Free Fearless Leader (Juxtapose City) by Tricia Owens

have been noted. Captain Dickerson personally recommended that Agent Starr be included in this team and I respect that decision. I expect you to as well."
    "But what good can he possibly do? He's probably on drugs as we speak. If I am to entrust my life and the lives of my teammates to a drug abuser--"
    Black held up his hand. "Agent Starr's drug use is being handled. Don't concern yourself with that." He reached into his pocket and held out the Bliss tab. "I should have mentioned this last night but I neglected to. Starr is an empath." He nodded as Sola stiffened. "He can't read minds but he can sense emotions. Therefore on the orders of the captain I have been given regulated doses of Bliss to distribute to those members of the team who feel uncomfortable being exposed in his presence. I can’t force you to use this but the other men are already doing so."
    To his surprise Sola reached for the tab immediately, sticking it behind his ear. "I wish I'd known this beforehand, sir," Sola mumbled. "Having that freak in my head all this time..."
    "He can't read your thoughts," Black reminded him impatiently.
    Sola didn't appear to care. He glared at the door as if he could see Starr through it. "Is he here for a special assignment, sir?"
    "That has yet to be revealed to me," Black said, somewhat reluctantly. He didn't like being kept in the dark and disliked even more having to admit to his ignorance. "Will you have a problem working within this team, Sergeant Sola? If so, tell me now and I will arrange for your transfer back to R&R."
    Sola looked back at him and the hardness Black had sensed in the man was paired with a steely determination. "No problem, sir. I want to be a part of JC2, no matter who it is I'll have to work alongside. I've dedicated my life to eradicating the scum of Juxtapose City. Nothing and no one will stop me."
    It was a more impassioned answer than he'd been looking for but Black was willing to take what he could get. "Alright then. I'll show you where you're staying."
     
~~~~~
     
    The one who looked like he was a kid was staring at him unabashedly. The big one with the baby face was trying not to look as obvious as he glanced over from the corner of his eye. Calyx smiled slightly, amused by the reaction of Black's teammates. Thanks to the tabs he saw the men wearing behind their ears he couldn't sense them but instinct told him that these two wouldn't be as difficult to deal with as the psycho he'd just encountered or Black's lapdog from last night.
    The latter man, after returning Calyx's grin with a challenging sneer, had retreated upstairs. Laying booby traps, Calyx thought with a private laugh. Definitely a lover, Calyx decided. The look the lapdog had sent Black before heading upstairs had been purely possessive.
    Calyx came out of his musings as a hand tapped him lightly on the shoulder. The younger agent who'd been staring at him now had his hand extended.
    "I'm Haney Wilkes and this is Bee Mathers." Haney gave a tentative smile as they shook hands. "The guy who went upstairs is Jake. Jake Cole. He's the second-in-command."
    Starr let his lashes drift down, hooding his gaze. "I'm Calyx. I think your boss wants to call me Agent Starr so I'll let him. It makes me sound rather mysterious and sexy, don't you think?" He smirked at Haney's stammered agreement. "We'll see how long that lasts before the rest of you break down and start calling me 'asshole'."
    Haney's green eyes widened before he burst into laughter. He half-turned and smacked the big guy in the chest. "He's funny! This won't be so bad, Bee."
    Bee rolled his eyes, his face pinkening slightly. "Cut it out, will you, Haney?" He reached for Calyx's hand and engulfed it in his. "We were expecting something else, to be honest. We've never dealt with an empath before. Well, besides arresting them."
    Calyx's lips curled. "Hmm, is someone spreading naughty rumors about me already? I'm shocked. Don't tell me-- was it the lapdog?"
    "Lapdog?" Haney's