Saxon's Conquest

by Sable Hunter

  “Yea, and where to find us,” Micah groaned. “I’m feeling an avalanche of guilt, Abbott.”

  “Why? What are you talking about?”

  “Maybe, we’ve been too careless from the beginning. Taking chances is something the team has done regularly.” He slammed his fist against the side of the door. “But that was before…”

  Saxon understood what Micah was saying. Taking risks with their own lives was one thing, but now they’d acquired hostages to fortune. “Before Madison, Hannah, Paulo, Sami, and Axel.”

  And now Alivia.

  A tremor rocked him. “You think Jaguar would come after us on our own turf?”

  “Saxon, we’re playing with fuckin’ fire here. What did we expect, that he’d stay below the border? Hell, not even the president’s stupid proposed wall would keep him or his people down there! They come and go between Mexico and the states all the time, like water flowing under a goddamn bridge.”

  The pain in Micah’s words was evident.

  “We’ll just have to be careful,” Saxon offered, trying to convince himself as well as Micah.

  “I agree. There’s enough of us to make sure no one is left unprotected. Now, that Titus has joined our ranks, we have an extra pair of hands.”

  “Titus,” Saxon said the name with resigned tolerance. “He seems to have changed since our school days. Mellowed.”

  “He went through something traumatic, like many of us did. Stuff like that changes people.”

  Saxon wondered if Micah was talking about his own dad’s suicide. “I agree. What happened with Titus? I never knew why his family up and left. Bigger and better things, I guess?”

  “No, that’s not what happened.” Micah half-turned to face Saxon. “His dad contracted Parkinson’s, and even though the Chancellor’s tried to keep Mr. Landry on the job, he got to the point where he couldn’t work. He was too proud to accept help, and they lost everything.”

  “God, I didn’t know.” Saxon wondered how fate decided who to strike down, and who to pass over.

  “They didn’t want anyone to know,” Micah said, straightening the passenger side mirror. “Can you even see out of this thing?”

  “Not well. Move it to the left, that’s better.” Saxon flipped off the radio that was playing low. “So, where are we on selecting a new leader?”

  “Nowhere as far as I know,” Micah scoffed. “Too much is going on; we’re not in a good place to make that type of decision. For now, I guess we’ll just continue to pretend Kyle is staying put and nothing’s changed.”

  “I guess.” Saxon didn’t know how they’d reconcile the situation. He just knew they had more important things to deal with at the moment. For the remainder of the trip, they made small talk, voicing their concerns for Jet and his family.

  When they arrived at the hospital, Madison met them, having arrived with Hannah a little while earlier. “I’m so glad you’re here.” She flew into Micah’s arms. “Jet’s waiting for you. He’s really upset.”

  “What about?” Saxon asked with concern. “There’s nothing wrong with Axel, is there?”

  “No, he’s fine.” Madison gave Saxon a hug too. “Hannah and I were going to take him to Jet’s boat, but he’s worried about the storm. We’re going to have to stay somewhere else, a hotel maybe.”

  “What storm?” Saxon asked. “I haven’t been paying attention to the news.”

  “Neither have we,” Madison spoke, hooking her arm through Micah’s as they walked. “I think they’re calling the storm Harvey. It’s a long way out, but Jet has seen more storms than most, and he says this one bothers him.”

  “Why don’t you and Hannah take the baby back to Austin?” Micah was concerned. “We’ll put everyone up at our house.”

  “I don’t know, honey.” Madison kissed Micah on the cheek. “Tyson’s place is closer. Maybe we should stay there. I know Jet wants to be able to check on Axel when he can.”

  As they came to the double doors leading into the hospital, Saxon stepped on the automatic door pad, standing back so the worried couple could go through first. “Are they on the same floor as last time?”

  “No, they’ve moved off the maternity floor, room 214. Follow me.” She stepped ahead, pulling Micah behind her.

  “I know we suspect what this is about, but it’s gonna hurt like hell hearing them tell us, isn’t it?” Saxon said what they were all thinking.

  “We’ve just got to be strong for Jet,” Micah murmured, “let him know they aren’t alone in this ordeal.”

  Saxon felt a knot the size of Rhode Island in his stomach. No one should have to go through something like this, especially not someone like Sami.”

  When they stepped off the elevator, they saw Jet standing in the hallway, waiting for them. Hannah stood next to him holding baby Axel in her arms, while baby Paulo clung to her skirt. Saxon’s first thought was bad, “Oh, no,” he whispered, “I hope Sami’s…”

  “I think the doctor is with her,” Madison reassured them. “Don’t look so sad,” she cautioned the men as they moved farther down the hallway toward Jet. “We’ve got to give him hope, that’s why we’re here.”

  Micah grunted his understanding, then stepped up to clasp Jet in a hug. “We got here as fast as we could. How’s Sami?”

  Saxon’s heart broke for Jet when he watched the big man crumple, bowing his head, his shoulders hunched, fists jammed in his pockets. “Not too good, guys.”

  “Come on, let’s take a walk together,” Micah urged him.

  “I don’t want to go too far,” Jet said, wiping his eyes, “she might need me.”

  “Just to the end of the hall. Okay?” Micah started off, and Jet followed. Saxon gave Hannah a quick kiss on the cheek, then smiled at Axel. They didn’t say anything; the moment was too poignant.

  Falling in step with their buddy, they sought to lend him moral support. “What’s going on with Sami, bud?” Saxon placed a comforting hand on Jet’s shoulder.

  “Sami has to stay in the hospital for more tests. Even after Axel’s birth, she was still throwing up. She finally told me she’d suspected something was wrong but hid it from me until after the baby was born so I wouldn’t worry.” He bent double and let out a harsh moan. “I wondered why she kept pushing me away, and now I know. God, I don’t think I can handle this.”

  “I’m so sorry,” Saxon muttered. “What does the doctor say?”

  “They’re going to do more tests,” Jet repeated himself. “They might have to operate. Axel can’t stay here; it’s too hard on him. I can’t….”

  “You don’t have to, Jet,” Micah assured him. “We’ll take care of everything.” He pointed toward Saxon. “I won’t be going back to Austin with you. You pick up the slack, and if you need any help, I can coordinate things from here.”

  Saxon nodded. “Absolutely.”

  “I’ll rent a suite in a nearby hotel, and Madison and Hannah can keep Axel close.”

  “I hate to ask you to disrupt your life for me, Micah. I know this is a bad time, what with the beauty pageant investigation going on.”

  “We can handle it,” Micah told him, “that’s why we’re a team, we don’t have to tackle anything alone.”

  Saxon knew Micah was more than willing to help their friend, but he was also thinking about protecting Madison and the rest from the Jaguar. Setting his wife and Hannah up in a hotel with the children would keep them in a secluded place while Jet took care of Sami. Micah would divide his time between them all to ensure their safety.

  “I need one more thing,” Jet glanced at Saxon. “I hate to ask.”

  “Don’t hesitate,” Saxon said, “that’s what we’re here for.”

  “This damn storm that’s threatening to blow in, no one knows where it will go, but my boat needs to be secured on the bay side of the island.”

  “I can do that,” Saxon assured him. “I’ll be happy to.”

  “You never know with these storms. Harvey could head to Corpus or hit Houston head on, a
nd I just don’t want to take a chance.” Jet dry-scrubbed his face. “I feel guilty for even worrying about anything other than Sami.”

  “I’ll handle it, Jet. No problem. If the storm’s big enough, we don’t have to get a direct hit to cause damage. Houston is like New Orleans in a way; both cities are built on land that never should’ve been developed in the first place.”

  “Hopefully, everything will be okay,” Micah consoled his friend.

  “I hope so.” Jet fished a set of keys out of his pocket and handed them to Saxon. “Slip 42 in the Bay Side Marina is mine.”

  “You got it.” Saxon accepted the keys, holding them tightly in his fist.

  “The doctor has finished with Sami, Jet,” Micah muttered, seeing Hannah and Madison conferring with a tall man in a white lab coat.

  As Jet hurried to speak to the doctor, Micah held Saxon back. “As soon as we hear what the doctor has to say, you head on out. Take care of the boat, and get back to Austin.”

  “Yea, I want to check on everything and see what Titus has found out in Amarillo. If this guy is the killer, we’ll be wrapping up quicker than we thought.”

  “Exactly. Plus, I know you want to get back to Alivia. You two have some unfinished business.”

  “True, but I want to do whatever Jet needs me to do here first.”

  “I understand. I’ll head to Austin as soon as I can break away here. I might have to go back and forth for a few days.”

  Saxon nodded, understanding where his friend was coming from. “I’m with you; whatever it takes to make Jet know he’s not alone, that’s what we’ll do.”

  Micah nodded as they moved to where Jet stood with the doctor, listening to what he had to say.

  “My suspicions were correct; a lesion has reappeared in the same place where the first tumor grew. We won’t know whether it’s cancerous or not until we take a biopsy. Either way, it needs to be removed. I’m going to run a few more tests, but I think operating is the best course of action. If an MRI confirms the size of the tumor and its location, I think I can get it all.”

  “Whatever works, we have a new baby, doc,” Jet reconfirmed what they all knew. “She’s been through so much. I don’t want her to be sick a moment longer than necessary.”

  “I’ll do my best,” the doctor said and clapped Jet on the back.

  “Sami will pull through this, Jet,” Hannah told him, and the rest of his friends backed her up.

  “Yes, she will, and we’ll be here with you,” Saxon assured him as he stepped up and peeped into Sami’s hospital room. “She seems to be resting, so I’m going to go take care of your boat.”

  “Thanks, man.” Jet shook his hand. “I appreciate you.”

  Saxon was about to leave when Micah received a phone call. “Hold up. It’s Titus.”

  The two men moved away from the others as Micah listened to what the newest member of the Equalizers had to say. “Well, hell. All right. I’ll let him know.”

  “What’s going on?” Saxon asked, fearful that he already knew the answer.

  “The guy who confessed to killing Amanda Syrian is a fake. He was nowhere near those girls when they were murdered, and his stories confirm none of the facts. He had no knowledge of the names written in blood, nothing.”

  “Hell, what some people will do for attention amazes me. I hope they put him away for a long time, just for wasting taxpayer money and taking attention off the real killer.”

  “I’m sure he’ll get what’s coming to him,” Micah said as he accompanied Saxon to the exit. “Drive carefully and call me when you get back to Austin.”

  “I’ll phone Alivia and let her know what’s going on,” Saxon volunteered.

  “I figured you might,” Micah joked as he waved Saxon on his way. “Tell her I’ll check in with her later. Good luck on getting that date.”

  * * *

  “Alivia, how good to see you. Come on back. I’m assuming you’re here to make a blood deposit?” Josephine Weber, the director of Austin Regional Blood Bank, greeted one of their best customers.

  “Yea, I think I’m running a little low.” Alivia glanced around the familiar laboratory. “How’s your family, Josephine?”

  “Oh, Allen is growing like a weed, and Aileen started college this semester.” She opened a door to one of their exam rooms. “Wait here. I want you to meet someone.”

  “Okay. I’ll just get ready. I know the drill.” She helped herself to some orange juice, loosened her top and rolled up her sleeve. After draining the glass, and munching on an oatmeal cookie, she settled down in the lab chair to await the technician.

  When the door opened, she was surprised to see a man with Josephine. “Alivia, this is Adam Curtiss. He’s one of my most valuable employees. Not only can he stick you with ease, he drives one of our mobile units all over the state. Adam, this is Wonder Woman.”

  “Wonder Woman. Well, I’m honored.”

  Alivia offered her to hand to the man who appeared to be about her age. He was slight of build, with a receding hairline of pale hair, a full beard, and icy blue eyes. “Hello, Mr. Curtiss, nice to meet you.”

  “Adam, Alivia is a wonder. She’s a computer genius and an inventor. Robotics and artificial intelligence is her specialty. She even fights crime with the local police department.”

  “Oh, don’t make me sound so boring.” She grinned at Adam. “Actually, I’m taking part in the Miss Texas pageant this year, so I’m branching out into new frontiers.”

  Adam stilled for a second. “You’re a beauty contestant? How wonderful.”

  Josephine pulled up a chair on the opposite side of where Adam was prepping Alivia’s arm to take blood. “Alivia has a rare blood type. The rarest in the world actually, RH Null.”

  “Golden blood,” Adam said in a reverential tone. “I’ve never seen any. May I have a small sample to study?”

  “Yes, you may. I’ve been doing some work incorporating all the research I can find on creating a viable blood substitute. I have my smartest AI on the job.” As she watched Adam label the bags of her blood, Alivia had an idea. “Josephine, I have a computer program that accesses government databases, putting all the information in one pot, so to speak. Do you think I could get permission to incorporate all of your data, blood types and DNA into Dragnet?” She chewed on her lower lip. “If we could do this nationwide, just imagine how much more accurate we could be in our searches?”

  Josephine tapped her finger to her lip. “Let me speak to the board. I can see the value of doing such a thing, certainly. I’ll have to think about the privacy factor. Maybe if we covered this in the form the folks fill out when they donate…” She smiled. “Let me see what I can do, Alivia. Anything to help the police in their efforts to keep us safe.”

  “Right, I guess this came to mind because of the case I’m working on, we have blood samples and no place to match them.”

  “Your work is so interesting.” Josephine leaned in, speaking in a conspiratorial tone. “Are you dating anyone, Alivia?”

  “Well…” Alivia hesitated to say. Josephine was a friend, and Adam was someone she most likely would never see again. “I wouldn’t call it dating, exactly, but I have met someone.”

  “Oh, you bad girl, you!” Josephine laughed, crossing her arms over her chest and thoroughly enjoying the moment. “Friends with benefits?”

  As Adam placed the needle to Alivia’s arm to get the sample, he jerked, pricking her skin. “Ow!”

  “Sorry,” Adam told her. “I guess you’ve made me a bit nervous, being Wonder Woman and all.”

  Alivia laughed. “I’m no one to be nervous about. Despite what Josephine has told you, I’m just a regular girl, no one special.”

  “Oh, I doubt that,” Adam said, as Alivia’s red blood began to flow into the bag. “I doubt that very much.”

  CHAPTER TWELVE

  Saxon all but skidded into the parking lot at Equalizer Headquarters. He’d driven like a bat out of hell from Galveston, anxious to get back to
Austin before Alivia left for the day. The hour was late, but he knew the woman was a workaholic – like him. When he’d tried to call her earlier, she hadn’t picked up, so he’d left a voicemail, explaining what Titus had learned, and reminding her that he’d be returning as early as he could manage.

  Thankfully, he hadn’t run into any trouble relocating the boat. “Boat is a relative term,” he whispered as he climbed from the Corvette and locked it behind him. Jet’s pride and joy could be more appropriately be classified as a yacht, and Saxon had wondered at the wisdom of putting a landlubber like him in charge of sailing the vessel to a more protected area.

  “Dammit, she’s not alone.” He refrained from slamming his car door shut out of frustration when he realized Victoria’s car was parked in Destry’s spot. Glancing at his watch, he checked the time, hoping they were about through with whatever beauty pageant preparations they were making.

  Trying the door, he was glad to find it locked. After hearing what Micah had to say about the Jaguar, he intended to take some precautions of his own. Once he was inside, he went to look for the woman who’d been on his mind since last they were together. “Alivia? I’m here!”

  Alivia’s heart jumped in her chest, and her nipples began to tingle just from hearing his voice. “Saxon,” she breathed as she whirled around, looking for something to cover herself with.

  “We have company,” Victoria announced with a grin. When she noticed Alivia’s frantic search for something to throw over her body, she laughed. “You left your clothes in the restroom, remember?”

  “Ack!” Alivia made a grab for the curtains. She knew he’d seen her unclothed before, but this seemed different. Without the protection of passion, Alivia felt vulnerable.

  “Stop, Alivia, you’re beautiful. We need a man’s opinion.”

  Alivia respected the beautiful Victoria Kraft, but she often wished the woman weren’t quite so comfortable around men. Oh well, maybe that sort of confidence came with age. Alivia had confidence in her abilities and her accomplishments, but not in what she had to offer a member of the opposite sex. Hearing Saxon’s footfalls as he came down the hall, she bounced in place. If it weren’t for Victoria’s directions, she would’ve fled the room. “All right, show me you know how it’s done. Remember, imagine someone is pulling you to the sky by your hair, this will ensure your posture is correct.”