Tightening his hold on Cruz’s hand over the knife handle, Jax let all pain flow away. People counted on him, and he had to live. Had to protect Lynne. Digging deep, filled with resolve, he reached into his boot with his free hand, struggling with the sharp blade at his throat. “Why did you kill my brother?”
Cruz smiled with bloody teeth. “He took to heart your bullshit letters about honor and doing something good and was actually convincing younger members there was a better way in life than running drugs. The kid needs to die.”
Pride and sorrow mingled with the pain inside Jax until the words sank in. “Needs to die?”
Cruz started laughing, blood bubbling up. “The world is a little fuzzy.”
Jax focused, digging as deep as he could. “You motherfucker. Marcus isn’t dead, is he?”
Cruz lowered his chin, hatred glowing in his eyes. “Oh, I shot the fucker, but we never found the body. Buried a bunch of rocks.”
God. Marcus had gotten away. Was he still alive? Had he beaten Scorpius, too? A new hope, one he tried to control, filled Jax. “Marcus beat you.”
“No, not possible. And I’ll keep looking till I find him.”
“No. You won’t,” Jax whispered, striking hard with his own knife. “For Slam and Wyatt.”
The blade pierced Cruz’s throat and kept going through his mouth. His eyes opened, and blood gurgled between his lips as he dropped his blade. Shock cascaded around him. “My brother,” he sighed.
“No. I have real brothers now.” Jax shoved harder until only the hilt remained visible. Cruz spasmed beneath him and then went still in death. Jax coughed, his shoulder on fire. With a grunt, he used his good arm to free the blade. As much as he’d love to leave his knife in Cruz’s throat, they needed all the weapons they could find.
Staggering, Jax eyed the silent tree line. The damn president had gotten away this time. “Fucker,” he muttered. “Always hated politicians.” He turned to look at Cruz Martinez one more time. Cruz’s eyes were open, dark with death. “Fuck you, too,” Jax said.
Lynne ran forward and slid a shoulder under his arm, her gaze on the dead man. “We killed one monster, and we’ll get the other one soon,” she murmured.
Jax placed a kiss on the top of her wet hair. “Your shoulder?”
She glanced down at her bleeding arm. “Just grazed me. Isn’t bad.”
Thank God. “Gotta move, Harmony.”
She helped him around the building to where Tace and Sami kept point outside the house.
“Status?” Jax barked.
Sami wiped blood away from her mouth. Bruises marred the side of her face, and she was leaning on one leg. “We lost six people, have seven injured, we have secured the area. There might still be Twenty members around, but they’re either hiding or waiting to strike.”
Tace rose to peer at Jax’s torso. “Where?”
“Shoulder,” Jax returned. Six dead? He’d lost six, and he felt each one in the center of his chest.
Tace grabbed him away from Lynne and turned him around, making his entire body ache. “Was a through and through. There are probably bandages here.”
Sami stretched her neck, still favoring her leg. “I’ve checked the downed soldiers and haven’t found Lake, per your description of him.”
Damn it. “Lake got Atherton to safety, but we’ll take them out when we regroup.” Jax glanced around. “Our mission parameters were to save Lynne, and we saved Lynne. Plus, we’re gonna raid this place. All weapons—everything we can find.” He grimaced as Tace poked his shoulder again. “Where’s Raze?”
“Went inside to fetch a woman.” Tace nudged Sami. “Let’s go find medical supplies.”
Sami followed him, stopping by the bushes. “Lynne? I’m glad you’re okay.”
“Me, too,” Lynne said, her voice scratchy. She turned to Jax. “Thank you for finding me.”
Jax tucked her close, his world centering. His brother might be alive, and the next day, he’d start looking. But now he needed to focus on Lynne. She was everything he didn’t deserve, everything good, and he’d make sure she stayed safe for the rest of her life, no matter what he had to do. “Are you sure you’re okay?”
She kissed his jugular and leaned back, her blue heart glowing brightly. “I am. You will be, too.”
Jax shuddered as relief rushed through him. Life had turned into hell, but he’d found heaven. Somehow, he’d been given a gift beyond what anybody deserved, and he’d hold her close forever. “Good. By the way, Harmony. I love you, too.”
Lynne cuddled next to Jax as he drove the truck while Raze held a babbling Vivienne on his lap. The woman was in a worn and wrinkled pencil skirt and tank top, her wild blond hair falling in a tangle down her back. She looked like a petite Barbie doll who’d gone through hell.
They’d have to wait until the drugs left her system to figure out who the heck she was.
Lynne’s eyelids half closed as Jax’s warmth spread through her. She’d slept for hours, and they’d be home soon. She’d worry about Bret later, and since she had the USB drive and documents from Myriad, maybe she could finally find a cure for Scorpius or at least a way to manage vitamin B.
Tace and Sami shared a dirt bike behind the very full trucks, keeping pace. They’d managed to secure weapons, four generators, fuel, medical supplies, and some food.
Lynne came to wakefulness, noting that Vivienne was still somehow talking. Had the woman babbled the entire trip?
“God, you’re pretty,” Vivienne whispered, reaching out to rub Raze’s chin.
Lynne studied them. Vivienne’s light coloring contrasted intriguingly with Raze’s darkness as the sun began to rise.
He looked down at Vivienne. “Go to sleep, Vivienne.”
She continued to rub his chin. “So pretty. Comanche?”
“Cherokee,” he whispered back, gaze on the woman. “My mama’s daddy was half.”
Vivienne giggled, the sound definitely drugged. “My mama’s daddy was a moonshiner.”
Raze smiled.
Lynne watched, interested. In the dawn, watching Vivienne, he seemed almost relaxed.
Vivienne snuggled into his chest. “Grandpops called me Vinnie. My whole family did.” She yawned. “I miss them.”
Raze patted a huge hand down her small back. “I know. Go to sleep.”
The woman wiggled even closer. “Do you know where the Bunker is?”
Raze frowned. “The Bunker?”
“Yes. The government facility . . . where hope and the future live.” She giggled.
Raze cut Jax a look, and Jax shrugged. “Tell me more.”
“Later.” She yawned. “What’s your last name?”
“Shadow.”
“You feel good. Can I keep you?” she mumbled.
Raze sobered. “No, but we can negotiate later.”
Vinnie slid into a boneless sleep with a soft sigh.
Jax turned his head just slightly over Lynne’s. “I thought she’d never fall asleep. Who knows what they shot into her veins. She seems to like you, Raze.”
Raze shot Jax a look, his blue eyes cutting through the morning. “Don’t get any ideas.”
“Not me. Nope.” Jax tucked Lynne closer. “Either of you ever heard of the Bunker?”
Lynne shook her head. “Not a word.”
“Me either, but maybe this woman had clearance with the FBI that we can only imagine.” Raze stretched out his legs. “Of course, I’m guessing.”
“If you say so, and at some point, you’re going to tell me how the woman in your arms fits into your plans. Something tells me you knew we’d find her.” Jax breathed out.
“I don’t have plans.” Raze rested his head back and closed his eyes.
Yeah, he did. Lynne nodded slightly against Jax. They had to stick together. She fingered the USB around her neck that she had taken from Bret. Maybe they had a chance now.
Something to worry about for another day.
For now, she snuggled with a man she couldn’t believe existed, and she wanted to hold on tight.
Finally, they reached home, and Jax insisted upon carrying her from the truck into the building. The entire community seemed to be waiting for them to arrive, and several people patted her arm or welcomed her back as Jax carried her through the rec room and up to their apartment. Lynne just blinked until he’d locked the door and set her on the bed.