Knight Awakening

by Zanetti, Rebecca

  It was a good plan, because she’d spent an hour that morning doing that very thing. “I don’t care that you have a radio, Larry.” She stumbled next to him. Except she did care—very much.

  “Right.” He kept the gun flush with her side and hidden by his box.

  She stepped out into the light rain, and an instant chill washed over her. The air was warm, the rain cool, and her heart thundering. “What exactly is your plan here?”

  “Not sure. I’ll figure it out as we go.” He smiled and nodded at a couple of soldiers carrying boxes that passed them. “If you don’t smile, I’m going to shoot you and anybody else around us. How responsible do you want to be for the lives of these people?” His congenial tone was long gone, leaving a gritty threat that made her want to vomit.

  She took a deep breath, looking for a way out. If she ran, he’d shoot her. There were other people bustling around, carrying items, and he’d be able to shoot a couple of them, too. What the heck was she going to do? “You know, the last guy who messed with me ended up dead.”

  “I’m aware.” His jaw was grim. “I wish you hadn’t heard that radio. I like you, Doc. Always have.”

  “Then how about you get that gun out of my side? I can help you.” At the moment, she just didn’t want to die.

  His pants crackled again. “Sowers, it’s Atherton. Come in, if you’re able.”

  He balanced the box on the arm pressed against her and reached into his pocket. “I can’t believe I forgot to turn that off,” he muttered.

  No kidding. “You’re working with the president?” Penelope hissed.

  “Yep. Have been for months,” Larry said, nodding at a couple of women carrying boxes of guns.

  Penelope waited until they were out of earshot. The second he moved the gun away from her, she needed to try and take it. “Marcus was right about you.”

  “We did make sure to enhance his instincts in the labs,” Larry agreed.

  Penelope stumbled. “You worked in the Bunkers?”

  “Yep.”

  He’d passed well as a soldier. Penelope tried to edge away from the gun, and he held her tight. She swallowed. “You kept the Rippers in the house?”

  “Yeah. I couldn’t give up on experimenting. It’s addictive.” He waved at several soldiers down the way toward the Pure apartment. “Let them loose just to see how they did.”

  She coughed. “Did you let Zach Barter loose?”

  “Yes. That was just to fuck with Jax, though. I didn’t care about Barter.”

  What an ass. They passed many more people, all loaded down. Finally, they reached the row of old warehouses and walked toward the medical one, which was next to the mechanical warehouse and the back fence.

  Penelope swallowed. “The guards at the back gate aren’t going to just let us out.”

  “I know.” He reached the medical warehouse and opened the door, pushing her inside.

  Most of the contents had been emptied out the day before. Penny had finished with the rest that morning. “What’s your plan?”

  He tossed the box to the side and turned, pointing the gun at her. “There’s the sad news, Doc Penelope. My orders are to take Lynne Harmony—at any cost.”

  MARCUS DOUBLE-CHECKED the tire of the supply bus, which was stacked perfectly with weapons since he’d taken out all of the seats once used for children. He’d also had it painted black instead of yellow, just in case they traveled at night.

  Lena ran up, her hair streaming behind her.

  He kept in a crouch, making them eye-to-eye. “Hey, Blondie. I thought you were bringing me office supplies.”

  Her black eyes were wide, and her lower lip trembled.

  Oh. “It’s okay, sweetheart. We’re all sad to leave, but you’re going to like it in Oregon. There are trees and rivers.” Kids liked that stuff, right?

  She shook her head, her face pale.

  “Yes, you will.” He didn’t know how reassure her. Where was April? She was good with all the kids.

  Lena huffed and grabbed his hand, pulling with her entire body.

  He stood. “You want me to go with you?” At her vigorous nod, he followed. Maybe she needed help with the boxes. “All right, but then I have to get back and finish with these trucks.”

  She started running, and he lengthened his stride to keep up, opening the door to the clinic.

  “Hey, Penny?” he called out. Maybe she would know what was up with Lena.

  Lena shook her head and pointed to Penny’s office.

  Marcus frowned and walked to the quiet room, looking inside. It was empty. Awareness pricked through his abdomen. It was okay. He was overreacting. Penny was probably at her apartment packing her things. Larry had been guarding the clinic, along with Byron, so she had to be safe.

  Hadn’t he just seen Byron out front? All right, so Larry was guarding her.

  Marcus’s hand shook. “Okay, Lena. I’ll go look for Penny at her apartment.” His chest heated. She’d be there. Definitely.

  Lena shook her head again and yanked on his hand.

  “Honey, I don’t know what you’re trying to tell me.” He forced a smile, while his instincts bellowed for him to run to the apartment. “I’ll be right back.”

  “He took her,” Lena whispered.

  The soft words nearly dropped Marcus to his knees. He’d deal with the fact that Lena talked later. Right now, he needed her calm. Forcing a smile, he sank to his haunches, meeting her gaze. “That’s real good, sweetheart. I knew you’d have a pretty voice.”

  She looked down at his chest, tears gathering in her eyes. “I didn’t stop him.”

  “That’s not your job, Lena. It’s my job.” He kept his voice level and calm, when all he wanted to do was run and yell for Penny. “But I could use your help. Was it Larry?”

  Lena nodded.

  Damn it. Marcus had known the surfer was bad news. Why hadn’t he stuck to his original impression? “Okay, that’s good. You’re really helping me. Do you know where they went?”

  Her gaze lifted, fear in her eyes.

  He patted her little shoulder. “You’re not in trouble. It’s okay if you left, and you need to tell me where they went.” His throat heated and went hoarse, but he kept his expression as calm as he could. “Do you know where?”

  She swallowed. “The medical warehouse. I followed them. He hadda gun.”

  A gun. Oh, God.

  Lynne chuckled as she came through the front door with Jax by her side.

  Marcus stood. “Good job, Lena. Stay here with Jax and Lynne.” He turned and ran, full bore, out the back door.

  Seconds later, his brother caught up to him, his boots heavy on the wet asphalt. “Where the hell are you running?” Jax asked, ignoring the surprised looks of everyone they passed but having the sense not to try and stop Marcus.

  “Larry had a gun and took Penny to the back medical warehouse,” Marcus said, increasing his speed and jumping over a series of discarded furniture. “Lena told me.”

  Jax stumbled and quickly righted himself, his arms pumping. “Lena doesn’t talk.”

  “Apparently she does when it matters,” Marcus said, making a sharp right turn and running down the street past the weapons and training warehouse to the medical one.

  “Wait.” Jax jerked on his arm, halting them both. “We can’t just go in and hope not to get shot. Penny could be in the line of fire.”

  Marcus couldn’t think. Everything inside him went still, and he tried to focus. Tried to concentrate.

  Jax pushed his arm. “I’ll come in the back, and you come in the front. Count to twelve to let me get in place.” Without waiting for an answer, he drew his gun and ran between the medical and mechanical warehouses.

  Marcus stepped lightly toward the front door, the one for people, and ignored the much larger one for machinery. Why hadn’t he trusted his instincts? Damn it. If Penny was hurt—No. He couldn’t think like that. She was smart and strong. She’d be okay. Why the hell had Larry kidnapped her in the
middle of the day like this? It was crazy.

  His mind hit twelve seconds, and he ducked inside, his knife already out.

  Larry instantly grabbed Penny in front of him and pressed a gun to her forehead. “Marcus. This is a surprise.”

  Jax came in the back door, his gun steady on Larry. “Let her go. Right now.”

  Penny’s eyes were wide, and Marcus couldn’t look at her. Not right now. He had to keep his focus on Larry to get her out of this. “This is your one chance to let her go, and I promise I won’t rip out your throat,” he said, meaning every word.

  Larry smiled. “Oh, I don’t think that’s going to be a problem, Number Five. Bagel dog.”

  The noise in Marcus’s head quieted and then shut down. Completely.

  39

  Love is a lot more complicated than I ever thought. For one thing, I never told Marcus I loved him. For another…well, that’s enough for now.

  —Doctor Penelope Kim, Journal

  Penelope saw the change in Marcus the second it happened. His eyes went blank and his jaw slack. “Marcus?” The sound barely came out of her mouth.

  He didn’t answer. Just that blank look.

  Jax edged closer to him, his gun pointed at Larry above Penelope’s head. “Slam? You here with us?”

  Nothing. Not even a twitch.

  “Bagel dog,” Jax repeated, closing the distance to his brother.

  Larry chuckled, his breath stirring Penelope’s hair. “Each trigger has a response to bring the subject out. You don’t have the response. Although that was a good try.”

  Jax nudged Marcus’s arm with his elbow. “Snap out of it. We worked on this, remember?”

  “It’s hard to fix this kind of situation without the trigger words, but I’m sure the shrink did her best,” Larry allowed. “Marcus? Go fetch Lynne Harmony, please.”

  “No.” Jax grabbed Marcus’s arm in what looked like a tight hold. “Do not even think about it.”

  Marcus growled and tried to jerk free, no life in his eyes. He turned and pushed Jax, almost on auto-pilot, his movements jerky but still looking strong.

  Penelope’s temple was starting to hurt from the barrel. She tried to concentrate and forget the gun, but her pinched skin made that impossible. “Stop this, Larry. We’ll let you go.”

  “I can’t go without Lynne Harmony,” Larry said, his grip at her waist strong. “Believe me.”

  Marcus shoved Jax back and turned for the door.

  Larry relaxed the pressure of the gun enough to ease the pain but didn’t move it away. “Mercury? You’ll either have to let him go or put him down. Those are your options.” He hummed. “Your brother or your woman. It is a conundrum.” He leaned closer to Penelope’s ear. “Want to make a bet? Who do you think he’ll choose?”

  “Marcus,” she whispered. “Stop. Please stop and think. Remember Vanguard. Your time with Vinnie and Jax. Your time with me.”

  He reached the door and paused before grabbing the doorknob.

  The gun crushed the tender skin at her temple, and she cried out. “Not another word, or I fire,” Larry hissed.

  Marcus partially turned toward them, and the muscles vibrated down his back. His hands formed fists, and for a second, a light entered his eyes.

  The pain through her head forced tears to her eyes. Her limbs froze in place. What if Larry slipped and shot her through the head? Her stomach lurched. She could only look at Marcus, pleading with her eyes. He had to remember her. “Please,” she mouthed without making a sound.

  Marcus dropped his gaze to her face, while Jax crept closer to him, gun still aimed at Larry.

  Larry cleared his throat. “Summer-house-three,” he ordered.

  Marcus’s head snapped back, and he pivoted, reaching for the door. Jax manacled him with one arm around the waist and threw all his weight to the side, twisting, keeping his aim on Larry. Marcus spun around and dropped, coming quickly up on one knee.

  Jax reached down and drew another gun from his boot. This one was silver and smaller than the other but still looked deadly. “Don’t make me shoot you in the leg, Marcus.” He kept one gun pointed at his brother and the other at Larry.

  “Sowers?” Jax snapped. “There is no way you get out of this alive, and you know it. I can shoot you through Penny and not kill her. It’s a risk, and I know it, but I’ll take it.” He stepped to the side, putting his body between Marcus and the door. “Your only chance is to back away to the rear door and release Penny. Then you can run while I deal with this shitshow you created.”

  “Good point,” Larry said. “Number Five? Kill him.”

  “No,” Penny burst out.

  “Damn it.” Larry shook her and the gun scraped against her head. “I told you to shut up.”

  Marcus came up to both feet and turned to face his brother. He lowered his chin. Both hands curled into fists, and he bunched his legs to attack.

  “Stop,” Jax said, a bark in his command. “Fucking oceans, peace, calm breezes. Remember? Center yourself and fight this trigger. You’re Marcus Knight. My brother.”

  Marcus lunged, and Jax pivoted, kicking him square in the gut. The sound reverberated around the vacant metal building, and Marcus stumbled back, his arms wheeling. He regained his balance and charged again. Jax twisted and kicked him in the knee, sending him down.

  Keeping the gun aimed at Larry, Jax dropped to his knees and manacled an arm around Marcus’s throat, pulling him back. Both men faced Larry, struggling furiously. Sweat rolled down the side of Jax’s face, and Marcus grunted like a trapped animal.

  If Penelope could just get Larry to move the gun, she’d have a chance. “You’re hurting my head.” Had there been anything to his attraction?

  “Sorry,” Larry said, not lessening the pressure. “Jax is a better fighter than I’d realized. Marcus is pure animal right now, and he was the best in the labs. This is impressive. Just think what I could’ve done with both of them.”

  What a complete jerk. She bit her tongue to keep from saying anything. There was no reasoning with him.

  Jax’s aim wavered as he fought to keep his brother down and in front of him.

  Larry tensed, and he began to remove the gun from her head.

  Jax regained control, his aim sure, even as Marcus plowed an elbow back into his gut. He winced and hardened his jaw, grunting with the effort.

  “Marcus,” Penny said, trying to reach him. His face was red and his eyes dull. “Marcus?”

  He looked up and paused. His body shook so hard, he had to be fighting himself internally. He tried to form words, but nothing came out. Breath panted out, and he bit his lip. Blood welled and slid down his chin.

  Larry pushed the gun so hard against her head that she cried out again.

  Marcus’s gaze centered on her with a concentration that was absolute. Was he back? Did he see her?

  She swallowed. “I love you, Marcus,” she mouthed.

  He cocked his head and a vein bulged up his arm. His hand dropped for a second. He tapped Jax’s leg three times. Then he threw an elbow back at Jax’s face, nailing him in the chin. Jax fell back, and his gun dropped.

  Larry immediately swung his gun toward the brothers.

  In one shockingly smooth motion, Marcus grabbed the gun, lifted, and fired.

  Marcus rolled to the side and was on Penny before she could fall. “Are you okay?” he asked, his throat feeling like he’d eaten a can of rusty nails.

  Tears rolled down her eyes and she stepped into him, burying her face in his chest. He looked over her to see Larry laying face up, his eyes open in death. A neat bullet hole marred his forehead above his nose.

  “Nice shot, Marcus.” Jax clapped him on the back.

  Marcus turned, his vision still tinged with red. “I can’t believe you caught that signal.” The three tap had been spur of the moment, but it was the only way to get Larry to pull the gun off Penny. “Especially since I had barely come back.” The shrink had taught him well. Without her, he never would’ve be
en able to pull out of that darkness. Seeing Penny’s face had helped, and then his brother had trusted him. Completely.

  Jax angled his head to see past Marcus. “She okay?”

  Penny cried into Marcus’s shirt, her tears wetting the cotton. “Yeah.” He caressed from her shoulders down to her waist and back, sliding an arm around her to keep her steady. “She was just scared, and now she probably doesn’t hear very well.” The bullet had gone right above her head. “The hearing will return, sweetheart. You just cry.” He shrugged toward Jax. This was all new to him.

  “How about you?” Jax asked.

  Marcus nodded. “My head hurts, and my stomach feels wobbly, but I came out of it. Thank you.”

  “Thanks for shooting him and not me.” Jax smiled, stress lines still fanning out from his brown eyes. “That was a tough one, but now that we know the triggers, Vinnie can work with those. Right?”

  “Sure.” Although Marcus didn’t think the triggers had any power any longer, considering he’d brought himself out. But he liked working with the crazy shrink, and if it made Jax feel better, then why not continue the sessions? “I’ll work out a schedule once we get settled in Oregon.”

  Jax slipped both guns back into place on his body. “We definitely have to leave by first light tomorrow. When Larry doesn’t show up with Lynne tonight or tomorrow, like ordered, the president will make a move. It’d be good if we were out of here and somewhere safe.”

  Marcus leaned down and kissed Penny’s head. She sure could cry. “Agreed. Even if they attack, they’ll be prepared for an attack on Vanguard territory and not us on the move. I want to double-check the security we’ve planned for the rear and west sides of the caravan. We might want to double the troops there.” He didn’t care if soldiers lost sleep for one night. They could all handle it.