Varius: #9 (Luna Lodge) (13 page)
Titus stepped up to his side of the bed and patted him on the shoulder. Varius winced at the jarring movement.
“Glad to see you awake,” Titus said and sat in the chair Lena had been in. “Thought we might lose you for a bit.”
“So I hear,” Varius said. His eyes drifted over to Lena and lingered.
“Well, the footage from the whole thing is all over the news.”
Varius clenched his hands. “Jill Hope.”
Titus shook his head. “Actually, Jill sent us everything she had on us and even a few leads. I think you have a new fan with her, especially after your dramatic rescue of the sheriff and Lena, and even John’s man.”
Varius raised a brow. “So we’re all friends now?”
Titus laughed. “Not a chance, but it doesn’t hurt to have a little media on our side. Especially now.”
Varius frowned. “Especially now?”
“Everyone is talking about it. You shooting Reverend John. And although the police have ruled it justified, some of the public doesn’t see it that way.”
Varius shook his head. “How could they see it any other way?”
Titus shrugged. “Some have been waiting for a moment like this. There is talk from all sides to get a new military presence back within the walls.”
Varius sighed and leaned his head back on the pillow.
“After everything that happened before, they think that’s a good idea?”
“They are either trying to protect us or protect the public. Reverend John’s message spoke to some people.”
Varius glanced back over to Lena as she filled the vase of flowers with water.
“From you?” he said and smiled at her.
Lena shook her head. “Sheriff Sam. He’s called several times. They released him the next day. The bullet that hit his leg missed anything really important, it seems. He’s been real anxious for you to wake up.”
As if it just struck him, Varius sat up a little in bed. “Your parents?”
Lena placed a hand on him to force him back against the bed. “Fine.” She smiled. “Mom wanted to know when you were awake so she could bring you your own pineapple upside down cake.”
Varius smiled, glad that they still wanted him around.
He looked back over to Titus as he stood from the chair.
“Right now you focus on getting better. When you’re out, come see me. I’m working with the sheriff on something that I’d like you to oversee. Also, we’re looking into that file you recovered, but that can wait until you’re better.”
“Did you get anything out of John’s man?”
“We weren’t exactly allowed to interrogate any of John’s people, but from what the police say, it seems like John was the brains of the operation and the only one who really knew anything.”
“Do they know about the file?”
“Let’s just say I didn’t mention it, and it seems like Jill Hope’s cameraman didn’t catch you grabbing that file.” Titus nodded over to Lena. “Your new position might put you in a position to be near her parents.”
Varius looked over to Lena, who seemed to just be hearing about this for the first time as well.
“We’ll talk more later,” Titus said and nodded to Lena. “Make sure he heals up before he tries to go play hero again.”
Lena pinned Varius with a stare. “You can count on it.”
He watched as his leader gave a laugh and strolled out the door.
Rachel came over to his side of the bed and turned on an IV drip. The pain vanished almost instantly. “Thank you for finishing Reverend John,” she said quietly. “In part I wanted to see him tried for his crimes, but if he had to be taken out, I’m glad you were the one to do it. That son of a bitch hurt a lot of people.”
Varius nodded. Rachel had also suffered at the hands of Reverend John. She was entitled to some peace. They all were.
She patted him on the arm lightly and walked out the door, shutting it behind her.
Lena came back to her chair next to him. Varius patted the bed and moved over slightly.
She shook her head. “That’s not a good idea. You just woke up.”
Varius frowned and closed his eyes so the room would stop spinning, the drugs fully taking effect now.
“Exactly. I just woke up, and all I want is to hold the woman I love.”
She huffed loudly. He smiled when he felt the bed dip as she climbed on next to him.
“You know you don’t fight fair,” she said softly as she laid her head against the non-injured side of his chest.
Varius wrapped his arm around her and inhaled deeply, glad to have the sweet smell of home surround him.
“Never,” he said. “I will never fight fair when it comes to you.”
A Note from Madison
Thank you for reading
Varius
. If you enjoyed this book, please consider reviewing it. We authors live and die by reviews.
Please keep an eye out for the next book in the series,
Servius.
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ALSO BY MADISON STEVENS
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Apollo and Val (Luna Lodge #5.5)
Luna Lodge: Hunters of Atlas
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Road House (Contemporary Short Stories)
Holding On (Road House #2)
Standing By (Road House #3)
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Author Bio
Madison currently lives with her husband and two children in the Valley of the Sun in Arizona. After leaving the frozen tundra of the north, she was more surprised than anyone with how much she has enjoyed living in the desert. Seeing as she stated on more than one occasion before moving to Arizona how much she hated heat, it was an odd move, but it seems her hatred for sub-zero temperatures and ice has won out in the end.
When she’s not writing, she’s enjoying time with her family. Madison and her family frequent festivals in the area, as well as local cultural events, and spend time with family in the area. In the summer, she is most likely to be found in the pool with the family and in the winter by the fireplace. Since both her children are autistic, days can be a little chaotic, but with her husband beside her, there’s nothing she can’t handle.
Her webpage is
http://madisonstevensauthor.com/
She can be contacted at [email protected]