Page 23 of Marked

Each resident of Juniper Springs had one thing in common, besides the desire to break away from mainstream society. Their capacity to love knew no bounds. It didn’t matter if the blood running through our veins carried the same DNA or not. We were family. End of story.

“You look good.” Dave pulled me in for a hug. He’d never once tossed an ounce of blame in my direction, even after he found out I knew where Beth was going that night. The same could not be said for his wife, who’d backed away from the crowd and stood scowling in the distance. “Missed you, girl.”

“I missed you too.”

“Did you find what you were looking for?”

Hisquestion threw me off. Had I been looking for something? Eight years ago, I was an angry, restless teenager who was itching to crawl out of my own skin. But what I perceived as an act of betrayal by my parents, may have actually been the ultimate gift. By forcing my hand, they provided me the opportunity to cultivate a life filled with purpose and direction. They’d taught me the true meaning of family, which allowed me to form an unbreakable bond with my team and friends. Essentially, they’d led me straight to Noah in a backward sort of way.

“Yeah. I think I did.”

So much of who I was as an agent was shaped by the people living in Juniper Springs. Well, maybe not Stanley Archer. That man used to threaten to sic his pet black snake, Benny, on us for running through the marijuana fields. But someone like Grace Benedict, the town veterinarian; her compassion for life in all its forms influenced me daily. In some way, they’d all played a role in who I’d become.

Stepping back, Noah’s strong arms circled my waist from behind as I wiped an errant tear from my cheek. Being home had never felt so good, yet so wrong at the same time. I hadn’t taken the time to consider the potential danger coming back would put them in.

“What have I done?” I gave voice to my fear.

“Lanie?” Concern was evident in Noah’s tone.

“We shouldn’t have come here,” I stated, twisting in his hold to meet his worry-filled gaze.

“What’s going on in that pretty head of yours?”

“What if Brandon told the Russians about this place before they killed him? They could get hurt, Noah, or worse. It was selfish of me to bring this to theirdoorstep.”

“Then we’ll leave…disappear.” His lips brushed my forehead. “I’ll follow your lead.”

“You’re not taking my daughter anywhere.” Dad’s aggravated words sliced through the air as he and my brother stalked across the small clearing until they stood two feet away. I’d been so preoccupied with the mini reunion; I hadn’t noticed them watching the scene from the edge of the crowd.

Noah tried to push me behind him, but when I sidestepped his attempt, he settled for tossing an arm over my shoulders and drawing me into his side.

“With all due respect, Percy. It’s not your decision to make.”

“That’s where you’re wrong, city boy.” The corner of his mouth twitched, like he was amused by the challenge. “Driving on three wheels is damn-near impossible, don’t you think, Lee?”

“Ten out of ten do not recommend.”

Noah rocked back on his heels. “You fucked with our car?”

“Do you two think this is a joke?” I gritted through my teeth, clenching my fists at my sides.

“Look at me, baby girl.” Dad took one step forward. He towered over me, forcing me to crane my neck in order to meet his steely gaze. “Does it look like we’re playing around?”

“It’s not safe,” I spat.

“Wrong answer.” He shook his head, his eyes softened as he asked, “When the hounds of hell took chase, where did you run?”

The argument died on my tongue. There was no denying what we both already knew. I couldn’t even if I tried.

“Home, Alaina Lyn. You came home. This farm, these buildings…they’re just a physical place. It’s the people standing right here”—he circled his hand through the air—“and the memories we’ve shared together. It’s the family your mother and I built out of love. We may not always agree on the little things, but we always protect each other.”

Noah’s hand slid down my back, curling around my hip to steady me as emotion clogged my throat and stung my eyes. Even when I wasn’t certain how my return would be received, there was never a doubt in my mind. I was coming home. It was the only other place on earth where I felt whole, secure, besides when I was with Noah.

With a resigned exhale, Dad cupped my cheeks in his large palms. “Don’t you dare think for one second you chose wrong because you’re scared. Fear is a wicked illusion. It can either trigger the courage to battle your demons or snuff out your fight altogether. Which one will you choose?”

Noah

Lanie was eerily quiet. Even after everyone left, when it was just the two of us inside the godforsaken yurt, she seemed off-balance in a way I’d never witnessed before. Going against my first instinct, which was to shoulder my way through the shadows she’d cloaked herself in, I gave her space. While I used a bucket of warm, soapy water and an old cloth to wipe away the years of neglect, Lanie stared out the small front window into the dark. It didn’t take long before she started to open up.

---