Mercury Striking (The Scorpius Syndrome #1)(15)

She eyed the cold-looking, rather worn leather. It was a freakin’ luxury compared to sleeping on the hard ground, but even so, now she’d had a taste of a real bed again . . . “A gentleman would give me the bed.”

He scratched the stubble next to his scar. “All the gentlemen are dead, baby. Soldiers and survivors are what we have now.”

She pushed up to one elbow, discreetly eyeing the locks on the door before studying him. “How dangerous is it here for me?”

“Very.” His eyes darkened from bourbon to Guinness. “We have many who haven’t been infected, and you are a carrier.”

“Anybody who survived the fever is a carrier.”

“As you know, there are rumors that you carry a new strain of the disease.”

More lies meant to force her away from other people. “We already discussed that. Either you believe me or you don’t,” she whispered.

His expression didn’t gentle. “There are so many rumors and ghost stories out there; I don’t pay attention to them.”

She swallowed, her throat clogging. “Good. There is no new strain of the bacterial infection. I’m no different from anybody else who’s survived Scorpius.”

“You’re the only one with a blue heart.”

“I know. I was infected with the main strain, and then we used one of the many experiments to save my life, turning my heart blue. We were never able to duplicate the exact concoction again, although since it didn’t cure me, I’m not sure it matters.”

“You’re different. How can it not matter?”

She sighed. “My heart is blue, as are a few veins around it. I have both photosphores and chromatophores in my heart, which without the initial bacterial infection would be impossible. Squids and octopi have the same materials, essentially, and they can turn different colors—usually blue.”

“So you have squid genes?” His brows furrowed, and his gaze pierced her.

She snorted. “Not exactly, but close enough.”

“Wait a minute. Aren’t squid and octopuses high in vitamin B?”

Wow. Smart guy, wasn’t he? “Yes.”

“How does that relate to your heart?”

“I don’t know, except when we were experimenting for a cure, we used a lot of B. Obviously.”

For a moment that ticked into tension, he just studied her with those dark eyes.

She had to look away from such intensity, so she glanced at the boarded-up window. “How secure is your facility?”

“Very, but we’re known, and the battles in L.A. aren’t finished. We’re all regrouping.”

Her stomach rolled over. “The battles aren’t over? But the news reported—”

“The news was wrong. We still have groups vying for position and for food sources. In fact, once we’re stronger, we might have to move north to more fertile land. The food here won’t last much longer.” He sighed. “Can you give me any statistics on what’s out there right now?”

She bit her lip. “Lots of smaller groups trying to organize, from what I saw. We stayed away from cities, so I don’t know the stats of how many people are still untouched and how many are Rippers.”

“What about the status of the U.S. military? Or, shit, the entire world?” he asked.

“I don’t know.” She rubbed her eyes. “Even before I escaped, I wasn’t in the loop, not really. We were contained in the CDC, doing our research. I wasn’t allowed out very often.”

“Billions are dead.”

“Yes.” Her chest grew heavy. “Billions are definitely dead. I hoped I’d be safe here.”

Jax shook his head. “We need to move soon, and I need data about the threats out there. The north of L.A. is controlled by a group called the Mercenaries, and they’re worse than Rippers.”

She internalized a truth she hadn’t fully realized. There was no safe place. Studying him, she frowned. “Most people would be afraid to be in a bed with a Scorpius survivor. Scared they’d catch the contagion.”

“Not much scares me.” He rolled his neck on the pillow. “Plus, that knowledge in your head? It’s pretty much our only hope. On the off chance that you’re carrying a more dangerous disease, I’d rather be a guinea pig than do nothing.”

“I’m not carrying a new strain.”

“I believe you.” He leaned up on one muscled arm, mimicking her pose. “Like I said, I don’t listen to rumors.”

“Good. But you have to know there’s a bounty on my head.” After she’d escaped, the Elite Force had been created to hunt her down, and they’d offered money for help.

He frowned. “Well, I know there’s a reward for your safe return. How is that a bounty?”

“How is it not?”

“Did you know the latest reward is not only money but stores of vitamin B for anybody who brings you back to the CDC?”

Her lungs compressed. Vitamin B was more valuable than money these days. “That would help a lot with infected persons.”

“Maybe. It seems to me that anybody infected with the bacteria is screwed.”

She shook her head. “Not everybody continues changing, especially if they keep up regular injections of vitamin B.”