Rack & Ruin (THIRDS 3)

Dex gaped at his brother, both hurt and fuming. “Are you fucking kidding me? After all the shit he just said, you’re defending him?”

“Please.” Cael put his hands together, and Dex was stunned. Ash stormed off, and Dex spun around to head back to his office. He was seething and cursing under his breath. All that shit Ash had said to his brother and not only had Cael taken it, he’d defended the asshole? He thought his brother was better than that.

“Un-fucking-believable.” He stormed into his office with Cael and Sloane quickly following. The walls around them going white, telling Dex they were in privacy mode—obviously Sloane’s doing. His partner was probably expecting Dex to blow at any moment, and Dex could feel it bubbling up. He couldn’t keep himself from pacing the room. He was so goddamn fucked off. Ash’s words regarding Cael listening to him over Dex rang in his ear and there was nothing he wanted more than to find the guy and land another punch. How could his brother be so blind?

“Dex, please don’t be mad at me.” Cael took hold of Dex’s arm to stop him from pacing, but all he could see was Cael getting hurt. Having his heart broken, or worse, having the Coalition come after him. All because of that asshole.

“How is it the people I love the most are the ones listening to me the least? First Sloane. Now you? Next thing you know, dad’s going to be—”

“Stop.”

Dex stilled. His eyes on Sloane. Now what?

“What did you just say?”

Had Sloane not heard him? Dex opened his mouth ready to repeat himself when he realized what he’d said, and by the look on Sloane’s face, what he’d done. Fuck. Oh fuck. What had he done? He’d fucked up. That’s what he’d done. Big time. Maybe he could play it off. “I was just—”

“Did you say—you love me?” Sloane took a step back, and Dex held his hands up, praying his partner didn’t do what he looked like he was about to do. Then he remembered his brother was in the room. Double shit.

Sloane seemed to sense his thoughts. “Cael knows about us.”

“What? When the fuck did that happen?” What in the ever-living fuck of fucks is going on around here?

Cael glared at him. “Thanks, bro.”

Dex didn’t have time to answer his brother because something in his gut told him he had to do something fast. Sloane was about to bolt. Dex could see it in his eyes.

“You didn’t answer my question,” Sloane demanded softly. “And don’t try to play it off. I know you too well by now.”

What was he supposed to do? Lie? He could lie. No, he was a shitty liar. But he could…. Fuck it. “Yes. I love you.”

“When?” Sloane asked, his voice growing more distant.

When? “I don’t know? It’s not like I marked it on my calendar.”

“Don’t.” It was a subtle but grave warning. Dex wasn’t trying to be a smartass. It’s just what his brain went to when he was on the verge of freaking out about something. And if there was ever a time to freak out about something, this was it.

“I know it’s too soon, which is why I wasn’t going to say anything, but with everything going on, it just slipped.”

“So you were going to keep it from me?”

Dex felt himself deflate and he shrugged. “What’s the right answer here, Sloane?” There was none. They both knew it. He took a step toward Sloane, his heart breaking when Sloane pulled back.

“I need some air,” Sloane said, backing up until he hit the security panel. He turned and entered his security code. Dex could feel it all crumbling around him, and he felt sick to his stomach. Even then, he stayed where he was, refusing to force Sloane.

“Can we please talk about this?”

“Not right now. I need some space.” The door had barely finished opening before Sloane squeezed through and was off, taking Dex’s heart with him. He didn’t know how long he stood there staring at the open door. Outside the office agents went about their business. The sound of chatting, doors closing, and speakers relaying information blurred and faded. Numbly, Dex dropped down into his chair, doing his best to calm the encroaching fear. Instead, he turned his attention to his brother. “How long have you known?”

“Since I was in the hospital after the Therian Youth Center bombing.”

“How could you not tell me? How could either of you not tell me?” Had they even planned on telling him? All this time, he’d been pretending in front of his brother, feeling absolutely shitty about hiding his relationship from him, and the little turd had known the whole time?

Cael crossed his arms over his chest. “Really? You’re going to be pissed with me for knowing?”

“It’s not that I didn’t want to tell you. I did. I felt shitty not being able to.”

“It’s fine. I understand. I wish you could do the same for me.” Cael approached Dex and knelt beside his chair, his silvery eyes pleading. “You know