She sighed. What now?
Chapter Sixteen
Love and obsession are just different sides of thesame coin.
—Tace Justice
Tace stepped out of the outdoor shower in the early morning hour and almost walked right into the towel held out by Raze. He took it, his body going on alert. “Either you have a crush on me all of a sudden, or you wanted to talk privately.”
The soldier rolled his blue eyes and stepped back in the alley. Makeshift showers were set up with rainwater in barrels, and all of the debris and glass had been swept away to leave the concrete smooth. “You were loud last night, and while I don’t think Jax heard you, those of us with rooms close to Sami’s did.”
Tace winced. “Somebody will tell Jax.”
Raze shrugged. “Or Lynne. This place runs on gossip.”
Tace measured the former sniper. “What about you?”
“I mind my own business, but if we’re on a mission together, where your focus is becomes my business.” Raze turned on a combat boot toward the building.
“What the hell does that mean?” Tace called out to his friend’s back and rubbed the towel through his hair.
Raze partially turned. I’ll partner with either you or Sami—you’re both good. But one of you needs to inform Jax and make the change.” He shoved open the back door of the soup kitchen and disappeared inside.
“Good talk,” Tace called out, striding for shelves against the building where he’d left clean clothes. He’d awakened in Sami’s bed and she’d all but shoved him out of the room before somebody saw him.
It was time to stop hiding and start figuring out who they were and what they both wanted. Time to explore a little—and let people know they were together.
Were they together?
He jumped into worn jeans and a faded Grateful Dead T-shirt before leaning down to secure his socks and boots. He dropped the towel into a bin near the door for the laundry brigade—the group taxed with cleaning clothing when they ran out. So far they kept raiding malls or homes and getting fresh clothing more often than not. Shoving his hair back, he followed Raze’s path inside and through the eating area to the war rooms, grabbing what looked like fresh bagels on the way.
He munched on one as he entered the conference war room, where Jax, Sami, Raze, and Pastor Zachary King already sat. “Real bagels?” he asked Jax, his body instantly attuned to Sami, although he couldn’t quite read her mood.
Though by the way she was munching on her bagel, she seemed rather content.
Jax finished chewing. “Scouting team found flour and yeast at an old bakery near Pacific Palisades yesterday. Can you believe it?”
“No.” Tace drew out a chair next to Sami to sit in, noting how happy carbs were making everyone. It really was the simple pleasures they missed most. “What’s going on?” Why the hell was Zachary King in headquarters? He took a moment to give the pastor a measured look, momentarily surprised at how much the unexpected meeting bugged him. He liked things orderly and planned out these days. “Zachary.”
“Pastor King,” Zachary corrected gently. His brown hair waved back from a clean-cut face, and those green eyes showed intelligence and cunning. “I asked for a meeting.”
Jax smiled without even a hint of amusement. “Zachary? What did you want to say?”
Zachary turned his attention to Jax. “Many of my people are afraid to meet with you.”
Sami lifted her head, her eye on the uneaten portion of bagel in Tace’s hand. “Why?”
“Because you’re all carriers, of course.” Zachary clasped his bare hands together on the table. No gloves and no concern, apparently.
Tace arched an eyebrow. “You’re not afraid?”
“God won’t let me catch the plague. I’m here for a reason.” He flattened his hands on the table. “I have nothing to fear.”
All righty, then. Tace sat back in his chair and fought the totally absurd urge to block Zachary’s view to Sami. “I’m thinking we should have the doc here for this little meeting.” Vinnie could profile the guy for them all.
“Agreed, but she’s in the middle of something,” Jax returned. “I’m sure this is one of many meetings.”
Tace shoved the rest of his bagel into his mouth and bit back a grin as Sami’s lower lip pouted out.
