“Don’t forget, you guys are going to have to be ready for when Dex and I need you. You’re our backup, same as it’s always been.” Destructive Delta might be the new training team, but they were also Dex and Sloane’s assets. It was going to be a challenge for all of them, balancing their old lives with the new.
“Hell yeah!” Letty wiped at her eyes before turning to head back to her desk. “Your boy’s in the new team training bay, feeling sorry for himself. He’s been in there since he got back from seeing Winters. I think they talked about him being Team Leader.”
“Really?”
Cael nodded sadly. “When I asked him what was wrong, he said he just needed a few minutes on his own, how Winters had talked to him about his new role on the team and how he was going to do a great job.”
Shit. “Okay, thanks, guys.”
Sloane left Unit Alpha and took the elevator down to Sparta. He needed Ash to be at his best. Strangely enough, Sloane found himself feeling nervous all of a sudden, which was ridiculous. This was Ash. No one knew Sloane better than Ash. Dex might know Sloane intimately, but Ash and Sloane had been together for almost thirty years. Fuck, he was getting old. He couldn’t help his smile, knowing Ash would curse him out for thinking that since they were the same age.
Just next door to his personal training bay was the Destructive Delta’s new team training bay, the one Ash had asked Sparks for when she offered Destructive Delta the position. It was just as high-tech as Sloane’s, but much bigger. It was divided into different training sections, and he found Ash on a bench, hunched over, near the boxing ring, his hands covering his face. Knowing Ash would hate being caught in an emotional state, Sloane called out as he approached.
“There you are, Keeler.”
Ash jolted upright. He wiped at his face before clearing his throat, his voice rough when he spoke. “Fuck. Sorry, I didn’t even realize what time it was.”
“That’s okay. I stopped by the office. Saw everyone’s new digs. Cael seems happy about the kitchen.”
Ash chuckled. “Yeah. Him and Hobbs. Couple of dorks. They already stocked the fridge.”
Sloane took a seat on the bench and patted the space next to him. “Talk to me.”
“Oh no. Fuck that. I ain’t having no come-to-Jesus moment with you. I’m fine. This is all so… fucked-up. I can’t stop thinking about the Sarge out there, and now all this shit. Anyway, I’m fine.”
Sloane called bullshit. Ash had just been sitting in an empty training bay, hands covering his face, and from his reddened eyes, it was more than obvious this was all hitting him harder than he expected.
Sloane nodded. He glanced over at the ring and grinned. “Okay. How about a few rounds?”
Ash eyed him. “If I bruise you, your annoying fiancé is going to bitch at me.”
Sloane shrugged before he started to remove his boots. “Guess I’ll have to make sure you don’t bruise me.”
Ash laughed. “Oh shit. So now that you’re TIN, you think you can kick my ass?”
“I still have a few days before it’s official. What’s the matter? Afraid your CQC isn’t up to snuff? What have you been doing during all those TIN training sessions?”
“Fuck you. I can kick your ass no matter what title you got.”
“Come on, then.”
“When your man comes whining, just remember you asked for it.” Ash grabbed a pair of gloves and began slipping them on.
“Gloves? What happened to ‘you asked for it’?”
“Are you kidding? Sarge will kick my ass if I bruise that pretty face of yours just before your wedding.” He wrinkled his nose, and Sloane got it. None of them wanted to think otherwise. Tony had to be okay. They had to get him back.
Ash hit his gloves together and winked at Sloane. “I’ll make sure they’re small bruises that’ll heal quickly.”
Sloane pulled on his own gloves. “Or you could just not hit me in the face.”
“Where’s the fun in that?”
“Right. Okay, then.” Sloane climbed into the ring as Ash did the same. He hit his gloves together, hopping on his toes and rounding his shoulders as Ash prepped himself. When Ash was ready, he hit his gloves together.
“Okay, hotshot. Show me what you got.”
Sloane shook his head, amused. Ash had no idea.