“Fine,” Sebastian growled. It was hard, so damn hard, to stay seated when everything in him just wanted to back the man against a wall and shove his gun under the bastard’s chin. “Anything else?”
“No, but I want a plan of action on my desk first thing in the morning.”
“Understood. You’ll have it.”
“Glad to hear it, Baas. Enjoy your evening.”
He offered a dry snort in response, his jaw clenching while he watched the commander leave. The new guy took the departure as his cue to approach. Sebastian halted him with a frosty glare.
The young man faltered and lifted his chin. “It really is an honor to work with you, Agent Baas. I’ve heard a lot about you. I’m more than happy to pitch in and help however I can. Maybe I could treat you and Agent Reevers to dinner. We can go over the files then?”
“I don’t know you, let alone want to socialize with you,” Sebastian said, turning his attention back to the stack of paperwork.
“Sir, the way I see it, the only way we are going to get to know one another is if we work together.”
Sebastian set his pen down and studied him for a moment. He was young and fresh-faced, probably not much older than twenty-four. Latte colored skin accented the smoky shade of his eyes, and his expression still glowed with the hopeful optimism of youth. That didn’t bode well. People like him didn’t last. He gave the kid three months tops before he ended up eating his own gun. It wouldn’t be the first time, and it certainly wouldn’t be the last. He shook his head. There was no point in making nice.
“What was your name again?” he asked without glancing up.
“Jackson, sir. Jackson Lane.”
“Right. Let’s get something straight, Jackson. I don’t like you. I’m probably never going to like you, and I certainly don’t trust you. If you choose to look past that fact and still feel the desire to ingratiate yourself, go get my partner. Him I like.”
“Yes, sir.”
He departed with a curt salute. Sebastian’s eyes narrowed. If the prick was aiming for cute, he’d failed. Blowing out a forceful breath, he started to flip through the files Marx had dropped on his desk. It wasn’t long before a familiar set of acronyms leapt out at him. Sitting up straighter, he squinted, but the letters remained the same.
Patrick James, FBI.
His brow furrowed in confusion. The name sounded familiar, but what the hell would SKALS want with someone from the FBI? They went after homeland terrorists. They snuffed out demented cult leaders and psychopaths, mass murders, and nut jobs like Laychee who tried to blow up buildings with innocent people inside…not decorated agents from another bureau.
The door swung open, and he glanced up in time to see Josh stride across the room and drop into one of the chairs on the other side of his desk, not bothering to wait for an invitation.
“I knew you’d miss me eventually. Does this mean your little bromance with Vince is done? We going back to being exclusive now? Because you know, that whole being the other man shit was starting to get old.”
He smirked but offered no response. There was way too much on his mind, though he did appreciate his partner’s attempt at humor and keeping the peace.
Seeing the tension lining his face, Josh sat up straighter. “What gives, Baas?”
Saying nothing, Sebastian let his gaze shift to the newcomer stationed on the other side of the room. Josh took the hint. Whirling in his seat, he pinned the man with a steely glare. “Take a hike, kid,” he ordered, jutting a thumb over his shoulder.
“Where am I supposed to go?”
“Go stick your nose in a damn corner somewhere for all I care. Just get the hell out.”
“When do I come back?”
“We’ll tell you when grown-up time is over. Hit the road or I’m gonna hit you.” He watched the man leave then turned around and shot Sebastian a look of exasperation. “Where the hell do they even find these people? Is there some secret stash of Romper Room rejects they dig through and toss our way?”
“I don’t know,” Sebastian stated quietly, “but he is the least of our problems right now. Have a look at this.”
Josh grabbed the file and thumbed through it. His cocky grin faded beneath a wave of confusion and a questioning grimace contorted his rugged face. “What the hell is this? A Fed? Is Marx serious?”
“I’m afraid so.”
“James,” Josh repeated, snapping his fingers in thought. “I know that name.”
“It rang a bell for me, too. I just can’t place how I know him. There’s no picture in the file. Just a note that all pertinent information will be updated.”
“Huh,” Josh muttered, still skimming the pages. “Hell if I know. Jesus, there’s not much here to go by. Are we just supposed to pull this guy out of a rabbit hat or what?” Pursing his lips, he flung the file back on the desk and shrugged. “Oh well. Orders are orders, right? Do you want me to swing by tonight and see what else we can dig up on this guy?”
Sebastian studied the man across from him for a long moment. In the seven years they’d worked together, they’d shed more blood, sweat, and tears than most people endured in an entire lifetime. Josh was more than a partner. He was his sister’s protector, a voice of reason, and perhaps the only person he would ever trust enough to consider a friend. He was also Taylor’s only hope for survival if anything ever happened to him, and even that outlook was grim. Downing a pull of whiskey, Sebastian gave a reluctant shake of his head.
There were too many unknowns. Too many variables that didn’t make sense. As it stood, the assignment was a bust. He had nothing to go on, a fact that wasn’t apt to make Marx happy come morning. There was no sense in dragging the rest of the team down with him, and if the mission was just another ploy for power, things were going to get ugly. There were plenty of people he’d sacrifice if need be, but his partner wasn’t one of them. He owed the man too much, and as much as it pained him, he regarded Josh with the same fondness he’d had for his own brother. Perhaps even more so.
“No,” he finally managed. “I appreciate the offer, but I can handle reading through these on my own. See what you can dig up on the new guy. I’ll bring you up to speed in the morning.”
CHAPTER 7 ~
The rich aroma of charred meat and spices wafted on the air, making Taylor’s mouth water. Billowing clouds of smoke mingled with the warm spring breeze and rolled across the grounds in hazy plumes. Resting a hip against the open sliding glass door, she watched Sebastian man the grill. He’d obviously been home for a while. His unruly curls were still damp and glistened with vibrant shades of auburn and gold in the late afternoon sun. No longer clad in his menacing black uniform, he looked casual and comfortable in a white button up tee and loose fitting khakis. The sight of his bare feet poking out the bottom of his pants made her smile.
Sensing her perusal, he glance
d up. His pale green eyes squinted against the shifting tide of smoke rising off the steaks, but his face broke into a bright smile. “Hi, beautiful.”
“Hey handsome. How long have you been home?”
“Just long enough to shower and get dinner started. How are you feeling?”
She shrugged. “Lazy as sin. As relaxing as it is to spend the entire day in bed, all it seems to make you want to do is sleep.”
Sebastian set the spatula down and approached. “That was the point, darling.”
Wrapping her in his arms, he drew her close. She couldn’t contain a small sigh of pleasure as the dark, sensual undercurrent of his cologne teased her nose. Closing her eyes, she let the smell and feel of his warm body envelop her senses.
“I missed you,” she confessed.
“Me or the freedom to do as you pleased?” he asked, lifting a brow.
“You, Sebastian. Only you.” She rubbed her nose against his neck before kissing the hollow of his shoulder. He drew a deep breath and held it as if pulling her inside him. A shudder worked through his sleek muscles and then he slowly relaxed.
“I missed you too,” he admitted. Pulling away, he straightened.
“What’s with the place settings?” she asked, throwing a curious glance at the plates and silverware gracing the patio table.
“I thought we would eat out here tonight. The fresh air and sunshine will do you some good. If you’re feeling better, you can bring me the serving platter off the counter and get our drinks ready while I pull the meat.”
“Do you want a glass of wine?”
“No, baby. Tea will be fine. I have some work to get through later. Grab the cucumber and seafood salad from the fridge too please.”
He turned back to the grill, his lean frame once again stiffening, as his gaze grew distant. Taylor snagged her lower lip between her teeth, reluctant to leave him for the fear he would slip away. She could feel the darkness and anger gathering around him. It loomed, brooding in the distance, just waiting for its chance to strike. Sebastian set the tongs down and fixed her with a piercing stare. Not wanting to hear what might come next, she hurried for the kitchen.