Crimson Read online

  “What happened back there?” Raphael asked.

  He tried to shrug, but couldn’t. “It was just Roark sending a reminder of who’s in charge,” he said.

  Raphael grabbed his hand. “We’ll figure out a way to fix this.”

  Michael smiled. “You worry too much, brother.”

  Raphael’s voice to cracked. “Somebody has to. Now get some rest.” He pulled the blanket up.

  Michael’s chest clenched. “I will,” he lied.

  Morgan stared at the broken navcom, unable to focus. He couldn’t get Gina’s cries out of his mind. Her tears had scorched his soul and no amount of shifting to his wolf form would repair it. The calm she’d shown after listening to her grandfather’s murder had been worst of all. She’d shut down before his eyes as if someone had flipped a switch. Morgan still didn’t understand how Montgomery had gotten the drop on Robert Santiago, but there was no denying what they’d heard. Someone had died at Roark’s hand. Someone who sounded exactly like the commander. Roark would die for his multitude of sins. Determined, he picked up the device. If he could manage to fix it, they might be able to broadcast.

  He thought about the recording sitting next to him. If Morgan sent out Kane’s message, there would be no hiding for the Others. Questions would be asked. Answers would be sought. This journey wasn’t just about him and Gina anymore. Something far greater was at stake. Could Morgan risk the lives of the people of Nuria and the Others around the world for revenge and their freedom?

  Freedom—what a joke. He and the Others had been living in self-imposed exile from the rest of society for decades.

  Morgan had spent so many years in hiding that he wasn’t sure if he could live out in the open. And what if the same people who’d hunted them down before tried to come after them again? The men behind the experiments were dead, but their successors were still around, watching, waiting for the Others to pop their heads up so they could blow them off their shoulders.

  He thought about the Nurian trainees. The Other tactical team was nowhere near ready for that kind of altercation. With Demery’s death, they’d lost one of the most promising cadets. Morgan knew his mate mourned the vamp’s death. She hid her grief well, but he’d still noticed. It was his fault he was dead. They should’ve never left Demery behind.

  As if her grief for the vamp wasn’t bad enough, she’d now have to deal with the presumed loss of her grandfather, Commander Robert Santiago. He pictured her tear-stained face when the shots were fired. She’d shattered before his eyes, while Roark Montgomery cackled triumphantly. Morgan hoped like hell he never heard anything like that again.

  Morgan took out the tools Jonah had loaned him and pulled off the back of the navcom. It didn’t look good. In fact, it looked like a mess—thanks to Gina’s impromptu rage. He moved a few wires to get to the crystal keyboard that fueled it. At least the crystal was still intact, which was something. Morgan set the tools down on the table.

  He brushed a hand over his chest and winced. He was still tender from the stun blast and the knife wounds, but thanks to a quick shift they had stopped bleeding and sealed tight. By tomorrow, the discomfort would be gone. In a week, it would look as if nothing had occurred.

  He fiddled with the navcom. Everything was about to change. Morgan hoped the Nurians would forgive him. Hell, he hoped they wouldn’t have to. He lowered his head and went back to work.

  Red came upon Melea standing in the giant greenhouse. “Amazing, isn’t it?”

  The woman jumped in surprise. “I’m sorry. I didn’t . . .” Her gaze roamed the room for another exit, but she quickly realized that Red blocked the only one.

  “It’s okay. I like it in here, too. It’s a good place to think,” Red said. “Especially now.”

  The woman nodded, but didn’t relax.

  Red looked at her. “Can I ask you a question?”

  “Go ahead,” Melea said.

  “Why did Demery call you his blood? I know you weren’t his mate. If you had been, he would’ve challenged Reaper long ago.”

  The woman gave her a sad smile. “I reminded him of his little sister. The fact that I had her name helped. Obviously he didn’t treat me as such, but he did look after me, or at least tried to. Demery was a good man, but he had his faults.” Melea shrugged. “I loved him like a brother, but he gambled. And when he lost . . .” her voice trailed off.

  “He lost you to the Sand Devils?” Red asked, trying to imagine the woman’s terror. She shuddered at the thought.

  Melea nodded, then quickly looked away. “He didn’t mean to, but Demery learned the hard way that you can’t beat Reaper. He promised to return to get me and he did, even if his rescue was cut short.” Her voice turned bitter.

  “If he viewed you as his little sister, how did you become his blood?” Red asked, steering the conversation away.

  The woman laughed, but there was no amusement in her soft voice. “It was an accident. Demery had a little bit too much to drink one night. Thought it’d be funny to see me swallow his blood. I’d been traveling with him for awhile, so I didn’t think much of it. It wasn’t until the next day when Reaper forced me to . . . that I found out it could also harm Demery.”

  Red thought about Raphael. Could he feel her pain now that she’d tasted him? And what of Morgan? Raphael had fed him his blood to save his life.

  “How much blood did you drink?” Red asked.

  “Several mouthfuls. I ended up vomiting,” Melea said.

  Maybe the amount mattered. She’d have to ask. “I’m sorry things turned out the way they have,” Red said. “You probably won’t believe me, but I really liked Demery. I don’t take my part in his death lightly.”

  “You kept your promise to him.” Melea sounded surprised. “Why?” she asked.

  Red couldn’t blame Melea for being surprised. Everyone in her life had either lied or used her. Most did both. “Because he asked.”

  The woman brushed her face, wiping at the tears that had started to silently fall. Her shoulders shook. “That’s it? No other reasons?”

  “He was my friend.” It was a stark admission, but no less than the truth. Red wanted to comfort Melea, but she didn’t know how when they were both in so much pain. “I will make sure you get to the Republic of Arizona,” she said instead.

  “Because of guilt?” the woman asked, eyeing her suspiciously.

  Red leveled her with a sharp gaze. “Does the reason matter?” she asked.

  “I guess not,” Melea said. She slipped deeper into the greenhouse, disappearing behind the fruit trees.

  Red left her to grieve and went to find Raphael. He was standing in the control center looking at all the buttons. His back was to her, when she walked in. “I haven’t seen one of these places since the war,” he said softly. “It looks so ancient now, but back then it housed so much destructive power.”

  “How are you holding up?” Red asked.

  Raphael turned. “I could ask you the same thing. You look like you’ve lost weight.”

  Red laughed, despite the pain. “Wandering around the desert does wonders for the diet.”

  He smiled, flashing fang. “Yes, I suppose it takes some getting used to.”

  “How are Michael and Catherine?” she asked.

  “My brother is not well. The chip inside him is causing him pain. He blocks me so I can’t tell how bad it’s gotten. I fear for his health. Perhaps if Morgan can get the navcom working, we’ll have a better idea of what we’re dealing with.” He sighed. “Catherine.” Her name brightened his features, lighting his eyes. “She is still in shock over Roark’s transmission, but she is strong and will get through this.”

  Red rubbed her bare wrist. She missed her navcom, Rita. She’d always found comfort from its nasally voice, even though it wasn’t real. “Roark’s caused so much pain and misery. If he gets elected, I fear for our people. I fear for all people.”

  Raphael met her gaze with his black doll-like eyes. “No matter what happens, he will b
e dealt with. You have my word.”

  “I hope you’re right.” Red rubbed her arms. “I better check on Morgan,” she said, noticing Catherine at the door.

  Chaos watched Gina Santiago leave, then slipped into the room. She hadn’t been able to talk to the woman alone. It seemed like every time she tried someone appeared. Chaos had never been good at waiting. “I don’t know what to do,” she said, glancing at Raphael.

  He frowned. “About what?”

  “I promised the commander I’d bring her back.” She pointed at the doorway. “If he’s truly dead, then there’s no one there to return her to. All she has left is Morgan.”

  Raphael slowly shook his head. “That’s not true,” he said. “She has me and several of the townspeople of Nuria to lean on.”

  “I see.” Chaos’ face flushed. “I suppose as long as she has you that’s all that counts.”

  Raphael’s eyes twinkled. “Is that a problem?”

  “No, why would it be?” Chaos asked through a snarl. “We have no claims on each other. Our agreement was quite clear. Help each other to reach our mutual goals. You’ve found your brother and I’ve found Red. We’re sorted.”

  Raphael let the smile spread across his face, exposing his fangs. “Liar,” he purred.

  Chaos’ body responded like Pavlov’s dog to a dinner bell. “Knock it off.”

  “Knock what off?” he asked, his footsteps silent as he closed the distance between them.

  She gave him her shoulder. “You know very well what I’m talking about,” she said.

  “Yes, I do.” Undaunted, Raphael tilted her chin and kissed her tenderly. “You have no need to worry, little storm. I care about Red, but not in the way you’ve implied. She has chosen her mate. I respect her wishes.”

  Anger fueled her blood. “So what you’re telling me is that I’m a default pick. Couldn’t get what you wanted, so you’re settling for second choice. Nice. I feel so special,” Chaos spat. She needed to leave before she embarrassed herself.

  “Hardly.” Raphael slid his hands up her arms. “You have held my attention from the moment I laid eyes on you. I find you infinitely more fascinating than the she-wolf.” His gaze raked her, simmering with intent.

  Emotions welled within her, despite her efforts to keep them tamped down. As much as Chaos would like to deny it, she was starting to fall hard for Raphael Vega. He’d gotten under her skin literally and she’d allowed it with nary a whimper. She stared at his face, wondering not for the first time what she was going to do with him. He’d come into her life like a tornado and turned her world on its ear. The thought of parting left her bereft, but she couldn’t exactly take him with her to IPTT.

  Chaos had always been a loner, trying to fit in without standing out. It had worked for a while, until her gift raised its ugly head.

  Now Chaos wasn’t sure if she’d even return. What would be the point now that the commander was gone? No doubt she’d already been replaced, especially if Bannon had taken over. She looked at Raphael. His black eyes shimmered with emotion.

  “You’ll be the death of me,” she said.

  “No.” He shook his head. “I will bring only light into your life.”

  She gave him an incredulous look.

  “You shall see. Just give me a chance,” Raphael said, kissing her again. He deepened the embrace, running his tongue along the seam of her lips until she opened for him. Raphael swept in, exploring, imploring, and demanding her capitulation. Her head spun.

  Chaos clasped her hands behind his neck and said yes the only way she knew how—by kissing him back and hanging on for dear life as the world dropped out beneath her feet.

  Red found Morgan sitting in front of a desk. “How goes it?”

  “I may have the navcom working. It was locked so it couldn’t broadcast everywhere, but I changed its setting.”

  She hugged him. “That’s great. Now you can contact the Eye of God and see if he can help us.”

  Morgan sighed. “I found something while you were sleeping.” He reached into his pocket and pulled out one of Kane’s audio journals. “Jonah kept this safe while I was detained.”

  “Did you finally listen to them?” she asked, knowing how hard it would’ve been for him to do so. He still mourned the loss of his cousin.

  “Yes, and there’s something you need to hear,” Morgan said, then pressed play.

  Red stood dumbfounded as she listened to Kane and Roark. She couldn’t believe what she was hearing. “Can you play it again?” The order to have her killed left Roark’s mouth with ease.

  Morgan reached for her hand. “I’m sorry.”

  “What does this mean?” Red asked, her mind racing to comprehend. The implications were overwhelming.

  “It means our nightmare is almost over,” Morgan said. “At least once we broadcast this to the republics.”

  Red nodded as she replayed the words in her mind. “Wait a minute. If we do that, then everyone will know about the Others,” she said.

  Morgan grew silent, his expression grim. “I know.”

  “There has to be some other way,” she said.

  He ran his hand over his stubbled chin. “There isn’t.”

  “We can’t just send this to the satellites for everyone to hear. You’ve kept these people safe all these years. They’re counting on you to continue.”

  “I know,” Morgan said, his expression growing apprehensive. “But it’s the only way we’ll stop Roark for good and gain our freedom. The proof on this recording will seal his fate.”

  “And the Nurians?” Red asked. “What will become of them?”

  He sighed. “They will have to learn to adapt. Just like I will. We’ve survived worse. Hopefully people will be more forgiving this time around.”

  Red didn’t want the death of the Nurians on her head. “You can’t count on that,” she said.

  Morgan rose from his chair. “What do you want me to do? We have run out of options. You know that as well as I do. And we can’t stay here. Jonah has been kind, but he doesn’t have the means to support all of us. We have to end this before Roark comes after Nuria, if he hasn’t already.”

  “Now that the commander is out of the way, there’ll be no one to stop him.” She choked on the pain, clogging her throat. “He may already have control of IPTT by now.” The thought was truly terrifying. Nuria had no hope against a well-trained tactical team force.

  “We don’t know anything yet. Let’s not speculate,” Morgan reminded her. He picked up the device. “Now the bad news. I don’t think this navcom will broadcast out of this valley. I’ve checked its signal strength and it’s weak.”

  “I swear we can’t catch a break.” She began to pace. “Is there any way to boost it?”

  “Possibly,” Morgan said. “But we’ll need to get someplace much higher to try.”

  Red sighed. “Okay, so we climb one of the mountains.”

  “There’s something else.” Morgan touched her hand. “We’ll probably only have one shot at this before it fries the crystal.”

  “Can we still do a scan on Michael?” she asked. Red wanted to get the message out, but not at the cost of another life.

  Morgan turned the navcom over. “Yes, I think it’ll still work. But even if it does find something, we don’t have the equipment to do surgery here. I already asked Jonah. In all likelihood, we’d kill Michael trying to help him.”

  “We have to do something. We can’t just leave him like this. He’s in so much pain,” Red said.

  “I know.” Morgan stopped her and pulled her into his arms. “How is Raphael holding up?”

  Red shrugged. “He is hurting, but he hides it well. You know Raphael.”

  “Yes, I do,” Morgan said. “For his sake, I hope there’s something we can do for Michael.”

  “Me, too.” She could tell by Morgan’s expression that he was thinking about Kane. He didn’t want Raphael to lose his only surviving close family member, too.

  They walked into
the barracks where Michael was lying on a cot. “Are you awake?” Red asked.

  “It’s rather hard to sleep when your head is splitting in two,” Michael said, opening his eyes. His skin was paler than usual and his black hair was disheveled.

  Morgan put his hand on Michael’s shoulder. “We think the navcom has been repaired enough to run a scan on you,” he said.

  Michael laughed. “It doesn’t matter.”

  “Don’t say that,” Red said. “We want to help.”

  Michael met her gaze and shook his head. “You truly are special, but there’s nothing to be done. The chip in my head has A.I. capabilities that seem to have taken over. Roark doesn’t need to be near for it to activate.”

  Red gasped. She hadn’t meant to, but she didn’t realize the situation was so dire. “At least let us try,” she said. “For Raphael’s sake.”

  His cheeks flushed at the mention of his brother’s name. “Suit yourself,” Michael said.

  Raphael walked into the room as Red placed the navcom on Michael’s wrist. He was followed by Catherine, whose lips were kiss swollen.

  “Ah, I see we’re having a party,” Michael said, his gaze sweeping Catherine. “And you obviously started early, Raph.”

  “Your sense of humor has always been off-color, brother,” Raphael said.

  Red pressed scan. The navcom beeped, then began to hum. It beeped again five minutes later. She lifted the navcom off his wrist and read the results. “The chip seems to be lodged in the frontal lobe area of his brain. I thought perhaps it had been attached to the bone.”

  “I told you that nothing could be done,” Michael said.

  “We have to get it out,” Red said. “It’s amazing you’ve made it this far without dislodging it.”

  Michael shook his head. “You can’t remove it without killing me. It’s been burrowing in my brain. I’ve felt it. It’s like a continual itch that cannot be scratched.”

  Red bit her bottom lip as she considered the possibilities. “There has to be a way to block the signal,” she said.