Growing up, their house had been filled with love and laughter. Sure, they fought. What brothers didn’t? But the good outweighed the bad every single time. They’d faced their challenges, what with Cael being Therian, but they’d faced it all together, from their emotional childhood and explosive teenage years to college and then the THIRDS. Dex was a lucky bastard. He needed to remember that. Like he needed to remember his promise to Sloane. No matter what happened, the job wouldn’t change them or this right here.

  After they all ate their weight in the most amazing barbecue food, Dex joined his brother, who stood staring up at the stars with a smile on his boyish face. It was a beautiful night, with a cool breeze. The strings of lights hung around the yard were Dex’s favorite. Sloane had installed them for him as a “just because” surprise. His husband was sappily romantic like that, and Dex loved it.

  “You look happy,” Dex said to Cael.

  “Because I am happy.”

  “And you want this?”

  “I’ve wanted it for a while. I was waiting for him to get around to it.”

  Dex frowned. “Get around to it? Not sure a marriage proposal should be something you get around to.”

  Cael playfully punched Dex in the shoulder. “You know what I mean. Ash needed to find the right moment, and I didn’t want him to feel pressured. When he was ready, I’d be ready.”

  “He’s lucky to have you.”

  “And I’m lucky to have him.”

  “I know,” Dex grumbled.

  One thing he never had to worry about was whether his brother was in good hands. Next to his own family, no one protected Cael as fiercely as Ash. The guy had taken a bullet for Cael even before they’d started dating. It had taken forever for Ash to get his head out of his ass and finally admit he had feelings for Cael, then another lifetime to do something about it, but in the end, Dex had to admit, no one was better suited for his sweet brother. Not that he would ever tell Ash that. Giving the guy shit was part of Dex’s personal mission.

  “Dex, will you be my best man?”

  “Of course I will, Chirpy.” Dex gasped loudly. “That means I get to plan your bachelor party!”

  Cael’s eyes went huge. “Dang. I forgot about that part.”

  “Rules,” Ash shouted from across the backyard as he stomped over. “There are going to be rules, Daley!”

  “Do you have a date in mind?” Dex asked Ash. “I need to know how long I have to put a schematic together.”

  “No. No schematics,” Ash growled. “Remember your fucking Christmas schematic? Because I do. You almost burned down the neighborhood.”

  “I do not recall said incident.”

  “Yeah, well, I do. I recall every fucking incident, especially ones that involve you causing me grievous bodily harm.”

  “You exaggerate.” Dex rolled his eyes. “So much exaggeration.”

  “Me?” Ash pointed to himself. “I exaggerate?”

  “See? Now was that so hard to admit?”

  “I swear on my nads, if you show up with even one bear suit, one, I will make sure you never have another gummy bear again. You got me?”

  Dex pretended to be affronted. “What’s wrong with bear suits?”

  “Yours have grenades!”

  “Now, hold on a minute. The grenades were already in the suit when I put it on, so technically, they weren’t my grenades.”

  “It wasn’t your bear suit either,” Cael reminded him.

  “It was temporarily mine. I commandeered it in the name of the THIRDS.”

  “Right, and why was that again?”

  Dex blinked at him. “To, um, ensure public safety. Good thing too, because there were grenades in there.”

  “Grenades? Where?” Hudson asked worriedly as he stepped up next to Cael.

  “In the bear suit,” Cael said. “Remember?”

  Hudson laughed. “Oh yes! That was a smashing evening.”

  “Like you remember it,” Ash drawled.

  “I remember quite clearly, thank you very much.”

  “Was that before or after you puked your guts out while on the phone with Sloane?”

  Hudson’s cheeks flushed deep pink. “I may have imbibed a wee bit by that point.”

  “You were drunk off your ass, Doc,” Ash said. He narrowed his eyes at Dex. “My point is, I want none of your shenanigans for Cael’s bachelor party.”

  Everyone went quiet before the whole of the backyard burst into laughter.

  “Oh, man.” Rafe wiped a tear from his eye. “That was a good one.”

  “I mean it,” Ash growled.

  Letty patted Ash’s shoulder. “Aw, of course you do, tough guy.” She turned to Rosa and the two burst into laughter.

  “Screw the lot of you. Bunch of assholes.”

  Everyone laughed.

  They teased Ash some more, the music turning into a love ballad. Sloane brought Dex into his arms and slow danced with him.

  “I can’t believe he’s getting married,” Dex said as he wrapped his arms around Sloane’s neck.

  “I know. Our little Ash. All grown up.”

  Dex let out a bark of laughter. “I love you so much.”

  “I love you too.” Sloane kissed him, and Dex enjoyed the taste of his amazing man. He soaked up Sloane’s warmth, his love, and his adoration. Who would have thought all those years ago that he’d end up married to his broody partner?

  Several of their friends joined them in dancing to the slow love song, starting with Ash and Cael. The others sat comfortably chatting and laughing quietly. When the song ended, Sloane dipped Dex and kissed him to the sound of whoops and cheers, making Dex laugh. It was good to be home.

  “Ooh, I almost forgot!” Dex ran inside the house, grabbed the wrapped gift he’d left on the kitchen table, and darted back out. He handed it to Ash. “I got you something.”

  Ash eyed the gift but didn’t touch it. “You got me something?”

  “Yep.” Dex laughed as Ash inspected the gift-wrapped box without touching it. “It’s not going to detonate.” At least not yet. “I promise.”

  Carefully, Ash took the present, then put it to his ear.

  “Just open it.”

  Ash tore through the paper, his mouth dropping open. “Are you fucking kidding me? Perfection?” He glared at Sloane. “You told him?”

  “Remember how it goes pop,” Dex said, motioning with his hands.

  Ash flinched, then growled. “I’m going to pop you, Daley!”

  “Which Daley?” Dex asked.

  “You, always you!”

  Dex took off with a laugh, leaving Cael to soothe his grumpy lion. Speaking of lions…

  “Keane! I want you to take another look at my schematic.”

  Keane jumped to his feet and threw a finger out. “No way, bro. I already told you; I am not making your stupid ‘weapon.’”

  “But my schematic—”

  “Is a box,” Keane said, throwing his hand up. “You drew a box!”

  Dex pouted. “But I made it 3D and everything.”

  “¡Santo cielo! Ayúdame con este hombre.” Keane turned to Sloane. “Would you please talk some sense into your man?”

  Sloane wrapped his arm around Dex’s waist and brought him in against him. “I love how you all think I have any kind of control over this.”

  Dex leaned up and kissed Sloane’s jaw. “Like you’d want to.”

  Sloane seemed to think about it. “Maybe occasionally when you get cravings and decide to send the drone out to fetch you said treats.”

  “Baby, this is Manhattan. There’s a lot less traffic in the sky than on the streets. I’m doing the city a favor, if you think about it. Cutting out emissions.”

  “Oh, is that what you’re doing?” Sloane said, turning Dex to face him. “I hadn’t thought of it that way. How very considerate of you.”

  Dex shrugged. “I’m magnanimous like that.” He held back a smile and kissed Sloane much to Keane’s annoyed grunt.

  As he kissed his husband to the sounds of their family’s conversation and laughter, Dex finally felt the tension of the last few days leaving his body. He’d never forget Kenley or the others, but right here, right now, Dex made a promise to himself. He’d remain strong and continue the fight. There were more Vaughans in the world, lurking in the shadows, waiting to do harm.

  His phone rang, and Dex removed it from his pocket, frowning when he saw the black screen. He held his breath, then answered. “Yeah?”

  “I thought you’d like to know they’re making a deal with Ramos,” Sparks said. “I’m sorry.”

  Dex hung up.

  “What’s wrong?” Sloane asked worriedly.

  “Ramos is making a deal,” Dex murmured, not wanting their friends to hear.

  Sloane cursed under his breath. “I’m so sorry, baby.”

  “Not as sorry as Ramos is going to be. I need to make a call.”

  “Dex…” Sloane placed his fingers under Dex’s chin and lifted his face so their eyes could meet. “Are you sure you want to do this?”

  His husband knew him so well that Dex couldn’t help his small smile. He didn’t reply, simply kissed Sloane.

  When he pulled away, Sloane let out a resigned sigh. “Okay.”

  Dex caught Hudson’s eye and motioned him over. He led Hudson to the side of the house, away from everyone.

  “Everything all right?” Hudson asked.

  “I need you to call him.”

  Hudson frowned. “Call who?”

  “You know who.”

  Hudson ran a hand through his hair. “Dex, are you sure—”

  “Ramos made a deal.” Dex didn’t have to ask Hudson if he knew. Hudson wasn’t just Seb’s husband, he was also a TIN operative. He might work more on the medical and scientific side of things, but he always knew what was going on with them.

  “Bloody hell.” Hudson sighed. He removed his phone from his pocket, tapped away at the screen, then handed it to Dex.

  “Hello, Dexter,” the smooth British voice on the other end would forever conjure up images of the torture Dex had suffered at the wolf Therian’s hands, but the guy had also saved his life on more than one occasion. Their relationship was complicated for sure.

  “I’m guessing you’ve heard,” Dex replied.

  Wolf might no longer be a TIN operative, but the lethal assassin for hire seemed to always know what was going on in Dex’s life, often before Dex did. What did it say about Dex that he’d gotten used to it by now?

  “Of course. Quite frankly, I expected your call sooner. I’d like to remind you, yet again, that I’m not your personal grim reaper.”

  “You know what that asshole did. Prison is too good for him. I want him to suffer the way he made Kenley suffer. I want him to wish he’d never been born.”

  The line was silent for so long, Dex wondered if Wolf had hung up. “You there?”

  “Already taken care of.”

  “Thank you.”

  “Oh, this service comes at a cost, my dear Dexter. One of these days, I’ll be in need of your services. Until we meet again.” Wolf hung up, and Dex handed the phone to Hudson. The last thing he wanted to think about was being in debt to a killer like Wolf, but if getting justice for Kenley meant making a deal with the devil, then it was a price he was willing to pay.

  “Be careful, Dex,” Hudson said quietly. “He may be my brother, but we both know what he’s capable of.”

  Dex nodded. “Thanks, Hudson.”

  Hudson headed back to Seb while Dex returned to Sloane, his heart swelling when his husband didn’t ask questions, simply held him close.

  A familiar presence shifted in the darkness inside him, and this time, he welcomed it, accepting who he was supposed to be.

  You did what you had to do.

  Well, look who decided to show up. Somehow, Dex would find a way to work with whatever was inside him so he could do what he’d set out to do when he first joined TIN—get those bastards before they hurt anyone else. He might have failed Kenley, but he’d learned from his mistakes. For a long time, he’d been fighting what was happening inside him, pushing it all back, afraid of what it would mean and how it would change him. Not anymore.

  Embrace who you really are.

  TIN saw him as their secret weapon.

  They had no idea what Dex was about to unleash.

  Dex and Sloane’s adventure continues in Go Down in Flames, book two in the TIN series.Coming Soon.

  Haven’t read the THIRDS? See where it all started with Hell & High Water, the first book in the THIRDS series. Available on Amazon and KindleUnlimited.

  THIRDS UNIVERSE READING ORDER

  ACTION. COMEDY. ROMANCE. AND THAT ONE WEIRD GUY.

  Welcome to the THIRDS Universe!

  THIRDS exists to uphold the law for Humans and Therians without prejudice. But THIRDS agents are more than a team—they’re a family through thick and thin, and along the way, some find true love. While every day brings dangers and challenges, one thing will never change: standing up for what you believe in and protecting the people you love is never optional.

  This series follows a timeline of events and an overall story arc. It should be read in order. Books 1, 2, 3, 4, 7, 8, 9.5, and 10 feature the main couple Dex and Sloane, book 5 features Ash and Cael, book 6 features Calvin and Ethan, and book 9 features Seb and Hudson.

  We also have the THIRDS Beyond the Books for those who finish the series and want to know more about their favorite characters through flash fiction stories.

  The THIRDS Rebels series contain standalone books that can be read in any order but it’s recommended you read them after the THIRDS series as they may contain spoilers. This is where you’ll find books on your favorite side characters from the THIRDS like Austen and Zach, Angel and Taylor, Lou and Bradley, etc.

  The TIN series is a spin-off of the THIRDS series and continues the adventures of Dex and Sloane.

  THIRDS

  Book 1 - Hell & High Water

  Book 2 - Blood & Thunder

  Book 3 - Rack & Ruin

  Book 4 - Rise & Fall

  Book 5 - Against the Grain

  Book 6 - Catch a Tiger by the Tail

  Book 7 - Smoke & Mirrors

  Book 8 - Thick & Thin

  Book 9 - Darkest Hour Before Dawn

  Book 9.5 - Gummy Bears & Grenades

  Book 10 - Tried & True

  THIRDS Beyond the Books Vol 1

  THIRDS Beyond the Books Vol 2

  THIRDS Rebels

  Book 1 - Love and Payne

  TIN

  Book 1 - Gone But Not Forgotten

  CAST MEMBERS

  (Crossover from the THIRDS series).

  TIN OPERATIVES

  Sloane Brodie/Daley—Former Defense agent and THIRDS team leader of Destructive Delta. Jaguar Therian.

  Dexter J. Daley “Dex”—Former Defense agent. Former homicide detective for the Human Police Force. Older brother of Cael Maddock. Adopted by Anthony Maddock. Human-Therian Hybrid.

  Sebastian Hobbs—Former team leader for Theta Destructive. Was once on Destructive Delta but was transferred after his relationship with Hudson ended in a breach of protocol and civilian loss. Middle Hobbs brother. Tiger Therian.

  Dr. Hudson Colbourn—Former THIRDS chief medical examiner. Wolf Therian.

  Austen Payne—Former Squadron Specialist agent (SSA) for Destructive Delta. Former Freelance operative for TIN. Dex and Sloane’s handler. Cheetah Therian.

  THIRDS DESTRUCTIVE DELTA

  Ash Keeler—Defense agent and team leader. Entry tactics and close-quarter combat expert. Lion Therian.

  Julietta “Letty” Guerrera—Defense agent. Weapons expert. Human.

  Calvin Summers—Defense agent. Sniper. Human.

  Ethan Hobbs—Defense agent. Demolitions expert and public safety bomb technician. Has two older brothers: Rafe and Sebastian Hobbs. Tabby tiger Therian.

  Cael Maddock—Recon agent. Tech expert. Dex’s younger brother. Adopted by Anthony Maddock. Cheetah Therian.

  Rosa Santiago—Recon agent. Crisis negotiator and medic. Human.

  THIRDS COMMANDING OFFICERS

  Lieutenant Sonya Sparks—Lieutenant for Unit Alpha. Cougar Therian. Undercover operative for Therian Intelligence Network (TIN).

  Sergeant Anthony “Tony” Maddock—Sergeant for Destructive Delta. Dex and Cael’s adoptive father. Human.

  THIRDS MEDICAL EXAMINER

  Dr. Nina Bishop—Chief medical examiner. Human.

  OTHER IMPORTANT CAST MEMBERS

  Wolf—aka Fang, Reaper. Former TIN operative turned rogue. Wolf became a freelance agent for hire after feeling he was betrayed by TIN, the organization that caused the death of his partner. Hudson’s brother. Wolf Therian.

  John Daley—Dexter J. Daley’s biological father. Anthony Maddock’s best friend and partner at the Human Police Force. Killed during a shootout in a movie theater during the riots. Human.

  Gina Daley—Dexter J. Daley’s biological mother. Worked for the CDC in NYC. First to volunteer to work with Therians. Killed along with her husband during a shootout in a movie theater during the riots. Human.

  GLOSSARY

  Melanoe virus—A virus released during the Vietnam War through the use of biological warfare, infecting millions worldwide and killing hundreds of thousands.

  Eppione.8—A vaccine created using strains from animals immune to the Melanoe virus. It awakened a dormant mutation within the virus, resulting in the alteration of Human DNA and the birth of Therians.

  Therians—Shifters brought about through the mutation of Human DNA as a result of the Eppione.8 vaccine and the Melanoe virus.

  Post-shift Trauma Care (PSTC)—The effects of Therian post-shift trauma are similar to the aftereffects of an epileptic seizure, only on a smaller scale, including muscle soreness, bruising, brief disorientation, and hunger. Eating after a shift is extremely important, as not eating could lead to the Therian collapsing and a host of other health issues. PSTC is the care given to Therians after they shift back to Human form.