He threw the cloth haphazardly toward the bathroom door, and it landed somewhere in that general direction. Finn settled in a little more, and Talon gazed down at him in astonishment that he could seem so at ease when Talon was so conflicted.
Talon blew out a slow breath and tightened his arm around Finn. He was right. Finn was dangerous. He was very dangerous, but Talon wasn’t entirely convinced he should worry for the team.
It was Talon’s peace of mind that was the most at risk.
Chapter Twelve
FINN WOKE to a sound in the bathroom, and he remembered everything instantly. He looked over and put a hand out. The Talon-sized dent in the mattress was still warm. He picked up his cell phone: 5:00 a.m. He sat up as he heard the toilet flush, then lay back down quickly. Would it be awkward? Should he pretend to be still asleep? He needed a piss and, ugh, he needed a shower. He vaguely remembered Talon wiping him with a cloth, but the sheet he had lain on most of the night was stiff. Maybe they could get breakfast before they went to the enhanced kids’ unit. Go to Betty’s diner? Then he remembered his lack of cash. He looked up eagerly as the bathroom door opened.
Maybe not. Talon was dressed. He was clearly leaving.
Talon blinked, seeing Finn awake, almost as if he weren’t expecting it.
“Hey,” Finn said. Okay, as a conversational opener, it wasn’t original, but this was awkward, and he didn’t want it to be.
“I was just leaving,” Talon replied, stating the obvious.
Finn’s heart sank. It was going to be awkward. He sighed and sat up. “Do you want a coffee? I need a shower.” He wanted to scream. What he really wanted was for Talon to join him in the shower.
Talon shook his head and picked up his keys from the side of the bed.
Oh shit, thought Finn. Here goes nothing. “Wanna join me? You said last night we were going to interview the manager of the unit.” And then he fucked Finn into the mattress.
Talon shook his head again, then sighed and fixed his cool blue stare on Finn. “I’m sorry. Last night was a mistake. I shouldn’t have let things go that far between us. I’m sorry. This is all on me.”
Finn’s jaw fell.
“I—” Talon took another breath.
“Bullshit,” snapped Finn. “I can’t believe you’re going with the whole ‘It’s not you, it’s me’ speech. You had just as much of a good time as I did. We agreed it wouldn’t interfere with work.”
Talon looked exasperated. “I can’t. I’m sorry.” He swallowed, whirled around, and strode to the door. “Don’t forget to get your door fixed.”
Finn nearly threw something at him. The apartment door closed carefully. All the more deafening because it was quiet. Finn sighed and picked a thread from his sheet. He wanted to pout, to throw a fit. But he wouldn’t. Being a grown-up sucked sometimes. Humiliation turned to anger. Disappointment turned to hurt. Finn had spent his life not measuring up to other people. He shouldn’t be surprised, and he should really, really know better by now. He rubbed at the hurt in his chest and tried hard not to wish this time had worked out a little differently.
On the plus side, he wasn’t some loser virgin anymore. One never knew what would be around the corner, what was waiting just outside that door, and he threw his legs over the edge of the bed and winced. Okay, maybe he wouldn’t be rushing to the door quite yet. Maybe he would have a bath and check if he could walk first.
By the time he had a leisurely soak and stripped and shoved his sheets in the washer, he felt a ton better. In fact, he would be hard-pressed to keep the smile off his face all day. He’d just had the most awesome sex of his life—the only sex of his life—and nothing was gonna spoil his mood. He’d loved every second and wanted more of it, and if Talon was just gonna act like a dick instead of doing something useful with his dick, well, then, he’d look elsewhere.
Finn sighed and thought of the sight of Talon naked last night. He felt his cock stir at the memory. Look elsewhere? Yeah, you keep telling yourself that.
Finn pocketed his phone and his wallet and picked up his car keys. The bath had sorted him out. He wasn’t even wincing. He glanced at himself in the mirror and smiled. He had one of his oldest T-shirts on and jeans. Talon had said they could dress casually as they would either be working out, training, or in uniform from now on. The T-shirt was unavoidable due to his serious lack of clothes. The fact that it showed a picture of Superman on it wasn’t.
He flung open the door just as Drew was lifting his hand to ring the doorbell. Finn paused, embarrassment rushing through him—although to be fair, Drew looked worse.
Drew put his hands up. “I am so sorry. I made a complete ass of myself last night.” He sighed. “I don’t—”
Finn grinned. Nothing was gonna spoil his mood. “It’s fine.”
Drew looked relieved. “Have you eaten?”
Finn shook his head.
“I know this awesome diner. Totally my treat.”
“Betty’s?” Finn asked hopefully. He really shouldn’t, but he couldn’t afford to go and pay for himself. He would return the favor when he’d gotten paid.
“Of course.” Drew grinned, and Finn followed him out.
DREW GROANED and put his fork down. “Have you tried their breakfast platter?”
Finn smiled, stirred his coffee, and took a sip.
Drew looked awkward. “Do you know what’s on the agenda for today? Are you starting work on your new case?”
Finn hesitated. He really needed to know what he was supposed to say to Drew and what he wasn’t. He knew Drew was an agent, but….
“What about you?” he countered. “Are you with us today?”
Drew shrugged. “I’m assuming so. Gregory told me to be early.” He leaned forward. “I hope I didn’t make it awkward for you last night… you know, with Talon.”
“Nah,” said Finn. It was Talon who made it awkward with Talon.
“Look, I want to say something, and it’s got nothing whatsoever to do with you shooting me down last night. I was drunk, and I never get involved with anyone at work. You were right to turn me down. Way too awkward,” Drew said.
Finn stiffened slightly. What was he trying to say?
Drew sighed and stared at his cup. “My bedroom window looks out the back where the cars are. When I woke up feeling like death this morning, I saw Talon’s truck still parked outside.”
Finn’s heart sank, and he took another sip to cover the fact that he had no clue what to say.
“I’m the last person to get all sanctimonious with you. And this has nothing to do with last night. It’s just—you have to be real careful.”
“We’re not allowed relationships on the team,” Finn said flatly. He knew that. It was standard.
Drew looked really uncomfortable. “No, we’re not, but that wasn’t what I meant.” He dumped some sugar into his own coffee and stirred it thoughtfully, so Finn took another nervous sip. Drew lowered his voice. “That reporter wasn’t joking when he said Talon had killed his dad.”
Finn’s eyes shot up. With everything that happened last night, he’d forgotten that. “What do you mean?” he asked cautiously. They wouldn’t let someone on the team who had killed someone unless it was in self-defense. Maybe that’s what Drew meant.
“It was when he was a kid.”
Finn parted his lips in astonishment, and he felt uncomfortable. This was his team leader. This was his partner. He felt disloyal for listening.
“It was when Talon first got his abilities. He can… slow the body.”
Finn knew that. He remembered that day in Gregory’s office, that feeling of suffocation.
“I was told that Talon was hysterical, and his dad tried to calm him down, even restrain him. Talon did his thing. To be honest, he may not have realized it, but… his father had a massive heart attack. There was only Talon and his dad in the house. A neighbor heard Talon shouting, called 911. The paramedics couldn’t revive him, and he was pronounced dead at the scene.”
&n
bsp; Finn didn’t know what to say, and even if he did, he shouldn’t be talking about it with Drew.
“So that’s why I’m telling you to be careful.” Drew leaned forward. “They’re all fucking dangerous. I’m not even sure if they all know exactly what they can do. Michaelson only just got discharged from the burns unit.”
Finn barely heard Drew. He was too busy questioning his sanity. Not because his first thought was to get out of there like any normal person’s would be, but because it wasn’t. He wanted to believe that trying to protect his team was one of the reasons Talon seemed so closed off. Not because it was something Finn had done or something he hadn’t done. Was that why he suddenly did the about-face on his emotions? Did he dare hope there was another reason that sent Talon running, and not because he wasn’t as affected as Finn? He had so many questions, but he still felt uncomfortable asking anyone except the team.
Drew pressed on. “They lose control. Eli lost it when he was sparring with Michaelson.”
“I thought you weren’t there?”
“I wasn’t, but Dennis was working at the time.”
“And he saw it?”
Drew sighed and put down his empty cup. “Look, I’m just giving you a heads-up. Gregory is so desperate for this to work, he’s letting dangerous precedents slide.”
Finn paused as a young girl he hadn’t seen the other day put the check down.
“I got this,” Drew said.
“No,” Finn said firmly. “We split it.” He barely had any cash left, but he suddenly didn’t like Drew paying. He felt awkward about the whole conversation.
“Okay.” Drew stood. “Please don’t say anything about what I’ve told you. I still have to work in this office.”
Finn nodded.
“I’m just trying to help,” Drew added. He’d obviously taken Finn’s silence as censure.
Finn smiled. “I know. I’ll see you at work.” He paid his half of the check and left a tip. He didn’t see Betty before he walked out.
He got into his car, started the engine, and blasted the air conditioner. It had to be eighty degrees already. He was wearing his second pair of jeans, and they were really too hot.
His thoughts drifted back to what Drew said last night…. Not that they were ever far away. He remembered what Vance told him about how hard it was even with the support of a big family. What would it be like to go through something like that without support? He remembered Oliver from the school, and his childhood best friend, Adam. As soon as he got some money together, he would see if he could get a cheap flight to New York. In fact, if Gregory was as sympathetic as he seemed, maybe he could find some information out on Adam.
Which brought him back around to his partner. Talon. Did Finn think Talon deliberately killed his dad? It was an accident. For all Finn knew, Talon’s dad might have had a weak heart and Talon was a scared kid. If something like that had happened to him, he would have freaked out too.
Did he trust Talon? Or was he being naïve? With everything he had learned in the last few days, he should be running for the door. He wasn’t. Was that because he was too trusting?
Or if he were honest, really honest, was it because every second he spent with Talon made it more impossible to walk away?
Chapter Thirteen
FINN DROVE around to the underground garage behind the field office. Like most Florida buildings, it wasn’t exactly underground because of the high water table. It was more like the garage was the ground floor, and the offices were above. He turned the engine off and looked around. He was early, but Talon’s truck was already there, thank God. He half wondered if Talon would go visit the kids without him. He noted some of the other cars and wondered if they belonged to the rest of the team, and where they lived. Vance was the only one who had shared any personal information, really. In fact, Finn learned more about his partner from other people than the man himself. He still thought there was an ability Talon was hiding from him, and he had no clue about the others.
Finn got out and walked to the elevator, making a decision. He was going to see if he could get Agent Gregory on his own today. He wanted to ask about the team, but he wanted to see if Gregory would help him find some information on Adam. He’d also stopped at an ATM and realized he had less than thirty dollars he could withdraw. Mr. Jacobson deposited his latest check early, but it hadn’t cleared. He could have kissed the man, especially as he kind of ran out on him, just leaving a voice mail.
He was going to have to talk to Gregory before he did anything else.
Finn reached the top of the stairs, electing to miss the elevator, pleased he wasn’t too out of breath, and decided whatever else he was doing exercise-wise that day, he was going for a run when he got home.
He walked into the small reception area and stopped in surprise when he saw Sawyer doing some paperwork.
Sawyer looked up as he came in. He didn’t smile, but he didn’t frown either. “They’re all in the gym. Gregory wants a final word before we all leave.”
“I was hoping to see Agent Gregory first,” Finn answered. He looked to the closed office door. “Is he in?”
Sawyer nodded disinterestedly, so Finn knocked on the door and waited for the “Come in” before he opened the door. He went to close it, but Gregory waved his hand to leave the door open.
Shit. He didn’t want to talk about money with Sawyer sitting there.
“Unless it’s private?” Agent Gregory asked, to which, of course, Finn said no because that would look worse. Sawyer didn’t trust him already.
“I actually wanted to ask about my wages, sir,” Finn started nervously, and Gregory looked away from the computer screen he had been frowning at. “The plane ticket kinda wiped me out.”
Before Gregory could answer, the phone on his desk started ringing, and Gregory snatched it up. “Shit,” he said and stood. “I’ll be right down. Find Talon.” He looked at Finn, who stood the second Gregory sounded agitated. “The press are camped out at the front of the building. Apparently someone has told them where the HEROs are.” Gregory smirked a little as he said it. He pulled his jacket off the back of his chair and turned. Finn noticed the shoulder holster he hadn’t seen before, along with the gun neatly tucked in there, and followed Gregory out.
Sawyer was standing respectfully, holding the door open. Finn wanted to cringe again, knowing he would have heard him trying to explain he was broke.
Gregory marched to the elevator, and they all climbed in. He didn’t say a word until they exited on level two. Finn got a quick glance at a large open office and around twenty different people all staring at Gregory when Talon came through a door at the other side. Gael was with him. They were both in shorts, looking like they were just working out. Finn’s mouth went completely dry, but beyond a bare glance, Talon took no notice of him.
Gael spoke first and handed Gregory a piece of paper. “It’s on every network.”
Gregory scanned whatever was written, sighed, and turned to Finn. “I’m sorry. I’m afraid your family has been contacted by the press. The networks are alternating coverage of them with the press conference and Gael taking the bullet for Judge Cryer. They want a statement.”
Finn cringed. Deke was on TV? His mom?
“They’re saying you disappeared in the middle of the night. Thought you’d been kidnapped,” Gael said a little stonily. “You never told them where you were going?” he said in disbelief. “This doesn’t help, you know. It makes the unit look bad.”
“I was told to keep it quiet—”
“Not from your family,” Talon interrupted in exasperation.
“It wasn’t that simple,” he snapped. “I left them a note, and I certainly wasn’t going to get grilled about something I didn’t know enough about.” He fumed. “He wouldn’t have bothered reporting me missing. In fact, until someone tracked him down, I’d bet they hadn’t noticed,” he added bitterly.
Finn swallowed at the silence. It was one of those sentences he really wished he could
take back. He’d sounded like a spoiled child.
“Go get in uniform.” Gregory sighed.
Finn turned and followed the others, ignoring the curious faces of everyone else in the room. In a week he’d never been in the main office, and apart from the bar, he hadn’t met anyone else from the field office. Talon and Gael didn’t look at him as he walked with them back to the locker room. Great. Now Gael was pissed at him as well.
Eli opened the locker room door just as they reached it, a tablet in his hands. “You might want to see this, guys,” he said quietly.
Finn came to a horrified standstill when he heard the high-pitched quivering voice of his mom—the voice she used every time she wanted his dad to agree to something. Finn stared at the screen in mortification. His mom sat in Deke’s lounge, talking to reporters. He parted his lips in astonishment at the photograph of his dad on the wall behind her. It was the one of him over forty years ago, standing quietly in uniform beside the helicopter, handing out candy to the local village kids outside of Saigon. His dad didn’t even know that photo was being taken until the news team sent him a copy when he was sent home. It was one Finn rescued before his mom threw them all away after his dad died. There were no pictures at all after he lost his legs. It was also never on display, and Finn knew it had been put there for the cameras.
He blinked a couple of times and swallowed around the tightness in his throat.
“It’s a disgrace,” his mom cried. “Disappearing in the middle of the night like that. If they’re so proud of this new thing, why does it have to be so secretive?” She put a handkerchief up to her eyes and dabbed.
Finn turned. He couldn’t look at it anymore. He felt like he was going to be sick. He stormed into the locker room and heard the door open and close behind him. He smelled Talon’s scent before he turned around.
Five Minutes Longer Page 13
