Justice Ascending

  Sami gulped air and ran for the soup kitchen. “Clear,” she yelled.

  Raze hustled for the war rooms, quickly returning. “Clear.” He ran for the stairs. “The quarters.”

  Tace followed him, keeping Sami at his six. Which rooms had exploded? He counted in his head. They reached the landing and turned to see Jax kicking down doors. Smoke billowed through the entire hallway. He kicked open the door to Raze’s apartment and then leaped out of the way as bullets sprayed across the wall. “Blue?” he bellowed.

  “Jax!” Lynne Harmony ran out, blood across her chest, a gun in her hand. “Sorry.”

  Vinnie Wellington was right behind her, soot on her face and in her blond hair. “Raze.” She barreled into his chest with a muffled sob.

  The soldier held her tight and dropped his face into her neck. His body shuddered.

  Jax held Lynne away from him while smoke swirled around. “How bad?”

  Lynne shook her head and wiped at her collarbone. “Just glass. Hurts but isn’t fatal.”

  Tace pointed up.

  Jax nodded and set Lynne to the side. “Go inside Tace’s place and barricade the door in case more grenades come from the other side. Both of you shoot anybody you don’t know.”

  Tace’s vision wavered.

  Jax waited until the two doctors had followed his advice. “We need the roof.”

  “Yeah.” Tace let Jax pass him and lead the way. “Sami?”

  “I’m not staying here,” she hissed through the smoke.

  His chest compressed, and his left arm hurt. Was he having a heart attack? God, it felt like it. He tucked his arm against his abs and followed Raze to the landing and up the stairs, where they kicked open the door.

  The firefight was in full force with the president’s soldiers shooting down from every angle.

  “No mercy,” Jax said, dropping his chin.

  “It’s way too late for mercy,” Tace said, ducking as debris rained down. More explosions sounded from several blocks away at the rear entrance to the territory. God, there were kids and pregnant women near that area. For now, they had to neutralize the most immediate threat. “I’ve got north.” He pivoted and crept toward the soldiers.

  One soldier turned, and Tace shot, taking him down. Then the world exploded around them. He grabbed Sami and shoved her against a metal air duct, firing wildly.

  Jax shot two men. His eyes widened, and he clutched his chest, dropping to his knees.

  Raze sprayed the other side of the roof, and three of the Elite soldiers fell over the edge.

  “Jax!” Tace yelled. “Sami, cover.” He ducked low and crisscrossed to his friend, grabbing Jax’s shoulder and yanking him across the rough rocks on the roof. He got him behind the duct work and yanked open his shirt. Thank God. He’d been wearing his vest.

  Jax coughed and sat up. “Fuck.”

  Sami screamed.

  Tace pivoted to see a broad Elite soldier dragging her to the north corner, a gun held to her temple. His legs weakened, and he dropped to one knee.

  Jax rolled to the side and up, yanking his arm. “You okay?”

  “Yeah.” Tace stood and wavered, lowering his chin to focus.

  Sami’s eyes were wide, and blood slid down her neck. Had she been hit?

  The soldier, a tall black guy with scars down his face, kept moving backward.

  “Where does he think he’s going?” Tace muttered, stalking him, his chest all but exploding in pain. The roof was now cleared except for the five of them. “Let her go, and we won’t kill you,” he called out.

  The guy didn’t respond but moved with a definite purpose. Not his first firefight on a roof, apparently.

  Sami struggled against him, but he held her tight, the gun steady.

  Tace held up his hand, signaling her to keep still.

  Her gaze stayed on him, her body relaxing.

  Good. She was a hell of a fighter, and if the guy would just move the gun, she could get free. But the soldier kept the barrel tight against her temple.

  Trembles cascaded down Tace’s legs, and his vision fuzzed. Not now. God, not now. He shook his head, continuing his advance.

  “Stop,” the soldier said, his dark eyes promising death.

  “Where are you going to go?” Raze asked reasonably, as the others spread out to flank him.

  As if in answer, an odd whirring sound pierced the chaos. Oh, Tace knew the sound, but it was so unexpected, it took him a moment to understand what it was. The helicopter, a Super Huey, banked a hard right and aimed for them. “What the hell?” he breathed.

  Four massive blades competed with the whirring rotors, dropping the beast. A faded MARINE logo still showed on the tail boom. He squinted and could make out the president in the copilot seat and Vice President Lake piloting the craft. A soldier leaned out and pointed a M249 Squad Automatic Weapon at them.

  Jax grabbed him and tackled him behind the ducts. “Shit.”

  Tace’s gut cramped, and fear competed with the attack his heart kept fighting. “Sami,” he whispered.

  Raze crouched. “I can take out the shooter, but the guy with Sami has her angled just right.”

  Tace set his feet. “The second he gets her in the chopper, take out the guy with the gun.”

  Raze paused. “You sure?”

  “Yeah.” Pain shot through his chest, and he winced, grabbing it. “I don’t have much time anyway.” Adrenaline pumped through his veins. “Tell her I love her if I don’t get the chance.”

  “You will,” Jax said, taking aim. “I’ll go for the president.”

  “One of you has to be below me,” Tace grunted, sweat starting to roll down his face.

  The soldier holding Sami backed toward the gaping opening in the Yankee. The bird hovered down, almost gracefully, at the edge of the building. Sami’s eyes widened, and she started to struggle. The guy stepped back and lifted her, following her inside the helicopter. The movements were almost too smooth to be real.

  “Now!” Tace bellowed.

  Keeping his head low, he ran hard and fast across the roof.

  A shot whizzed by his ear. The soldier with the M249 SAW widened his eyes, and his chest burst open in blood. He pitched forward and bounced twice on the roof.

  Tace leaped the last few feet, hitting the Elite soldier holding Sami head-on. The gun went off. He punched the guy in the face, grabbed his shoulders, and threw him out of the helicopter. The guy’s head hit the edge of the roof with a sickening thud, and he plummeted to the alley below.

  A bullet pierced the front window, and the president yelled in pain.

  The helicopter hitched and then banked. Shit. Tace only had a second. He turned to see Sami’s face white with shock and blood flowing down her cheek. No time. He swept her up and looked down. Too far to jump. So he kissed her fast, bunched his legs, and tossed her at the only men he trusted in the world.

  Jax caught her and fell back into Raze, who’d braced his legs already. The three fell into a heap.

  Raze rolled and came up firing toward the front of the helicopter.

  “Shit,” Lake bellowed.

  “I’m hit,” the president wheezed.

  The helicopter banked and rolled, swinging wildly and dropping closer to the roof.

  Tace saw his chance and jumped, almost hitting the roof. He was off a foot, and his hands slapped the edge.

  A strong hand banded around his wrist, and he hung for a moment, grabbing the ledge with his free hand.

  Gunfire erupted above him, and the helicopter swung a hard left, smoke pouring from the back. Jax leaned over, and he used his other hand to secure the hold around Tace’s wrist. Tace grabbed the ledge and crab-walked up as Jax pulled. He slipped over the edge and dropped to his knees, gasping for air. “Sami?”

  She rushed for him. “Are you crazy?” she yelled.

  “I love you.” He could feel the energy leaving his body. “You okay?” He tried to reach up to her bleeding head, but his arm wouldn’t work.

&nbsp
; Tears filled her eyes.

  A crash sounded in the distance, and he turned, seeing smoke billow up. “Helicopter?”

  “Yeah,” Raze said, satisfaction in his voice. He leaned in. “You okay?”

  “Sami?” Tace asked. “Your head?”

  She wiped blood from her forehead. “Just a scratch. Let’s get off the roof.”

  Good plan. “Love—” His heart seized, and his lungs collapsed. Blackness caught him, and the last thing he saw was her pretty face. It wasn’t a bad way to die.

  Chapter Thirty-Five

  I had to almost die to learn what it was to really live.

  —Sami Steel

  Sami screamed and reached for Tace. His eyes shut, and his color turned an alarming gray. “Tace.”

  “Downstairs.” Raze reached down and grunted while hauling Tace over his shoulder. “Cover, Jax.”

  Jax provided cover, but except for some random gunfire from the southern end of Vanguard, the world had quieted to the crackle of fire and raining of debris. “I think it’s over.”

  Raze nodded and ran inside the building and down the stairs. “Get Lynne and Vinnie.” He kept going, rushing through the vestibule and through the soup kitchen, his gun sweeping. They reached the infirmary, and he set Tace down on a bed, ripping open his shirt. “He’s not breathing.”

  Sami’s legs almost gave out, but she rushed forward and breathed into his mouth.

  Raze waited and then pressed his hands over Tace’s chest, counting out beats, his face a hard line of concentration.

  Lynne and Vinnie ran into the room, Jax covering their backs.

  Tears clogged Sami’s throat. “He’s not breathing.” Raze paused, and she breathed into his mouth before Raze started again. “We brought printouts, but they’re in the Humvee outside.”

  Lynne rushed forward and lifted his eyelids. “Not good. Tell me everything. Jax said you found the enzyme.”

  “I think so.” Sami’s legs gave out.

  Vinnie grabbed her and shoved her into a chair, taking over the breathing with Tace.

  Lynne’s blue heart glowed through her shirt. “Tell me more, Sami. What did it look like?”

  Tears poured down Sami’s face, but she didn’t care. Tace wasn’t regaining consciousness. “It was yellow. I found the right vials according to the data, and when I injected him, he did get better.”

  Lynne dropped down to face her. “You injected him?”

  Sami nodded. “Yes. I filled a syringe and injected him, and he got better for a little while. Then he started having attacks again.”

  Lynne leaned back, biting her lip. “It’s an enzyme that works like a counteragent for an allergy.” Her eyes widened. “Oh God. I know what to do. We have to get back to the Bunker and get the enzyme.”

  Sami sucked in air. Hope tried to take hold. She yanked a vial out of her pocket. “He said not to bring it, but I did anyway.”

  Lynne grabbed the vial and looked at the yellow liquid. She stood and ran to the counter, frantically removing syringes. “Where’s the B? Damn it. Where’s the B in here?” She fumbled through the cabinets and tugged out a vial of the vitamin B concoction. Her shoulders straightened, and she quickly filled two syringes.

  “What are you doing?” Raze asked, stopping his compressions.

  Lynne squirted a little liquid from one of the vials. “The enzyme needs the harmful agent, in this case the vitamin B, in order to bind. He needs both injections.” She paused. “Probably.”

  Sami stood and grabbed Tace’s hand. “He’s still not breathing. We have to try.”

  Lynne swallowed. “If I’m wrong, then injecting him again with the vitamin B concoction will kill him.”

  Sami clutched her stomach and almost bent over from the pain and fear.

  “There’s no other choice,” Jax said from the doorway, his expression harsh.

  “Sami?” Lynne asked.

  Sami sucked deep, saying a quick prayer to all those old Texas Rangers hopefully watching over him. “It’s his only chance. Turn him over.”

  Raze half lifted Tace, and Sami yanked down part of his jeans. Lynne quickly injected him, emptying both syringes.

  They all leaned back and held their breath.

  Nothing.

  Tace didn’t move.

  “Damn it.” Raze settled his hands over Tace’s chest again and continued performing CPR.

  Sami slapped her hand against her mouth to keep from crying out. “It didn’t work.”

  Vinnie tipped back his head, waited, and then breathed to fill his lungs. Raze continued the chest compressions.

  Sami stumbled back and into the chair, holding Tace’s hand. “Wake up, please.” She lowered her head to his knuckles. The man had jumped into a damn helicopter to save her. He couldn’t leave her now.

  Tension rolled through the room on the heels of desperation as Raze and Vinnie continued to work together, not even pausing once. Nobody was willing to let him go.

  Sami started to cry in earnest, clutching his hand, praying to every god that ever existed.

  Lynne sat beside her and slid an arm over her shoulders while Jax covered the doorway, unable to leave.

  Tace meant so much to every member of Vanguard, but especially to this small group that had become family.

  Sami had no idea how long they sat there, but her heart hurt so badly she wondered if she’d survive. This just couldn’t happen. She lunged forward and shot her face beneath his neck, her mouth at his ear. “Please wake up, Tace. I—need you. So much. Don’t leave me.” Her voice broke at the end. Then she dissolved into sobs so hard that Lynne had to help her back into the chair.

  Raze slowed the compressions. “Damn it, Justice. Wake the fuck up.” He smacked Tace’s chest.

  Sami stood. “Yeah. Wake up. I love you.” If she yelled, maybe he’d come back. She grabbed his shoulders and started to shake him as violently as she could.

  Lynne grabbed her arms and tried to pull her back, but Sami fought fiercely.

  Tace partially sat up with a hard wheeze. “What the hell?”

  Sami burst toward him, cupping his jaw. “Tace?”

  His eyes opened and focused. “Did Raze just break my ribs?” He coughed.

  “You’re okay.” Sami leaned down and kissed him all over the face, laughing and crying at the same time, her heart swelling. “You’re all right.”

  He breathed out. “What happened?”

  She smiled through the tears. “My love saved you.”

  He blinked.

  “Well, maybe it was the enzyme.” She laughed out loud, crawling over him to land by his side and curl right in. “I brought the enzyme, and Lynne figured it out. You’re alive.”

  He stretched his arms and then ran a finger along the cut near her temple. “Are you all right?”

  “I’m perfect.” She buried her face in his arm, smelling man. “You jumped into a helicopter to save me.” She lifted up. “You’re a hero.”

  Jax snorted from the doorway. “Jesus. Everyone get back to work. We need to assess damage.” He lifted a hand. “Justice? You scared the shit out of me, so you have to stay there for the night and let the doctors watch you.”

  Were those tears in the Vanguard leader’s eyes? Sami sniffled.

  Raze backed away, his light blue eyes full of emotion. “Sorry about the ribs. You’re kind of a pansy.”

  Tace rubbed his chest. “I’m fine. You hit like a member of the Elite Force.”

  Raze grinned. “Oh, you’ll pay for that. Later.”

  Tace played with Sami’s hair and pressed a soft kiss to her head. “I have a later. Who knew?”

  Chapter Thirty-Six

  I’ll love you from this life to the next . . . and back again.

  —Tace Justice

  Tace finished moving the rest of his stuff into Sami’s quarters, admitting silently to himself that her place was much nicer than his. Oh, he’d groused enough that she’d kissed him quiet, but maybe she just wanted to kiss. His woman liked t
o kiss, and since the day before, she hadn’t taken a moment for granted.

  Their kitten slept peacefully on the countertop as a reminder of the soldier who’d been their friend. They’d give the little guy a good home.

  Sami leaned against him from behind and snuggled her face into his back. “How are you feeling?”

  “Fine.” He turned and pulled her closer, inhaling her fresh scent. “I think I’m cured.” He felt great, actually. It had only been twenty-four hours since Lynne had shot him up with the enzyme and B concoction, but he felt stronger somehow. “We only have a few minutes until we get back to work, and I wanted to talk to you really quickly.”

  She breathed out and ran her hands over his chest. “What about?”

  “You and me.”

  She paused and looked up, her pretty eyes sparkling. “What about us?”

  He breathed out slowly. Vanguard had been damaged, and they’d lost twenty soldiers in the attack. Their primary goal was to build the defenses back up as well as deal with the Pure church. Then they could branch out and find those other Bunkers. But Sami had work to do as well. “I’ve talked to Jax, and the plan is to stay here a week to work, then go to the Bunker for a week. We’ll have to alternate.” There was plenty for him to do at the Bunker as well. “If that works for you.”

  “So long as we’re together, I’m fine with any plan,” she murmured.

  “Good.” He brushed her hair back from her face, frowning at the red scratch along her forehead. “I was so scared when he had you with a gun to your head.”

  “I know.” She leaned up on her toes to kiss his mouth. “We’re both fine now.”

  Yeah. They were. Scouts had already found the wrecked helicopter, but neither the president nor the vice president had been in it. However, by the pools of blood they’d found, at least one of the men should be dead. “We’re staying here to fix Vanguard, but at some point, we’ll need to go north.”

  “One thing at a time. For now, let’s just relax and heal a little.”