Shadow Falling (The Scorpius Syndrome #2) (26 page)

“Was he alone?” Vinnie asked, distaste for the man filling her mouth. How dare he prey on a grieving mother?

April nodded. “Yes. He was very comforting, and praying for my baby did make me feel a little bit better. Not really, but I felt like I was at least doing something, you know?”

A muscle ticked in Jax’s jaw.

Vinnie gave a minuscule nod. Taking advantage of the woman’s grief had been a rotten and manipulative thing to do. Unless maybe the reverend really had been trying to ease April’s pain. Who knew? “So he was of help to you?”

April frowned. “I thought so.”

“But?” Jax prompted, anger etching into the hard planes of his face.

“I’m not sure,” April said slowly. “At first, we prayed for Haylee. Then his prayers turned to those people who haven’t been infected by Scorpius and a plea to keep them, ah, pure. It was a little odd.”

“He made you uncomfortable?” Jax asked.

April lifted a shoulder. “I’m not sure. Just breathing hurts some days, you know?”

Vinnie studied her. Clear eyes, sad but smart. Good posture, steely spine. But she’d been through so much; asking her to do more might break her. Or it might help her to survive.

Jax leaned forward. “Has the reverend invited you to any of his sermons?”

“No, but Violet has mentioned their support group. She
says the reverend preaches to them, and it gives her hope. Anything that gives hope these days has to have value.” April faced Jax bravely. “Why, Jax?”

“I need somebody to infiltrate the sermons and see what the hell is going on,” Jax said.

“Why?” April breathed.

Vinnie tried to measure the woman’s strength. The last thing she wanted to do was cause more pain for April. “We’re not sure all of the reverend’s members are there willingly. We don’t even know who the members are, and we’re concerned.”

April frowned. “Why can’t you go to a sermon?”

“Only folks who haven’t been infected with Scorpius are invited,” Vinnie said.

April bit her lip. “Oh. What information exactly do you need?”

“How many kids are involved, and are the members, or whatever we’re calling them, there willingly? Finally, I need a list of names. Who exactly am I dealing with here?” Jax muttered.

Vinnie leaned forward. “This is optional. If you’re not up to the task, then there’s no obligation for you to attend. You’ve been through a lot, more than I can even imagine, and you certainly don’t have to put your neck out there right now. The job you’re doing with the organizational schedules is more helpful than you know.”

April rubbed her chin. “Do you really think the church is hurting people?”

Jax flattened one hand on the table. “My fear is that people are being coerced into joining, especially women and kids. I have to know they’re safe and free. My plan is to send in someone to observe and then also to meet with the leaders and any members I can find.”

April’s blue eyes hardened. “You think the reverend is forming some sort of cult that harms women and kids?”

“We
have no clue what he’s doing.” Jax studied her. “He wants to be separate from Vanguard, and if we let him go, I have to make sure everyone who goes with him wants to do so.”

April swallowed. “I’ll do it.”

“Wait a minute,” Vinnie said. “Really think about it.”

“Why? If people are in danger, and all I have to do is attend a sermon or two, why the heck shouldn’t I?” April’s chin lifted. “It’s too late to save my child, but there are other kids out there who might need help. So I’ll help.”

Admiration welled through Vinnie. “Fair enough.”

Jax kicked back. “All right, April. If you do this, it’s your Op. What’s your plan?”

“Um.” April blinked several times, thoughts scattering across her face. “I’m supposed to help with the second dinner shift tonight inner territory, and I think Violet is on the schedule, too. I’ll bring up the topic of God and church with her and see where it goes.”

Jax frowned. “Violet is still working with Vanguard?”

“Yeah, but now that I think of it, she spends time finding out who’s been infected and who hasn’t.” April shoved tendrils of hair from her face. “Do you think she’s recruiting for their group?”

“That’s exactly what I think,” Jax said. “Are you sure you’re up to this?”

April pushed back from the table. “I don’t have anything to lose, Jax.” With a sad smile aimed at Vinnie, she turned and strode gracefully from the room.

Jax sighed. “Fuck.”

Vinnie lifted an eyebrow. “She’s strong.”

Jax shook his head. “Nobody is that strong. We may be making a colossal mistake sending her into that group. What if the sermon makes sense to her?”

“Then we’ll help her at that point.” Vinnie pressed her thumb into her aching temple. “How long has the good reverend been putting his little group together?”

“Three
months tops. Does that matter?”

Vinnie rested her chin on her hand. “Yeah. Three months is more than long enough to create a cult atmosphere, especially when hell has descended all around us. Who would know more about him and his group?”

“Wyatt.” Jax sighed. “Unfortunately, he’s dead.”

Vinnie had arrived at Vanguard after Wyatt had already passed. “Is there anybody Wyatt spoke with or worked with much? Somebody has to know more about the reverend.”

“I don’t think anybody does and that’s my concern. The guy has built a following by staying under the radar, which makes me wonder about his agenda.” Jax grimaced and reached behind himself to draw a Glock out of his waistband. He placed the deadly gun on the table with a thunk.

Vinnie eyed the weapon. “What’s our best-case scenario?”

“We don’t have one,” Jax said wearily.

Interesting. Vinnie relaxed back in her chair, her gaze on the Vanguard leader. His face was rugged, his body hard, and his right arm scarred. Slashes, white and rough, cut down from his upper arm and over his hand. “What happened?” she asked.

He looked down at the old scars. “Punched through glass and burning metal, trying to save a buddy when a land mine took out our vehicle.”

“Did you save him?”

“No.” Jax’s honey-brown eyes turned darker. “He’s one of many I failed to save.”

If that didn’t speak volumes about Jax Mercury’s internal struggle, nothing would. “Is that why you created Vanguard?” In a world where the strong overcame the weak, and too many people were forced into victimhood, creating a safe haven took unbelievable conviction.

“No.” Jax pushed back from the table. “I created Vanguard because it needed to be created.” He turned and strode for the doorway. “Please keep an eye on April. She trusts you.”

Vinnie
stared at the empty doorway. Great job, there. One personal question, and she’d made the Vanguard leader all but run away. Had she owed him a report on Raze’s letter? Probably. But Lynne had given her the day to speak to Raze, and she was going to take it.

What she was going to say, she had no clue. Her heart hurt, and her temples ached with unacknowledged anger. It burned inside her, getting hotter and hotter. She’d never been known for her temper.

Until now.

Before the world had disintegrated, she would’ve dropped Raze Shadow like an old pair of shoes. But now, well, she still trusted him. She believed he wouldn’t really have betrayed her. Was she nuts? Or was this love?

Or had the world changed so much that his actions weren’t a true betrayal?

Jax poked his head back in. “I have to go talk to Lynne right now, but we can touch base later about April and the plan. For now, I’m not sure if Raze has talked to you about my ultimatum, but I meant it. He’s out if he doesn’t come clean about his motivations and priorities. I suggest you talk to him as soon as he gets back from his scouting.”

Her smile even felt angry. “I fully plan on it.”

Lynne
Harmony awoke with a start and turned over on the sofa, sending papers scattering and finding Jax staring at her. He stood above her, a dangerous man in combat gear, focused solely on her. “What?” she mumbled.

“While I’m glad you’re taking a nap, you were crying out. Is everything all right?”

She’d had a raging headache and had decided to work in their apartment for a while. When had she fallen asleep. “Of course. I’m fine. I have bad dreams sometimes. You know that.” She tried to keep his gaze, but it cost her.

His pupils narrowed. “What aren’t you telling me?”

She might have been avoiding him by working in the apartment. Sometimes she forgot how smart he was and how well he already knew her. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

He didn’t speak. Those bourbon colored eyes narrowed, and the muscles in his chest flexed.

How could a look be so intimidating? For goodness’ sake. Her gaze shifted and landed on her father’s journal,
near the counter. Her father had been a brilliant scientist, and he’d often recorded his thoughts. She hadn’t read it for a while. “Maybe I’ll read a bit.”

Jax bent and lifted her, striding toward the bed to pin her beneath him on the mattress. “Blue? In this new, postapocalyptic world, the rules have changed. You get that, right?”

Tingles rushed through her. His hard body bracketed her in warmth, and her breath caught. “Yes.” Her gaze dropped to his lips.

“You’re lying to me, and I don’t like it.” He settled between her legs, pressing just enough to catch her interest.

Her body pulsed. “I’m not lying.” She just wasn’t giving him the entire truth. Oh, she’d tell him about the letter she’d seen Vinnie grab, but not until Vinnie had a chance to speak with Raze. Lynne didn’t know what was going on, but the couple deserved a small window of time to do the right thing, and she wanted her new friendship with Vinnie to last. Jax would kick their door down to get the letter. “Don’t accuse me of being untruthful.”

He grasped her arms and lifted them above her head, flattening them under his.

She couldn’t move.

Her body trembled, and her nipples peaked.

“Tell me all of it.” His order came with warmth and warning.

“No.” She widened her legs and rubbed against him. Sparks rolled through her, caressing each nerve.

His head tilted just enough to be threatening. “Last time you defied me, you got spanked with a belt.”

She lifted an eyebrow. “I’ve learned to fight since then.”

“No, you haven’t,” he whispered, brushing his mouth across hers. “What are you hiding?”

“I’ll tell you later tonight.” She nipped his bottom lip. “Give me a few hours. You have to trust me, Mercury.”

He
breathed out and studied her. “I do trust you. More than anybody else in life.”

She smiled. “Then believe me.”

“All right.” He leaned down and kissed her, going deep.

The sense of coming home careened through her, along with liquid desire. When he lifted his head, she waited until he focused on her gaze. “I love you, Jax. Everything you are and have done and will be.”

He closed his eyes and dropped his head to her neck to place a kiss at her jugular. “You’re my heart, Blue.”

“Good. You have got to stop threatening me with the belt.” She wrapped her fingers through his, even though she couldn’t move her hands off the bed.

He levered himself back. “You’re right, and I won’t do it again. Though if I remember right, you do like being tied with it.”

Well, now, that had been an adventure. She forced a frown. “Hmmm. I don’t recall that.”

His lip quirked. “Maybe I’ll have to remind you.”

God, she hoped he would. At the very least, she’d bought Vinnie a few hours to talk some sense into Raze Shadow. After dinner, Lynne would have to level with Jax about the letter. For now, she was going to enjoy her late afternoon. While she’d never solve the puzzle of how she’d found love in such dire circumstances, she’d learned to accept the good in her new life.

Whether he liked it or not, whether he understood it or not, Jax was good.

After a cold dinner of canned ravioli, Vinnie went up to the apartment and straightened the place. The area smelled like Raze, all male with the hint of forest. He was supposed to return by suppertime, but sometimes the scouting trips
took a while. Finally, she lay down on the big bed, just for a moment, and closed her eyes.

She drifted along until fine whiskey heated through her veins. Her body hummed, and her mouth tingled. She opened her eyes, caught a flash of blue, and then gasped as Raze’s mouth enveloped hers.

Passion uncoiled inside her, taking over, making her pulse. She struggled to focus, but his tongue swept inside her mouth, and then all she could do was enjoy the moment. He kissed her deep, taking his time, propelling her into desire.

Something, a thought, tickled in the back of her brain, but sleep turned to need so quickly, she banished doubt.

His nimble fingers unbuttoned her shirt right before he swept off her pants.

She moved against his bare skin and hard erection. Her body ached, more than ready for him. Her heart thumped, and emotion filled her heart with Raze Shadow.