“Jesse, he’s got the gun,” Alex said.
“Thank you, Alex. Milton, put the damn gun on the ground. And don’t make me repeat that one,” Jesse said.
Milton snarled, but instead of tensing for an attack, he moved slowly and dropped the gun on the floor. Jesse stepped in closer to kick it away. Milton tensed then, and brought his elbow back, striking Jesse hard in the abdomen before he had a chance to catch his balance. He stumbled, and Milton turned and struck again. Jesse fell, cracking his head on a chair. Disoriented, he fought to stand back up.
Milton was closing in, Bryce was shouting. Renee screamed a high, terrifying note.
Then an invisible, outside force pushed into Jesse’s mind. A counter-intuitive calmness worked its way through his mind. As Jesse clasped his hand around his weapon, he shook it off. He got on his feet.
Milton had a hand to his head and he kept shaking his head. Bryce didn’t seem affected, but Renee and the other man each stared in confusion, not quite focusing on the room or anything in it.
Alex rolled onto his back with a loud groan. “You might want to do something about them. Calm and complacent is not an emotional balance I can hold forever.”
Just as Jesse was going to figure out makeshift restraints for their perpetrators, the front door burst in and several tactical, armored, black-clad agents came through it. Jesse began to pull his weapon up, but one agent motioned to the other three. The three broke off as the agent lowered her gun.
“Reynolds, came to save your ass, and looks like you have it in hand,” she said cheerily.
“Walker, you have incredible timing,” Bryce said.
She turned on the walkie on her vest and said, “Director, we’ve got three more of them and baby Bonnell. Got some shirtless guy wielding a gun, but since Reynolds doesn’t look alarmed, I’m guessing this is Dawes. Team still making a sweep.” She released the walkie. “Now, if you two gentlemen will keep your weapons on these criminals, I’ll get them cuffed.”
Jesse foldedhis arms over his chest and leaned his back against Bryce’s car. The Valless mansion had been turned into the organized chaos of a crime scene once more. SLMPD had shown up, and Bonnell was convincing them to leave. Walker and her team had carted away Renee, Milton, and the third cultist for interrogation at DWO headquarters. Another team was working on processing the house for any signs of the paranormal.
Bryce and Alex were talking in the middle of the yard. Jesse couldn’t make out what they were saying, but judging from the concerned look on Bryce’s face, he was willing to wager that he was overly worried about Alex’s well-being. Their conversation ended when Bonnell finished with the cops and approached them. Bryce stayed with them for a few more words, and then headed Jesse’s way.
Jesse caught the concerned look Bonnell had for Bryce. Damn near identical to the one Bryce had had for Alex. While Jesse hadn’t felt like a complete outsider at the FBI, he hadn’t felt particularly close to his coworkers either. Maybe he hadn’t put in enough years, but he had a feeling it had more to do with the fact he didn’t feel like he truly belonged in their ranks.
“Fair warning,” Bryce said as he drew closer. “They’re calling you the Shirtless Wonder.”
“Did they give you a new nickname, too?” Jesse pulled Bryce’s shirt up just enough to get a good look at the red marks. “Are they going to throw you in alien quarantine? Shit, are both of us heading for it?”
“No.” Bryce leaned against the car next to him. “We are going to get a fun cocktail of antibiotics though.”
Jesse turned toward him. “What happens next?”
“Lick wounds. Interrogations. Debriefs. Reports. Analysis over what we need to do better the next time we face a threat like this. I imagine it’s the same as the FBI would do,” Bryce replied.
“That wasn’t what I was asking about.” Jesse rested his arm on top of the car so he could discreetly touch Bryce. Shirtless or not, needing more emotional connection or not, Jesse wanted to give a pretense they could remain professional, as the situation required.
Bryce pulled on his stoic expression. After a week and a half cooped up together, Jesse could tell he was doing his best to lock down any thoughts or feelings that conflicted with the current mission. But overall, their primary case was over, and Jesse wasn’t sure where life was going to take him next. Everything he believed in was possible, and he didn’t think he could go back to working for the FBI, not for the rest of his life.
And he wanted to face all his possibilities with Bryce.
“I still need that education on beer,” Jesse teased.
That brought out an unconscious laugh and smile from Bryce.
“I love you,” Jesse said quietly.
“That’s the stress and adrenaline talking,” Bryce whispered.
“I’ve been pretty sure how I felt about you since we met. I don’t think this is going to wear off.” Screw professionalism, Jesse gently rested his forehead against Bryce’s.
Bryce sighed, and his stonewall facade faded as he leaned toward Jesse. “Can’t imagine waking up without having you near or knowing where you are.”
“Then don’t. Stay open to the chance we have a future to build.”
Bryce nodded, and he wrapped an arm around Jesse.
A moment of peace in the sea of chaos was exactly what Jesse needed. He was going to hold on to Bryce for as long as he could.
