Sloane pulled back a fist when Sparks lashed out, her hand striking h
im in the throat before a blow to the chest knocked the wind out of him, almost bringing him to his knees. Gasping for breath, he pushed through it and lunged at her. She dropped to her knees and rolled away from him, popping up behind him and kicking at the back of his legs. He hit the wall, and before he could turn, she’d grabbed his arm and twisted it up behind his back, her other hand around his neck, claws out.
“That’s enough,” she hissed. “Yes, we let Wolf take Dex. We needed to know what he was after.”
“Wolf could have killed him,” Sloane snarled.
“We never would have let that happen.”
“So you knew where they were keeping him? Is there anything you’ve told us that hasn’t been a lie? How could you?” Sloane closed his eyes, his head pressed against the wall. “How could you stand there and do nothing?”
“Nothing? You think I stood there and did nothing? You think your home was ripped apart because I did nothing?”
“Then tell me.” Sloane turned enough to look at her. “Please, give me something, or we’re out of here. For good.” If Dex hadn’t just died, Sloane would have taken his hand and walked out of there. Fuck TIN, fuck Sparks, fuck Wolf, and everyone else involved in this shit. Sparks released Sloane, and he turned, rubbing his neck.
“The destruction in your home wasn’t simply a result of Wolf searching for the file. It was a result of him coming back for you.”
Sloane stared at her. “What?”
“Do you honestly believe Wolf would have taken Dex and left you behind?” She let out a harsh laugh. “For fuck’s sake, Sloane. You are everything to that boy. You think if Wolf wanted information out of Dex, he wouldn’t take the one thing that would guarantee that?”
Sloane shook his head. “But, Wolf threatened Dex he’d bring me and Cael in. It’s what set Dex off before he escaped.”
“Wolf was bluffing. He’s damned good at it too. There was no way for Dex to know the truth. How could he? Yes, we let Wolf take Dex, but when he came back for you, we got in his way. He could either lose to us, and risk his plans for Dex, or leave you behind, and bluff his way through that particular threat. His contract was to kill Dex in the end, and had you been there, he would have tortured and killed you too, Sloane.” Sparks walked up to Dex’s bedside. She placed a hand gently to his brow. “We would never have let Wolf kill him.” She looked up at Sloane, and he was taken aback by the tenderness there. “We both know he would have wanted you safe.” She turned her attention back to Dex. “I wasn’t certain he’d be able to shoulder the weight, but he’s far more resilient than I anticipated.” She smiled at Sloane. “I’m not one to believe in fate, Sloane, but you and him? It was meant to be.”
Sloane took a step closer to the bed, then stopped. He didn’t trust himself around her. Didn’t trust he could stop himself from taking another swing at her. “As touching as that might be, it doesn’t change the fact that you allowed Dex to be kidnapped and tortured.”
“Whatever you might think of us, Sloane, there are reasons for everything we do. You don’t have to trust us. You don’t have to agree with what we do or how we do it, but if we didn’t exist, you would be living in a far different world. And before you go thinking that world would be a better one, know that you’d be wrong.”
Before Sloane could say anything, she walked out of the room. This wasn’t the end of this. Not by a long shot. Dex was awake quicker than Sloane expected, and Sloane was at his side, offering comfort, his hands gently touching, needing to feel him. He’d been so damned terrified. Dex turned his head and smiled at him.
“Dex, do you remember…. Do you remember what happened?”
Dex closed his eyes, his brows furrowed together. “I remember Shultzon saying something about you killing me, and I… I got pissed. Not pissed. It was more intense.” He opened his eyes, his worried gaze on Sloane. “Like this violent rage was rising up from inside me. I wanted to tear him apart with my bare hands.” Dex swallowed hard. “I should have been scared or shocked, but I wasn’t. I was just… angry. It was like I wasn’t myself.”
“Probably because you weren’t yourself.” Sloane stood and walked the room, wondering how he was supposed to tell Dex of what he’d done to him. Whatever happened, whatever Dex went through, if Dex… hated him, it was his fault.
“Sloane, what’s wrong? You’re scaring me.”
“That would make two of us.”
“Please, come here.”
Reluctantly, Sloane walked over. He took a seat on the edge of the bed beside Dex.
“Why am I in here?” Dex asked, taking hold of Sloane’s hand.
“Dex, it took six Therian TIN operatives to restrain you.”
Dex eyed him. “Did I slip and knock myself out? Is that why you’re saying that? Did I make an ass out of myself and knock myself out and you’re trying to make me feel better? It would explain why I don’t remember.”
“I… I infected you.”
Dex stared at him. “Say that again?”
“I infected you.”
“No, still not making sense.”