Free Marcus by Anna Hackett Page B

white
bandage around Cruz’s bleeding arm.
    Marcus stood, one hand gripping the
handholds above his head, staring at the floor. His other hand was
held in a tight fist at his side.
    Elle sat on the edge of the chair and
swallowed. She wasn’t an idiot. She felt the rage pulsing off him.
She caught Shaw’s gaze. He gave her a wink, but she saw sympathy
swimming in his eyes.
    “Are you hurt?”
    The rasp of Marcus’ voice was so low she
barely heard him. His tone was so icy-cold it sent a violent shiver
through her.
    “No. The rex just ripped my armor—”
    Marcus spun, his green eyes blazing. “What
the fuck did you think you were doing?”
    Elle opened her mouth. Closed it. She
couldn’t seem to make any words come out. Funny that she felt more
afraid now than she had when the rex was shaking her around like a
toy. She cleared her throat. “Saving you. And the others.”
    “By making yourself rex bait?”
    Cruz stirred. “Marcus—”
    “Shut it, Cruz.”
    Marcus strode forward until Elle found her
nose pressed to his body armor.
    “Never again,” he ground out. “No more
missions. No more wrestling with canids. No more rexes even a mile
near you.”
    The air caught in her chest. “Marcus—”
    He snatched her into his arms. “Be quiet.”
He sank down at the back of the copter, his back to the wall, his
arms wrapped tightly around her. “Don’t say anything because I’m
too fucking angry.” He rested his chin on top of her head and
pulled her tight against him. “I’ve got more to say…back at
base.”
    Elle caught Claudia’s gaze. The other woman
looked like she was trying to smother a smile. Elle didn’t know
what she found so funny.
    Elle tried again. “Marcus—”
    He moved his head so his lips were pressed
against her ear. His deep voice was pitched only for her to hear.
“Quiet. Otherwise I’ll strip those fatigues off you, turn you over
my knee and spank you right here.”
    She knew her eyes must be bugging out of her
head. And it had to be so, so wrong that she felt a rush of warmth
through her belly. Even with the fury pulsating off him, and his
very intimate threat, she knew he’d never hurt her.
    She settled back against him and figured she
may as well enjoy the feel of being in his arms.
    Because who knew what she’d have to deal
with once they got back to base.

Chapter Nine
    As the Hawk descended onto the landing pads,
Marcus still felt fury surging through his blood stream in a molten
rush.
    He kept seeing Elle clutched in the rex’s
claws and reflexively, his arms tightened around her. How easily
she could have been snuffed out. What would he fight for then?
    Finn, the Hawk pilot, leaned back from the
cockpit, his blond hair almost brushing his shoulders. The man was
magic with the quadcopters. “Welcome home, Hell Squad. Always a
pleasure.”
    Zeke groaned. “Happy to be home. I need a
shower, a beer and a woman.” He grimaced and shot a glance at Elle.
“Sorry, Ellie.”
    She smiled. “Like I haven’t already heard
all kinds of stories about you and your…charm.”
    Marcus surged to his feet, bringing Elle
with him. “Okay, we need to get Cruz and Claudia to the
infirmary.”
    Shaw was already helping Claudia up. As soon
as she put weight on her leg, her face went white.
    “Fuck it.” Shaw scooped her into his
arms.
    “Asshole,” she snapped. “You wouldn’t carry
Cruz or Gabe around. Put me down—”
    “Just shut it, Frost.” He leaped out of the
Hawk.
    Cruz’s dark gaze snagged Marcus. He lifted
the crossbow bolt. “Who do you think our mystery savior was?”
    Marcus shrugged. “Someone still holed up in
the city.”
    Cruz stroked the sleek, black bolt. “Can’t
be a civilian. Not with aim that good. And this is homemade, tipped
with explosive and excellent quality.”
    “How about you worry about your arm for
now?” Marcus could see Cruz had lost a lot of blood.
    Cruz tossed him a sloppy salute, one he knew
drove Marcus crazy. “Yes, Staff