Divide & Conquer (Cut & Run #4)(69)
Author: Abigail Roux

“Of course theres not a car, I checked. They stopped watching you after your death threat,” Zane retorted, stepping inside and kicking the door shut. “You—you spent all that time taking care of me, and then you just took off!” Zane accused with a pointed finger.

“You—!” “ And you chewed the hell out of my ass and then didnt even give me a chance to apologize for being a jerk,” Zane finished, feeling the frustration starting to ebb. Just being with Ty made a difference. “But mostly? Hitting me while I was blind was a low blow, even if I did deserve it.” He offered his hand to help Ty up.

Ty looked at his hand and then back up at him incredulously. “Is that supposed to be an apology? God, youre such a dick!” Zane stared down at him, all too aware of how thankful he was he could see Tys face again. Hed dreamed about it every night. “No, that wasnt an apology.” He went down on one knee next to Ty and took a deep breath. “But this is: I am sorry that I scared you. I didnt think it through, and Im sorry that after all that time you spent supporting me, you were the one who got let down. I know I cant change it, but Im willing to do whatever it takes to make it up to you.”

Ty blinked at him, obviously surprised by the real apology. He pushed himself up to sit, looking up at Zane grimly. “That was better,” he commented with a curt nod. “Did it hurt?”

“Being hit, hitting you, or apologizing?” Zane asked tentatively. Ty snorted and shook his head, looking out the front window. “I hope all of it hurt,” he muttered, disgruntled. He reached out and gripped Zanes shoulder, using him to pull himself to his feet. “Howd you get here? And why are you here, besides the urgent need to deliver a knuckle sandwich?” Ty asked as he turned away from him and began walking through the long row house toward the kitchen at the back. His voice was low and controlled, almost devoid of emotion. That meant he was trying to hide that he was angry or hurt.

Zane just punching him in the face aside, if Ty was still angry at him after four days, Zane had no idea what he could do about it. “Came from the office,” he answered as he got to his feet. “I heard about what happened at the bank.”

Ty stopped at the kitchen counter, placing his hands flat on the countertop, his back still to Zane. He was tense, the muscles in his back and shoulders jumping as he gripped the counter top. The towel was losing its battle with gravity, though, and that was a distraction Zane was determined to ignore. For now.

He slowly approached, not trying to muffle his footsteps on the hardwood, until he stood barely a foot behind Ty. After a moments deliberation, he reached out to gently lay a hand on each of Tys shoulders. He was taut as a bowstring beneath Zanes fingers. Giving Ty time to react, Zane slowly took that last step to hold Ty against his chest and carefully close his arms around him. He didnt have anything to say. He knew words wouldnt help.

Ty lowered his head, reaching one hand up to place it over Zanes. The tension invested in him began to ebb, and he slumped. Zane tightened his hold and pressed a gentle kiss to Tys ear. “Ive got you,” he whispered.

“Took you long enough,” Ty answered in a hard voice. He turned his head, his cheek brushing Zanes lips. Pain jabbed Zanes chest. “Im sorry,” he breathed, arms tightening even more. He wanted to ask why Ty hadnt said anything, why he hadnt called, but they were stupid questions and wouldnt make a difference now. Ty had gone looking for him, and Zane hadnt been there. That was the bottom line. He needed to be thinking about Ty right now, not himself.

Ty shook his head, either rejecting the apology or telling Zane he didnt have to apologize again.

“Im here now,” Zane said, drawing courage from the fact Ty hadnt pushed him away.

“They keep flashing her picture on the news,” Ty said in a low rumble. “I had to unplug the TV. Cut off the phone.”

For a moment, Zane was lost, but then it clicked. “Was it bad?” he asked quietly, setting his chin on Tys shoulder. “I took her through the shoulder joint. I was trying to make certain her arm went down so she couldnt pull the trigger. They told me it destroyed the ball and socket—shell never use the arm again.”

“But shes alive,” Zane pointed out gently.

Ty nodded jerkily. He was looking at the counter devotedly. Zane felt him tense again. “What the hell are these f**king kids doing?” Zane shook his head, knowing Ty would be able to feel it. “I tried calling you.”

“Turned off my phone. Mac kicked me out, Sidewinder went home,” Ty muttered. Zane didnt ask if there were more reasons, reasons that included him. “We got a line on the ringleader. He pretty much matches the sketch you had drawn. We spent the last couple of days trying to run him down. Hes not anywhere his records say he could be, so no luck yet. Mac said the girl was afraid of him, didnt know why he wanted to hurt people.”

Zane could feel Ty coiling like a snake about to strike. It was painfully obvious that anger and frustration and guilt and probably a myriad of other emotions had been building inside him the last few days, possibly weeks. He raised his head and breathed out slowly, resting his head against Zanes shoulder as the tension inexplicably ebbed.

He rubbed a hand over his face and turned in Zanes arms. “Its not like you to bottle up like this,” Zane said, taking in the unusually dark circles under Tys eyes. Ty met his gaze silently for a long moment, then snaked his arms up around Zanes neck and hugged him, burrowing his face under Zanes chin. Zane held him tight, feeling his eyes prickle, determined not to move from this spot until Ty was ready.

When Ty finally spoke, his voice was muffled, with a wry twist to it. “Im sorry I went ballistic on you.” Zane wrinkled his nose. “Couldve been worse. Some good did come of it,” he replied, opening his eyes, the flood of relief at being able to see still fresh.

“You deserved it.”

“Not arguing.”

Ty raised his head to look at him, finally releasing him and leaning back against the counter. He looked spent, physically and emotionally. “Are you really better?” he asked in sincere concern. “Your eyes?”

Zane relaxed, though the worry for his lovers state of mind still loomed large. “Still a little bleary, but almost back to normal. Doctor said not to be surprised if there was a little more bleeding or blurring.” He shrugged as he lifted one hand to cup Tys cheek. “More than anything, I needed to see you again,” he whispered.

Ty rewarded the honesty with a melancholy smile. “I missed you too. Jerk,” he tacked on, smile growing.