“I don’t know, but that’s what he told me in the hospital. His plan all along was for me to join him. I chose the Corps, all of you, over him. I can only assume.”
“And now you’re here with Zane,” Nick added. “Who is the partner you never let Liam be.”
Zane’s stomach flipped to hear someone say that. He probably should have been ashamed to be thrilled by the words, but he wasn’t.
“So you think he’s here in New Orleans, murdering people because he’s pissed at you?” Kelly asked. “Why?”
Ty shook his head.
Digger stood and ambled toward the balcony. “This explains so much. I feel like I’ve just finished a crossword puzzle.”
“How do you know what that feels like?” Kelly asked.
“I don’t.”
Kelly sniffed.
“This is why they paid us off, to keep quiet about the NIA. And why they gave us those release terms,” Owen said. “Good God, Ty, why didn’t you tell us any of this?”
“It was top secret,” Ty answered. He sounded and looked exhausted. “I couldn’t.”
Zane stepped forward, frowning. “What terms?”
They all turned to look at him, as if they’d forgotten he was there.
“Are you serious?” Owen blurted. He looked from Zane to Ty. “You talk about how much you love this guy and you haven’t even told him?”
Ty pointed a finger at him and snarled, “Shut up.”
“Told me what?” Zane asked cautiously.
Owen glanced at him, curling his lip. “Ask your boyfriend. He’s the one with all the secrets.”
Nick strode toward Owen, giving his shoulder a shove. “Johns, shut your f**king mouth.”
But Zane turned his attention to Ty. The look on his lover’s face didn’t do much to dispel the sudden bout of nerves. “Ty?”
Ty stood. His hands balled into fists as he glanced from Zane to Nick. Nick nodded.
“Tell him, Grady!” Owen shouted. Nick shoved Owen into the wall and pointed a finger in his face, hissing.
“Get him out of here,” Ty growled. Nick grabbed Owen’s shoulder, but the man shrugged him off.
“Don’t have to tell me twice. I’m f**king out of here.” He stormed out, letting the door slam behind him.
Nick squared his shoulders, regaining his calming demeanor with impressive speed. He gave them one last glance, then headed for the door. Kelly and Digger followed, murmuring good-byes to Zane as they passed.
As soon as the door closed, Zane heard Owen shouting in the hallway. He turned to Ty, though. “What the hell is going on?”
“Zane,” Ty said, his voice hoarse. He cleared his throat. He seemed to be fighting to meet Zane’s eyes. “There’s something . . . something I’ve been keeping from you.”
Zane’s stomach flipped. “I thought we got all the secrets out.”
Ty shook his head, looking sick. “Not this one.”
Zane took a deep breath, trying to come to terms with the flicker of fear in Ty’s eyes. “So tell me.”
Ty struggled to meet Zane’s eyes as he began to speak. “I was never completely discharged from the Marines.”
Zane barked a laugh. “You’re so full of shit.”
“I’m not joking, Zane.”
Zane’s smile fell and he took a step toward Ty. “What are you talking about?”
Ty glanced at the door. “The boys and me . . . the team. We’re still obligated to the Marines.”
Zane stared, mouth hanging open. “What?”
Ty ran a hand through his hair. “It happens with a lot of Special Ops crews; the military never really lets us go. We’re too highly trained, too much money and time has been put into us. And the terms we signed when they released us compel us to go back if they order it. If they want us back . . .”
“What the hell are you talking about?”
“Zane.”
“No, Ty, I mean . . . what the hell are you talking about?”
“I was never discharged from the Marines. Sidewinder wasn’t disbanded, even though the official paperwork cited disobedience as the reason for leaving. We were just . . . put on reserve because of the fuss the NIA made. They took my refusal of the orders and used it as the excuse to put us all into cold storage.”
Ty looked both riddled with nerves and relieved to have said the words. Zane tried to speak, but nothing would come out. He took a staggering step back and pressed his hand to his stomach, feeling sick and dizzy.
After a few moments of tense silence, Ty leaned closer. “Zane?”
“You’re saying you’re still a Marine.”
“Not technically. Sort of.”
“You can’t be sort of technically a Marine, Ty. You either are or you aren’t!”
Ty put a hand up to calm him, but Zane batted it away. “You’re still a Marine! You’re telling me that any day, you could be called back into service and you’d have to prance off with your little go bag and be gone for months on the front line?”
“You’re upset.”
“You’re damn right I’m upset!” Zane roared. “This is something you stay prepared for, isn’t it? The bag in the closet, never missing a morning run. When the f**k were you planning on telling me this?”
“I was . . . I was hoping I wouldn’t need to. The contracts expire in December.”
Zane sniffed in disgust. “Jesus Christ, Ty.”
Ty raised both hands. “It’s not like it’s something I can just go around telling everyone.”
“I’m not everyone!”
“I know that! But Zane, there’s nothing we can do about it.”
“And that makes it okay not to tell me?”
Ty shook his head.
“Give me details,” Zane demanded.
“I can’t tell you more. I wasn’t supposed to tell you that much.”
“The f**k you can’t. You’re standing here telling me you’re still a f**king Marine, that you and your team are still on some sort of long-term f**king—”
“Zane, calm down.”
Zane slammed his fist into the wall. Blood was roaring through his ears and he had to shout to hear himself. “I’ve been living with you for a year and you can’t tell me more?”
“I’m—”
“Bullshit!”
“I can’t tell you, Zane!” Ty shouted. “God! What I’ve said already could get me thrown in the Disciplinary Barracks at Leavenworth! Do you understand? I am still subject to USMC laws and codes of conduct!”