Blue words started scrolling across the screen.
Welcome, Destructive Delta, to the TIN associate training program.
They all gaped at the screen, with Dex verbalizing their thoughts. “What the fuck?”
The door swished closed on its own, and the room went into privacy mode. Cael took a step closer to Ash. This whole thing was freaking him out. A small screen appeared in the corner of the board with Sparks waving at them.
“Destructive Delta, this is your new training schedule. Austen will be your contact from this point on.”
Austen appeared behind Sparks and leaned over her shoulder to wave at them. “What’s up, peeps?”
Sparks glared at him, and with a grin, he pulled away and out of sight.
“As I was saying. Austen will be your point of contact. Any time you see the symbol Agent Daley touched, it means you have a message from me not related to the THIRDS. The message will remain onscreen for a limited amount of time before it deletes itself permanently. All communication is untraceable. I have high hopes for Destructive Delta. I expect you won’t disappoint me.”
“What’s going on?” Sloane asked. “What is all this?”
“You’ll know more in due time. For now, continue with your duties and your training. Sparks out.”
Before any of them could utter another word, the screen returned to their training schedule. The icon that had been on the bottom right was no longer there. Dex dropped himself into his chair as the room came out of privacy mode and the door opened.
“So…,” Dex said. “Who’s up for a few drinks at Dekatria tonight?”
Everyone put their hands up.
“Good.” Dex swiveled in his chair, a puzzled look on his face. “Good. Okay. Fuck, this place is weird.”
Everyone promised to meet up tonight at Dekatria, and Cael headed for his office behind Rosa. He was actually looking forward to setting up some boring algorithms for a change. Ash caught up to him, leaning in to speak quietly.
“Pick you up at eight?”
Cael’s pulse fluttered. “That sounds an awful lot like date talk, Agent Keeler.” Ash wriggled his brows, and Cael laughed. “Eight it is.”
With a wink, Ash was off, catching up to Letty and giving her a playful push. Cael could hardly wait. He knew Ash would still be reserved at the bar out in the open, but he was just glad to be spending time with him after everything that had happened. With a skip in his step, he followed Rosa into their office for a conversation on what he should wear tonight.
ASH TOOK a swig of his beer, his gaze on the dance floor, where Cael was dancing with their teammates. Everyone was out there, even Sloane and Dex, but Ash’s eyes remained on Cael and the easy way his body moved to the rhythm of the music, as if he could feel it down to his soul. His smile showed how much he loved it. The beat picked up, and Cael bounced around with Rosa and her girlfriend, Milena, who finally managed to get some time away from her job as an antiques dealer. Ash had no idea there was even such a demand for antiques, but then what the hell did he know about it? Letty danced with Dimples the firefighter, and Calvin was off to one side dancing with Hobbs, who was back on his real medication. Lou was behind the bar with Bradley, while Seb chatted to Taylor at the bar.
Several guys had tried dancing with Cael, who’d polit
ely declined. Ash wasn’t overbearing. Cael could dance with whoever he liked, even if the thought of a guy getting close to Cael made Ash want to punch one of the asshats. They’d been having a great time. Dex did his stupid karaoke before everyone hit the dance floor except for Ash, who wasn’t much into it. Not that he couldn’t. He never really felt the urge to dance. Of course now….
Cael threw his head back and laughed at something his brother said to him. Ash took another swig of his beer and put it down. He worried his bottom lip.
“Fuck it.” Ash got up and waded through the mass of bodies on the dance floor, pressed together as they moved to the sensual rhythm of the pop song. Cael was dressed in his gray Converse sneakers, charcoal jeans, and a black V-neck long-sleeved T-shirt that accentuated his sinewy frame. His jaw was covered in stubble, and his silvery eyes sparkled to rival diamonds, his lips wide in a gorgeous smile.
A Therian next to Cael with a wide grin was obviously flirting, his hand reaching out to take hold of Cael’s waist. Ash clamped a hand down on his wrist and loomed over him with a sweet smile.
“Fuck off.”
The guy swallowed hard and nodded fervently before taking off.
Turning to Cael, Ash gave him a sheepish grin. “Sorry. That was mean.”
Cael laughed. “And that bothers you?”
“Nope,” Ash said with a shrug. “I just don’t want you to think I’m going to be some possessive Neanderthal.”
Cael gave him a knowing look before asking, “So, what was that about?”