Cut and Run 4 - Divide and Conquer

amount of pride.
    “We have to dig it up?” Graham asked. Even in the shadows it
    was easy to see the sour look on his face.
    “We have to hide it,” Pierce said glibly. He‟d already explained
    all this, there was no way he was doing it again, not out here in the
    open when time was of the essence.
    50 | Madeleine Urban & Abigail Roux

    Graham grumbled and complained as they went to work, digging
    up home plate. By the time they had a big enough space under the plate
    for the device to fit, they were both covered in sweat and a fine layer of
    red dust. They wedged the device into the hole, both of them straining
    to set it just so. It had to be perfect, or the pressure switch on the top
    wouldn‟t activate unless someone stood on top of it and danced.
    It was a large bomb. Big enough to leave a crater where home
    plate was and kill everyone in a ten-foot radius even if it was
    underground when it went off. Pierce belatedly realized that they
    wouldn‟t be able to hide all the excess dirt, and he frowned heavily as
    he mopped at his brow. The air was cold against his skin, but the
    adrenaline was combating the bitter chill. Their plan was working so
    far, and no one was the wiser yet because he planned ahead. That was
    why, after the first couple of bombs had gone smoothly, he‟d set up the
    dry run at the aquarium—easy enough, since he worked there part
    time—to check the city‟s adjusted emergency response.
    “Start putting that extra dirt in the bag. I‟ll set the switch,” he
    ordered.
    “Can‟t we just spread it out?”
    “These are cops, man. They only way they won‟t notice if there‟s
    like ten pounds of extra dirt out here in the morning is if they‟re high.”
    “Fine,” Graham muttered.
    “Hurry up. And make sure the plate‟s straight. We still have one
    more thing to take care of,” Pierce grunted as he eyed the Bronco in the
    shadows of the parking lot.
    He‟d show Mr. Mysterious B. Tyler Grady what it was like to be
    kicked in the ass.

    Divide & Conquer | 51

    Chapter Four

    THE first thing Ty noticed was that it was hot. The air he inhaled,
    whatever he was sprawled on, what was thrown over him—including a
    heavy body that lay against him; it was all stiflingly hot. To add insult
    to injury, when he cautiously cracked one eye open, it was bright and
    sunny, because the blinds were only half-drawn.
    His head felt like it was full of cotton, and his limbs were heavy
    and uncooperative. He groaned and began pushing at the covers and the
    dead weight against him. It shifted almost immediately and rolled
    away.
    “You okay?” Zane said, voice rough with sleep.
    “Hot,” Ty grunted accusingly. He pushed at Zane again and
    winced with the pressure on his sore body.
    Zane scooted back, and the heat radiating from him faded. He
    also pushed the blanket down, leaving only the thin cotton sheet over
    Ty‟s lower body. Ty kicked one leg out and rolled flat, closing his eyes
    and lifting his chin, sprawling as the cool air hit him.
    “Better,” he muttered, though his ears seemed to be buzzing like
    he was hungover.
    Zane shifted around, moving the mattress slightly. “How‟re you
    feeling?”
    “Like I got hit by a truck,” Ty answered plaintively.
    “You said a tank, actually.” The bed shifted again, and Zane was
    off the mattress and moving. “Hurting?”
    52 | Madeleine Urban & Abigail Roux

    Ty opened his eyes to follow Zane around the room. “A little,
    yeah,” he admitted. He tried to sit up slowly but gave up on it and eased
    himself back down with a groan. “A lot. Hungover.”
    Zane stopped at his side. “What can I get you?” He was watching
    Ty in clear concern.
    Ty waved him off and shook his head, then winced. He closed his
    eyes and rubbed his fingers across his forehead slowly, massaging and
    trying to make the cotton feeling go away. It was rare that he felt so
    crappy he didn‟t even think about groping Zane when he woke up next
    to him. “What time is it?”
    “About nine.”
    Ty sat up quickly, instantly regretting it even as he kicked what
    remained of the sheets away and tried to get out of bed. “I‟m gonna be
    late!”
    “Late for what? It‟s Sunday morning,” Zane said, stepping back
    to get out of Ty‟s way.
    “The game! Yesterday was just the first round of that stupid
    Goodwill tournament.” Ty took a step and stopped short as the room
    wobbled around him. “Whoa.”
    Zane was suddenly there, hands under his elbows to help