Sloane left the office, heading through the bull pen toward the elevator. Before he reached it, Maddock took hold of his arm and pulled him to one side, his voice a quiet hiss.
“You’re not going anywhere until you tell me why you’ve broken my son’s heart.”
“No offense, Sarge, but it’s none of your goddamn business.”
“Damn it, Sloane.”
“Sarge, I need to ask you—” Dex came to an abrupt halt when he saw Sloane. “Sorry, I didn’t realize you were here.”
“I was just leaving.”
“Right.”
And because his day wasn’t fucked enough, Taylor appeared. He placed a hand to Dex’s lower back, and leaned in. “Hey, you wanna grab some lunch later?”
“Are you fucking joking?” Sloane ground out through his teeth. “Fuck off, Taylor.”
Taylor straightened. “Pretty sure I wasn’t talking to you, Brodie.”
Sloane got in Taylor’s face. They were practically chest to chest. “You’re hitting on my fucking mate in front of me?”
“From what I hear, you walked away.” Taylor gave his shoulder a shove. “You don’t deserve him. How many chances has he given you? Step aside and let a real Alpha show you how it’s done.”
The last of Sloane’s resolve snapped, and he pulled back a fist. Maddock and several other Therian agents were all over them, breaking them apart before someone could land a hit. Who the hell did Taylor think he was? That he could just step in and take Sloane’s place?
“What part of no don’t you fucking understand?” Sloane spat out. “You stay the fuck away from him!”
“Screw you, Brodie! You miserable fuck!” Taylor shook his head, and sneered. “The infallible Sloane Brodie. Prince among Therians. You think we should all fall at your feet like the peasants we are. Fuck you!”
“Get him in meeting room C. Now,” Maddock ordered the agents dragging Taylor away. “Stay with him. I’ll be there as soon as I can.” He turned to Sloane who jerked his arm free from Maddock’s.
“I’m fine.”
“Yeah, you look it,” Maddock growled. “What the hell was that about?”
Beside them, Dex didn’t say a word. He averted his gaze, and it hurt Sloane to see him looking so tired. His hair was unruly, his beard growing in. Normally Sloane would have thought he looked sexy, but the bags under his eyes, the redness around them, pained Sloane.
“I know it’s not your fault, Dex, but you have to understand how fucked-up all this is.”
“Yeah, I understand perfectly. I also understand that instead of letting me in, you’re just going to fucking brood about it.”
Sloane’s hackles went up. “Well, seeing as how the only person who could explain is fucking dead, there’s not much else I can do, is there?”
Dex flinched. “Wow, I hadn’t expected that. Thanks, babe. You’re getting really good at knowing where to stick that knife.”
Fuck. What the hell was the matter with him? “I’m sorry. That was a dick move. This is why I need to go,” Sloane pleaded. “I don’t want to keep hurting you. Whatever you might think, I do love you, Dex.”
He turned to go when Maddock stopped him again.
“Who’s dead?”
“Nothing. Don’t worry about it.”
Maddock grabbed them each by an arm and dragged them along with him. “You two are coming with me, and so help me if you even think about walking away from me, I will discipline your asses so fast you won’t know what hit you.” He led them to his office, pushing them in before setting the room to privacy mode. “Neither of you is getting out of this room until someone gives me an answer. Now, who’s dead?”
Dex turned to Maddock. “There’s been a lot of shit happening that you don’t know about.”
“I’m listening.” Maddock perched himself on the edge of his desk, his arms folded over his chest. “I’ve been waiting for you to come to me for months.”