Justice Ascending

  So she was wearing the skirt for Raze Shadow. That was sweet. What would Sami look like in a skirt? Probably fabulous and mouthwatering. He shook his head. “I’m obsessing.”

  Vinnie reached for a notepad to take notes. “Still being compulsive and organizing your surroundings?”

  “Yeah.”

  “Now you’re obsessing. It does seem as if Scorpius altered your brain and gave you OCD.” She shrugged. “As far as I know.” She leaned to the side and scowled toward the doorway. “Go away.”

  Tace blinked. “You’re still seeing your dead stepmother?”

  “Yes, and today she’s dressed as a hula dancer.”

  “I don’t think I’m the nuttiest person in this room,” Tace said quietly.

  “Not even close, although hallucinations are associated with the Scorpius infection, so maybe I’m normal,” Vinnie said agreeably. “What are you obsessing about?”

  Tace frowned and stared at the profiler.

  She stared back. “We have patient-doctor confidentiality here.”

  Yeah, but she worked for Jax and had a duty to inform him if anybody wasn’t up to mission. He couldn’t be prevented from going on missions. “Just about my job,” he said.

  She nodded. “So not about Sami?”

  He blinked. “Huh?”

  “I might be psychic because I get images from other people, and you’re all but broadcasting Sami all the time.” Vinnie scribbled on her notepad. “Plus, Lynne said something is up between you and Sami. That you wouldn’t let her leave the surgical area until you were finished with Damon.”

  “Lynne has a big mouth,” Tace said, not wanting to discuss new possible psychic abilities, which he did not believe in.

  “Yes.” Vinnie looked up, and her eyes focused on him. “We all like to gossip. Jax is worried you and Sami lied to him about a physical relationship.”

  A rock dropped into Tace’s gut. “We didn’t lie. We don’t have a physical relationship.”

  “Do you want one?”

  He opened his mouth but couldn’t find the right words. They’d already gone down that path, but it was supposed to be a onetime deal and didn’t constitute a relationship. Did he want one? “I don’t know. But I think about her all the time.”

  “Well, it might be obsession.” Vinnie rubbed out a crease in her skirt. “But the beginning of any crush, of any relationship, involves some sort of obsession.”

  He sat straighter. “Really?”

  “Sure. That’s why they’re called crushes. We build up imaginary connections and then get smashed by reality.” She smiled.

  He frowned. “I’m not sure that’s helpful.”

  “I’m not really a shrink,” she whispered, her eyes twinkling. “Seriously, do you want to harm Sami in any way?”

  “No.”

  “Then why not explore your feelings? Relax a little and stop fighting them, and perhaps you’ll stop obsessing.”

  As advice went, it wasn’t horrible, but the doc had a definite romantic streak that was showing. “What if it changes? I mean, I’m getting darker each day, and what if I end up wanting to wear her skin as a suit?”

  Vinnie laughed, the sound high and almost tinkly. “That’s funny.”

  His frown deepened until he felt it down his neck. “No, it isn’t.”

  She sighed. “Listen. You’re definitely a darker guy than you were, but the world is a darker place than it was. If you don’t want to harm Sami, you won’t. Stop worrying about that.”

  “I can’t hurt her. I can’t let her down.” His chest thumped hard.

  “Ah.” Vinnie pressed her lips together.

  He stiffened. “‘Ah,’ what? What does ‘ah’ mean?”

  “You’ve never let anybody down, Tace.”

  He nearly exploded. “Of course I have.”

  “How?”

  “By, I mean, by failing everyone. My sisters, my family. I didn’t live up to their expectations.” Hell, he came from Texas Rangers, for God’s sake. And now, here he was, a day after killing a man he’d never met.

  “I hate to tell you this, but the survival guilt is in us all.” Vinnie’s eyes sobered. “Living when others didn’t isn’t your fault. You couldn’t have saved them, and you’re doing the best you can do under unimaginable circumstances. Keep writing in your journal. I insist upon it.”

  He was so tired of that damn journal. His ankle tingled, and he stilled.

  “What’s wrong?” Vinnie asked.

  Man, the woman was observant. “Every muscle I have is exhausted,” he said. Not now. He didn’t need an attack right now. She would definitely have to tell Jax. The tingling went away, and he relaxed. “So, I’m here to talk about Greyson and not myself. He’s a good fighter, is methodical, and seems fair.”

  “Would he kill?” Vinnie asked, smoothly letting Tace off the hook.

  “Without hesitation,” Tace said, losing the frown as he warmed to a subject that didn’t involve him. “Just like the rest of us.”

  Vinnie cocked her head to the side. “You liked him?”

  Tace leaned back. “He’s a potential target and a possible ally. That’s how I saw him the entire time.”

  “Yes, with your brain. But feeling-wise, you liked the guy.” Her eyes focused on him.

  Was there a difference? “Okay.”

  “Give me specific examples of his behavior, please.” She poised her pen over the paper.

  Tace nodded and ran through the entire two days in Merc territory, minus those last few hours. He wasn’t going to kiss and tell—and he wanted to kiss again. Interesting. His blood started to thrum.

  Vinnie finished writing. “Perfect.”

  A shadow crossed the doorway, and then Shadow poked his head in, his odd blue eyes nearly glowing in the dark. “Doc? It’s gotta be close to midnight, and you need sleep.” Raze nodded at Tace. “You crazy?”

  “Probably,” Tace said.

  “We all are,” Vinnie said cheerfully, setting her notepad down. “Thanks for coming in, Tace.”

  Tace knew a dismissal when he heard one. He stood and then paused. “Shadow? I thought you were scouting inner territory tonight?”

  Raze shrugged. “Sami took my place with Jax. Said she needed to get some air.”

  “She was shot less than sixteen hours ago and needs to rest.” Fury roared through Tace, and he stalked by Raze. “Damn it.”

  He heard Raze behind him but barely comprehended the words.

  “Should we stop him?” Raze asked Vinnie.

  “Nah, let it happen,” she responded.

  Yeah, like they could stop him. He stormed out of the clinic to the back of the building and a wide street. Where was Shadow supposed to have scouted? Oh yeah. The western corner, where there was some weird church for people who hadn’t been infected by Scorpius. A place that had seen gunfire and where Lynne Harmony had been taken hostage just a few days ago.

  That wasn’t exactly where Sami needed to recuperate from a bullet to the chest.

  Damn it. His fingers closed into fists, and he launched himself down the quiet street toward the west, knowing he was being unreasonable but unable to stop himself.

  He and Sami were about to come to an understanding neither of them was ready for.

  So be it.

  Chapter Fourteen

  I’ve found that a punch to the face works better than reason more often than not.

  —Sami Steel

  Sami noted the quiet apartment building surrounded by more crumbling apartment buildings. The moon glittered down and made the scouting job easy, for once showing that the Pure church had finally listened to reason. “They took the fence down,” she murmured. Her chest ached like she’d been kicked by a horse, and her voice was still weak.

  “We took the fence down,” Jax said, turning and facing the silent brick structure. “Well now. That makes me unhappy.”

  Sami crooked her head to see a guard at the front door holding an automatic weapon. Moonlight glinted off the pol
ished barrel. “Me too.” She straightened, and pain shot through her breastbone. The Pure church had fenced the western blocks inside Vanguard territory, and their leader had taken Lynne hostage the previous week after fencing their perimeter. He was dead, but a new leader had stepped up. “I thought the new guy was more reasonable than the first one.”

  “Reasonable doesn’t include a guy with a gun at the front door,” Jax said. “Stay here.”

  Sami drew her weapon.

  “Put that back.” Jax eyed her. “We’re not having a shootout.”

  “You’re not walking right up to a guy holding a gun without backup behind you and pointed at the asshole,” Sami wheezed.

  Jax grasped her shoulder. “Are you all right?”

  “Fuck no, she’s not all right.” Tace Justice stomped into sight. “Are you fucking kidding me? Your entire chest is probably the color of shit-pukin’ purple goblins right now.”

  Jax slowly turned his head. “That’s quite an image, Texas.”

  “You both should know better.” Tace crossed his arms and glanced beyond them. He stood taller. “Why is there an armed guard at that door?”

  “I was just going to find out,” Jax said.

  Tace flashed his teeth. “I’ll come with you. Sami, get your bruised self back to bed.”

  Her mouth gaped open. Oh, he did not. She bit back a stream of raw heat before it could bellow forth in curse words way more creative than his goblin image. She swallowed several times and tried to look like her body wasn’t about to collapse into itself. “I am perfectly capable of being here, Medic. In fact, if I remember right, I’m the fucking soldier between the two of us.” Her very strong words might’ve been abated a little since she wheezed the last sentence. But she remained standing.

  His stance widened. “If you were anybody else in the world, you stubborn little shit, I’d tap you in the upper chest right now and say prove it.”

  If he tried it, she’d freaking pass out. Even the thought of somebody smacking her bruise made her ribs ache all the way down to her waist. “My chest is fine.”

  His eyes gleamed, and she took a step back.

  Jax crossed his arms. “What in the hell is going on between you two?”

  “Nothing,” Sami snapped.

  “Excuse me, men.” Joe Bentley, the new leader of the Pure, strode past the armed guard and out of the building while shoving his glasses up his nose. The church leader wore khaki pants and a white golf shirt. He stepped across the cracked parking area. “Oh, I’m sorry. I mean men and miss.” He smiled with even teeth as he approached.

  “Bentley. Why the fuck is there a guy with a gun at the doorway?” Jax wasn’t one to mince words.

  Bentley’s glasses reflected the moon. “Master-Sergeant Mercury, please be courteous.” He wiped thin-boned hands down his trim hips. “Our congregation sleeps better knowing there’s protection at the doors. Surely you can understand.”

  Jax towered over Bentley, his hard body one long line of danger. “The armed guards are all around the perimeter of Vanguard. I do not like armed guards covering buildings against other Vanguard citizens. It is unacceptable.”

  “We have uninfected children and pregnant women inside, Jax.” Bentley took a step back. “We must assure their safety.”

  Another man strode out of the apartment building. “Joe? Is there a problem?”

  “No.” Bentley waved the guy back. “I’m just speaking with Vanguard soldiers.”

  The guy tipped his head, and highlights in his brown hair shone beneath the moon. Light eyes, probably green, studied them. “One of them is a woman.”

  Sami lowered her chin. “Good guess, buddy. Want to come closer?”

  “Sure.” He put his hands in his jeans pockets and walked over the uneven ground. The new guy was about six foot two and maybe thirty years old. He nodded. “Pastor Zachary King.”

  “Pastor?” Sami studied him. “I thought you were in charge, Bentley.”

  Bentley cleared his throat. “Ah, no. I’m in charge of the clerical work, but the pastor gives sermons. I’m more of an organizational leader, and he leads the church.”

  Yeah, she could see that. Bentley lacked charisma, and Zachary had it in spades. He smiled and she almost smiled back.

  What sounded like a growl came from Tace, and she stiffened. It was probably her job to diffuse the situation because Tace had something mental going on and Jax was just pissed off, but her chest hurt, her head hurt, and parts of her tingled from Tace’s being near. “What are the guard’s orders if we approach the building?” Might as well get the facts.

  Zachary rocked back on his heels. “His orders are to keep anybody from entering the building.”

  “Even by using lethal force?” Sami asked quietly. Just talking was beginning to create pain.

  Bentley shook his head. “No.”

  “Yes,” Zachary countered with a smile.

  Jax’s chin lowered.

  Zachary held up a hand. “We’re happy to negotiate the entire situation.”

  “‘Negotiate’ is the wrong word,” Jax said softly.

  Sami winced. When Jax got really quiet, things were about to blow up. “How’s the scheduling for interviews going?” Maybe she could turn the topic. Vinnie was supposed to interview and thus profile all the Pure members to make sure they were living together voluntarily.

  “Still working on it,” Zachary said. “Many of our members think it’s unfair for them to have to explain their actions or plans to anybody. We still live in a free society.”

  “You live in my society,” Jax said.

  Tace stepped closer to Sami, somehow taking over. “We just want to make sure everyone is on board with your plans. From what we’ve seen, we have doubts people are acting out of free will instead of coercion.” He tapped the knife at his belt three times. “You also have children who aren’t yours in your little flock.”

  “It isn’t safe for us in Vanguard,” Bentley said.

  “I’m fine with you all leaving, after I speak with each member,” Jax returned. “Yet I gotta tell you, you definitely won’t be safe outside these walls.”

  Zachary chuckled. “God spared us from being infected by the most deadly pathogen ever to infect humans. I think He will make sure we’re all right once we move on.”

  “You were spared through dumb sheer luck,” Tace returned, his body vibrating.

  “He shall cover thee with His feathers, and under His wings shalt thou trust: His truth shield and buckler,” Zachary said.

  Jax breathed out. “You’re quoting Psalms to me while posting an armed guard at your door? I don’t think so.”

  Next to Sami, Tace stilled in a way that made her stiffen. She focused on him through her peripheral vision. Moonlight caressed his suddenly pale features. Instinctively, she angled her body closer to his. “I’ll check with Vinnie to see how the scheduling is going. Once everyone is interviewed, and Vinnie is assured that nobody is being forced to join the church or leave Vanguard, you’re free to go wherever you wish, Pastor.” Tace moved next to her.

  She couldn’t let Jax see Tace lose control. Yeah, she’d wonder why later.

  Jax was already staring at his lieutenant. “Tace?”

  Tace dropped to one knee.

  Sami went for him just as Jax swept his gun out, looking for threats. “What’s going on?” Jax snapped.

  “Tace?” Sami put a hand on his shoulder. “You okay?”

  He nodded, his gaze down as he took several deep breaths. “Just lost my balance for a minute.”

  It wasn’t the first time—not by a long shot. “When was the last time you slept?” Sami asked.

  “Dunno. Been days.” Tace’s jaw firmed, and he slowly stood.

  A thought occurred to her, and she almost fell right next to him. “You’re not experiencing numbness, are you?”

  He blinked. “No.” Then he looked up at her. “Why?”

  “Just asking,” she whispered. It couldn’t be. He couldn’t be
having a reaction to the vitamin B concoction. It was so rare. But if he wasn’t going numb, he was fine.

  Zachary backed away. “Scorpius is still affecting people even after months of recuperation, isn’t it?”

  “Yeah, but Tace fought the fever just a couple of weeks ago,” Jax said, his gaze inscrutable. “He’s still healing. Sami? Get him to bed, please.”

  She nodded and tucked her gun in her waistband before sliding a shoulder beneath Tace’s. Her head buzzed, and her chest ached from more than the bullet earlier. She had a duty to tell Jax about Tace’s health, but it was true the guy hadn’t slept in way too long. Maybe sleep would take care of the problem. It couldn’t be anything else. His problem had to do with lack of sleep. “Let’s go, Texas.”

  It was a sign of how bad he felt that he didn’t argue with her but instead let her shoulder some of his weight.

  By the time they’d tromped through the blocks of Vanguard territory, he was standing on his own and walking easily. “Sorry about that,” he said, rubbing his eyes. “Damn it. How’s your chest feeling?”

  “Sore but okay. You need sleep.” She cleared her throat. “Are you sure you haven’t had any weird numbness or tingling?”

  He paused. “Why?”

  “Just answer.” She held her breath.

  “Nope.” He ran a hand through his thick hair. “Just a little bit of dizziness once in a while. I’m sure it’s a sleep issue.”

  She smiled and breathed out, her body relaxing. “That’s what I figured. Okay. That’s good.”

  They reached headquarters and trudged up the stairs to his apartment. He shoved open the door. “You gonna tuck me in?”

  She started to answer when she noticed a lantern on inside. Then she craned her neck to see a stunning brunette sitting on the sofa, legs kicked out, looking more than comfortable to be there. “Oh. Hi, Barbara.” Her stomach clenched like she’d been kicked, and she quickly backed away. “Uh, I’ll see you at tomorrow’s meeting, Tace.” Heat filled her face, and she turned toward her own door.

  “Sami, wait—” Tace started, but she’d yanked open her door and quickly shut it, leaning against it.

  She’d forgotten—totally forgotten—about Barbara. God, she was so stupid. Tace Justice had been a good ole boy charmer before getting Scorpius, and now he was a bad boy with a gun who liked women.