Total pages in book: 137
Estimated words: 132491 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 662(@200wpm)___ 530(@250wpm)___ 442(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 132491 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 662(@200wpm)___ 530(@250wpm)___ 442(@300wpm)
After a few more steps, he stops, turning his face toward me. “The tower came down.”
Damn. I follow his line of sight to a pile of wood, which was the top of the tower, where a guard kept watch around the clock. Good thing no one was in it when it came down. It’s a big loss, but at least it wasn’t the fence.
Marcus leads me back to the Sub entrance, where we’re more protected from the elements. He keys in a code to open the door and says, “Change of plans.”
We’re both dripping wet when we walk inside. I put my fingertips on my scalp to check a tender spot where an ice chunk hit me as he pushes the buttons to close the door.
I take off the heavy raincoat, Marcus grabbing his radio. He’s about to speak into it when a voice comes out of it instead.
“Atlas to Command One. Code brown. Repeating, we are at code brown.”
“Fuck.” Marcus runs a hand through his hair, water droplets flying. He takes a second, hands on his hips, then says, “Okay.”
He pushes the button on his radio. “Copy, Atlas. This is Ares. I need Command One armed and ready at the interior Sub entrance immediately.”
My pulse races with worry as he meets my gaze. “We’re running on partial power, which means one of our sources was damaged.”
“Oh shit.”
He nods. “Please listen to me, Briar. I like you. I want you here. I ...” He looks out into the storm. “Fuck, I’m bad at this. We have a system here, and even though I’m pretty sure you’ve got the skills to be on the first command team, you’re not on it yet. I need—really, actually need—you to stay in here while we do our checks. We’ve drilled for this. I know—”
I nod, cutting him off. “Okay.”
He frowns, looking unconvinced. “You sure?”
I put a hand up. “I get it. Emergency protocol, you don’t have time to be explaining everything to me. How can I help?”
He meets my gaze, something I can’t identify swimming in his eyes. “Stella is in charge of command team two. Find her. If shit goes bad for my team, she’ll take charge.”
My heartbeat turns erratic as I look up at him, longing to reach out and touch him. “Don’t say that.”
“We have to plan for the worst. Virginia will do anything to breach this camp and take it over, and I’m dead if she succeeds. Take care of yourself, okay? I mean it. You’re—” He looks away, seeming unable to find the word he’s looking for.
I launch myself at him, wrapping my arms around his shoulders. He tenses for a moment, then returns my embrace, his massive arms encircling me at my back. Every nerve ending in my body fires as I press myself against him. I rest my cheek on his shoulder, which is as hard as a rock.
“It’ll be okay,” I say softly against his neck.
He tightens his hold on me, the security I feel in his arms calming the chaotic rhythm of my heart.
“Shit, sorry,” someone mutters.
Marcus and I pull apart, our moment of connection severed by someone’s arrival. His gaze stays locked onto me, the intensity of his earthy green eyes making my stomach drop to my feet. The corners of his lips quirk, hinting at a smile.
Nova clears her throat from behind me, trying again. “What’s up, boss?”
“Walk straight until you get to the locked door,” Marcus says softly to me. “Knock on it and find Stella. Tell her privately about the tower and the partial power.”
I nod, my pulse still racing. “Okay. Good luck.”
On my walk to the door, I do a deep-breathing exercise to calm my racing heart. I may not want to feel a constant urge to be closer to Marcus, but I do. I can admit it to myself. Being around him is unsettling, terrifying, and unwise. But it’s also addicting. Breathtaking. Freeing.
Hugging him affected me more than I thought possible. It lit me up.
He’s told me twice now that he likes me. I can’t give in fully to this attraction, because his intensity could consume me. But I also can’t shut down my feelings. Instead, I’m walking an intoxicating, thrilling line between the two.
I didn’t realize how much I needed something just for me until I started getting to know the real Marcus. And somehow, I know he needs it just as much as I do.
31
Leadership at the aromium-enhanced camp has informed me that they’ve named their group Rising Tide. It gave me goose bumps of excitement. There have been hardships, but these people now see themselves as one cohesive unit with a clear mission. Just as nature’s rising tides wash away all that came before, so will they, in favor of something better.
- Excerpt from the journal of Dr. Randall McClain