Tace shook his head, a part of him he disliked wondering how to use that information against the Mercs. “Listen. I know we’re not pals, and at some point, we may be enemies. But no matter what, Raze Shadow is a killer, and a good one. You kidnapped his sister and blackmailed him to turn over the woman he was falling in love with.”
“So?” Grey asked, focusing.
Tace lowered his chin. “Raze is going to kill you. I don’t know when, and I’m not sure how—he prefers a knife—but he will be coming for you.”
“He’s not the only one who can use a blade,” Grey said softly.
“I know. So either you’re gonna die, or Raze is gonna die, and no way will Maureen want anything to do with you either way. Especially if you’re dead.” Numbness attacked Tace’s right hand, and he stretched his fingers, trying not to wince or show weakness. “It’s my job to make sure Raze succeeds, by the way.” He had no problem killing these days, felt more distance than ever from his proud heritage.
“So you’re saying there’s no hope of an alliance between Vanguard and the Mercenaries.”
Tace frowned. “I’m not saying that, actually. Jax Mercury is a brilliant strategist, and right now, Vanguard has the most dangerous force in the country gunning for us. Hell, the president apparently is gunning for you, too.”
“The enemy of my enemy is my friend,” Greyson murmured, fatigue fanning out from his blue-green eyes.
“Exactly.” Tace lifted a shoulder. “At least for now.”
“We do live in interesting times.” Greyson glanced at the sun streaming through the window. “So. Have we given your little weapon enough time to scout around?”
Everything inside Tace stilled. “Excuse me?”
“Did you really think I’d fall for our little chat here? I knew the second Sami slid out your bedroom window, as did Damon. She’s not going to find a thing except for trouble as she tries to catalog my resources.”
What the hell? He’d told her to get some sleep and stay put until he returned. Of course she’d hadn’t listened. Tace moved for the doorway, and instantly three men blocked his way, guns pointed at his chest.
“Keep him here,” Grey ordered them, striding beyond them and out the door. “Continue doing your job, medic. I’ll make sure Sami is well taken care of.”
Tace growled low in a sound he’d never heard from himself. From anybody else, either. He could take down the first guy, maybe the second, but the third would get off a shot. If he was injured or dead, he might not be able to help Sami. “You harm her, and I’ll rip you apart piece by piece.” His voice dropped to a hoarse rasp that made him cringe.
Grey turned from beyond his men. “It’d be an interesting contest, to be sure. Keep my men alive, Justice. Unlike your leader, I do believe in an eye for an eye.”
“You’ve misjudged both Jax and me. We’re fine with cutting out eyes and adding them to the soup,” Tace ground out.
Greyson’s low chuckle wafted in his wake.
The numbness in Tace’s hand turned to trembling and vibrated up his arm. Dots swam across his left eye. The back of his head heated and then went numb. God, not now.
He leaned against the wall to keep from falling on his ass in front of the Merc soldiers. What the hell was wrong with him? He had to regain control and go after Sami. The instant one of the Mercs gave him an opening, he was taking it.
* * *
Sami crept low along buildings in Merc territory. The sun beat down, hotter than it should be this early in the morning. She’d been scouting for nearly an hour, going through nicely kept mansions. The Mercs had gotten rid of any bodies or rotting food, so the search thus far had been pleasant, unlike many of her scouting missions.
Damon Winter was following her, and she’d lost him twice, but he’d caught her scent. The guy was part bloodhound. Probably had been a good cop.
For now, she let him tail her as she went through another mansion. Like the others, the cupboards were bare. The Mercs’ food had to be stored in a central location, and so far, she hadn’t found it. Or the medicine and weapons.
Think, damn it.
While neither man would appreciate the comparison, Greyson Storm and Jax Mercury were similar. So, where had Jax located his stores? Some of the Vanguard’s weapons, medicine, and food were kept at headquarters. Sami needed to get back in the main house and check for a basement.
Yet many of Vanguard’s provisions were under guard at various warehouses throughout the territory. Merc territory was a hell of a lot larger than Vanguard, so those storage areas could be anywhere. But they’d have to be close enough for Greyson to get to quickly. She sighed and dodged out the back door of the house, stopping when she spotted Damon leaning against a fountain of a massive fairy with wings. A quiet fountain since water no longer flowed.
“I’m tired of the cat and mouse,” he said, crossing muscled arms. Today he’d worn a Merc black T-shirt, dark jeans, and a gun at his hip. “It’s getting hot.”
“Then go back inside and fan yourself.” The cat and mouse had brought back some bad memories of hiding from cops in the past, and she was almost relieved he’d stopped the game. Cops had made her nervous since her first illegal hack, and she had to control her expression as she faced Damon squarely.
He watched her like a hawk seeing a mouse on the ground. “How about I tell you that you’re not gonna find our stockpiles, you tell me to go to hell, and then we actually talk about why you’re lying to everyone about being an LAPD rookie?”
