All is Lost (All Series, Book 2) (2 page)

Placing warm lips to her
forehead, he smiles as he continues, “You did a fine job keeping
everyone away from her most of her life. Now that this little gang
has assembled, becoming her protectors, I realize that it only adds
to the pleasure we will have taking everything and
everyone
away from her.
Currently all of her
friends
are being watched. We have one down and only three
to go. Once contact is reestablished I anticipate giving the order
to finish them all. Unfortunately, we lost one recently, but if I
know our girl she will have him in her clutches again soon.” He
presses a kiss to her cheek. “I know you don’t want to hear it,
anymore than I want to say it, but our plans to disappear into
happily ever after must wait a little longer.”

Still debating the fairness of the
situation, she starts, “But what about us…” Her words hang in the
air as the love of her life captures her lips. His hot tongue,
taunts hers allowing the world to fade away into his
need.

Behind the happy couple, a blustering
flurry of long dark hair and designer attire whirls around
violently. Knowing that this debate is pointless and if things are
to turn out the way she wants them, she must take actions into her
own hands. Catching his eye with one last silent order, she leaves
them alone in their hypnotic kiss.

As a means to an end of this ancient
debate, he offers a final kiss to the mother of his child,
realizing that time has been his true adversary against them being
a family, but also accepting that eternity was always at stake.
Sliding his hand up, he glides his thumb over the pulse point of
the throbbing vein in her delicate neck and relishes at the frenzy
effects his touch has on this beauty. Her mouth melts into his as
he gently guides her backward toward the railing of the upper deck.
In his mind, he replays the moment he met her over thirty-five
years ago at a small camp site in Willow and how he was drawn, like
a ship to a lighthouse during a raging storm, to the innocence she
radiated. She fell instantly and he maneuvered his way into her
heart quickly, lapping up the devotion she so willingly gave. Never
has a conquest been easier.

She holds to his firm grasp around her
throat accepting that even after her existence she will love the
man who stole her heart and held it for a lifetime.

Chapter One

Breesan

Soon after sharing a serene sunrise with
Marcus the morning after Tristan’s shooting, I dress quickly. My
bag is packed and I’m ready to get to the hospital to see Tristan
and check on Anna. I still can’t believe everything that
happened.

Thinking back to the past twenty-four hours, I
am shocked by the rapid change in my world. Seeing someone I love
get shot scares the living hell out of me. Fear of having Tristan
taken from me demands that my self-protective wall be patched up,
but I fight the urges. Something else happened last night that
prevents the wall from rebuilding. I found a way to love. I am in
utter disbelief that I have the capacity to love let alone love
several people. I’ve been alone and without love for so long that I
didn’t know how desperately I needed it until last night’s events
unfolded in front of me.

Celebrating our freedom as independent
adults at a graduation party, that was really a disguise for a
secret birthday party in my honor, turned into the most horrifying
moments of my life. Shots fired, frightened bodies rushed away
seeking safety from the scattering bullets and my world collided
with my worst fear–losing loved ones. Watching my best friend, Anna
cling to Tristan’s lifeless body, I was slapped with a repeat of
history. My parents were taken from me while I was a child and no
one has loved me since. Now all that I care about is in jeopardy
with the possibility of Tristan dying and who knows what this will
do to Anna. I’m not sure if my heart can take anymore loss. I'm
afraid I may have realized too late how important they are to
me.

Considering myself broken all of my
life, I really didn’t know what that meant until I was shattered by
this pain; but my ultimate downfall came from Marcus Walker. My
impenetrable wall, previously cracked by finally allowing my best
friends in, totally disintegrated at the touch of his lips to mine.
I’ve never felt anything like it. There’s some curious connection
between us that awakens all of my senses and yet numbs my mind
simultaneously. I feel more alive now and yet the guilt of what
happened to Tristan threatens to repossess me, dragging me back to
my prior anguish. This time I refuse to go back to living that way.
Loneliness’ sick twisted clutches will have to try harder.
Illuminating my world, love is what I’m fighting to hold onto, and
this time it is with an unyielding perseverance, more powerful than
I had keeping it away.

A soft throat clearing
draws my attention toward the doorway. Smoldering eyes and a sexy
as fuck smile greets me. Marcus leans against the door frame
wearing a white tee-shirt displaying several tattoos.
I need to get a good look at those
soon
. His tantalizing presence makes me
swallow hard. Trying not to seem affected while the flashbacks of
last night seeps into my mind, I quickly scan over the rest of him
noting the tattered blue jeans and black combat boots. My thoughts
shift again to him being nearly naked in bed with me last night,
allowing my embarrassment to follow and I instantly feel my cheeks
warm.

Mygod the man is
spectacular
.

I thank creation for gifting the world
with such a magnificent creature. Marcus is so damn beautiful,
loving and mine.

He really is all
mine
, I smile.

Walking toward me, Marcus takes my bag
in one hand and laces our fingers together with the other. The
sensation his contact stirs physically and emotionally feels
amazing and unlike anything that I've ever known before him.
Discovering last night that we are no longer able to stay apart,
our feelings were bared and tidbits of our past were shared. Now,
we are a couple.

A
couple
? I silently question.
Damn
, that's the craziest
shit I've ever thought.

“
Are you ready to go see
Tristan?” Marcus asks sweetly.

“
Yes, I feel terrible about
not being there before now.” I sigh, burdened with the guilt of
staying at Marcus’ all night instead of at the hospital.

“
There was no reason for
you to go to the hospital last night. They probably won't let
anyone other than his parents in to see him.” I nod hesitantly and
he takes a slow breath before adding, “I'm glad we had the time
alone. I needed to explain everything about my job without
interruptions.” He averts guilty eyes away from me. “Honesty is the
most important part of a relationship and I'm sorry ours started
with my deception.”

“
No Marcus,” Shaking my
head, I counter, “We are both to blame for our rough beginning. I
wasn't going to let you get close. The way it worked out between us
was for the best,” I offer an encouraging smile. “Or we wouldn't be
here now.”

Hauling my body gently against his,
Marcus places warm lips against my cheek then lightly strokes his
nose over it. Peering up at his emerald eyes, narrowing slightly, I
once again swallow hard and drop my eyes to his full sexy
lips.

“
Baby,” I feel his growl
deep within, igniting a desire to have those lips on more of my
body. Inhaling deeply, he takes a step away before blowing it out
and a devilish grin sneaks across his face, flashing all the way up
to his eyes. “You've made me the happiest man in the world.”
Chuckling, he shrugs a shoulder then tilts his head down to my
face. “I sound like a complete fool, but there’s no other way for
me to tell you. Having you as mine Breesan, is what I’ve desired
for so damn long.”

Ever so slowly, Marcus drops his sweet
lips to mine. This kiss is more than joining two mouths, desperate
with desire. It's an egress that navigates us toward an endless
unity–now that it has started it will never end.

Breaking our seal too quickly for me,
he turns toward the door and pulls me along behind him. Guiding us
out of the house, Marcus walks around to the passenger side of his
Jeep. Opening the door he stows my bag in the backseat then assists
me with climbing in. Jogging quickly around to the driver’s side,
his moves are lithe as he slides in behind the wheel. He flashes a
sexy grin and a playful wink before drawing his phone out of his
front jean pocket. His eyebrows pinch together as he stares at the
name on the screen. Noticing the vibrating sound, I watch as he
answers in apprehension. He listens silently, finally saying he
understands and then disconnects.

“
I need to take you home.
You'll have to drive your car to the hospital.” He sighs. “A friend
of Rhys’ has arrived on the island that will assist in apprehending
the suspects. He’s called a full debriefing and is ordering me to
be there.”

He bangs his fist against the steering
wheel, “Fuck!” Startling me with his rapid mood shift, I jump at
his explosion, but instantly feel a desire to soothe
him.

“
I can drive myself.” I
whisper, covering my hand over his and squeezing. Offering a smile
to lighten his mood, I see his features begin to soften as he
stares at our connected hands.

“
I don't want you driving
yourself.”

Blowing out a heavy puff of air, he
turns slowly and faces me. Shoulders sagging in defeat, he sits
quietly just staring at me for several moments. It's obvious he has
a lot on his mind, and seeing him gauge me so intently before he
speaks sets my nerves on fire. Too much is going on for him to
distress over my reactions.

Finally he speaks. “I want to see
Tristan too, I just can't go now. Will you promise me that you'll
drive straight to the hospital and park inside the attached parking
garage?” I nod. “You can use the staff elevators and doors. They
have restricted access, but Sam can text me the codes.”

His face contorts with a new emotion.
It's similar to a pained look, but maybe better described as fear.
I just don't understand what could frighten him about me driving to
the hospital alone.

“
Of course, whatever you
want me to do. Marcus, please don't worry about me. Just do your
job and catch those bastards. You'll meet me at the hospital later
right?”

“
Yes ma'am. The second our
meeting is over I'll be en route to the hospital. Nothing can keep
me away from you now.”

***

Marcus

Parking in the empty driveway in front
of Breesan’s house, she scans the area for any sign of Julia or
perhaps someone else and I sense her apprehension.

“
Hey, I'm here. You're not
doing this alone.”

Taking her hand in mine, I
lift it to my lips, pressing a soft kiss on it and she rewards me
with her killer smile.
Mygod
her smiles are my world. How did I survive before
without them?

“
I know you are,” She sighs
staring at my lips then glances up to my eyes. “You really make all
of this so much easier.” A peculiar emotion moves across her face
as she cranes her head around, staring at the front door. “Let's
get this over with. You need to get to your meeting and I want to
see Tristan.”

Exiting my Jeep quickly, I jog around
and open the door for her. After stepping out she rises up on her
toes and places a kiss on my cheek. Snaking her hand up, she cups
my cheek then slowly strokes her thumb over the spot, left tingling
by her lips.

“
Thank you.” She whispers
sincerely, staring deeply into my eyes.

“
Get used to it.” I say
with a wink. “I'll always hold doors open for you.”

”
No.” Shaking her head, she
averts her eyes to watch her slow moving thumb. “I don't mean the
door. Well, yes I do, but I meant thank you for everything.” She
explains, piercing me once again with her steel eyes. “I know that
I wouldn't have made it through all of that bull shit last night if
it wasn't for you.”

My heart lurches thinking about
something happening to her. Truthfully, I didn't do all that she
credits me with. She has no idea how much strength she has inside
her tiny body. No point in arguing with her though, she's too
stubborn to accept my compliments. I smile fully aware that she is
accepting our relationship. It makes me want to move things faster,
but I won't. She needs time, a lot of time. Luckily, I'm committing
to this relationship wholeheartedly. So we'll do it her way, one
step at a time.

Wrapping my arm around her shoulder, I
squeeze tightly bringing her flush with my side then walk us up the
path to her front porch. Once inside, she escorts me to the attic
then disappears to her bedroom. I focus intently, keeping my mind
from thinking about the woman that I am crazy about being
downstairs alone and what nearly happened between us a few hours
ago.

Waiting to make love is the right
thing to do, but it is going to be one hellova painful time. I can
barely keep my hands to myself when she's around. Right this moment
I feel like I need contact with her as much as I need air. I sigh
in complete frustration. The sound echoes loudly in the dark
attic.