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“Oh my God”

“Do whatever you have to do to get Cross here alive”

Ty was mutinously silent Finally, Burns heard him exhale, a bid for calm “Yes, sir,” he said in a soft, composed voice

ZANE sat watching Julian, waiting for hi about Ty and what had just happened Zane had never seen his partner, his lover, react to violence in such a cold and calculating way It was a new side to Ty Was that how he’d been able to handle hi off his e a happy place when he worked? Zane shook his head He tried not to dwell on what it would take to do that

When Ty ca his call, he found Zane in the bedroo down at the two ee cords to tie Julian down and handcuffed Cah contact to keep theo far in a blizzard

Caainst the back of Julian’s shoulder and was looking up at the the other

“Every ti, it’s one more bullet I put in his head in my drea

Julian groaned Ca genuinely upset

“He’ll be okay,” Zane felt compelled to say “He’ll wake up in a few minutes”

Ty was alreadyaway from the bed and into the outer room Zane stopped to turn the television to a different channel for Cae control was needed here

“I thought you were going to kill him back there”

Ty turned to face him “Next time I will,” he said, his voice cold and determined

A shiver ran down Zane’s spine, and he had to adets you so riled?”

“It’s not him, Zane It’s you”

“Me? What’d I do?”

“He is a threat to both of us You’ve seen what he’s capable of, and I have to tell you, I don’t think he’s trying yet I think he’s just a fking raptor testing the fences When I look at hi you”

Zane’s chest twisted in a way that wasn’t unpleasant He knew that feeling, being so protective and so desperate to keep his loved ones safe that it clouded his world “I’m not worried”

“No?”

“I’ve got you here watching my back,” Zane said with a serene smile He didn’t think he’d felt so calot yours”

Ty took a deep breath as he looked into Zane’s eyes Zane wondered what Ty sahen he looked into him like that One day he would ask him

“Okay,” Ty finally said on a deep exhale

“We’ve got a couple hours to wind down, get some real sleep” Zane waved his hand at the pullout couch