Page 9 of Marked

“Got your attention, didn’t I?”

“There are other ways which don’t involve leaving bruises.”

“True, but mine’s pretty effective. Now stop stalling.”

They still had a firm grasp of my hands, so even though the desire to run fast and far bowled me over like a freight train, I didn’t go anywhere.

A year ago, my answer would have been simple. I’d been utterly consumed by Noah Anderson. He was stoic, almost emotionless at times, but I knew differently. Behind those piercing sapphire eyes lay a great deal of passion for his job and compassion for the people he swore an oath to protect. Every move he made was calculated and well thought out, which was why it hurt so badly when he called our kiss a mistake. I’d finally busted through his hard exterior shell, only to have him shut us down before we had a chance to begin.

“Can you promise us something?” Jade spoke softly. Reluctantly, I nodded. “No more running from Noah. Face your feelings head-on.”

“You two are the ones who kept setting me up on those horrible blind dates,” I huffed.

“Exactly,” she declared. “They were horrible for a reason.”

“You needed the time to lick your wounds,” Henley offered. “But it’s gone on long enough. That man has twisted himself inside out the past few months trying to gain your attention, and while it’s been incredibly satisfying to watch him squirm, you’ve both been miserable.”

Could I do it? Could I open myself back up, knowing there was a possibility of more pain and disappointment if things didn’t work out? I guess I’d never know unless I tried.

Noah

The wedding ceremony took place in the Rose Garden at Ritter Park, immediately followed by the reception, which was held in a nearby hall they used for special events known as The Cottage. It was rustic, yet elegant. On any other day I would have marveled at the simplistic beauty of the hand-laid stone structure, but there was another, much more complicated beauty who’d stolen my breath and my sanity.

Alaina “Lanie” Biggs.

My plan to wear her down through persistence and perseverance went flying out the damn window the second I saw her walking down the makeshift aisle. She wore an ankle-length, V-neck silver dress which dipped low in the front, exposing more than a hint of cleavage, and hugged every single luscious curve I wanted to grip with my hands when I finally made her mine.

It was a special brand of torture, one I deserved for being a dumbass, but I was done fucking around. There was nowhere for her to hide from me here; no place to run.

Once the DJ began playing, the dance floor filled with bodies moving to the music, and I saw the perfect opportunity. She was standing off to the side of the room, oblivious to my approach. I felt the shiver travel across her exposed skin when I ran my finger lightly down the side of her bare arm.

“Can I have this dance?” I spoke close to her ear.

She turned slowly, her hazel eyes never fully meeting mine as she held out her hand. “Sure.”

I wrapped my hand around one of hers, bringing them to rest on my chest between us while my arm circled her waist, pulling her close. Time ceased to exist when it was just the two of us swaying back and forth to the beat. Isavored the feeling of her in my arms; the rightness of it all. This is where she was meant to be.

It took three songs for me to strike up the courage to explain what happened all those months ago, but before I had a chance to open my mouth, Waverly’s raised voice drew our attention to the entrance of the hall.

“I told you an hour.”

Standing in front of her were Hendricks and Harty, the DEA agents who were in charge of the operation where Lanie went undercover. They ignored her outburst and searched the room until their gaze landed on the woman in my arms. I instinctively tightened my hold.

Fuck that and fuck them.

No way would I allow them to use her again the way they had six months ago. I swear the operation took ten years off my life with the amount of worrying I did about her safety.

Koen stepped in front of our RAC in a protective maneuver. “What the hell is going on? You can’t just barge in here. This is my wedding for fuck’s sake.”

Hendricks threw up his hands low in front of him. “Stand down, Agent Banks. We need to talk to Lanie. The timing couldn’t be helped.”

Hearing her name, Lanie wiggled out of my arms and stormed across the space. I was right behind her, a deep growl climbing up my throat when she nudged Koen out of the way.

With hands on her hips, she barely contained the fury vibrating through her body when she barked one single word. “What?”

“Lanie.” Agent Harty stepped around her partner. The sympathy in her tone had the hair on the back of my neck standing on end. “Brandon Little was found dead in his cellyesterday morning. And we intercepted communication regarding a hit the Bolotov Bratva has put out on you.”

“What the fuck are you talking about?” I raged.

---