Jax shook his head. “Somebody shot these guys, using a silencer, and then let a Ripper loose in the Pure building.”
Raze cocked his head, studied the two prone men, and then looked at the body in the street. “That the Ripper?”
“Yeah,” Jax said. “Ex-member of Twenty that I don’t recognize and wasn’t part of Vanguard-Merc.”
Greyson hooked his thumbs in his pockets. “How the hell did somebody get a Ripper in here, keep control of him long enough to take out two guards, and then let him loose in the building without anybody hearing something?”
“Fucking good question,” Jax said.
Penelope shivered and slid her hand into Marcus’s big and warm one.
Jax looked past his brother to her. “Doc? I hate to ask you this, but you up to an autopsy? I’d like to know how long that guy was a Ripper and if there’s anything different about him. Only way to check is to open him up.”
She shoved down bile. “Sure. He won’t be my first cadaver, Jax.” She pushed her hair away from her face. “Let me get through the night first with the newly infected. Why don’t you take the body of the Ripper to the morgue Harrington was using in the inner hospital?”
She didn’t have a morgue in her clinic. Hopefully she’d never need one.
Marcus threw the sweat-stained towel in the laundry basket and fetched a new one, sparingly dipping the end in the somewhat cold bucket of water before returning to wipe down the face of one of the newly infected while Jax leaned against the counter, his arms crossed. Penny hustled around, checking on each patient, dark circles beneath her eyes. They’d lost one male already, but it looked like the other four were going to make it as dawn finally began to arrive.
He finished and leaned back to stretch his arms as Penny finished administering another round of vitamin B, the lanterns set throughout casting shadows in every direction.
Lynne emerged from her lab, her hair piled high on her head and her eyes tired. “Hey.” She snuggled into Jax’s side for a minute and then sighed. “Just finished testing the Ripper’s blood, and he hasn’t been a Ripper for long. I’d say, based on the amount of bacteria and his white blood cell count, that it’s been about a month. Maybe six weeks.”
Marcus frowned, his shoulder still aching. “Somebody has figured out how to weaponize Rippers?” Why would anybody do such a thing? “That doesn’t make sense.”
“Evil never does,” Penny murmured.
“That’s not what I meant,” Marcus said. “Just think how much effort it would take to infect or catch one, keep them hostage, and then somehow turn them loose. It’s easier just to walk up and shoot somebody—like this person did with the guards.” The wasted motions made zero sense.
Jax rubbed his whiskered chin. “Good point.”
Penelope felt the head of the nearest woman, who was murmuring softly in her sleep as she came down from the fever. “This attack was localized, right? The Ripper right into the Pure house to infect people who weren’t infected. Maybe it’s an attack on them for some reason.”
“What about the Ripper who tried to attack you in the clinic?” Marcus asked, trying to put the pieces together when they just didn’t fit.
Penny set the pushed the nearly empty vial of B farther back on the counter. “I don’t know. Maybe he somehow got loose before he could be pushed into the Pure complex?” She rubbed her eyes. The bandage had come off her neck, leaving three red marks that looked like they were healing all right.
Marcus moved for her. “Lynne? You got this?” Lynne and Jax had taken a couple hours of sleep earlier, and Penny looked dead on her feet.
“Yep,” Lynne said, just as Vinnie and Raze walked through the door from the cafeteria. “Your replacements are here, anyway.”
Penny shook her head and wiped dried blood off her wrist. “No, I—”
Marcus lifted her against his chest and strode out of the room and down the hall to the outside back door. Her half-hearted smack against his neck just proved that she needed sleep. “Don’t fight me right now. You won’t win.”
She rolled her eyes and picked a piece of glass out of his chin.
“Ouch,” he said mildly.
She glanced at the rear glass slider of the cafeteria. “Where are we going?”
“To the showers.” They both had blood and other people’s sweat on them, not to mention other bodily fluids.
“It’s not our day.” She yawned and her jaw cracked.
He kept walking, noting the streaks of pink and gold dawning in the west. The weather was cool but not too much so, and it appeared the humidity was gone for good this year. “We’re covered in gross stuff, and there’s an exception in that case.”
At this hour, Atticus wasn’t watching the showers, anyway.
Marcus moved to the last stall, the farthest from headquarters, and leaned up to check for water. The bin was about half full, which was one ration. He set Penny down, fetched the bin from the adjacent tub, and dumped it into theirs. Then, for the hell of it, he took a third one.
“Marcus,” Penny protested.
He shrugged. “Jax and I found a bunch of water the other day, and it rained for a full day. We have enough water for now.” If they didn’t, he’d go get some. Right now, he was getting Penny clean of the fever and death. Gently, he nudged her in and tugged off his shirt.
She stepped back, right into the wall. “What are you doing?” Her voice was a tense whisper.
“Take off your clothes, Penny.” His hands went to his jeans, and he shucked them with a sigh of what sounded like relief, even to him.
She crossed her arms, a mutinous expression on her face. “Stop being bossy.”
“Okay.” He kicked off his socks and boots along with his jeans, standing by the hooks nailed in the wall. “Please take off your clothing or I will help you.”
She rolled her eyes. “Fine, but just because I’m gross and I want to get clean. Let’s hurry before anybody catches us with the extra water.”
It was only a little extra water, considering they were combining to shower.
She pulled off her T-shirt and then her pants, leaving her tiny body nude.
He nudged her beneath the makeshift bin and then pulled the string, slightly opening the spout. Water poured down over her, and she lifted her head, moaning. His body went from alert to rock hard in a second. “Turn around.” He closed the spout and reached for the bottle of combined shampoo and conditioner on the ground.
She did so, and her lathered her hair, his fingers tangling in the silky strands.
Heavy footsteps sounded on the asphalt outside, and somebody stepped into the farthest shower away.
Penny whirled around, spraying soap. Her eyes widened.
Marcus continued washing her, his soapy hands going over her neck, across her clavicle, and over both breasts. Her perky nipples hardened, and he pulled gently.
“There’s somebody showering,” she whispered, her hands going to his chest.
“So?” Was that interest in her eyes? He leaned down to kiss her, wiping soap down her back to grip her butt. What did he care if somebody else was showering?
She struggled for a second, and then she kissed him back. Full-on and completely.
Oh, it was on.
23
I wish I could be a romantic guy.
—Marcus Knight, Journal
This was crazy. Somebody was showering down the way, and Marcus was kissing her like he’d never stop. Her mind spun and her body jolted with a desire so hot that it felt like steam was rising from her skin. He wound soap over her breasts and down her belly, where she began to ache for him.
She flattened both hands against his ribcage and pushed.
He released her. “What?” he whispered.
“There’s somebody down there,” she whispered back, wanting to giggle and hide at the same time.
He watched her, moving beneath the water and opening the spout. It splashed over him, and he ducked his head, throwing water into h
er face.
She giggled and slapped a hand against her mouth. This was not funny. She blinked water away.
He shut the spout, leaving him wet. And muscled. And sexy as hell. His gaze hot, he leaned down for the bottle, his mouth capturing her nipple on the way. Electricity zinged through her, landing hot and needy between her legs. Suckling, he grabbed the bottle and somehow managed to brush his knuckles against her clit on his way back up.
Her knees almost gave out. Marcus Knight in a playful mood was too much for any woman to resist, much less one who already knew what he could do in the bedroom.
He squirted a small amount of soap into his hand, leaned his head back, and scrubbed it through his hair. Then he straightened and soaped his body, his eyes a dark green in the morning light.
The temptation was too much. She reached out and ran one finger through the soap on his abs, tracing each ripped muscle and following his happy trail down. His penis was thick and hard, pulsing for her. Biting her lip, she ran her finger along his length, enjoying the way he sucked in air as she did so. He wanted to play? Well, she could play, too. She pressed her hand against his chest, gathered soap, and then caressed his hard length.
Was that a growl?
Yep. Marcus Knight had definitely growled.
She smiled, feeling in control for once.
Until he grasped her biceps and lifted her right off the ground, stepping into her and putting her back against the wall. She yelped and seized the top of his shoulders for balance. This was crazy. They were going to get caught. Her mind clearing, she lowered her mouth to his ear. “We have to stop this. Let’s wash off and go up to my apartment.” She bit the shell of his ear, unable to stop herself.
For answer, he dropped his hands and grabbed her butt, digging his fingers in her flesh and pressing harder against her.
Her eyes widened, and she lifted her head to meet his gaze, held completely aloft by him with her thighs spread.
He smiled.
A full body shiver took her, head to toe. “Marcus?”
He set his stance, his cock prodding her entrance. Her eyes widened more, and he pushed inside her, the soap helping to ease his way. For now. She fought a totally inappropriate giggle, even as pain and pleasure mixed together at his steady intrusion. “You’re sliding now, but in about two seconds, it’s going to get sticky.”
“I like sticky.” He shoved all the way in.
She gasped, her body tightening. Finely edged pain rippled through her followed by a hot burst of lust. Of pleasure of the forbidden and somehow fun. “You’re crazy,” she whispered.
“Yep.” Holding her tight, he pulled out and then pushed back in.
Her eyelids closed at the exquisite pleasure. So good and so much. She pressed her lips together to keep from moaning. More steps sounded outside and then another shower door opened. She opened her eyes, caught by the raw desire in his.
Desire flooded her, wetting her around his cock. She opened her mouth to say something, hopefully something logical, when he swooped in and kissed her.
At that point, she was lost.
Her eyelids closed again and she tightened her body around him. He kissed her harder, moaning into her mouth, sending vibrations down her body to where they were joined. Somehow, even holding her, he managed to keep pumping, sliding inside her with a hard smack of flesh against flesh.
The shower down the way stopped.
So did Marcus.
Penny panted, biting his shoulder, trying to keep from screaming for him to get moving again. He pulsed inside her, sending sparks throughout her entire body. She rubbed her clit against him, unable to stop herself.
His teeth sank into her shoulder and his groan was way too loud.
She slapped his shoulder, even as she ground against him. He started fucking her harder, holding her tight, no longer keeping quiet.
It was too good, too much, too Marcus. She held him tight, turning her face into his soapy neck. Her thighs clamped hard against his ribcage, and tremors of pleasure slaked through her body.
She moaned and pressed harder against his skin to keep from making too much noise. He moved them both, his hips pumping, his hands fierce on her butt as he pulled her to him while pushing. He was everywhere. Inside her, around her, holding her.
The world sheeted white, and she lifted her head, crying out.
He swooped in with his mouth, covering hers and forcing the words back down her throat. He powered into her harder and groaned his release into her mouth, his body shaking against hers.
Her eyes opened, her eyelashes catching in his.
His eyes were all green. Hers widened, even as he kissed her again, this time with a gentleness she felt to her feet. She tried to pull her hands off his shoulders, and the soap crackled, sticking them together.
Her laugh this time felt free…and way too loud. She slid down him, her skin catching on his.
He laughed and set her apart.
The sound, free and deep and real, caught her up short. She stepped back, staring at him. Was that a dimple in his left cheek? The small divot entranced her.
“What?” he asked.
“Your laugh,” she whispered, her legs still weak.
He cocked his head. “What about it?”
Joy she should guard herself against whipped through her. “I love it. Your laugh is now my favorite sound. Ever.”
Marcus settled the sheet over Penny and breathed in the sweet scent of her hair. She’d been correct that they’d gotten sticky, but washing each other off had been worth the mess. Her breathing remained even as she snuggled into his side, finally having dropped off to sleep.
He’d had no intention of having sex in the shower with her, and now he wanted to do it again. She was a woman who rarely giggled, and getting her to do so was now his favorite pastime. They’d had fun. When was the last time he’d had fun? Who the hell knew. It wasn’t like he could remember anything about his life before Scorpius. Maybe that was a good thing, considering that life was gone.
She’d said she loved his laugh. He should figure out how to laugh more, but the moment had been spontaneous and because of her. Was he starting to feel emotions again? Was that what laughter was—a feeling?
The lighter feeling in his chest could be hope. He knew better, but he let it sit there, anyway. Why not?
He shut his eyes and listened to the street below. The rhythmic steps of patrolling soldiers calmed him, and he gauged their height and weight from their steps alone. It was still early, and most folks were asleep, so he let the peace take him for a short while.
That fast, he was back in the cell with the yellow door. A caged animal waiting for more pain.
His dreams were usually hazy, but this one was clear, with the dents and scratches in the door clearly visible. He sat on the bunk, bleeding from the nose and ears, his skin hurting from the drugs coursing through his veins. He tried to move and couldn’t. Looking down, he could see the straps holding him against the wall.
He’d forgotten about the straps.
The door opened, and Georgia walked in. Today she wore a red pantsuit with black boots and a yellow belt.
He cocked his head. “Your belt doesn’t match.”
Her blond eyebrows rose, and she sat on the far end of his bed, facing him. Out of his reach with his arms shackled to the wall. “I guess that mixture of drugs leads to some truth telling.”
He swallowed, his mouth dry as salt. “I don’t like you.”
“That’s not true.” She reached over to caress his knee.
He’d try to kick her, but his ankles were chained in place on the floor. He should feel vulnerable, but the anger biting through him pushed away all other feelings. “What drugs did you give me?”
“Oh, a whole lot of them. How’s your ankle?” She leaned down to look.
He frowned. When had he hurt his ankle? He couldn’t remember. “Fine.”
“You do heal quickly.” Her lips smacked together like he was a delectable tr
eat when she sat back up and faced him on the bed. “When are you going to give in and agree to help me? We will be so good together, Marcus Knight.” Her eyes glittered. “You were aptly named. My Knight.”
No. He’d never be hers. No matter how many drugs she shot into his veins or how many bones of his she had broken to see how fast they’d heal. He caught a whiff of something new and lifted his head. “Is that…musk?”
She rolled her eyes. “Yes. Your senses are even getting better. It is musk. Sometimes we have to take on unpleasant missions to get things done.”
He didn’t give a shit what she did. As soon as he could get free, he was going to fight his way out. If they killed him, so be it. But he was going to take out a couple of them first, and Georgia and Dr. Ramirez were top of his list. What would her neck feel like breaking? He smiled.
She smiled back. “There’s my good boy. Look at you smile for me.”
Maybe he’d just tear her throat out completely. His thoughts must’ve shown somewhat in his face, because her smile slid away and she blinked several times.
She looked at the straps holding him.
He couldn’t get free. They were steel and strong, but it was good he had her worried. At some point, he’d get free, and then they’d see who was stronger.
She sighed. “I can see it’s going to take longer than I’d hoped with you. Well, we’re moving again, my pet. It’s on to Century City and the lot of drugs they have there. It’s closer for the mission, anyway.” She tapped a blue painted nail against her lips. “I’m going to miss this place. I like the colors of the doors here.”
He had been outside earlier, fighting with Rippers. How had he gotten outside? These drugs were messing with his head again. Where was he? “I don’t want to leave.”
“Oh, you sweetie.” She patted his knee again. “Don’t worry. We’ll stay together. You know I try not to leave you unless I really have to, right?”
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