Chapter 16

Sharp had put it off too long. He had meant to see Thario after he'd come back from Russia, but he'd had too many other things going on in his life. That was a lie. He'd avoided Thario because he'd been afraid of what his friend would say.

On a warm and clear Sunday he headed over to Thario's place, the ache in his heart making it feel like there was a lump in his throat.

Thario answered the door in his wheelchair and waved him in. "How you doing?" Thario called out as he wheeled into the main part of his house. "The dog won't bite."

Sharp stopped cold as he spied the huge German Shepard who was eyeing him suspiciously. "Is that a working dog?"

"He was. Retired like me. He was injured, though not as badly as I was. He's learning to get me stuff from the refrigerator, but sometimes, he forgets to bring me the beer or a can of water. I don't trust him making me a sandwich yet. "

Sharp chuckled. "I'm a shit friend. I've been back for a few and haven't come to see you."

Thario rolled his eyes. "It's all good. I'm probably the only person who knew you were in Russia."

Shock coursed through Sharp. "What the fuck, Thario? How the hell did you know that?"

"I've taken up a new hobby."

Sharp thinned his lips and shook his head. "I should report you, but you know I won't. What kind of hobby?"

"I found that I'm good with computers and tracking down people. Like real good."

Sharp narrowed his eyes. "Okay. Just how good are you with computers?"

Thario turned to his dog before answering. "Frog, get me a beer."

Sharp laughed out loud. "Your dog's name is Frog?"

"Yeah. At least that's what he answers to."

Sharp watched as the dog opened the refrigerator and grabbed a beer, then closed the refrigerator door before moving to Thario's side. Since his buddy was missing two full fingers on his left hand, he had to set the beer down in something that held the can steady to open it.

Thario motioned toward the kitchen. "Go grab your own beer. I haven't taught him how to serve guests. Mainly because few people come to see me."

Sharp's heart twisted as guilt rolled over him. He should have come around more. It was hard. Too many emotions were brought up, but Thario was still the same…well, not really. The Thario from before the accident wouldn't have had a dog, and he sure as hell wouldn't sit around doing stuff on a computer. Thario liked the thrill of picking up women. Sharp knew too many guys who'd been blown up were left alone. Their spouses didn't stick ar ound because it wasn't fun anymore, and the women Thario liked wouldn't pay attention to him now.

"So, exactly how good are you with the computers?" Sharp had to think of something else or he would just end up feeling sorry for his buddy, which was the last thing Thario needed.

Thario took a sip and shrugged. "Better than I was with women."

Sharp snorted. "You had plenty of women."

"Yeah, but none of them would have stuck around. Hell, they didn't stick back then. It was mutual, but I wasn't getting women who wanted anything more than fresh dick."

Thoughts of Danika invaded, and he wished he knew how to contact her. She'd been the best thing that had happened to him in a while. Late at night, memories of their time in England hit him hard. Jacking off always involved fantasies of her.

He pushed away the memories and focused on Thario. "What are you doing with your computer knowledge?"

Thario took another sip of beer. "Right now, not much. I've met a few people online who I think are like me."

"How do you know they are like you?"

"We all shut down a child trafficking ring last month. Or we gathered the information and turned it over to the police. They didn't even know it was happening in their neighborhood. Of course, the cops have no fucking idea we're the ones behind it. They just know they got the information."

"What do you mean they don't know who is behind it?"

Thario's lips turned up like he was proud of what he'd accomplished. "We arranged it so the cops thought the man who was doing the photos and films sent the email. There is no tracing it back to us. We figured out, well, one of the guys figured out how to tap into the perp's computer and send the email to the cops. The dude plead guilty already."

"So it can't be traced back to you?"

Thario shook his head. "Nope."

"Dang. So what got you into this?"

Thario took another sip of beer. "I mean, as long as I'm getting paid to sit on my ass and do nothing all day, I might as well have some fun."

Sharp shrugged. "Yeah, I guess you might as well."

Thario leaned forward, and his eyes grew wider. "What can you tell me about Russia?"

Sharp chuckled and sipped his beer. "Not a damn thing."

"I know you were searching for intelligence."

He shook his head. "Shit, man, you're going to get yourself in trouble."

Thario snorted. "Doubt it. I mean, the government guys are good, but they aren't the best. They may know some stuff, but they don't know it all."

Sharp's eyebrows shot up. "And you do?"

"No, but I'm learning."

"Just make sure the people you're learning from aren't double-crossing you."

"I'm careful."

"Cool." Sharp glanced at the door. "I brought some food. Left it in the car in case you kicked my ass out. Want to eat?"

Thario rolled his eyes. "Sure. And I wouldn't kick you out. You're the only one who is really left. "

"What about Jinx?" Sharp asked.

"You haven't visited him. If you had, you wouldn't ask that. His parents are keeping him alive because they can't let him go. He's not there. His heart may be beating, but the man is already dead."

"Shit, I didn't think it was that bad. I knew he was having issues with his mind, but…."

"He had a stroke or something a couple of months ago while you were overseas. His wife left, and she didn't look back."

"Damn, that's tough."

"Yeah. If she'd stuck around, she could have asked the doctors to pull the plug, but the divorce came through, and she ran. Now, his parents can't take a step back and see that he's not the same. It's bad."

"That sucks. I don't…" He couldn't finish his sentence.

"You gotta promise me you won't allow anyone to do that to me. If something happens and I'm not mentally around, you gotta end it for me. I don't want to lie in bed for years, unable to control my body."

Sharp nodded. "You got it."

"Good. Now then, why don't you tell me what you brought me for dinner. I hope whatever you brought, it's good. Ain't no one taking me out now. I need some good food and company."

Sharp grabbed the steaks and sides he'd brought. He wheeled Thario outside and grilled while they talked shit about their time together.

It was good to hang out with his buddy. The cloud of sadness and regret wasn't as thick. If he could go back to that day, he would change everything, even if it meant he'd been the one to die. The only regret he would have was not getting a chance to be with Danika again. Something had to be done about that, but he didn't know how to get in touch with her. Maybe next time he met with Thario, he could ask if the guy could track her down because he didn't want to live the rest of his life without seeing her again.