Zachary smiled. “I have no problem being profiled. Most of us called to preach the Word think we’ve been chosen by God. If you have any faith at all, you have to be open to that possibility. I’m not narcissistic or deluded.”
Sami tilted her head to the side. “I do most of the take-ins here at Vanguard, and I don’t remember you.”
“I think a guy named Wyatt did my take-in,” Zachary said.
Sami sucked in air, and Tace could almost feel her pain. Wyatt had been one of them, and he’d been the heart and soul of the place. They’d lost him in battle just a couple of weeks ago.
Zachary nodded. “I’m so very sorry for your loss. I didn’t get a chance to know Wyatt beyond that first meeting, but everyone speaks about him so highly.”
“What did you do before you were, ah, called?” Sami asked.
Irritation sizzled through Zachary’s eyes before he smiled. “Does it really matter what any of us did before Scorpius?”
“No, but I’d like to know,” Sami returned.
Tace bit back a smile. Smart woman. She’d taken over the questioning naturally, somehow noticing that Zachary didn’t want to speak with either an underling or with a woman. He kept trying to focus his comments to Jax, and Sami kept drawing his attention.
Jax remained silent, as did Raze, no doubt having already caught on to the tension.
Zachary tried to ignore Sami and turned toward Jax. “We need to discuss the Pure’s plans for either remaining in Vanguard or moving out on our own.”
Jax tilted his head very slightly toward Sami.
She leaned forward. “You didn’t answer my question, Zach.”
Zachary leaned back and sighed. “I think this meeting would be better served if just you and I spoke, Master-Sergeant Mercury. Leader to leader, as it were.”
A ruckus started up outside the war rooms, and a man’s raised voice bellowed through. “I will not stay here where I can get Scorpius. Let me out of here and now.”
Tace pushed back from the table, his body going on full alert. “Is that Damon?”
“Sounds like it,” Jax said, standing, a scowl marring his smooth features.
Damon Winter limped into the room, his face pale, an arm banded across the bandages protecting his abdomen. He wore loose sweats, and his feet were bare. “Mercury? Get me the hell out of here.”
Tace stood and partially put his body between Sami and Damon. “Why are you out of bed?”
Damon all but fell against the doorframe. “I haven’t been infected and I need to get out of here. In Merc territory, we have separate facilities. If you’ve infected me, I’m gonna kill you.” His brown eyes darkened with fury, and his breath panted out almost painfully.
Tace took in his rigid stance. “I didn’t work all day yesterday patching you up for you to bleed out now.” He moved toward the soldier and paused when Damon held out a hand to stop him.
“Don’t touch me,” Damon groaned, closing his eyes.
Jax sighed and strode past Damon, disappearing into the vestibule while bellowing for April Snyder. They both returned seconds later, with the young widow wringing her hands together. She often worked in the soup kitchen in headquarters.
“What’s going on?” she asked, her voice soft and her blue eyes wide.
Tace narrowed his gaze. The pretty brunette seemed even more fragile than last time he’d seen her. She’d lost her husband to Scorpius months ago, and she’d lost her only daughter a couple of weeks ago. It was amazing she was still standing. “It’s okay, April.” He couldn’t help but try to soothe her.
Jax jerked his head toward Damon. “Would you help get this asshole back to his bed before he bleeds all over my floor?”
April wiped her hands down her jeans.
Jax cleared his throat. “Damon? This is April, and she hasn’t been infected by Scorpius. Let her help you, or I’m gonna grab you and bite your damn shoulder, you ungrateful shit.”
Damon tried to glare, but his face contorted in agony instead.
April rushed for him and gently slid her shoulder beneath his arm. “It’s okay. I’ll get you back to the infirmary.”
