Marked. Part I: The missing Link (39 page)

“
I can't. I might not win.”

“
Yes. You will.” Why would he even say something like that or even think it?

“
I was confident the last two times and failed. I'm not confident this time, which scares the shit out of me.”

“
Those times you had nothing to lose if you failed. Now you do. Get him for us, Jay.” I stop to throw out the big guns, hoping to seal the deal, “Make a happy life for yourself, give your parents the only thing they want for their children: love, happiness, and contentment.”

I thought for sure that would get his attention but he's still averting his eyes from mine.

“Dammit, Jay! Look at me!” I cup his head and hold it in place, not giving him anywhere to stare but me, “You will come back to me.”

I almost lose it when I see moisture dampening his lids.

Vault enters to tell us the plane is ready.

I help Jay to standing and we head out of the office. Vault passes something off to Jay before he places a hand on my shoulder.

“Thank you, Lily. I'm in debt to you. You ever need anything, let me know. Nothing is too big a request.” He pats my shoulder and brushes past me, not waiting for my response.

“
Ben, wait!” I call after him before his office door fully closes.

He steps back out, puzzled, and I'm not sure if it's because I called him Ben without thinking or if he's wondering why I stopped him.

I tell him the only big request I will ever have, not caring if it's too much to ask of a person, “I want Jay to win.”

“
Fair enough. I'll do everything in my power to see that he does.”

Okay, good.
I don't doubt Vault for a second.

Jay leads me back to the elevators and we take it down to the main floor. Another Escalade is waiting outside for us.

We remain silent for the first ten minutes during the trek to the airport. I lie my head on his shoulder and give his hand a squeeze.

“
Lily, I don't want you thinking I don't want to come back to you. I'm so fucking yours it's ridiculous. It's just...I could have lost you today-”

I slap my hand over his mouth, “But you didn't. Do you believe in fate?” I remove my hand and continue, not needing his answer, “Because I do. I don't think it's a coincidence that the girl you fell in love with knows how to use a gun and can aim it. Fate's trying to give you a chance at happiness. You're meant to kill off The Marker so he's not always a shadow lurking nearby, and then you're meant to finally live out your life in peace.”

We go back to silence, but I can sense that he's digesting what I said.

We stop in the far back of the airport, away from the commercial planes. I step out and come around to Jay's side to make sure he doesn't need help getting out. He makes it on his own and we face the waiting jet. This one is twice the size of the previous one, but any thrill I might have had is gone. My body's too busy dealing with the fact that I'm leaving Jay.

I gently hug myself to him, “I can't say goodbye again, it hurts too much.”

He strokes my hair and I close my eyes, soaking in his touch and smell.

“It sucks, but I need to know you're safe. I'll focus better.” He starts leading me to the plane and stops at the start of the stairs leading to the entrance.

He places a hand on each cheek and looks down at me, “I promise.”

That's all it takes and I'm a crying, blubbering mess. He pulls me in and I cry freely in his arms.

“
I love you, Jay Lincoln.”

“
Fuck baby, I love you too.”

He unhooks my arms from him and he wipes away my tears, “It's time to go. I need to get you far away from me, even though it's killing me.” He takes my right hand in his and slips a ring on my middle finger, “My mom's. It's the only jewelry she ever wore. My dad gave it to her on the day she gave birth to me. She never took it off.”

I look down at my hand to see a simple gold band around my middle finger. What makes it stand out is the beautiful round blue gemstone on top with a gold frame around it. The stone has what reminds me of a sparkling star embedded inside, winking at me.

“
It's beautiful,” I gush. My heart swells, knowing what it means for him to give me something like this. “What kind of stone is it?”

“
Star sapphire. My birthday's in September.”

“
Thank you.”

He leans down and smashes his lips to mine. We take long, slow strokes with our tongues, memorizing the taste and feel. The love and sorrow we both feel mingles together in our mouths. His hands dig into the hair behind my ears, pulling me harder against him. I can feel the kiss all the way down to my toes. He parts our lips and rests his forehead to mine.

“How long?”

“
No clue, it could be months and months.”

Oh god
, that hurts to think about.

“
I'm going to miss you so much.”

“
Me too,” his voice cracks, sounding like he's on the verge of losing it. “You've got to get on the plane before I can't let you go.”

I want to stay right here and not move, but I know he's right. He needs to focus and not worry about where I am or if I’m safe.

We get in one last kiss, no tongue, just lips crushed together, unmoving. Our hands are placed on each other's head, forcefully pressing it closer.

“
I love you, Lily,” he breathes along my lips.

“
I love you, Jay.”

I let go and turn around to climb the stairs. At the top I don't turn around, afraid I'll change my mind and run back to him.

Inside, the attendant gestures to any seat. I don't even notice the inside of the plane and take the first seat I find by a window facing Jay. I buckle in and look out to find Jay resting back on the Escalade, watching me. His brows are pulled in, eyes squinting, jaw locked, lips straight. He looks in more pain than I have ever seen him, not even trying to mask it. I wonder if for once he feels so strongly he can't.

My tears are falling heavy and free, making him blurry. The plane starts and it has me crying even harder, the heartache so massive my chest might break. I stare out the window until Jay is lost from view. I sob into the pillow next to me, equally in fear for what's to come and our separation. Eventually I stop and the attendant hands me a glass of champagne and a sympathetic frown. I gulp it down and ask for the whole bottle. I drink straight from it and stare out the window. How the hell am I going to go back to my life and try to live it like the last month never happened?

End of Part I

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