Marius Read Online Free PDF Page B

dug.
    “We have your file,” Major Carter said. “We did check you out, but it was the recommendation of Doctor Fisher that got you here.”
    She shook her head.
    “This still doesn’t negate the issues with the men,” Titus said. His voice was tight, and Marius could tell he was irritated with the lack of information.
    She stared at him for a moment before raising her hand. “I’ve been bit over a dozen times and had stitches three times,” she said quietly. “The men refuse to come for treatments and when they do, I have to always keep my guard up. Most don’t talk to me, and the ones who do are rude.” She glanced over to him. “There are a few exceptions.”
    “Those are isolated incidents, and I am always willing to talk to the men about behavior that doesn’t reflect well on us,” Titus said and sat back down in the chair. “This still doesn’t excuse some of your behavior.”
    Rachel looked sad, and for the first time that evening, Marius thought she might cry.
    “You moved Hannah out of her housing for her protection,” she said quietly. “It was supposed to be a ruse that I was under suspicion, and yet somehow it has become a reality.”
    Titus shrugged. “Plus, you haven’t even followed-up on that chip we found in Lucius.”
    She blinked. “Are you kidding me? Hannah is dying. I’m understaffed. I’m also not a goddamn electronics expert, so how the hell am I supposed to tell you anything useful about that chip other than it affected Lucius’s senses? This entire situation is bullshit.”
    Titus opened his mouth but stopped when she held up a hand.
    “I’ve had my room tossed. The women I spent time with won’t even bring their children to me. I’m under constant supervision both at home and at work,” she said. Her voice shook as she spoke, and Marius felt a lump forming in his throat. “You guys have been even more asses lately. So you tell me, which of us has no excuse for our behavior?”
    The room fell silent as the weight of her words settled over them.
    “Find another doctor,” she said quietly. “But I’m not leaving here until the one person to show me kindness and who actually gave a damn about me as a person and not as a tool is back up and well.”
    “You’ll need to turn over your formula for the Vestal serum,” Titus said quietly.
    Rachel looked up from her hands, her face pale, all emotion from before washed away.
    “I’ll die with that formula,” she said firmly. “It is not something that can be used lightly, and I neither trust your judgment or your word anymore.”
    Titus growled menacingly at her, and Marius stepped forward.
    “This meeting is over,” he said firmly.
    All eyes fell on him, but he kept his eyes on his leader. It wasn’t a power struggle. It was defusing a bomb, and despite his loyalty, all instinct said he had to protect her.
    They faced each other for a long moment until Titus gave a tight nod.
    Marius turned to Rachel.
    “Let’s go home,” he said.
    Without another word she walked to the door and stepped outside. Marius turned to the men, making sure to look at each one. “She’s right,” he said. “We’ve used her, relied on her, and it’s like we’re going to toss her away now that we got what we need from her. We’ve not given her reason to trust any of us.”
    “How can we?” Sol said from the couch. “She was with Fisher.”
    “And we were with Romulus,” he said and glanced to Major Carter. “Yet some saw fit to see past that.”
    Titus sighed. “I’ll talk to the men,” he said. “I didn’t know it was that bad.” He looked up to Marius. “But that doesn’t mean my opinion has changed. She still doesn’t fit here, and I’ll be looking for a replacement.”
    Marius shrugged despite the sting in his heart. “Do what you need to.”
    Titus nodded. “Keep me posted.”
    Marius followed Rachel out the door.
     
     
     
     
     
     

Chapter Four
     
     
    Rachel stomped around outside, letting the cold