Page 13 of Delta Mission (Alpha Tactical Ops)

Wolf

Six weeks later.

The sun was sinking behind the house when Talon skidded into Mom and Dad’s driveway in his Dodge Charger.

He rolled his eyes at me as he killed the engine. We’d had many heated arguments in that driveway, and with what I’d planned to discuss, we were likely about to have one more.

Talon opened his door, shaking his head at me. Maybe he sensed the anger coursing through me that I’d been attempting to tame all afternoon.

He strolled toward me. "Hey, bro. What's going on?”

“We need to talk.”

He groaned. “Sounds fucking ominous.”

“It’s about Makenna.”

“Goodspeed?” His eyes bulged.

“Yeah, Makenna and I are back together.”

Talon did a double take. “You're fucking kidding.”

“Nope.”

Talon blew out a breath. “Jeez, I wasn't expecting that.”

“She told me everything that happened in Colombia.”

His eyebrows jerked upward. “Everything?”

I clenched my fists, forcing my anger down. “Yeah. Including you taking advantage of her.”

He leaned against the side of his dodge. “What the fuck are you talking about?”

“In Colombia. When you found her. She was terrified she was going to die. She threw herself at you and all you could think about was your dick. It was totally inappropriate. You should have said no. You’re a goddamned highly trained soldier who should know better.

Instead, you acted like a horny fucking teenager.

It was reckless, and you could have gotten both of you killed. Did you think of that? Of course not.”

“You’re not my mother. I don’t need a lecture. And you weren’t there. You don’t know the conditions and seriously, if it were you, well, you would have done the same thing.”

I clenched my fists. “Why do you have to be such an asshole all the time? You keep saying you’ve changed. You fucking haven’t.”

Talon let out a long breath, as if in defeat.

“I have changed. It’s just. . . this conversation brings out the worst in me.

I’m not saying this to be a jerk, but Makenna was fiery as hell.

My adrenaline was pumping. So was hers.” Talon held his hand up.

“I had no idea who she was. She was a hot chick who threw herself at me, and that was all I cared about.”

I charged at Talon and shoved him in his chest.

He stumbled sideways but held his ground. When he clenched his fists, I knew exactly what was coming. “Don't do it, brother.”

“Or what? You gonna smack the shit out of me?”

“I’ll do exactly that.”

We glared at each other in a standoff we’d done dozens of times. Talon and I weren’t afraid to get physical. But today was not a fight he would win.

His nostrils flared. “Ah, for fuck’s sake, Channing. I had no idea who she was. But she was fucking gorgeous, and back then if a woman like her strips out of her clothes for me, of course I’m gonna fuck her, but I swear if I knew—”

I released a fierce groan.

But Talon stepped back. “Come on, bro. If the tables were turned, you’d do exactly the same. I didn't know she was your girl, and she didn't know you had an identical twin. You should have told her about me.”

I swung my fist, but Talon dodged out of the way. I twisted him around and pulled his arm up behind his back.

“Really, Channing? You want to fight me over something that happened nine years ago. I don't even remember what happened.”

I let him go and shoved him forward.

He spun to me, shaking his head.

I churned over his statement. “You really don't remember what happened?”

“Fuck no. It’s a blur. And I’m not saying that to hurt you.

You know me. Sometimes I can’t help the sarcasm.

But it’s the same with what happened at Uncle Henry's funeral. However, that’s for a different reason.

I was drunk. Back in Colombia, it was because some of my men died, and I drowned myself in the arms of a feisty woman.

” Talon shoved his hand through his hair. “And then I fucked up again.”

I cocked my head. “How so?”

“I let that shit get between us. And I shouldn't have. Makenna begged me to let her tell you what happened, and I didn't give her a chance. Who knows how things would've played out if she got a chance to tell you first? That’s how I fucked up, and I’m sorry for doing that.”

“She said you laughed at her for mixing us up.”

Talon rubbed his chin with his thumb and forefinger.

Something he did when he was uncomfortable.

“Yeah. That was in poor taste. A knee-jerk reaction to constantly being in your shadow. Being reminded that you’re the good twin and I’m the bad seed.

My laughter was more frustration. A way to cover up the knowledge that what had happened wasn’t going to go over well when it came out, so I was a dick.

Again, I’m sorry. Ever since Uncle Henry’s funeral, I’ve been working on being a different man. ”

His apology was unexpected, but also a relief. A brick lifted from my chest.

I cleared my throat and offered to shake his hand. “You have no idea how good it is to hear those words from you.”

Grinning, Talon shook my hand. “So, you and Makenna are together again, huh? I wasn’t expecting that.”

“Yeah, we are. And neither were we, but it’s good.”

“Is it serious?”

“We’ve moved into an apartment together. Over in East Arlington.”

“Wow. That is serious.” Talon whistled. “Then it's not me you need to worry about, it’s Aunt Betty.”

I groaned. “I’m not looking forward to discussing Makenna with her either.”

“You know what you should do? Bring Makenna to dinner tonight. Aunt Betty won’t make a scene over Sunday roast.”

I huffed. I didn’t have the same confidence as Talon.

But at the same time, I didn’t want to delay my announcement that we were back together any longer.

Makenna had asked me to wait until we’d settled into our apartment before we told my family. We’d moved in together last week, so it was time.

I needed Aunt Betty to see how happy we were, and that we’d forgiven each other. Just like she should. “I guess there’s only one way to find out.”

Talon slugged my shoulder. “I promise not to make things awkward.”

I thumped him back. “That would be a change.”