Tried & True

  Dex narrowed his eyes at his brother. “Or you could stop there.”

  Letty shook her head, then wiped a tear from her eye. “Oh, no way. We need to hear this.”

  “Dad was so pissed, but you know what he’s like. He doesn’t get mad, he gets even. Dad threw Dex a surprise party and invited every ex-boyfriend, every guy Dex had ever flirted with, every guy he never called back after a one-night stand, and our aunt Danelle.”

  That did it. Everyone lost it, and Dex turned to bury his face against Sloane’s neck. “Someone shoot me.”

  Sloane wrapped his arms around Dex and kissed the top of his head. “Remind me never to piss off your dad.”

  A thought occurred to Dex, and he pulled back. A smile spread across his lips, and Sloane’s smile fell away.

  “What?”

  “Babe, you got drunk, beat him at air hockey twelve times, and called him an old man.”

  Ash spit out a mouthful of beer that sprayed across the table, causing Calvin, Hobbs, and Dom to dive out of their chairs. Dex couldn’t see through the tears in his eyes, he was laughing so hard. If Sloane wasn’t pressed against him, Dex would have fallen off his chair.

  “Fuck, Keeler.” Calvin got up off the floor, then picked up his chair, which had toppled during his swan dive.

  Ash grabbed a napkin and wiped his mouth. He gaped at Sloane. “You called Maddock an old man?” Sloane let his head fall back with a groan, and Ash patted his shoulder. “It was nice knowing you, bro.”

  They all teased Sloane, taking guesses at what Tony’s revenge would be. Dex did his best to soothe him, but the fact was, retribution was nigh. His dad did not forget things, and he rarely let them go.

  “Excuse us for a second,” Ash said, getting up. He took Cael’s hand and started leading him away from the table. Well, that was weird. The table went quiet, and Ash gently pushed Cael forward.

  “Keep it PG, Keeler,” Dex called out. He never knew with this group.

  Ash held up a finger in Dex’s direction. “Shut your mouth.”

  Dex opened his mouth to reply, but Sloane leaned in to whisper in Dex’s ear, “Don’t. He’s really nervous.”

  It took Dex a second to realize Sloane was right. This wasn’t just Ash being his usual grumpy asshole self. The guy was genuinely shitting himself over something. What the hell would Ash be nervous about? He walked Cael away from the table to one of the tallboys near the bar.

  “What do you think’s going on?” Rosa asked. She turned to Letty, then gasped. “You know.”

  Letty blinked at her innocently. “Know what?”

  “You know what’s up with Ash.”

  Letty shook her head, her lips pressed together, though she was clearly trying hard not to say a word. Dex was about to charm some information out of her, but then he noticed Ash reach into his pocket. Dex almost had a heart attack when he realized it was a key. Ash handed the key to Cael while saying something. Cael’s eyes went huge as he stared at the key Ash held out. Dex let out a huge gasp and slapped Sloane’s chest.

  “Ouch. Babe, what the hell?”

  “OhmyGod, he’s doing it!”

  “Doing what?” Calvin asked, turning to look at Ash and Cael, who’d just nodded and flung himself into Ash’s arms. Ash squeezed Cael tight to him before kissing him. Then the two walked over to the table, hand in hand. Cael’s smile couldn’t get any bigger.

  Dex put his elbows on the table and let his chin rest on his hands. “So… what’s new?”

  Ash rolled his eyes. He resumed his seat, pulling Cael close to him. “I asked Cael to move in with me, and he said yes.”

  Dex put a hand over his heart as he leaned against Sloane. “Our little lion Therian is growing up so fast.”

  Ash flipped Dex off as he hugged Cael close.

  Sloane sighed. “Seems like only yesterday he was threatening to stab me with knitting needles.”

  Dex let out a bark of laughter.

  Taylor looked over at Angel, mischief in his eyes. “Hey, you know what you should get Cael as a housewarming gift?”

  Angel’s eyes went wide. “Oh fuck. Don’t say it, bro. Please don’t—”

  “A fern.”

  The table broke out into peals of laughter, and Ash glared at Angel. “Why? So you can piss on it?”

  “Fuck me,” Angel groaned. “One fucking time. One time.” He narrowed his eyes at Ash. “Okay, Keeler. You want a fern, I’ll get you a fucking fern farm.”

  “Say that five times fast,” Calvin teased.

  “You think I’m kidding?” Angel nodded. “Just you wait. You’re going to have so many fucking ferns, you won’t know what to do with them.”

  Everyone laughed, and Dex sat back to watch his friends tease one another. God, he hoped none of this ever changed. Everyone in their unit knew what was happening with Destructive Delta, but Sparks was scheduled to make the official announcement in a couple of days. Dex didn’t even want to think of the media frenzy that would follow. Pushing that thought aside for now, he grabbed the bowl of gummy bears and chucked one over at Calvin, intent on smacking him in the face with gummy goodness when Hobbs pulled a Matrix and snatched the little bear out of thin air. He tossed it up and caught it in his mouth.

  He winked at Dex, and Dex peered at him. “Okay, hotshot. Think fast.” He threw one at Angel, and Hobbs caught it. Damn. Big guy got some moves. Dex narrowed his eyes. He whipped out a hand, the gummy zipping toward Rosa. Hobbs dove over three of their friends and caught it.

  “Oh my God, my spleen,” Angel groaned. He glared at Hobbs. “Dude, have you forgotten you weigh a fuckton?”

  Hobbs tossed the gummy bear into his mouth and waggled his eyebrows.

  Calvin grinned at Dex. “Ten bucks says he can catch the next one no matter where you throw it from.”

  Dex jumped to his feet. “You’re on, Summers.” They both removed ten dollars from their wallets and placed them on the table. “Who’s in on this?”

  Everyone placed their bets, and Dex looked around the bar. “Okay.”

  Hobbs stood, and Dex crossed the room, garnering the attention of several patrons. More heads turned, curious to see what crazy Dex was up to. He held a thumb up to Hobbs, who didn’t move from beside the table. Weird. Hobbs smiled and nodded, his hand going behind him. What was he up to?

  Dex took a gummy bear from the bowl and tossed it high into the air. He stared stupefied as Hobbs snapped his wrist and one of Bradley’s aluminum plates streaked through the air, hit one pillar, flew across the room, hit another pillar, and then Hobbs dove forward, rolled, and popped up to snatch the plate out of thin air. Dex’s jaw hit the floor.

  Hobbs winked at him, peeled the little bear off the plate, then popped it into his mouth. The bar went nuts cheering, and Hobbs bowed first in one direction, then another. Dex stopped in front of him.

  “Dude, how the—” He gasped, then marched over to Calvin. “Ooh, you took me for a ride.”

  Calvin counted his winnings, then gave half to Hobbs. “And what a sweet ride it was. You should have seen your face. Oh, wait, you can.” Calvin held his cell phone up to Dex, and Dex stared at the video of him and his comically stupefied expression.

  “Hustlers, the both of you,” Dex grumbled, marching around the table to drop down into his chair beside Sloane, then noticed all the nacho chips were gone. Man, it was every guy for himself with this lot where snacks were concerned. “Gonna get some more chips. Want anything from the bar, babe?”

  Sloane shook his head. “I’m good. Thank you.”

  Dex stood, and Sloane smacked his ass playfully. “Oh, you cad.” Dex winked at him before heading for the bar. Dom and West were there, huddled close, talking. One of the barmen came over, and Dex put in his order. West leaned back to smile at Dex.

  “Thanks for inviting me, Dex. I always have such a blast with you guys. You’re a riot.”

  “Glad you could make it.”

  West slipped his fingers into Dom’s hair and leaned in close. Dex av
erted his gaze, not wanting to seem nosy, even though he was totally eavesdropping with his new Therian hearing.

  “Just popping to the little Felid’s room. Don’t go anywhere, handsome.”

  Dom smiled at him. “Sure. Can I order you another drink?”

  “I’m good. Thanks. Back in a minute.” West purred, rubbing his chin over Dom’s shoulder before hopping off the stool. He ran his fingers across Dom’s back as he walked by. When he was gone, Dex turned to Dom.

  “So what was that about?”

  Dom cast him a sideways glance. “What was what about?”

  “Come on, bro. West just totally left his scent all over you.”

  “Yeah, he does that.”

  “And?”

  “And what?”

  “Dude, Therians don’t leave their scent on you unless they’re your partner or trying to keep other Therians away from you.”

  Dom took a swig of his beer. “Yeah, I know. I have Therian brothers.”

  “You do?” Dex blinked at him. “I did not know this.” How did he not know that?

  “I have three older brothers. Two work for the THIRDS, one in Defense and one in Recon. All of them lion Therians.”

  “Fuck, I’m sorry.”

  Dom broke out into laughter, and Dex realized what he’d said. He quickly waved his hands in front of him.

  “Shit, I didn’t mean it like that, like ‘sorry they’re lion Therians,’ I mean, I don’t know them. I’m sure they’re really nice guys and all.”

  Dom let out a snort. “They’re assholes, but it’s okay, Daley. Relax. I know what you meant. I’m used to it.”

  Dex couldn’t imagine growing up with three lion Therian brothers, much less being the youngest and Human.

  “Don’t get me wrong, I love my brothers, but I never felt like I fit in with them, you know? I was always the odd one out, and it drove me crazy how they treated me with kid gloves. Like I was this fragile little thing made of glass that could break at any moment. You think you’re protective of Cael? Try being Human with three Therian big brothers.” He shook his head with a laugh. “It’s a fucking miracle I lost my virginity. They scared the ever-loving fuck out of every guy who tried to date me. In high school, I had to ban them from coming to football practice, because they’d lose their shit every time I got tackled by a Therian.” He sighed and looked down at his fingers. “I know I shouldn’t complain because I’m blessed to have a family who loves me, and three brothers who would walk through hell and back for me, but that doesn’t mean it was easy.”

  “But look at you now,” Dex said, motioning to Dom in all his ginormous Human glory. The guy was a force to be reckoned with. Dex had seen him in action. Being the Human partner of a Therian Team Leader took fucking balls. Dex should know. It was one of the hardest positions on the team, because when your partner was in Therian form, it was all on you. Then there was the fact that Theta Destructive had more members than Destructive Delta, with five Therian Defense members to Destructive Delta’s three. Dom was taller than Dex, and had about twenty pounds of muscle on Dex. He was fierce.

  Dom chuckled. “Yeah, well, we Palladino men are built like brick shithouses. Take after my old man. He’s the lion Therian.” Mischief filled Dom’s hazel eyes. “Besides, you know how much shit I got away with being the precious baby of the family? Still do.” He waggled his eyebrows, and Dex laughed.

  “Fuck. Now I feel sorry for your brothers.”

  Dom’s cackle was evil. “I was such a little shit.”

  “Speaking of handful. West.”

  Dom narrowed his eyes at Dex. “I heard you like to play matchmaker.”

  Dex shrugged. “It’s a gift.”

  “No, it’s meddling. There’s nothing going on between us except some harmless flirting. He flirts with everyone.” The frown on Dom’s face and his shrug told Dex that maybe that was the problem.

  “And you’d rather he just flirts with you.”

  Dom peered at him, and Dex quickly held up a hand.

  “Sorry. I didn’t mean to push.”

  Dom let out a sigh. “It’s fine. Sorry, I’m being a dick. I like him. Problem is, so do a lot of other guys, and he likes them right back. Don’t get me wrong, he’s young, hot, and smart. If he enjoys having lots of casual sex, who am I to judge? It’s just not for me. I’ve never been a one-night-stand kind of guy. I like getting to know someone, spend time with them, the intimacy of it all. With all the shit we see out there, coming home to someone who can make it all go away with just their smile, that’s what I want. Someone who’ll stick around, be there.” Dom shook his head. “West is not the stick-around kind of guy.”

  “How do you know?”

  Dom motioned over Dex’s shoulder, and Dex turned to find West wrapped around some random dude, sucking face.

  What the fuck, man? That was harsh. Dex turned back to Dom, feeling for the guy. “Shit, I’m sorry.”

  “It is what it is.”

  “Have you told him?”

  “Told him what? There’s nothing to tell. He flirts, I flirt back, and that’s it. Besides, it wouldn’t be appropriate. I’m going to be his Team Leader.”

  Dex arched an eyebrow at him, and Dom laughed.

  “Fuck, I forgot.”

  “You forgot Sloane was my Team Leader?”

  “Yeah. I guess because when I see you two together, I just see the unit, you know. Like two halves of a whole. On his own, I see Team Leader Sloane Brodie, but when you’re there, I don’t know. I’m not making any sense.”

  “You’re such a romantic underneath all the muscles and curses.”

  “You’re weird.”

  Dex threw his head back and laughed. “And you’re awesome.” Dex’s chips arrived, and he threw his arm around Dom. “Come on. Let’s go see what these troublemakers are up to.” They might be an incestuous little family, but Dex wouldn’t trade them for the world.

  CHAPTER 5

  FALL IN Central Park was one of Dex’s favorite times. The weather was in the high seventies, the sun was shining, and all around them the trees and shrubbery were beginning to change color. Soon the trees would be ablaze in reds, oranges, and yellows. It was a perfect day. Dex zoned in and out, his foot tapping along to the sweet tunes coming through his headphones. Next to his music, the only other sound he heard was the soft chainsaw-like purr coming from his warm furry pillow. Dex turned his head, chuckling at Sloane’s contented expression—his eyes were closed, front paws crossed in front of him as he lay tucked against Dex. His tail occasionally twitched where it lay protectively around Dex’s left arm.

  Reaching up, Dex scratched Sloane underneath his chin, and the purr intensified. This right here was bliss. Lying on a blanket in the grass, the gorgeous scenery—which included Belvedere Castle to their right—a backpack full of snacks, and a PSTC kit for Sloane. Dex plucked an earphone out of his ear, and turned to look up at Sloane.

  “We should do this more often.”

  Sloane let out a huff of air, most likely in agreement. He opened his eyes, and pushed his nose against Dex’s, making Dex chuckle.

  “I love you too.”

  Sloane turned his head, observing the people scattered around them, some having picnics, some napping, others kissing or reading. It was Dex’s opinion that jaguar Therians had the best facial expressions. Granted, he was a little biased, but no other Therian in their Therian form could pull off resting bitch face like a black jaguar Therian. Dex was familiar with all of Sloane’s quirks. He understood every ear twitch, tail twitch, yawn, or huff, but anyone who didn’t know Sloane would look at him in his Therian form and think “that guy gives zero fucks,” which in some cases was true.

  Unless someone was a threat to him or Dex, Sloane’s Felid half was chill. He had no interest in anyone who wasn’t Dex, or someone close to him. Lion Therians liked to preen. Black jaguar Therians thought you were annoying and needed to go away. The only Therians whose expressions superseded black jaguar Therians on a whole oth
er level were cheetah Therians. Dex didn’t have to know the cheetah Therian to understand what they were thinking. It was written all over their furry face. Black jaguar Therians might have the best resting bitch face, but no one did unimpressed like cheetah Therians.

  A couple of familiar figures headed their way, and Dex sat up, smiling brightly. “Hey, Cal. Dominic.”

  “Hey, Justice,” Dom replied with a grin.

  Dex laughed softly as Sloane arched his neck, his tail thumping against the grass as he watched Seb, Hudson, and Hobbs running and pouncing.

  “Go play, fuzzball. I know you want to.”

  Sloane didn’t need to be told twice. He got up and bounded over, hopping through the grass like a giant black bunny. Seb, Hudson, and Hobbs stilled when they saw him, sniffed the air, realized it was Sloane, and lost their furry minds. They were too stinking adorable for words.

  “Glad you guys could join us,” Dex said. “Ash, Cael, West, and the girls will be here soon.”

  At the mention of West’s name, Dom glanced over at him. “West’s coming?”

  Dex could tell Dom was trying hard not to look too interested, but his scent had changed slightly, and there was a slight flush to his skin. Calvin had the best poker face ever, but Dex noted the tiny curl of his lip on one side.

  “Yeah. He and Cael are like besties now. I swear, when they get together, it’s like they’re talking another language.”

  Dom chuckled. “Yeah, I don’t understand a third of the shit they talk about. Tech isn’t my thing, but it’s sweet watching them get all excited about that stuff. It’s damn impressive, though. I’ve seen West do crazy shit with a computer. Makes me glad he’s on our side.” Dom cleared his throat, and Dex waited. The guy was working his way up to something, but whatever subject he wanted to broach was clearly a difficult one. “So, um, TIN, huh?”

  Calvin cleared his throat. “I’m gonna go even the odds. Poor Hudson’s out-felined.” He got to his feet and jogged over to the guys to play, and Dex turned his attention to Dom.

  “Seb told you?”

  Dom nodded. “Yeah. He thought he was protecting me by not telling me, but you know how the doc is the voice of reason. He said I’d want to know, and he was right. I’d rather be prepared and know what I’m getting into than be blindsided. Seb’s ‘promotion’ to THIRDS Recruitment Officer and my promotion to Team Leader of Theta Destructive goes out while you guys are on your honeymoon. It’s going to be one hell of a shock for the team.”

  Dex cringed. “How do you think they’re going to take it?”

  “No fucking clue.” Dom sighed and ran a hand through his hair. He stared off at Seb, bounding across the grass with Hudson, Sloane, Hobbs, and Calvin on his tail. “Not gonna lie. Kinda shitting myself over it. The dynamic was finally perfect. He’s one hell of a Team Leader. Firm but fair. They love him.”

  “He’s a great guy.”

  Dom nodded, a frown on his face. “Yeah. We worked well together, complemented each other. He bitches and grumbles, and I fuss and mother everyone.” He laughed, as if recalling some memory. “Drives the team fucking nuts, but they love it.”

  Dex put his hand on Dom’s shoulder. “You’re going to do great, Dom. Do you think he would have left his team to someone he didn’t trust?”

  Dom blinked at him. “What do you mean? Sparks was the one who approached me.”

  “Because she asked Seb who he thought would be the best fit to lead your team, and he didn’t hesitate. He said it had to be you or he couldn’t step away. He refused to leave your team in anyone else’s hands.”

  Dom’s eyes got glassy, and he wrinkled his nose. “Asshole. Always looking after everyone.” Then he met Dex’s gaze, his eyes hard. “You better fucking watch my boy’s back out there, Daley.”

  Dex held his hand out to Dom. “You have my word.” It was already agreed that if Dex and Sloane were going to work alongside any other operatives, it would be Seb and Hudson.

  “The only one who seems to be taking all of this really well is Nina.”

  “Hudson told her?”

  Dom nodded. “Well, yeah. They’re best friends. Also Hudson couldn’t keep her in the dark now that Rafe knows.”