Storm Gathering

  Grey straightened. “What?”

  Hector moved inside, dirt across his face and tears in his jeans. He was about five-foot-nine with black hair, blue eyes, and a sparse beard. Very sparse. “Hey, boss. We've been digging trenches behind the farthest row of houses. Big ones.”

  “Good,” Grey said. “Rumor has it you're our computer guy.”

  Hector winced, looking even younger than seventeen. “I can reboot a system, and I grew up with computers. Mainly played games on them.”

  “Can you decrypt a file?” Grey asked.

  The kid drew his mouth back in an exaggerated wince. “Well, if I have the Internet, I can find a program that can probably decode an encrypted file.”

  They didn't have the Internet, but they had a hell of a system at the Bunker. Maybe there was a possibility in that setup. In those servers. “Great. Pack a bag, because we're leaving for the Bunker in about an hour. Bring your gun.”

  The kid gulped and then nodded. He partially turned to show a gun in the back of his waistband. “I never leave home without it.”

  Chapter Thirty

  Scorpius has done enough damage. We can't let it win.

  —Maureen Shadow, Notes

  Early evening, Maureen watched the jellyfish glide gracefully through the small tank, her hands full of papers and her head aching as she sat at a table in the main Bunker lab. “They're kind of weird-looking.”

  Lynne Harmony glanced up from a stack of graphs spread across the table. The biologist had arrived an hour earlier, flanked by a squad of deadly looking soldiers. “I always thought they were majestic.” The former big-wig at the CDC looked about twenty with no makeup and startling green eyes. Her white T-shirt did nothing to conceal her very blue heart.

  Moe had met Lynne at Vanguard, but this was the first time they'd sat down to work together. She tried to avert her eyes from the blue glow.

  Lynne looked down and sighed. “I should wear darker shirts, but sometimes I just forget.”

  Maureen winced. “I'm sorry.”

  “Don't be. It's odd.” Lynne's smile was slightly lopsided and pretty endearing. “My heart glows blue.” She tugged her shirt aside to show the veins from the heart glowing very faintly. “It's bizarre.”

  “Does it hurt?” Maureen asked. “I mean, it's blue. Does your blood go slower? Faster?”

  Lynne shrugged. “It doesn't hurt. But I don't know long-term effects. Or even short-term. It's not like we have medical equipment here to take a look.”

  “I've heard rumors, but how did it happen?” Maureen asked quietly.

  Lynne sighed. “We were working on cures for Scorpius, and since the bacteria and subsequent infection is impacted by the vitamins in the B family, we were looking closely at squid and jellyfish because of their vitamin B content. We created several experiments, and Zack Barter conducted a few, and he injected me with one that we thought was a deadlier form of the bacterium. It turned my heart…blue.”

  Man, it was odd. Barter had caused so much pain. It was hard to believe he was still living. “Do people still think you're carrying a more dangerous strain?” Moe asked.

  Lynne nodded, her eyes clouding over. “Yes. Bret Atherton and his minions have put out word as a warning from the government. Just to cause me problems and get them more information on my whereabouts.”

  Maureen shuddered, her body chilling. “I've met the guy. Talk about bonkers.”

  “Tell me about it.” Lynne moved a chart out of her way.

  The president had seemed crazy…brilliantly so. “I was so scared when he had us. Vinnie and me.”

  Lynne's eye softened. “I know. His obsession is with me, so I'm sure he'll make another run at us someday. We just have to be prepared.”

  “We need to be ready for anything,” Moe said, rubbing her still flat belly. “Is there anything in those stacks that might be helpful?” She'd already gone through much of the data on her side of the table.

  Lynne flipped the top of a file closed and reached for another. “The research here is preliminary and more of a filing system. Storage, really. There has to be a better lab somewhere.”

  Yeah, that's what the consensus was. Moe's stomach growled, even though they'd eaten dinner only an hour before. The day had flown by, but she still missed having Greyson near. What the heck did that mean? Shaking herself out of it, she focused back on Lynne. “What do you know about pregnancies and the Scorpius pandemic?”

  Lynne sat back, her face pale in the fluorescent lights. “Not much. My focus was initially on preventing the pandemic, and then I became ill, and finally I was on the run and trying to survive. Most of the pregnant women who contracted Scorpius died, as did the vast majority of the population.”

  Moe listened aptly. “Go on.”

  “Survivors were limited, as you know. Most of the pregnant survivors lost their babies while battling the initial illness.” Lynne tapped her nails on several of the graphs. “There was talk about miscarriages taking place in camps and shelters after the pandemic, but that could be part of the conditions of the time. We really don't know much.”

  “That’s what I’ve heard.”

  “In fact, we have another pregnant woman, girl really, at headquarters. We should bring her here,” Lynne said.

  It’d be nice to be not so alone. “We need to do better outreach and contact other camps. By now, there has to be many formed, right?” Moe asked.

  “I think so. Like Vanguard and the Mercs. There are probably groupings all over the country, I think. But there are a lot of scavengers. It's still dangerous out there.”

  Jax Mercury stepped into the room, movements economical and intense. Moe wasn't sure she'd ever seen the guy relax. But as he neared, his sharp eyes softened to a light bourbon as he focused on Lynne. “Blue? It's after ten, and I thought we'd try one of those hot showers.” He grinned, suddenly looking much younger. Much more approachable.

  Lynne's cheeks turned a light red. “Mercury. I'm working.”

  “Yeah, but all that stuff will be there tomorrow.” The Vanguard leader rocked back on his heels, charm now oozing from him. “We have the place locked down, and we're safe for the moment. I may have to return to Vanguard tomorrow. We're having problems on the north side. With the renovations.”

  Lynne's eyebrows rose. “You're leaving tomorrow? Without me?”

  He grinned. “I said maybe. I may have to leave.” His smile slowly disappeared, replaced with something far more primitive. “Are you coming? Or do I need to come over there and get you?” The tension turned from male to sexual.

  Maureen felt like blushing herself. She'd have given the standard line of 'get a room,' but that's exactly what Jax was trying to do. “Why don't you, ah, go on? I'll keep working for a little while.”

  Sami Steel hustled into the room and drew out a chair. The woman had one speed…fast. Moe had never seen her move at anything slower than a jog. “I'm done for the night. My eyes are seeing triple,” she murmured. “You guys want to find the tequila? There has to be some here.”

  Jax had apparently found his opening because he loped around the table and picked up Lynne, files and all. She laughed, and he tossed the file folders on the table before turning and quickly striding out the door.

  Sami rolled her pretty brown eyes. “Geez. Get a room, right?”

  Maureen chuckled. “Pretty much. How are you doing on the main computers?” Sami had been working in the upstairs control room all day.

  “Well. I'd like to figure out a way to get eyes on the president and his headquarters with the still functional camera system, but I'm not sure we'd be able to broadcast that far.”

  Maureen frowned. “Without the Internet, how are you getting camera feeds anyway?”

  “The Bunker computers are on their own server,” Sami started. “See, it's pretty simple—”

  Moe raised a hand. “No. It's good. Honest. I trust you.” She was already getting tired, and computer talk would put her right into dreamland.

&nb
sp; Sami snorted. “If I had a nickel for every time somebody stopped me from talking about very interesting computer issues, I'd be rich. I mean, if we still used money. Maybe we'll use money against someday, right?”

  Moe shrugged.

  A rustle sounded by the door, and suddenly, Greyson Storm took up the entire space. His thick hair was mussed, and his dark T-shirt looked tattered. A shadow covered his hard jaw, and lines fanned out from his gray eyes. But he looked absolutely delicious.

  “When did you get back?” Moe asked, her body flaring wide-awake and ready to go.

  “Just now. It's late, and you need sleep,” he said, his deep voice a growly rumble.

  Sami coughed. “Yep. Get a room,” she muttered under her breath.

  * * *

  Greyson waited as Maureen stacked her papers and then made her way to him, her movements graceful. “Did you eat dinner?” he asked, noting she was still pale.

  She nodded. “We did. And I managed not to throw it up.” She winced. “I'm sorry about earlier.”

  “I haven't had a chance to find pregnancy books, but I will.” He took her hand, again struck by how perfectly it fit into his. But even her knuckles felt breakable. Fragile.

  “What's happening with the fire?” she asked, covering a yawn with her hand.

  The woman needed to get more sleep. If something happened to him on this mission, somebody had to take care of her. The idea of her with another man cut deep, but he needed her protected. Her brother was a decent guy when he wasn't throwing punches. That gave Grey some relief. “The fire is a disaster, but if the wind doesn't pick up, we may be okay. “ They needed luck more than skill, and good fortune was hard to come by.

  “I hope they save the beach house,” she murmured, pushing hair away from her face. “I really like that place.”

  “Me too.” They reached the stairs, and he led the way down to the sleeping quarters, slowing his pace so she wouldn't have to run. “I'm going on a mission tomorrow morning, and I need you to promise to take care of yourself. Eat meals and make sure you get enough sleep.”

  They reached her door, and he opened it, reaching for the lantern by the bed and twisting it on. Then he surveyed the room to make sure it was empty.

  She followed. “Where are you going? I mean, what's the mission?”

  He ducked into the bathroom just to make sure it was clear.

  “Geez, Greyson. Who the heck do you think is hiding in my bathroom?”

  He turned, surveying her disgruntled expression. “How should I know?” They weren't exactly living in secure times, and his people and Vanguard only had a very tenuous truce in place. One he was about to jeopardize big time. “It's better to be cautious.”

  She rolled her eyes. “What’s your mission?”

  “Firefighting,” he said easily, feeling like a shit for lying to her. They were building something, and she was carrying his kid. So lying to her made him an asshole. But he couldn't tell her he was meeting with the president, and he couldn't ask her to keep secrets from her brother. Plus, he didn't want to get her hopes up. “I'm trying to protect that beach house.”

  She blinked, her head tilting. “All right. Then why did you come back tonight?”

  Great question. “There are a couple of pumps here we may be able to use to pump water from the ocean to spray if the fire gets too close to headquarters.” Somewhat true. “But we need a bigger generator and more fuel.” Also true. Which is why he was sending Damon back to Santa Barbara with the pumps and fuel in the morning.

  “Oh,” she said, hesitating by the bed. “So, um, you're here to sleep.”

  He grinned. Man, she was adorable. He moved in and lifted her chin with his finger, setting the lantern back on the bedside table. “I'll be here later to sleep.” He placed a soft kiss on her mouth, indulging himself by nibbling on her sweet lips. “I have to meet with Damon and get the plans in motion. Then I'll be back.”

  He moved away, pleased with her bemused expression. Tugging back the covers, he nudged her onto the bed. “Be here when I get back.”

  She rolled her eyes and then yawned widely. “Just because I'm tired.”

  The temptation to join her in the bed snaked through him with a heated demand. He swallowed and turned, locking the door from the inside before pulling it shut, forcing himself back to work. He'd seen Sami Steel in the lower lab, so hopefully the main computer room upstairs would be empty.

  He found Hector in the cafeteria, chomping on some brownies, pure ecstasy on the kid's face. “Come on,” he said, leading the way through the tables to the stairs on the other side.

  The kid followed him, still chewing. “This place is awesome. Can I stay here?”

  “No,” Grey said shortly, jogging up the stairs. “After tonight, we're vacating.” The idea of leaving the resources available at the Bunker made his gut churn, but he didn't have a choice. If things went wrong, and they probably would, his men would be needed in Santa Barbara to defend the territory. The computer room was empty save for a guard lounging against the door. A Vanguard soldier. “We've got this,” Greyson said, moving inside.

  The guard eyed him, checked out the brownie Hector was munching on and shrugged. “Jax says we're allies.” He moved to the stairs.

  Grey barely kept from wincing. He would like to be allied with Jax, and depending on what happened with the president, it might still be a possibility. “Get to work, kid.” He waited until Hector sat before handing over the instructions from the president. “Find that file.”

  Hector started typing on the keyboard. “Man, it's nice to be typing again. How long you think the generators will be working?”

  “Less than a year,” Greyson said. “Since these are on their own server, is it possible they're somehow connected to other computers within the same network? Other Bunkers?”

  “Yep,” Hector said. “There are layers upon layers of security here. The hacker has done a good job so far of getting into them, much better than I could do, but there's probably a long way to go. I'm not as good as whoever's been working on this.”

  “Don't worry about it. Did you find my file?” Grey asked. Damn it. He needed more time to get to those other servers. Or networks. Or whatever it was that would lead him to the other Bunkers.

  “Just a sec,” Hector said, typing away. “It's right here. Not hidden very well, and definitely not secured.”

  Grey frowned. “Can you open it?”

  “Sure.” The kid typed in a series of commands, and code started scrolling. “Whoa. It's encrypted. I don't suppose you have the key?”

  “No. Follow the directions and put the file on here.” Grey handed over two flash drives. “Try to put it on both. If you can't, put it on the first one, and put another encrypted file, any one you can find that’s about the same size, on the other. Give them the same name.”

  Hector took the drives. “That wouldn't fool anybody for long.”

  That's what Grey was afraid of. “Just do it.”

  Chapter Thirty-One

  I think I'm falling in love with the father of my baby. That should be a good thing, right?

  —Maureen Shadow, Notes

  Maureen woke with Greyson nibbling on her neck. Flames licked through her, spiraling heat and energy to every nerve. Her breath quickened. “Greyson.”

  He kissed her, his tongue thrusting into her mouth, a force to his kiss that he'd hidden before. His big hands cupped her face, holding her as he took what he wanted. The feeling of being devoured was so erotic, her pulse jacked, and her body went from sleep to full-on ache. She grasped his shoulders and kissed him back, tasting chocolate and man.

  Levering up, he ripped off her shirt. She gasped at his speed, and her panties dampened even more. What was happening? She ran her knuckles along his whiskered jaw. “Grey?”

  “I want you. All of you.” His voice was low, gritty. A hunger echoed in those words, one of demand.

  “Then take all of me,” she whispered, meaning every word. A part of he
r wanted to comfort him, to ease the rage that seemed to be possessing him. The other part, the deeply feminine part, needed this primitive side of him. The real Greyson nobody else knew. Or had. She craved that side of him. The scientist in her didn't understand it, but the woman did. “Now,” she murmured, sliding her hands across his bare torso. So much muscle and strength. It took her a second to realize he was already nude. Deliciously so.

  He stilled and dropped his head. “God, you're perfect.” Bracing one hand next to her shoulder, he levered down and licked his rough tongue across her nipple.

  She gasped, her legs widening to allow him more room. His erection jumped against her thin panties, shooting sparks through her lower half.

  His talented mouth latched on to her left nipple, and he tugged hard, the pull streaking right to her core. She arched against him, her clit swelling. Then he moved to the other nipple, nipping her, causing her to jump and then heat to a fever pitch of burning need.

  He moved up, kissing and licking along her collarbone and up to her jawline. “Whatever happens, remember this. Remember me,” he said, grinding his cock against her clit.

  She grasped his biceps, digging in her nails. What? Remember? “Grey—” His mouth stopped her words as he kissed her hard, playing with her nipples with more than a little bite. The small streak of pain melted into wild pleasure, and she kissed him back, raw need coursing through her body.

  Wrenching her face away, she held him, panting. “Now, Grey.”

  “Not yet.” He kissed her again, the demanding press of his firm lips pushing her, tempting her, forcing her to take him, to make him hers. Possession, dark and untamed, ripped into her, shocking in its intensity.

  He was hers.

  She wanted to be his.

  Then he started nibbling again, driving her crazy, his arms undulating next to her as he held himself back. As he controlled himself. For her.

  “No,” she whispered, raking her nails down his chest enough to bite but not cut. “Don't hold back. Please. Tonight. Don't hold back.” She had to have all of him. Whatever was happening, she instinctively felt she needed to leave her mark. To claim him.