Marked. Part I: The missing Link

by J. M. Sevilla

  They both begin making their cups, and I take the opportunity to look at Jay, hoping I can read his body language to see if what he's saying is a lie or the truth.

  Nothing. I can't read a damn thing.

  Quake gives Sharp some kind of signal with his hands. Sharp's free hand starts grazing up my leg and I stiffen. He leans into my ear, “I guess that means your tight pussy's mine now.” He then licks my ear.

  I can't hide the disgust on my face and I nudge him off me. “Get your hand off the middle of my legs or I swear to God I will scream, and I don't give a shit if you shoot me because I would rather have a bullet cut through me than your dick,” I sneer under my breath looking him dead on, hoping my eyes reveal the menacing hate I feel for him.

  “She this feisty with you?” Sharp removes his hand, “Cuz she's been giving us lip this whole time and I'm getting real fucking tired of it.”

  “We finished here guys? I'd like to go back to finishing my meal in peace. It's already going to be cold, which I hate.” Jay takes a gulp of his coffee before adding the rest of the creamer to his cup. “Or do you have something else you want to throw at me?”

  Quake rubs his hands together on the table, appearing nervous, which throws me off – he's been collected this whole trip. “We know where Mark is, or at least we did five days ago,” his voice is low, frightened.

  “Bullshit. I'm done with you two. Leave,” Jay growls.

  “It's true. Laz said if the girl doesn't work to use this as a last resort.”

  “So where is he?”

  “You do the job, we tell you.”

  “How do I know you're not lying?”

  Quake throws another picture on the table but Jay snatches it before I can see.

  “This could have been taken months, years ago.”

  “Check the date on the corner of the newspaper.”

  Jay scowls in a way I have never seen and the air around us changes. I can feel anger emanating off him, mixed with something else that makes my skin crawl and my hairs stick up.

  “What exactly does she want me to do?” Jay asks, his head bent, still staring at the picture.

  Tears spring to the corners of my eyes. Whoever is on that picture is obviously more important to him than me, than my life. My heartache takes on another level of torturous pain.

  “Come back to our motel and we'll fill you in in private.”

  Jay takes out his wallet and throws a fifty on the table, “Let's go.”

  What's going to happen to me now? Maybe I'll get lucky and they'll dump me on the side of the road, alive.

  Quake gets out and stands in front of the table, waiting for me to get out after Sharp, who leads the way. Quake pushes me into Sharp to hide the zip-ties around my wrists and we walk to the car.

  “You can follow us,” Quake informs Jay.

  “I'd rather ride with you. We can talk in the car, get this over with quicker.”

  Quake nods, gives Jay a pat down and removes his weapons, then they get in.

  Sharp opens my door.

  “Leave me here,” I beg, making my face as pathetic and lost as I can. “I swear I won't tell anyone. Please.”

  “You know too much,” he shoves me into the back seat and my head lands on Jay's lap, who helps me sit up.

  He touches the zip-ties, “Is this necessary? What's she going to do with three trained killers and no weapons of her own?”

  Sharp buckles me in, grazing my breasts as he does, “So you do care?”

  “Hardly. It draws way too much fucking attention. At least five people noticed in there, and with her surrounded by the three of us I wouldn't be surprised if someone calls the cops.” Jay lifts the zip-tie up and I wince in pain from it digging into my skin, “So lets get this removed before we get to the motel and even more people see. Lets make it seem like it's her choice to be with guys like us. You two are such fucking amateurs.”

  Sharp looks to Quake who gives a “go for it” nod. Sharp draws out his pocket knife and cuts off the zip-tie, nicking my skin in the process. I bet he did it on purpose. Jerk.

  “Watch it, Sharp,” Jay warns once he's in the drivers seat.

  Sharp starts the car and heads towards the motel.

  Jay's hand hasn't let go of mine and his thumb is rubbing over the raw skin. I hate how much his touch gives me pleasure. He moves to the other wrist and examines it with his thumb too.

  I look at his face, which is frowning, and I can't see his eyes but I feel them penetrating me, studying me.

  “They hurt you anywhere else?” His voice has turned warm. It's hard not to melt into it and forget he doesn't care if I'm dead or alive.

  I decide not to answer. He doesn't deserve an answer, not if he's going to leave me with them.

  I rip my hands away from him, cross my arms under my chest, turn my head, and stare out the window.

  Jay sighs and sits back into his seat.

  “So, is it solely Laz who I will be helping?” Jay starts in, “Anyone else involved?”

  “Only Laz,” Quake answers, turning around and keeping a gun pointed at Jay.

  Jay keeps talking, unfazed and obviously familiar with guns being pointed at him, “Anyone else know where I'm at?”

  “Just the people Laz hired.”

  “How'd you find me?”

  No response.

  “Don't make me repeat myself.”

  “YouTube video of you drifting on the tracks, then a hot piece of ass jumping on you. You know the rest of the fucking with your mouths scene that happened.”

  Jay scowls, curses under his breath, and stares out the window.

  We go on for miles of desert road and I know our motel is approaching fast. Familiar panic sets in on the unknown of what will happen to me.

  “Lily,” Jay says, interrupting my thoughts of figuring out how I'm going to get out of this alive. “In about ten seconds this car is going to crash, I need you to brace yourself.”

  Huh?

  I whip my head to look at him.

  “What the fuck are-” Quake starts but Jay talks over him.

  “Now Lily, get ready,”

  Both men in front slump down. Quake's gun drops from his hand and Jay catches it by the grip handle. Sharp's hands release the wheel and the car accelerates, most likely from his foot weighing down on the gas pedal.

  I look to Jay wide-eyed and scared. He unbuckles, reaches through the two seats, takes hold of the wheel, downshifts the automatic, and slowly engages the emergency brake. The car skids but he maintains control and guides it off the road, letting the desert weeds assist in stopping the tires.

  My mouth has fallen open at how effortless he made that all seem.

  Jay rearranges the men. Sharp's hands are back on the wheel, his foot off the gas. He rummages in the glove box before resting Quake's head on the dashboard. He pulls pills out of his pocket, and places them in a cup holder. Next, he grabs their cell phones, wallets, papers, and Sharp's gun.

  Jay sits back and opens his door to get out, “We need to move.”

  He goes around to the driver's side and pops the trunk. He closes the door and I hear him gather his weapons in the back.

  He comes around to my side and opens the door, carrying a black duffel bag in his hand, “Come on Lily, we need to move before the cops show.”

  I can't seem to move, I'm in shock.

  Jay bends down to unbuckle me, “I can't carry you, it'll slow us down. Are you hurt, can you move?” He's studying my face inches away from it and I feel the pull to brush his lips to mine. That triggers my anger and I push him away.

  “I'll wait for the cops.”

  Jay takes hold of my arm and pulls me further down the road.

  “Stop it. Let me go.”

  “I need you to trust me and I need you to pick up your pace.”

  “Why the hell should I trust you? And what the hell happened back there?” Jay has let go of my arm and I'm running alongside him.

  “I poisoned them.”
>
  “What?! When?”

  “At the diner. Did you seriously think I was going to let them have you?”

  “Yes.”

  He shakes his head, jaw clenching, “Well, I wasn't. I saw them coming before you even entered the place. I can't believe Laz still uses those idiots.”

  “You weren't going to leave me?” Relief washes over me.

  “It really fucking pisses me off that you would think that. Fuck, Lily! Stab my fucking eye out why don't you.”

  “What was I supposed to think, considering the way you left things and how you acted at the cafe? And who's Mark?”

  Jay comes to a dead stop, taking me with him by the elbow. “Don't ever, say that name again. Do you understand? I never want to hear that name come out of your mouth. Ever!”

  “O-k-kay, I won't,” I stutter out at a whisper, and them we are running again.

  “Can we slow down please,” I pant as my lungs breathe fire.

  “No.”

  I have not even begun my questioning, but I won't be able to talk at the fast pace we are running. I can't fully think about all that just happened. All I can do is concentrate on running and not passing out. Jay looks like we are casually walking, where I've turned into a sweating, red, puffy mess.

  I follow him into a retirement community a few miles down the road, and he leads me to the first house on the left. Jay goes to the driver's side of the parked car in front and pulls out a slim jim from the black duffel bag. I put my weight against the car's trunk to help hold me up as I bend over, gasping for air.

  I hear a car door open.

  “Get in.”

  I look up to see Jay hop in the drivers seat, throwing the duffel in the back, but my legs are too weak to move. He gets out, picks me up with one arm, and throws me roughly into the passenger seat.

  He gets back in and fiddles under the steering wheel. The car purrs to life.

  “Are we stealing this car?!”

  Jay backs out and we continue in the direction of the motel.

  “What if they saw us! We could get arrested!”

  “It's fine Lily, they aren't home.”

  “How do you know?!” I can't believe I just committed a felony!

  “When we passed this place I watched a couple get into a car parked next to it and drive off. We'll switch cars at the motel.”

  “We're going back there!” Panic starts up again. “We can't go back there,” I dig into his arm, eyes wild and frantic.

  Jay scans me, “Why?”

  “They'll come back. Please Jay, don't make me go back there.” Dammit now my throat is closing up. Don't cry Lily, don't cry.

  “They're dead and we have to go back. I need whatever it is they have there.”

  “They’re dead? You killed them?”

  “Had no choice. Besides, they can't fuck with you and expect to get away with it.” He takes a quick glance at me, “Did they hurt you?”

  “Not really.”

  “Care to elaborate?” He asks through clenched teeth,.

  “Um...well that Sharp guy stuck his tongue down my throat, and the other one whipped my back with his belt when I tried to run away.”

  Jay's skin inflames and his knuckles whiten from gripping the steering wheel. A slew of curse words fly out.

  We pull into the motel and I point Jay to our room where he parks in front.

  He walks to the room and makes an irritated hand gesture for me to follow him. I shake my head no. I am not going back in there. Jay repeats the gesture but I don't budge. He accelerates over to me and throws open the door, “Let me make this clear. You do what I tell you or die.”

  “You would kill me?” I gasp, tears stinging my eyes.

  Jay lets out a loud roar, “You really think shit of me, don't you? I meant, if you don't follow my instructions you will get herself killed. I know what I'm doing. You have to fucking trust me. Not even death can stop me from keeping you safe.”

  “I seriously doubt that,” I mumble under my breath. He's not a God, although his body sure is built like one. I unbuckle and follow him in, because frankly, I don't want to die. I'm still not sure whether I can trust him, but I'd rather be under his supervision than another one of his “acquaintances.”

  I step into the room and push back the memories of humiliation and pain. I wrap my arms around myself, squeeze my eyes shut, and take in a deep breath before opening them.

  Jay is watching me, brows creased, causing his forehead to wrinkle, and his teeth are grating together, making his jaw compress and accentuating every facial muscle. He takes a hesitant step towards me and reaches his arm out to touch my face, but I lean back to avoid it. He lets out almost a saddened sigh and swipes the top of his head.

  “Did you see where they may have stored any papers?”

  “No, but when we got here Quake took the motel's Bible into the bathroom for a long time. He doesn't strike me as the religious type.”

  Before I finished Jay was at the bed, opening the bedside table and pulling out the Bible. He opens it but it appears normal as he flips through the pages. About a quarter of the way in a small square has been carved out. He pulls something out that I can't see.

  “What is that?”

  “Tiny USB,” He shoves it into his pocket, “ Anything else?”

  “They hid a briefcase under the mattress, which made me nervous because they were so secretive about me seeing anything the whole time, unless it was doling out information I asked about you.”

  Jay's whole body stiffens exactly how I anticipated from my comment. I think this time around I might enjoy bringing up topics he doesn’t want me knowing anything about. If we're stuck together I might as well have fun with it. I'm past letting him frighten me. My broken heart is a way more powerful emotion. I'll let it fuel me and cultivate it into seeking vengeance the only way I know how to strike him, with the only weakness he seems to have: his past.

  Jay throws back the mattress on the bed and grabs the briefcase, “Once we're back in the car I expect you to tell me exactly what you think you know about me.”

  He removes a Glock from behind him and hands it to me, “What else?”

  “For me?” I ask, hand wavering above it, uncertain.

  “Keep it on you at all times.” Jay grabs my hand and places the gun in it.

  I tuck it into the back of my jeans, “You're letting the hostage have a weapon?”

  “You're not my hostage,” a surly Jay bites out. “You're better with a gun than most, and I've seen a lot of gun action in my day.”

  A mild warmth coats my skin at his praise, but I don't let it show on my face. I don't want him knowing he still affects me.

  He does another sweep of the room, and we leave once he's satisfied that nothing went unnoticed.

  He opens the passenger side for me.

  “I thought we were changing cars?”

  “Changed my mind. There's a shopping center thirty minutes from here. We'll do it there.”

  Fine, whatever, it really doesn't make any difference to me since I bet the next car will be stolen too. Oh joy.

  We head further from the way we came, away from the direction of my home.

  “When do I get to go home?”

  Jay scrubs his face with his hand, “I'm sorry Lily, but you won't be going home for a while. Not until I know no one else will use you to get to me.”

  “How long will that be?”

  “A few days, weeks, can't say for sure.”

  “Seriously? But what about my family? People will be looking for me. Oh god, are they in danger too?” I roll down my window, needing fresh air, hoping it will help the nausea churning in my stomach. I wouldn't be able to live with myself if my family got involved in this mess that has become my life.

  “They're fine.”

  “You thought I would be fine!” I yell, “And look at me now! In a car with a man who has killed god knows how many people after escaping two men who kidnapped me, barely fed me, jerked themselves o
ff to my naked body, and whipped me when I misbehaved!” I scream and punch his arm, satisfied when the car jerks from the impact, “I'm so fucking mad at you right now! You broke my fucking heart and didn't even bother to say goodbye, like I meant nothing to you, which I'm beginning to think I didn't! Then the next time I see you, you act like you could care less if I'm dead or alive! Aaahh!” I cry out in frustration, hitting him again.

  He rubs his bicep and curls his lip in anger, “You finished yelling? Or is there more you need to get out?”

  “That's just the beginning!”

  “That's what I thought,” his smile is coy, like he knows me so well, which infuriates me even more. What is it about Jay that makes every emotion I feel wild and uncontrolled? “If you're done for now, I'd like a turn.”

  “I don’t care what you have to say.” Okay, I do, but I'm too stubborn to admit it. Which is a new trait for me, I've always been overly passive.

  “Too bad, because here it goes.” He points a finger at me but stays focused on the road, “I'm mad at you too!” I start to interrupt but he slaps his hand over my mouth, “No talking. The fact that you would think I would let them kill you or harm you hurts more than all my scars combined. I do, however, owe you an apology. I should have listened to myself about not getting involved with you. Getting involved with you weakened me. I can't have weaknesses in my life; weakness gets you killed. I let you in and became so overly consumed with you that I slacked. I should have caught on that I was being followed. If I hadn't been selfish I would have never let you in, and now you're in this mess for who knows how long, and instead of thinking about my next move all I can think about is how those asswipes treated you and who I can punish for it, because someone will suffer for what they did to you, and that's not a distraction I need right now.” Jay stops to take in a deep breath. He smirks at me, finally removing his hand, “You follow any of that?”

  My eyebrows are raised in astonishment, “You've come a long way from my neighbor who avoids conversation.”

  “Well you've come a long way from my sweet, never says a bad word, next door neighbor. You swear almost as much as I do now.”

  “Nobody swears as much as you do.”

  Jay grins, “You haven't met Bones yet.”