Knight Awakening

by Zanetti, Rebecca

  Her head hurt, but that was from drinking bourbon she’d enjoyed, so she couldn’t be too grumpy about it.

  Although, Marcus had irritated the heck out of her that morning. He’d had as much to drink as she had, and he’d been just fine this morning. Well, fine for Marcus.

  Once again, she longed for her two cousins, Sung and Ivy, or for her mother. Somebody to talk to who knew her. Really knew her. To go from having such a large and loving family to being alone, or almost alone, left her disoriented sometimes. Not to mention heartbroken. Oh, she’d see them again someday, but navigating this world without them hurt.

  She was almost out of the Vitamin B concoction. Counting vials again, she sat back and just stared. The hospital inner territory should be nearly depleted as well. It was time to get into those other Bunkers and either find the cure or more supplies. For some reason, the mixture of Vitamin B helped ease the fever and then kept them all sane, so long as inoculations were performed every six months, after the initial few months.

  Her mind returned to Marcus as she catalogued pain killers. Too few painkillers.

  Movement at the back door caught her attention. Most likely some soldier had been injured in a raid the night before, or perhaps one of the scouts had run into trouble. Sometimes they came to her door if the two doctors in the hospital were busy, although she usually only worked with the soldiers and not civilians.

  “Hello,” she said, emerging from the closet.

  A man stood in the entryway, tall and lanky, raw scratch marks down his neck. He didn’t speak.

  She paused and looked him over. Long blond hair, dark blue eyes, scruff along his chin. Maybe early thirties? His jeans were dirty and his black T-shirt more a faded gray. But the sweat stains in his pits and down his stomach caught her eye. “Are you injured?” She didn’t recognize the guy.

  Again, he didn’t speak. Just lifted his nose and sniffed.

  The skin pricked down her back.

  Awareness that she was alone hit her hard and fast. She’d been cocooned in this infirmary in the headquarters, and she hadn’t realized her vulnerability until right that moment. “Do you need help?” As casually as she could, she began to edge toward an office beyond the examination rooms. The door had a lock.

  He snarled and spittle dropped from his bottom lip.

  She sucked in air, her hands beginning to shake. All right. Doctor. She was a doctor. Head to toe, she surveyed him, looking for any injuries. Only the scratches along his neck showed any injury. They were raw and deep, like somebody had gouged him with fingernails. Was there a victim somewhere behind him?

  He growled, low and like a dog.

  Jegil. The Korean expletive shot through her mind right before the adrenaline pumped through her veins. She only had to get beyond the front counter, and she could run for the cafeteria. At this hour, there’d be several soldiers having breakfast. She took another step back. “I can help you. Were you recently infected?” Scorpius always infected the brain, and the unfortunate among them became sociopaths, while the really unfortunate became mindless animals they’d nicknamed Rippers. There was no way a Ripper had found his way into Vanguard-Merc territory.

  He lowered his chin.

  She cleared her throat. There weren’t any weapons near. She had a gun in her desk drawer, and Lynne kept a gun in the lab, but Penny’s best chance was to run for the cafeteria. She’d scream for help as she ran—she had to turn before screaming, or he’d be on her. If she moved too suddenly, the guy might charge. Unless she was wrong. How could a Ripper be there? It was all but impossible. “You need to talk to me. Are you looking for a doctor?”

  His hands clenched, showing bruised knuckles. The kind that came from punching something…or someone.

  Penny forced a smile. “I can help you.” As fast as she could, she spun on her foot and rushed for the reception area, screaming as loud as she could.

  He manacled her in a tackle before she’d cleared the second exam room, clapping on to her shoulders and taking her down. She caught herself with her hands, but her forehead knocked against the worn tile, and pain blew through her head. He landed flat on top of her, scrambling to his knees, and ripping her shirt down the back.

  She screamed again, trying to turn and punch.

  A roar from the reception desk filled the air, a movement of sound echoed in her ear, and then the guy was off of her.

  She turned around and pushed to sit, her ears ringing. Marcus had the guy against the wall, his arms and fists swinging so fast they were just blurs. Blood sprayed in every direction. “Marcus,” she yelled, standing up and rushing for him. “Stop it. You’ll kill him.”

  A strong arm on her bicep stopped her short. “Stay back.” Raze Shadow shoved her behind him and shook his head, taking a deep breath and rushing for Marcus. “Stop.” He secured Marcus around the neck with a choke hold and yanked him back, trying to force him to the floor.

  Marcus fought hard, grunting and straining toward the man now sliding down the wall, out cold.

  “Jesus, Marcus,” Raze hissed, his body contorting with the effort. “Stop fighting me. The guy is out.”

  Jax ran in from the cafeteria area, shoved past several watching soldiers, planted one hand on the counter and leaped over it, landing right in front of Penny. “Slam! Stop it. Now.”

  Marcus struggled, grunting, sweat pouring down his face as he tried to reach for the unconscious man.

  Jax stepped closer. “Choke him out, Raze.”

  “No.” Penny grabbed his arm and yanked. The movement pulled her forward instead of him back. She tried to move past him, and Jax stepped in her way, neatly cutting her off.

  “Stay back, Doc,” Jax ordered, tension ticking visibly in his strained muscles.

  “Marcus,” she said quietly. “Stop it. Take a breath.”

  He stilled. Immediately.

  Jax blew out air and partially turned to look down at her. “That has to stop.”

  Yeah. It did. But for now, Penelope was going to use it. She gingerly stepped to his side. “Marcus? You’re all right. Just take a few deep breaths. The threat is over.” She kept her voice soft and calm, like she would for any desperate creature. Her heart thundered, and her head ached, but she reached out to touch his arm.

  His body slowly relaxed.

  Raze paused and then pulled him away from the bloody man on the floor. Slowly, he relaxed his hold, his body vibrating.

  Marcus straightened. “Let. Go.”

  Raze turned to Jax, who nodded. He released Marcus, shoving him toward Jax and putting his body between Marcus and the blood.

  Marcus turned, his gaze instantly seeking Penelope. His eyes were a wild green and veins bulged down his temple and along his jaw. “Penny.” The sound came out garbled.

  She moved for him, and Jax stopped her with a hand on her shoulder.

  Marcus’s nostrils flared and his shoulders went back.

  “Release me,” she whispered.

  Jax hesitated and then removed his hand.

  She took another step toward Marcus. “I’m all right. He didn’t hurt me.”

  Marcus breathed out, visibly calming, his hands falling to his sides. Then his gaze zeroed on her forehead. Her pulsing, aching, bruising forehead. His eyes widened and his pupils narrowed.

  “Marcus—” Penny started, but it was too late.

  Marcus pivoted and rushed for the attacker on the floor.

  “Damn it.” Jax jumped in front of Raze and tackled his brother from behind, rapidly securing him in a head lock. Marcus shot an elbow back into Jax’s gut, and he grunted, his body visibly jolting. Marcus scrambled furiously for the attacker, fighting hard against the hold.

  Jax dropped to his knees, fell back, and jerked tight against Marcus’s throat.

  “No,” Penelope cried out, reaching for Jax.

  “Not a chance, Dr. P,” Raze said, easily catching her around the waist and lifting her from the ground. Three long strides later, he deposited her on the count
er, his body an immovable wall between her and the two fighting brothers.

  “Raze.” She slapped him on the shoulder and tried to jump down.

  “No.” He planted her back in place with one hand on her hip. “You’ll just get hurt, and this can only end one way right now.”

  She blinked and looked into his piercing blue eyes, which held no small amount of regret. With his dark hair pulled back, the determination on his angled Native American features promised that she wasn’t going anywhere. He’d been a sniper and a soldier, and the guy was unmovable. “I have to stop them,” she whispered.

  “Sorry.” Raze turned to watch as Marcus fought an impossible hold. “Damn, he’s a stubborn bastard. Jax has all the leverage, and Marcus still isn’t going down.” He looked around. “We might need a sedative. Are there any between us and them?”

  “No.” Penelope swallowed as Marcus’s movements began to slow. “Jax is cutting off his oxygen. He has to stop.” The counter was cool beneath her legs, while heat still spread through her forehead from the knot she could feel forming.

  Marcus finally subsided, his large body going limp against his brother’s chest.

  Jax turned, sweat rolling down the side of his reddened face, fury in his brown eyes. “Raze? Help me get him secured.”

  Raze stepped forward and grabbed Marcus’s shoulder to yank him up. With Jax’s help, they managed to haul Marcus into the first examination room and plant him on the bed. Penny stepped past the bloody floor to watch. Within seconds, they’d secured him with the bindings used for patients caught in the fever’s grip.

  Penny hovered in the doorway. “This is a bad idea. He’s okay now. Let him go.”

  Jax didn’t look toward her. “Leave, Doc. It’s time I had a discussion with my brother.”

  Penny shook her head. “If I’m not here, he won’t talk to you. He’ll just freak out.” A true statement, unfortunately.

  Raze scrubbed both hands down his face. “She’s right. Making her leave is a bad idea.”

  A small hand touched Penelope’s shoulder, and she turned to see Vinnie Wellington next to her. The shrink’s blond hair was up in a ponytail, and her eyes were concerned and her face pale. “You okay?”

  Penelope nodded. “Yeah.”

  Vinnie craned her neck to look back toward the reception area. “What’s up with the bloody guy on the ground? I think he’s starting to awaken.”

  “Shit.” Raze pushed past them both. “Stay inside, Vinnie. What do you want me to do with him?”

  Penelope spoke before Jax could. “Secure him in the second exam room. I think he might be a Ripper.”

  Raze jolted. “A Ripper? In territory?”

  “Yeah.” Penny couldn’t take her eyes off Marcus. His shoulders were almost too wide for the examination table, and his long legs extended far past it.

  “Great,” Raze muttered, moving for the guy on the floor.

  Marcus began to stir. Penny edged to his side, across from Jax. She placed her hand over his, which was secured on the bed. “Marcus? It’s okay. Wake up and take another deep breath. I’m here and I’m safe.”

  Bruises were forming along his neck from Jax’s forearm, and she tried not to glare at his brother. Marcus had to be all right. It had looked like Jax had released him the second he’d fallen unconscious, but mistakes happened. Marcus had enough brain issues.

  She tucked her fingers through his, over his knuckles, and squeezed. “There are no threats, and everything is okay.”

  Marcus opened his eyes, and they immediately focused on her. Alert and seeking. “Penny.”

  She nodded, holding tighter.

  His brows drew down as he tried to lift up. Panic darkened his eyes.

  “Wait,” she said, leaning toward him. “You’re fine. We’ll take off the restraints.”

  “The hell we will,” Jax said, stepping closer to his brother. “We’re gonna have a nice talk first. You, me, the shrink, and your obsession. This is going to stop, or you’re out of Vanguard. Period.”

  6

  I’m not keeping a Journal

  —Marcus Knight

  The feeling of being restrained shot panic through Marcus along with a healthy dose of fury. Even so, Penny was right there, holding his hand. Her skin was soft and her bones so fucking delicate. He breathed in through his nose and out through his mouth, keeping his gaze on her dark eyes and not on the bruise forming across her forehead. “I’m fine. Release me, Jax. Then we can talk.”

  “No,” Jax retorted. “Not until we get a few things straight.”

  Penny’s mouth tightened, and she looked up at Jax. “No. He needs to be released so he can discuss the matter with you. Having him flat on his back and restrained isn’t going to work.”

  “She’s right,” Marcus said. “I’ll talk this out, but only sitting up and not restrained. Right now, that’s all I can concentrate on.” He caught movement near the door. “Hi, Vinnie.” When had the shrink arrived?

  “Hi.” Her lips trembled a little, but her smile was sweet.

  Raze planted both hands on her shoulders and looked at Marcus over her head. “You back in your right mind?”

  Marcus couldn’t shrug because of the restraints, but he gave it a shot anyway. “Probably not, but I’m in control now. That has to count for something.” Although, if he let himself think of the bastard who’d hurt Penny, he’d freak out again. So he tried to stay in the moment.

  “It does.” Jax reached for the restraints and released him.

  Marcus immediately sat up and flipped his hand around to keep Penny’s.

  She started but didn’t pull back.

  “All right. What’s up?” Marcus asked.

  Both of Jax’s eyebrows rose to his buzz cut hairline. “What’s up? You almost just killed a guy. You would have if Raze hadn’t stopped you.”

  “He put his hands on Penny,” Marcus said. Hadn’t Jax realized that fact? Oh. He hadn’t been in the room. That made sense.

  Jax’s chin dropped. “You were going to kill him. You were out of control.”

  Marcus frowned. Had Jax not heard him? “Yeah. He hurt Penny.” What was the problem here?

  Penny patted his shoulder. “I think that Jax might be trying to say that once you contained that guy, you should’ve stopping hitting him.”

  Oh. All right. They weren’t understanding him. He leaned into her touch as much as he could without being obvious. “I see. There is no stopping. Anybody who hurts you dies. It’s pretty simple.” He moved to get off the bed.

  “Whoa.” Jax smacked him in the shoulder. “It isn’t simple. You can’t just kill people, Slam.”

  Marcus passed, turning his head to meet his brother’s gaze. “Wrong. What would you do if somebody attacked Lynne?” He eyed Raze over Vinnie’s head. “Or you, if a Ripper rushed Vinnie?”

  “We would’ve stopped the attack and then stopped ourselves with some fucking self-control,” Jax snapped, his eyes burning. “I have a psycho killer who infected Lynne with a connection that turned her heart blue and might someday still kill her, and he’s breathing right now in a cell because he has information I might need. That’s self-control, jackass.”

  Jackass. That was a new one from Jax. Marcus rubbed his neck, which still ached. “Yeah, but the guy who attacked Penny is a Ripper. You can’t save him, and he has no information anybody needs.”

  Everyone remained quiet, because there really wasn’t anything else to say.

  “We done?” Marcus finally asked.

  “Hell, no,” Jax said. “We’re not done with this conversation. However, we are done with you just going on a raid once in a while and being a lapdog the rest of the time.”

  Penny straightened. “Jax. That’s enough.”

  “Not even close,” Jax retorted. “All of my top lieutenants are swamped with their jobs right now, and I just created a new one. You’re hired, Marcus.”

  Hired? He wasn’t looking for a job. “What job?” If it was scouting out Rippers who s
houldn’t be in territory, then he was on board. Especially if it meant Penny stayed safe.

  “We’re out of water, and we voted to move the entire camp north in two weeks to the Willamette valley. We need a place with water and game, as well as decent soil to start planting food. The surrounding areas are picked through, and we won’t make it through a winter. So it’s time to go,” Jax said.

  Marcus didn’t move. “So?”

  “So? I have scouts out looking for the right place to settle. You’re in charge of planning the move. Figure out how we’re going to take six hundred people between here and the middle of Oregon,” Jax said, no give on his hard face.

  Plan? “I’m not a planner, brother,” Marcus drawled. What was wrong with Jax?

  “You are now,” Jax returned. “You’ll need input from every lieutenant, which will get you talking to people. You need to scout a route, which will get you out of here and not so dependent on Penelope. Part of your job will be meeting with the shrink every day.”

  Vinnie gave a happy hop. “I’m so glad. I’ve been wanting to really dig into your head.”

  Jax eyed her. “It’s time to hypnotize him and drag out the locations of those other Bunkers. He’s ready.”

  Vinnie’s eyes gleamed. “I’ve been reading up on hypnosis from those books we found at the university last month. I’m pretty sure I can do it.”

  Pretty sure? Marcus shifted the bed. “If I refuse?” The idea of leaving Penny for that much time rolled a rock through his gut.

  “Then you’re out,” Jax said simply. “I want you here, but I made a vow to these people to keep them safe, and right now, you’re too big a threat. If you were anybody else but my brother, you’d already be out on your ass. Penny stays here, regardless. I need a doctor here.”

  Marcus straightened and ignored the fact that Jax had just used Penny’s nickname. “Choking me out once is all you get, brother.” He hadn’t had a chance with Jax coming in from behind, but now he knew what Jax was capable of. “Where Penny is, I am.”