“Yeah. I’m undercover all of a sudden.” Damon tugged at the bandage across his stomach.
Ah. “So you faked the whole fear of Scorpius in front of the Pure pastor,” Sami said, putting the pieces together. “I take it you’re going to stay at Vanguard for a bit?”
“Have to,” Damon said easily. “Now all I have to do is get an invite to the church. They already sent pretty April to see if I’m interested, and I told her maybe but I wasn’t sure, and she’s reporting back.”
Pretty April? Protectiveness rose in Sami for her new friend. “April’s still vulnerable, Damon.”
The former LAPD officer held up both hands. “Just friends. I swear.” He smiled. “Told you there was no way you were LAPD.”
“Shut up,” Sami said easily. “I just met you, thus you don’t get to be pissed at me.”
“I, however, do,” Jax said.
Sami winced. “You forgave Raze for lying to you.”
Jax’s light brown eyes flashed. “Raze and I beat the shit out of each other, twice, and then we made up. I hit him to hurt him.”
Sami’s head jerked up. “So let’s go to the gym.”
Jax paused. “No.”
“Yes.” She put both hands to her hips. “You’ve always treated me like one of the soldiers—like one of the guys. If we need to fight and bleed for you to forgive me, let’s do it.”
Jax studied her, his lip twisting. “I can’t.”
Fire and hurt washed through her. “What do you mean?”
He shuffled his feet. “I can’t hit you to hurt you.” His hand went up when she started to lambaste him. “I’m sorry, Sami. I know you fight better than most of us, and I know you’re trained, and I know you’re smarter than most soldiers.” He shrugged. “I still can’t hit you to hurt you. I kinda feel like you’re my little sister.”
At those words, those kind words, she lost her anger and burst into tears.
“Holy fuck no.” Jax backed away, shaking his hands. “Don’t do that. God, don’t do that.”
“You made her cry,” Damon snapped.
“I’m . . . not . . . crying,” she sobbed.
“Jesus.” Jax moved in and put both arms around her, patting her back like she was choking. Her ribs rattled. “It’s okay. Um, let it out.”
“I do trust you but I didn’t at first and then I liked it here and didn’t want you to kick me out when you learned the truth,” she sobbed into his chest, soaking his shirt. “Now Tace hates me, and everyone hates me, and this is home, and I don’t know what to do.”
“Okay. You’re forgiven.” Jax smacked her back again. “It’s all good. You’re home. It’s good.”
“Make her stop crying, you asshole,” Damon growled. “I’m not gonna work here if you make nice women cry.”
“I’m trying,” Jax snapped back, panic lowering his voice. “It’s okay, Sami. I’ll talk to Tace. If he doesn’t forgive you, we’ll just shoot him. I promise.”
She sniffed against his chest. “I’m really sorry, Jax.”
“You’re forgiven.” He lifted her away from him and gently wiped her cheeks. “We need you here. I can’t run Vanguard without you.”
She sniffled. “The Bunker is a bad place, Jax.”
“Yeah, but you gave us the coordinates to save Tace, honey. You did that for him,” Jax said gently.
“You should tell Tace that,” Damon piped up.
“I will.” Jax kept his voice soft. “You better now?”
