“Apparently.” Greyson frowned. “She didn’t need to kick me in the mouth though.” He shook his head as Tace started to ask the question. “Of course I didn’t retaliate. Even though it’d be a fun contest, I don’t hit women. Even mean ones who kick a guy in the lips just for making an ordinary threat against somebody not even present. God.”
“Tace?” Sami called out.
Tace hustled to the door to see her stomping inside, her hair in twin braids, irritation marring her smooth skin. Without any makeup on, she looked like an angry teenager. “You okay?” he asked, watching her entire body settle into calmness.
“Fine. You?” She looked beyond him to glare at Grey. “You’re a shitty bluffer, Storm.”
Grey shrugged and then winced as the guy behind him screeched.
Tace turned and headed for the counter and another syringe. “He can’t have another sedative for an hour, but he’s due vitamin B.” The needle went in smoothly, and Tace plunged the contents through him. The patient continued to thrash, his face a bright red. Tace felt his cheeks. “He’s burning up. Do you have anything resembling ice around here?”
“No, but I can get more cool cloths,” Greyson said.
“I have cloths,” Tace muttered. They were going to lose another one, and there wasn’t anything he could do about it.
The patient seized.
“Shit. What’s his name?” Tace asked.
“Goes by Bucknell,” Grey said. “Think it was his last name, but he’s never said.”
Tace noted the guy’s labored breathing. The next progression would be—
The guy jerked up, his body shuddering.
“Damn it.” Tace immediately started CPR. “You been infected?” he asked Grey.
“Yeah.”
“Good. Breathe into his mouth when I tell you to.” Tace counted out his thumps and told Greyson to breathe. Even though Sami had been infected, he didn’t want her near a thrashing man.
They worked on Bucknell for nearly twenty minutes. Tace continued to perform CPR. Finally, Greyson leaned back and clapped Tace on the arm. Lines cut into the sides of the Mercenary leader’s now-swollen mouth. “He’s gone.”
Tace leaned back and wiped his brow. “Call it. He’s your man.”
“He was,” Grey said, his eyes a somber green through the blue. “Damn it.”
“I’m sorry,” Tace said, seeing Sami position herself to his left.
Greyson nodded and then his gaze focused on Sami. “No need, lady. I’m not blaming Justice for this.”
“Just making sure,” she said, her voice soft.
Tace cut her a look. She’d immediately taken his back just in case. Somehow, that thought banished some of the darkness surrounding him. But she kept her gaze on Grey and didn’t meet Tace’s eyes. Wonderful. They’d almost gone horizontal and nude the night before. Now things were going to be awkward. Tace sighed.
Greyson straightened. “We’ll bury him this afternoon and celebrate his life tonight. I promised you guys fresh fish, and you didn’t get it last night. We also have some good booze from these rich homes.”
Sami rubbed her nose. “I’m sorry for your loss, Greyson.”
A groan came from the other room.
Greyson turned and jogged into the post-op area. A second later, he called out. “Ah, Justice? Should this guy be bleeding all over?”
Damn it. “No.” Tace pivoted and ran to find one of his earlier patients spitting blood. “Ah, crap. Okay. I need brighter lights and a surgical kit. Now.” It was going to be a long afternoon.
* * *
Sami paced outside the surgical room as weird squishy sounds emerged along with an occasional grunt and order from Tace for Greyson to do something. To tie something off or hand over an implement.
