Marked. Part I: The missing Link (26 page)

Jay curses and gives me a “shut your trap” glare but I pretend not to see that too.

“The scar on your temple,” I feel Jay's body stiffen and his hand squeezes mine but I still continue, “Did you get it from the same person as Jay?”

Vault's eyes cloud over in gloom, “Yeah, same night Jay's old man died and he got his third mark.”

“Fuck, Vault!” Jay cries, “She doesn’t know about that shit.”

Vault's head ticks back, “You never told her about your scars?”

“No.”

“
Why the hell not?”

“
You know why. Don't forget the real reason you got that mark.”

Vault curses, rubs the scar in the same manner I've seen Jay do countless times, gets up, and goes over to a drink cart to the left of the entry door. He pours himself a glass of hard amber liqueur out of a crystal decanter and knocks it back.

“You know better than anyone why it's better not to let people in.”

Vault sits back down, “She still has a right to know. Her not knowing could be more harmful than knowing.”

“How do you figure that?”

“
Make her understand why your sorry ass can't get past this need for revenge. Maybe she'll help you realize there's more to life than killing Dragoni and you can start living it.”

“
I can't do that. A lot of innocent people die because of him. It's more than revenge. Someone like him needs to be six feet under, and I'm the only one with enough balls to do it.”

“
No, my brother, you're the only one still alive trying. You keep going the way you have for the past decade and you'll be dead before you reach thirty.
Or
you quit this shit, come work for me the way your old man kept wanting you to, and have a chance at a decent life.”

“
So I can wait here like a sitting duck, ready to be killed when he comes here to do business?”

“
You think after Susanna I would let him near my fucking place?” Vault's tone is level as he speaks; he seems to have more control over his emotions. Probably from dealing with men like Jay, men who react violently before thinking it through. “There is only one thing I ever had of his anyway, and it's the same object you're inquiring about.”

The room stills and it feels like Jay just sucked in all it's air. He roars out a slew of curse words and starts pacing the room. It's in his usual manner of head hung low and hands on his hips. He starts muttering more curses directed at Laz.

He stops behind me and the angry heat pouring out of his skin makes me feel like I'm in a sauna, “You have any clue why Laz wants it?”

“
I'm assuming it's part of a plan to set Dragoni up and have a chance at killing him. She's the only other person crazy enough to try, but she doesn't have half a brain to her.”

“
What's so fucking special about this dagger?”

“
He never said, just paid my father a shitload of money to keep it safe. That was over twenty years ago.”

“
Motherfucking Laz!” Jay roars, throwing a lamp across the room and shattering it against the wall. Neither Vault or I flinch; he seems as used to Jay's tantrums as I am.

Every inch of skin on Jay is inflamed in a red I thought only severe sun burns can cause as he starts pacing the room again. Vault seems used to this too and goes to pour us both a drink. We sit quietly, letting Jay think things through. I take a sip and instantly know it's whiskey. However, this one doesn't taste like the cheap stuff Stevie drinks. It coats my throat and lingers on my tongue as it smoothly goes down, making it easy to distinguish the different spices and the subtle hint of vanilla.

Jay stops at the entry door and finally starts talking to Vault again, “You giving me this dagger is going to piss him off.”

Vault lazily takes a drink from his crystal tumbler, “Yes. It will.”

“Why'd you say I could have it then?”

“
Two reasons. The first being I need that file, and the second being once he knows Laz has it, he'll go after her and then come for me. You know where Laz lives and you know where I live. If you aren't willing to forget this revenge crap, I'll give you an opportunity to finally get him.”

“
Why would you do that for me?”

He grins, “You're the only one with enough balls to pull it off and not get killed, and honestly, I want that fucker dead for what he did to my Susanna.”

“I thought you said going after him would get me killed?”

“
I'm offering you the home court advantage.”

A slow, vengeful smirk spreads across Jay's face, and his eyes darken in malicious evil. How sinister he could look used to make me frightened, but now it just breaks my heart. What could make someone as tender and sweet as Jay turn into a blackhearted beast?

“Let him kill off Lazra. You'll know the minute he does and you'll know he's headed here next.”

“
And in return, all I have to do is get that file for you?”

“
Yes.”

“
A file is worth Dragoni coming after you?”

“
The minute I give you that dagger I won't be leaving this building. I'll go on lockdown. He'll have a hard time reaching me in here.”

“
Won't stop him, he'll find a way in.”

“
Yeah, and you'll be ready for him.”

Jay starts pacing again and Vault refills our glasses.

He stops again at the door, “If this doesn't work, we're both dead.”

“
Then it better work.”

“
Fuck,” Jay utters under his breath. His head moves and seems startled to see me sitting on the couch, like he forgot I was here.

“
You're ignoring this entire conversation right?”

“
No.” Far from it, but I'm not stupid enough to tell him that. He furiously glares at me and I return the gesture. Did he seriously think I wouldn't be hanging on to every word spoken?

Vault laughs and gets the same look in return.

Vault rests an arm on the back of the couch, “Listen, Link-” Jay scowls. “Sorry, Jay. Forget about all this. Come work for me, and I'll make sure your girl stays safe.”

Jay comes over and places his knuckles on the armrest next to Vault and looks him straight on, “If I work for you I will be your little bitch, having to do whatever the fuck you ask me. I was raised to be a free agent. Your shit would get old real fast.”

“Think about it.” Vault stands up and walks to his desk. He speaks into the speakerphone on his desk, “I'm ready for the papers.” He looks back at Jay, “Either way, you're getting me that file. Now, would you please come take a seat and we can get the paperwork started before you leave.” He gestures to the two empty chairs in front of the desk.

Jay moves and takes me by the hand. At the exact moment we sit down, one of the women I saw out front is handing Vault some papers.

Once she retreats back to the other side of the door and it's completely closed, Vault places the papers in front of me.

“
My assistant has marked everywhere you need to sign and date. When you're done, hand them to Jay to sign.” He hands me a pen and I reluctantly stare down at it.

“
What am I signing?”

Vault opens his mouth, but Jay cuts him off, “Sign it, Lily, it's fine. Trust me.”

“Why?” I try reading what it says but Jay covers it with his hand.

“
Please baby, I need you to sign these papers.”

I hate when he calls me baby because it turns me into mush and there isn't anything I wouldn't do for him.

I start signing on every place marked, “Another thing you don't want me knowing but expect me to trust you on, huh?” I angrily finish, my pen digging into the paper by the time I'm done, and hand them over to Jay, “Are you ever going to trust
me
? Or am I some helpless little girl who's too dimwitted to understand your secret life?”

Jay begins to sign, “None of this has to do with me not trusting you. It's about me keeping you safe and away from my life, and I think I've made it clear I don't think you're any of those things.” He slides the papers across to Vault, “I need this done as soon as possible. Take what you want from my account to make sure that it does. Don't veer from the instructions I gave you. If something's not going to work, contact me and we'll come up with what to do together.”

Vault nods and heads for the door, “Think about my offer, and come back with my file and an answer.” He opens the door and gives me a dimpled smile that I'm sure gets him into the bed of any woman he wants, “It was lovely meeting you, Lily. I won't be forgetting you. You're the first person to enter this office with a weapon since I took over this business from my father ten years ago. As amusing as I found it, I would advise you not to let that happen again. I don't care if you're Jay's girl or not, I won't stop my men from shooting you.”

Jay grabs my hand and we make our way to the door, “Back off, Vault. She doesn't know how things work, and I never told her who I was meeting or she would have known it was a bad idea.”

Vault makes a “tsk-tsk” sound with his tongue, “You're underestimating her, Jay. I think she understood completely. Isn't that right, sweetheart?”

I nervously lick my lips and sneak a peak at Jay before answering, “Sort of.” Jay's hand tightens around mine and I feel his eyes penetrating me, “I didn't know I could get my head shot for it, or yeah, I would have never done it, but I also didn't know where I was going and if it was safe.”

Jay curses, “I told you on the phone it was safe.”

I look guiltily at him, “It wasn't until we got in the elevator that I remembered, and I decided not to say anything in case you needed them. I wanted to make sure you were okay.”

“You did that for me?” He sounds in disbelief, like no one has ever had his back before.

I look back at him, confused that he would think I wouldn't, “Yeah, baby, of course I did.”

Jay's mouth falls open, then he snaps it shut. He does it again in complete shock.

I focus back on Vault, “It was nice meeting you, Mr. Cole. It wasn't my intention to offend you. I honestly was worried about Jay. It won't happen again.”

“I look forward to seeing more of you. I'm glad Jay found someone who takes care of him,” he winks at me, and in return I blush because he made me feel like his words were implying more than one thing. “He's a good man. I'm hoping you'll be the one to help him realize it.”

So do I.

Seven guards appear to escort us to the elevators. I giggle and Jay looks down at me, curious about what I find so funny. I nod to the men who are surrounding us as we walk and he lets out a snicker.

As low as I can I whisper under my breath, “I think you make them nervous.”

Jay throws his head back and laughs, causing all seven heads to zero in on us, ready to take us out.

Jay leans down to rest his lips against my ear, “Right back at you, babe. Vault wasn't lying when he said no weapons make it past his security. You're just sweet and innocent enough looking to pull it off. It's fucking hot.”

We have our hands scanned outside the elevator and again inside. I'm the only one who doesn't enter a code. I silently ask Jay why with my eyes, and I'm surprised when he opens his mouth to respond.

“
Anyone who does business with him or his staff has a personal code to go with their hand print.”

“
Why do I need mine scanned?”

“
Security measures, and he needs it for some personal business between he and I.”

I can tell by the tone in his response that I'm not allowed to ask him more about it.

The elevator makes it's descent and Jay swiftly pins me to the wall, the flats of his hands placed above my head. His breathing sounds heavy, and it gets heavier the longer he stares at my lips, “Why would you do that for me?”

I can't respond when he looks at me like that, full of longing and lust. No coherent thoughts can be made. Deep, inexplicable yearning is overpowering everything else.

“I'm taking you sight-seeing,” he informs me, low and husky.

That snaps me out of my trance.

“Really?” My voice squeaks from excitement and nerves as his lips get closer.

His breath caresses my face, “Yeah.”

I beam at him and he whispers “beautiful” under his breath.

The elevator jolts when it stops, causing his pelvis to push into me. I bite my lip to hold back a whimper when I realize he has a huge erection, but half of it escapes.

Jay's chest is rapidly moving and I can see the veins in his neck pulsating.

Time stands still and I feel like I'm waiting for him to kiss me for the very first time. I can hear my heart jackhammer through my body, drilling right out of my chest and crashing into Jay.

A man roughly clears his throat, “We don't have all day.”

Jay takes one last look at my lips before backing away from me. We didn’t even kiss and my legs feel loose and wobbly as we make our way out.