Hostile Territory

"They decided a man couldn't handle this assignment, Sergeant. So, they sent a woman instead."

Sierra Chastain works for Shield Security, a global security company run by an ex-US Navy SEAL. Because she speaks Spanish, she is being sent undercover to Peru to link up with Special Forces Army Sergeant Mace Kilmer's hunter-killer team to hunt down a Russian drug ringleader who takes no prisoners. Three out of the four members have no quarrel with Sierra, except Kilmer, who runs the team.

His snarly attitude doesn't get far with her. She's not afraid to stand up to a male who has misplaced his authority. He is caught off guard by her rock-solid confidence...never mind, Mace is drawn to her, man-to-woman. That is the thorn in his side, but he hides it, not sure what to do about it. How to treat her like any other military person and ignore her sex? He's been out in this green hell far too long. Mace doesn't want to like Sierra because she is a woman, even though she's a vaunted Marine Corps-trained sniper. She's a team member and gets along well with his other two sergeants, who respect and adore her.

There's no "handling" Chastain. Mace knows he has to somehow make amends and peace with her because she has an important job to do, and they can't do it without her. Somehow, over time, she gets inside his gruff, snarly nature; the constant danger is always nearby, knowing they will only survive if they are a cohesive team. Sierra quells his distrust and gains it instead. And worse, they both know they are powerfully drawn to one another and can't do one damn thing about it. Not in this high-octane lethal environment where none of them can take for granted they'll see the next sunrise.