“We’ll figure this out, sweetheart. I promise.” He leaned in and placed a kiss to Dex’s brow. As soon as Dex was feeling well enough, they’d sit down and talk about this. Dex couldn’t go on avoiding his past. No one knew that better than Sloane. They’d both lost enough. It was time for them to work toward the future.
Chapter 6
DEX’S RETURN to work had been met with cheers, hugs, and pats on the back. A few of their Therian teammates stood a little closer to Dex than Sloane thought was necessary, but his presence was enough of a reminder of who Dex was mated to. No one at work would challenge him. They were good agents, and the majority of them Sloane had known for years. The only one Sloane watched carefully was Taylor. The way he moved around Dex, the intensity in his eyes, had Sloane on high alert. Taylor had never been one to deny himself what he wanted.
The rumors of the supposed ambush had spread through the department like wildfire, and Sloane prepared himself. As cocky as his partner was, he would never take credit for something he hadn’t done. As Sloane suspected, Dex was less than thrilled by the story Sparks had concocted, especially the part concerning the heroics that had resulted in Dex saving several Therian citizens at the cost of personal injury. Dex confronted Sparks in her office with Sloane silently tagging along in case his partner went off on her. It was difficult to predict Dex’s behavior these days, even for Sloane.
The office went into privacy mode, and Dex thrust a finger at Sparks. “No. I am not taking credit for this. I refuse.” He threw a hand up. “I mean, come on. Laying it on a little thick, don’t you think?”
Sparks simply sat back in her chair, her gaze unwavering. “Had such an incident occurred, I have no doubt the outcome would have remained the same.”
“But it didn’t occur,” Dex hissed.
“It’s nothing you haven’t done countless times since joining the THIRDS, Dex. How many lives have you helped save? How many criminals brought to justice? The only difference is that you’re being commended for it now.”
Dex let out a heavy sigh. “I don’t have a choice, do I? Fine.” He headed for the door, then paused. His expression was hard as he faced Sparks. “Oh, and if you really want to earn our trust, how about not injecting me with shit to make me forget.”
Sparks looked to Sloane and back. “Very well.”
With that, they left the office. Had Sparks actually believed Sloane wouldn’t tell Dex what happened to him? That she’d had him injected with something so he wouldn’t remember his seizure. Dex had been pissed. Was still pissed.
Sloane had been hoping for a quiet day, but just their luck, mere hours after starting their shift, Destructive Delta was called out on a Therian domestic disturbance. Unlike Human domestic disturbances where an HPF officer or two were called out to investigate, a Therian one required a tactical team. There was no telling if the disturbance would escalate into a feral Therian. It wasn’t uncommon. By the time the team arrived on scene, one or more of the parties could have shifted, and in most cases, at least one did.
Hobbs drove the BearCat through the city, sirens blaring, lights flashing as they sped through heavy traffic. If it had been anyone el
se driving the gigantic tactical vehicle at these speeds through the busy streets of New York City, Sloane would have been saying a prayer so that they would arrive in one piece, but no one knew these streets or this truck like Hobbs. Sloane was starting to believe Dex was right, that Hobbs had been a NASCAR driver in a former life.
Dex sat on the bench beside Sloane in the BearCat, suited up in full tactical gear just like the rest of the team. It was good to have him back. Sloane had missed seeing his smiling face across from him in their office. So much that he had spent very little time in his office, preferring not to face Dex’s empty desk.
“So what have we got?” Sloane asked Maddock. It was time he got his head back in the game.
“Neighbors called in, hearing roars and screams coming from next door. It’s a quiet neighborhood, no record of disturbances from this residence. House belongs to a Mr. Dylan Reynolds, a tiger Therian, and his Human wife, Alicia Reynolds. Newlyweds. Neither has any priors or any history of violence. According to the neighbor who called it in, they were very much in love and seemed happy.”
“Until the honeymoon ends and the claws come out,” Ash said, readying his tranq rifle.
They arrived on scene within minutes, and the team hurried out of the truck, with Calvin staying behind to help Hobbs change into his Therian form. With Reynolds being a tiger Therian, they’d need to match his strength. The rest of them would use their tranq rifles.
Sloane quickly surveyed the area before turning to the rest of his team. “Cael, Rosa, secure the street. I don’t want anyone coming through here in case Dylan is in his Therian form. Sarge is in the truck running surveillance. Dex, Ash, Letty, you’re with me. We’re going in.”
Calvin and Hobbs joined them, with Hobbs coming to sit at Sloane’s feet. Sloane rubbed the back of his ears, receiving an appreciative chuff in response.
“All right, buddy. You know what to do.”
Hobbs hissed and padded toward the house with the rest of them close behind. He stopped by the front door, and Sloane held a fist up. He moved aside and signaled for Ash to approach. Placing the barrel of the breaching gun to the door’s lock, he pulled the trigger.
“Go, go, go!” Sloane ordered into his com, rushing into the house with his team on his heels. They fanned out, tranq guns at the ready as they surveyed the living room. Hobbs sniffed the air and took off. Sloane followed with Dex close behind, followed by Calvin, Letty, and Ash bringing up the rear. Hobbs led them through the house, stopping just outside the kitchen, his tail twitching.
Sloane held a fist up to bring his team to a halt. There was blood on the floor. He patted his side, and Hobbs was immediately beside him. Sloane signaled for them to slowly advance, and together they moved into the kitchen, following Hobbs and the trail of blood through to the dining room. Hobbs sniffed the air and huffed. Dylan Reynolds was in the next room. Giving the signal for his team to get ready, Sloane raised his tranq gun and followed Hobbs into the room.
There were no orders to get on the ground, no warnings or talking. There never was when dealing with a feral Therian standing over the mauled body of what had once been a person. Reynolds roared, the windows rattling. His ears were flattened against his head, his fur covered in blood. His fangs were bared, his claws out.
“Fire!” With the order given, the team fired their tranqs into Reynolds, but it would take time before the tiger Therian would be out, enough time for him to cause some serious damage. No other Felid took as long to go down as tiger Therians. Reynolds roared, and Sloane knew what was coming next.
“Formation!”
Sloane braced himself, and Ash was quickly at his side, raising his shield along with Sloane. Slowly they retreated, drawing Reynolds out of the dining room and away from the body. In the living room, Reynolds hissed, a strangled sound soon following. He leaped forward, and Hobbs met him halfway, hissing and spitting, swiping his giant paws at Reynolds, sharp claws catching fur. The two tiger Therians lifted onto their back paws as they batted at each other, roars echoing through the house, the sound deafening. All Hobbs had to do was keep Reynolds busy until the tranqs knocked him out, and within five minutes, Reynolds was swaying on his paws. Seconds later he was on his side, a low groan escaping him. His breathing steadied, and then he was out.
Sloane crouched down in front of Hobbs and scratched him under his chin before ruffling his fur. “Good job, buddy. Go ahead and head back to the truck with your partner.”