Camden squinted. “What’s scarier than something you have to nuke from space?”
Gina whipped her sunglasses off. Her pupils were dilated, nearly blotting out her golden irises. “It’s Kyle. He’s scaring me.”
Costello’s brows lowered and he blinked rapidly. “Impossible.”
“Not today. Something’s got him so bunged up, he’s radioactive, and I’m not sticking around to see what it is. Now, if you’ll excuse me.” She got into Number Eight and drove off.
Costello looked at Camden, his expression bemused. “Kyle?OurKyle? The Pup?”
“Kyle.” Jake watched Gina speed off through traffic.
Puzzled and resigned, Camden, Costello, and Jake went inside Watchdog.
Kyle upset enough to send Gina home for the day, Camden marveled.The Pup. An amazing and gentle dog handler with the patience of Job when it came to dogs and their owners both. Previous to working at Watchdog, Kyle had been trained in the military working dog program and become a handler, the biggest reason why they’d hired him after he left the service. Respectful, quiet, often unsure of himself among his co-workers. Even-tempered, except back when he tried to become a bodyguard and often treated the principals like insurgents during training scenarios. That wasn’t quite a red flag, but maybe a yellow one. Camden was in charge of new recruits and had at the time agreed with his boss, Lachlan, that the best place for Kyle remained with the canines that Watchdog trained, some as guard dogs for both police and private clients, and others as service dogs. Kyle had the knack and dogs naturally gravitated to him. People did, too, when he trusted himself and gave them the chance.
So why was Gina making like a bat out of hell to get away from such a non-threat? As Camden walked past her office, he noticed she’d been in such a hurry she’d left behind her precious amaryllis, just on the verge of blooming. Former CIA (so they speculated—some thought she was still active and just loaned out to Watchdog), Spooky played her cards close to the vest when it came to her emotions, but she made no secret about her love for the red flower and its Christmastime blooms.
Normally, Camden would drop Toby off with Kyle and the rest of the in-house dogs for him to train and exercise, but the courtyard with the canine obstacle courses looked empty. Instead of taking Toby to the kennels, Camden decided to keep his partner close. A good decision, when Toby’s ears perked up and he stopped in his tracks—just like he did when he smelled an IED back in his active military days. Camden pricked his ears up, too, and felt almost as much as heard stomping footsteps coming his way. Jake and Costello took their cues from old Tobes and froze as well.
Kyle whipped around the corner. Jaw jutted, teeth gritted, a wild, enraged look in his normally placid sky-blue eyes.
Gina was right. Kyle was radioactive.
He charged at the group like a bull at a red cape. It took a second for Camden to realize Kyle didn’t even see them. He had his sights set on Lachlan’s office.
Camden put his hands up. “Kyle?”
“Move!” The man kept charging.
“What the fuck, Kyle?”
“I said, move!” Kyle stormed through the middle of the group toward Lachlan’s office. Without hesitation, he threw the door open and slammed it shut behind him.
Toby whined again, obviously distraught at his trainer’s behavior.
“Whoa,” Jake said. “Maybe I’ll, uh, work from home today, too.” He turned and headed back the way they’d come.
Costello cleared his throat. “I noticed Gina left her amaryllis. Maybe I should take it to her.” He started in the direction of her office. “She’d sure hate to miss it blooming.” His voice became quieter as he hurried down the hall.
“Costello, you don’t even know where she lives.”
He turned around but kept jogging backward. “Oh, right. Well, uh, it looks like it could use some water, so I’ll just take it home with me and call her.” He turned back around and disappeared.
Camden rolled his eyes. The idiots weren’t actually scared, they were just looking for any excuse to get out of the office before Christmas. Camden felt the same way. He wanted his first big holiday with Elena and Tina to start ASAP. His sigh ended in a growl. Even though Kyle wasn’t exactly new anymore, Camden felt responsible for him as a teammate. He pulled out his cell to text Elena and let her know today was going to be a long one. She texted back reminding him that Tina had a sleepover at a friend’s house and that she knew just how to fix a long day, if he was interested.
Camden grinned.Okay, he thought.Maybe the day isn’tentirelyruined.
* * *
Lachlan Campbell chomped on the cut-down pen casing he used as a cigarette substitute. He felt the incoming missile and braced for impact. Resting in his dog bed, Lachlan’s dog Sam looked up, head tilted, and thumped his tail once at Kyle’s familiar voice from the hall, then slipped under Lachlan’s desk.
The office door flew open and Kyle McGuire stepped inside, slamming it behind him. The Pup was pissed, no doubt about it. But behind that rage, he looked shattered.
“Lachlan. I need some time off right now and if I don’t get it, I’m quitting.” Kyle clenched and unclenched his fists, spoiling for a fight.
Lachlan folded his hands on his desk. “You’ve got it, son. Take as much time as you need.”
Kyle exhaled like Lachlan had just punched him in the gut. His hands relaxed. “Really?”
