Cut and Run 7 - Touch and Geaux

conspicuous, was Liam Bell. Ty’s eyes locked on Zane’s, and relief flooded through his entire body. Ty took a hasty step forward, but a hand appeared on his shoulder, jerking him back. He went rigid again, putting his hands to his sides.
    Zane would recognize that posture anywhere. Ty had a gun at his back.
    Ty’s eyes stayed on Zane’s, and Liam used Ty’s body to cover himself. “Let’s all be calm now,” Liam said when they got close. “Who’s armed?”
    Zane pulled his jacket away to reveal the knife there. Nick and Kelly both shook their heads.
    Liam eased his grip on Ty’s shoulder, then gave him a pat on the back. He slid the gun under his coat and grinned. “Just making sure.”
    “What the fuck is going on?” Nick demanded. “Why is he here and am I allowed to hurt him?”
    “Not yet,” Ty answered.
    “Where are the others?” Liam asked.
    Zane glanced at his watch. “They haven’t shown yet. They’ve got two more minutes.”
    They remained in an uneasy standoff as the bells of the cathedral rang out the hour. Liam still lingered behind Ty’s shoulder for cover. No one spoke. No one moved, save for Zane periodically checking the time.
    Digger eventually materialized from the crowd, Owen on his heels. They’d apparently met up somewhere and made their way here together. They approached warily, sensing the tension in the group. Neither man said a word when they joined them.
    “Okay then,” Zane finally said, relieved everyone had made it out. “We have all our stuff stashed, we’ll go get it. But where to after that?”
    “We can’t break town,” Nick grunted. He had yet to take his eyes off Liam. “We need somewhere to lay low, regroup.”
    “And then you can tell us what the fuck is going on,” Kelly added.
    Zane nodded.
    “Where do we go?” Liam asked. “My safe house is blown.”
    “How?” Zane demanded.
    “Too much activity, I don’t trust it.”
    Ty glanced over his shoulder at the man, then back at Zane. His mouth was set in a grim line. “I might know the perfect place.”
    “Ava?” Zane asked. Ty nodded.
    Nick snorted. “The girl who tried to kill you with a cleaver?”
    “It’s worth a shot. I think she might be in danger too; I need to warn her.”
    “We’ll split up, then,” Liam said. He gave Ty another pat. “You test the waters with cleaver girl, and we’ll get our supplies.”
    Ty glared over his shoulder, but he nodded. “You four, go with him. Keep him in line. Zane and I will scout it out and call you in thirty.”
    The others nodded, albeit grudgingly as Liam led them away. Zane and Ty were left alone. Meeting Ty’s eyes made Zane’s stomach flutter, but the anger lingered. He clenched his teeth, trying to keep it in.
    “You okay?” Ty asked.
    “He didn’t hurt me.”
    “Not yet, maybe. He’s slick, Zane. Don’t ever let your guard down around him.”
    “Really?” Zane snarled. He took a step closer, straightening to his full height so he could look down at Ty. “Because that’s what people have been saying about you for two years now.”
    Ty flinched, but he didn’t look away. He pushed his shoulders back, narrowing his eyes. It was like watching a dog bristle as it stared down a threat. Zane hadn’t felt that since their first few weeks together. He refused to back off, though. He put his finger on Ty’s chest. “Don’t think I’ve forgotten just because your ass needed saving.”
    It was too dark to read Ty’s expression, but he finally broke eye contact to glance down at Zane’s finger.
    “Where is this place?” Zane asked when it became apparent that Ty wasn’t going to respond.
    Ty spoke through gritted teeth. “Just off Frenchmen Street. Down Decatur and across Esplanade.”
    “Lead the way.”
    Ty stared at Zane for another few breaths. Then he stepped past him, brushing his shoulder against Zane’s as he set off through the carousing crowd.
    Ty didn’t say a word as they prowled toward the far edge of the French Quarter, heading to the little two-block area of Frenchmen Street and the adjoining Faubourg Marigny. Zane knew how Ty felt about going to see Ava again, and Zane wasn’t too happy about it either. There was a good chance she’d be holding a grudge, and with good reason. Zane knew what kind of lies had to be told when you were undercover, and now, thanks to Ty, he realized how badly it hurt to be on the receiving end of them.
    But their options were few and far between, and Ty seemed to