“You solid?” Talon eyed him warily. Even Zombie stared up at him from where he leaned next to his human’s knee as if he too was waiting for an answer.
“Yeah, I’m just pissed is all.”
“Understandable.” Talon went behind the counter and disappeared from view as he ducked down to open the cupboard where Gunnar knew the dog food was kept. “Don’t let that fucker get under your skin.”
“I don’t intend to.” His words were almost lost under the sound of kibble hitting a metal bowl.
“Platz, Zomb.” Talon ordered his boy to take the position required before his food would be put in front of him. Even though Gunnar couldn’t see Zombie, he must have been hungry as instead of his normal tap-dancing routine and Talon’s bitching, his brother gave the free command and Zombie’s munching sounded. “Did you not have food for him?”
“He doesn’t like the new brand.” Talon shrugged. “Damn dog has expensive taste.”
“Ah. Yeah, he does.” Thankfully Dory’s coffee making skills had improved, as the joe in the mug was decent. “Even so, he’s getting a steak as soon as we get home. Two, even.”
“You’ll spoil my dog, Gunnar, and then Imma going to be pissed.” Talon filled a bowl of water and placed it on the floor before grabbing himself some coffee.
“As if you don’t spoil the crap out of him too.”
“That’s different.” Talon leaned against the counter as ifhe didn’t have a care in the world and smirked at him. “He’s my dog, not yours.”
“Grizzly.” Dory strode into the room, shutting the door behind him. “Good to see you, bro.” He nodded at the team. “You too, guys. You know where shit is, help yourselves. Eat what you want, cook if you must. But anyone who doesn’t load the dishwasher after them gets to mop the fucking floors, because I’m not cleaning up after your asses. Understood?”
While Gunnar and his brothers might own the property, this place was Dory’s domain. None of them minded him calling the shots here. If they needed to pull rank on something, then they would do it behind closed doors at a later time. Dory had saved Remi’s life. They owed him respect in what had become his home at the very least.
“You do that every single time I bring my guys here,” Gunnar said dryly as Dory finally made it across the room to him. “Do you think their memories are that bad?”
“How many times did our instructors ask us our ‘gut check’ in BUD/s?”
“At least twice an hour.”
“Exactly. Remind the minions of their responsibilities and give them my version of Old Miss if they fuck it up.” Dory grinned.
“Where the hell did you get a two-hundred-pound telephone pole, and did I pay for it?” Gunnar’s arm muscles ached with the memory of balancing that bastard of a log on his shoulder with half a dozen other recruits as they performed squats for hours on end.
“Nah, I made the last bunch who didn’t clean up after themselves cut it out of a tree the last quake took down.”
“Evil bastard.” Gunnar grinned at his friend. “Is that the operator version of cutting your own switch before getting a hiding from your pop?”
“Damn straight, brother, damn straight.” Dory smirked. “Do you need to eat before we go take care of your guest?”
“Nope. I ate in Pakistan. I don’t think I want a full stomach for this.” He nodded to the fruit basket. “I will take an apple though, just because I know the jackwad is probably hungry.”
“Hell, bring him a bowl full.” Dory dragged the fruit bowl closer. “You might have to peel it for him though, as his hands are tied.”
Gunnar picked the apple he wanted. “This, Dory, is one of the many reasons we are friends.”
“You are still fucked in the head.” Dory walked with him to the door where Mojo immediately joined them.
“I never claimed to be any different.” He’d never claimed to be anything he wasn’t. Except sober; he’d claimed to be sober a time or two where it wasn’t true. “Let’s get this over with. I want to go home.”
“You mean back to the woman I hear you have staying?”
“Remi is a fucking gossip.”
“Yep. He’s a SEAL, we’re all fucking gossips.” Dory paused halfway between the elevator and the cell door. “You know this dude is on half a dozen watchlists, right?”
“Yeah, Remi ID’d him this morning and told me.” It was frustrating to know his hands were pretty much tied. “We don’t know who gets him after me. But he’ll be in one piece.” Gunnar lowered his voice. “Just don’t let the fucker know it until I have the intel I need.”
“I’m good cop then?”
