All is Lost (All Series, Book 2) (22 page)

According to Rhys the club is closed tonight
so Ensley has today to get Breesan ready for the part of Goth chic.
Breesan and I sit at the kitchen table sharing a cup of yogurt, and
some grapes, because there are not many other options in the bare
ass refrigerator.

We exchange concerned glances while listening
to an obnoxious Ensley talk ugly about every employee at the club.
Since she started gossiping, Ensley has claimed twice that she
hates when the employees drag her perfect reputation through the
rumor-mill, but that's exactly what she has been doing for the past
forty-five minutes. Her brown eyes dance with excitement with each
new revelation of someone’s dirty little secret, validating my
reason for feeling uneasy with Ensley.

An attractive woman, Ensley is petite like
Breesan, but too skinny for my liking. Her hair is shoulder length
and straight shiny black with purple stripes that goes well with
the gothic look, fostered by the club. She is hyper, jittery and
the shrill in her voice sets off a niggling sensation in the back
of my head, reawakening my migraine. Frustrated with her, I exhale
too loudly, revealing my annoyance. It draws Breesan and Rhys’
attention, but Ensley remains ignorant to the fact.

“
Yeah so Beatrice,” Ensley says,
rushing her words together. “Do you go by something else? Beatrice
is so formal. Although, it's perfect for the club atmosphere it is
a little stuffy for friends. And we are friends now so I think I'll
call you Trice or Bea. Yeah?” She doesn’t give Breesan a chance to
answer before she adds, “Okay, so we'll get you a hot new wardrobe
from Xtreme Me's today.” I glance at Rhys, thinking about allowing
Breesan out in public now that she’s supposed to be gone. He simply
shakes his head. “You're cute, but give me some time and you are
going to look amazing. Oh, and we have to do something with your
hair. The trend right now is shaving one side and keeping the other
long.” She hums then says, “Yeah that would be a great look for
you. There's a stylist a couple of streets away from the shop. We
could swing by after and get you cut, colored and ready for Toxic.
What do you want to do with your hair Beatrice?” Finally, Ensley
takes a breather, allowing someone else the chance to speak. The
last question hangs in the air unanswered.

Previously distracting myself from her insane
chattering with a crossword puzzle, my head snaps up at the
significance of what she's asking and I catch Breesan staring at
me. My beautiful Breesan has long sexy dark brown hair and I would
be unhappy to see what damage Ensley will do if she agrees to
changing it. Breesan notices the concern on my face and she
reciprocates with a strange glare then offers me a wink before
answering.

With a mouth full of grapes Breesan says, “Ooh
I've always wanted to play dress up” She grins at me, adding, “and
having a new hairstyle would be fan freakin- tastic, but a sexy wig
could be so freaking cool too.” She lies, giggling like Ensley has
for the past hour. I smirk knowing that she's playing up her role
as Beatrice. She winks at me again, settling my worry. “Let's check
out the wigs and then I'll decide.”

“
We are going to have so damn much
fun.” Ensley squeals, wiggling uncontrollably in her seat, excited
by Breesan’s enthusiasm.

Overly excited about her new best friend,
Ensley knocks over her nearly full cup of coffee. Leaping out of
her seat, she bangs her knee on the table leg and squeaks out in
pain. Dashing over to the counter to grab a towel, Ensley continues
babbling about their shopping plans for the day. Rhys puts a hand
on her frantic arm, halting her movement and Ensley shrieks then
jerks violently away from him.

“
Easy there babe,” Rhys says
calmly. “How about you take a shower and I'll clean the rest of
this off the table? Then Marcus and I can drive you girls to the
store. Afterward we can grab something to cook for dinner
tonight.”

I give him a noncommittal shrug, but knew
before he mentioned it that I would be accompanying Breesan. I look
over at Breesan and she appears to have no objections with Rhys
plans. I would prefer that Sam go down and do the shopping for her,
but she’s giving her statement to the Baldwin county sheriff’s
investigators about her involvement in the abductions. Ensley
aggressively tosses the hand-towel into the sink after half-ass
sopping up the spilled coffee and pouts.

“
I guess.” Ensley grunts, the
disappointment etched in her features amplifies her bitter tone.
This girl's mood swings could give a tennis line judge
whiplash.

The newspaper crossword puzzle no longer
offers solace so I stand and slide my chair under the table.
Breesan follows my lead and leaps to her feet eagerly. I chuckle
and escort her upstairs. Once we are behind closed doors Breesan
belly-flops across the bed and groans loudly into the
mattress.

Amused by her display, confirming the fact
that I'm not the only one happy with being out of Ensley's neurotic
presence, I smile waiting for Breesan to get it all out of her
system. God she is so full of life. Where has this girl been
hiding? Leaning against the door, I feel the knock at the same time
I hear it. Breesan flips over on her back, lifts her head shaking
it dramatically.

With a finger lying over her lips she says in
an exaggerated whisper, “If it's that crazy ass woman do not answer
that damn door!”

Her seriousness causes me to burst into a fit
of laughter. The sound carries through the closed, thick, wood door
apparently because we hear the person on the other side laughing
too. Rhys' mocking laughter on the other side causes us to laugh
louder. Aggressive fist pounding begins when I fail to open the
door fast enough.

“
Open the fucking door Marcus.”
Rhys growls. Breesan covers her mouth stifling another laugh and I
shrug innocently.

“
What's up?” I ask, opening the
door. Rhys rushes in, crossing the span of the room in a flash and
drops a pile of clothes on the dresser for Breesan. I poke my head
into the hallway, checking for any stragglers.

“
She's in the shower,” Rhys huffs.
That explains why Ensley isn’t trailing behind him. “Oh my, fucking
lord. She has never been so erratic before. Do you think she's on
something?” He asks, narrowing his eyes and analyzing my
reaction.

“
Man if she isn’t on something
illegal then she needs to be on something legal.” I snort.
“Ensley’s damn personality shifts are quicker than the transmission
in a fucking Lexus ISF. I don't think I can deal with that all
evening, much less until this bullshit is over.” I rub my temple
where the pain continues to throb.

Rhys grits his teeth and sighs,
“Yeah.”

Breesan gasps, “Did you just say a Lexus ISF?
Ugh, that is like one of my favorite cars.”

Curious about her out of character statement,
I arch an eyebrow and tilt my head. She slips off the bed, laughs
and then dances from one foot to the other mockingly. After a
moment she returns to her spot on the bed and I notice her eyes are
sparkling with a proud mischief. She's typically so focused and
serious. It’s good to see her relaxing a little, but I know that on
the inside she has a wrecking ball of guilt threatening to crush
that life out of her.

“
Marcus, can I ask a favor?”
Breesan says softly.

I pause with rapt attention,
“Sure.”

“
Would you check on Wren for me?
With the news about me being abducted she may have freaked out a
little.” She pauses, “I mean I guess she would since she did come
here to meet me.” I sigh, not wanting to leave her side for a
second even if it is to do something special for her. “I know we
can't tell her anything, and I am okay with that, but Bates is the
only other person she knows in Willow.” She twists her head up and
stares at the ceiling briefly. “God I feel terrible. She came all
the way from Paris to Willow just to meet me and then all of this
bad shit happened. Who knows when we can be together again? I feel
worse about deceiving her with lies now.” She admits
sadly.

Rhys shrugs, “She can’t know anything about
you being here.”

I join Breesan on the bed, taking her hand and
grasping it tightly in mine. “If I could bring her here I would.
For you I would do anything. I'm sorry you have to go through all
of this bullshit Breesan…”

“
Beatrice,” she cuts me off. “You
have to call me Beatrice now.”

“
Right, Beatrice,” I nod. “While
you, Ensley and Rhys are shopping I'll go visit her. Only if you
promise that you will not leave the store without me.”

“
Deal,” She says
enthusiastically.

An hour later the girls and Rhys are tucked
safely inside Xtreme Me's before I walk the one block over to
Wren's hotel. Fortunately the trip to the hotel will only take me a
few minutes away from Breesan, which is almost too much for me, but
I will do anything for my girl. Leaving her with Ensley’s neurotic
behavior sets my nerves on edge, but coddling Breesan would only
make her resent me. It is strange that Ensley doesn’t even notice
the way Rhys and I camouflaged her with our clothing either,
totally transforming the beauty into a guy.

At the hotel I exit the elevator on Wren's
floor and locate her room at the end of the hallway. I rap my
knuckles on the door and within seconds it's jerked open by a
gorgeous brunette with only a damp towel covering her glistening
body. Her expression shifts from seduction to confusion and then
finally to recognition.

“
Oh, hi?” She says, tightening the
towel across her chest while languidly raking her eyes over every
inch of me before offering a smile.

I grimace, suddenly wondering if coming here
alone was a good idea.

“
Please come in.” She whispers
lustfully.

I jam my clenched fists into my front jean
pockets, hoping to control my uneasiness about joining her in this
empty hotel room alone. Not waiting for me to accept her
invitation, she steps away from the door then turns on her heels,
leaving me standing in the hallway. She expects me to follow, and I
do, but major doubts that this will be pleasant begin to consume my
mind after shutting the door.

From the look on Wren’s face upon answering
the door I was not who she was expecting. Knowing that she
anticipates someone soon offers me hope that we won't be alone
together for too long. Normally a look like the one she gave me
coming from a woman as beautiful as Wren would encourage me.
Instead, because of what I’ve found with Breesan, I'm actually
sickened by this harlot. Still, it is uncanny how much she looks
like Breesan. Based on just the seductive exchange we shared at the
door, I am positive that this is where the similarities
end.

After a couple of minutes, Wren returns to the
front room wearing a loosely closed white hotel robe. She actively
cinches the belt as she pads over to the bar pouring herself a
drink. Glancing back at me, she lifts the bottle silently offering
and I decline. She crawls onto the large sofa, sitting with her
legs curled under her body and sips her drink slowly before
glancing at me.

Wanting to get this over with swiftly, I
settle on the love seat across from her, leaning with my elbows on
my knees. She forces a pleasant smile then arches an eyebrow in
curiosity. It is a similar look to one, or two, that I have
received from her lookalike cousin.

“
So, are you going to tell me why
you're here?” She inquires, smiling expectantly after catching my
scrutinizing gaze. Not wanting her to think I am interested in the
least bit, I focus on staring into her eyes.

“
Wren, we didn't get a chance to
meet at…the party.” I stutter, hoping we don’t have to talk about
the shooting. She nods, solemnly averting her eyes to the door,
like she expects her company to barge in on us.

“
My name is Marcus Walker. Breesan
and I are…uh we're seeing each other. Something has happened.” I
pause, watching as anxiety forces Wren’s eyebrows to draw inward.
“I want to tell you myself before you hear it from somewhere
else.”

She slips her legs out from under her then
places her feet on the floor, leaning forward she rests her elbows
on her knees mimicking my posture.

“
Go ahead.” She says, penetrating
me with a cold, steely stare.

“
Yesterday at the hospital there
was an incident involving Breesan, Anna and another young lady.
They were in the hospital parking garage and were approached by
several men who attacked then abducted them.” I say tenderly,
wanting to sound affected, but not too dramatic. Shocked, Wren
stands then begins pacing the small space from the door to the
bedroom, like a caged and starved animal.

“
I don't believe it.” She pauses,
narrowing her eyes at me and I squirm a little from the intensity
of her stare, “How?”

I shake my head and say, “The police are
investigating and doing everything they can to locate them. We'll
get them back.”

“
Are you fucking kidding me?”
Slowly turning to face me, she transforms her anger and composes
herself before whispering, “What is happening on this goddamn
island?”

Ignoring her questions, I provide the standard
information released in abduction cases, “The other families were
notified earlier today. Since Breesan’s stepmother Julia is out of
town you are the only person that she has left.”