Page 17 of Addiction

Well on his way to recovery, Tucker had almost been ready for discharge on the day Collins had paid him an impromptu visit.

“How are you, old man?” Collins flashed him a grin as he strode into the room and offered him his hand.

Tucker eyed his palm thoughtfully, considering rejecting the gesture but deciding against it. Whatever suspicions he had about the guy would need to be substantiated before he could rebuff Collins.

“I’m finally back on my feet.” Of course, his injuries had all been in his arms and shoulder, so he’d never actually been off his feet. Tucker watched as Collins landed in the high-backed chair beside his bed. Funny, he didn’t remember asking him to sit down. “It’s good of you to come.”

“I had to see how you were doing.” Collins feigned compassion well. He’d give him that, but Tucker was a good enough reader of people that he could see the smile at his lips didn’t reach his eyes. “It’s not every day I haul someone back from the dead.”

Back from the dead?

Tucker’s brow furrowed. That was slightly overstating Collins’ achievement. Tucker had little doubt that the target would have finished him off, but he wasn’t actually dying as he lay bleeding in the bunker. The guy beside him was giving himself too much credit.

“Yeah, well, thanks for what you did.”

What did you do?

Tucker stared at the dark-haired guy, wondering if the question shone in his glare.

“Don’t mention it,” Collins replied, although Tucker sensed it wouldn’t be the last time he did. “My buddy was down, and I had to help.”

Buddy? Tucker’s toes curled. He was no one’s buddy.

“How did you know I was injured?” His voice was casual as he asked, but the way he watched Collins’ responses was not. “I never had a chance to radio for help.” Not that he ever would have. Tucker would have rather died there on the cold, dirty floor than called for backup. Backup just wasn’t his style.

It took Collins a couple of seconds before he replied, the increased speed of his breathing and glint of sweat at his brow confirming what Tucker had already guessed—whatever came next was a lie.

“Instinct, I guess.” Collins’ lips stretched wider. “I sensed something was wrong when I heard shots.”

“But the plan had always been for me to shoot the target.” Tucker presented his query as intrigue, but in truth, this had been the crux of the matter for him—the fragment of events that had kept him awake night after night as he tried to rest in the claustrophobic hospital room. He couldn’t wait to be free of the prison of medical routines, couldn’t wait to be back in nature again. “So, how did you know to come to me?”

“I don’t know, really.” Collins’ expression was bemused, as though he couldn’t believe Tucker was pressing the point, but he had news for Collins. He’d do more than only press, and if he got a whiff of foul play, his so-called savior would pay. “But I bet you’re glad that I did!”

“I sure am.” Tucker reached for his glass of water, ignoring the ripping pain that shot up along his arm. “Where would I be without you, Buddy?”

He emphasized the final word on purpose, watching Collins flinch as he registered the sound.

“You’re welcome.” Collins sounded sheepish as he replied, his attention turning to the clock on the wall opposite them. “Listen, I’d better be going. I don’t want to wear you out.”

“I hear they gave you a medal for what you did.” Tucker’s heart hammered as the lying swine rose to his feet.

He’d never wanted Collins to come, but somehow, the fact that he had only focused Tucker’s skepticism. Collins had been involved in what happened that night at the bunker, and after his visit, there was no doubt in Tucker’s mind.

“That’s right.” Collins forced another smile as he turned to face Tucker.

“And a promotion?” News of the upgraded position and significant pay rise had stung even more than the accolade.

“Yeah.” Collins’ smile started to fade. “Who told you?”

“It doesn’t matter.” Tucker could hardly recall his source. Weeks of painkillers meant many of his recent memories were sketchy at best, but he’d managed to retain the important information. “But, wow, good for you, Collins. Look at you go.” He wasn’t even trying to be friendly anymore, and it showed in his dry tone. “You came out of this really well.”

“What are you trying to say?” Collins’ brows knitted as the penny finally dropped in his head. Tucker wasn’t his friend—he never had been—and these days, he had fewer reasons to trust the sod than ever before. “You think I helped you just for a medal and some money?” His face was reddening, reminding Tucker of a kettle that was ready to boil over.

“Hell, no.” Tucker shook his head. “I’m sure you only did what you were told.” A toad like Collins wouldn’t have had the ingenuity to actually come up with a plan himself. “Or maybe you were blackmailed or bribed into it.”

“Fuck you!” Collins squared off to him, his upper lip curling. “I saved your ass, yet you have the audacity to insult me!”

“Is that what I’m doing?” Even though Tucker wasn’t strong enough to fight back if the prick was stupid enough to throw a punch, he was surprised at how enthralling the interaction was. It was the closest he’d felt to ‘alive’ since the day of the mission, and something had felt ‘off’ about the assignment right from the get-go. “I thought I was asking questions and trying to figure out what really went down that night.”

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