“I’m okay.” He pulled back and looked Sloane over. “What about you? Are you hurt?”
“You mean besides feeling like I’ve been struck by lightning? I’m good. Just a few grazes.”
“I’m a little confused,” Ash said, coming to stand beside them. “Winters is alive. How is he alive after all the shit he put us through?”
Dex nodded. “Winters killed Sparks’s husband, he’s the reason she can’t see her daughter, and he’s responsible for Tucker’s death. If there’s anything left of the guy when Sparks is done with him, she’s promised him to Wolf after.”
“Fuck.” Ash shook his head. “Yeah, he’s going to wish you’d killed him.”
“I can’t believe he was lying to us this whole time,” Calvin said, shaking his head, his eyes glassy. “He fucking sat there in front of me, acting like he cared, when really he hated me and what I was.”
Dex opened his mouth, but then Hobbs pushed past them, heading down the pier. Calvin was going to follow, but Dex stopped him. “Let me have a word with him. Please.”
Calvin nodded.
Dex left his team and headed down the pier. Hobbs had stopped to one side, his back turned to Dex as he gazed out at the water.
“Hey, big guy.”
The tears that Hobbs wiped from his cheeks broke Dex’s heart. Out of all of them, Dex understood how Winters’s betrayal had crushed Hobbs the most. Although Hobbs never talked to Winters using words, he still communicated with him often because he’d trusted Winters.
Hobbs shook his head, his fists balled at his sides, and his green eyes filled with anger.
“Talk to me, Hobbs.”
Hobbs shook his head fervently, his lips pressed together. He swiped a hand over his mouth, and jerked his hand out, like he was tossing his voice in the ocean. Dex’s heart stopped, and he grabbed Hobbs by the arms.
“No. Don’t you fucking dare. That asshole does not get to undo all the progress you’ve made. Hobbs, look at me.”
Hobbs shook his head, tears streaming down his cheeks. Desperation and panic rose inside Dex.
“Ethan, look at me,” Dex demanded.
Hobbs looked down at him, his bottom lip trembling and his face crumbling. Dex stepped close and took hold of his face.
“Ethan, you can’t let what that asshole did stop you from being you. Yes, he betrayed us, and I promise you he is going to hell for that, but all the progress you made over the years was you. What he did doesn’t change the fact that you’re fucking amazing, and brave, and the best at what you do. It doesn’t change how much Calvin adores you, or how proud your family is of you.” Dex smiled through his tears. “It doesn’t change how much I love you. Winters has taken so much from us. Please don’t let him take you too.”
Hobbs lost the fight against his tears, and the dam broke. He hugged Dex tight to his chest and lowered his head, whispering in his ear, “I love you too. I’m sorry. I was mad.”
“I know. And there’s nothing to be sorry for, big guy.” Dex closed his eyes, relief running through him as he ran a hand over Hobbs’s back. When he opened his eyes, Calvin was there, heartache and concern all over his boyish face. Dex tapped Hobbs’s shoulder, and Hobbs pulled back. He turned and drew Calvin into his arms, his face buried in Calvin’s hair. Dex wiped at his cheeks as he made his way over to Sloane. This wasn’t something they would be over easily, and the THIRDS would no doubt expect them to see another appointed psychologist. Dex felt for the poor soul who’d be taking Winters’s place.
“He okay?” Sloane asked, worried.
“He’s taking it hard, but I think he’ll heal. It’ll take some time.” He cleared his throat before he got emotional again. “So where are we at?”
“TIN’s rounded up everyone here,” Letty said, motioning behind them. “We’ve hit the Makhai hard, and with Winters off the board, the rest of them don’t stand a chance.”
Dex let out a shaky breath. He stared up at Sloane. “It’s done.”
Sloane pulled him close and kissed the top of his head. “Yeah, baby. It’s finally over.”
As they walked back toward the yard where the container had been, Ash spoke up. “I hate to be the one to bring everyone down, but you all heard Sparks. This is just one branch of an organization whose reach stretches who knows how far.”
“And we’ll get to them too,” Sloane promised, slipping his hand into Dex’s and lacing their fingers together. “Right now, we have something equally important to get to.”
Dex beamed up at Sloane, but then he remembered Tony. “Where’s Dad?” he asked his brother.
“Back at the estate,” Cael replied. “He was determined to come out here, but thankfully Sparks convinced him someone needed to stay and keep everyone safe in case Winters had anything else up his sleeve. With your aunt there, Thomas, and the other parents, he gave in. We had plenty of agents on-site, but I think she was just afraid of something hap