Shadow Falling (The Scorpius Syndrome #2) Read Online Free PDF

Almost running, he shot out the door and closed it behind him, taking several deep breaths. A mission. That’s all she was. Just another mission.
    The second he turned her over to Grey, he’d forget all about her. Just like any mission.
    Liar. Even now, as he stormed back down the hallway, he knew he was a damn liar. He’d never forget Vinnie Wellington. Taking the steps down two at a time, he launched into the vestibule just as Jax emerged from his offices, gun in hand.
    Jax lifted a dark eyebrow. A scar cut under the left side of his rugged jaw, showing he’d beaten death more than once and would more than likely do it again. He’d changed into worn jeans and a black shirt, stretched tight over solid muscle. “You okay?”
    “Fine.” Raze reached for the gun at the back of his waist and checked to make sure the safety was off. “Ready to roll.”
    Jax studied him with deep brown eyes, as if trying to see inside his head.
    Raze stared back, accustomed to the Vanguard leader’s scrutiny. Of course they didn’t trust each other. This deadly new world made for odd allies, and for the moment they could cover each other’s backs. If, or rather when, Jax discovered Raze’s true mission, they’d be instant enemies.
    The thought charged into Raze’s gut like an ax handle he’d taken to the ribs one time years ago. It’d been so longsince he belonged anywhere, and Vanguard was a good place. As good as possible these days anyway.
    Jax turned to look up the stairway, his movements quick and graceful. “She still having nightmares?”
    “Yes.”
    “She tell you why Atherton wanted her so badly?” Jax slid that hard gaze back onto Raze.
    “Nope. We’re not girlfriends, Jax.” Raze pivoted to open the outside door.
    Jax may have muttered
asshole
behind his back, but Raze didn’t give a shit. He was a helluvalot worse than an asshole.
    “She was with President Atherton a long time, Raze,” Jax said.
    “Yeah, but she’s not working with him. She wakes up screaming his name in terror,” Raze snapped. “You can trust her, Mercury.”
    “I don’t trust anybody,” Jax retorted easily. “Especially a former shrink who can read us all with a glance. If she does anything to harm Vanguard, I’m taking it out on both of you, and I hate the idea of harming a woman, so I’ll probably kill you instead.”
    “You could try,” Raze said evenly.
    Jax kept moving forward. “It’d be a helluva fight, Shadow. But you gotta know, in this time and this place, I apparently have more to lose than you do.”
    “Right.” Yet that wasn’t exactly true. “You have trust issues. Maybe Vinnie can help you work on those.”
    “Asshole.” Jax didn’t bother to mutter this time.
    The Vanguard headquarters opened up to a former parking lot, now empty, that reached the long chain-link fence and a large gate. Downed vehicles protected them on the other side, while across the deserted road, a three-story brick building still stood.
    “You figure out how to get rid of that damn buildingyet?” Raze asked as Jax followed him into the early dawn light.
    “Yeah. C-4 or a bunch of dynamite. If you find any, hand it over,” Jax all but growled as they made it across the parking lot.
    Right. If he found C-4, he’d save it to defend himself from Jax’s attack when it came. Vinnie was under Jax’s protection, and once Raze took her, Jax would fight hard and without mercy to get her back—whether he trusted her or not. “I would assume all the C-4 and dynamite has been looted or secured.” But who knew? They’d found weirder stuff in innocent-looking suburban homes.
    “Nah. There’s more out there somewhere. We just need to find it tomorrow when we go scouting.” Jax whistled and the gate rolled open. “We have a briefing with Vinnie after lunch today to discuss President Atherton and what she knows about his organization, motives, and next moves. She had better be of value or she’s out of headquarters. For now, I need you