“I don’t know about you guys, but I’m kinda glad he’s on our side. Sort of.”
Sloane frowned at Ash. “Wolf’s not on anyone’s side but his own. The guy will smile at you, tell you how much he likes you, and then put a bullet in your head.”
“You’re both right,” Dex said, causing everyone to turn their focus on him. “Hudson’s one of us, and unfortunately the Makhai have set their sights on him, which means Wolf’s going to stick around until he knows his brother’s safe from them. We can’t afford to turn down his help, no matter how fucked-up that may be. Whether we like it or not, he has connections and skills none of us have. Yet.”
Dex had told Sloane his plan of making sure someday soon he could hold his own against Wolf, and even surpass him, but he still had a long way to go and a hell of a lot of training to do. As much as Sloane hated to admit it, because of Wolf, the Makhai didn’t get their hands on Hudson. The guy might be a psychopath, but it was obvious he cared about his brother and would do whatever it took to protect him. It almost made Sloane not completely hate him. Almost.
A few minutes later, they were being dropped off in HQ’s parking garage. Sloane followed Dex straight to the armory. There would be no going home. No shower. No fucking around. Not until they had some answers. The TIN medical team had cleaned Dex up as best they could while they tended to his wounds without removing his clothes, but according to Austen, Dex had wanted everyone gone from the room as soon as possible, most likely to keep strangers from witnessing his inevitable meltdown.
When they arrived at the Destructive Delta armory, Sloane couldn’t help his pride. Their team was there, suited up in full tactical gear sans helmets. They had no idea why they’d been gathered, but it didn’t matter. Sloane had made the call, and there they were, ready to move out. Rosa, Letty, Calvin, and Hobbs lined up, waiting, concern etched on their faces as they took in Dex’s state. Dex glanced over at Sloane, who nodded and stepped forward. Right now, Dex needed him to deal with anything that had the potential to become too emotional. All his focus and energy was reserved for finding Tony.
“Okay, team. I know you’re all wondering what the hell is going on. What’s happening is we’re preparing for war. Earlier today the Makhai tried to kidnap Hudson. What we didn’t know was that at the same time, they were kidnapping Maddock.”
Gasps and curses were heard all around. The team stood stunned before they all turned their gazes to Dex, who shook his head at them, his lips pressed together in a thin line. By the state of him, it didn’t take much to leap to the conclusion he’d somehow been involved. Sloane was certain Dex appreciated their love and support, but right now he didn’t need a shoulder to cry on. He needed someone willing to march into battle with him.
Hobbs rounded his shoulders and took a step forward, head held high as he put his right fist to his heart. Calvin nodded in agreement and did the same, followed by Rosa and Letty.
“Whatever you need,” Rosa said. “You know we’ll be right there with you.”
Letty nodded. “We’re going to find those assholes, and we’re going to bring the Sarge home.” She walked over to Dex’s locker, and he put his thumb to the security pad. It unlocked, and she opened the door. She grabbed his tac vest and handed it to him. “Time to suit up, Daley. One last hurrah.”
Dex took the vest from her with a soft laugh. “Yeah.”
While everyone turned to discuss tactics, Sloane and Dex quickly changed into their uniforms. As Sloane buttoned up his shirt, it hit home. This was the last time he’d be putting on his uniform, and it would be to save his sergeant. He absently laid a hand over the Destructive Delta patch on his arm. This team had been his from its inception. He’d never led any other team, and no other Team Leader had led Destructive Delta but him. Together he and Ash had handpicked every member of this team until Dex. They’d all been through so much together, had so many firsts. When this was done, he’d be hanging up his uniform for the last time.
Pushing back the emotions that threatened to bubble up, he straightened, grabbed his thigh rig, and continued to layer on pieces of his kit. There was no time for him to reflect on the swirling thunderstorm of sentiment coursing through him.
Once every weapon was secured, every piece of equipment strapped, tucked, and clicked into place, he was ready. He grabbed his helmet, now scuffed and dirty, the Destructive Delta sticker faded and distressed. Dex joined him, looking handsome as ever in his full uniform. It’d been a while since they’d been sent out on a call, what with all the changes happening around them. He wished they were heading out under different circumstances.
“Ready?”
Sloane nodded. He turned to Dex, who stepped in front of him and straightened the strap of his MP5. They put their heads together, and Sloane placed his gloved hand to Dex’s cheek.
“I’m right here with you, okay?”
“Thank you.”
Sloane straightened and motioned for the door. “Destructive Delta, move out.”
They all waited for Sloane to walk ahead, and Dex fell in behind him. They took formation, following him like they always had to the elevator and then rode it up to Unit Alpha. They headed down the hall and then walked through the doors leading to their unit. When they reached the bull pen, everyone stood. Agents and officers came out from their offices, all to watch them walk through the bull pen, most likely wondering if the apocalypse was upon them to have Destructive Delta ready to head out in full tactical gear. Sloane had no intention of keeping his sergeant’s abduction a secret. It would be unfair to the agents who worked with him, respected him, and looked up to him. They had a right to know. They had a right to join in the fight. And he knew Dex would agree with him. Tony was Dex and Cael’s father, but he was also a founding member of the THIRDS. He watched this place grow. He celebrated and suffered along with every agent in this bull pen. Tony was more than a THIRDS officer. He was family.
Bringing down the Makhai might have been TIN’s problem, but that changed when Sloane and Dex discovered they’d had Dex’s parents murdered, when they paid to have Dex tortured and killed, and now they had the fucking balls to take Tony away from his family. Sloane didn’t care if he had to hunt down every one of those bastards and put them in the ground. He was going to help Dex get Tony back and end this.
CHAPTER 7
“IS THIS room secure?” Dex stood to one side as Sparks placed her hand on the security panel by the door. After the initial handprint scan, she entered a code, then walked to the front of the room.
Dex pretended not to notice how red her eyes were. She hadn’t been at the facility, which was unusual for her. Had she even
left her office at HQ until now? How long after his dad was taken had she found out? Despite her reddened eyes, there was no mistaking the promise of unholy retribution in them. She looked very much like how Dex felt.
“The room is secure,” Sparks replied, taking a seat at the end of the large conference room table. Everyone took a seat except for Dex and Cael, who remained standing near Sparks. “Austen has updated me on everything that’s happened today. Hudson is resting in one of the sleeper bays. Seb is looking after him. While the Makhai is out there looking for Hudson, it’s best we keep him close. He’s being rather stubborn and refuses to allow us to place him in a safe house.” Sparks’s expression turned grave. “We were wrong about why the Makhai want Hudson.”
Dex took a seat in the chair closest to her. “What are you talking about?”
“We thought their doggedness to get their hands on Hudson was due to them actually wanting to get their hands on you.” Sparks shook her head. “They want Hudson to get to Wolf.”
The silence in the room intensified as Sparks’s words sank in.