Chapter 3

 

SLOANE WALKED through the empty, white halls, the too-bright lights almost blinding. There was something familiar about the place. An icy chill ran up his spine, and for a split second, he thought he was back. Had they come for him? Looking down at himself, he was relieved to find he was no longer that frightened child, one of many occupying a room in the numerous wards. He was grown up, far stronger than he had been at the time. His rifle was in his hand, and he was dressed in his uniform. He was here on a mission. Something important. He wished he could remember what that something was.

As he advanced with caution, he did his best to control his breathing. There was a set of double doors at the end. White like the rest of the hall. He didn’t know what it was, but something felt wrong. He went to press his earpiece when he heard panting, followed by a voice that brought him to a halt.

“Sloane… help me. Please….”

“Gabe?”

“Through the doors… please hurry! Oh God—”

Sloane bolted down the hall and burst through the doors, coming to an abrupt halt just inside the vast empty gray room. “Please no.” He shook his head, his heart leaping into his throat and the back of his eyes stinging. Gabe knelt on the floor, his hands tied behind his back. Beside him, in the same position, was Dex. Isaac stood with a .38 in his hand. Sloane went to aim his rifle but when he lifted his arms, his hands were empty. What the hell? What was going on? How did Isaac get hold of Gabe and Dex? Why couldn’t he remember anything?

“It’s time for you to make your choice.”

Sloane stared at Isaac, not understanding. Isaac cocked his gun and put it to the back of Gabe’s head. “No! Please.” A tear rolled down Sloane’s cheek, his hands shaking as he held them up in front of him, a terrifying sense of dread washing over him, as if he knew the outcome of this scenario. “Whatever you want, but please, don’t hurt them.”

Isaac’s malicious grin all but stopped Sloane’s heart, and he moved the gun from Gabe to Dex and back. “Make your choice.”

“Why are you doing this? Gabe’s your brother!”

“Why? Because I’m a psychopath, obviously. And you? You’re a coward. Five seconds.”

Sloane looked from Gabe’s tearful hazel eyes to Dex’s pools of crystal blue before he shifted his gaze back to Isaac. “How about a trade? Me for them. It’s me you want, right?”

Isaac cocked his head to one side in thought, before his lips curled into a malevolent grin. “And give up the opportunity to make you suffer? No. Five.”

“I love you, Sloane,” Gabe said, drawing Sloane’s attention.

“Four.”

Sloane’s gaze went to Dex, his expression breaking Sloane’s heart. Dex smiled tenderly and nodded. “I understand.”

“Three.”

“I can’t,” Sloane pleaded with Isaac. “Please, don’t do this.” How could he? He loved Gabe, but that didn’t mean he could let Dex go. Dex was… extraordinary. He’d never met anyone like him. There was so much Sloane wanted to learn about him, to experience with him. Dex was good to him, always there to pick up the pieces, doing so with a warm smile and tender touch.

“Two.” Isaac moved the gun between Gabe and Dex.

“Please,” Sloane begged, dropping to his knees, his vision blurring from his tears, and his heart breaking. He never thought the day would come when he would find himself on his knees, begging a madman like Isaac, but he would do anything for the men before him. “Please.”

“One.”

The gun moved to Gabe’s head and Sloane cried out. “Not him!”

A shot rang out and Sloane released an anguished cry—

Sloane gasped, choking on a fierce cry, the room around him dark. Where the hell was he? What was going on? Was he still at the research facility?

“Sloane!”

Sloane scrambled off the bed so fast, he ran into the wall with his shoulder. He spun around, his heart beating wildly, his gaze moving frantically around the room before it landed on the man in the center of the large bed, the slice of moonlight cutting through the small gap in the curtain landing on disheveled dirty blond hair, casting a glow around the man’s head.

“Dex?”

Dex climbed off the mattress, his hands held up in front of him as he gingerly took a step closer, his expression filled with concern. “It’s me, buddy. It’s Dex.”

It had been a dream. No, it had been a nightmare, a very real, very vivid one that came flooding back in excruciating detail. What had he done? “Oh God.” He slid down the length of the wall, covering his face with his hands. Dex placed a hand on his shoulder, and Sloane couldn’t bear to look at him. He could still see it…. Dex’s limp body lying in a pool of blood, his bright blue eyes on Sloane… blood trickling from the corners of plump lips smiling tenderly at him.

“Hey, come on, talk to me. Tell me what happened.”

Sloane shook his head. How could he explain to Dex what he’d done? He knew it was just a dream, but what did that say about him? About them? God, it had all been so real. He grabbed Dex and pulled him against him, hugging him so tight he heard Dex’s low groan, but he couldn’t let go. He had to know Dex was real, there in his arms, and alive, not executed at his words. “I’m sorry,” Sloane whispered. “I’m so sorry.”

“For what?” Dex wheezed, tapping Sloane on the shoulder. “You know I love a good hug, buddy, but you’re kinda crushing me here.” Sloane loosened his grip, but he didn’t let go. He still couldn’t meet Dex’s gaze, so he buried his face against his partner’s neck. “That bad, huh?” Dex gently stroked Sloane’s arm. He didn’t deserve such tenderness.

“Yes,” Sloane replied, squeezing Dex involuntarily. He felt like such a child. But he couldn’t bring himself to tell Dex what he’d done. Isaac was right. He was a coward. Since he’d appeared on Dex’s doorstep in December after telling him he wanted to see where things went between them, telling him he wanted to move on, he still found himself unable to. Dex was so patient, the most patient guy Sloane had ever known, but how long could that last? He’d told Dex he just needed time, and he did, but what if time didn’t help? What if he could never let Gabe go? How long could he go on giving part of himself to Dex, hurting a good guy when Dex deserved so much better?

“Hey, look at me.” Dex gently took Sloane’s face in his hands, and Sloane lifted his gaze, a lump in his throat at the kindness in that handsome face. “It was a bad dream, okay? Whatever it was, you’re here now, with me. You’re safe, okay? Everything’s okay.”

Sloane nodded. He wished he could believe that. Despite the uneasy feeling in his gut, he allowed Dex to lead him back to bed, trying not to feel guilty over his subconscious choice. He held Dex close as he lay in bed, remaining awake long after Dex had fallen asleep. Sometimes he looked around the room and asked himself what the hell he was doing here, but then he only had to feel or see Dex beside him and a little voice in his head told him it was exactly where he needed to be. It was that feeling he drew on, allowing it to wash away the remnants of that terrible dream. It was okay. He was here with Dex. Everything was okay.

Remarkably, he managed to get in a few hours of sleep. He woke up before Dex, which was nothing new. He always did. It was kind of cheesy now that he thought about it, but not only was he always the first one awake, but he wanted to be. It had become his routine. He’d wake up, and watch Dex sleep for a brief moment, grinning like an idiot at his partner’s sleeping form. The guy always looked like he’d gone three rounds with the duvet and lost. It was wrapped around his waist, one leg on top, arm tucked up against his body, the other under his crooked pillow, his hair sticking up every which way and stubble grown in. Damn he was sexy.

Sloane carefully leaned over and placed a kiss to Dex’s bare shoulder, tempted by the curve of his spine leading down to that plump ass underneath the covers. God, he loved Dex’s ass. Then again, there wasn’t a whole lot of Dex not to love.

Love?

He quickly pushed that thought aside. What the hell was wrong with him? He cared about Dex, he did, and he had no trouble being affectionate, or showing Dex how crazy he made him, but love was another matter, one he wasn’t willing to explore. He’d loved Gabe, and look where it got him. No, when Gabe died, he took all the love Sloane had with him, took a part of Sloane with him, one he’d never get back. He did care about Dex, and he was sure if he let himself, he could get attached to the guy, find himself needing and wanting to be with him, but love wasn’t something he could see ever happening to him again.

Annoyed with the direction his thoughts were going, he climbed out of bed, grabbed his boxer briefs and T-shirt, and went about his morning routine. He’d have about forty minutes before Dex came ambling into the kitchen like the walking dead in search of coffee. Sloane had never met anyone who loved—or needed—coffee as much as Dex, and they worked for an organization that depended on the stuff like junkies relied on crack. If coffee became an illegal substance, the THIRDS would crumble, and his partner would likely end up a drug kingpin, trafficking coffee beans across the five boroughs.

The morning after the first time they’d had sex, Dex had been his usual self, and his enthusiasm had led to a hot blowjob for Sloane in the shower. Sloane quickly discovered it had been a one off. A mixture of medication from his injuries at the time, his excitement of getting back to work after weeks of recovery, and Dex’s keenness to sex Sloane up, had been responsible for the man’s alert state. After that, until his partner had his coffee, no signs of life existed.

A shuffling sound, followed by a long groan caught his ear and Sloane turned, watching in amusement as Dex took a seat at the counter. Sections of his hair stuck up in peaks, making him look like he had little devil horns, and he had a pillowcase mark across one pink cheek.

“Morning,” Sloane said cheerfully.

Dex looked up at him without raising his head. He let out a grunt and Sloane chuckled. And the guy called him grumpy pants. Adding the hot frothed milk to Dex’s coffee, he placed the bucket-sized cappuccino in front of his partner. Dex wrapped his hands around the mug, shuddered from head to toe, and rather than lifting it to his mouth, he hunched over to put his lips to the mug, and sipped.

“Oh God,” Dex moaned, closing his eyes, making the same face he did during sex. It went straight to Sloane’s groin. Curious, he decided to ask.

“If you had to choose between coffee and—”

“Coffee.”

“You didn’t know what I was going to say,” Sloane laughed.

Dex shook his head. “Doesn’t matter. Coffee.”

“Me or coffee.”

“Coffee.”

“Wow. Okay, sex or coffee.”

“Coffee.”

“Your brother or—”

“Coffee. I would totally trade my brother for a good cup of coffee.” He took a sip with a contented sigh. His gaze shifted to Sloane. “Okay, maybe I wouldn’t trade him in for coffee. Although….” He pursed his lips thoughtfully then shook his head. “No, you’re right, that would be wrong.”

Sloane didn’t mind he came second to coffee, because all he had to do was bide his time. The dark, frothy brew might dominate his lover’s mind at first, but as soon as Dex was finished, they’d both have breakfast, and then the dishes would be cleared and washed. They’d go upstairs, brush their teeth, and Sloane would take off his shirt on the way to the armchair at the end of the bedroom where his clothes and toiletry bag were. As expected, he’d never make it there.

Dex pounced, arms wrapping around Sloane’s waist, one hand caressing Sloane’s chest, the other slipping underneath the elastic band of his boxer briefs while Dex delivered kisses to his back, the tip of his tongue licking, teeth nipping.

“Still thinking of trading me in for coffee?” Sloane asked huskily.

“I may have been a bit rash. You know I can’t be trusted when the Starbucks siren gets me in her caffeinated clutches. I’m weak. It shames me.” Dex’s hand wrapped around Sloane’s hardening cock, drawing a low moan from Sloane, his other hand tugging down Sloane’s underwear. Dex’s teeth bit down on the flesh of his ass cheek, and Sloane bucked into Dex’s hand with a low growl. “What can I do to make it up to you?” Dex’s tongue poked out to lick Sloane’s ass where he’d bitten him.

“We don’t have much time,” Sloane replied, trying to keep his breath steady.

“How about I let you fuck my mouth in the shower? I know how much you like that.”

“Like” would be an understatement. As Dex took his hand and led him to the bathroom, all Sloane could think about was how mornings were a lot more fun with Dex around.

 

 

THE THIRDS training facility was huge, occupying three buildings along York Avenue, stretching down three blocks with an outdoor facility running down the length of Cherokee Place. It was rather impressive.

For months, it seemed as if Dex was always in one training session or another. Today it was bonding with your Therian partner, a session Dex was meant to have taken months ago when he first joined, but due to everything going on with the HumaniTherians case he’d been working on with his team, it kept getting postponed. The rest of the rookies in this session were brand new recruits, making Dex the most experienced rookie there.

He waited in the huge changing bay filled with rows and rows of curtained off sections to give Therian agents privacy during and after their shift, including receiving Postshift Trauma Care afterward. Sloane had left his clothes and belongings in the equally expansive locker room next door before walking out in nothing but a towel wrapped around his waist. He’d given Dex a wink before slipping past him behind the curtain of their designated area. Dex stood dutifully in front, his hands clasped behind his back trying not to freak out at the hundreds of feral growls, roars, and howls echoing through the place. He was used to Therians shifting, especially having grown up in a house with a Therian brother, but standing in a room filled with hundreds of them was something he was still growing accustomed to. Instead, he concentrated on his partner.

Sloane’s painful groans and growls as his mass shifted made Dex wince. No matter how many times he heard it, it still got to him. The experience of shifting wasn’t something Dex envied. According to his brother, it was like someone was rearranging your body from the inside out, stretching muscle and skin, popping bones, shifting organs, fur piercing skin, and then you got to do it all over again when you shifted back, with the added bonus of experiencing aftereffects equivalent to those caused by a mild epileptic seizure. Therian scientists were attempting to find a solution to that, but as of yet, had nothing. Even if they could come up with medication that would reduce the aftereffects, it would undoubtedly be accompanied by other side effects, and who the hell wanted that?

Each rookie, whether Human or Therian, was paired up with a more experienced partner, and as this training session concerned the bond between Therian and Human agents, the attendees were a mixture of Defense, Intel, and Recon agents. Dex received a nudge against his leg, and he smiled down at his partner. Sloane was as huge in his Therian form as he was in his Human form. It had taken a few weeks, but Dex could easily spot his partner among any other black jaguar Therians. Scores of little things that made it obvious to him. Those molten amber eyes, a glossy coat that was nearly pitch black with the faintest hint of rosettes coming through, all that bulk, hard muscle, the way he moved, his expressions, the way he looked at Dex as if he could hear his thoughts. There was also something in Dex’s gut that told him it was his partner.

Dex stood, arms folded over his chest, trying not to chuckle at his partner doing his Felid thing, circling Dex, rubbing against his legs, the loud chainsaw-like purrs vibrating against Dex. Sloane had to rub his scent all over Dex, and Dex knew better than to interrupt or try to stop him. Well, he did now.

The first time Dex had made the mistake of moving away, not knowing what the hell Sloane was doing, Sloane had knocked him over, scared the ever living crap out of him, stood on his back, and then proceeded to make it worse by rolling all over Dex, apparently his punishment for attempting to walk away. Cael rubbed his scent over Dex while in his Therian form all the time and had been doing so since they were kids. But it was a different kind of bond. When Cael left his scent on Dex, it was so other Therians knew Dex was family, part of Cael’s cheetah coalition. When Sloane left his scent on Dex, he had no idea what kind of message that was sending out.

The facility had several expansive outdoor areas surrounded by prison-style concrete walls with electrified barbed wire running along the top to keep any daredevil news folk from attempting to get an eyeful. The Human zealots loved any opportunity to show Therians as nothing but ferocious, mindless beasts, and the last thing the THIRDS needed was media footage of their Therian agents in their feral form tearing through dummies. As soon as Sloane finished rubbing against Dex, he nudged the back of Dex’s legs. Every time he did that, Dex could practically hear Sloane’s words in his head. Get your ass moving, Rookie.

As instructed, Dex headed out into Field “A.” Tidy rows of mats had been placed on the grass for the Human agents to sit, their Therian partners sitting or lying on the grass beside them. Dex snagged himself a mat somewhere near the middle, not too close to the instructor, but not too far. He gave the surrounding agents a cheerful smile as he sat cross-legged, Sloane flopping down beside him looking bored already, but then again most Felid Therian agents looked bored when in their feral form. Must be a cat thing.

There were whispers and murmurs around him, and Dex noticed some of the agents were staring at him while others pretended they weren’t.

Discreetly, Dex looked down at himself. Was his fly open? Nope. He leaned into Sloane, talking quietly at him. “Any idea what’s going on?”

Sloane pushed his muzzle against Dex’s arm over his Unit Alpha, Destructive Delta patch. Looking around, Dex noticed most of the other patches were of teams he hadn’t heard of, mostly in Units Beta and Omega. “Oh, are we the only ones from Unit Alpha?” He received a fierce yawn in response. “I’m gonna take that as a yes.” The attention made sense, then. From what he’d learned, Unit Alpha was the most popular unit at the THIRDS. It was also the most dangerous and the most difficult to get into.

The only way a position became available in Unit Alpha was if an agent retired, died, or messed up so bad they got transferred. And then the competition to fill that position was fierce. Dex had no doubt most of the rookies here had heard enough stories and rumors to give them that starry-eyed look. They had no idea what being an agent for Unit Alpha truly meant. Sloane could attest to that firsthand.

The instructor, a Therian dressed in khaki slacks, a white shirt, and brown cardigan, stepped up to the front. He looked more like some philosophy teacher than a THIRDS agent. He tapped his earpiece, the tiny microphone pressed against his cheek making certain everyone could hear.

“Welcome new recruits to the Therian Behavioral Science session 1.03. I’m Dr. Eldridge and I’ll be your instructor. What makes the THIRDS such a unique and successful agency is its diverse nature. Here at the THIRDS we promote and embrace all cultures, religions, sexualities, genders, nationalities, and species, so that we may come together to achieve a common goal—justice for all. As you’re already fully aware, for every Human agent in our organization, there is a Therian agent.”

He walked as he talked, his sharp Therian gaze taking in all the recruits. The marks on his neck showed he was a cougar Therian. With a broad smile, he laced his fingers together. “Without the bond between Human and Therian, our organization could not thrive, which is why it’s imperative every new recruit is paired with the right agent. However, assigning you a compatible partner is merely the beginning. Today we’re going to discuss and demonstrate how to recognize certain Therian behaviors so that you might form the crucial bond needed for a successful partnership. I’m pleased that we have one of our more experienced new recruits with us here today.”

Dex looked around. Sweet, so he wasn’t the oldest new recruit. That should take some of the attention off him.

“Agent Daley, what can you tell us about what you’ve learned since being partnered with a jaguar Therian?”

Craaap. So much for that.

“Pardon me, before we get started, for those of you who may not know—though I’m certain you’ve heard of him, Agent Daley’s partner is Agent Sloane Brodie, an agent with over twenty years field experience and the THIRDS youngest recruit to date, having joined the THIRDS at age sixteen. He’s the Team Leader of Unit Alpha’s first Defense team, Destructive Delta. Agent Daley, please continue. And if you wouldn’t mind standing.”

Well, the guy asked for it. Dex stood and addressed the wide-eyed recruits. “All right, listen up. This is serious stuff. Lesson number one: If your 240-pound Felid partner with a jaw strong enough to pierce your skull with his fangs in one bite wants to rub up against your leg, you take it and you like it.

“Lesson number two: Don’t piss off your Felid partner and then think you’re safe by jumping in Sparta’s Olympic-sized swimming pool. Jaguar Therians love swimming, and they’re better at it than you. No good can come of it, and you’ll end up losing your swim trunks in the process and have to walk to the locker room naked, covering your boy bits, and nearly giving the janitorial staff a heart attack. Your fellow agents will take pictures of you, and by the time your shift is over, your ass has gone viral, and it’s seen more action than you ever will.

“Lesson number three: Jaguar Therians are patient, crafty, and you will never see them coming. They’re masters of skulking and pouncing. Just because you think you’ve gotten away with something doesn’t mean you have. Your partner will wait months if he has to for the perfect moment to strike. He will get his revenge. So you thought attaching a cheesy 1980s Dionne Warwick song to one of his case files and disabling the audio function on his desk so he couldn’t stop the hellish harmonica would be funny? Think again. Because five months later, while you’re in the middle of field training, surrounded by scores of Felid Therian agents in their Therian form, you’ll nearly faint from the fear of having all of them charge you at once. You’ll try to run, but you won’t escape. They’ll knock you over, and you’ll suddenly realize that your partner has stuffed catnip into every pocket, every piece of equipment, even your socks, and then you’ll be rolled up in a fetal position while you’re being pawed and rubbed up against by over a dozen Felids, before you get passed around like a giant Felid doobie. It’s not fun.”

Everyone broke into laughter, and Dex shook his head, putting a hand up. “Laugh all you want, but I’m telling you, if you have a Felid partner, you are screwed. You thought your neighbor’s cat was the devil incarnate? Guess what? He ain’t got nothin’ on your partner. And remember, just because your partner can’t maim or kill you, doesn’t mean he won’t make you suffer. Oh and your Felid partner will not be scared off by the rustling of a plastic bag. All it will do is piss him off. Shiny things, laser pointers, and a giant box may occasionally distract him. They love boxes.”

Dr. Eldridge picked his jaw up off the floor. “Um, thank you, Agent Daley, for that… informative briefing. You may resume your seat.”

“Thanks.” Dex sat down, and Sloane settled in beside him. He sniffed at Dex before a sandpaper tongue licked the side of his face. “Stop it.” Dex gave Sloane a small shove which was about as effective as asking Ash not to be a dickbag. Sloane continued, licking Dex, his paw thrown over Dex’s arm in case he had any thoughts of moving away. “Dude, seriously, that’s gross.”

“Is there a problem, Agent Daley?”

Dex held a hand up. “Yeah. How do I get my partner to stop licking me?”

The instructor let out a long-suffering sigh, sounding like every teacher Dex had ever had. “He’s not licking you, he’s grooming you.”

Tomato, tomahto. “Great. How do I get my partner to stop grooming me?”

“Agent Daley, you have a Felid Therian sibling correct?”

Dex nodded. “That is correct.”

“So I assume you understand when a Felid grooms you, he or she feels comfortable around you. You are accepted as part of his or her social circle. It’s a gesture of assurance and one not easily attained.”

“Yeah, I know that, and it’s awesome, really, but it’s also weird. He’s my partner. Plus it’s kind of difficult working a case out in the field when your partner decides to bathe you with his tongue. And believe me when I say this, it’s not as pleasant as it sounds.” If Sloane were in his Human form, Dex would have had a different opinion, but while his partner was in his Therian form, it was… like he said, weird.

His instructor looked pleased by that, and Dex stifled a groan. “Ah, now if you are in the presence of someone unfamiliar, and your partner grooms you, it means he’s claiming you.”

Dex gaped at him. He could feel his face getting hot. “He’s what now?”

“It’s quite common, Agent Daley. Everyone please turn to observe Agent Daley and Agent Sloane.”

This day was getting better and better. Where was a giant box when you needed one?

“When you and your partner have bonded, you’ll know by your partner’s behavior when he or she is in his or her Therian form. Although Humanity is present neurologically, it’s also when a Therian is at his or her most feral. As you can see, Agent Brodie and Agent Daley have a bond, one of the many goals you must achieve in order to have a healthy, functioning partnership.

“There’s trust there, enough for Agent Brodie to be at ease in his Therian form around Agent Daley. When Agent Brodie grooms his partner out in the field, he’s letting others know his partner is off limits, under his protection. There is unfortunately, a strong instinct of possession, and you may encounter instances in which you’ll need to reassure your partner there isn’t a threat to his or her claim on you. Of course this will only last while your partner is in their Therian form. Now it’s time for a demonstration. Agent Daley, Agent Brodie, would you please come up here?”

Dex waved a hand in dismissal. “You know what, it’s cool. He can groom all he wants.”

“Agent Daley.”

“Right.” Dex got to his feet and headed toward the front of the class with Sloane casually padding after him. Dex stood, facing the rows and rows of rookie agents, all eyes on them.

“It is exceptionally important for you to know when your partner is playing and when he or she is irate. Agent Daley, please demonstrate.”

Dex arched an eyebrow at the instructor. “Which one?”

“Both.”

“You want me to piss him off?” What kind of class was this?

“In a matter of speaking. Yes.”

“Great.” Okay. How could he piss off his partner without losing a limb? What he needed to do was annoy Sloane, really annoy him. Shouldn’t be too difficult. Dex had annoying down to an art. He thrust a finger in Sloane’s face, knowing how much his Felid partner hated that. Then he started singing. Nothing annoyed his partner like Hall and Oates.

Sloane let out a fierce roar, and Dex started dancing around him, his voice going high-pitched for certain lyrics while he snapped his fingers. Sloane pawed at him, and Dex spun on his heels, avoiding getting smacked. His partner hissed, baring his fangs before he took off after Dex.

“Shit!” Dex bolted, weaving through the rows of agents who were either laughing or watching him in disbelief while their instructor narrated as if this was nothing more than some nature video. Dex could see the title now. National Geographic presents Predatory Partners.

“Understand your partner’s behavior. Why is he or she behaving in such a fashion?”

“Because I pissed him off?” Dex called out over his shoulder, dashing back toward the instructor.

“Very good. Thank you, Agent Daley. You may now soothe your partner.”

Clearly, Dr. Eldridge didn’t personally know Sloane Brodie. Dex put his hands up, walking backward slowly as he spoke to his partner.

“Hey, buddy. Just following orders, you know? You heard him. I wasn’t the one who wanted to piss you off.” Dex crouched down and held a hand out. Please don’t bite me. Please don’t bite me. Sloane blinked before jumping up on his two back paws, his front paws pushing against Dex’s shoulders and knocking him onto his back. Sloane pinned him, and Dex braced himself. When Sloane started licking his face, Dex shut his eyes tight. “Okay, I get it. Payback. Take notes people.” Dex pointed at his partner. “This is what I meant about payback.”

“Agent Brodie, if you’ll resume your place beside your partner. Agent Daley, you may return to your mat.”

Sloane did as asked, and Dex wiped at his face with his sleeve before returning to his spot. He was never more grateful not to have ended up partnered with Ash than he was at this moment.

“Once you have assessed your partner and deduced he or she is irate, you will want to give your partner space. If you feel it’s safe to approach, you will do so with caution. Deal with what’s causing the issue. For example, Agent Fuller, please approach Agent Daley. Slowly.”

The moment Agent Fuller got to his feet, Sloane’s ears twitched. “Um, I don’t know if that’s a good idea,” Dex said, watching Agent Fuller creep toward Dex, as if Sloane hadn’t noticed. The Human rookie was clearly unaccustomed to dealing with Felids. “My partner’s a little on the grumpy side and poking the sleeping jaguar with a pointy stick might not end so well.”

Agent Fuller paused, his panicked gaze going to their instructor.

“It’s all right, Agent Fuller. Proceed.”

Doing as instructed, Agent Fuller resumed his prowl, while Sloane resumed his grooming of Dex, his heavy tail thumping against the floor. Uh-oh.

“As you can see by Agent Brodie’s movements, he’s fully aware of Agent Fuller. His tail is telling Agent Fuller to be cautious, Agent Daley is his, and he will not take kindly to any aggression toward his partner.”

Dex held up a finger. “Can I just—”

“Please stand, Agent Daley.”

Dex did as asked, and Sloane released a huff at having his grooming session interrupted. This was going to end badly. Dr. Eldridge had no idea what he was about to unleash. Sloane Brodie chewed rookies for breakfast and spit them out. Dex should know.

“Agent Fuller, please advance.”

Dex didn’t bother taking a stance or preparing for a blow that would never land. His fellow rookies looked at him as if he was crazy, but soon they’d understand. Poor Agent Fuller. The guy pulled back a fist and the moment he took a step, Sloane’s roar echoed across the field. Ears flattened, fangs bare, Sloane leapt toward Agent Fuller who screamed like a preteen at a Bieber concert and made tracks across the field, Sloane on his heels looking mighty pissed.

“Thank you, Agent Brodie,” the instructor called out.

Agent Brodie wiped his ass with their instructor’s polite orders and chased Agent Fuller down the length of the grassy pitch. Dex glanced around. “So which of you is a medic?”

A few shaky hands went up.

“Great. Get ready for the next lesson. How to patch up a Human scratching post.”

Dex was about to call his partner when Sloane came to an abrupt halt, standing exceptionally still, his ears perked up. Seconds later, the sirens around the facility went off and Dex jumped to his feet. “What the hell is that?”

Sloane came running, then pushed his head against the back of Dex’s legs to get him moving. Their instructor tapped his earpiece then called out, “Unit Alpha, report in immediately.” Dex didn’t need to be told twice. He took off after Sloane who was nearly at the changing bays. Inside, Sloane ducked behind his assigned curtain, and Dex waited patiently. It would take some time after Sloane shifted back for Dex to administer Postshift Trauma Care, but as much as they both wanted to move quicker, you couldn’t rush nature.

Several grunts, groans, and growls later, and Dex heard his name called. Sloane was especially grumpy postshift. He didn’t like Dex seeing him in such a vulnerable state, but Dex was happy to remind his partner it was his job to provide him the care he needed.

Sloane was perched on the small cot with the towel across his lap, his head in his hands as the dizziness washed over him. Dex was all too familiar with the process. He removed the bottle of Gatorade from the Postshift Trauma Care kit in his backpack and waited a few seconds until Sloane was able to lift his head. His partner was stubborn, but Dex had found a way around it. He gently brushed Sloane’s fallen hair away from his brow, caressing his jaw before tenderly cupping the back of his head.

After a moment of hesitation, Sloane leaned back, and Dex helped him with the Gatorade until every drop was gone. As soon as his partner was done with that, Dex unwrapped a couple of high-carb/high-protein bars and handed them over.

Maybe Dex didn’t want the postshift trauma that came with being a Therian, but what he wouldn’t give to have a Therian’s metabolism. Therians didn’t get cholesterol, nor did they get fat or unhealthy from all the meat they consumed since their bodies depended on the stuff to keep them alive, providing they were remotely active, of course. Therians had crazy high metabolic rates and burned calories by just breathing.

The expression “eaten out of house and home” had been thought up with Therians in mind. His dad could confirm that. Dex had felt for the guy. As if raising two mischievous boys hadn’t been difficult enough, one of them put away enough food you’d think he was storing it away for winter, while the other ate enough to put the butcher’s son through college. Dex would bet his own grocery bills were nothing compared to Sloane’s.

A few minutes later and his partner was on his feet, somewhat wobbly, but okay enough to get dressed with Dex’s help. He gave the waistband of Sloane’s underwear a snap, drawing a playful grin from him. Soon Sloane was dressed in his uniform, looking imposing as always. It would take a hearty meal to get Sloane back up to full speed, but he’d be okay for a few hours.

“Okay, partner?”

Sloane nodded, his voice rougher than usual, as it tended to be after a shift. “Yeah, let’s go. You drive.” Dex nodded somberly, though inside he was pumped and doing a jig. Since Sloane was the senior officer, he always drove the huge black Suburban except during instances such as this.

Making sure his partner was all right, Dex made a quick phone call to Cael on the way to the garage, putting in a request. He climbed in behind the wheel, telling himself he was just being a good partner, but a little voice in the back of his head reminded him he was a shitty liar when it came to those he cared about. The urge to take care of Sloane and fuss over him was growing, and he had to keep a grip on that. If Sloane suspected Dex was getting too close… well, Dex had no idea what he’d do, and he didn’t want to find out.

 

 

SLOANE ENTERED his badge number and security code into the Suburban’s console, ignoring the hollow feeling in the pit of his stomach. His body craved meat, but it would have to wait. The console’s screen lit up blue before patching them into Themis. They tapped their earpieces, and Sloane brought up the location of Destructive Delta’s BearCat. The blue circle with black D’s navigated down FDR Drive. “Sarge, Dex and I are en route. What have we got?”

“We received word there’s an explosive device at the CDC Therian registration office on the corner of Worth Street and Centre Street.”

“Do you think it’s the Order?”

“We don’t know. What we do know is that the call was put in anonymously, giving us one hour, so clearly whoever put in the call had something to do with it.”

“Okay, thanks, Sarge. We should arrive about five minutes after you.” Sloane tapped his earpiece, disconnecting the call. “Dex, take FDR Drive.” He checked his watch. “Traffic permitting, that’ll leave us with just under forty minutes. Haul ass, but don’t get us killed.”

“TMNT Party Wagon?” Dex said hopefully.

“Seriously? You do realize it’s not the eighties. The world has moved on.”

Dex beamed brightly. “I know.”

“Do you? Because sometimes, I’m not so sure.”

“How about just Party Wagon?”

“Yes, damn it!” Sloane was caught between feeling frustrated and wanting to laugh. “Fine. Party Wagon.”

Dex let out a loud whoop, hitting the sirens and lights. Something was seriously wrong with Sloane. There had to be. Why else was he continually allowing Dex to name maneuvers and equipment? Especially when it was always a reference to some eighties movie, or God help him, after cartoon turtles. Maybe because arguing with his man-child partner wasn’t worth the exhaustion or pouting that resulted from it. God, he’d let the guy name the Suburban after a cartoon truck. “I must be losing my mind.”

Dex laughed as he maneuvered through traffic. “Variety is the spice of life.”

“Is weed a spice? Because that would explain a lot where you’re concerned.”

His partner burst into laughter, the sound infectious. Sloane shook his head, his lips pressed together, but he couldn’t stop it from bubbling up, and he started laughing. Oh God, the crazy was contagious. He sobered up, wiping a tear from his eye. “We better get our shit together, because if not, your dad’s going to kick our asses.”

“Welcome to the ranks of every boyfriend I’ve ever had,” Dex said, then seemed to catch onto Sloane’s startled expression. His smile fell away. “I didn’t mean to imply you were, you know, um…. Forget I said that.”

Sloane nodded, his heart feeling as though it was trying to escape from his chest. “It’s not that I don’t want—”

“Don’t worry about it. It was my bad.” Dex waved a hand and gave him a sweet smile. “You know me. Sometimes the wires get crossed, and my mouth is quicker than my brain.”

“Sometimes?” Sloane teased.

“Dick,” Dex said with a chuckle before his expression grew concerned. “You think it’s the Order?”

“I don’t know, but it makes no sense. They plant a bomb, then call to inform us and give us enough time to get there? Why?”

“Trap?”

Sloane shook his head. “They’d have to know we’d think that. Doesn’t make any damn sense. First College Point, now this? What kind of game is Isaac playing?”

The CDC Therian registration office was situated on busy Worth Street across from Thomas Paine Park and surrounded by several other government buildings. One block over was the courthouse where Dex had testified against his Human partner, thus sending his HPF career down the pan and getting him recruited to the THIRDS.

Dex pulled the Suburban up behind the BearCat parked beside the State Office Building a block over, his expression thoughtful. No doubt, his partner was thinking along the same lines. Sloane turned to look at him. “You okay?”

“Yeah. Just thinking about how this is kind of where it all started.”

Was Dex wishing he’d never left the HPF? Had his life been better? Sloane couldn’t help his frown. By now, Dex would have still been with his old boyfriend Lou, or moved onto someone else, but instead he was stuck with a guy who freaked out over hearing the word “boyfriend.” As if sensing his thoughts, Dex quickly spoke up.

“Not that I’m not glad to be here now, with the THIRDS and you. It just would have been nice to get here without all the bruises and threats.”

How was it that Dex always knew Sloane needed reassuring without Sloane saying a word? He smiled at Dex, and took Dex’s right hand in his, giving it a quick squeeze before letting go. “I’m glad you’re here too, Daley. Though if you touch my radio again, you’re going to see some more bruising.”

“Right, sorry.” Dex held his hands up in surrender. “I let the power go to my head.”

“Come on, wise guy.” Sloane climbed out of the Suburban with Dex following his lead. He knocked on one of the BearCat’s back doors, and as soon as they were inside, Sloane took a seat to conserve his energy while Ash handed him his equipment piece by piece, starting with his tac vest. The weight of his equipment was going to be uncomfortable, but he’d simply have to endure it like so many of the other times before. As he clipped pieces of his equipment into place, he noticed Dex head straight for the front of the BearCat and the security console where his brother sat. Without a word, Cael held out a white paper bag that Dex snatched up with a broad smile and a wink. “Thanks, bro.”

“No prob.”

With a dopey grin, Dex handed the bag over to Sloane. “Here. I had Cael grab you a triple beef burger from the cafeteria.”

Sloane took the bag, his voice mirroring his surprise. “You asked him to get me food?”

“Yeah.” Dex shrugged as if it was no big deal. “I figured you’d need the boost. You’re my partner, right? It’s my job to help where I can.”

Sloane didn’t know what to say. It was true Dex was his partner, and as such, part of his responsibility was providing PSTC, but his responsibility as far as nutrition went ended with Gatorade and protein bars. Dex’s job was to get Sloane on his feet. Making certain he recuperated properly, and/or healthily wasn’t part of his partner’s duty. Gabe had provided exceptional PSTC, but while at work, he focused on the job, and he expected Sloane to be responsible for himself. With a “thanks,” Sloane dug into his burger while Ash played the recording of the phone call put in to 911. Dex finished gearing up and stepped up to the ballistic window with a frown.

“How is no one at the registration office panicking? People are coming in and out as if nothing was going on.”

The phone call didn’t reveal much other than the caller was obviously using a voice enhancer. This wasn’t looking good.

“I don’t like this,” Ash said. “Something’s not right here.”

Dex turned to address Cael. “Recon have any luck tracing the call?”

“No. Most likely the call was made using a burner phone.”

Sloane finished eating in record time, popped a mint into his mouth, and stood to snatch a ballistic helmet off the wall. He handed it to Dex with a wink, knowing his partner would have pretended he’d forgotten it. “Cael, get a hold of the registration office’s security team and get us into their system. I want access to that feed, along with all their security footage.”

“You got it.” Cael got to work while Sloane addressed the rest of the team.

“Let’s get in there and see what the hell’s going on. I want that device found.” As he said the words, Hobbs grabbed one of the EOD X-Ray kits and handed it to Calvin, another to Ash. He put a hand to one of the weapon’s cages and removed the large backpack containing his EOD Packbot. As soon as he’d strapped it to himself, he grabbed another EOD X-Ray kit and held it up to Sloane with a big grin, making Sloane smile. Hobbs loved his toys.

“Okay, let’s go.” At Sloane’s signal, Letty opened the back doors and the team exited the truck, standing by while Maddock faced them.

“Recon agents are here. They’re setting up a blockade around the perimeter. We’ll keep you all informed. If the Order is responsible for this, I want to know about it. Keep me updated and watch your backs.”