Home > Work > Touch & Geaux (Cut & Run, #7)
1 " Two days ago, I was trying to decide how to ask him to marry me,” Zane whispered. “Tonight I’m trying to figure out if I can even love someone like him. "
― Abigail Roux , Touch & Geaux (Cut & Run, #7)
2 " Ty laughed, a carefree, boyish sound, and glanced to his side, distracted by what he saw. “You moved the rug.”“I kitty-cornered it.”“Why would you do that?” Ty asked, aghast.“To see you lose your shit when you got home.” Zane leaned closer, grinning evilly. “There are other things out of order too. Books not alphabetized. Coffee mug handles facing different directions.” He lowered his voice to a whisper as Ty’s eyes widened in horror. “The closet isn’t color coded.”“You’re just watching the world burn, huh?”Zane laughed.“God I missed you.” Ty said in a rush of breath. "
3 " You’re a phoenix, Zane. Rising from the ashes. And all I do is make you burn. "
4 " Who are you, Zane?"Zane cocked his head. "I'm an artist. I'm a geek." He felt Ty smile. "I am one badass motherfucker on a motorcycle."Ty began to laugh.Zane dipped his head until they were staring into each other's eyes. "And I'm yours. "
5 " Zane ran his thumb over Ty’s cheek, seeing him suddenly with new eyes. Ty had never tried to be something he wasn’t. He’d never tried to hide what he was. Warrior. Weapon. Bad guy. Zane knew what he was. The pain and betrayal faded. The world faded. "
6 " 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 "
7 " I know Ty’s not all there.” Nick said, tapping his temple with a finger. “He has always been a step away from the wrong path. One screw comes loose, and he’s gone. The only thing keeps him on the side of the righteous is his loyalty. His sense of purpose. You take that from him? And you’re looking into the eyes of a monster. "
8 " Ty tapped Nick's knee. "Do you really want him left behind knowing you did this? It can wait until we get back.""Just stop talking, Beaumont," Nick grunted. "You're like the Bermuda Triangle of morals."Zane snorted and covered it with a cough. "
9 " You told me one time that . . . I was your compass. I gave you direction when you were lost,” Ty said, nearly choking on the words. He glanced up, eyes reflecting like liquid in the low light. “Well, you were my anchor. You were something solid for me to hold onto. I wanted you to remember that. "
10 " Zane.” Ty’s voice was harsh in his ear. “Don’t speak geek to me when you’re naked. It shatters the illusion. "
11 " I would have chosen you over anything," Zane hissed. He pulled back, breaking Ty's hold, bunched the front of Ty's shirt in both hands, and jerked Ty forward until they were nose-to-nose, until Ty's feet weren't solidly on the floor. "My job, my family, my wife. I would have given my life for you! But you! You can't even given me the truth! "
12 " Who are you Ty?"Ty smiled against his cheek. "I was an assassin," he whispered. "I'm a Marine. I'm the man who doesn't miss. And I'm yours."Zane bit his lip on a smile.“Who are you, Zane?"Zane cocked his head. "I'm an artist. I'm a geek." He felt Ty smile. "I am one badass motherfucker on a motorcycle."Ty began to laugh.Zane dipped his head until they were staring into each other's eyes. "And I'm yours. "
13 " This is a bad idea. Remember when we were on TV?”“Yes, Grady got fan mail for a month.”“I did?”“We burned it, as you should all evil things "
14 " Zane lay where he was, unable to move even if he’d wantedto. He snaked a hand across the short distance between themand slid his fingers into Ty’s. Ty’s hand closed around his witha gentle squeeze.“I just need to be able to trust you, Ty,” he whispered.“You can. I swear you can. I’d die for you, Zane.”Zane’s heart was in his throat as he studied Ty’s profile. “Iknow. "
15 " I swear to you, Zane. I thought what I was doing was right. I searched for you after I left New York. You were out of my reach. When Burns read me in, the only thing I could think of was that it was the only way of getting back to you. Being partnered with you full-time, being able . . . being able to see you every day, to have you in my life. When he said you might need protecting, it was the only thing I heard. I swear to you. All I wanted from the day I left you in that hospital was you. To be back there with you. "
16 " And you,” Ty continued, his voice breaking. “You’re aphoenix, Zane. Rising from the ashes. And all I do is makeyou burn.”Zane’s throat was too tight to swallow past, and his nextbreath came out a choked sob. He had never imagined thatwas how Ty saw him, and hearing it now made him want totake back every harsh word they’d ever shared, every thrustand parry of their relationship. "
17 " You’re . . . you’re going back to the Marines?” Alston stuttered. “I thought SOCOM was defunct.”“It’s MARSOC now,” Ty mumbled.”But that’s special operations. You don’t have a choice?”“No. I don’t.” He studied the orders. “I report in forty-eight hours. Immediate deployment.”Zane stood. His hands shook as he gripped the edge of the desk. Ty looked up, seeking Zane out. Zane could see it in Ty’s eyes. There was no choice. No way to wriggle out of it. No way for anyone to save him.“Oh God, Ty,” Zane whispered.Ty stared at him for a moment longer as the others broke into outraged babbling. Then Ty shook himself. He tossed the packet of orders onto the desk and stalked over to Zane.He grabbed his face with both hands and kissed him.The room spun to a halt. The babble ground to a stunned hush.Ty’s hands moved to the small of his back and he held him tight, bending him just enough for Zane to have to wrap his arms around him to keep from falling. He kissed him again. In front of their coworkers. In front of King and Country and anyone who would watch. It was the first purely honest kiss they’d ever shared.And it was a kiss good-bye. "
18 " Zane.” His voicewas hushed and pensive. “Sometimes I’m not capable ofexpressing how grateful I am for you.”“What do you mean?”Ty put a hand to his own chest, visibly struggling tofind the right words. “For your . . . So few people have everunderstood the way I work. In here.” He tapped his chest.“Thank you for . . . your insight. "
19 " Nick pressed a finger onto the table. “Would you bust him out of prison?”“No,” Zane answered immediately.Nick sat back, eyebrows climbing high. “No?”“No,” Zane said again. He poured another glass, gritting his teeth. “I wouldn’t let him make it to a cell.”“How is that not enough? "
20 " It’s the cavalry,” Digger said. “Thank Christ,” Kelly grumbled. He raised his hands, rubbing at one wrist and dropping his handcuffs to the floor. “What the hell, man?” Nick whispered. “What? They were too tight.” Digger dropped his cuffs to the floor with a clank that echoed through the station. “If he’s not wearing his, neither am I. "
