Apparently, Montaña and these Circs had a history.
And if everything Mrs. Sharpe had said could be believed, Ricardo Montaña needed to be locked up for life for all the terrible things he'd done.
Sheridan felt like a fool for ever having doubted Jules and the others. From everything she'd seen since she'd been here, the Circs had saved more than just her life, but countless others as well.
But more than that, they were now a part of her. Jules was a part of her. A fitting mate, a voice inside of her seemed to say. That other awareness continued to grow, a kind of beast that wanted to experience the world. Sheridan felt both an innocence and an awakening, and though the scientist within her was fascinated by these changes, the all too human part of her was scared to death. She hadn't allowed more than a few of the beast's thoughts to penetrate since she'd changed a week ago. Though Jules had urged her to talk to Olivia or Morgan for advice, she wanted time to herself to ease into the changes her life was taking.
A knock at the door startled her.
“Sorry, it's just me.” Ava entered and stuffed her hands in her pockets.
“Oh, hello, Ava. How are you?”
Ava had been scarce lately, and even the others had commented on it. “I wondered if you could take a look at a friend of mine and see what's wrong with him.”
“Sure, if you'd like me to.”
Ava stared at her with those beautiful hazel eyes. Her coloring was so exotic.
She made Sheridan feel like a pale frump and a half. Even changed, Sheridan retained a softer aspect to her. Why would Jules not go for someone like Ava or Olivia? Both women were sexy and smart. Jules had looks, strength, and a commanding presence everyone respected. So why the hell was he interested in her?
“Can I ask you something?” Ava asked.
“What?”
Ava shuffled her feet. Somehow, though she stood at the same height as Sheridan, Ava managed to look much taller. A self-confident woman who knew her worth.
“What can you tell about a person when you touch them?” Ava looked sincerely curious.
Sheridan turned on her stool to fully face her. “My hands get an itch when I'm around someone who's hurt. Not emotionally wounded, but physically pained. Even if the person isn't aware of it, I sense it. Like buried cancer cells or blood disease or that something in Circs that makes them turn rogue.”
“Hmm. Touch me.” Ava stepped forward and held out her hand to Sheridan.
“What do you sense?”
Sheridan took Ava's hand. To her surprise, she felt a kindred spirit. “You're like the others. You can heal yourself.”
Ava didn't blink. “What else?”
“I… Wait.” Sheridan held tight, then slowly ran her hands over Ava's arms. Up and over her shoulders to her neck. The curious tingling in her palms continued.
“Fascinating. May I?” she asked.
“Go ahead.”
Sheridan stroked Ava from top to bottom. From her head to her face to her chest, knees, and feet. Everywhere, the woman tingled. Jolts of energy pulsed likes sparks. “You're healthy, no physical injuries of any kind. But you're hot.”
“How so?”
Sheridan couldn't put her finger on it. “I don't know. You feel like Jules did when I first touched him. His Circ energy is intense, like yours,” she said slowly.
Like mine. Sheridan looked into Ava's eyes and watched as Ava's pupils slowly narrowed and lengthened.
“Wow,” she said on a breath, still holding on to Ava's hands.
“Yeah. That's me. Miss Wow,” Ava muttered. She pulled back from Ava and stepped aside. “You felt that, all that heat? I'm healthy, right?”
Confused, Sheridan nodded.
“So how does my brother feel to you?” She turned to the door and yelled, “Come on in.”
Sheridan watched in horror as Grayson entered and shut the door behind him.
“Hello, Sheridan. It's been a while.”
In the Amazon jungle
Jules glared at Tersch as the big Circ dropped a dead rogue to the ground on top of the other bodies they'd amassed. “I thought I told you to cut that shit out. I had him. I didn't need you darting in front of me to deflect a bullet.” At such a distance, the fired round had bounced off Tersch's changed skin, as it would have bounced off Jules's.
“Sorry.”
Tersch didn't sound sorry. Before Jules could lay into him again, Morgan, Hayashi, and Fallon rejoined them while a Force Recon platoon secured the compound where they hoped to find Montaña. Fallon held a bloodied mercenary by the back of his neck in one clawed hand, and Hayashi held another in a white lab coat.
“This one says he doesn't speak English,” Fallon growled.
The silence in the jungle, but for the spatter of gunfire and swearing, felt as thick as the humidity drenching Jules in sweat. To his grim satisfaction, being here restored his memory. The hated tests, the sticky aboveground caves, the fucking rogues patrolling as security.
He and his team kept to the outskirts of the jungle, watching the operation go down. Though the US Marines had worked with them before, changed Circs still tended to distract warriors who didn't need to focus on anything but the mission. So for the most part, Jules and his team kept out of sight.
The intelligence Morgan had gathered finally led them to this place, where already a million dollars in drug money had been confiscated by discreet members of the United States's “nonexistent” black ops contingent.
“Surprised they used the jarheads on this,” Tersch muttered.
“Admiral London pulled some strings. Apparently they were already down here on some other business.” Jules stared at the man in the white coat and slowly smiled. Hel-lo, payback. “Hey, I know you. Manoel. Good to see you again.” Dr. Manoel Silva sputtered with fear. The mercenary in Fallon's hands tried to launch himself at Jules, but Fallon stopped him. The clash of Fallon's fist and the man's face proved fatal.
As Fallon withdrew his claws, he apologized. “Sorry, Jules. Wasn't paying enough attention.” He dropped the man to the ground and stepped closer to Dr.
Silva, now cowering in Hayashi's firm grip. “So how do you know this guy?” Jules flashed his fangs, pleased with the scent of terror wafting off the doctor.
“Manoel likes needles. He's Montaña's best friend. Used me like a pincushion last time I was here.”
Morgan smeared the camouflage on his face when he wiped the sweat from his forehead. “Fucker.” He glared at Silva before turning back to his mate. “You know, I missed being home, but now that I'm back, I miss our air conditioner more.” Hayashi grinned. “Suck it up, princess.” He ignored the finger Morgan gave him and turned back to Jules. “So if Manoel is Montaña's best friend, maybe he can tell us where his buddy is. The perimeter is surrounded, but no one's seen a hint of Montaña in days.”
Jules had a bad feeling in the pit of his belly. He glared down at Silva. “Where is he?”
Silva whined and cried, pleading ignorance.
Hayashi opened his mouth to speak and froze instead.
The entire team waited for the psychic spoor of energy to settle. Tiny shards of power sparked around the Asian, and whenever Jules stood too close, the uncomfortable zaps of energy made his hair stand on end.
“Ah, I see,” Hayashi murmured. He handed Silva over to Morgan. “Let's get this guy into safekeeping. I'm sure between Fallon and Olivia, we'll get tons of shit out of him. Now it's time to go home. Scarface is coming for you, Jules. For you and Sheridan. You're going to have to give him what he wants this time, or Sheridan's going to die.”