The fear that flashed through Wolf’s gaze was so quick Dex questioned whether it had been there at all. As if on cue, Hudson came running. Seb and the rest of their THIRDS friends and colleagues weren’t far behind. Hudson’s smile broke Dex’s heart.
“Alfie,” Hudson greeted cheerfully, as if his brother had just dropped by for a chat.
Wolf pressed his lips together. He faced Sloane and the others. “Arm yourselves, secure your civilians, and do what you do best. There’s no room for hesitation or a conscience. It’s you and everyone yo
u hold dear, or them.” Wolf grabbed an MP5 submachine gun and a tactical vest.
“Are you ignoring me?” Hudson asked, scowling at his brother.
Wolf turned to Hudson. “Go inside.”
“With the civilians,” Hudson said before looking around at everyone putting on tactical vests and arming themselves with all manner of firearms. He moved his gaze back to Wolf, and Dex stifled a groan. He knew that look. “No.”
Wolf peered at him. “What do you mean no?”
“I’m not going to hide. I’m going to fight alongside you and Seb.” He took the machine gun from Wolf, who snatched it back with a snarl.
“Don’t be so bloody pigheaded! Go inside!”
“No.” Hudson rounded his shoulders. “I’m a THIRDS agent, and… you know.”
“You’re a medical examiner.”
Hudson narrowed his eyes. “I have training, Alfie.”
“Stop calling me that,” Wolf ground out through his teeth. “Go inside, or I swear on our grandmother’s grave, I will pick you up and carry your arse in.”
Hudson folded his arms over his chest. “I’d like to see you try.”
Wolf opened his mouth to reply, then seemed to think better of it. “How about this. If you agree to go inside and stay there, I’ll allow you to ask me one question.”
Hudson worried his bottom lip, and Dex knew his friend was warring with himself. It was clear Hudson wanted to fight alongside them, with his husband, and although Hudson was right that he was a trained THIRDS agent, Wolf was equally right. Hudson’s training wasn’t the same as everyone else’s. As far as TIN training, he’d only just started recently and had even further to go than Dex and Sloane. Were Dex in Wolf’s shoes, he would have done what he could to keep his brother safe. Hudson glanced at Dex, and Dex nodded. Thankfully, Hudson gave in.
“Very well. How did you become… this?” Hudson asked, motioning to Wolf in general.
“That’s a very complicated question that would require far longer than the few minutes we have, so I’ll give you the abridged version. I was never dead. Only made to look as if I were dead.” Wolf thrust his machine gun and tactical vest at Dex so he could remove his suit jacket, which he draped over Hudson’s shoulder. Then he took the vest from Dex and strapped himself into it.
“TIN arranged it. They had been watching the both of us for some time, but decided to approach me first, knowing if I joined, you were sure to follow. My falling to certain doom was the perfect opportunity. Fate decided I wasn’t going to die at the bottom of those cliffs that day. It had a far more sinister design in mind.”
“TIN forced your hand?” Hudson asked, his eyes filling with anger.
Wolf frowned at him. “Don’t be ridiculous. They made me an offer. I could return home, back to living under my father’s thumb, fall into line like our siblings and be miserable, watch you be miserable, or I could change our lives, starting with me as a TIN operative. I could be whoever I wanted to be, do what I wanted to do. The sky was the limit. I’d have a freedom I never knew was possible. I wasn’t as brave as you. I never would have left for the States, not if it meant leaving you behind, but you weren’t ready. You needed a push, and my death gave you that push. I accepted the offer on one condition. That Sparks would look after you, get you away from that bastard father of ours. She made sure when you applied to the THIRDS, a position at THIRDS HQ in Manhattan was open for you.”
Hudson’s brows drew together. “You’re the reason I was hired to the THIRDS?”
“No. You’re the reason you were hired. I just made sure you were close to where she was.”
“Why?”
“So she could keep you safe. It was part of the deal.”
“What deal?” Hudson asked.
“Why don’t you tell him, Sonya?”
Everyone turned to stare at Sparks, who stood several feet away, Tony and Cael behind her. Dex was stunned by the tears in her eyes. When she spoke, her voice was almost a whisper.
“I would keep Hudson safe, away from anyone who might try to use him against Wolf, and Wolf would keep my daughter safe.”