All is Lost (All Series, Book 2) (17 page)

I'm trying to be patient and respect their
need to disconnect from work, but it isn’t that easy when I'm
totally freaking out, needing to know what they are doing to find
Anna and Waverly, or the person who wants me dead. I have stopped
my foot from subconsciously tapping several times, all the
fingernails on my right hand are chewed off, and the spot just
under my right eye is a jumping nervous twitch. At last, a lull
hits the conversation and I take advantage.

“
Will they find them?” I ask,
keeping strength in my voice while battling a desire to cry from
the weakness I really feel.

After a pause and knowing glances exchanged
between them, Kole answers. “Breesan, we have to believe they will
be found. Some of the intel we got earlier looks…” He shifts his
eyes toward Marcus. “Uh, Marcus?”

I turn my attention to Marcus and see that
he's starring at me with a pained look, clearly editing the
information he wants to share. Passing out twice probably leads him
to believe that I am weak and won't be able to handle anything; but
I don't give a damn what he tells me, I'm going to keep my shit
together for Anna and Waverly.

“
Do you remember when I left you at
home earlier that I was on my way to a meeting?” Marcus asks and I
nod. “Rhys has a buddy that works for another department who has
been trying to find the shooters from last night. He came in
earlier and gave us a quick update before leaving again. Also,
Raithe shared an update from the crime scene. First, I want you to
know that the local police department and county sheriff’s office
is involved in this search.” He glances behind me, where Rhys is
sitting and I follow his gaze. Rhys has an eyebrow raised, but he
nods at Marcus, indicating he can continue.

“
While Raithe was at the hospital a
patrol officer called in a suspicious person, flagging him down. He
said the guy was swimming with his kids at a slew on the west side
of the island where a body washed up.” Instantly, my body stiffens
and I can't breathe. I cover my hand over my mouth, holding back
the screams threatening to erupt. “Oh god Breesan, it isn’t Anna or
Waverly,” Marcus rushes his words. “It was the guy you fought at
the hospital. I’m sorry I didn't mean to make you think it was one
of the girls.” Taking my hand in his he rubs his thumb methodically
over the back and rushes his other through my hair. Exhaling
loudly, I offer a nervous nod. “Damn I'll be careful with how I
tell you the rest.” I nod again because I currently can’t string
together two words.

“
The guy is a local who lives near
the club and that's where we think his contact found him to do the
job. Tac believes he has a good lead on another one of the guys who
is also a local. Rhys has a plan to flush him out, but it’s risky.”
Shifting his eyes from me to Rhys, Marcus’ eyebrows pinch together.
“And I don't like it.”

“
Marcus if we're going to do this
then there's no other way.” Rhys says standing and walking to the
edge of the porch. Staring at the backyard he lights a cigarette,
taking a draw before turning around toward us. “Breesan it's
nothing personal. We just have a job to do and we don't need to get
distracted by all this other bullshit.”

“
Okay.” Completely confused by his
vagueness, I ask, “What are you talking about?”

Rising from her chair, Sam walks over to Rhys.
“Those things are going to kill you.” She smiles at him, holding
out her hand, but allows him to continue smoking. “I thought you
quit.”

“
Always my guardian angel,” He
says, smirking down at her. After blowing out a mouth full of
smoke, Rhys passes the cigarette to Sam. Flicking it a few times
the fire pops off the end and she steps on it.

“
Rhys is a little high strung, so
sometimes he comes off as an ass, but really he just needs to work
on his communications skills.” Sam says, glancing at him. “Isn’t
that right Commander?” Rhys grunts.

I nod, “Rhys, I don't know what your problem
is, but if it's with me I don’t understand. I haven't done a damn
thing to you or your job. I don't need for you to protect me or
whatever it is you have planned.” I turn to Marcus, “Just tell me
what's going on. No games, no lies, I can handle it I swear. I know
that I've been flaky with some of the shit that's been going on,
but I promise that no matter what happens or what you tell me I'm
going to be strong for them.”

Marcus sits up straighter in his chair,
releases my hand and leans forward, propping his arms in front of
him on the table. “After the investigators identified him, they
spoke with his family. Apparently this guy has a criminal history a
mile long. He's done it all, and was facing some serious time on
his most recent charge.” Marcus pauses to briefly study me. “He
started spending a lot of his time at the club with some other guys
who all admit that he was an extreme guy. When he does something he
goes all out. Most recently the charge that was sending him off to
prison was for domestic violence where he had attempted to kidnap
his ex-girlfriend. He bragged to one guy that he knows a guy who
deals in human trafficking.” I gasp, but Marcus continues.
“Fortunately for the ex-girlfriend a witness called in the
disturbance and the police arrived just as he was dragging her to
his car. The judge let him out of jail on bond and his sentencing
was set for next week. He comes from a poor family, and he was an
underpaid dock worker living pay check to pay check.” Marcus
glances away before continuing.

“
That was until a few weeks ago. It
looks as though he just came in to a large amount of money, one
hundred and fifty thousand dollars to be exact. It was probably a
down payment with the rest coming after the job. Tac believes he
was motivated by the money and was planning to leave the country to
avoid prison.” I nod eagerly, understanding and awaiting the
rest.

“
Now, what we have in mind, which
you don't have to go along with, but if you do, know that I'm not
leaving your side for one second.” Marcus vows taking a deep breath
before continuing, “Breesan, we believe you
are
the intended
target for the shooting and the abductions. We're still working out
the why, but for now all we know is you are the common denominator.
We don't think Anna and Waverly were meant to be taken, but since
they were with you it was either take them or kill them. We don't
know what their intentions are with them now that they failed at
getting you, again.”

I stand immediately and rush to the edge of
the porch. Feeling nausea roll through my stomach and my skin
prickling with gooseflesh, I struggle to keep down the food I just
devoured. I hear a chair slide on the floor and then feel arms
around my back. A soft shushing sound near my head let me know Sam
is the one comforting me. I shake my head, hoping she will give me
a private moment, but she refuses to let me go. Tugging my hair
away from my face, she holds it in the middle of my back. I take
several deep breaths, somehow managing my way through the
queasiness. My hands clutching tight against my stomach, I turn
around, and face all of them.

“
Hon, we don't have to do this all
right now. Why don't we take a break and get you some water or
ginger ale? That will settle your stomach. Everything that can be
done for the girls is being done by the pros.” Sam says, taking my
hand in hers, she leads me past the guys into the house. “Have a
seat.” My arms wrap around my stomach, keeping me grounded where I
stand. I feel like if I let go everything around me will fall away.
Sam removes a glass from the cabinet and fills it with ice then
pops a can of ginger ale open and pours it until the foam reaches
the top. She sits the half empty can on the counter top and looks
up at me.

Two people have been taken away from their
safe lives, their friends and families, all because someone wants
me. If what Marcus is telling me is true then it's possible they
could be sold into slavery for…
Ohgod. I can't even think it
.
How can shit like this happen in Willow?

“
Drink that, it will help.” Sam
nods at the glass, after tossing the empty can in a recyclables
bin. “Marcus is a good guy, Breesan. And I know for a fact that
he's crazy about you.” I sip the soda buying myself time through
this conversation. She continues not needing my response. “Whatever
Marcus does, trust me he does because he wants to and not because
he feels like he has to do it. There's a lot of bad shit going on
and you most definitely are smack dab in the middle of it. It's got
him going bat shit crazy because he feels helpless when it comes to
protecting you.” Chuckling softly, she glances out the backdoor.
“It's totally none of my business and you don't know me, but I have
to ask because I'm the big sister and he means the world to me so
I'm just going to ask it anyway. Do you love him?”

I swallow hard, nearly choking on her question
and averting my eyes from her intense gaze. The silence is
unbearable and I know she's doing it on purpose. Apparently, she is
willing to wait me out, but how do I answer her? I am not prepared
for this question. I haven't had time to fully process all the bad
shit that's happened in the last forty eight hours let alone if I
love Marcus. Just hearing those words roll around in my head makes
me lightheaded. I place the glass down and lay my hand beside it. I
scan the top of the counter for something to focus on, hoping I can
keep my wits, but her glare burns through my flesh
demandingly.

Breaking the silence, Sam says, “I didn't
really need to ask you that question. I've watched you since we got
here. No woman responds to a man the way you do to Marcus for any
other reason than love. I was just curious if you would admit it.”
She laughs, “Hell, you really need to tell yourself first. Oh, him
too I suppose.” Puzzled I tilt my head and stare at her while she
regains her composure. “I'm sorry Hon, but you do love him.” Sam
nods, eyes sparkling happily. “
I
see it because I'm a woman
and these are the kinds of things we are receptive to, but Marcus
doesn't have a clue. Your secret is safe with me.”Grateful that she
doesn't expect me to answer, I smile anxiously and she laughs
again.

Sam’s laughter draws Kole and Rhys into the
house. Rhys makes his way over to her dropping an arm around her
shoulder. She leans into him, places a kiss on his cheek and then
turns back to me. With a quick wink, she lets me in on her own
little secret.

“
Feeling better” Rhys asks. I
glance at Sam, realizing she effectively distracted me, helping get
over the nausea. Her little ambush worked better than the ginger
ale. I nod at Rhys’ question.

“
The maids come in the morning, but
let’s not tell Kole,” Rhys whispers, gesturing toward the large
tattoo covered guy, standing at the sink with a greasy pan in one
hand and a scrubber in the other meticulously scouring the grime
away. Together the three of us laugh softly, seeing the exact
moment Kole realizes we are laughing at him. He frowns then drops
everything into the sink and stomps out the back door.

“
Assholes,” Kole growls angrily,
slamming the door behind him.

Our laughter erupts into full belly laughs
now. While we catch our breaths, I glimpse a sweet exchange between
Rhys and Sam, telling me that he has a secret too. His thumb glides
slowly over her arm in a very gentle and affectionate way. Frozen,
he stares longingly into her laughing eyes. Sam pants out her
remaining moans, giggles one last time, and then pushes away from
Rhys’ embrace.

“
Okay you two, I'll be back in a
minute,” Sam says, leaving me and Rhys. “Finish that ginger
ale.”

All laughter gone now, I feel a little uneasy
being alone with him. Until yesterday, I didn’t know Rhys. Yet here
I stand barefoot in his kitchen and it is apparent that he isn’t a
member of the Breesan Maxwell fan club. Clearly feeling the
awkwardness filling the room, Rhys turns away from me and opens the
refrigerator. Taking out a beer and opening it with a twist of his
hand, he turns up the bottle.

“
Rhys,” I sigh. “If I ask you a
question, will you be honest?” He nods, draining his
beer.

“
Do you know who is trying to kill
me and why? Was the abduction supposed to be selling us into the
human trafficking shit Marcus mentioned earlier?”

Rhys puts the empty beer bottle on the counter
and wipes his mouth with the back of his hand. “If I knew those
answers your boyfriend wouldn't be so pissed at me right now.” He
smirks, grabbing another beer from the fridge.

“
What is it that you want me to
do?” My voice is a strained whisper, fearing his answer. Since the
night I was attacked at Club Toxic and given a large dose of Ryske,
my internal truth detector has been misfiring, like someone hung an
“Out of Order” sign on that part of my brain. Unable to tell if
Rhys is being completely honest with me, I also wonder for a moment
if he is the right person to ask, knowing that his manner is
typically less than delicate.

Rhys peers at me with his eyebrows drawn
together. “The police department hasn’t made the media aware of the
abductions yet. With you being the intended target I think the best
way to flush out the remaining kidnappers, or the person who hired
them, is to include you in the press release.” Confused I stare at
him. “Raithe will tell them that three women were taken instead of
two. With the information we have on JV's plans to leave, it’s
likely these guys are biding their time before they can split. If
we release the false information we may raise some eyebrows by the
person who paid a lot of money to have you abducted. And, well if
their bodies turn up, no love lost, but they may come running,
fearing the noose going around their necks.” I nod, hoping that if
anything they will do the latter.