Storm Gathering

  She snorted. “No. Not cowboys, and definitely not soldiers.”

  Like him. “Why not?” he asked softly, curious.

  “They're in danger too often and sometimes they don't come back,” she said, sounding a little lost. “So I stuck with nice guys. Nerdy and scientific.”

  So, not even close to a guy like him. “Interesting.” Man, she was cute. And no longer crying, thank God. “I’d like you to lock the door to the beach at night, but it’s up to you. The bedroom door won’t be locked.” He wasn’t kidnapping her again.

  She nodded. “Where are you from?” she asked.

  He swallowed. It had been so long since he’d engaged in small talk, he was pretty sure he'd fuck it up. But he could at least answer a question or two. “Atlanta, actually.” He kicked back in the chair and faced the ocean. “Was in foster care and then finally got taken in by Miss Julian, whose ring you saw.” He smiled at the memory. “She was big on manners and could twist an ear like you wouldn't believe.” God, he'd loved her.

  “Did Scorpius take her?” Moe asked.

  “No. Bee sting and weird allergic reaction took her the day after her eightieth birthday.” He'd been overseas, and to this day, he missed writing her letters. He'd never admit it, but he still wrote her notes once in a while—kind of like journaling. There should be a record of life as it was.

  Moe reached for his hand. “I bet she was proud of you. Of your going into the service.”

  He folded his fingers around her delicate hand, his chest warming. Even hurting, she'd offered comfort when she thought he needed it. “You're a sweetheart, Maureen Shadow,” he said quietly.

  She scoffed. “Only until I'm riled.”

  He grinned. Yeah, he knew that from past experiences. “Feeling better?”

  “Yes.” She didn't remove her hand.

  “Good.” The intimacy of the atmosphere—the ocean, moon, and night—wrapped around them. He should let her get to sleep, but the moment held too much comfort. They'd only had one night together, yet his body started to thrum. What he wouldn't give for a night without alcohol and confusion. A night to explore all of her. For now, he pushed away his desire and concentrated on the ease of the experience. He could worry about tomorrow and everything else later.

  She stayed in place, maybe feeling the same thing. “You were a Marine?” she asked.

  “Still am,” he said quietly. That feeling, that allegiance would never leave him. No matter how screwed up the world became. He had that foundation, and he would hold on to it with everything he had. “Once a Marine…you know.”

  She chuckled, the sound soft in the quiet night. “Raze said you were a sniper.”

  “Yeah.” He shifted his weight. Talking about his job was something he didn't do. Surely she'd understand that.

  “Figures. You seem like a loner,” she said, no judgment in the tone.

  He blinked. “Actually, that's not true. Snipers work in pairs. Always.”

  “Really?” she asked, her voice rising a mite.

  “Think about it. Everything that goes into lining up a shot. One guy can't do it all. The second guy is called a spotter.” Remembering his spotter, Ferris, was a punch to the gut. “My spotter was a guy named Ferris. He was from south Georgia.” Grey emphasized a Southern accent. “Guy could shoot like a dream, argue like an old Southern lady, and fight like a boxer. Hell of a dancer, too.”

  Maureen relaxed into the cushions of the chair with a soft sigh. “Sounds like a character.”

  “He was,” Grey murmured. “Was my best friend and the closest thing I've ever had to a brother.” Now he had Damon, but he'd give anything for Ferris to be there, too. Life would be better. The world had been better with Ferris in it. Damn Scorpius bacterium.

  “Scorpius took him?” Moe asked gently.

  Grey nodded. He owed Maureen an explanation that he'd never given her. The reason why he'd kidnapped her in the first place. “Yeah. He died in my arms, and I made him one promise. One vow.”

  She turned to look at him, the moonlight dancing across her delicate features. “What was that?”

  He swallowed and focused back on the mysterious ocean. “That I'd put a bullet between Zach Barter's eyes. No matter what it took.”

  Chapter Twelve

  I know I'm supposed to clinically record the events of the day as a scientist. But for the love of God, I'm knocked up by a man I barely know. The more I learn, the more deadly, dangerous, and intriguing he gets. How screwed up is that?

  —Maureen Shadow, Notes

  An explosion ripped Maureen out of sleep. She jumped to her feet and staggered, looking around wildly. Morning light was barely peeking through the windows. Something else blew up in the distance, followed by the scratch of metal and wood cracking. Panic caught her around the neck and squeezed. Barefooted, she yanked open her door and ran into the living room and almost straight into Greyson.

  He caught her arms and moved her to the side, his broad torso bare, and his jeans unbuttoned. His dark hair was ruffled, and his steel-gray eyes pissed. “Stay here.”

  Damon ran down the hallway, jerking on a shirt. “What the hell?” Rough whiskers covered his jaw.

  “Dunno.” Greyson hustled for the doorway, opening the coat closet at the last second. He reached in and tossed a couple of guns and knives to Damon, taking several for himself. He strode over and placed a small handgun in Moe's hand. “Stay in the house, and if somebody manages to get in the front door, take them out. If you can't, run for the beach. I have patrols out there.”

  She blinked. The metal in her palm felt heavy and cold. What was happening?

  The sound of automatic gunfire pattered through the dawn.

  Greyson stiffened and lifted his head to listen. “South entrance. Let's go.” He turned and followed Damon out the front door.

  Maureen swallowed and turned the gun over in her hand. South entrance. They were being attacked. She'd reassured Raze that she was fine the previous night, but he hadn't sounded convinced. In fact, he'd sounded more than a little bit furious.

  Oh God. Had her brother shown up in Merc territory by himself?

  She ran out the door and headed straight for the SUV Grey and Damon had jumped into, her feet slapping the already warm bricks.

  Grey leaned out the driver's side window, his muscled arm on the sill. “Get back inside. Now.”

  She turned to see smoke and fire coming from about a mile away. Near the entrance she'd used the other day. “I have to come.” Ignoring his frown, she jumped for the back door and opened it, climbing inside. “In case it's my brother.” She had to stop them from killing each other.

  Grey looked over the seat. “You need to stay here. I'll handle it.”

  “No.” She crossed her arms and met his gaze. Her stomach rolled over, and bile rose in her throat, but she hid the discomfort. “I won't let you or Raze die today.”

  Grey cut her a harsh look and turned toward the front, started the engine, and shot out in reverse. “If it isn't Vanguard, you're bringing this vehicle back to the mansion. Got it?”

  She nodded. “Yes.” That seemed fair. It wasn't like she wanted to get into a firefight while pregnant. She pressed a hand to her belly, doubt assailing her. The world had changed for her, and she needed to take a moment. It wasn't only her heading into danger right now, and she had to start putting the babe first.

  More automatic gunfire pierced the morning.

  “Get down,” Greyson ordered, punching the gas and swinging through the high-end subdivision.

  Her heart thundering, she crouched farther down on the seat. Her ears rang. A metallic taste filled her mouth. She intellectually knew it was adrenaline, but she couldn't slow her pulse.

  In no time, Greyson braked, hard. “Stay here until I call for you.” He jumped out and slammed the door.

  Moe slowly lifted her head to see that he'd parked behind a stone wall topped with barbed wire and was walking toward a slightly open gate with Damon right behind him. The
re was only the wall, and she couldn't see a damn thing past it. But more gunshots could be heard.

  Nausea attacked her, and she gagged.

  Drawing courage, she gingerly stepped from the SUV and moved to the wall, putting her back to the rough stones. They were already warm from the sun, which angled right at them. She took several deep breaths. Quiet suddenly came from the other side of the barrier.

  Gulping more air, she edged to the end of the wall and peered through the open gate.

  Greyson crouched behind one of the many cars placed strategically between the stone wall and another made-made mountain of tires, trucks, and fencing complete with more barbed wire. Several of his men also squatted behind cars, once in a while levering up to take a shot outside the farthest gate.

  A building to the right of the wall, one that had probably held a water system at one time, burned furiously and spilled dark smoke, probably from one of the several explosions she’d heard.

  She squinted. Two trucks were angled nose-to-nose outside the tire barrier, with men ducked behind. One levered up to fire, and she caught sight of his hair.

  Damn it.

  “Raze,” she yelled as loudly as she could. “Stop firing, damn it.” Waiting a couple of beats to make sure everyone had frozen, she walked past the gate and into the opening.

  Within a second, Greyson Storm captured her in a hug, dragging her toward the car. “What the holy fuck are you doing?” he snarled, his arms stronger than steel.

  She didn't bother to fight him and just waited until he'd deposited her butt on the ground. In the early hour, the concrete was still cool.

  “Moe?” Raze yelled over the crackling fire. “You okay?”

  Actually, the world was spinning around her at an alarming rate. She pulled up her knees and pressed her face to them, trying to halt the dizziness. This whole pregnancy thing was messing with her equilibrium, big time. “I survived Scorpius,” she reminded herself, her voice muffled by her yoga pants.

  Grey flattened his big hand across her upper back. “I know, sweetheart. You okay? What's going on?”

  She lifted her head, pathetically grateful when their surroundings stopped swirling around. “Nothing. I may have a bug.”

  He rubbed a hand down her spine. “Maybe we should get you to a doctor.”

  A man groaned over to the right, and Moe turned her head to see a guy half-hidden beneath a car with blood pooling on the pavement. She gasped. “Damn it.” Turning to the side, she dry-heaved.

  Greyson grasped her hair and pulled it away from her face.

  She paused and looked at him. He was holding her hair. “Reminds me of prom,” she gasped and then dry-heaved again.

  He winced. “There's nothing in your stomach. Did you eat the fish last night?”

  God. The fish. The idea made her heave again. She shook her head. “No.” Swallowing several times, she tried to control herself. “I think your guy over there is bleeding to death,” she muttered.

  “He has a tourniquet on his arm. You can't see it behind the tire,” Grey said, leaning in and studying her eyes again.

  Gunfire popped, and she jumped.

  “What the fuck?” Greyson straightened and looked over the hood of the black SUV. “Your brother is firing into the air.”

  “Moe?” Raze bellowed.

  She winced. “I'd better let him know I'm all right.” Moving toward Greyson, she tried to crawl her way up the car.

  He planted a hand on her shoulder. “Stay down.”

  “No.” She tried unsuccessfully to dislodge him. “Let me up.”

  “Shadow?” Greyson called out. “Your sister is here. Have everyone put down their guns, and I'll let you talk to her.”

  There was a slight pause. “Guns down,” Raze yelled.

  Grey waited a minute, looked around, and then released her. “Stand up but stay behind the vehicle.”

  She rolled her eyes. “My brother won't hurt me.”

  “I can't see who's with him,” Grey returned, his focus absolute on the trucks outside the gate. He partially stood in front of her.

  She stood, her knees trembling. Cold and then heat swept along her skin. Maybe she actually did have the flu or something weird. “Raze?” she yelled, waving.

  Her brother moved out from behind the trucks, exposing himself.

  “Tell your men not to shoot him,” she blurted out, her lungs catching.

  Grey nodded, but a shot rang out before he could give the order.

  Raze dropped to one knee, blood spurting from his thigh.

  “Raze,” Maureen cried out, bunching to run around the car for him.

  Greyson manacled an arm around her waist, halting her cold. “Everyone fucking stand down,” he bellowed, his voice low with fury. His body vibrated behind her, one long line of anger. “Who the fuck shot him?” He looked around.

  Damon glanced up from behind a green Volkswagen and then jerked his head toward a redheaded guy by a burned-out truck. “Lenny.”

  “Lenny?” Greyson yelled. “You're on shit duty for the next month. Fucking drop your gun on the ground. Now.”

  Raze lifted his weapon and pointed it at Greyson's head, right over Moe's. Blood poured from his thigh. “Let my sister go, and I won't scatter your brain right now,” he said, his tone beyond furious and bordering on scary.

  Moe swallowed. “Raze? Put something on that leg.”

  Muttering about the fucking Shadow family, Greyson kept his arm around Maureen’s waist and drew her around the car, heading for Raze. “If anybody on either side of this disaster fires a shot, I will gut them myself with my favorite knife,” he said loud enough for everybody to hear.

  Moe struggled against his hold, trying to run for her brother.

  He held her tight. “Slow movements. We don't want to spook anybody, darlin’.”

  Damon suddenly appeared on her other side. “Exactly what's your plan here, boss?” he asked, his gun in his hand but pointed at the ground.

  Greyson stopped, partially putting Moe behind him. “Mercury? I promise nobody else will shoot.”

  Jax Mercury stepped out from behind one of the trucks with Tace Justice on his heels. Both men held guns pointed straight at Greyson's chest. Jax kept his aim true, walking toward them, while Tace jogged to Raze and quickly secured a belt around the injured thigh.

  Jax stopped next to Raze, his light eyes revealing nothing. “Send her over, Storm.”

  Tace helped Raze to his feet.

  Damon whistled. “The three top lieutenants of Vanguard. All in one place.”

  Grey gave a short nod.

  Moe's legs wobbled. If he'd decided to take them out, they'd just given him the perfect opportunity. He wouldn't do that, would he?

  “She has elected to stay here,” Grey said evenly.

  “Not a chance,” Raze growled, his face pale as he balanced on one leg. “Maureen? You okay?”

  “Yes,” she said, trying to shove past Greyson. “I'm fine.” It'd be easier to push a freaking mountain. “Move, Greyson,” she muttered.

  He paused, looked around, and then sandwiched her between him and Damon. “If you want to go back with your brother, tell me now. I'll take you right over to him,” Grey said low enough that his voice didn't carry. “But I need to know immediately.”

  She hesitated. “I want to see your greenhouses, the two labs outside your territory, and the Bunker.” It was doubtful she could talk her brother into the last two requests, and she had Grey where she wanted him. She could feel it. For the baby, she had to get into the Bunker and find whatever research they had about Scorpius and pregnant women. “Promise you'll take me to all three, and I'll stay here until my work is finished. Then you can escort me back to Vanguard.”

  “It's a deal,” Greyson said, keeping his gaze on the Vanguard soldiers.

  By then she'd know him better and have an idea what to do about the baby. Determine whether or not she should tell him. She planted her feet more securely. “I'm staying here until I see t
he greenhouses,” she called out. “Greyson promises to bring me back. I just need a week, Raze.”

  “He kidnapped you again,” Raze thundered, his high cheekbones flushing an angry red.

  At least he wasn't so pale. Maureen nodded.

  “I did not,” Greyson countered. “She said she wanted to come.”

  “You used flash grenades,” Jax snapped, his aim steady. “That's kidnapping.”

  Before Greyson could argue further, Maureen held up a hand. “Everybody listen. This is my decision. I'm staying a week, and then I'll head back to Vanguard with information. We all need to know what our options are for food since we're running out. Or we will run out at some point.” Why didn't the testosterone-filled men see that they needed to all work together? God, she hoped she was having a girl. Heck. She hoped the baby lived. Getting to the Bunker and its research data was crucial. “All right?”

  “No,” Raze said shortly, leaning on Tace.

  Concern swept through her. “Tace? How bad is that wound?”

  Tace eyed the leg. “Bullet needs to be taken out.” His Texas twang deepened. “Within the next few hours would be best.”

  That was enough time to return to Vanguard. “Go,” Maureen said. “Please trust me.” She was an adult, damn it.

  “Come here and tell me face-to-face,” Raze challenged, his jaw set hard.

  Greyson snorted. “You go over there, and you're headed back to Vanguard now. You get that, right?”

  “Yes.” She sighed. “I'm fine, Raze. Sugar cookies.”

  Raze's eyebrows rose. “I don't care. Come here.”

  “Sugar cookies?” Damon asked.

  “Code for 'everything is fine,’” she said. “From our childhood.”

  Greyson nodded. “Now we start to back up. Slowly.”

  Raze said something under his breath to Jax.

  Greyson and Damon both tensed, and Grey shoved Moe behind him. She stumbled and grabbed the waist of his jeans to keep from falling. Her fingers brushed bare skin. Figured he'd go commando. She cleared her throat.

  “Storm?” Jax snapped. “If she wants to stay here, she can. One condition. I'm staying with her.”