Divide & Conquer (Cut & Run #4)(44)
Author: Abigail Roux

“Ty?”

“Im here,” Ty grunted from somewhere near the edge of the bed. He sounded like his head was down, his voice hoarse.

“You okay?”

“Yeah, just… restless,” Ty answered, his voice lacking its usual liveliness, even if he had just woken. “Couldnt sleep.”

“You could go for a run,” Zane suggested. Sometimes getting Ty up and moving helped.

“I was thinking about going to the office,” Ty countered, sounding guilty. Zane frowned. “Thought Mac told you to stay home. If he sees you, hell get that pinched look on his face, like he bit into a lemon or someone twisted his shorts.”

“Thats how he always looks when he sees me,” Ty muttered, almost under his breath. “Im sorry. I just cant sit here anymore. I need to find someone to bully into telling me whats happening.”

It had been all of one day. Zane shook his head and made a mental note to stock up on shiny things to divert Ty the next time they lucked into vaca—time off from hell together. “Yeah, okay,” he said as he pushed at the sheet to untangle it from his legs.

“Do you want to come?” Ty offered uncertainly. “If I can find Alston, I can blackmail him into giving me something. It wont take long.”

“I think Ill pass on actually going in,” Zane muttered. He didnt want to be around anyone like this. Not yet. “Blackmail?” “Long story. Involves a duck and a can of oregano.”

“Dont tell it, please.”

He felt Tys hand on his arm, rubbing comfortingly. Ty had been unusually tactile since the hospital, making up for Zanes lack of vision by touching him whenever he was able, as if he somehow knew how much it helped. Zane closed his eyes, grateful for it. He covered Tys hand and squeezed gently. It was easy to think black thoughts when you were stuck in the dark, and Tys touch helped him resist it. “Breakfast first?”

“Sure, why not,” Ty replied easily. Zane felt him lurch off the bed, and when he spoke again, he sounded like he was stretching. Zane had an immediate vision of Tys lean, nude body in the dim light of the bedroom, and he flushed with warmth, not really registering the words when Ty said, “Ill go start it up.”

He listened as Ty got dressed, probably throwing on his jeans and one of his numerous T-shirts. Zane didnt hear him pad out of the bedroom, but he could hear him banging around in the kitchen, cussing at the tiny, run-down space, talking to the pots and pans. Zane smiled. There were reasons they spent most of their time together at Tys row house instead of here.

By the time he got up and moving, Zane could hear the bacon sizzling, and the smell of sausage wafting out of the small kitchen area made his mouth water. He could smell the toast, too, and knowing Ty, there would be scrambled eggs. Ty didnt cook a lot, but the man could fix a mean breakfast. Zane made a stop in the bathroom and then sat at the bar that separated the kitchen from the little living area.

“You know what I realized?” Ty asked, picking up the conversation hed been having with the pots as if Zane had been there for the first half of it. “I dont have a car.”

Zane opened his mouth to correct him but caught himself. Theyd taken a cab home from the hospital, and the office had sent a car for Ty yesterday. “Wheres my truck? You didnt bring it back yesterday?” Theyd walked around the block to the restaurant for dinner last night; Zane had assumed Ty had put the truck in the Little Italy parking garage when he came back from the office.

“That rookie I made drive me to the hospital took the keys. Trucks still parked at the office. Thats another reason for me to go in today.”

“Maybe one of the guys can pick you up?” “Its past nine. Everyones already in. Hell, Ill just take a cab or ride the bus or something.” Something about his voice was odd as he stood in Zanes kitchen fixing breakfast, and it took Zane a little thinking to pin it down. Ty didnt sound gruff or hurried. He didnt sound agitated or even all that concerned. He was at ease despite the need to get up and go. It made Zane a little nervous, but in a good way.

“Whats wrong?” Ty asked him, apparently picking up on it. “Its not exactly like Im going to be attacked on the bus.” Zane shook his head, still reconciling the warmth curling in his chest with the idea that Ty might be happy here, just doing something as simple as making breakfast. “I have no idea what the schedule is around here,” he said.

“Ill figure something out. Come eat,” Ty said, and Zane heard a plate set down on the bar in front of him. “Wonder how a gun on public transportation goes over? Or two guns, for that matter.”

Zane slid onto the battered bar stool and had a stroke of inspiration. “You do have another option,” he mentioned.

“Oh yeah? You know I cant really sprout wings out of my ass and fly, right?” Ty asked, a smile in his voice.

A smirk pulled at Zanes lips, and he let it show. He loved teasing Ty, and this one always got him riled. “The Valkyries out back.” Ty coughed and sputtered, like he was choking on a bite of food. “Hell, no,” he finally said with difficulty. “Ill walk.” Zane chuckled and felt around for the fork hed heard Ty clank onto the plate. It was mean, but he loved poking Ty about the Valkyrie. He supposed he shouldnt, what with knowing about Deuce and the accident. Ty had taught his younger brother how to ride and left him his bike when he joined the Marines. Deuce had wrecked it not long after, ruining his leg and any chance of following in his brothers footsteps. But Deuce seemed to take it all in stride, so Zane didnt really see the harm in teasing Ty about his absolute hatred of all things with two wheels. “Okay,” he said after several mouthfuls of scrambled egg. “Bureau wont reimburse cab fare,” he reminded, just to get in one more dig.

“Thats okay,” Ty assured him in an overly sweet voice. “Ive got your wallet.”

Zane grinned. “I dont have any cash. When have I been able to go to the bank?” he said reasonably as he munched on a piece of bacon. “Cabs take credit cards,” Ty reminded. Zane wrinkled his nose. “Fine,” he said on a sigh. “Can I have jelly for my toast?” He heard a jar clink down on the bar, and Ty was grumbling. Not really understandably, but obviously irritated now.

“I havent been on a bike in twenty years,” he said, more to himself than to Zane. “Maybe not a good idea, then,” Zane allowed reluctantly. He could see Ty on the Valkyrie, and it was a gorgeous vision to think about. But this wasnt a do-or-die situation, like playing chicken with a New York City taxicab. Zane shivered as he momentarily felt his stomach drop just at the memory.