Free Edge of Obsession (SKALS #3) by Adriana Noir Page A

Blue clashed with green. Shooting him a look of disgust, his partner flung the door open and slammed it behind him with enough force to rattle the room.
    Sebastian’s shoulders dropped. The rift was upsetting, but there was nothing he could do. Not yet. Sometimes in order to truly save someone, you had to let them go. His thoughts spun to Taylor and his heart wrenched as he prayed it never came down to that with her. Losing his partner, even losing his career he could handle. But Taylor…Taylor was everything.
    A loud knock announced Vincent’ s arrival. Calling the other man in, he glanced at the clock and tried to assess how much time he had before Marx came barging through the door. However long it was, it wouldn’t be long enough.
    “You requested to see me, sir?” Vince asked, doing his best to conceal the rattle of uncertainty in his voice.
    He nodded. “I did. Would you like a drink, Agent Pellagreeni?”
    “No, sir. Thank you. About what happened earlier, I—”
    “Relax,” Sebastian ordered with a forced smile. Judging from the way the other man flinched, the attempt only served to heighten his teammate’s anxiety. “We’ve worked together for a long time now, Vincent. It’s been what? Five years now? Six?”
    “Six this summer, sir.”
    “Right,” he stated. Sauntering behind his desk, he retrieved his pistol, not missing the way the other man’s eyes flared. “And in that time, there have been many changes. Not all of them have been beneficial to this team. Would you agree with that assessment?”
    The other man’s terrified gaze remained locked on the gun in his hand. “I…uh…yes, sir. I suppose.”
    “It’s a simple question, Vincent. Yes or no.”
    “Please…”
    Sebastian cut him off with an annoyed wave of his hand. The technician winced, his tongue darting out to wet his lips. Sweat beaded beneath the line of his dark blond hair and he glanced at the door, as if silently begging someone to come bail him out.
    Ignoring the man, Sebastian continued: “Two team members have turned in the past six months. That tells me there is a very serious issue with this organization. What concerns me even more is what happened with Laychee. Once they have someone in their sights, nothing escapes SKALS attention. I would like to know how a man we had under surveillance managed to not only slip through the cracks, but break into my home and damn near kill the woman I keep in my bed.”
    “I—I don’t know, sir. I wasn’t on duty that night. I swear.”
    “I believe you,” Sebastian said, his voice barely above a whisper. “Do you know where I am headed with this?”
    “I’m assuming you believe Laychee had help from someone else besides Agent Chase, sir. Someone else on the inside.”
    “Smart man,” Sebastian said with a terse smile. Setting his gun down, he took a long swill of whiskey. His eyes closed as he relished the sweet burn and released a heavy sigh. “One slight screw-up aside, you have always served me and this team well, Vincent, and despite everything that has happened lately, that is exactly what we are. We are a team. A well-oiled unit that functions together. I have done what I could to preserve those ties, and I have always aimed to protect those under me, no matter how high the cost.”
    “You have, sir,” Vincent agreed.
    “You have been angling for a promotion for quite some time. What this organization needs is change. I am going to move you out of Com-Tech and place you in Intelligence and Recon, but you are going to do something for me in exchange.”
    “ Really ? I mean…yes, sir. Thank you. Anything,” Vince said, the troubled lines on his forehead subsiding as gratitude replaced his fear.
    Strolling across the room, Sebastian closed in on the man. Their eyes locked when the deep boom of Marx’s voice rolled through the hall beyond his office.
    “Dominic didn’t act alone. I need to know who else was in on this. I want names. Bring me whatever