Smoke & Mirrors

by Charlie Cochet

  Moros looked at them and laughed, a horrible gurgling sound. He spat out a mouthful of blood, his head falling back against the floor. “There… there will be others.”

  “We’ll be waiting,” Dex said, watching the light go out of the bastard’s eyes. He was dead. Dex followed the EMTs as they wheeled Tony to the ambulance, Sparks holding his hand. Dex couldn’t help his smirk. “Guess we know what my dad was doing working late.”

  Chapter 12

  “SO, YOU and my dad.”

  Dex stood beside Sparks outside his dad’s hospital room. Cael was inside, asleep in the armchair next to their dad’s bed. He’d cried himself to exhaustion before falling asleep. The bullet had done some damage, but not nearly as much as the doctors had expected. Dex was convinced Tony had intimidated the thing into leaving his body without any more grief. Tony would be off his feet, not to mention be on leave for some time, but he was alive, and the doctors were confident the recovery would go smoothly. Dex expected no less from Sergeant Anthony Maddock. Sparks had remained outside, and Dex felt for her. No one could know about her relationship with his dad. Not because the THIRDS cared, but because TIN didn’t know, and it could pose a threat to her position. Too many risks. Too many risks to Tony’s life. To their family.

  Sparks gave him a small smile. “He wanted to tell you and Cael, but I asked him to wait, telling him you were already going through so much. The truth is, I was scared.”

  “Of what?”

  “That you wouldn’t approve, and I know if you’re against something, it’s likely Cael will feel the same.”

  She gave a sniff and straightened. Always so in control, except now Dex could see the chink in her armor.

  “He loves you boys more than anything, and he’d never do anything to hurt you. I was afraid if he told you and Cael, that you’d give him an ultimatum. Me or you boys. It wouldn’t go well for me.”

  Dex narrowed his eyes at her. “If you think that, then you obviously don’t know me and Cael very well. Even if we didn’t approve—and the verdict is still out on that one considering everything you’ve put us through—you really think we would do anything that would hurt our dad? If you make him happy, treat him right, who the hell are we to say he shouldn’t be with you? Of course if you hurt him, then we’ll be having words.”

  “A lot of people think we shouldn’t be together. I’m a Therian. He’s Human.”

  “Who gives a shit? You know how many people give me and Sloane dirty looks for being together? How many times we get called names or get spit at? Fuck them.”

  Sparks chuckled. “You sound like Tony.”

  “He’s a smart man. You should listen to him. Not about movies, though. Never listen to him about movies. He doesn’t know his Star Wars from his Star Trek.”

  “Star Wars is the one with the Klingons, right?”

  Dex peered at her, and she laughed. He’d never heard her laugh before. It was odd to see but suited her. It changed her whole face, almost made her look like a different person.

  “I’m kidding.”

  Dex held back a smile. “I think you’ll do okay. Cael’s going to hit the roof, but he’ll come around.” Well, he supposed now was as good a time as any. “You told me my mom wasn’t a spy.”

  “She wasn’t.”

  “I listened to the rest of the tapes, remember? She specifically said hand the evidence over to ‘the proper operatives.’ Not proper authorities, but operatives. Come on, Sonya. Let’s put all our cards on the table here. My mom couldn’t have done everything she did without help, and my dad, as good as he was, wouldn’t have known how to breach Shultzon’s security.”

  Sparks arched an eyebrow at him. “All right. I suppose I owe you that much.”

  Dex grinned wickedly. “Oh, you owe me a hell of a lot more, but let’s start there.”

  And just like that, she was all business again. “Very well. Dex, only Therians can work for TIN. That’s why it’s Therian intelligence, but just as we have Therian freelancers, we have Human associates. We’re hardly going to dismiss an asset because they’re not Therian. The war between Humans and Therians affects us all. Despite what many Therians believe, we have a great many Human allies. Like your mother and father.

  “TIN took notice of them when they were still in college. They held such great promise. I was still in high school, but I was already at the academy. TIN searched out the best and brightest. We reached out to them not long after you were born. Everything changed for them then.” Sparks smiled, a genuine warm smile.

  “Wait, did you know them?”

  “I’d done surveillance, and they were used as examples of the ideal Human associates, allies who were interested in making a difference in the world.” She looked away, as if lost in an old memory. “The night your parents were killed was the first and last time I cried. I’d grown attached to them, and that was something I couldn’t afford. If my superiors had found out, I would have been sent home, my career over before it started. I kept an eye on you after that. Always from afar. When your partner killed that Therian informant, I knew it was time to bring you in, to have you closer.”

  “So Shultzon was right?”

  “Some of it. You were destined for great things, just like I believed your parents to be. I figured it was only a matter of time before they came looking for you, and I was afraid they’d use the death of your parents to get you working for them against us. I didn’t know you very well or how loyal you were to your family—Tony and Cael.”

  “If you’d been studying me like you say you have, then you’d know how much they mean to me. I’d never betray them.”

  “You’d be surprised what people are capable of when faced with the truth.”

  The way she said the words told Dex she was speaking from experience, but it wasn’t his place to ask.

  “Not long ago, I had hoped you would work for TIN as a Human associate, but now….”

  She reached into her jacket pocket and pulled out two black wallets. She handed them to Dex. He opened the top one and stared down at the ID. It was a badge with his photo and the title of Therian Intelligence Network Operative. The second one was Sloane’s.

  “I don’t get it. I thought you had to be a Therian to work for TIN.”

  Sparks cocked her head to one side as she studied him. “And you are. Well, part of you. TIN would very much like to have the first Human-Therian working with them. Hang on to those, and think about it.”

  “You really think we’d work for TIN? We’ve seen how you guys operate. The secrecy, the whole means-to-an-end thing. You really think we’d go around kidnapping people, torturing them? Shit, they call you Tin Men for a reason.”

  Sparks rolled her eyes. “It’s just a nickname. We make people believe what they want to, but I’ll be the first to say that if anyone doubts our conviction, we will demonstrate what we’re capable of. However, our operatives are encouraged to work according to their skill sets. We don’t force you to fit a mold, Dex. You and Sloane could use whatever methods work for you, as long as we see results, and that they are of course carried out within certain parameters. We are still enforcers of the law.” A wicked gleam came into her eye, and she cocked her head to one side, studying him. “We’re known to bend the rules on occasion. Sound like anyone you know?”

  Dex coughed into his hand. “Nope. Have no idea.”

  “Think about it. You wouldn’t have to leave the THIRDS entirely. I didn’t. We could make it work.” She turned back to watch Tony sleeping. “He doesn’t know.”

  Dex let out a sigh. “The longer you leave it, the more you’ll break his heart. You should tell him.”

  She nodded, a tear rolling down her cheek. Dex had no idea she cared about Tony that much. He had no idea how long it had been going on, and Dex had to give his dad props. He was way better at keeping his relationship a secret than he and Sloane. Dex put his arm around Sparks’s shoulders. Usually she was in her heels and taller than him, dressed in her pantsuit, exuding
power and unfaltering control. Now in jeans and sneakers, she was a couple of inches shorter than him. She was soft, tucked against his side. He’d always seen her as this powerhouse. This unbreakable woman. Fierce. And she was still all those things, but she was also the kind of woman who looked at his dad with adoration.

  Tony slowly opened his eyes. When he seemed able to focus, he turned his head and saw them. Dex smiled and waved. The smile on his dad’s face was amazing, his expression one of relief and then love.

  “Why don’t you go in. Cael sleeps like the dead. Family trait. He won’t be awake for some time. I’m going to meet Sloane in the canteen for some coffee. I promised my dad we’d sit and talk about what happened after I saw Shultzon. He needs to know what’s happened to me.” He tucked the IDs she’d given him in the pocket inside his leather jacket. “Tell Dad I’ll be back.”

  She nodded quickly and went in, closing the door behind her before rushing over to his bed. Dex couldn’t hear what they were saying, but whatever it was made his dad really happy. He looked over at Dex and mouthed the words “Thank you.” Dex gave him a wink, his heart swelling when Tony brought Sonya in for a kiss, her big red waves falling over her shoulder. They looked good together.

  Dex shoved his hands into his pockets and went down to the Garden Café, where Sloane was waiting for him with coffee. Sloane had needed a few minutes to himself to wrap his head around everything, and Dex had kissed his cheek and told him to text him. The text had come through five minutes ago.

  Have coffee. Will trade for kiss.

  In the café, Dex found Sloane sitting serenely by himself at a table by a big tropical plant. Dex tiptoed as he got closer and planted a kiss on his cheek.

  “You got your kiss. Now where’s my coffee?”

  Sloane chuckled. “Hey, Trouble. How’s your dad?”

  “Making out with Sparks.”

  Sloane almost spit out his coffee. He wiped his mouth with his napkin and stared at Dex.

  “Are you serious?”

  “Yeah, apparently they’ve been seeing each other for some time.” Dex took a sip of his bucket-sized cappuccino. So good.

  “Wow, they’re good.” Sloane tipped his head in approval. “We could have taken lessons from them.”

  “Yeah, we were pretty shit at hiding the fact we were totally boning each other,” Dex teased.

  “Aw, you’re so romantic.”

  Sloane kissed him, and Dex all but melted against him. He tasted of his two favorite things, Sloane and coffee. When he pulled back, he looked puzzled.

  “I’m surprised your dad didn’t say anything. Sparks, I’m not surprised, despite all the shit she gave us about our relationship.”

  Dex told Sloane how Sparks had told Tony not to, using the excuse that Dex had a lot on his plate but was really worried he wouldn’t approve, and she’d been right about Cael. His little brother might be all grown up with a mind of his own, and there were times when he and Dex argued, but for the most part, if Dex went along with something, Cael often followed. An old habit from when they were kids.

  “I wonder if that’s why she was so open to changing the no-fraternizing rule,” Dex mused. “Guess we’ll never know. Have you heard from Ash?”

  “Yeah. THIRDS HQ is business as usual, but the higher-ups are shitting themselves. The Department of Therian Defense is coming under fire, and TIN’s taken control of everything until the investigation is over. The Human Branch of Defense will be under scrutiny now too. If what Moros says is true, and there are more of them, they’ll be lying low for a while. Too much heat, and TIN’s operatives are everywhere. I have to give them credit. When they clean up, they really clean up.”

  “Hm.”

  Dex nodded and took another sip of his coffee. Sloane eyed him.

  “What?”

  “Sparks gave us something.” He reached into his pocket and handed the wallets to Sloane, who opened one first, then the other before laughing.

  “You’re shitting me.” When Sloane realized he wasn’t kidding, he sobered up quickly. “You’re not shitting me. She wants us to work for TIN?”

  Dex shrugged. “She said we could do things our way, provided we get results and our covers don’t get blown. No one can know what I am or who we work for.”

  “Wait, you’re actually considering this?”

  Sloane tossed the wallets on the table, and Dex returned them to his pocket.

  “I can’t believe this.” He met Dex’s gaze. “You want to leave the THIRDS?”

  “No, I mean…. No. We wouldn’t be leaving. There would be changes, but….”

  “Dex? Talk to me, babe. What’s on your mind?”

  “I keep thinking about my parents, about everything they did, everything they risked for the greater good. A better world for Therians and Humans. It seems like every month there’s some new maniac trying to make it rain blood, bringing chaos to innocent people, to our friends and family. What if instead of dealing with the puppets, we try to bring down the puppet masters, the ones skulking in the shadows? We could make a real difference.”

  “We are making a difference.”

  “I know we are, but think about the bigger picture, Sloane. Think about all those assholes like Moros. We know they exist, they’re out there, and who the hell knows when they’ll come down on us, when they’ll strike and take someone we love from us. Do you really want to sit back and just wait for them to come to us? Not only could we keep our city safe, but our country, our world.”

  Sloane let out a low whistle. “The world? Just two of us?”

  “As part of a bigger organization. Think of the resources TIN must have. The freedom not to be entangled in all that red tape. You hate red tape.”

  “But it’s necessary, Dex. Without rules, without law, we have chaos.”

  “I know that, but let’s face it. It’s flawed. The law is black and white, but the world and the people in it run a vast spectrum of colors. What about Special Ops? The CIA? You’re telling me they’re sitting behind their desks waiting for a stamp that tells them it’s okay to take down that guy who plans to kill hundreds of people in one swoop? Or that billionaire douchebag who hands out payoffs and fudges results so he can make millions off an experimental drug that could kill thousands, because hey, what’s thousands versus billions of people and dollars?”

  “What about everything they’ve put us through? The secrets? The lies? You want us to just look the other way?”

  “That all happened with us being on the outside looking in, but surely that would change once we’re on the inside. Look at the training we’ve received, and that’s just from Sparks. Imagine what we could learn, what we’d be capable of as operatives. I’m not saying we should trust them. Not right off the bat. But think about everything we could accomplish.” He took Sloane’s hand in his. “Together. Me and you.”

  “You feel strongly about this, don’t you?”

  Dex let out a heavy sigh. “I’m just saying, think about the possibilities, with us doing things our way. Whatever you decide”—Dex smiled at him and squeezed Sloane’s hand—“I’ll back you up. I don’t go anywhere without you.”

  Sloane nodded. He took a deep breath and let it out slowly. “What about our family, our friends, our team?”

  Dex shrugged. “Maybe it’s time Ash took on a bigger role in the team.”

  Sloane brought Dex’s fingers to his lips for a kiss. “I don’t know if I can take this step.”

  Dex’s heart sank, but he understood. He couldn’t ask this of Sloane. This was something he felt strongly about, something he wanted, and it wasn’t just him anymore. It was them. This would change everything. Their lives. They’d be sent all over the world, doing God only knew what.

  “Unless you take it with me as my husband.”

  Dex’s hand stopped in midair. Very slowly, he lowered it to the table. “I’m sorry. For a moment there, I thought you said husband.”

  Sloane’s amber eyes glowed as he smiled. He got up, mov
ed his chair, and reached into his pocket. “This isn’t where I planned to do this, but I don’t think I can wait anymore.”

  The café buzzed with chatter and gasps as Sloane got down on one knee. Dex’s eyes widened, his heart about to beat out of him. He couldn’t breathe. Oh my God, he couldn’t breathe.

  “Dexter Justice Daley, will you do me the honor of starting a new adventure with me as my husband?”

  Sloane opened the small black box, and Dex gasped.

  “Is that…?”

  “Your dad’s wedding ring. Tony was keeping it safe for you. When I told him I wanted to marry you, he brought it over for me. So… will you marry me?”

  Dex nodded, tears in his eyes as Sloane slipped the ring onto his finger, the whole place erupting into applause. Sloane stood, and Dex threw himself into his embrace. Dex had never been happier. He squeezed Sloane’s neck so tight, Sloane groaned.

  “Sorry,” Dex said with a sniff through his tears. “Forgot about the whole strength thing.”

  “We’ll work on it,” Sloane said with a smile. They sat down, several people walking by to congratulate them. Dex played with the ring on his finger, still unable to believe it. It was a simple band made of titanium with a tiny, barely there heart etched on it. Dex couldn’t stop staring at it.

  “I had no idea he had this,” Dex said, brushing a finger over the smooth surface. Sloane covered his hand with his larger one.

  “May it bring us as much love and happiness as it brought your parents. I love you, Dex. We’ll talk to Sparks. If we’re going to do this, there are conditions, and I want certain assurances put into place. I also want to be married first.”

  Dex’s head shot up. “Are you sure? This isn’t all moving too quickly for you?”