Tried & True

by Charlie Cochet

  The two cheetahs sat up tall, necks stretched, and started chirping their little furry faces off.

  “Hey, don’t you look at me. You got a problem, you take it up with the big guy. Remember when I accidentally dropped that piece of chocolate on the bench and it melted? He put a glitter bomb in my locker. I went out on call looking like a Human disco ball. Do not mess with the dude’s truck.”

  The two looked at each other, then at Hobbs, who happened to stand up on his hind legs to put his paws on Calvin’s shoulders. He was huge. The two bounced over to Ash, a symphony of chirps thrown at him. Ash flattened his ears back, and Dex felt sorry for the guy.

  “Hey, Ash.”

  Ash perked up, his tail moving subtly.

  “Did you hear Sloane calling you? I could’ve sworn he called you.”

  Ash bobbed his head before darting off toward Sloane as if someone had set fire to his tail. Cael and West took off after him, but West stopped halfway and turned back. He dashed over to Dom and chirped at him before circling him, rubbing his head all over Dom, then taking off again.

  Rosa and Letty went to play Frisbee with the boys, and Dex arched an eyebrow at Dom.

  “Don’t,” Dom muttered.

  Dex held up his hands.

  The Frisbee came Dom’s way, as did West. Dom shot to his feet and snatched the Frisbee out of the air before West could. Dom laughed.

  “Oh shit, gotta be quicker than that, rock star.”

  Dom teased West with the Frisbee, and West jumped up on his hind legs, his front paws on Dom’s chest as he chirped at him. Dom laughed as he moved the Frisbee from one hand to the other, keeping it away from West. Changing tactics, West ran circles around Dom before slipping through his legs and tripping him. Dom landed on the grass with a laugh, West rubbing his head under Dom’s neck and face.

  If Dom wasn’t careful, he was going to get his heart broken, and Dex would hate for that to happen.

  Dex’s phone buzzed a reminder, and he cursed under his breath. He better move his ass, or he was going to be late. One last tux fitting. He might or might not have eaten one too many cake samples. Dex got to his feet and whistled. Sloane jumped to his paws and craned his neck, tail twitching before he spotted Dex, and then he bounded over. With a big smile, Dex crouched down in front of him.

  “I gotta go meet Tony at the tux place. Meet you back here for lunch after, okay?”

  Sloane rubbed his head on Dex’s face, and Dex hugged him.

  “I love you too. I’ll text you when I’m done.”

  Sloane sat on his haunches as Dex stood. He looked up at Dex with big amber eyes.

  “Don’t look at me with that face. You know you’re not allowed to see me in my tux before the wedding.”

  Sloane huffed, and Dex chuckled. He scratched him behind the ear before calling out to Rosa. She jogged over and gave him a hug.

  “I’m gonna leave Sloane’s kit with you. I have to run off for a final tux fit. Shouldn’t be too long.”

  “Ooh!” She clapped her hands excitedly. “I can’t wait to see you in your tux. You’re going to look so gorgeous.”

  “Aw, thanks. Keep your eye on this one. He’s dying to see the tux, even though he knows he’s not supposed to.”

  “I’m on it,” Rosa said. “Say hi to the Sarge for us.”

  “Will do.” Dex hugged her and waved goodbye before he called a cab.

  ON THE drive over, Dex was actually nervous, which was silly, considering this was the third time he was trying on the made-to-order double-breasted tuxedo. Lou had helped him pick a style that was elegant yet modern.

  When he stepped through the door, Martina was there to greet him with open arms. “My darling!” She hugged him close, giving each cheek a kiss. “How are you feeling so close to your big day?”

  “Nervous. It comes and goes,” Dex said with a smile, following her through the shop, past wooden shelves filled with colorful fabric, displays with shirts, and rows upon rows of ties in all colors and patterns. At the back of the shop were several doors—the middle he knew led to the larger of the private fitting rooms. He stepped inside and closed the door behind him. The Tiffany lamps provided the room with a warm glow, and he liked the light gray wallpaper made to look like connecting sewing patterns of different suit cuts. There was tufted leather seating and a sleek coffee table with fashion magazines, racks of shirts and trousers, and even a silver liquor cart.

  Martina walked to the cart and proceeded to mix him a Spritz, complete with an orange slice. She brought it to him with a knowing smile.

  “I think you need this.”

  He knew better than to argue. “Thanks.” He took the drink and walked over to the large couch.

  “Lou says you’ve eaten too much cake.”

  “He exaggerates,” Dex assured her before taking a sip of his cocktail. Ooh, tasty.

  Martina hummed and gave him a pointed look. “Lou does not exaggerate,” she said, wagging a perfectly manicured fingernail at him. She motioned over to a black garment bag hanging from a hook on the wall.

  “Finish your drink, and try on your tuxedo. I’ll be outside when you’re ready.”

  Dex smiled brightly at her. “Thank you, Martina. You’re the best.”

  She shook her head in amusement before letting herself out. As he sipped his cocktail and tried to get his pulse to come down a bit, he looked around the room. Sloane had been in this very room trying on his tuxedo. The thought sent the butterflies in his stomach fluttering, and he couldn’t help his dopey grin.

  Finishing off his cocktail, he got up and returned the empty glass to the liquor cart. He took one of the moist towelettes and cleaned his hands thoroughly, then dried them on the pristine fluffy white hand towel before walking over to the garment bag. Soft instrumental music filled the room, and he stood there, motionless. This was what he would be wearing when he married the love of his life. With a shaky hand, he took hold of the zipper and slowly pulled it down, revealing the flawless black fabric.

  Letting out a breath and locating his backbone, he removed the suit from the garment bag and hung it back up. He toed off his sneakers, then started undressing, laying his clothes over the bench to his left. Why the hell was he shaking? Was it because this was his last fitting? Because the next time he wore this it would be his wedding day? He kept waiting to wake up. This had to be a dream, right? He got dressed in a sort of daze, shirt first, then trousers, then tie. He sat down, and put on the trendy designer shoes he’d blanked out on the name of, then stood to put on his tux jacket. Once everything was in place, he took a deep breath.

  “Sorry I’m late, son. I got held up at work.”

  “No problem.” Dex turned around, and Tony did a double take. He slowly closed the door behind him, his eyes growing glassy. Don’t get emotional. Nope. No. His dad looked him over, his lips pressed together before he lifted his gaze to Dex’s, a big smile spreading across his face.

  “You’re getting married.”

  Dex laughed, his eyes brimming with unshed tears. “Yep. That’s what the penguin suit’s for.”

  Tony crossed the distance between them and threw his arms around Dex, bringing him in for a fierce hug. Dex shut his eyes tight against his tears, but it was a losing battle. He laid his head on his dad’s shoulder, his arms wrapped around his back.

  “I’m so proud of you, son,” Tony murmured, one hand on Dex’s back, the other on his head. “And even though they can’t be there with you on your big day, I know they’re looking down at you, proud as hell too.”

  That did it.

  The dam broke, and Dex cried on his father’s shoulder. He cried for the parents who’d never get to see him walk down the aisle. For the man he loved, and everything Sloane had suffered to get to this moment. He cried because he was so goddamn lucky to have found a family who loved him just as much as his parents had.

  “It’s okay, kiddo. You get it all out,” Tony said quietly, rubbing soothing circles across Dex’s back.


  By the time Dex was done, his nose was stuffed and his face was hot. He pulled away and thanked Tony for the tissue box, laughing when Tony grabbed a wad for himself.

  “God, how am I supposed to make it to the altar without blubbering like a baby?”

  Tony shook his head. “If you’re a mess, I’m gonna be a mess, and I’m the one marrying you two, remember?”

  Dex nodded, a lump in his throat. There had been no question who he wanted to officiate his marriage. He’d be walking down the aisle with Sloane, and his dad would be marrying them, with all their friends and family there to celebrate their love. It would be the first day of the rest of their lives together as husbands.

  Once his eyes had stopped leaking and he could breathe through his nose again, he asked his dad to grab Martina. Her eyes sparkled when she saw him. They always did. Everyone Lou had set him and Sloane up to work with had been amazing, all eager to help and make their big day unforgettable. Dex couldn’t have imagined trying to put everything together without someone as fierce and skilled as Lou. The man was a wedding planning guru. Sloane had almost passed out when he saw the calendar spreadsheet Lou had created for them. It came printed on sleek paper, broken down by months, weeks, days, and hours. It contained lists of contacts broken down by type of services, and everything was synched to their online calendars so no appointment was missed, and they received reminders.

  “Oh, you look so handsome!” Martina gushed. “Sloane won’t know what to do with himself when he sees you.”

  Dex felt his cheeks flush, and he smiled. “Thank you so much, Martina, for all your help.”

  She waved a hand in dismissal. “Nonsense. I love what I do. I love to make you happy.”

  They made idle chitchat for a little while longer before it was time for Dex to take off his suit. Martina kissed both their cheeks and left them so Dex could get undressed. Once he was done, he again thanked Martina and left with his dad. It was such a beautiful day.

  “Want to join us for lunch?”

  Tony gave him an apologetic smile. “Have to head back to the office, but why don’t you boys come on over for dinner? I’ll make your favorite, country fried steak and gravy.”

  Dex wiped at his mouth in case he was drooling. “I would very much like that. Just don’t tell Lou.”

  Tony winked and pointed a finger at him as he walked backward. “Eight o’clock. Love you, kiddo.”

  “Love you too, Dad. See you at eight.” Dex spun on his heels and strolled down the street in the opposite direction, a dopey smile on his face. There was a great little donut shop on the corner. Surely one donut wouldn’t spoil his lunch. One maple donut. With bacon bits. Maybe he’d pick up an order of donutty goodness for the whole crew. He’d definitely need to get a cab back to the park if he did that. No way was he getting on a crowded train with an armful of tasty treats. He’d grab a bear claw for his Broody Bear, though these days Sloane was neither broody nor bearish. The thought of his boo had his smile growing wider.

  Sloane was probably going to try and sweet-talk some information out of Dex about his tux. He was adorable. Dex loved that Sloane was just as much of a dork as he was, excited by things like seeing each other in their tuxes and their first dance as husband and husband.

  Dex glanced up as a black commercial van with pitch-black tinted windows sped by, nearly hitting a pedestrian. Dex shook his head. He should give the guy a ticket for being an ass-hat. Tires screeched, and Dex cringed, waiting for the sound of an impact. Instead he heard a strangled cry that turned Dex’s blood to ice. His stomach dropped, and the blood drained from his face. He whirled around in time to watch two masked men load Tony up into the van.

  “Dad?” Dex’s brain misfired, unable to process what he was witnessing. “Dad!” He broke into a run as the tires screeched and the van lurched forward into traffic, uncaring of who or what it ran into. Dex bolted into the street, ignoring the honking horns and shrieking tires. He sped after the van as it swerved through traffic, dodging cars, bikers, and pedestrians. Dex ran as fast as he could, his muscles straining and lungs burning, as he attempted to catch up to the van. He couldn’t lose it. Whatever happened, he couldn’t let them take his father. He couldn’t lose that fucking van. There was no license plate, no signage, text, no discernable marks.

  Please. No, no, no.

  Dex struggled for breath, but he just pushed himself harder, his eyesight sharpening, and his heart pounding in his ears as something inside his gut swirled and expanded, spreading through his chest and exploding out through his body. He had no idea what the hell it was, but as his claws extended and his fangs grew in, he picked up speed. He tried to reach for the handle on the rear door, but the van’s careening made him miss, and he only succeeded in scratching the paintjob with his claws. With a feral growl, he launched himself at the van, grabbing the handle and landing on the rubber bumper. He threw a hand up, his claws digging into the aluminum roof. He had no idea his claws were that sharp. Not wasting the opportunity, he grabbed hold of the roof rack with his free hand, and climbed on top of the van.

  If there was ever a time he wished he’d been on duty, this was it. He had no firepower to aid him, and he couldn’t waste a second trying to get backup. He needed to do something to stop this van. Dex retracted his claws, hissed, and unsheathed them again, throwing them forward and sinking them into the roof once more. He used his claws to keep him secured on the van as he crawled forward, his sneakers braced on the rack as he was jerked from side to side. The van ran red lights, and Dex flinched when a truck whizzed across, the van missing the truck’s back bumper by a hair.

  Rage and desperation exploded through Dex, and he grabbed the roof rack near the front and launched himself over the side of the van on the driver’s side, bringing his left fist with him and smashing it through the window, cutting and slicing the hell out of his arm. The van swerved violently, and the driver cursed. Dex grabbed the steering wheel and jerked it to the left. He hung on for his life as the van careened to the side and the driver fought for control. Dex saw the gun from the corner of his eye and hauled himself back onto the roof, just as two vehicles came at them, one from each side, T-boning the van.

  Dex soared through the air, and then everything went black.

  CHAPTER 6

  IT WAS time to eat. After everyone used the privacy stalls at the park to shift back, they received PSTC from their teammates. They grabbed some protein, but they needed a proper meal to regain their strength. Sloane decided to text Dex and have him meet them at the restaurant. That way they could all start on some appetizers while Dex made his way over.

  “Where do you guys want to go?” Sloane asked, finishing his text, then returning his phone to his pocket. He was starving.

  Ash shrugged. “Why don’t we just go to the Boathouse? They do Therian-size burgers now. It’s like a five-minute walk. Everyone good with that?”

  They all cheered for food, and they headed south through one of the many trails. As his friends laughed and talked, Sloane checked his phone to see if Dex had replied, but there was nothing yet. He told himself not to be ridiculous that Dex hadn’t texted back right away. Dex probably got caught up in the emotion of it all, especially with Tony there. He was a little more sensitive than usual these days, and Sloane couldn’t blame him. There was so much going on in both their personal and professional lives. So many changes.

  When they got to the restaurant, Sloane murmured to Calvin, “Where do you guys want to sit?”

  Calvin subtly put his hand to Hobbs’s lower back, and Hobbs craned his neck to look inside. He shook his head and pointed to the outdoor seating area.

  “You got it,” Sloane said with a smile. “We should take advantage of this weather while we can, huh?”

  Hobbs grinned and nodded.

  One of the waiters very kindly put several tables together for them, and once they were seated, menus were brought out. Everyone put in their drink orders, along with appetizers for the table. Once the waiter
left, they mulled over what they were going to eat.

  Cael leaned into Sloane. “Have you heard from Dex?” he asked quietly, his eyes filled with concern.

  “Not yet. I’m sure he’s fine. You know all this wedding stuff has him a little restless.”

  Cael nodded, his attention then seized by Ash, who asked him what he’d like to eat. As Cael rambled excitedly about the menu, Ash looked over his head at Sloane and winked at him. Sloane appreciated Ash distracting Cael. He didn’t want to lie to Cael about how worried he was. The waiter returned, and Sloane asked Ash to order for him, then excused himself to go to the bathroom.

  He walked into the restaurant and headed for the restroom, then stepped inside. He called Dex, only to get a voicemail. His Felid half was awake now and very unhappy. He had Sloane pacing. Calling Martina yielded the same results, though her voicemail stated she was with a client and would get back to him as soon as possible. The door to the bathroom opened, and Sloane was relieved to see Ash.

  “Hey, you okay?”

  Sloane shook his head. “Something’s wrong, Ash. I can feel it.” He paced furiously, his anxiety higher than it had ever been. This wasn’t normal for him. He got restless but not anxious, like his body couldn’t contain all the frantic energy inside him. He felt nauseous, terrified, and…. “Oh God.” The pain that hit Sloane brought him to his knees.

  “Sloane!” Ash grabbed hold of him and lifted him to his feet. “Talk to me. What’s going on?”

  “It’s hard to breathe,” Sloane wheezed. He clutched at his chest. “It feels like my heart’s going to explode.” His lungs burned, like he couldn’t get enough air in them, and his muscles strained, agony shooting through every inch of him. “Something’s happening.” Fuck, his mate was in trouble. Whatever it was, it was causing Dex an extraordinary amount of physical and emotional pain. Then it stopped. Sloane sucked in a lungful of air and straightened.