Cael leaned in so Dex could hear him over the thumping music. "Everything okay?"
"Not sure. I need you, Austen, and West to be on your guard."
Cael studied him for a heartbeat before nodding. He pulled Austen and West close. While Cael talked to them, Dex motioned Zach over. The guy had to bend down so Dex could reach his ear.
"Someone's after Austen. I need you to stick with him. Don't let him out of your sight."
Zach turned his face to speak. "They want to hurt him?"
Dex turned to meet Zach's gaze. "Worse."
Zach straightened, his chiseled jaw set firm and his amber eyes filled with silent fury. He nodded, then turned to Austen and grabbed his wrist. Austen stopped midsentence to stare up at Zach like the guy had just lost his ever-loving mind.
"What the hell are you doing?" Austen tried to jerk his arm out of Zach's grip to no avail. He narrowed his eyes at Zach. "Let go," he hissed.
Zach bent forward so he was nose-to-nose with Austen, his scowl deep as he growled, "No."
Austen's eyes clouded, and he stepped over to Dex, Zach right beside him.
"What the hell is going on, Daley? Why do I have Baloo attached to my arm?"
Zach let out a weary sigh. "You know, the bear jokes get old really fast."
"Well, I'll be damned. A whole sentence in three hours," Austen drawled. "Must be a new record for you." He turned his attention back to Dex before Zach could reply. "Talk. Now."
Dex told Austen everything he knew, leaving out mention of TIN, since they were in front of Zach. He also left out his source. Austen would just have to trust the intel was reliable.
Austen shook his head in disbelief. "Let me get this straight. A bunch of assholes are on their way to grab me, and you think making this guy my nanny is going to stop them?"
Zach frowned. "I'm a THIRDS agent."
Austen rounded on Zach. "Yeah, and not only do I have a higher security clearance than you do, my training and skill set far exceeds yours, so I don't know what the hell it is you think you can do for me that I can't do for myself."
"Austen," Dex warned. Why the hell was Austen lashing out at Zach? The guy was just trying to help.
Austen ignored Dex and poked Zach in the chest, indifferent to the fact Zach could bench-press Austen with one arm tied behind his back without breaking a sweat.
"Listen, whatever little bonding moment you think we had when I was injured, didn't happen. You need to lay off. I don't need you. Can you get that through your thick skull?"
Zach flinched and released Austen. He took a step back, breathed in deep through his nose, then turned and walked away. Dex jerked Austen over to him.
"What the fuck is wrong with you? Why are you being such a dick to him? Can't you see the guy's crazy about you?" Dex was stunned by the pain that filled Austen's eyes.
"Which is why he needs to stay away from me," Austen snapped. "I'm trying to keep him safe. You think this is the first time someone's come after me?" Austen shook his head. He averted his gaze. "I won't let him get hurt because of what I do, or who I am. He deserves better."
Dex nodded. "I understand. Personally, I don't think you're giving him, or yourself, enough credit."
"Yeah, well, not everyone gets to live in your perfect little world, Daley."
There was no point arguing with Austen. The guy was possibly more pigheaded than Ash. Seb, Hudson, Hobbs, Dom, and Zach formed a discreet perimeter around their cheetah Therian friends, and Dex told Austen to think about their next move before he motioned for Ash to follow him off the dance floor so they could talk. Dex kept his eyes on his friends.
"Wolf's here."
"What?" Ash jerked his head up and scanned the floor before Dex put a hand to his shoulder, getting his attention.
"We're not looking for Wolf. And he's not the threat."
Ash blinked at him. "Have you lost your fucking mind? What do you mean Wolf isn't the threat? Since when is he not a threat?"