one file and the interrogator’s notes in a separate folder, and now both of them are gone.” Mason repeatedly jammed his finger at the ESC button, growling at the monitor as if it were his enemy.
Free gently placed his hand over the officer’s and stilled his tantrum. “Easy. Doing that won’t help. Remember what I said last time? If you feel yourself getting overwhelmed, just take a deep breath and send me a memo.”
Mason laughed. “You’ll get sick of those messages popping up on your screen every hour like an annoying-ass Messenger junkie. And besides, I don’t think God would like it if I was constantly pulling you away from his department.”
“I have plenty of time when I’m not needed at my desk, so don’t worry about that. Just send the message with what you’re having a problem with and I can remote access your terminal and take care of your issue without getting up.”
“Seriously?” Mason grinned.
He’s too damn cute. Free found technically challenged men adorable for some reason.
“Yeah, sure. If Cox Cable can do it then why can’t I?” Free laughed, all while recovering the file that Mason had dumped into another folder just beneath the one he’d intended to place it in. “But, don’t ever tell anyone. I’ll just do that for you, so you won’t think you’re constantly pulling me away.”
“You are one cool cat.” Mason slapped Free’s shoulder then held his hand out for a pound as if they had a secret deal.
Free chuckled, tapping his knuckles with his, “Um, you’re a cool cat, too, Mason.” Who says stuff like that? “Now open up the Silvia file and all the notes and subfolders should be there.”
“Yes.” Mason whooped. His megawatt smile returning. “You just saved me two days of unnecessary work, Free.”
“Oh no. Freeman, you had to actually stop and help this idiot again. Somebody get Mason Windows for the dumbest of the dumb!” Mason’s partner yelled across the bullpen, nudging him when he walked by.
Free shook his head, as Mason flipped his partner off. “So you’re good?”
“Yeah. Thanks, Free. Saved me a ton of time.”
Free was already moving through the throng of desks, waving goodbye to Mason and his partner. He went into the break room in search of a quick snack before getting back to his station. He was excited to tinker with a new gadget he’d been working on. Once the four enforcers for the narcotics team returned, they’d be in the interrogation rooms for hours, so he didn’t have anything pressing to do. He loved that time to himself with nothing but the system he’d customized to meet his specific needs, and uninterrupted silence.
