Marcus

Chapter Forty Three

Marcus ~

Everything around Marcus was hazy and muddled as he opened his eyes in an unfamiliar room. It was bright and sterile smelling as he immediately sensed Caroline's absence. The room would have felt warm and full of life and she would have been by his side, touching him in some way if she was there.

"Caroline." Marcus muttered, pulling Viper's attention.

"Nice and easy Mac." Viper said in a low even tone.

"Where is she?" Marcus mumbled as he tried to sit up.

"Take it easy." Viper said firmly, placing a hand on Marcus's shoulder to hold him in place.

Marcus swung his legs over the side of the bed, readying himself to stand, but his movements were slow and uncoordinated.

What the fuck is wrong with me?

He sat up, shoving Vipers hand away as he tried to stand on his injured leg despite not being able to see straight.

"Goddammit Mac, calm the fuck down or they're gonna sedate you again."

Sedate me?

Drawing his brows together, Marcus stalled his movements and settled down, knowing he couldn't go see Caroline if he was sedated.

"Okay. Alright. Just tell me what the hell is going on. Where is Caroline?" 

It took every bit of Marcus' self control to remain calm and unmoved on the gurney, but he knew he had to in order to get the information that he desperately wanted.

Viper sighed and ran his hand through his short dark hair.

"You've been out for six hours. They had to sedate you because you fought everyone who tried to help you, trying to get to Caroline."

You're not answering my question, Viper, and I'm about to get pissed.

"Where is she?" Marcus bit out.

"We dropped you and the pilot off here at the base for medical attention. Ace, Dallas, Diesel, and myself fueled up with a new pilot and turned our asses right back around, but by the time we got back to the ridge, they were long gone."

Fuck.

Marcus closed his eyes and rested his head back against the gurney, trying to steady his racing heart as he internally fumed.

"Did you call Nate for her tracker coordinates?"

Viper's expression dropped and Marcus knew what he was going to say before the words left his mouth.

"They ditched her tags." Viper confirmed.

Of course they fucking did.

"SAT phone?" Marcus asked reluctantly.

"Smashed to fucking bits."

"Motherfuckers!" Marcus screamed with his chest starting to heave with heavy angry breaths.

Ace, Dallas, and Diesel appeared from around the corner for nothing other than support.

"So what are you saying? Hashim has her at an undisclosed location and we have no way of tracking her?"

"Yeah brother, that's what we're sayin'." Ace spoke up, taking a step forward.

"We scoured that fucking desert man. We searched the compound where y'all were kept, even had Nate send up some drones. We've been puttin in work, she's just...gone." Dallas offered.