Rack & Ruin (THIRDS 3)

Dex seemed to think about that. “You’re right. Let me rephrase that. I’m not very good under stressful conditions that involve Ash.”

Sloane let his head fall back against the couch with a groan. “You’re lucky you’re cute.”

“And damn good in the sack,” Dex added.

“And damn good in the sack,” Sloane agreed.

“So… how about you show me how good you are.” Dex got to his feet and removed his shirt followed by his boxer briefs. Sloane got to his feet and towered over his lover, his smile stretched wide.

“Challenge accepted.”

SO FAR, so good.

Sloane observed Dex as he edged up to the open doorway, pausing before entering with his rifle aimed and ready. Rosa entered swiftly behind. The two searched the room quickly and efficiently, watching each other’s backs as they did. Dex silently motioned to the closed door on the other end of the living room, and Rosa gave him a nod. Dex pressed himself up against the wall beside the door, reached out, and after getting Rosa’s signal, Dex pushed the door open. Rosa rushed in and assessed the room with Dex bringing up the rear. Moments later, Dex declared into his earpiece. “Clear.”

“Good. Fall back. Calvin, Hobbs, what’s your twenty?” Sloane’s attention turned to the pair on the large monitor. Calvin inched up to the large steel door with Hobbs in his Therian form close behind, sniffing the air.

“We’re about to breach the perimeter,” Calvin replied. “Cael, do you have a visual?”

Sloane moved his gaze to Cael who appeared to be staring at the monitor but not seeing what was right in front of him.

“Cael?” Calvin asked, snapping the young agent out of his trance.

“You’re clear.”

Sloane preserved his silence, watching with growing concern as Calvin entered a room he expected to be clear and instead met the barrel of a gun. Two shots in his leg, and Calvin went down cursing up a storm. Sloane remained quiet. Cael blinked, stared at the screen, then jumped to his feet.

“Shit.”

Shit was right.

Sloane stepped to one side as the doors to the observation deck slammed open, and a very pissed off Calvin stormed in, bright red paint splotches on his tac pants where Letty had shot him.

“What the fuck, Cael!”

Cael gave a start and faced Calvin. “What happened?”

“That’s what I’d like to know.” Calvin marched up to Cael, his face flushed with anger. Although it wasn’t like Calvin to blow up at one of his teammates, the guy had every right to be angry. “You said the room was clear.”

Cael’s eyes went from Calvin to the monitor and back. “I’m sorry. I must have looked at the wrong screen.”

“The wrong screen?” Calvin stared at his teammate in disbelief.

Cael crossed his arms over his chest. His tone defensive. “I said I was sorry.”

“Sorry? Sorry’s not good enough, Cael.”

“What else do you want me to say?”

“How about what you’ll tell my mom when you’re on her doorstep to let her know her son’s dead because you looked at the wrong screen! Get your head out of your ass. What the hell’s going on with you?”

“What’s going on with me? What the hell’s going on with you? You’ve been acting pissy for months!”

Calvin looked as if he’d been slapped in the face. “What?”

“Please, like no one’s noticed,” Cael scoffed. “You’ve been moping and grumpy.”

“That’s my problem. At least it’s not interfering with my job, which is more than I can say for you.”