Worth It All (All #3) Page 5

  He walks over to the end of Waverly’s feet, sits down on the rough floor, and then looks at me expectantly. “Well?”

  My eyes bug out of my head with his suggestion of me getting naked in front of him. “You can’t be serious.” I glance around behind me and then narrow my eyes on him. “You want me to change in front of you?” I chuckle nervously and the sound echoes loudly. He smirks while shrugging a shoulder and lifting an eyebrow suggestively. “OMG! All guys are exactly the same. Bunch of pigs!” I complain contemptuously.

  He leaps to his feet, rushing over in a flash. Wrapping a hand over my shoulder, he lowers his face and growls, “Don’t ever generalize me in with those preppy little bastards that you surround yourself with, Princess.” He digs his fingers into the muscle at the back of my arm before warning, “I’m the bad guy and you better not forget it.”

  The trembling begins, vibrating through my body before he takes his hand off. He narrows his eyes on me with a wicked grin spreading across his face, like he’s proud of how scared I am of him. Then, without another word, he turns around and walks out of the room, slamming the heavy door behind him. Feeling more freaked out now, I slink over to Waverly and whisper that she can get up, but she really is sleeping and once again I am alone.

  Chapter Five

  Breesan

  Walking out of my bathroom, I spot Marcus curled up on my bed, still wearing the same clothes he had on when he left here this morning before his quick trip to the Caribbean. Face down on one of my pillows, his mouth is slightly parted. This perfect, beautiful man is all mine. I giggle silently seeing a small puddle of drool at the corner of his mouth. Clearly he is exhausted and I really hate to wake him, but I have to be at Toxic in forty minutes for work. An idea hits me and I grab up my cell, tapping out a text message quickly.

  “Hey,” I whisper, pushing Marcus’ bangs away from his forehead. He moans deep in his throat and my insides clench tightly at the provocative sound. God, I want him badly.

  He lifts his head, his eyes scanning over me weakly. “What are you doing?” He drops his head back down, sinking it into the heavenly pillow again.

  “I have to work tonight,” I offer, sliding my finger down his face and stopping at his ear where my thumbnail scratches over his earlobe. He closes his eyes, a small smile tugging at his dark lips.

  “No, just stay here with me tonight,” he says sweetly before opening his eyes into small slits.

  I laugh, “I can’t, but you can.”

  Narrowing his eyes on me with drawn eyebrows, he says, “No, if you’re going then I’m going.”

  I shake my head adamantly. “Kole’s on his way to pick me up. I want you to wait here for me to get back home.” I blush thinking about what I want to do when I finally do return.

  “Breesan,” he groans, turning over onto his side and pulling my hand into his. “I don’t feel right about letting you out of my sight again.” He yawns loudly and I laugh. “Also, we need to talk more about what Tac and I discovered on the trip. Plus, there’s the matter of your mother, so just stay here with me.”

  “Not tonight.”

  He sighs, “Let me get up and change. Then we’ll go to the club together.”

  “Stop being so stubborn, Marcus,” I insist, pulling my hand away from his as he pushes himself toward the edge of the bed. “I’m working, you’re exhausted and Kole can handle things while you rest here.”

  “Dammit, woman,” he groans again, pushing a hand through his bed hair. “I can go without sleep to make sure you’re safe. I must.”

  “No,” I repeat with finality. Needing to change the subject, I supply, “Casandria is staying at the hotel in town. I explained the situation, and she has agreed to keep my location to herself. Being gone for so many years, she says she doesn’t really have anyone here to confide in anyway. Do you think Rhys will be interested in talking with her?”

  “Not likely. If she hasn’t been around for nearly twenty years, then he’ll be convinced that she knows nothing about Dr. A. Finding him is where Rhys’ dedication lies.”

  “Fine, I get that, but I plan on spending time with her and finding out what I can about where’s she been and what happened. I’m also going to dig and see if she familiar with Dr. A. You’re probably right. I can’t imagine she’d know anything since she thinks my dad and stepmother hooked up before Julia became involved with Dr. A. It’s just…” I pause, looking deeply into his eyes for understanding, “Something about her story doesn’t add up.”

  “Even more reason why I don’t want you out of my sight. Besides, with the information we got from the second captor back at the hospital, we don’t really need to keep doing the undercover act. Guy number three may never resurface, and if he does, he may not have any more information if he...”

  “Stop, please,” I beg. I just can’t think about what could be happening to the girls at this very moment. “You’re staying here. The rest of the entourage can keep an eye on things. And until the girls are found, I’m doing this.” I reach my hand over, stroking his jaw line and he sighs so sweetly at our contact. Wrapping his large hand around my wrist, he pulls my palm to his mouth and kisses it tenderly. “Just trust me, okay?”

  “I love you, and I couldn’t bear something happening to you,” he breathes against my skin, making my flesh sizzle with the heat from his mouth. His sleepy green eyes glare with equal amounts of heat. He stands, wraps his arms around my waist and pulls me in for a deep, needful kiss. He sips tenderly from my bottom lip, like he’s savoring the feel of it as well as my taste, before sliding his tongue in, meeting mine with an erotic stroking. They swirl together wildly while our bodies press together, removing all space and air between.

  With a ragged breath, he murmurs, “I absolutely trust you.”

  “Thank you,” I smile, and he smiles back. “I love you,” I confirm, still gasping for air and tilting my forehead to meet his lowered one while running my fingers through his hair. “Sleep now, but be ready for me when I return,” I assert sensually. He grins wickedly and slides the tip of his nose over mine, cupping his right hand against the side of my face, his thumb stroking over my cheek.

  “I’ll wait, but I’m already ready for you.” He winks.

  ***

  As I walk out the front door of my house, my apprehension about leaving without Marcus is making my anxiety bounce all over the spectrum. I feel like I would while watching ten little kids buzzed on cola fighting over whose turn it is with a video game controller. Since I’m unwavering on not going back to Rhys’, they make random sweeps through my neighborhood, checking for anyone suspicious or someone watching the house. Kole sits in his black Dodge Charger parked in my driveway, waiting patiently until he sees me approaching. In a flash, he leaps quickly from his seat, rushes around to open my door and we fist-pound out of habit before I get in.

  “Thanks,” I offer, sliding into the passenger seat.

  “So, Marcus is actually going to let you go alone,” he asks, pulling onto the highway.

  I sigh and my shoulders slump. “You’re not going to start in on me, too, are you?”

  “No,” He glances over at me and then looks forward again. “I’m just surprised, that’s all.”

  “Well, he trusts you and the other guys to watch out for me, right?”

  “Sure,” he grumbles, leaning back stiffly in his seat. The remainder of the drive to the club is filled with heavy metal music beating through his ridiculous sound system. He parks in the back of the building and hops out, once again opening my door.

  “Thank you,” I smile up at him and see his normally bright smile fall, replacing it with an unfamiliar grimace. “What’s wrong?”

  “Just stay where I can see you,” he pleads after a long pause. “I’ll find a seat in VIP, but don’t go anywhere other than in the storage closet all night, unless you tell me first.” His apprehension suddenly feels stifling, like someone switched the air conditioning setting to just fan in the middle of the desert.


  “Oh…um,” I stutter, suddenly more nervous. Dammit, I must get myself under control. Marcus can’t always be around to save me from every single, little thing, and I can handle anything as long as I’m prepared for it. “Okay, I promise,” I assure Kole and myself resolutely.

  Entering the club just after Beginning Monday starts their first set, I slip upstairs and make my way toward the back into the employees’ lounge. I spot Ensley talking animatedly on the phone. She looks haggard for some reason. She lowers her voice instantly, covering her hand over her mouth and muffling her words. She waves and turns away, walking into her private office like she doesn’t want me to hear her conversation. Except for the fact that she knows the Ryske hook-up here, I couldn’t care less who she’s talking to, so I ignore her. Since she is on the clock, her fatigue is probably from using. She told me that in order for her to keep Rhys in the dark about her usage, she does it at work. After I relayed what she confessed, he admitted that he was already on to her game. The identity of her supplier is all we need, but she’s not giving him or her up.

  I stow my bag on the shelf and grab my waitress apron. Once back in the VIP lounge, I offer a polite smile to Tyle and a new employee that I haven’t met before.

  “Beatrice, this is our new bartender, Edge,” Tyle introduces, pointing to the tall, lean blonde guy who looks like he’s barely old enough to drink. His dark eyes sparkle while he flashes his stark-white full set of teeth in an adorable grin at me. His goth look isn’t as dark or concealing as most of the club crew. “Edge, this is my baby cousin, Beatrice.” Tyle watches me curiously while I reach over and shake Edge’s hand.

  “Edge?”

  “Yeah,” he smiles brighter, if that’s even possible, and shrugs shyly. “My dad was a WWF wrestling fanatic. Edge was his favorite.” He shrugs again, color seeping into his cheeks before turning toward Tyle.

  “It’s a cool name,” I assure him, glancing toward Tyle and adding, “Much better than Beatrice.” Edge winks after picking up a shot glass and pouring a clear liquid into it. My eyes flick over to the corner of the bar where Kole sits watching our exchange.

  “Beatrice suits you,” Tyle states sweetly and I shake my head. The Bentley brothers are weird, thinking that’s a cute name for anyone.

  “Nice to meet you, Edge,” I shout over my shoulder, walking over to my station.

  The night moves along at a snail’s pace. I know it’s because I would really rather be in my man’s arms, but being here might glean me the information I need to get Anna and Waverly back. As long as I don’t have another weird encounter with Jack and Ian, I should be fine. However, what I’ve come to expect since all of this bullshit started is the unexpected is a sure bet.

  “Beatrice,” Raithe calls, sitting down at a table overlooking the lower level. “I didn’t see your boyfriend downstairs. He is here, isn’t he?”

  “No,” I shake my head, approaching his table and leaning in close. “I’m with Kole tonight.”

  Raithe narrows his eyes, shifting them in Kole’s direction. “I’ll stay then, too.”

  Weird. “Is something wrong, uh, Officer Monroe?” I stutter. He shifts around in his seat, uncomfortable with my question, before he shakes his head no while pursing his lips together. Really weird. Anxious isn’t something that I’m familiar seeing on Officer Monroe’s face.

  “Breesan, call me Raithe,” he requests, and I nod agreeably. Calling him anything other than Officer Monroe sure as hell wasn’t a possibility before, but given our casual arrangement we’re thrust into together, now that title seems too formal.

  “Bring me a beer. I’ll hang out up here for a while and then go down to circle the lower level for a bit,” he states coolly, glancing in Kole’s direction again. “Since he has everything covered up here.”

  “Sure thing,” I reply, walking over toward the bar.

  The band’s last song ends a minute later, and by the time I get Tracelyn to drop off Raithe’s beer, Miller is walking his direction. Seeing her making a beeline for him causes me to wonder if there is anything between them, but from the look on Raithe’s face while seeing her approach, he appears to not be a Miller fan either, which totally makes me like him even more.

  A couple walks into my station and sits at one of my tables drawing me away from staring at the odd pairing. My eyes are cast down as I approach. I glance up and recognize the guy immediately and begin to tremble. When I look at his date, my throat closes up. Wren. Oh god, please don’t recognize me.

  “Hi,” Bates chuckles softly, winking when he senses my discomfort. “I’ll have a beer and the lady will have a martini.” I nod excitedly but stay frozen in place, staring between him and my cousin. “Tonight?” he suggests when I don’t respond.

  “Oh,” I gasp and smile. “Yeah, sure.” I whip around quickly as my eyes bug out of my head and I walk away too fast, drawing Kole’s attention. A frown tips the corners of his mouth as he scans the area that I’m retreating. Protectively, he steps over to me after I relay the order to Edge.

  “Are you okay, Beatrice?” he whispers, laying a tender hand to my upper arm.

  Nervously, I mumble, “Yes, that’s my cousin sitting with Bates, Tristan’s buddy.”

  “Seriously?” he flips, releasing me and jerking his head around to see for himself, not the least bit casual or covert either.

  “Yeah, I don’t think she’ll recognize me dressed this way. Apparently Bates didn’t, but damn,” I giggle hysterically, “That freaked me out a little. Close calls will be the death of me, Kole.” He nods his head, still glaring in Bates and Wren’s direction.

  Returning his hand to my arm, Kole observes me with what appears to be regret and then he suggests, “Breesan, maybe you should just go home.” I know he’s worried about me, but right now I must keep it together. I need him and the others in the group to believe that I can handle whatever comes my way.

  “It’s you.” I hear someone say, but I’m too distracted by the current objects of my anxiety to realize that the accusation is directed at me. “I thought that I knew you,” a smooth voice says behind me. Spinning around, I come face-to-face with my worst nightmare since this whole damn undercover scenario began. Miller’s proud smirk and loose tongue will most definitely be the knife in the back that kills me.

  “Miller?” Raithe growls behind her. She ignores him and continues to narrow her eyes on me as she inches closer. This cannot be happening.

  From beside me, Kole’s hand reaches up and clasps over my shoulder. Gently, but quickly, he pulls me behind him, effectively drawing her attention. She meets his scowl before turning her attention back to me.

  “Oh, hell no!”

  “Miller!” Raithe warns, grasping her elbow and tugging her backwards. A tremor runs through my spine and I exhale loudly, dropping my face into my hands when she turns to face him.

  Growling angrily, she demands, “Release my damn arm, Raithe. I want answers. How can she possibly be here and where in the hell are Anna and Waverly if this bitch is playing dress-up?” I look up and she twists an evil grimace my way.

  Luckily, he ignores her rant, dragging her downstairs while batting away her swinging arms and attempts at breaking free the whole way down. Kole moves around me, taking a seat in an open barstool.

  “Shake it off and let me see your game face,” he encourages, just like he has so many times before when I took a cheap shot while going three rounds in the boxing ring at the gym. “Does one hit bring you down, B?”

  “No,” I say weakly before clearing my throat. I squeeze my eyes shut, sucking in a deep breath. After releasing it, I state in a calmer tone, “One hit energizes me, one hit empowers me, one hit ignites the spirit in me, and one hit will never enervate me.” I quote his motto confidently, looking deeply into his light-blue eyes. His pride for me swells and he nods while smiling smugly. I glance toward the direction where Raithe escorted Miller away and then nod to myself reassuringly. My anxiety eases slightly, and suddenly I’m pissed t
hat I let her unnerve me so easily. What is it about Miller that throws me for a damn loop like that every time? “Can Raithe do damage control and keep her from busting my cover?”

  “Doubtful; Miller is not likely to keep the secret of the decade to herself.” He shrugs, “She has a reputation.”

  “Oh, I’m familiar,” I sigh. “This sucks. We’re getting close to figuring all of this bullshit out, but that gossipy little witch is going to ruin everything.”

  “Time will tell,” he states dismissively. “I’m pissed that I let that happen, but don’t focus on her. I know you’ll keep it together and do whatever is necessary to end all of this.” He circles around me before going back to his corner, confident that I am that strong, and I turn my head, glancing in the direction of the happy couple who could also undo all our work if they recognize me.

  I smile weakly, battling an internal come-apart, but I swallow it down and face the facts that things will begin unraveling soon. It was only a matter of time before someone discovered who I am behind this costume. Totally engrossed in each other, Bates and Wren never even noticed Miller’s odd behavior and outburst. Thank the Lord for small miracles and, apparently, new love.

  Chapter Six

  Morgan

  During all this crazy shit, I have come to the conclusion that there is a lot more going on than what my brother and sister have let on. After Tac’s odd message yesterday, he didn’t give anything away, but I’ve figured out that Rhys is trying to find Dr. A. Rumors about the legendary drug lord have been floating around Willow Island since I was a kid. I just wonder why Rhys is hunting him. Could he be a cop, too? It would make sense since Marcus and Sam are hanging with him, but that fucker isn’t giving anything away either. After our crazy trip, I’ve also reasoned that Tac is some kind of special ops. Probably, Navy Seal or some badass shit like that, but where does Kole fit into their little group? I know that he has a security company, but is he undercover, too? Yeah, there absolutely must be more to this situation than I’m aware of, and I’m going to get some damn answers soon. But first, I’ve got to get someone on my side that will put my need for finding Waverly ahead of protecting Breesan. From what I can tell, Marcus’ wannabe SWAT group has her covered, but my little star is out there somewhere completely unsafe. And I fucking hate it.