Page 32 of Pain
Matt stared at Xander, understanding how the team could end up being so close. Working together the way they did, it would be impossible not to form bonds that went deep. Already, he was feeling more comfortable with Xander than he should so quickly. There was something about him that made him so easy to talk to. Maybe it was the fact he wasn't judging him, or maybe the fact that he was just willing to listen, but Matt craved whatever it was. "I'm glad you have the team then."
"Me too. I'd probably be in prison if it wasn't for them." Xander played with the label on the beer bottle. "Bryon kept me from getting into a lot of trouble over the years."
"You don't seem the type to risk your freedom."
"For the right reasons any man would risk their freedom. I've had a lot of reasons."
The comment made Matt wonder more about Xander and his life, but he didn't know him well enough to pry and ask questions. "Well, for my sake, I'm glad you're here and not in prison."
"Me too." Xander laughed before taking the last swallow of his beer. He glanced at his phone as if looking to see if Dyson had called yet.
"You worried?" Matt asked.
"Not worried, but restless. I hate that I'm not part of this."
"How about we go inside and find a way to distract ourselves. We can put a movie on or eat ice cream or whatever works." Matt stood.
"Ice cream sounds good." Xander crushed out his cigarette before standing. "You found my weakness, next to coffee of course."
"Ah, yes, coffee is a must." Matt stepped inside, leaving Xander to close the door when he followed him in. "Hope vanilla is okay. Trish, my sister, brought it over. I usually go for something a bit more exciting."
"Vanilla is fine." Xander leaned against the counter.
Matt pulled the ice cream out and started to scoop two bowls. "So, did I hear Dyson say you two are getting new tattoos?"
"Yeah, we'll go in this week. I'll just get this space finished." Xander pointed to a spot on his arm. "You got any?"
"Nope, almost got one in college, but I chickened out. Kind of glad I did. I was going to get a name on my chest."
"Names are never a good thing." Xander grinned.
"I know that now. Glad I didn't. Not sure Jill would have been happy with another person's name on my body. I would have ended up having to get it covered up." Matt slid one of the bowls over to Xander. "Have a seat." He nodded to the kitchen table before he put the ice cream back in the freezer. He grabbed his own bowl and joined Xander. "Are you completely covered?"
"Close on top, my legs have a lot of space left, but I have plans for them too."
"Doesn't hurt?"
"Not like you would think. There are some spots more sensitive than others, but nothing you couldn't handle. Want to come with us?"
"No, now is hardly—" He paused as Xander's phone dinged with a message.
Xander picked it up and read it, a smile forming as he glanced at Matt. "It says they are on their way home. The sting took longer than usual. The guy had bags packed ready to run."
"He was going to run that fast?"
"He had to know someone would come after him. The family, someone like us, or just someone who knew about the case. Hurting a child is unforgivable. Even in prison, there are two things that are unforgivable, child and animal abuse. No one takes those lightly."
"So now they'll treat him at the hospital and he'll go home? Is that really fair?"
"He'll go home less a man than he was before." Xander grinned. "Honestly, it wouldn't shock me if Bryon and Carter had them plant stuff for the cops to find. Stuff that will keep this fucker locked up. Even if he goes home, I'm sure someone will still try and kill him. I can't imagine the child's father will rest until the scumbag is dead."
"You can't blame him." Matt closed his eyes, imagining what he would do if he found someone had hurt Faith that way. His stomach turned at the thought because it was a very real possibility that someone was hurting her. He pushed his ice cream back with a sigh.
"No, you can't blame a father for wanting to take out anyone who hurts his daughter, but you also don't want them to give up their life and spend the rest of it in prison. If we can do the work and maybe keep someone who hasn't already tarnished their soul from doing so, then we will."
Matt looked up. "Is your soul tarnished?"
"It was tarnished long before I joined the team. The Army, my past before that, the years right after I came back home, none of it's been a fairy tale."
