CHAPTER SIX
Damn it to hell. Watching Ella stiffen under his touch as he used the blade to remove what he suspected was a human tracking device had almost been his undoing. She insisted it be removed right away, with nothing to alleviate the pain. He agreed and twisted the sharp knife into her delicate skin, probing and twisting it until the tiny device surfaced. It was no bigger than a grain of rice, and yet, he suspected, it alerted the Elusti to Ella’s whereabouts. He had heard about this type of geospatial technology being used by the Navy to track criminals as well as agents deep under cover. Staring at the plastic-coated gadget, he wondered how deep and far-reaching the Elusti’s power went.
Marcus glanced over at Ella, who stood with her shoulders shaking a little and her small exposed back faced him, wearing only her simple white lacy bra and shorts. Admiration for his woman’s bravery and resilience brought his manhood swiftly to life. His cock stiffened in a painful way, needing release. He adjusted himself to ease the discomfort. Resisting the temptation, he ignored the rush of sudden desire and returned his focus to the task at hand.
He pressed his hand to Ella’s arm to twist her around and show her what he had removed, but she dropped to the sand. He shoved the evidence in his pocket and crouched down to examine the flawless beauty sprawled out before him. He brushed away the sparkles of sand from her cheeks and lifted her gently into his arms. At his touch, she opened her eyes and blinked her long dark lashes at him. Staring into her deep-azure eyes, his heart galloped. She was breathtaking.
“So stubborn.” He shook his head.
He hoisted her up and carried her with ease. In the SEALs, he used to carry more weight than what he held in his arms right now on a daily basis. Bouncing her up and down as he walked across the soft, uneven surface, he squeezed her tight.
Ella wriggled in his arms, digging her elbows in his chest. “I fainted, Marcus, but I’m not some helpless female. Put me down. I can manage,” she huffed out.
His breath hitched in his lungs. She really would be the death of him. Despite the guilt he laid at her feet, he’d kill anyone who would harm or take what was his ever again. And she was his. She needed to understand that. When he thought over how she had suffered, it made him crazy with the need to kill those responsible. Instead, he blocked it out. But watching her stand there, barefoot, on the sand, shaking her ass in his face and demanding he remove whatever was buried under her skin melted some of his anger toward her.
This tiny woman never backed down. She didn’t know when to quit. She was a danger to herself and he wished, not for the first time, to come up with a way to keep her safe. Staring down into her deep blues that defiantly met his gaze, he knew locking her away wouldn’t work. His mother had chosen to be hospitalized to save him, but in doing so, his father paid the ultimate price and his relationship with Josephine suffered. No, you couldn’t outrun the inevitable but you could be better prepared.
“Marcus, answer me. Have you lost your tongue? What’s got into you?”
Dear God, if she struggled with him any longer, pressing her hips into his body with her scent infiltrating all his senses, he wasn’t sure he would be in control much longer.
“You have two choices the way I see it, Ella. You either let me carry you until we reach Josephine’s or I will take you right on the sand until you are screaming out my name regardless of whether anyone is watching.”
He needed to regain some control, and her body stiffened in his arms at his words. He smirked. Sex was the one area he asserted his dominance, and she knew if he started to caress her, she would be unable to refuse him. They hadn’t kissed or hugged and weren’t even in the same bed since the abduction. The slightest reminder of that day made his blood run cold. Recalling it now increased his blinding rage and the rampant desire dissipated. He released Ella until her feet reached the sand.
“Marcus, don’t.”
He held her arms but dropped his hold instantly as he digested the panic in her eyes.
“It’s okay. I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have said that.”
He caught her elbow and brought her close to his body, breathing down over her face. She looked up at him with alarm, her eyes wide and searching.
“My body responds to yours when you’re near, Ella, like a magnet. It’s hard to ignore that pull, but my head is all over the place.” He didn’t want to explain his anger. He couldn’t fully understand it himself but it was aimed at Ella and her actions that day.
A seagull overhead screeched, distracting Ella. “You don’t have to explain. I get it. I’m not the same woman, Marcus, you married. I think we need space from each other to figure out what’s going on.”
He nodded and studied the impressive ocean waves cresting and falling away. “Maybe, but know this: I promised to protect you forever and the truth is, in the end, I couldn’t. I need to rectify that. What happened, well, let’s say, I have demons that I need to slay. Until then, I will give you the space you need. But, and this is non-negotiable, we’re bound together. You’re mine and no one else’s. Do you understand, Ella? You’re my wife, and I won’t let anyone stand between us. You’re not running or throwing away what we have. We will figure this out.”
The words spilled out before he could stop them. A part of him didn’t agree with what he had said, but a deeper instinctive part growled at him to keep her. He watched the woman next to him walk at his side, wondering whether she would run away. It was true: no matter the gulf between them, or how much they argued, she belonged to him. He stopped and twisted her around, placing his hands on her back to check the cut on her neck. Marcus flicked her hair away and brushed his finger near the small incision he had made, and she trembled under his touch. He noted the wound was clean but caked with dry blood. He pressed his body into her back and dipped his head to kiss the skin on the curve between her neck and shoulder above the mark.
“I’m not running, Marcus.” Ella twisted around to face him but shrugged away from his touch. “But, I need to occupy my mind. Ben’s right. I need to go back to work.”
It was like a punch to the heart, hearing her admit that Steel was right. Why did it irk him so? He gave a brief nod and they strolled back to the cottage.
“I need to clean your wound and dress it before it gets infected,” he said as they reached the steps that led to Josephine’s home.
“I can look after the cut, Marcus, you know that. Don’t you need to take that chip to the lab?”
He stood there with his head dipped and inhaled the ocean. He wanted to pull her in his arms and make everything better, but he couldn’t. He needed to find the professor and put him in the ground, and only then could he address the disaster zone that was his marriage. Neither talked much about the day she was taken, and it scratched like a wound. He needed to understand why she had left when he had insisted she stay. Anyway, for now, tucked away here on the coast with a shadow security team, Ella was safe, and she was right; he needed to get to the lab. He leaned in order to give her a kiss, but she darted up the steep wooden steps that led to the garden. The professor had killed his child and even though Ella lived, he’d taken her too.
****
Marcus stashed his round bike helmet on the chrome handlebar of his classic Harley-Davidson bike, which he parked outside Steel’s mansion. When he placed one foot on the lower steps to the house, he paused and looked briefly back at his home. The neat cottage tucked away in the corner with little rose bushes stood empty, and he wondered whether he would ever share it again with Ella. Something about her words the other day—“I’ll stay with Josephine until you get back”—made him want to question her further. But he knew she was returning to work, which meant she wasn’t planning to disappear.
At least not anytime soon.
He wished he could read her mind and understand what was going on inside. Returning to study the front door of Steel’s home, he darted up the remaining several steps. He scanned his thumb and let the small camera view his eye for identification purposes. When the red light changed to green, he pushed the door handle to gain entry. Inside the black-and-white tiled hallway, with its high ceiling and elegant crystal chandelier, it was eerily quiet until a tapping of boots came from the direction of the kitchen.
Steel appeared, his focus zeroed on him as he walked directly toward him. The older man’s bushy gray eyebrows dipped and deep rivers formed across his tanned forehead. Sharp hazel eyes pinned on him. His boss could be intense.
“What the hell are you playing at, Drayton? You were supposed to be in Boston with the others. Jake and Isabella have arrived but this bastard is insisting on seeing Ella before he says anymore.”
Shit.
“That’s not going to happen. Stall the bastard. I went to see Ella, and you need to see this.”
Steel stood a foot away, waiting. Marcus pulled the tiny gadget from his pocket and lay his palm out flat for the other man to see. Steel studied the tiny mechanism and flicked his gaze back at Marcus. “Where the hell did you get that?”
Marcus stepped closer to study the man, whose response was not to question what it was but rather to ask where he had obtained it. “You’ve seen this technology before?”
Steel removed glasses from his shirt pocket and placed them on his face. He peered at Marcus and reached for the tiny electronic device. “Do you mind?”
“No, take it. But I want answers, Steel, before I take another step.”
Steel lifted the minuscule object and examined it back and forth, glancing at Marcus and cursing under his breath. “This enabled them to know Ella’s location, but they still would have needed to know where she was headed to. To be operational like they were, they must have possessed inside knowledge.”
They eyeballed each other and Marcus knew they were both thinking the same thing.
“That device is military, and this confirms we have a leak,” Marcus said as Steel replaced his glasses in his pocket.
Lately, it didn’t take much for him to fall out with anyone. Steel turned and strode back the way he came and Marcus followed. He watched as Steel pulled out a small plastic bag from the drawer and slipped the gadget inside. He leaned against the center kitchen island in the enormous stainless-steel and white kitchen with every modern convenience at his fingertips. Along the back wall, the wide glass window overlooked a sprawling lawn and mature bushes. A long pine farmers table rested in front with seats for twelve.
“You once said there was something you needed to tell me about you and Ella. Would now be a good time? You see, to answer your fucking question, yes, the military tag individuals. Even though the budget for the military has been declining over the last several years, there is a wide consensus that the use of geospatial technology such as Global Positioning Systems, remote sensing, and geographical information systems to track and locate our enemies is going to increase. Hell, the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency is creating human robots and devising bullets that reposition in midair. Who knows what else? What I do know is the military is invested in acquiring the latest scientific developments for national security. Having said that, I haven’t seen this sort of nano technology in operation—ever. I swear. Which begs the question: why is Ella important to them? I knew she was a target, but tagging her, abducting, inducing labor, and leaving her and the baby for dead? That’s medieval. There’s something else at play here. I want to know what.”
Marcus scratched his head and shoved his stray hair back from his face. He knew that going down this path would open up the Pandora box of secrets, but he had no other choice. In order to ensure Ella’s safety, they all needed to be on the same page. Hiding who they were wasn’t working.
“Is it safe to talk here?” Marcus inspected the lights and cupboards, wondering whether the place was bugged.
“Yes, I have had this place scrubbed clean, but follow me.” Steel rubbed his chin. The waves on his forehead elongated. He strode through the large kitchen and Marcus followed out through a side door.
Once in the corridor, Marcus walked down the carpeted hallway that led into an impressive fully stocked library. It was positioned right at the back of the house, overlooking the wild turquoise ocean. Once inside, Steel closed the door behind him and sighed. Bookcases filled the walls and the lingering smell of cigar smoke filtered over him. Marcus snapped his gaze back on Steel, who moved to his large walnut desk and removed a small cigar case. He lifted the lid and offered it to Marcus.
Inside, there was an impressive selection of high-quality cigars. He grabbed a fat Partagas and rolled it between his finger and thumb. When Steel flicked a flame in front of him, he popped the cigar in his mouth and sucked, lighting the smoke. Puffs of cigar smoke plumed around him. Geez, he’d quit smoking over a year ago but inhaling the scent and blowing the smoke out relaxed the tension in his shoulders.
“I would pour some drinks, but I’ve a feeling I need to keep a clear head while you tell me what the fuck this is all about. You know, before you start, when the medics found Ella, they thought she was dead. Her body felt ice-cold. Her skin looked mottled, like a corpse. I have pictures if you would like to see?”
Marcus glared at Steel, attempting to batten down the mounting rage that churned around in his guts. The idea of anyone seeing his Ella naked, let alone vulnerable in such a way, made the pulse in his neck throb as if it would rupture. He pulled on the cigar and blew out a big circle of smoke to release some of his fury. Holding the cigar between his fingers stopped him from throttling his boss.
“I want to see them all,” he snarled.
Steel pulled open his drawer and removed a beige file, which he slid across the desk.
Marcus spread his hand over the file and kept it there, not willing to look at the pictures yet. “Yes, Ella is different, but hell, Steel, you knew that. Else, why the fuck would you recruit someone as unfit as she is? She isn’t trained. She isn’t military. She has no experience what so fucking ever in the field. She’s unpredictable.”
They analyzed each other until Steel flared his nostrils and blew out a wide circle of smoke. “She’d be pissed at your assessment of her skills—I can tell you that for nothing, Drayton. Stop telling me what she isn’t and start with what she is. I do have a team out there that requires support and attention.”
His boss fixed him with that stare that told him he knew more than he was letting on. It was also the second time Steel insinuated he knew Ella better than he did and it grated on his nerves.
“Do you know what reincarnation is…?” Marcus stopped and waited for Steel to give him crap. Instead, his boss sat there, expressionless. It was either dive in deep and reveal everything or walk away.
“Christ, Drayton, just spit it out.”
“We’re soul-shifters born to the clan of Ariana, the moon goddess. We have existed inside other bodies before, and when we died, we were reborn into another life. Ella and I are bonded together, which is why I feel so fucking protective of her all the time.”
Once Marcus started, he recounted their past, and explained their conjoined history. He went into detail about how he was mated to Ella, and how the cycle of the moon affected her, almost as if he wanted him to know she was his forever. Finally, he revealed how in each life Ella had been tortured.
Steel’s face remained rigid like stone as he puffed away on his cigar. He listened and observed, not showing any emotion. The only flicker or change in his demeanor was when Marcus recounted how Ella suffered, to which Steel pulled on his bushy moustache. Talking about Ella being hurt over and over made Marcus wonder how she was the loving and giving woman that she was. For a moment, he was lost in his own words, thinking about her.
“So you’re a male witch?” Steel crushed the remains of his cigar in the ashtray. His eyes pinned Marcus with his unwavering directness.
“Steel, have you listened to anything I just said? We’re not witches. Ella was hung as a witch in the sixteenth century and that title has followed her ever since because most people are ignorant about our kind. We’re not casters, shifters, vampires, or werewolves. I cannot perform a spell. Ella is gifted, like you said; she’s a healer and I’ve been told I have the gift, like my mother—seeing a possible future. And before you say anything, eighteen months ago, I wouldn’t have believed any of this either. But that wit—”
Steel smiled a broad smile that Marcus didn’t like any more than his rigid facade. He had been about to say witch, and he knew as he narrowed his gaze at Steel, the man knew it. Steel brushed his moustache between his fingers.
“Like it or not, Ella does seem to cast a spell over people. That nickname has followed her for a reason. Even though it must haunt her. You’ve judged me wrong. I know this world is full of individuals who don’t quite fit the average human mold. That has never bothered me. Ever. All I’m interested in is reaching the goal. To protect those who need our help. To bring those responsible to justice when the system doesn’t. You’re right in thinking I wanted Ella on my team because I recognize talented individuals. As for her not being fully trained, she’s as determined as any man I have ever worked with to get the job done. She’s a warrior through and through. She’s got grit, integrity, and is without question a courageous and beautiful woman. Ella is not the fragile flower you paint. She has gifts way beyond what you speak. Look at her. Really look at her.”
Marcus listened to Steel and observed the man’s strong face, which softened with clear admiration as he talked about his wife. Shit, she didn’t just cast her spell over him. He knew already half his team were in love with her feisty spunk. He stamped out his cigar and fell back in his seat, searching around the neat study. He noted the many books lining the built-in white shelves. The rich ruby rug, cozy brick fireplace and smell of expensive cigars that filled the room. Man, Steel had money. He wondered about what that meant exactly. Who was his boss?
He sat up straight and pressed his hands on the desk as if to stop himself from reaching across the desk and grabbing Steel’s throat. “Is that tracking device yours? You have the money, the contacts. You didn’t seem at all fazed when I showed you earlier. Are you connected to the Elusti?”
Steel sat back and leaned his elbows on either side of his chair, which creaked as it moved. He laced his hands together and peered thoughtfully at Marcus for several moments before he spoke. “Look, I own Orion, but there’s a secret team within the government who invest in us called The Watchmen. They’re very aware of the Elusti’s name and reach. They are concerned there’s a secret war being played. The sides of which aren’t clear. To be blunt they help us and have been interested—shall we say—in gifted individuals who have over time captured their attention. I see your mind’s working overtime. You knew I had a personal reason to create this team, even if you don’t know the specifics. Orion tackles enemies like the Elusti and anyone who threatens Earth. We’re committed to ensuring that all who dwell here with the intention of maintaining peace are safe.”
Marcus sat up straight in the chair. He had wondered whether there were others sympathetic to Orion’s cause.
Steel continued. “I need individuals with extraordinary talents. I want them on my side. I want the edge against our adversaries. No, that tag isn’t mine. I wish it was. The truth is, I’ve been working on a similar implant but the size makes them slippery little buggers. The battery doesn’t last and at the moment we can’t get it to work. We don’t even know if this one works yet. What we do know is that we are always chasing after the Elusti. We need to know in advance. I’ll get my team to take this chip apart and run a full diagnostics on it. At the very least, we will have a lead on the manufacturer or supplier and hell, we may even be able to reproduce it. It’s a start. My other concern, one of many right now, is the same as yours. We have a security issue. Here on the base. I have instructed a select team to go through the security footage and we’ll sweep your place for bugs.”
Observing Steel, he knew even though they had differences, underneath it all, he trusted his boss and damn it, he had known all along they were different. Satisfied with what he had heard, he stood to leave.
“Thank you. Not that Ella is returning there any time soon.” He twisted to head for the door. He had to get to Jake and the doctor they had been interrogating.
“So I understand. Look, I’m happy to have her stay here. She mentioned the situation at home, and as a temporary solution to keep her close—to keep her here—I offered her the guest room,” Steel said in his gruff voice.
Marcus’s heart squeezed tight. Raising his head toward the ceiling, he wondered whether this day could get any fucking worse.
“You didn’t know,” Steel said, his voice softer.
“Nope.”
His heart ached at Ella’s reluctance to confide in him, but instead of reacting with violence as he wanted, he walked out and slammed the door behind him.