Hell & High Water (THIRDS 1)

“Do you have a name?”

“Tory Murphy.” Pearce put his hand on Dex’s, giving it a squeeze. “If there’s anything I can do to help, you let me know. Please.”

Oookay. Dex gave Pearce a reassuring smile. “I will. I appreciate you taking the time to talk to us.” Dex went to get up, when Pearce caught his arm.

“Could I speak with you a moment? It’s not related to your case.”

Dex searched Pearce’s face, but the guy was a hard read. With a nod, he tapped his earpiece. “Rosa, Cael, I have all the information I need. It’s online. We’ll meet you back at HQ and fill you in. Sloane, I’ll be out in a minute.”

Sloane’s gruff voice came over his earpiece. “Copy that.”

Pearce waited for Rosa and Cael to leave the workshop before turning his attention back to Dex. What did Pearce have to say about Sloane now? He could understand Pearce’s anguish. Having a younger brother of his own, he couldn’t even think about something happening to him, despite knowing the risks involved in their line of work, but blaming the organization he worked for or the team members who worked alongside him was not only an unhealthy route to take, but an unbecoming one.

“You and your partner have gotten close.”

Dex shrugged. “We got off to a rough start, but we’re getting along better these days. I wouldn’t say we’re close.”

Pearce gave a nod, his lips pursed together. What was the guy not telling him? He couldn’t know about him and Sloane, and neither of them had given the slightest indication they were more than work partners, especially since Dex didn’t even know what was going on between them.

“This all must be very hard for him.”

“It’s difficult for the whole team.” Dex sat back, waiting. Pearce was working his way up to something; Dex could feel it in his gut. He just didn’t know what it was.

“Yes, but more for him. He really loved Gabe. I know I was an asshole to him, and I regret a lot of the things I said and did. I realize now how stupid I was. Brodie was good to my brother, made him happy. Those two….” Pearce smiled. “They probably would have been married by

now. I can’t imagine being that in love with someone. Can you?”

Dex gave a noncommittal hum, his gaze wandering around the workshop and finally landing back on the table in front of him where he pushed his gloved finger into a tiny mound of silver dust. Isaac caught his wrist.

“You don’t want to do that. Sorry, I should’ve cleaned it up. That shit will get everywhere. Gets in your lungs if you’re not careful.” He got up and walked off to a small stainless steel cabinet. He came back with a small dustpan, brush, and box of antibacterial wipes. He cleared the tiny dust pile away.

Dex grimaced. “Sorry.”

“It’s okay.” Pearce popped open a box of wipes, plucked one out before he took Dex’s gloved hand. He wiped Dex’s finger and chucked the towelette in the trash bin behind him. “There we go.”

“Thanks.”

Pearce gave him a wink and patted him on the vest. “Uniform looks good on you by the way.”

Dex shifted uncomfortably. “Um, thank you. Still getting used to it. Weighs a fuckton.”

“You going shy on me, Daley?”

“Me? Shy? Pfft.” Dex waved a hand in dismissal. Pearce moved his chair closer to Dex as he sat and leaned in. Looked like they were finally getting somewhere.

“Okay. Listen, I know Sloane thinks I hate him, but I don’t. Yes, at the time, I didn’t agree with his relationship with my brother, and I said a lot of terrible things, but after Gabe died, I knew I had to put it behind me. The guilt ate at me for a long time. I don’t want Sloane around because he reminds me of how happy my brother was. Gabe was a different person around Sloane.” Pearce stopped, his head cocking to one side. “Am I making you uncomfortable talking about them?”

Dex frowned. “Why would I be uncomfortable?”

“Come on, Dex. You care about him, and I don’t blame you. There’s clearly something about him that attracts all these nice guys. But Sloane is still in love with Gabe. I’d hate to see you get hurt. Have you considered the possibility that he might be looking at you as a replacement for Gabe?”

Dex met Pearce’s gaze dead on. “My relationship with Agent Brodie is strictly professional. There’s affection there, I won’t lie. He’s a good guy and I enjoy working with him. He’s a good partner, but you’re wrong if you think I’m a replacement for your brother.” He recalled Sloane’s words to Ash in the hospital when he’d woken up, how Dex was nothing like Gabe. Sloane had even accused him of it, and although he’d apologized, and insisted he hadn’t meant it, there was still a part of him that wondered if it was true. Maybe Sloane wasn’t aware of it. Regardless, it was none of Pearce’s business, and Dex wasn’t about to show his hand to anyone, much less Pearce who was studying him like a hawk.

“Is that what you wanted to talk to me about? I appreciate your concern, I do, but it’s not necessary. There’s nothing between Sloane and me. What he had with your brother was clearly very special. I hope you both find the strength to heal and move on.”

Something flashed in Pearce’s eyes, and Dex gave him a sympathetic smile. He reached over and patted Pearce’s hand. “If you need someone to talk to, you call. I’m always ready to listen.”

Pearce’s expression softened and he nodded. Dex thanked Pearce once again and headed for the exit, Pearce’s stare boring into the back of him as he walked. As he headed for the parked Suburban, Dex’s earpiece beeped. He tapped it to answer the call.