Operation Alpha. Justine Davis

that’s what you want, I know a guy. I’ll hook you up. But you won’t be any good at it unless you can master the mental part first. It’s harder than you might think to really believe in no holds barred and no quarter given. It’s not the way most people think, if they’re not living in a war zone.”

      “Those guys are serious,” Dylan said.

      “They have to be. For them it’s survival. But for you, it’s all about control. Of the other guy, sure, but of you first. It has to be instinctive, second nature.”

      “Like you did with Alan?”

      Liam’s mouth quirked upward. “Nah. I was mainly focused on not really hurting him. Didn’t want to get sued by angry parents.”

      “You’d have everybody there on your side, testifying that he jumped you.”

      “They did seem to enjoy seeing him on his back,” Liam said with a grin.

      Dylan smiled, and it was the most genuine one Liam had seen from him, except for when he was looking at Cutter. Which he did again now.

      “Will you bring him?”

      “If you want.”

      “Yeah. He’s a great dog.”

      “See you tomorrow, then?”

      Dylan nodded, not even trying to hide his eagerness now. And when he left, even his steps seemed lighter.

      “Thanks, buddy,” Liam said softly to Cutter as he watched the boy go. “We’re in the door now, at least.”

      He reached out to scratch behind the dog’s right ear, in that spot he liked. The feathery tail began to wag again. And it was a moment before Liam realized it wasn’t simply the touch he was happy about. Someone was once more coming up behind him. And this one was a bigger threat than Alan had ever thought about being. To Liam, anyway.

      Ria.