Chapter 2

 

 

SEB’S EYEBROWS shot up near his hairline. “Uh… okay.”

This was starting to sound a lot like one of his fantasies, except in those Hudson didn’t scowl at him. Seb unfastened his belt before pushing his pants down as far as he could—which turned out to be not very far—before he sucked in a sharp breath and straightened, catching Hudson’s narrowed gaze. Seb’s shirt allowed him some modesty by covering his groin and ass, leaving only the ends of his gray boxer briefs peeking out from under the hem.

Hudson stepped up to him and tapped his shoulder. “Put some of your weight on me.”

Seb nodded, doing as asked, gritting his teeth as he sat down. The moment his ass hit the padded leather chair, the relief was instant. At least until Hudson kneeled in front of him and took hold of his pants. He carefully pulled them the rest of the way down, unaware of what he was doing to Seb. Hudson was in doctor mode. He gently but clinically undid the straps of Seb’s industrial, Therian-strength knee brace. The familiarity of it, the intimacy, was almost too much. It took Seb back to a time when Hudson had fussed over him, rubbing ointment over Seb’s knee when it was sore and swollen.

The brace came off, and Seb winced at the fire that filled Hudson’s bright blue eyes. It was less sexy heat and more “you’re lucky you’re hurt right now because I seriously want to kick your arse.”

“Oh, for the love of—look at your knee! And you’re walking around like it’s a minor inconvenience?”

“It is a minor inconvenience.”

Hudson’s head shot up, his expression grim. “Don’t you dare, Sebastian. Or do you forget who you’re talking to?”

“Never.” How could he? Even when Hudson was indignant, he was beautiful.

“Then you damn well know better than this, don’t you? Have you taken anything for the swelling?”

Seb cringed.

“I could throttle you right now.” Hudson stood, then headed to one of the many secured cabinets around the room.

Seb could think of plenty of things he’d like Hudson to do to him right now, but knowing what was good for him, he kept his mouth shut. Hudson returned with a familiar-looking black tactical bag and a bottle of water. He handed the water to Seb before kneeling to rummage through the bag. He found the right drugs, popped the top, and tapped it against his hand until two pills tumbled into his palm. After sealing the bottle and tossing it back into the bag, he held up the pills.

“Take these. For the pain and the inflammation.”

“Thank you.” Seb smiled at him as he took the pills, then tossed them in his mouth, followed by a swig of water.

Hudson wasn’t impressed. “Don’t thank me yet. I haven’t decided whether to strangle you or not. The moment I felt it, I told myself, ‘He’s sensible. He’ll look after himself.’ And then Dom called, and look at you. Sensible my arse. I have DBs in my lab with more sense.”

Seb didn’t know what to say to that. As Hudson removed supplies from the bag, Seb couldn’t help his dopy grin.

“Why are you looking at me like that?”

Their bond meant they felt the other’s pain if it was significant enough. The love they shared made it so Hudson didn’t have to look at Seb to know Seb was smiling at him. He could sense Seb’s gaze on him, just like Seb could sense Hudson’s. Always. Despite the days, the distance, they were every bit as connected now as they’d been back then, which made being apart so painful. Not calling Hudson every time Seb felt him hurting was torture.

“You still have it,” Seb said softly.

Hudson blinked down at the black bag as if noticing it for the first time. Anyone else might have been able to hide their reaction, but Hudson’s fair skin betrayed him, his cheeks blushing furiously.

“I, um, yes.”

“Why?” Seb cocked his head as he studied Hudson. Not that he hadn’t mapped out the man’s features years ago. How was it possible to need someone more than air itself?

“Because I can’t very well trust you to look after yourself, now can I?” Hudson’s lips quirked on one side as he motioned to Seb’s knee.

Seb leaned forward. “That’s only half the truth, Doctor.”

Hudson arched a thick black eyebrow at him. “Believe what you will.”

With a grin, Seb sat back. All the medication in that bag was prescription. Hudson had to order them specifically. He kept them stocked in case Seb needed them. When they’d been together, Hudson had kept a kit at home and another in his office. Years after they’d broken up, he maintained the kit.

“Don’t look so smug,” Hudson muttered, removing the cap from the ointment.

Seb wrinkled his nose. “That stuff is rank.”

Hudson chuckled. “You seem to forget that summer the cooling system and the backup generator at the morgue malfunctioned.”

“Oh God.” Seb gagged just thinking about it. “You’re right. That was worse. Much worse.” He closed his eyes and put a fist to his mouth. He’d gone in to meet Hudson for lunch and ended up bolting out. Lunch, or any food, didn’t happen for a whole day. The smell had been so potent it burned. He hadn’t been able to ingest anything stronger than vegetable broth, which meant he hadn’t been able to shift into his Therian form because PSTC was impossible. He let out a bark of laughter, making Hudson laugh.

“What?”

“Remember when Sloane thought I was fucking with him, so he dragged me and Maddock down there to see for himself?”

Hudson gasped before laughing again. “That’s right! He threw up on Sergeant Maddock’s boots.”

“Yes!” Seb held on to his side, he was laughing so hard. He could still see Maddock’s horrified expression. If Seb hadn’t been in danger of losing what little contents he’d had in his stomach as well, he would have snapped a picture with his phone.

“Poor Sloane.” Hudson shook his head as he squeezed ointment into his hand. “He was mortified. Couldn’t stop apologizing.”

“Maddock avoided standing next to him for weeks.” Seb wondered if Dex was privy to that little tidbit of information about his future husband. Hmm. He might just keep that ace up his sleeve.

Seb still couldn’t believe Sloane was engaged. Had someone asked him years ago which member of his team was least likely to end up married, Seb would have said Sloane. His friend and former Team Leader believed himself too messed-up to make anyone happy for long. Seb understood where Sloane was coming from. When Seb had found out Dex and Sloane were involved, he’d been knocked for a loop. The two couldn’t be more different.

Seb was happy for them. On the job, public displays of affection between them were understated, but anyone who knew them could see how in love they were. The way they looked at each other, the subtle way Sloane reassured himself and others that Dex was his by keeping physical contact with Dex, whether by placing his hand on Dex’s lower back or shoulder. The way they murmured to each other or whispered in the other’s ear spoke of a tender intimacy and fierce love that was at times too painful for Seb to witness.

Hudson’s warm hands on him sobered Seb up in a heartbeat. He swallowed hard as heat spread through him. A heat that had nothing to do with the ointment seeping into his skin and everything to do with the man’s searing touch. Hudson worked deftly as he massaged the medicine into Seb’s knee and the muscles around it. It hurt like hell, always did, but Seb was too mesmerized by Hudson to pay attention to the pain.

Hudson’s beautiful face was a picture of focus as he took care of Seb’s knee. When they’d been together, Hudson had done this for Seb every day at work and at home. No one looked after Seb like Hudson. His care was unexpected, and had it come from anyone else, Seb would have thanked them and continued to do everything for himself, like he always did. But he’d never forget the warm smile or the affection in Hudson’s eyes the first time he’d gone to massage Seb’s knee. Seb would never forget his words either.

“Let me take care of you, love. I want to do that for you. Will you let me?”

Seb hadn’t simply let Hudson take care of him—he’d relished it, thrived on it. He’d put himself, his trust, everything he was in Hudson’s hands. Vulnerability was something he could never afford, and he found it hard to give up control, to let down his guard. He missed Hudson so goddamn much it choked him up inside.

“Have you been sticking to your routine?” Hudson asked.

“Yeah.” Seb’s voice came out rough, and Hudson turned his gaze up. He never missed a beat, an intake of breath, a look. “It’s not the same,” Seb admitted. “Not like when you do it.”

“Well, I am a doctor.” Hudson turned his attention back to Seb’s knee.

“That’s not why.” Seb leaned forward to touch him, and Hudson stilled, his breath hitching. He swallowed visibly before slowly removing a roll of bandages from the kit. Seb’s gut clenched, and he sat back, returning his hand to his knee. He no longer held the right to touch Hudson when the urge struck him. Hudson might bear his mark, but he wasn’t Seb’s.

Seb averted his gaze while Hudson wrapped his knee. Damn, he hated this. Their relationship had been far from perfect, and they’d argued like any couple, but it never lasted. Seb couldn’t stand having Hudson mad at him, and he couldn’t bear to be away from him for long. All Seb had to do was look into those bright pools of blue, and he was lost, drowning in the love he had in his heart, so he gave in. He was a pushover where Hudson was concerned. Giving in was better than fighting. He couldn’t stand the fighting. It tore at his insides. The subject of their worst arguments never changed—Seb was too protective.

Seb had given in to Hudson from the beginning, allowing him to take care of Seb like he wanted to, but when Seb tried to do the same with Hudson, he came up against a wall. It was engrained in Hudson. Stiff upper lip and all that. He prided himself on his steadfast composure, his ability to guard against any vulnerability he might feel, and his self-reliance. Just because he let Seb in, allowed Seb to see him like no one else did, did not mean he was vulnerable. He did not need sheltering. However, Seb couldn’t help himself, especially after he’d marked Hudson. He needed to protect what was his. The urge had grown with every passing day until one day he’d fucked it all up.

Hudson’s hands on his calf had him drawing a sharp breath and brought him back to the present. Despite the anguish in his heart, having Hudson in the same room made him smile. Very few understood Seb’s inability to move on. There was no moving on from Hudson Colbourn.

In their years apart, Seb had several sexual encounters, but he wasn’t interested in moving beyond a few nights of sex with any of those guys. None of them was Hudson. Cael had been the first to change things. Seb had let down his guard with the young cheetah Therian, and the two had become good friends since, but in his heart of hearts, Seb had known it wouldn’t work, and not just because Cael was in love with someone else. No one could come close to the man before him.

With a smile, Seb leaned forward, and this time, he put his fingers under Hudson’s chin. He lifted his face, and their eyes met.

“Hey.”

Hudson gave him a bashful smile. “Hey.”

“Thanks for helping me out.”

Hudson’s expression softened, and he relaxed. “Of course. Promise me you’ll be more careful.”

“I promise.” Seb gave him a wink and sat back. He looked down at himself. “Guess I should pull my pants back up, huh?” He waggled his eyebrows. “Unless you don’t want me to.”

“You cheeky bugger.” Hudson smacked Seb’s flank playfully. “Stop it.” He strapped Seb back into his leg brace before standing up.

“Admit it, you love that about me.”

“I do,” Hudson said with a sigh before catching himself. His face flushed, and Seb couldn’t help but tease.

“Better get dressed, then. Don’t want you distracted for the rest of the day.”

Hudson’s eyebrows shot up, and he laughed. “Oh, it’s like that, ay?”

Man, he loved that laugh. Seb pushed to his feet with Hudson’s help, then pulled up his pants, his grin wide. “Yeah. What is it Dex says?” Seb snapped his fingers. “That’s right.” He turned around and lifted his shirt. “Who’s got the booty? I got the booty.”

Hudson let out a bark of laughter. “Oh good Lord. You’ve been spending far too much time around that man. Next thing you know, you’ll be leaving a trail of gummy bears in your wake.”

“Hardly. Doesn’t make my statement less true, though,” Seb said, fastening his belt.

Hudson snickered and shooed him. “Get out of my office, you scoundrel. And no more flashing your arse at me.”

Seb headed for the door. He looked at Hudson over his shoulder. “If you change your mind, you know where to find me.”

“Get out,” Hudson ordered, the gravity lost when he chuckled. A thought seemed to occur to him, and he hurried over. “Wait. How’s Julia?”

Seb was touched by Hudson’s concern, but not at all surprised. Hudson was always asking about his parents, even if he didn’t ask Seb specifically. Usually Hudson sent his love through Ethan, who then passed the message on to Seb to give to his parents. “She’s okay. It’s been a bit of a tough week.”

“Thomas?”

Seb nodded. His dad had his good days, not so good days, and days where his mom cried herself to sleep. Those were the hardest for Seb. She tried her best to hide it from him, but he could tell when he spoke to her on the phone or came by to check on her. Most people assumed the Hobbs boys got their strength from their father, and although Thomas Hobbs was stronger than most and had obviously passed the trait on to his tiger Therian sons, they’d inherited their strength of heart from their mother. No matter the hardship or heartache she encountered over the years thanks to her husband’s condition, she never gave up on him, never turned her back on him, and never stopped loving him.

“Do you think…?” Hudson worried his bottom lip with his teeth. “Do you think it might be all right if I called her?”

Seb blinked at him. He quickly snapped out of it. “Yeah, I think she’d love that.”

Hudson’s smile was radiant. “I will, then. Thank you.”

“Okay.” Seb gave him a wink. “Have a good day, Lobito.”

Hudson shook his head as he walked back inside. “Be safe, Sebastian.”

Well, at least Hudson hadn’t asked him not to call him that. His knee was still killing him, but it felt less awful. Seb couldn’t keep from grinning as he walked down the hall.

Back in Unit Alpha, his fellow agents busied themselves as he walked by, doing everything to avoid eye contact in case he had something to say to them.

When he reached his office, it was his turn to avoid eye contact. He took a seat behind his desk and logged into Themis. Seb didn’t have to see Dom to know he was grinning like a dope. Dom was the kind of guy people noticed when he walked into a room, either because they heard him or because his presence demanded attention. At over six foot two and almost two hundred pounds, Dom had a square jaw, full lips, and hooded, hazel eyes with long, thick lashes. His eyebrows were dark and his brown hair short and tousled, adding to his roguish look, his expression always one of boyish mischief.

“You’re welcome.”

Seb grunted. “You’re asking to get that smug look knocked off your face.”

“Whatever,” Dom said with a snort. “It went well. You were smiling like an idiot.”

“Only idiot here is the one sitting across from me.”

Dom gasped in mock hurt. “Ooh, ouch. You wound me, bro.”

“If only,” Seb muttered, but then his earpiece beeped, and Spark’s voice came over the line.

“Seb?”

“Yes, Lieutenant.”

“Would you come to my office, please?”

“Of course.” The line went quiet, and he stood. “I need to go see the lieutenant. Could you check on the team? Lee hasn’t submitted his report yet, and I want to make sure Zoey hasn’t convinced Brianna to lock him out of his desk. Again.”

Dom gave him a salute, and Seb headed out into the bull pen. Why couldn’t Sparks have called him before he’d made it to his office? All the sitting and standing was doing nothing for his knee. At the end of Unit Alpha, he took a left and found Sparks’s office open. He walked in, surprised when she put the room into privacy mode.

“That’s new.” Sparks’s office had always been secure with no need for additional security measures. This didn’t bode well.

“Yes, well, the world was a different place a year ago.” She motioned for Seb to sit in the empty chair across from her desk, and he did. Whatever she wanted to talk to him about, he had a feeling it had nothing to do with his job at the THIRDS.

“Thank you for coming.”

“Of course.”

Sparks took a seat behind her desk, her intense gaze fixed on him. “Can I assume a speech on discretion is unnecessary?”

“Got it.” Definitely not about the THIRDS.

“We need to discuss you appointing yourself Dr. Colbourn’s personal security.”

At the mention of Hudson and his safety, Seb tensed. “Have you heard from Wolf?”

Six months ago, what they had thought was a routine callout for Destructive Delta regarding a gang execution, turned out to be much more. Wolf had tried contacting Sloane and Dex about something, but the messenger he’d used was killed before he could deliver the message, forcing Wolf to come out of hiding to deliver it himself. No one understood why Wolf would insist they protect Hudson, but no one was taking the warning lightly. Hudson had promised he’d be more careful, but he wasn’t about to go into hiding or allow his life to be interrupted, especially since they had no idea who they were protecting him from. If Hudson’s life was in danger, Seb wasn’t about to let Hudson out of his sight.

“We’ll get to that, but first, I need you to understand the severity of the situation and what you’re signing up for. Despite several attempts to appoint Dex with one of the very best doctors TIN has to offer, he refuses. The only doctor Dex trusts is Dr. Colbourn. As the first surviving Human-Therian hybrid, Dex is invaluable to TIN.”

“So because Dex is invaluable and only trusts Hudson, that makes Hudson invaluable.” As messed-up as that was, Seb had been a THIRDS agent long enough not to be surprised. Organizations like TIN were all about intel and how valuable an asset was. He didn’t have to be a covert operative to know how it worked. Maybe he didn’t know the ins and outs, and it was probably better that way, but the implications of her words weren’t lost on him.

“There’s still so much we don’t know about Dex and his mutation, other than the fact he shares Sloane’s DNA and is exhibiting Therian traits. We’ve been monitoring his activity, as has Dr. Colbourn. So far Dex has developed our strength, healing capability, speed, and metabolism. Only time will tell what jaguar Therian traits he may possess as well.”

Seb nodded his understanding. “Do you think he’ll shift?”

“We can’t say for certain, but it’s unlikely, as Dex was born Human.”

“So were a lot of Pre-First Gens,” Seb reminded her. “My dad was Human before he became infected with the Melanoe virus. Now he’s a Therian.”

“That’s true. I suppose all we can do is wait. We’re also monitoring the select number of First Gens who possess the same anomalies in their blood that Sloane does. Let’s get to the reason I called you in here, shall we? Admiral Moros was a member of a cabal known as the Makhai—Therians intent on keeping Therians the dominant species. For decades they’ve been killing off Humans like Dex, who were infected by their First Gen partners. Dex is the only one of his kind that we know of. His quick thinking in seeking out Dr. Colbourn for medical attention rather than going to the hospital has kept him off their radar.”

So it was possible there were more Humans like Dex. “And this organization is still out there?” Great, just what they needed. Another, scarier, more secretive group of nutcases.

“Although Moros was one of its founders, we have reason to believe the Makhai is still in operation. They’ve retreated into the shadows, most likely to regroup. However, we believe the two gang members killed by Wolf six months ago, Juarez and Turner, were working for the Makhai. It’s possible they’re gathering intelligence and will soon resurface.” She tapped away at her desk, and the screen on the wall behind and above her head flickered to life. Surveillance images of Dowling, Juarez, and Turner popped up on the screen. “Dowling was paid by Wolf to warn Sloane and Dex that they needed to protect Dr. Colbourn. Juarez and Turner killed Dowling so he couldn’t deliver the message. Wolf then killed them. As Juarez and Turner were working for the Makhai, we believe the Makhai not only arranged Dowling’s murder but sent Juarez and Turner to Greenpoint.”

“Why?”

“Intel. Moros’s death is classified. According to those documents, he died by my claws.”

Seb stared at her. “Does Dex know?”

Sparks nodded. “He wasn’t happy about it but agreed that we need to keep what he is a secret as long as possible. Unfortunately, I believe the Makhai have their suspicions.”

“How do you know?”

“As I said, Juarez and Turner were sent to Greenpoint. After debriefing Destructive Delta, it became clear that the two had targeted Cael. No matter who they were up against, they kept trying to get to Cael. I believe they were trying to get Dex to out himself.”

“Shit.” Seb shook his head. If there was a surefire way to make Dexter J. Daley lose his shit, it was to fuck with his family. “Let me guess, he went all Human-Therian hybrid on their asses.”

“So to speak. Juarez and Turner may have been killed before they could relay the information to their superiors, but there’s no telling if any of the other Therians in Greenpoint were plants. It’s been six months, and we haven’t picked up any chatter regarding Dex or his abilities. However, if Wolf felt the need to warn us, then the Makhai must know something. None of this is a coincidence. Even if they discover what Dex is, between him, his newfound traits, and Sloane, I’m confident they’ll manage. Dr. Colbourn is a different matter. In the very near future, Dex and Sloane may not be available to offer their protection. Steps are being taken to assure the utmost discretion. Dr. Colbourn has no association with TIN, but at this time, we can’t confirm the Makhai hasn’t taken an interest in him.”

Shit. “It’s his association with Dex, isn’t it?”

“Yes. Dr. Colbourn is Dex’s personal physician. If they can’t get to Dex….”

“Hudson’s the next best thing.” Seb ran a hand over his face. Fuck, this was worse than he thought. He knew it. The moment Dex walked into Hudson’s house, he’d made Hudson a target. As pissed off as Seb was with Dex, he had to respect Hudson’s decision, no matter how much he hated it.

“This is where you come in,” Sparks informed him.

“Or where Hudson steps out.”

She didn’t so much as blink. “Dex and Dr. Colbourn have formed a bond due to the marks they carry from their mates.”

Seb couldn’t help but flinch at the word mates. She was fully aware of their situation. Seb might be Hudson’s mate, but unless Hudson took him back, they remained two halves of a whole. Incomplete.

“Dr. Colbourn has taken Dex under his care. Do you really believe he’ll walk away now?”

Seb clenched his jaw. They both knew the answer to that. Hudson would never turn down someone who needed him, much less a friend he cared for dearly. Seb wasn’t sure what to think about the two bonding over their marks. Was that why Dex was playing matchmaker? The guy wasn’t nearly as subtle as he thought he was. His heart was in the right place, but he had some real unorthodox methods. Not to mention unpredictable ones.

“Okay. I get it. Hudson might be in danger if this cabal knows what Dex is or Hudson’s association with him and TIN. That just means you’re going to be seeing a whole lot more of me.”

Sparks didn’t skip a beat. “How does Dr. Colbourn feel about seeing a whole lot more of you? How are you going to deal with seeing him?”

“I’ve made it clear to him that I’m not going anywhere.”

“Easier said than done.”

Tell me about it. “His safety is my priority.” As much as it might crush him being around Hudson, knowing Hudson was safe was all that mattered.

“I have plenty of good operatives I can assign—”

Seb held up a hand to stop her. “If you want to have operatives keep an eye on him from a distance, that’s fine. I would appreciate someone looking out for him when I can’t be around, but I’m not walking away. It’ll be a cold day in hell before I leave him out there on his own to face God knows what. I’m in this, whether he likes it or not. Whether I like it or not.” He wasn’t unreasonable. He couldn’t very well shadow Hudson every moment of the day. They had jobs to do, cases to work, callouts. Seb could hardly follow him home.

“Very well. Dom will assume the role of Team Leader on Theta Destructive if you’re called away. I’ll arrange your cover.” She tapped away at her desk’s interface. An icon appeared on the screen. It was a pair of silver shoes. Okay. That was… weird.

“When you see that symbol appear on any of your communications devices, you tap it. It means you have a secure, incoming message from TIN.” Her grin sent a chill through him. “Congratulations. Sebastian Hobbs, you are now part of the TIN Associate Program. Your training commences next week. Austen is your liaison.”

Seb blinked at her. “I’m sorry, what?” What just happened? TIN Associate? Training? What? “Wait. Are you telling me Austen is TIN?”

“Yes. You want to protect Dr. Colbourn? You need training. He does too, for that matter.”

“I have training.” Training he continued every day, even when his knee was giving him hell. Sparks gave him a nod, and he frowned. What the hell was going on?

“Hey, Sebby.”

“Shit!” Seb sprang from his chair so fast he almost fell face-first onto the carpet. He spun around, his heart in his throat as he stared at Austen. “Where the hell did you come from?” He looked from Austen to Sparks and back. “The room’s still in privacy mode.” Seb hadn’t heard him, smelled him, or even felt Austen approach.

Austen waggled his eyebrows and dropped into the chair Seb had just vacated. “Training. And my general awesomeness.”

“You’ll be a stronger agent for it,” Sparks assured Seb. “It’s done wonders for Destructive Delta.”

Seb peered at her. “Are you telling me Destructive Delta are TIN Associates?”

“They’ve been put through the TIN Associate Training Program.” Some kind of unspoken exchange happened between her and Austen. Seb wanted nothing to do with it.

“So you want to make Destructive Delta TIN?”

Sparks shook her head. “Only Therians can be TIN operatives, or in Dex’s case a Human-Therian hybrid. As good as Ash, Cael, and Hobbs are, they’re better suited for the THIRDS, but with their skill set and TIN Associates training, they make valuable assets.”

It took a second for her words to sink in, and he gaped at her. “Dex is a TIN operative?”

“He and Sloane will be sworn in after they return from their honeymoon. As TIN operatives, it’s imperative they have a trustworthy network of assets.”

Seb couldn’t believe what he was hearing. Dex and Sloane, TIN? He was having trouble processing this. “Does Destructive Delta know?”

“Yes. Dex and Sloane will continue to work at the THIRDS under new roles. It’s important they still have access to their team, which is why there will be some structural changes to Destructive Delta.

“TIN operatives are required to bring on their own assets and contacts upon swearing in. No operatives are recruited without a team already in place. Dex and Sloane will work undercover, with Destructive Delta on hand to provide support if and when necessary. As TIN associates, you and Dr. Colbourn will become part of Dex and Sloane’s assets.”

If Destructive Delta was ready to become an asset, it meant they’d been training for some time. Sparks cocked her head as she studied him.

“You look thoughtful.”

“You’ve been preparing them for this.” He still couldn’t figure out why, though. She couldn’t have predicted what Sloane’s blood would do to Dex. “What if Dex hadn’t become what he is? He couldn’t be TIN, right? What then? Why train Destructive Delta?”

“I would have taken them on as my personal assets.”

Seb was willing to bet his tiger Therian stripes that Destructive Delta wouldn’t have accepted were it not for Dex and Sloane. Regardless. Whatever his friends’ decisions, it had nothing to do with him. He didn’t know TIN, and quite frankly, he didn’t trust Sparks.

“I’m not getting into bed with TIN.”

“You’re an exceptional agent, Seb. Think of what you could accomplish as a TIN associate with the right training and the right… medical enhancements.”

“Medical enhancements?” Seb stared at her. “What the hell are you talking about?”

Sparks dropped her gaze to Seb’s knee before lifting her eyes back to his. “TIN could help you.”

“But only if I join you?” He shook his head in disgust. “You people are unbelievable.” He wasn’t sure what he found more astounding, that TIN had the medical capabilities to help him or the fact they would only do so if it benefited them. The thought infuriated him. “I’d rather live with the pain than work for TIN.”

“Seb—”

“Keep your training, your associates program, your goddamn enhancements,” he ground out through his teeth. “I want nothing to do with it. Protecting Hudson is my priority, and I’ll do that my way. Now if you don’t mind, I have a job to do.”

Sparks took the room off security mode. By the time the door opened behind him, Austen was gone. Seb hadn’t even seen him leave.

“Am I interrupting?” A handsome leopard Therian in a THIRDS uniform stood in the doorway.

“Ah, Agent Carson. Perfect timing. Seb, this is Team Leader Trent Carson on loan from Unit Alpha over at Philadelphia HQ. Agent Carson, this is Agent Sebastian Hobbs, Team Leader for Theta Destructive.”

Seb held out his hand. “Hey, welcome.”

“Thanks. It’s great to meet you.”

“Agent Carson is interested in transferring to our office. Seeing as how Agent Taylor is on leave for an unknown period of time, it would be a good opportunity for Agent Carson to show us what he’s made of. He’ll be in charge of Beta Ambush until further notice.”

Agent Carson gave her a curt nod. “I really appreciate this opportunity, ma’am. I won’t let you down.”

“I expect not. Seb, please give Agent Carson a quick tour of Unit Alpha, then take him to Conference Room A. Sergeant Maddock will join him there with the rest of Beta Ambush.”

Seb nodded. He left the office with Carson at his side. Taylor hadn’t been the easiest to get along with, and he could be a major pain in the ass, but he was a good guy and a hell of a Team Leader. Seb hoped he returned soon. Beta Ambush and Theta Destructive had a long history together. When either team was called out, they were usually backed up by the other, and they were the first on call to provide backup to Destructive Delta. Not having Taylor around was strange.

“I’m going to assume you’ve been briefed, Agent Carson?” Seb asked, making his way through Unit Alpha.

“Call me Trent. And yes, I have. Whatever you need, Agent Hobbs, just let me know.”

“Call me Seb or everyone will think you’re talking about my brother Ethan. Everyone calls him Hobbs. It’s more of a nickname.”

“His surname is his nickname?” Trent looked confused.

Seb couldn’t help his chuckle. “His partner’s name is Calvin. He’s short and blond.”

Understanding crossed Trent’s face, and he laughed. “That’s hilarious.”

“If you value your life, you won’t tell Cal that. He’s small, but he will bust your shit up. He’s also a sniper.”

“Right. Don’t piss off the sniper. Got it. So you’ve got a brother working in the same unit? That’s great.”

“I’ve got two, actually. My older brother, Rafe, is Team Leader for Alpha Ambush, and Ethan’s a Public Safety Bomb Technician for Destructive Delta.”

“Destructive Delta?” Trent let out a whistle. “I heard they’ve got a track record for kicking ass and taking names.”

“Yeah, just don’t get too close, or you’ll get your ass kicked. Those guys don’t mess around. Well, one of them does, but that’s a whole other story.” They walked through the bull pen, and Seb pointed to the office behind his. “That’s Taylor’s office, so you’ll be working with your partner from there.”

“Is that Sloane Brodie?”

Seb followed Trent’s gaze to the end of the hall where Sloane leaned against the wall next to his office talking to Dex. Seb nodded. “That’s him.”

“I can’t believe the guy got blown up and lived.”

“Sloane’s a survivor.” Seb admired that. Sloane had been dealt a shitty hand from the start, and over the years, it seemed like bad luck had a hard-on for him, yet Sloane kept fighting. He put one foot in front of the other and kept wading through the shit, grief, and darkness determined to bury him until he made it through to the other side. “Want me to introduce you?”

“Yeah, wow, thanks, man. So, uh, what does it take to lead a Team like Destructive Delta?”

“Besides a nifty little piece of paper confirming you’re certifiably insane? Retirement.” It took a special kind of crazy to lead Destructive Delta. Seb loved his job, loved being a Team Leader, but lead Destructive Delta? Hell no. Being their driver had been a tough gig, and that was before Dex, before all the relationship drama or the nutjobs crawling out of the woodwork. Seb missed his teammates, working with his baby brother, and his BearCat, but they were all where they were supposed to be now. Plus, Ethan had quickly stepped in, taking over the BearCat’s care. He loved that damn truck as much as Seb had.

Trent looked confused. “I don’t get it.”

“Destructive Delta has only ever had one Team Leader.” Seb motioned to Sloane, who laughed at something Dex said. “They’re also his family, so anyone looking for an in not only has to earn his trust and approval, but prove they’d be a good fit for his family.”

Trent shrugged. “All teams are tight.”

“No, I mean they’re actually his family.” Seb stopped walking and nodded over to Dex. If Trent was going to survive backing up Destructive Delta, he needed to know. “See that guy he’s talking to?”

Trent nodded. “He looks kind of familiar. I think he’s been on the news. Shit, he’s pretty.”

“Yeah, keep that to yourself. That’s Dexter J. Daley. Remember that name, because if you fuck with him, you’re finished. He’s Sloane’s partner, fiancé, and mate.”

Trent’s eyes went wide as saucers. “Fuck.”

“Yeah. Dex’s little brother is Cael Maddock.”

“Wait. Maddock? As in Sergeant Maddock?”

Seb chuckled at the horrified look that crossed Trent’s face. “Yep. He’s their dad. And Cael’s boyfriend is Ash Keeler, Sloane’s best friend. They’re more like brothers, actually. Grew up together. Letty is Ash’s partner. Rosa is Letty’s best friend and Cael’s partner. Then there’s my brother Ethan, who Dex is a little protective over. Even if he wasn’t my brother, you’d have Ethan’s boyfriend, Calvin, to deal with.”

Trent braced a hand against the wall. “Shit. They told me I’d be providing backup, but…. Shit.”

Clearly no one had told Trent what he was getting into with Destructive Delta. Seb clapped him on the shoulder.

“You’ll be fine. Just don’t piss Sloane off. Or Ash. Or the girls.” He went thoughtful. “Don’t piss anyone off. They’re pretty laid-back and get on with most everyone, so you shouldn’t have a problem.”

Trent breathed in deeply. “Right.”

Seb headed toward Sloane and Dex, with a somewhat pale Trent following along.

“Hey, guys.” Seb smiled when the pair turned in his direction. “This is Agent Trent Carson. He’s stepping in for Taylor while he’s on leave.”

Trent’s smile couldn’t get any wider as he shook Sloane’s hand. The guy obviously had a little hero worship going on, despite his newfound terror. “It’s an honor to meet you, Agent Brodie. I’ve heard so many great things about you and your team. You’re a real inspiration. Please, call me Trent.”

“Thanks, Trent. Just doing our jobs,” Sloane replied with a smile. “This is my partner, Dexter J. Daley.”

“Call me Dex,” Dex replied with a bright smile, taking Trent’s hand.

“Nice to meet you. Uh, wow.” Trent stared into Dex’s eyes and took a step closer. “You’re…. Wow.”

Seb groaned internally. What part of mate did Trent not understand? Come on, pal, you gotta be stronger than this. The rest of their unit had had time to adjust to Dex’s mark, plus everyone loved the guy. Whether they were pulled in by his charm, amused by his antics, or preferred his company in small doses, everyone had his back. Also, not one agent in Unit Alpha was stupid enough to challenge Sloane Brodie or the backup that came with him. Everyone respected Dex and Sloane, and they were more than aware Dex was off-limits, no matter how much Dex’s scent and mark tried to screw with their Therian halves. It took discipline but wasn’t unachievable. Trent was obviously finding it hard to resist. Seb wondered if the guy was even trying, considering the way he began to stroke Dex’s hand with his thumb.

Dex cleared his throat and politely tried to pull his hand out of Trent’s grasp. Trent held on.

Let go. Now.

Trent continued to hold on to Dex’s hand, and Sloane straightened to his full height, his pupils dilating.

Let. Go.

Sloane took a step forward, and Seb grabbed Trent’s shoulder, jerking him back. “Hey, look at the time. Maddock’s expecting Trent. Excuse us.” Seb dragged Trent along with him, whispering hoarsely at him, “Are you out of your fucking mind? What did I say?”

“Oh God, I’m sorry. I’m so sorry. He… he just smelled so damned good. His eyes, and, Jesus, that mouth. Did you see those lips? Fuck, he’s hot.”

Seb turned the corner and brought Trent up against the wall. “Listen and listen good. You are not off to a good start. You’re talking about another guy’s mate.”

“It’s not my fault,” Trent huffed. “Come on, man.” He smirked and playfully smacked Seb on the chest. “You understand that kind of pull, right? Besides, those guys know what they’re in for. I think some of them secretly like the attention.”

Seb straightened. “What?”

“Those guys that let themselves get marked. They know what they’re in for, know other Therians are gonna want to, you know.” He shrugged, his lips curling into a wicked grin. “They’re practically begging for it. Am I right, buddy?”

Seb shoved Trent hard, slamming him into the wall. He ignored the man’s pained grunt and fisted a handful of Trent’s shirt, pinning the smaller Therian to the spot. When he spoke, there was no mistaking the threat in his low growl.

“Now you listen here. I’m not your friend or your buddy. I hear you say shit like that again, and not only will I make sure you’re on the first flight back to Philly, I will personally drag your ass over to Sloane Brodie, and you can look him in the eye and tell him his mate is begging for it.”

Trent threw up his arms. “All right, I’m sorry. Shit, man. I had no idea that was such a touchy subject for you.”

“Touchy subject?” Seb thrust a finger at the end of the hall. “Conference room is that way. You better fucking impress me out in the field, because right now, I am not impressed.” He released Trent and turned to leave but not before growling over his shoulder, “Nice to fucking meet you, Trent. Stay the fuck out of my way.”

Seb shook his head as he stalked back to his office. If there was one thing he didn’t tolerate, it was talk like that, and not just because of Hudson or Dex. That mentality that Humans and Therians invited trouble because they were marked pissed Seb off—though not as much as those who believed a marked mate getting sexually assaulted was the victim’s fault, because it was “in their nature.” It was disgusting.

“Whoa, who pissed in your Cheerios?” Dom asked, looking concerned.

“Just met Taylor’s replacement. Agent Trent Carson.”

“That good, huh?”

Seb didn’t keep anything from Dom, and Dom didn’t keep anything from him. They were partners and, more importantly, friends. His first instinct was to confide in Dom. However, Seb knew him well, and when something or someone pissed Dom off, there was no hiding it. Dom’s passions ran hot, and his temper, if not controlled, was explosive.

Seb pressed his lips together and sat without saying a word.

Dom groaned. “It’s going to piss me off, isn’t it? What? Is he a douche?”

Seb sighed as he took a seat at his desk. “I’ll tell you if you promise to be an adult about it.”

“I’m always an adult,” Dom protested, his frown deep. “But now that I know what you’re gonna say is gonna piss me off, you expect me to be nice to this asshole?”

“No, just—”

“Fucking tell me already.”

Seb did.

Dom’s expression darkened, a silent fury washing over him. The only hints he was royally pissed off were the set of his jaw and the steel in his eyes.

“Yeah, definitely an asshole,” he ground out.

Seb grunted. Even if he hadn’t been keeping an eye on Hudson, he would be now. The last thing he wanted was to have Trent sniffing around him. The thought alone was enough to get his blood boiling. Again. Trent Carson better watch himself, because if Seb got even the smallest hint the guy was up to no good, Seb wouldn’t hesitate to teach him some manners.