She lifted a shoulder, vulnerability darkening her eyes. “I figured you could tell them if you want.”
The little sweetheart. She was still protecting him. “It’d kill me if Jax benched me right now,” he said.
Sami nodded. “I know.”
“Thank you for not saying anything.” If he still had a heart, and he probably did, the pretty soldier had just claimed it for her own. “I guess it’s you and me, huh?”
“Yeah. Tell me if you’re struggling, if you feel off, and we’ll figure it out.”
His leg shot out as if a doctor had tested his reflexes. He frowned. “I’m still obsessing about you.”
“Who can blame you? I’m awesome in bed.” She grinned.
He swayed. His knees buckled, and he went down.
Sami dove for him, turning him and helping him land on his back. “Tace?”
“That was sudden,” he ground out, his vision turning black. Fire flicked up his spine and exploded at the base of his neck. “It’s happening more often and I’m blacking out more quickly.” He moaned, and his body started to convulse.
A fist pounded on the door, but he couldn’t move.
“What?” Sami bellowed.
“Greyson and several Mercs just stormed the castle without waiting for an invite,” Jax yelled back. “They came for Damon. I need you two downstairs and now.”
Tace’s head thumped against the floor, and Sami pressed a hand to his forehead.
“We’re naked but will be right down,” Sami called. She leaned down, her mouth at his ear. “You’ll be okay, Tace. I promise.” The soft kiss to his ear was the best sensation he’d ever felt, even though his body was disintegrating rapidly.
* * *
Tace ignored Jax’s glare as he and Sami returned to the war room at least ten minutes after Jax had pounded on the door. “Sorry we’re late.”
Sami adjusted her shirt. “You wanted us to make up.”
Damn, she was kind. Acting like they’d been having wild sex instead of his having seizures that had left his legs still weak. Tace drew out a chair for her before dropping into his own.
His hands shook, so he kept them under the table.
Greyson Storm sat at the table with Damon Winter next to him. The Merc leader wore a pissed-off expression. “Somebody could’ve sent word that Damon was all right here.”
Jax shrugged from the head of the table. “We figured you’d send a scout at some point, and no way was I putting one of my guys at risk to send you a Candygram.”
Lynne sat next to him with Vinnie and Raze on that side of the table.
Ah. Somebody had made sure Raze and Greyson were too far apart to start throwing punches. Smart.
“Then we’ll be going now,” Greyson said.
Maureen Shadow crossed into the room, tying her long hair up in a band and covering a yawn. “You called for me, Jax?” She stopped short at seeing Greyson at the table.
Grey sat up straighter. “Maureen. How are you?”
“Greyson.” She dropped her arms to her sides, her face flushing a lovely pink. “What’s going on here?”
Grey turned toward Jax. “Are you willing to let Maureen work on food resources in our territory?”
“Whoa.” Maureen held up a hand. “I make my own decisions, men.”
