Marcus, page 14
He touched her face. Big, tough hands that were so gentle. “But you don’t now.”
Damn him, she didn’t want to cry. “Oh, Marcus—”
The boom of a weapon reverberated through the small room. Elle watched as Marcus flew back and hit the wall.
No! She saw the blood, smelled it.
Marcus’ blood.
Elle dropped to the floor and scrambled closer to him. His carbine had fallen to the ground, the light spearing into the darkness.
She fumbled at her belt, reaching for the thermo pistol. She tried to pull it out, but it was stuck and her damned hand was shaking so hard.
A sound.
The scrape of a foot.
She swiveled. And saw the raptor.
He looked like a man in the cloak of shadowy darkness. But as he moved into the halo of light from Marcus’ dropped weapon, she saw the thick, scaly skin. His sharp teeth glistened in his elongated face. His eyes glowed red, and in them there was intelligence, sharp and cunning.
He was so damned big. She managed to yank her pistol out and heard the raptor snort. She had to protect Marcus. She crawled in front of him. Please, please let him be alive.
The raptor stepped closer. He lifted some small device and pressed a button. Behind her, light shimmered, and she turned her head to look.
A hologram camouflage. It disappeared and she saw the hub, exactly where is was supposed to be, lights blinking and flashing. Feeding communication to the entire alien horde.
Anger churned. So close. She felt something sticky on the floor. Knew it was Marcus’ blood.
She lifted the pistol. It shook wildly.
The raptor cocked his ugly head with something resembling a grin on his face. He moved forward, not seeing her as a threat.
Too many people had written her off. She hadn’t been smart enough for her father, pretty enough for her mother, charming enough for her fiancé. She’d never even believed in herself.
Until now. Until the last few months working as part of a team, giving it everything she had, helping others.
Now Marcus’ life was in her hands.
Her hands stilled. She fired.
The raptor stumbled, his body jerking. She kept pumping the thermo bullets into him. They glowed gold in the shadows.
He dropped to his knees and made a keening sound that made her wince.
Then her weapon clicked. She looked at it. Oh, no.
The raptor laughed. A low, rasping sound that made her blood freeze. He lifted his gun.
Elle felt a touch at her hand. She glanced down, saw Marcus’ blood-covered fingers press his large gladius knife into her hand. It was black. Big and rugged. A warrior’s knife.
“Kill. Him.” Marcus’ words were a near-silent whisper.
She grabbed the knife and launched herself forward. The raptor stiffened, she saw his demon eyes widen. She hit him, burying the blade into the softer flesh at his throat.
He made a terrible gurgling sound and the rank stench of his breath hit her. His gun clattered to the floor. As he fell backward, Elle pushed herself off him, rubbing her hands on her thighs to rid herself the horrible sensation of scales pressed to her skin.
Then she scrambled back to Marcus.
God, no. She saw the shredded, torn mess of his middle. His armor had taken the brunt of the force but an ugly bone-like projectile stuck out of him and beneath him a large pool of blood was forming. It was bad.
She ripped a small first-aid kit from her belt and pressed a wad of gauze to his wound. He moaned. She looked up and saw green eyes watching her.
“I’m so sorry, Marcus.”
“Nothing to be…sorry for. Saved…us.”
“I should have done something.” She grabbed his hand with her free one and lifted it to her chest. Pressed it to her heart. “I’m sorry I was such a coward. I should have—”
“You took him down. Brave.”
He had such belief in her. “I never thought, in a million years, that you’d be interested in a woman like me, let alone love me.” She felt a tear slide down her cheek. “I love you so much. I wish I’d told you months ago how I felt.”
He managed to lift his hand to her cheek, brushed his knuckles down her cheek. “I was a coward. Told myself…didn’t want to sully you with my rough hands—”
She gripped his hand, pushing her cheek into his hot palm. “You idiot. You’re such a good, solid, fearless man.”
“Elle. You need to plant the bomb.”
She swallowed the sharp lump in her throat. “Okay. I’ll do it for you.”
She helped him take the backpack off. Every wince and groan made her want to cry. She unzipped the bag and pulled the spherical bomb out. It wasn’t that big but she knew it would bring the entire terminal down. She helped him press the code in and it awakened, lights flashing.
Elle carried it over to the hub. Strong magnets activated and it slammed into the side of the hub and started humming.
She hurried back to Marcus. Sliding down beside him, she tangled her fingers with his. She hated seeing him slumped against the wall, lines of pain bracketing his mouth.
“You have to go now,” he said.
“No.” The whisper was ripped from her. The thought of leaving him left her nauseous. “I’m staying.”
“Dammit, Elle. I’ve fought…so you’d be safe. Go. Live.” He lifted a hand, trying to reach her but it was clear his senses were failing.
Deep grief tore through her. It couldn’t end like this. “I want to live with you, not without you.” She gripped his hand.
“I wish, baby.” His fingers clenched on hers, released. “Kiss me. One last time. Then go find Cruz and the others.”
She leaned forward, heedless of the tears that streamed down her cheeks. She touched her lips to his. This was where she was supposed to be, in this man’s arms.
He pulled back. “Now go.”
“No.”
He growled. “I want—”
A loud beep came from the bomb. They both glanced at it. Marcus was frowning. “Timer can’t be…up yet. What the hell is it doing?”
“I don’t know,” she said.
“Go!”
She moved in close beside him. “I can’t leave you.”
“Elle—” Urgency in his voice.
A bright-blue flash broke out of the bomb, filling the room with light as bright as day. Pain seared Elle’s eyes, digging into her head. Her hand clenched on Marcus’ and she heard him shouting.
Then the light contracted and Elle felt her consciousness slipping away.
She pitched forward, her face hitting the ground, and darkness slammed into her.
Chapter Seventeen
Lights shone in Elle’s eyes, but her vision was blurry, fuzzy.
Even the noises reaching her ears sounded muffled, as though they were coming through water.
“Fuck!”
She thought it was Cruz’s voice, but she wasn’t sure.
A handsome face leaned over her. But she couldn’t move, couldn’t talk.
Where is Marcus? She needed Marcus.
People talking. Then raised voices. “We’re losing him!”
“Gotta move.”
The snarls and guttural shouts of raptors.
Elle felt her body being jostled around. But everything felt so heavy, every muscle in her body made of lead. Marcus. Marcus! His name echoed in her head.
Her eyelids drooped closed and she couldn’t pry them open again.
***
“Ellie? Wake up, querida.”
The coaxing voice brought Elle out of the fog. She glanced at the pipes running overhead along the ceiling. She shifted and realized she was lying in a bed.
In the infirmary.
Back at the base.
She sat up, fighting the sheet covering her. “Marcus?” Where was he? She glanced wildly past Cruz and saw the other beds all lined up in a row.
They were empty, sheets pulled neatly over them.
Elle gripped Cruz’s shirt. “No!” He couldn’t be gone, not just as she was getting her chance.
“Hey, calm down.” Cruz set his hands on her shoulders. “Your head took quite a knock.”
“Marcus?”
She saw Cruz’s lean face harden.
“Oh, no.” She shook her head, felt a tear on her cheek. “He’s dead.” She’d failed him, too.
“Hey.” Cruz rubbed a thumb over the teardrop. “No crying. You know Marcus is too tough to die.”
Something unfurled inside her. Something bright. “He’s alive?”
“Yeah. Lucky bastard nearly didn’t make it.” Cruz tapped her nose. “We found you both unconscious. The bomb had proximity security to stop anyone tampering with it once the countdown started. Knocks everyone in range out cold. Marcus had just about bled out, we lost him there once or twice—”
Elle made a choking noise.
Cruz hurried on. “But I pumped him full of nano-meds. Those little buggers kept him together long enough for us to get out, grab those kids you found, and get far enough away before the bomb went ka-boom.”
Elle pushed Cruz away and swung her legs over the edge of the bed. She was only dressed in a large T-shirt, but it hit her at the knees and covered enough. “Leo and Clare are okay?”
Cruz smiled. “Gorging themselves on anything and everything in the dining room. Well, when Clare pulls her nose out of whatever book she’s found.”
Elle stood, and gripped the bed as her knees wobbled. She needed Marcus. She had to see for herself that he was okay. “Where is he?”
“You need rest, querida.”
“Where?”
Cruz let out a gusty sigh, but he was smiling. “You two are perfect for each other. Stubborn to the bone.” Cruz helped her take a few steps, hovering at her elbow. “He refused to stay in bed too, and watching you sleeping was making him crazy. I think he was worried you wouldn’t wake up.”
“Cruz,” she snapped at him.
“He’s on the roof. Quadrant Two.”
Elle hobbled through the tunnels, shocked that she felt so weak. But the burning need to see Marcus pushed her on.
She reached the ladder to the surface. It took her a while to climb it, since she had to stop for a few breaks to catch her breath. The door at the top was open and finally she stepped out into the crisp, pre-dawn air.
Out on the eastern horizon, murky light was just starting to tint the day.
And she saw the silhouette of the man who’d captured her heart.
She broke into a run.
Soldier that he was, he heard her, even though she hadn’t made a sound. He spun.
“You shouldn’t be out of bed.” He closed the gap between them and pulled her in close.
She pressed a cheek to his chest. “Same to you.”
“I couldn’t…” His gravelly voice cracked. “I hated seeing you so still.”
“I’m not the one who got hit by a raptor gun blast. You’re okay?” She slid her hands up over his shoulders. Then she pushed back, her hands going to the hem of his T-shirt, tugging it up.
Oh. The reality of him always stole her breath. Probably would when they were both old and gray as well. She splayed her fingers over the hard ridges of his stomach. There wasn’t an ounce of fat on him. And not even a scar from his wound. He was so…hard and strong. Warm and alive.
She moved her fingers, caressing that impossibly hard stomach. He hissed in a breath.
To affect this strong man with such a slight touch…
“I’m a hundred percent. Emerson put me back together.” His hands cupped Elle’s cheeks. “Elle.” He leaned down and took her mouth.
Sensation washed over her. The cool air on her bare legs, the heat of his hard exploration of her mouth, and the burn of desire searing her belly.
With a groan, he grabbed her, lifting her like she weighed nothing. She wrapped her legs around his waist.
“I love you, Marcus.”
“God, sweetheart, I love you too.” His arms tightened around her. “You’re mine now. I’m not letting you go.”
“Good, because I’m going to hold on to you too. Whatever happens, whatever we come up against.” She stared at his tough, scarred face. A face so precious to her.
She knew for all the horrors that had happened, this she would never change. The chance to become someone she liked, the chance to have this man’s love.
And she knew with him by her side, she could meet whatever challenges came their way. Together.
***
Marcus breathed in Elle’s unique floral scent.
Alive. She was alive, warm and soft in his arms. Thank God. He never wanted to see her lying still and pale like that in a bunk again.
“I have a lot of plans for you,” he murmured against her lips. “And they involve not getting out of my bunk…for a really long time.”
“Yes.” She nipped at his bottom lip, her smile a little reckless and a lot happy. Then it slipped away. “It seems so wrong to feel so incandescently happy when the world around us has fallen apart.”
He cupped her bottom, pulling her in close. “We have nothing to feel bad about. The bomb we planted, it crippled the raptor communication in the area. You did it, Elle.”
“We did it. For Zeke.”
The thought of Zeke hit Marcus under his ribs. “Yeah, for Zeke.” Rest in peace, buddy.
“It won’t keep the raptors down for long, will it?”
“No, we know they’re working to regroup, but for now, they’re running in circles, confused. It’s a good start and we’ll keep fighting. For our chance to live.”
She ran a palm over his shoulder. “It won’t be easy.”
He cupped her cheek. “No, it won’t.”
“You and Hell Squad will keep going out there, fighting, risking your lives.” Her voice hitched.
“Hey.” He forced her gaze to meet his. “I have something to come home to now, someone to live for.”
She nodded.
“It’s always darkest before dawn, sweetheart.” He pressed his forehead to hers. “But even the longest night always ends.”
She smiled. “I never thought Marcus Steele would say something so poetic.”
“Don’t tell the guys.” He smiled back, stroking her cheek. “For now, we just have to find whatever light we can, hold on to it, and use it to guide us until the sun comes up.”
“I think I’ll just hold on to you instead. You’ve been my anchor ever since this all happened.”
“Elle…” A light in the sky caught his eye. He looked up above her head, and surprise rocked him. “Shit, look, sweetheart. How’s that for a guiding light?”
He set her on her feet, spinning her so her back was pressed against him. Damn, he was so happy she was his. He wrapped his arms around her as she arched her neck.
There, burning across the darkness, was a comet. A brilliant, white-blue flash in the black sky.
She snuggled into him. “Beautiful. They were considered omens in the past.”
“Well, we both know it’s just a hunk of space rock.” He rested his chin on the top of her head. “But I’d like to think it is an omen—one of better things to come.”
Elle spun and grabbed Marcus’ hand. “I can think of some better things we can do right now.”
He let her tug him back toward the door. “Sweetheart, I think the dawn is breaking for both of us.”
---
I hope you enjoyed Elle and Marcus’s story!
For a limited time, I’m giving away a review copy of the next Hell Squad book, Cruz, to anyone who posts a review of Marcus on Amazon or Goodreads. Just email me the link to your review and what format you’d prefer (Kindle or ePub). My email address is anna@annahackettbooks.com. - Anna
Hell Squad continues with CRUZ, the story of Hell Squad’s sexy second-in-command and the mysterious Santha Kade. Read on for a preview of the first chapter.
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Read the first chapter of Cruz
Crouched in the shadows on the roof of a half-destroyed bank, Santha Kade looked through her high-tech binoculars and watched the alien invaders patrolling the streets below.
A year ago, these dinosaur-like raptors had decimated the Earth. Their huge ships had appeared in the skies…then they’d launched a vicious, unforgiving attack. Now they had bases in all of what was left of the planet’s major cities.
Here in Sydney, the once-shining capital of the United Coalition, they’d ruthlessly razed the city. They’d left skyscrapers in tatters, the Harbor Bridge a shattered ruin…and humanity broken, afraid and on the run.
Santha’s hands curled around her binocs. So many had died. Millions of lives…gone. Some survivors remained hidden in what had once been their homes, but they were slowly moving on or being weeded out by the raptor patrols.
She reached for her weapon. Her hand closed on her Titan tactical crossbow—the metal was cool under her fingers and the self-loading mechanism was filled with her own homemade bolts—and she felt herself grow calm, steady. Some gave up, some ran…and others chose to fight back.
She zoomed in with the binocs and studied the face of the lead raptor. Thick, gray, scaly skin covered his elongated face and his eyes were blood red. The aliens were all big—over six and a half feet—and carried a lot of muscle. They wore a kind of metallic armor on the bottom half of their bodies, and huge boots. Their top half was all tough skin, crisscrossed with what looked like leather for holding their claw-like blades, or for the snipers, their bone-like projectiles.
Looking at them made Santha’s throat close in a choking rush. Why the hell had they come here? Why, with no warning, had they decimated the human race? Destroyed friends and families. Killed beloved sisters. She lowered the binocs and gripped her thigh. Her fingers dug into her skin through her black cargo pants.
It didn’t matter. She didn’t care. Whatever their reasons, she was going to make them pay.
Focused, she lifted the binoculars again.
