Cut and Run 4 - Divide and Conquer

in: that
    dog was eyeing me funny!”
    Nick chuckled as the others started in on Ty. Nick waited until Ty
    turned his head to look at him, meeting his hazel eyes, then reached out
    and patted his shoulder consolingly. Only the two of them and the man
    who‟d debriefed them knew why Ty didn‟t favor dogs.
    Zane continued with the story, telling it well and drawing
    chuckles from the guys and a dirty look from Ty. It was funny as hell,
    really, and Nick could imagine Ty and a dog both ending up in a vat of
    suds and fighting over who could scramble out first. Of course, the dog
    had won. Digger launched into another story right after, and the
    laughter continued. When drinks were delivered, the waitress brought a
    Coke, too, and she moved to scoot around the table to put it in front of
    Zane.
    “Thank you, darlin‟,” Ty drawled. She winked at him and let her
    hand rest on Zane‟s arm as she moved away. Zane lifted his head and
    sent a smile in that direction. Obviously, they came here a lot. Nick
    watched Ty for a minute longer. Ty rarely went drinking with his co-
    workers. Zane Garrett was obviously his friend, and a close one at that.
    190 | Madeleine Urban & Abigail Roux

    Zane set his hand on the table and shifted it slightly. He didn‟t
    even say anything. Ty continued talking to Digger as he moved the
    glass of Coke against Zane‟s fingers. The corner of Zane‟s mouth
    quirked up as he picked up the drink.
    Nick was surprised to find that Ty and Zane reminded him of Ty
    and… him. He was also surprised by the spike of jealousy. Knowing he
    could watch Zane without being seen as long as Ty was occupied, Nick
    observed him for a while longer. He was a good-looking guy, perhaps
    five years older than Ty and himself, maybe more. He had his head
    cocked to one side, the one ear turned toward Ty, and a small smile
    played on his lips as Ty talked about something there was no way Zane
    knew anything about, since it was an old line from their Recon days.
    It had to feel good to be included, being blind and lost. He
    glanced at Ty and wondered if Ty had gone through the “it could have
    been me” panic. The Ty he knew wouldn‟t tolerate the darkness—or
    the helplessness—well at all, whereas Zane, by all appearances, seemed
    subdued but in fairly good spirits. At least Nick hoped this was
    subdued. He couldn‟t imagine Ty staying with a stick-up-his-ass
    partner for long.
    Nick was lost in thought when he realized Ty had leaned toward
    him and asked him something. He cleared his throat, looking at Ty with
    wide eyes. “What?”
    “Are you okay?” Ty asked incredulously. “Because Owen‟s been
    bitching about the Sox for a solid five minutes, and you ain‟t drawn
    down on him yet.”
    “I left my gun at your place,” Nick answered defensively. He set
    his empty bottle on the table and took Ty‟s out of his hand. Ty didn‟t
    even protest, just held up his hand to order another round.
    “Are we for or against the Red Sox?” Zane asked curiously. He
    had leaned an elbow on the table and shifted forward, head still tipped
    toward Ty.
    A round of jeers came from the others, and Nick had to close his
    eyes and wave Zane off. “School him.”
    “O is from Boston,” Ty explained to Zane, pointing at Nick. “It‟s
    Red Sox or die unless you can prove a deep affiliation with another
    Divide & Conquer | 191

    club or provide a compelling reason to hate the designated hitter. Or
    kick his ass.”
    “Preach it, baby,” Nick said happily, giving Ty a closed fist in the
    air.
    “Owen is, however, a Yankees fan, and they both carried extra
    ammunition on missions for „accidents‟,” Ty went on, using his fingers
    to accentuate the sarcasm.
    “I grew up watching ballgames in Arlington,” Zane said,
    sounding greatly amused. “Affiliation doesn‟t get any deeper than
    being born and bred Texan.”
    “Rangers, huh?” Nick said, rolling the word around as if giving
    them thought. “Sure, I guess they‟re harmless enough.”
    Owen gave them both a raspberry.
    Ty groaned softly and raised his hand to stop them. “Can we
    avoid this tonight?”
    “Grady‟s become a pacifist,” Digger observed, clearly
    disapproving.
    “He just lost his balls, is all,” Owen corrected.
    “Don‟t you remember holding them for me?” Ty asked him
    without skipping a beat.
    “The Rangers are actually looking good this season,” Zane said.
    He was looking up, and though his eyes were unfocused, he had