Page 2 of Connected

“Oz—you got a sit-rep? You find anything?” Darius questions as he ignores Digby—both his comments and drinking.

“Yeah, I think I might have found a way they got out and why we didn’t see them. It’s difficult in all the rain to get a scent, but there are mud tracks and a pathway has been cut through the trees. It looks as though it might have been used regularly, but the undergrowth hides it well. You’d have to know it was there, so my guess is that’s why the drone couldn’t pick it up. And they had some sort of four-wheel drive—if you ask me, I think they were ready to escape. What I mean is, I think this was planned.”

“So, what, you think they knew we were comin’? Fuck. But how the hell could they know that? You think they had some kinda intel on this op?”

Darius side-eyes Digby watching the snarl curl on his lips as he presses the bottle to his mouth and glugs back more fiery liquor—fuming, he swipes the bottle from his hand. It catches Digby by surprise and he stares with a scowl, at the smashed glass and whiskey that now covers the floor.

“I said that’s not helping—Digby, will you focus the fuck up!”

“Hey… Hey, cool it guys.” Oz takes a breath, concerned about the tension between them; he can feel it, like a storm brewing, and he worries they might fight. He also knows if they do, there’ll be no way he can stop them. Hell, he’d seen Zak try to break them apart—when occasionally they’d fought in the past—and if Zak couldn’t do it, then Oz knows he has no hope. “C’mon guys just calm the hell down. Look, let’s regroup for tonight, get everyone back, and decide on a plan, yeah? That rain’s not lettin’ up anytime soon, so let’s just get some rest and head out at first light? C’mon don’t do this, we need you to focus if we’re gonna get them back.”

He frowns. He can see the deep lines furrow on Digby’s forehead and the scowl that crumples at the bridge of his nose. “Hey look, if Alvarez has them, then don’t you see… he took them with him, so my guess is that means he doesn’t want them dead—well, at least not for now. So that buys us some time, right? Digg’s… Darius? C’mon guys, please don’t do this. The team needs you to hold it together, not for you to be fighting. So, please stop.”

“Oz, get the fuck out!” Digby sneers, his blue eyes are bright with rage. “Are you listenin’? I said get the fuck out… Now!”

“Okay, okay, I’m gone. But I’m begging you… please, don’t do this.” OZ backs slowly out of the door as Digby continues to snarl.Oh great… where the hell are you Zak when I need you?he sighs.

“All right, so why do I have the feelin’ you’ve got something to say? C’mon then, let’s hear it.” Darius stands tall as he and Digby stare at each other. “C’mon get it out there—then maybe we can deal with it? Digby, what the hell is this all about?”

“You wanna know what this is about?” Digby smirks. “This is about you—you and me.”

“All right, so I get it, you’re hurting. Yeah, I understand that—I really do. And I get you don’t know how to process what’s happened—your two closest bonded missing—it hurts. Hell, I know how that feels.” He takes a breath and rests his butt on the table behind him. “With Kat gone from you—it hurts. Digby, I know that sense of loss, what it feels like better than anyone. That heart-wrenching level of pain. But we are gonna get her back—we’re gonna get them both back—alive.”

“But how do you know that? I mean how do you really know? Cos, I don’t think you know anythin’. Alvarez, he could be doin’ anythin’ to them right now. And hell, we’ve both seen what that asshole is capable of—how cruel he can be. I don’t wanna even imagine what the sick son-of-a-bitch shifter will do to them.” Digby takes a deep breath, getting a hold of his emotions. “So how can you stand there and tell me you know how I feel? Oh… right, because of Isabella—because you lost her? Well, if you really do know how I feel, then why?”

“Sorry what? Why? Why what?” Darius furrows his brow and Digby’s ranting riddles only add to his confusion.

“If you know the pain of losin’ a bonded, then why would you do what you’ve been doin’ to me?”

“Digg’s I really don’t know what the hell you’re talking about. I thought this was about Alvarez, about him taking Zak and Kat? Hell, you’ve lost me. You know you really need to get it together. Put the liquor down and get a grip. That’s an order.”

“That’s an order?Fuck you! I don’t think so, not this time. I’m not taking orders like that from you, not anymore.”

There’s an almighty howl and gnashing of teeth as Digby launches himself at Darius. Punching his fist, it lands with a hard crack on the side of the taller man’s face, and Darius reels back in surprise at the random attack. He’s not sure what’s happening, but stands his ground and hisses angrily—his purple eyes glisten bright violet with rage. “Don’t fuckin’ do this. Digby, you need to back it the fuck down because you know you can’t win.”

“I don’t care. Hell, I lost anyway. I lost my pack, I lost Kat, so I got nothin’ else to lose to you now—only maybe my dignity cos I can’t even beat your ass in a fight.”

“What the hell?” Darius steps back to assess the ongoing situation, but his momentary pause costs him as Digby comes at him again. This time punching him hard in the stomach, following through to his ribs with his other fist. A loud thudding sound—hands against flesh—he pounds thud after thud. Snarling and growling in his continued assault.

Darius was holding back, trying to remain calm. But now, as another blow catches him low in the gut, he retaliates.

Rearing up, he roars loudly, spitting with anger. His eyes glower bright mauve as he shows his fury and then with one swift heavy swipe of his hand he easily slaps Digby away. His strength is phenomenal and he knocks Digby sideways, throwing him hard against the wall. Winded, he slumps in a heap on the floor.

“You know I’m too strong for you. So, don’t do this. Stop, right now.” Darius takes a breath and calms his temper. “Digby, I really don’t want to hurt you, so don’t do this.”

“Fuck you! You don’t wanna hurt me? You already fuckin’ hurt me, you asshole.” He comes again, this time butting his head into Darius’ chest.

Like nothing more than a discarded rag toy—Digby’s thrown across the room. He shakes it off and staggers to his feet. With his pride hurt, his blue eyes glower with anger, and again he launches himself.

Fists fly in Darius’s direction—and a hard cracking sound resonates as he lands a punch against the team leader’s ribs. But this time Darius is ready. With a hiss of air sucked through his clenched teeth, his fist makes a loud thud as it connects squarely with Digby’s jaw.

The room goes silent and Digby drops in a dazed crumpled mess to the floor. He’s almost knocked unconscious and sits, holding his head in his hands, with eyes closed.

“I said enough! That’s an end to it.”

Darius takes a deep breath. Calming himself, he straightens his uniform. Pulling his utility vest down, he stands tall, and dragging a hand through his hair he looks at the forlorn wolf hunched on the floor.

“Diggs, what the hell is this?How have I hurt you?”

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