(THIRDS Series, Book #4)
by Charlie Cochet
Blurb:
After an attack by the Coalition leaves THIRDS Team Leader Sloane Brodie critically injured, agent Dexter J. Daley swears to make Beck Hogan pay for what he’s done. But Dex’s plans for retribution are short-lived. With Ash still on leave with his own injuries, Sloane in the hospital, and Destructive Delta in the Coalition’s crosshairs, Lieutenant Sparks isn’t taking any chances. Dex’s team is pulled from the case, with the investigation handed to Team Leader Sebastian Hobbs. Dex refuses to stand by while another team goes after Hogan, and decides to put his old HPF detective skills to work to find Hogan before Theta Destructive, no matter the cost.
With a lengthy and painful recovery ahead of him, the last thing Sloane needs is his partner out scouring the city, especially when the lies—however well intentioned—begin to spiral out of control. Sloane is all too familiar with the desire to retaliate, but some things are more important, like the man who’s pledged to stand beside him. As Dex starts down a dark path, it’s up to Sloane to show him what’s at stake, and finally put a name to what’s in his heart.
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Excerpt
Excerpt
Dex sorted out
all of Sloane’s pillows, fluffing them up and arranging them before bringing
the tray over.
all of Sloane’s pillows, fluffing them up and arranging them before bringing
the tray over.
Once Sloane was
settled, Dex placed the tray over his lap and kissed him, tasting a faint hint
of minty freshness.
settled, Dex placed the tray over his lap and kissed him, tasting a faint hint
of minty freshness.
Sloane stared
down at the tray.
down at the tray.
“Is it okay?” Dex
asked. Had he forgotten something? “Eggs benedict and pancakes are your
favorite,
asked. Had he forgotten something? “Eggs benedict and pancakes are your
favorite,
right?”
Sloane nodded.
“What’s wrong?”
“You made
heart-shaped pancakes.”
heart-shaped pancakes.”
Dex held back a
smile. “Are they too unmanly? Should I have made them grenade-shaped? I’m sure
smile. “Are they too unmanly? Should I have made them grenade-shaped? I’m sure
Letty’s got a
mold for those.”
mold for those.”
Sloane chuckled.
“No, hearts are fine. It’s real sweet. Thank you.”
“No, hearts are fine. It’s real sweet. Thank you.”
Dex sat down on the
edge of the bed beside him. He ran his fingers through Sloane’s hair feeling
guilty
edge of the bed beside him. He ran his fingers through Sloane’s hair feeling
guilty
for having left
him on his own last night. Sloane could take care of himself, even if he was
injured, but
him on his own last night. Sloane could take care of himself, even if he was
injured, but
his partner was
drugged up and obviously feeling a little out of it, considering his reaction
to the heart
drugged up and obviously feeling a little out of it, considering his reaction
to the heart
shaped pancakes.
Maybe it was time he took care of his partner like he’d promised he would.
Maybe it was time he took care of his partner like he’d promised he would.
“Why don’t you
eat your breakfast while I shower, and we’ll watch a movie or something
together?”
eat your breakfast while I shower, and we’ll watch a movie or something
together?”
Sloane gave him a
wide smile. “I’d like that.”
wide smile. “I’d like that.”
Dex left Sloane
to his breakfast and went off to shower as quickly as he could. Showering
wasn’t as
to his breakfast and went off to shower as quickly as he could. Showering
wasn’t as
much fun without
his partner. As he lathered himself up, a naughty thought occurred to him. He’d
also
his partner. As he lathered himself up, a naughty thought occurred to him. He’d
also
promised he’d
make his partner purr. Finishing up, he could barely hold back his smile or the
heat
make his partner purr. Finishing up, he could barely hold back his smile or the
heat
spreading through
him. Easy there, Daley. Don’t get yourself worked up yet. He dressed in his
comfy
him. Easy there, Daley. Don’t get yourself worked up yet. He dressed in his
comfy
cotton pajama
bottoms and a loose faded Back to the Future T-shirt before heading out into
the
bottoms and a loose faded Back to the Future T-shirt before heading out into
the
bedroom. Sloane
was smiling, his plate devoid of any evidence food had ever been on there. Wow,
his
was smiling, his plate devoid of any evidence food had ever been on there. Wow,
his
partner had been
hungry. Really hungry. Starving. Sort of like after….
hungry. Really hungry. Starving. Sort of like after….
“Please tell me
you didn’t.” Dex removed the tray and put it on the floor against the wall. He
pulled the
you didn’t.” Dex removed the tray and put it on the floor against the wall. He
pulled the
blanket back and
tried to lift Sloane’s T-shirt, but his partner slapped his hand away. “Sloane,
let me see,
tried to lift Sloane’s T-shirt, but his partner slapped his hand away. “Sloane,
let me see,
damn it.” He
grabbed Sloane’s wrist with one hand and managed to pull up the cotton shirt,
cursing
grabbed Sloane’s wrist with one hand and managed to pull up the cotton shirt,
cursing
under his breath
at the tiny beads of blood seeping through the bandage. “For fuck’s sake, did
you try to
at the tiny beads of blood seeping through the bandage. “For fuck’s sake, did
you try to
shift?” When
Sloane looked away, Dex had his answer. No wonder his partner was out of it. It
wasn’t
Sloane looked away, Dex had his answer. No wonder his partner was out of it. It
wasn’t
just the meds.
Sloane hadn’t recuperated from postshift. Dex opened the minifridge and found
it empty.
Sloane hadn’t recuperated from postshift. Dex opened the minifridge and found
it empty.
“When?” He
slammed the fridge door shut.
slammed the fridge door shut.
“Last night.
After you called,” Sloane mumbled.
After you called,” Sloane mumbled.
“Last night?” Dex
put a hand to his head. Veggies and hummus were all well and good for Sloane’s
put a hand to his head. Veggies and hummus were all well and good for Sloane’s
Human side, but
not for the Felid inside him. He needed meat, protein, and more than the packet
of
not for the Felid inside him. He needed meat, protein, and more than the packet
of
sliced chicken
Dex had left him in the fridge. “Fuck. Sloane, you know you’re not supposed to
attempt
Dex had left him in the fridge. “Fuck. Sloane, you know you’re not supposed to
attempt
shifting. The
doctor said so, and it’s in the packet. To make matters worse, you do it when
there’s no
doctor said so, and it’s in the packet. To make matters worse, you do it when
there’s no
one here to
perform postshift trauma care? With no access to the right foods? What were you
perform postshift trauma care? With no access to the right foods? What were you
thinking?”
“I’m thinking I
need to fucking heal, and if that’s the quickest way to do it, then it’s a risk
I’m willing to
need to fucking heal, and if that’s the quickest way to do it, then it’s a risk
I’m willing to
take!”
Sloane’s ferocity
surprised Dex, and he took a step back. His partner’s pupils were dilated and
his fangs
surprised Dex, and he took a step back. His partner’s pupils were dilated and
his fangs
slightly
elongated. Fuck, what the hell was going on? It was like Sloane was having
trouble controlling his
elongated. Fuck, what the hell was going on? It was like Sloane was having
trouble controlling his
feral side. Dex
could see it. He could see the Felid inside Sloane staring back at him from
behind glowing
could see it. He could see the Felid inside Sloane staring back at him from
behind glowing
amber eyes. Could
the meds be doing this? The recovery packet the doctor had given them
specifically
the meds be doing this? The recovery packet the doctor had given them
specifically
instructed Sloane
not shift while he was healing, especially while on his meds.
not shift while he was healing, especially while on his meds.
“Okay, take it
easy. It’s me.” Dex held his hands up in front of him and swallowed hard, aware
of the
easy. It’s me.” Dex held his hands up in front of him and swallowed hard, aware
of the
telltale signs.
“There’s no hurry for you to heal, Sloane. It’s okay.”
“There’s no hurry for you to heal, Sloane. It’s okay.”
“It’s not okay,”
Sloane snarled, his fingers flexing against the sheets and his nails starting
to grow. Fuck.
Sloane snarled, his fingers flexing against the sheets and his nails starting
to grow. Fuck.
Oh fuck.
“Sloane, you need
to breathe. Calm down.” Dex slowly edged away from the bed. Why was this
to breathe. Calm down.” Dex slowly edged away from the bed. Why was this
happening? Sloane
had never lost his grip on his Felid side. Not to mention he’d yet to fully
recover from
had never lost his grip on his Felid side. Not to mention he’d yet to fully
recover from
his first
attempt. “Please, Sloane. Your body’s not healed from the first try. Who knows
what asecond
attempt. “Please, Sloane. Your body’s not healed from the first try. Who knows
what asecond
attempt will do?”
There was no
reply from Sloane. He was gritting his teeth, his face red, and his muscles
straining.
reply from Sloane. He was gritting his teeth, his face red, and his muscles
straining.
“Sloane, you need
to stop.”
to stop.”
“I can’t.” Sloane
lowered his head, his fierce gaze on Dex.
lowered his head, his fierce gaze on Dex.
“Why?”
“To protect you!”
Dex gasped as
Sloane let out a roar, his body starting to shift. What the hell was Dex
supposed to do?
Sloane let out a roar, his body starting to shift. What the hell was Dex
supposed to do?
He’d never faced
a Therian who’d lost control of his Human side, much less an Apex predator.
Quickly,
a Therian who’d lost control of his Human side, much less an Apex predator.
Quickly,
he backed up
against the far wall, cringing as Sloane’s cries of agony filled the room.
Sloane tore at his
against the far wall, cringing as Sloane’s cries of agony filled the room.
Sloane tore at his
clothes, pulling
his T-shirt and pajama bottoms off before his mass shifted, bones popped, and
fur
his T-shirt and pajama bottoms off before his mass shifted, bones popped, and
fur
pierced his skin.
Dex reached into his pocket and with shaky hands placed a call.
Dex reached into his pocket and with shaky hands placed a call.
A gruff voice
answered. “What do you want?”
answered. “What do you want?”
“Ash, you have to
help me.” The panic in his voice must have been clear, because Ash’s tone
instantly
help me.” The panic in his voice must have been clear, because Ash’s tone
instantly
transformed from
its usual gruffness to concern.
its usual gruffness to concern.
“What’s going on,
Dex? Talk to me.”
Dex? Talk to me.”
“It’s Sloane.
He’s shifting, but it’s not… not normal. He tried last night but couldn’t
complete the transformation. Then we got into an argument, and it’s like he’s
lost it. I don’t think he’s in control. How
He’s shifting, but it’s not… not normal. He tried last night but couldn’t
complete the transformation. Then we got into an argument, and it’s like he’s
lost it. I don’t think he’s in control. How
is that
possible?”
possible?”
“Hide.”
“What?”
“Hide somewhere
he can’t get to you. I’m on my way. I’ve still got my key to your place.”
he can’t get to you. I’m on my way. I’ve still got my key to your place.”
Ash hung up, and
Dex shoved his phone in his pocket. Where the fuck was he supposed to hide?
When
Dex shoved his phone in his pocket. Where the fuck was he supposed to hide?
When
he moved his gaze
to the bed, he stilled. There was no time for hiding. The huge black jaguar lay
in the
to the bed, he stilled. There was no time for hiding. The huge black jaguar lay
in the
center of the
bed, his tail thumping against the headboard. He sniffed the sheets, then the
air before his
bed, his tail thumping against the headboard. He sniffed the sheets, then the
air before his
gaze landed on
Dex.
Dex.
About the Author
Charlie Cochet is an author by day and artist by night. Always quick to succumb to the whispers of her wayward muse, no star is out of reach when following her passion. From Historical to Fantasy, Contemporary to Science Fiction, there’s bound to be plenty of mischief for her heroes to find themselves in, and plenty of romance, too!
Currently residing in South Florida, Charlie looks forward to migrating to a land where the weather includes seasons other than hot, hotter, and boy, it’s hot! When she isn't writing, she can usually be found reading, drawing, or watching movies. She runs on coffee, thrives on music, and loves to hear from readers.
You can find Charlie at
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