Impossible End (Unchecked Book 3) (8 page)

“Blaze.” She reached for me.

I held her face with both hands so she could see me when I spoke. “A baby will only bring us closer.”

Her love and her trust in me spread across her face and lit up her smile. “Okay.”

Joy surged through my heart. I crushed her lips to mine and I kissed my wife.

Turn the page for an excerpt from
TALON
(Uncompromising Series: Book One)
by Sybil Bartel, coming March 1
st
, 2016.

TALON

By Sybil Bartel

Uncompromising Series: Book One

Talon

I surf. I fuck. I pretend to smile.

Two years ago my life had been perfect…until it wasn’t. I’d scattered my wife’s ashes then walked away from the Marines. Marriage and combat taught me the same thing—I was no one’s hero.

She showed up on my doorstep beaten and stabbed. I did what I was trained to do. I stitched her up. I didn’t have a clue who she was and I told myself I didn’t care. Until they came looking for her.

I swore to her I’d take my last breath before I let anything else happen to her. Except when everything went to hell, I was the one left holding the gun. I thought being a twenty-six-year-old widower was the worst thing that had ever happened to me. It wasn’t even close.

Chapter One

I
swirled the ice in my glass. The moonlight glimmered on the bride’s dark hair and the past two years disappeared. I was no longer watching my best friend dance with his new wife. I was remembering the feeling of my wife’s hair as it slipped through my fingers and drowning in her deep brown gaze as she said two simple words.

“Another?”

I blinked and the image of my dead wife was gone. I looked up at the waitress. “Sorry, darlin’. Come again?”

Blonde, cute, she glanced at the bride and groom then looked back at me and smiled. “They make a beautiful couple.”

“No denyin’ that.” I tossed back the last of my whiskey.

“Would you like another drink?” she asked sweetly.

I dragged my eyes the length of her and smiled a smile that usually got me what I wanted. “That depends.”

Heat flushed her cheeks but she didn’t drop my gaze. “On what?”

I stared at her tits then her lips. “You.”

A small giggle escaped and she fluttered her eyelashes like she thought it’d make a difference. “You’re forward.”

“I’m single,” I stated, already irritated with this conversation. “What time you get off?”

“Half hour,” she said coyly.

I stood and placed my glass on her tray then leaned down to her ear. “Then grab me another whiskey while I wait for you, darlin’.”

She shivered but she didn’t move.

“Now,” I commanded.

“Yes, sir,” she giggled, hightailing it back to the bar.

I watched her ass as André walked up beside me.

Glancing over his shoulder at her, he chuckled. “Fifty bucks says you don’t know her name.”

I didn’t need to, I nicknamed them all anyway. “Hundred bucks says she’ll know mine in an hour.”

“I’m not stupid enough to take that bet.” He inclined his head toward Blaze and Layna on the dance floor. “Blaze asked me for a security detail while they’re on their honeymoon. Know what that’s about?”

I scanned the perimeter out of habit. “I thought we took care of that.”

“Me too.” André casually glanced across the lanai then looked up and down the beach.

I knew what he was thinking. Beyond the small lights strung up around the tables, it was dark as fuck. Lots of places someone could hide. “What’d Blaze say?”

“He didn’t. Just that he wanted two of my men and he doesn’t want Layna to know about it.”

A memory of my wife on our honeymoon played in my mind like a cruel joke. No amount of security could’ve saved her life. “Can’t blame a man for bein’ cautious.”

The waitress walked up and I shoved the memory away.

“Here you go.” Holding out my drink, her smile was no longer shy.

I took the glass, my fingers purposely grazing hers. “Thanks, butterfly.”

André grinned. “Yes, thank you,
butterfly
.”

She looked between us with a confused expression.

“Ignore him, darlin’. Hurry and finish up. Won’t take me a half hour to drink this.” I winked.

André laughed after she walked off. “Easiest fifty bucks I ever earned.”

“Fuck you.” I took a sip of the drink, feeling the burn.

He sobered. “Won’t help, you know.”

“What the hell are you talkin’ ‘bout?”

He shrugged casually. “Tonight couldn’t have been easy, seeing them get married.”

The muscles in my shoulders went rigid and I swallowed a mouthful of whiskey. “You got somethin’ to say, say it.”

“Drinking, screwing random waitresses, it won’t make you forget her. Leigh didn’t want this for you. She wanted you to move on.”

I spun on him, rage boiling in my veins. “Don’t fuckin’ speak her name to me again, you hear me?”

He didn’t even flinch. “I trust you with my life, brother, but this isn’t you. Respect her memory.”

“You don’t know the first thing about respect,” I bit out.

André looked at me with pity and I wanted to slam his face into the tiled patio.

He shook his head. “I know you got no respect for the life you’ve been living.”

The waitress reappeared at my side and smiled. “I got off a little early.” Her hand glanced across my arm and settled in the crook of my elbow.

Fuming, my chest tight, I looked down and her features blurred into the sea of nameless women I’d fucked over the past two years. I shook her arm off. “Somethin’ came up.”

Her face twisted in confusion. “But I—”

“But nothin’.” Fuck her, fuck André, fuck the whole wedding party. I shoved my hand in my pocket and grabbed my keys as I strode toward the parking lot.

“Wait,” she called.

Already halfway to my car, I ignored her. I got in my Challenger and drove the seven hour drive home.

Chapter Two

T
ired as fuck, I stared out the front window of my surf shop at the blonde across the street.

Kendall smirked. “She’s been out there since yesterday. Are you going to talk to her?”

I turned and took in my employee’s tight leather laced-up top. If I didn’t think she’d gut me in my sleep, I would’ve nailed her long ago. “Who you talkin’ about?” I played dumb.

“Don’t pull that bullshit with me.” Kendall put her red painted fingernail on the front window and tapped the glass. “She’s been parked in the same spot since yesterday afternoon and
that
…is not a purse.” She pointed at the small duffel next to Nicole’s feet. “That’s an I-left-my-man bag.”

Fuck. She was probably right. Nicole’s boyfriend was an asshole. I’d never figured how he scored someone as sweet as her. “Maybe she’s just gettin’ a little sun. Nothin’ wrong with a beach day.”

“First of all, I know you’re not that stupid and second, a beach day would entail a towel, a bikini, and your feet actually hitting the sand, not parking your ass on the beach wall.” Kendall threw her hands up. “But if you want to be dick and not help her…” She trailed off and sauntered back toward the register.

Goddamn it. I didn’t want to deal with this shit. I’d driven all night to get home and minus a quick stop at my house for a shower, I’d come straight to work. All I wanted to do was finish the surfboard I was working on, catch some waves, and get a decent night’s sleep. I needed to forget about women, all women, including the one with her back to me, sitting on the beach wall like she was lost as fuck. As if she’d heard me, Nicole wrapped her arms around her stomach like she was cold.

“Shit. It’s fuckin’ eighty-five degrees out,” I muttered.

Kendall looked up from taking inventory and rolled her eyes. “It’s Florida. Your point?”

“Nothin’,” I snapped, walking back to my office. I grabbed my keys and my 9mm, tucking it into my back waistband and pulling my t-shirt over it. For once, I was glad I was in jeans instead of board shorts.

“Expecting trouble?” Kendall smirked.

She knew Nicole’s boyfriend, Randy. It was a stupid question. If he was around, there was trouble. “Nothin’ I can’t handle.”

She crossed her arms. “That’s what everyone says—right before they take a bullet between the eyes.”

Anyone else saying those words, it would’ve been a warning. But Kendall followed it with a smile that was one hundred percent meant to rile.

I pushed past her. “Watch the shop.”

Her voice went sugary sweet. “Gee, Kendall, can you please look after my store while I run out and play hero? I know you’re here more than me but I really appreciate it. You’re such a good friend and employee to have.” Then she dropped the pretense and yelled, “
You don’t pay me enough
!”

She was probably right. “Buy yourself lunch. Take it out of the register.” Sunglasses on, I stepped out into the humid morning.

I crossed the street and five paces away, I knew something was wrong. Nicole wasn’t hugging herself, she was cradling her arm. Hair disheveled, t-shirt stained and ripped, I could see from here there was mottling on the back of her neck.

Slowing my pace, I made a wide arc and approached from the side of her good arm. Three feet away, I stopped. “Hey, Nic.”

Her back straightened but she didn’t say anything.

I looked out at the ocean. “Nice day for the beach.”

She didn’t respond.

“You’re not workin’ today?” I couldn’t remember what she did but Randy, the prick, complained about her working all the time.

When she didn’t answer, I hopped up on the wall next to her and she flinched. “Hey, hey, hey, darlin’. Nothin’ doin’, just sittin’ a spell. That all right?”

She shrugged one shoulder.

I glanced sideways at her arm. No blood or bone jutting out, but the way she was holding it, something was wrong. Looking like she was skittish as hell, I didn’t push. “Gorgeous day,” I commented, scanning the beach for any sign of Randy.

She didn’t answer me and I didn’t see him so I started counting sets. The waves were shit and whatever the hell was wrong with her, I didn’t want to deal. I’d bet my bank account it was tied up around Randy and veteran or not, he was an asshole who couldn’t handle his shit, let alone the amount of alcohol he pounded.

I was starting to lose patience with the waiting game when she shifted slightly and I felt her eyes dart toward me.

“I think he’s dead,” she said, barely above a whisper.

I turned and when I saw her face, anger surged. “Mother
fucker
. What the hell did he do to you?” The whole left side of her face was a mess—eye swollen, lip split, cheek bruised and purpling. She quickly hung her head but I caught her chin. “Oh, no you don’t.” I held her face in place, surveying the damage. “What the fuck did he use? A goddamn two-by-four?” No fist caused this. I was going to fucking kill him if he wasn’t dead already.

“I fell,” she said nervously.

“Bullshit.”

She pulled her chin free. “It’s true. I fell into the doorframe.”

“Fell or was pushed? And what do you mean
dead
?”

She looked away. “I didn’t know where else to go.”

Jesus fuck. I rubbed my hand over my face. “Cops after you?”

“No…I don’t think so.”

I pushed off the wall then reached for her. “C’mon. First things first, let’s get you cleaned up.”

She leaned back, clutching her arm tight.

The look of fear in her eyes went straight to my gut and something inside me twisted. “I’m not gonna hurt you, darlin’, I promise.” I gently put my hands on her waist. “C’mon, let me help you down.”

She didn’t fight me but when her feet hit the pavement, her leg gave out. Falling into my chest, she let out a small cry of pain. My arms were around her in a nanosecond and the smell of jasmine broadsided me.

“Sh, sh, I gotcha.” Jesus, she smelled fucking incredible. Sunshine and innocence and sweet jasmine swirled around in my head and threatened to take hold.

“Sorry,” she breathed out, her voice laced with pain.

Something stirred in my chest. I shut it down and went into medic mode. “Can you walk?”

“Mm hm.” Her face strained, she cautiously put her foot down, and her hand landed on my stomach for support.

The second she touched me, heat exploded and I forgot all my training. I stared at her small hand just a few inches above my dick and raw desire ripped through my veins.

I clenched my jaw and forced some words out. “You lyin’?” She was beat to hell and I was telling my dick to calm down?
What the fuck?

She panted through a few short breaths then barely shook her head.

“Nic?” I growled, two seconds away from picking her up.

Her hand slid to my side and trembling fingers dug into me with desperation. “Yeah?”

I vowed then and there that Randy-fucking-Carter was going to pay for this. Forcing my voice to a calm I didn’t feel, I stroked the soft skin of her good arm. “Take a deep breath, sweetheart. If you don’t think anything’s broken, find your balance.” If I had to carry this jasmine vixen, I was in fucking trouble.