Smoke & Mirrors (32 page)

Dex readied his tranq rifle in case anyone decided to get unruly. It rarely happened, but occasionally a frat boy wanted to show off or act the tough guy. If the claws came out, their ass would get tranqed. The area was mostly residential, which meant rows of houses and parked cars. There was nowhere for the kids to hide or escape to. Dex followed Sloane, keeping just enough distance between him and his partner so as not to endanger himself if Sloane engaged with one of their perps. Not long ago Dex had to push himself to keep up with Sloane when he was in his Therian form. Now he could do it without getting out of breath. Letty kept asking him to share his secret, but he didn’t have one. He couldn’t explain it, other than his change in training and eating habits. Now he knew better.

Sloane and the rest of Destructive Delta’s Therian agents rounded the corner of E Fourteenth Street and First Avenue, while Seb and his agents headed down the Fourteenth Street Loop to cut them off. The students weren’t stupid. They darted into Stuy Town, the many apartment buildings and dense greenery offering plenty of hiding spots. The chase was thrilling, and Dex’s heart raced. The wind in his face, the almost weightlessness, his quarry up ahead. It was exhilarating.

It didn’t take long to round up the college kids. Cael and three other cheetah Therian agents ran circles around the Felid and wolf Therians, tripping them up while the tiger and jaguar Therian agents scared them shitless. Most of them, when faced with Sloane or Seb, threw themselves onto their bellies or their backs in submission. No one wanted to mess with a jaguar Therian’s bone-crushing jaws or a tiger Therian’s razor-sharp claws. Ash did what he did best, plowed through the other Felids like a bowling ball knocking over pins. Dex thought it was hilarious. The smaller Therians darted out of the way or sprang into the air like someone had set their tails on fire.

Theta Destructive and Beta Ambush herded the college kids toward Theta Destructive’s truck on the Fourteenth Street Loop, and Sloane trotted over to Dex so he could rub his head against Dex’s leg. Dex gave him a scratch behind the ears.

“Good work, partner.” It always felt good when they got a job done without incident or having to resort to force. They were nearing the end of Stuyvesant Walk when Sloane roared and took off. What the hell? Dex readied himself when Taylor rounded the corner at full speed, his ears flattened back against his head and his fangs bare. Shit. Was someone chasing him? Dex was about to call it in when Taylor launched himself at Sloane, swiping at his neck with his claws.

“Taylor!”

Dex lifted his tranq rifle and aimed, but he was afraid of hitting Sloane. The two fierce Felid Therians thrashed and rolled on the ground as they clawed and snapped their jaws at each other.

“Taylor, what the fuck are you doing!”

Dex’s shouts went ignored as Taylor came at Sloane with everything he had. Despite being a leopard Therian and smaller than Sloane, he was still fast and powerful. Both Felid Therians sported nasty gashes, the ground beneath their paws sprinkled with droplets of blood. Oh God, Taylor had lost his fucking mind!

HE HAD
to do something.

Dex went to tap his earpiece when Taylor darted away from Sloane and leaped at Dex. Before he could shoot Taylor, he was on the ground with Taylor standing over him, one clawed paw close to Dex’s neck. He sniffed at Dex, rubbing his muzzle against Dex’s hair. Dex wasn’t stupid. It might be Taylor, but his feral half was calling the shots here, and if Dex wasn’t careful, he’d be dead.

Sloane hissed and circled them. He bared his fangs at Taylor, his ears flattened against his head. Sloane was clearly afraid Taylor would hurt Dex. It was the only thing keeping him from pouncing. Slowly, Dex edged his gloved hand toward his rifle, but Taylor hissed at him. With his attention on Dex, Sloane attacked. The noise was deafening, both apex predators roaring, hissing, and battling fiercely. Taylor aimed for Sloane’s throat with his claws, and Sloane tried to warn Taylor away by hissing and baring his fangs. If he got those jaws around Taylor’s head….

Dex scrambled to his feet and tried to run when Taylor’s claws tore through his pant leg. Dex winced and cried out for help, knowing his Felid teammates would hear him. Dex rolled and kicked at Taylor, his boot striking him in the face. Taylor’s claws were good and snagged on Dex’s pant leg, making it impossible for Dex to pull away. Taylor tried to drag him closer, and in the distance, his friends roared.

“Hurry!”

Dex tried to tear at his clothes as Taylor used his free paw to fend off Sloane, both of them twisting and hopping. Fuck, they were practically fighting on him. They’d either end up crushing him or clawing him if he didn’t get the hell away from them. Remembering his knife, he grabbed it from his thigh rig. He reached down to cut through his pants at the very moment Sloane swiped at Taylor, his claws tearing through Dex’s sleeve and his skin. Dex cried out in pain, his knife hitting the ground when he let go to throw his hand over his bloodied arm. Sloane’s wail reached their Therian friends, and Dex sucked in a sharp breath as he grabbed the knife again and sliced at his pants, freeing himself. He rolled onto his stomach and used his good arm to drag himself away. Ash, Seb, and Hobbs launched themselves at Taylor.

Dex’s arm stung like hell, and the blood plastered his uniform sleeve to him. He was losing blood, but it wasn’t anything he couldn’t handle. If he could survive torture, he could survive this. What a clusterfuck. He reached for his com, then stopped. If he told their sarge, Sparks would end up hearing about it, and who the hell knew what she’d do? Dex had been afraid Taylor would challenge Sloane, but a part of him thought the guy would never actually go through with it. Taylor was scared of Sloane. Always had been. A furry head bumped gently against Dex’s, the chirps making him smile.

“Hey, Chirpy.”

Cael’s chirps changed. They weren’t the usual chirps used when admonishing Dex or when Cael was happy. These were high-pitched and frequent, sounding the alarm and calling out for help. Sloane appeared at Dex’s side, hissing at Cael, who chirped angrily at him, his ears flattened, but Sloane wasn’t listening. He hissed and roared, forcing Cael to shrink away from Dex despite his reluctance.

“Don’t,” Dex pleaded with Sloane, who rubbed his head against Dex’s head, then his face, followed by his shoulder. “It’s Cael, okay? Don’t push him away.”

“Dex!”

Rosa came running with Letty on her heels. Managing to look behind him, Dex saw Seb, Ash, and Hobbs nipping at a limping Taylor, herding him toward the empty cage at the back of Beta Ambush’s BearCat. Sloane curled around Dex, his painful wails bringing a lump to Dex’s throat. He’d never heard Sloane make that sound before. As if his partner was in physical pain because he’d hurt Dex.

“I know you didn’t mean it, babe. I know.”

Rosa ran over with her medical kit when Sloane hissed and bared his fangs at her, and anyone else who tried to get close to Dex.

“Babe, it’s okay. I need Rosa to help me. Please.”

Sloane let out a soft mew, bumping his face against Dex’s before lying on his belly, his side pressed up against Dex. Tony’s concerned voice came over Dex’s earpiece.

“Dex? What the hell is going on? Why is Taylor bloodied and in the back of his own truck?”

“He, uh, was being a dick. We did it for his own good.”

“Explain.”

“It’s fine.”

The line went quiet, and Dex let out a sigh of relief. He’d explain everything to his dad, but now was not the time. Rosa got on her knees and quickly removed all the supplies she needed from her medical bag. Dex sat up so she could get to his arm better. Letty offered him support, and Sloane crawled over until he was once again pressed up against Dex’s side.

“What the hell happened?”

Shit. So much for hoping his dad had let it go.

Tony crouched down beside him, inspecting his arm. “Jesus, Dex. Did Taylor do that?”

He looked like he was about to pop a blood vessel. Sloane let out a low wail, and Tony turned his attention to Sloane, his eyes wide.

“
You
did that?”

Sloane flattened his ears back against his head and opened his mouth, but there was no hiss. Like he was trying his hardest to explain.

“It was an accident,” Dex assured his dad, sucking in a sharp breath as Rosa used the Therian-strength disinfectant wipes to clean his wounds. There was no point in trying to bullshit his dad. “Sloane and I were heading back to the truck when Taylor attacked Sloane.”

Tony’s brows furrowed. “What? That makes no sense. Why would Taylor—” Realization dawned on him, and he cursed under his breath. “He challenged Sloane. Damn it. I thought the talk we had back at HQ had gotten through to him.”

Dex nodded. Taylor challenging Sloane was better than the alternative theories. Like the one where Taylor may have been sent to kill them.

“Damn it, Dex. I warned you about this. You could have been fucking killed!”

“But I wasn’t. It was an accident. Sloane was going for Taylor, and I got in his way.”

Tony pressed his lips together before coming to some sort of conclusion. “We need to report it. Taylor needs to answer for this.”

“No. Please.”

“Boy, are you out of your damn mind?” Tony thrust a finger in the direction of Dex’s arm. “You almost lost a fucking arm.”

“Sarge—Dad, please. If Sparks finds out about this, it won’t just be Taylor who gets punished. You really think she won’t consider that I might be a liability? I’m the only agent at the THIRDS who’s marked. What if she tries to give me a fucking desk job, or worse? Please. We’ll deal with Taylor. This is all new for us. We’re still learning.” They needed time. Time to get to the truth.

“And if it happens again? Then what? What if next time skin glue won’t be enough?”

Cael rubbed his head against Tony’s arm, making him smile. He scratched Cael behind the ear, his attention going back to Dex.

“Sloane and I…. We’ll work it out. Just give us a chance.” Dex held his father’s gaze. “Please, this one time. I’m asking you, not as an agent, but as your son.”

Tony rubbed his hands over his face before giving him a nod. “Okay. This one time.” He turned his gaze to Sloane. “You gave me your word, Sloane. I expect you to keep it.”

Dex had no idea what his dad was referring to, but he wasn’t about to ask. He’d asked enough of the man for one day. Inside their truck, everyone was quiet. Their sarge had explained the incident would be kept quiet this time. He’d handle Taylor, which didn’t bode well for Taylor. Since Calvin was administering PSTC to Hobbs, Tony drove the truck, letting Dex know he’d be dropping him off at the hospital. Dex wasn’t about to argue. Despite his injured arm, he helped Sloane behind the privacy screen. Sloane wouldn’t look him in the eye, and Dex could see the guilt eating away at him. They’d have time to discuss it later.

Their sarge stopped for a drive-through, picking up Therian-sized meals for their teammates and one for Dex, because he was starving. Everyone else got regular Human sized.

“Jesus, Dex. You polished off that whole fucking burger?” Ash shook his head in disbelief.

“Guess I was hungry,” Dex replied through a mouthful of fries.

Cael stared at him. “You’ve always eaten a lot, but you never finished a whole Therian-sized burger before. Usually you leave the second half for later.”

Dex shrugged. “Must have worked up an appetite.”

He was damned hungry, and he was only now starting to feel kind of full. As soon as they’d eaten, Tony dropped Dex and Sloane off at the hospital. Sloane was too quiet for Dex’s liking. He followed Dex inside, around the lobby, and back out.

“What are you doing?” Sloane asked, looking confused.

“I’m going to see a doctor.” Dex pulled his smartphone out and tapped the screen until a gruff voice answered.

“Dex, you okay?”

“Yeah, listen. I need a favor. I need you to pick me and Sloane up at New York Presbyterian Hospital. Main entrance.”

“You heading back to HQ?”

“No. I need you to drop us off somewhere.”

There was a pause before Seb let out a sigh. “Why do I get the feeling you’re up to something?”

“I really need you to do this for me, buddy.”

“What about Taylor?”

“Sarge is going to take care of it. I’ll explain later.”

“Shit. Okay. I’m on my way.”

“Thanks. I owe you.”

“Don’t I know it. I have a list.”

Dex chuckled, thanked him, and hung up. He turned to Sloane with a smile. “Hey, handsome.”

Sloane frowned. “Dex, what’s going on? Why aren’t you going to see a doctor here? And who was that you just asked to pick us up?”

“It was Seb. I am going to see a doctor, I promise. How are you holding up?” Dex walked to the marble bench farthest from the entrance, and when he sat, Sloane took a seat beside him, his expression somber as he stared at the ground. He sat with his hands shoved in his pockets. They got a few curious glances from people walking in and out of the hospital, but the presence of THIRDS agents around the building was hardly uncommon, so thankfully they didn’t draw too much attention, especially since Dex’s arm was bandaged up, giving the impression he’d just come from being tended to. It was likely most of the attention he was getting was due to the fact he looked like shit. His tac pant leg was shredded, his sleeve blood soaked and ripped. He was covered in dirt, scrapes, and his hair probably looked like something a bird would make its nest out of.

After what seemed like forever, Sloane finally answered. “I could have killed you. How do you think I’m holding up?”

Dex turned to face Sloane and cupped the back of his neck, his thumb stroking Sloane’s skin. “Hey, look at me.”

Sloane swallowed hard and closed his eyes.

“Sloane. Look at me.”

After letting out a steady breath, Sloane turned, his amber eyes filled with heartache. Hadn’t Sloane carried enough guilt with him throughout his life? Dex wasn’t going to be the source of any more pain for his partner. Not if he could help it.

“It wasn’t your fault. You were protecting me. If Taylor had been stronger, if he hadn’t given in so easily to his Therian side, none of this would have happened. His claws snagged on my pants. It was bad timing on my part.” Dex leaned into him, his voice soft. “Thank you.”