Blood & Thunder (THIRDS 2)

“Crazy doesn’t take vacation, son. We’ve identified the Therian group attacking the Order. They call themselves the Ikelos Coalition, and unlike the Order that’s made up of mostly civilian extremists, these guys have training. The violence is escalating. Isaac’s death has left the Order without a leader, and it’s turning into a feeding frenzy. We might have stopped the Order from waging war against us, but now they’re at war with the Coalition, and innocent civilians are getting in the way.”

“So now we’ve got two levels of fucked up to deal with,” Dex muttered. “Great.”

“Actually, three.”

Dex and Sloane looked at each other before Sloane addressed their sergeant. “What’s the third?”

“We have reason to believe someone inside the THIRDS is feeding information to the Coalition.”

“Shit.”

“Exactly. It wasn’t a coincidence the Coalition knew where the research facility was. They didn’t figure it out. Someone told them. There’s a traitor in our midst, boys, and we need to find them. I expect to see you both back at the office tomorrow bright and early. Hobbs will be back on duty. There will be cake.” Maddock hung up and Sloane tapped “end” on his smartphone’s screen. They sat quietly for a moment, mulling over what they’d been told, when Dex spoke up.

“What kind of cake do you think it is?”

Sloane stared at his partner, whose expression was dead serious. He couldn’t help it, he burst into laughter.

“What? I’m serious. It better be ice cream, or chocolate. None of that marzipan shit. I hate that stuff.”

With a laugh, Sloane drew Dex into his arms and kissed the top of his head. Dex settled against him with a soft sigh, and Sloane told himself to remember this moment. Things were going to get tougher, and their jobs more dangerous, especially with the new Therian threat. He’d have to push Dex harder in his training, and Sloane would have to do the same for himself. His thoughts strayed to Maddock’s words. They had a traitor in their midst. Someone had given out the location of the facility to the Coalition. Whoever they were, they’d better be prepared for a fight, because as soon as Sloane got his hands on them, that’s what they were going to get.

“Hey.”

Dex’s voice snapped him out of his somber thoughts, the smile on his face filling Sloane with more warmth and hope than he’d felt in a long time.

“For tonight, let’s leave the crazy outside. Just you and me in here.”

Sloane liked the sound of that. “Just you and me.” He bent his head, touched his lips to Dex’s and allowed himself to get lost in this amazing man’s kiss. The world might go to shit tomorrow, but tonight, while he had Dex in his arms, everything was as it should be. Dex was right; they had been through a lot. In the end whether that would hurt their relationship or strengthen it, who knew, but at least they were in this together. From here on out, Sloane knew whatever happened, his partner had his trust, his back, and more importantly, his heart.