Page 108 of Missing Marcus

“I have a few weeks left. Don’t you plan to see me?” she asked.

Marcus turned to face her. Tears ran down his cheeks. “I’m truly sorry for all the pain I caused you. If I knew of some way to take it all back, I’d do it. I never should’ve jumped to conclusions. But I left you way before I kicked you out of your home. I hope you find happiness again one day, Gabby.”

“Marcus?” she whispered his name as she drew closer. “What’s wrong?”

“I failed you and the baby. I remember saying those hateful words about how I felt thankful we didn’t have kids. In truth, I’m more excited about this child than anything in my life. Please don’t tell Tiger I never wanted him or her. I said it to hurt you.”

“I’ll never tell our child.” She shook her head. “You didn’t mean it,” she soothed.

“Yes. I. Did.” He pounded his fists against his head, taking her aback. “I’m fucked up. I can’t seem to do anything right. My life keeps spinning out of control and I’m helpless as I watch the things I love most slide through my fingers. I’m sorry, Gabby. I’ll swear on my life I wasn’t thinking straight when I hurled all those ugly, hateful words at you,” he confessed.

“Marcus—”

“Then you walked into the attorney’s office, dressed to the nines, your hair down exactly like I love it and smelled like vanilla. I wanted to hold you in my arms and beg for your forgiveness. You didn’t seem to care as you scrolled on your phone. I’m not blaming you. In my haze of anger, I vowed to hurt you more when you asked how soon our petition could be filed. You didn’t do anything but love me and I destroyed you.”

She witnessed the pain in his eyes as he appeared like a broken man. Alarm bells went off as he seemed more desolate by the minute.

“Marcus,” her voice turned stern. She took his hand and placed it on her belly. “You did something right. The proof moves inside me. Feel our child.”

Marcus leaned down and kissed her stomach. “I didn’t want to become like him. We kept spinning up and I felt the distance grow between us. I started forgetting things. You didn’t seem happy. You reminded me of Mama before my dad left. You didn’t run and kiss me when we argued. You walked away. I tried harder to hang on to you and made the list to ensure when I left you didn’t need anything. Instead it made things worse.”

Marcus gripped his hair. His eyes squeezed shut and he rocked back and forth. “You didn’t do anything but love me. I signed up for a mission to save us but I killed us instead.”

Gabby’s heart pounded as she heard the distress. She got up and knocked on the door. Something told her Marcus needed more than her.

The door opened and Shadow swore under his breath. “Patch.”

A second later, Patch knelt beside Marcus and spoke quietly. He glanced at Shadow and jerked his head, indicating that he should take Gabby into their room. He took her by the arm as she stared at Marcus and led her away.

“I want to stay. What’s wrong with him? I know he’s upset about the divorce but he seems different.”

Shadow sat her on the edge of the bed. “Right now, your presence won’t help. Marcus seems to be experiencing an episode. Patch can handle him. He works with veterans at the hospital. Do you know if Marcus took his meds?”

“What meds?” she exclaimed.

“Shit,” Shadow muttered. “It’s not for me to say. Please wait until Patch has Marcus in hand. He may need help. You can take our bed tonight.”

“Who the hell can sleep? My husband’s in pain.”

“Shadow,” Patch called. “Get Claire on the phone. Damn it, Marcus. She’s going to have questions. Why don’t you tell her what’s going on?”

Gabby listened intently as Shadow handed his phone to Patch. “I’m with Marcus. Yeah. Hold on.”

Gabby listened as the room turned silent except for Marcus moaning as if in physical pain. Shadow entered the room again.

“He’s all right, Gabby. Claire’s talking to him. Patch has his meds,” he assured her.

Even with his assurance, Gabby knew her husband wasn’t all right. Something seemed incredibly wrong.

She sat on the bed and pulled the pillow to her chest. Did she do something to set him off? Did their fight earlier cause this?” Worry filled her chest.

“Gabby. He’ll feel fine in the morning. I’m sleeping in the room with him and Shadow will sleep on the floor,” Patch explained.

“No. I’ll stay with him,” she insisted.

Patch shook his head. “No. You’re pregnant and we’re not risking you. Don’t blame yourself. He lost his shit for a minute. Claire’s talking him through it.”

Gabby slid off the bed. “I want to see him.”

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