Forever Marked (Marked Series Book 1)

by Jesse Lorenzo

  “I am happy, Behr. I am,” Ellora quickly interrupted. She closed her eyes. “I can almost feel them here with me.” She opened her eyes again and looked up at Behr. “Thank you for bringing me here. You don't know what this means to me.” Her ever guarded mind wanted to let go of him quickly and take a step back, but she found herself raised up on tip-toes to hold him tighter. Ellora nuzzled her face in his strong, muscled chest. It was so comforting, and somehow familiar. She didn't want to let go.

  He brought his hand up and ran it gently down the length of her hair. “It's my pleasure, o’ course, love.” He breathed, pressing his lips into her hair. Slowly, Ellora came back to herself and reluctantly pulled away from the comfort of his arms. Turning her head around, she once again looked at the location where her parents fell in love. Behr reached out and wiped a stray tear away with the pad of his thumb. “It has long since been abandoned. A few shops came and went, but it’s been empty since 2007. It hasn’t been the same since they left, or so I’ve been told.”

  Instantly, Ellora’s mind started to wander in the direction of maybe someday taking it over and turning it into her office, for a contractor-for-hire site. But, just as quickly, she pushed the thought out of her head. She would never be as successful as her father was.

  “You ready to head back now, love?” Behr softly ran his hand down the length of her arm and once again laced their fingers together, holding her hand. This time, the gesture had her heart accelerating. Her body grew warm, and goose bumps spread across her sensitive skin. She was surprised that she didn't flinch or feel the need to pull away this time. Behr’s tender touch didn't bother her so much anymore. She guessed that too much had happened in such a short period of time.

  With a voice that was much too deep, she gave a low, “Yes,” in response to his previous question.

  At hearing Ellora’s husky response, Behr's expression changed. His eyes darkened, slightly smoldering, as if her answer was one of desire – which, at that moment, it was, if she was being completely honest with herself. Ellora wanted to want him. She just wasn't sure if she was ready to take the next step beyond whatever step they were in at that moment. They just stood there, Ellora’s hand protected in his. Some time passed, but it wasn’t awkward or tense. Their eyes were having a deep conversation of their own. This time, Ellora didn’t feel the need to turn away first. But she swore, if he kept looking down on her with that lustful, powerful look filled with an unspoken promise, her body was going to burst into flames.

  “Behr... BEHR!” Their moment was broken when somebody shouted after them. A scruffy bearded, tall, lanky man wearing a brown turtle neck and wild lion-like hair came bounding over to them, thankfully breaking the spell.

  “Aaaah, Behr, Moira done told me I'd find you walkin’ this way with the pretty American lass. Gavin has got his undergarments in a twist over you nae showing up all day. He's had to cancel some tourist trips for the day on account o’ the Sea Witch being out o’ commission. I thought you were supposed to be gettin' her fixed up today,” he blurted out in one long heavy breath, eyeballing Ellora jerkily from top to bottom. She nervously dropped Behr's hand.

  “I decided to take the day off. I’ve nae had one since... oooh, forever.” Behr looked down at Ellora and gave her a big smile, watching as she broke their point of contact. “I'll go deal with Gavin right now. Ellora, I’ll drop off all your supplies tonight when I come by Grady's for a drink. Will that be all right?”

  “Of course, I'm only a block down anyways, and I don't mind walking.” Right about now, I need the fresh air anyways, she thought to herself. She had so many confusing emotions from the days’ events that she wanted to sift through. “See you later, Behr. Oh, and thank you… for everything! I had a lot of fun today, and I’ll never forget it.” She smiled, turned, and reluctantly started making her way down the street. She didn’t know what was going on with her, but she had this overwhelming feeling growing inside of her. There was a powerful pull between them that made it harder and harder to walk away from him. The more time they spent together, the harder it was for her to keep her guard up and stay away. That was dangerous.

  Ellora heard a long whistle as the bearded man revealed to Behr, “Aye, lad, I'd never go back to work again, had that lass wanted to spend time with me, eh!” Her stomach twisted like a pretzel at the thought of people noticing her. As she made her way down the street, she noticed others smiling at her, so she made a pointed look back at Behr.

  “Yes, Lor, other people can see what you're doing, you know. You’re not invisible.” She scolded herself. Well, she probably just loaded the town with fresh new ammunition for gossip. Oh well, she better get used to being watched, gossiped about, and being the center of attention for a while. Deep down, though, she feared the attention; after all, she’d come here to hide. On the other hand, these people felt like family to her, and the thought of not being truly alone anymore was comforting.

  Walking into Grady's, Ellora heard a loud commotion that caught her attention. Taunts, chatter, and loud laughter echoed around the pub. She hollered her hellos, and everyone turned at the sound of her voice.

  “Hey, there she is!” shouted Patrick.

  All of a sudden, there was a squeal coming from behind the group of guys. A tall strawberry blonde came bouncing over to her, giggling, and threw her arms around Ellora’s neck. She gasped, shocked by the girl’s unabashed boldness.

  “I’ve heard so much about you. I feel as though I know you already, like a sister. It’s about time you got back. I've been surrounded by all these ol' goats over ’ere.” She motioned with her thumb over to the guys sitting on the stools, and winked.

  Ellora couldn’t help but smile. This girl’s positive attitude, stunning face, and bubbly personality was infectious. She liked her already.

  She was striking. Her wavy, strawberry blonde hair fell down around her shoulders. Light pink cheeks, pouty lips, and big chocolate-brown doe eyes accentuated her clear porcelain skin that most women would die for. She was taller than Ellora, and carried a toned, athletic body, with a thin narrow waist and a slight curve to her hips. Instantly, this girl reminded her of an old Hollywood actress from the 50's.

  “You’re right, Kristy. She is a gorgeous one! Her eyes are greener than emeralds!” Adelle linked her arm with Ellora’s and led her over to the bar. Lachlan, ever the polite gentleman, rose and waved a hand at his chair along with the chair next to his.

  “’Ave a seat, Miss Ellora, Miss Adelle.” Chivalry definitely wasn’t dead in this town.

  “Aye, lass, the whole town's in an up-roar ’bout you and Behr holdin' hands ’round town today… I thought you had errands to run, ah?” Patrick wiggled his eyebrows at Ellora, lifted his drink up, and saluted, obviously taunting her.

  “I did,” Ellora tried to defend herself. “Behr has the supplies all in his truck. He was helping me bring it all back.”

  “Moira already phoned over and told us you two were on some kind o’ a date.” Ellora could see Patrick was just loving this.

  “Well, I guess I don’t have to relay to you all that Moira says hi,” Ellora remarked sarcastically.

  “I hear he brought you to your da's ol’ hardware store, where your parents first met. Is that right, m’sweet? How romantic.” Kristy tilted her head and looked off in the distance, like someone just told her a fairytale… Ellora wanted to barf. These people were testing the boundaries of her comfort zone, but that's what families do, right? They tease each other. She let them taunt her for a while because she knew it was coming; she just didn't know they'd find out within the same hour. Ellora just shook her head and chuckled at her own expense.

  Gerard came up from behind the kitchen, stating, “It's good to see Behr interested in the ladies again. Aye, it’s good for him. He’s been with that awful wench o’ a sea dog for far too long. Devil take 'er! He is the best man I know, and he deserves a good woman.” Ellora blushed for the umpteenth time that day, shifting uncomfortably in her sea
t, as the whole bar seemed to be hell bent on setting her and Behr up. “You ladies want somethin' to eat?” Gerard asked, thankfully changing the subject.

  “I’ve been dreaming of your corned beef and cabbage soup. Got any o' that back there, Ger?” Adelle clapped her hands excitedly. “I’ve been travelling up here all day. I'm starved.”

  “Nothing for me, Ger. As Patrick pointed out, I’ve already had plenty to eat.” Ellora turned to Patty and stuck out her tongue playfully.

  Behr met up with Gavin right outside the bar. He felt guilty about abandoning his work responsibilities and not informing his friend. But, he definitely didn’t regret a single moment of the time he spent alone with Ellora. He only wished they hadn’t been interrupted when they were. He craved more time with her, and already had an undeniable need to get back to her. Behr ran his hands through his hair. “My apologies, ol' friend. I just lost the hour. Ellora needed me. Er… I mean, uh, she needed m’help bringing back her supplies for the pub is all, n' I was starving for some lunch. It's just been so long since I've taken a day for myself. After Shannon...”

  “Enough, ya ol' grizzly, I’m fine with that. No one deserves a vacation more n' you, my friend, but this isnae the Dark Ages. Ya should’ve called me on the cell n' let me know is all.” Gavin squinted his eyes and turned his lips up in a cocky smirk. “Whole town’s been talkin’ about the two of you holdin' hands n' gazing into each other’s eyes… Are you fallin’' for this lass already?”

  “I don't know, brother. There’s just something ’bout her. She intrigues me, n’ the more she tries to keep to herself, the more I find myself being drawn in. I want to know her.”

  “You want to know her, or know her?” Gavin winked and nudged Behr with his elbow.

  “Aye, she is exquisite. That much is plain, but it’s more than that. She stole my breath away the moment I laid eyes on her. You should’ve seen her, Gavin. When I showed her the spot her ma n' da met, she lit up and let all her guards down. All her emotions came forward, and I could finally see her. There was nothing more beautiful than watching her today.”

  “Aye, Behr, if it's not love you’re feeling when you look into those bright green gems, then you better step aside n' let me have a go, before the whole town comes sniffin’ her way!” Gavin chuckled when Behr lifted his head with a menacing sneer and gritted his teeth. Gavin raised both hands in surrender. “That's the test, lad. Aye, it’s love you feel when you can't bear the thought o’ her with another.” Gavin patted Behr on the shoulder. “Dinnae worry, my friend. I will head into town n' get all the repairs the Sea Witch will b’needin'. I ’ave a feeling you’d be more useful helpin' her out at Grady's, eh, lad? Now, let's get ourselves a drink.”

  Ellora watched Behr and Gavin walk in smiling, so she guessed all was well. She didn't want to get Behr in any trouble. They walked up to the bar and stopped short when Adelle came bounding up to them. “Hey, it’s the two brothers I've never wanted.” Laughing, she gave them both a squeeze and stepped back. “Didja hear the good news, boys?”

  “Aye, I have. Ellora told me. Congratulations, Ellie.” Behr gave Adelle a quick kiss on the cheek then made his way around her, leaving Gavin standing there with her. Behr walked over to where Ellora sat. “This seat taken, love?” Behr smiled brilliantly at her and gestured his hand up. “Hey, Grady, get us a pitcher o’ the goods, ol’ man.”

  “So I guess I didn't get you fired then, did I?” Ellora hoped.

  Behr shook his head and laughed dryly. “It's my boat, love. Only I can fire me.”

  Ellora nodded. “Good, I’d hate to have that on my conscience.” Grady brought the pitcher along with some mugs, wearing an ecstatic look on his face. Grady loved having so many people around. The pure joy that clearly shone, pouring out of his spirit, uplifted the formerly depressing atmosphere. “And some popcorn!” Ellora shouted to him over her shoulder. She looked up at Behr and winked, whispering, “For the show.” She laughed and pointed over to Gavin and Adelle. He nodded, too, and laughed along with her.

  Ellora carefully watched Gavin interact with Adelle, while he looked her over from head to toe. By the look on his face, she could tell that he still liked her. She wrapped her arms around his neck and gave him a big squeeze, but quickly let go. “It's so good to see you Gav. I heard you’re runnin' the Ferry Terminal now. I’m proud of you.”

  “Aye, Ellie, that I am. N' what’s this good news I've been hearin' about?”

  Adelle gave him a swift kiss on the cheek. “I've been offered a teaching position at the primary school. I've accepted and will start in September, so I'm moving back here permanently. Lor will be giving me some company ‘til I find my own place.”

  Gavin donned an amazingly bright smile, the first genuine smile Ellora had seen from him since coming here. He brought Adelle in for another hug and let his arms rest on her hips. “That’s great news, Ellie! We missed ya 'round here. You look beautiful.”

  Adelle jabbed him in the arm. “You’re not gettin' soft on me now, are ya, pretty boy?” Gavin flexed his muscle, playing around, trying his best to impersonate Arnold Schwarzenegger’s voice. “Actually, I’ve gotten harder with all this work I've been doing. Check out all my muscles.”

  “Aye, answering phones is the new workout craze, eh, Gavin,” Behr shouted at him.

  Adelle just shook her head and giggled at them both. “I've missed this place. I'm so glad to be home! Now, let’s have a drink and celebrate new beginnings!”

  Dominick Antonelli walked through the terminal at Hancock Airport with his fists clenched, frustrated with the lack of cooperation. He would have received even less information had he not been a former crime scene investigator for the Syracuse Police department. He still would be, if Dalton hadn't offered him so much more money to be his private investigator. Dominick definitely missed the action and excitement from his former job, but the money he earned working for Dalton was so much better.

  All the airline could give him was a receipt for a one-way ticket paid for with cash. He wanted to get his hands on the video surveillance, but without the proper warrant, or pressure from the SPD to help him out, a receipt was the best they could do. It didn't even specify where she was going. So, his next stop would be to go to her house and see if he could find any leads as to where she was going. He hoped he would get lucky once inside her home. Maybe he would find something she would’ve left behind that could help locate her -- a note reminding her of the departure time, her date book, a diary… whatever.

  Pulling up to the address, Dominick noticed the home was an impressively sized center-stair colonial. He looked inside the mail box to find it was packed with mail. “Wherever she left to, she never bothered to leave a forwarding address,” he voiced to himself. Seizing it all, he flung it into the open window of his car and continued up the driveway. As he walked up the wide steps and onto the massive porch, he spotted something. “Is that blood?” Kneeling down, he studied the dried up drip spots, noticing that they originated from inside, then continued down the steps and stopped halfway down the driveway. “Must’ve been where the subject got into the car. Hmmm… Wonder if whoever left this trail of blood went straight to the hospital, or the airport, from here?” Dominick mentally cataloged everything he had seen so far, worried what he would see once finally inside the house. He didn’t like what he’d seen so far.

  He got to the front door and realized that it was slightly ajar. Unclasping his holster, he removed his standard issue Glock 22 and raised it. Carefully, he pushed open the door. Dominick took a step back, then using the ‘slicing the pie’ technique, scanned 180 degrees of the room. Walking from one side of the door, he methodically arched his steps to the other. Dominick cleared as much of the room as he could from outside, then picked up the pace, passing through the fatal funnel at a diagonal. He glanced over his shoulder at the corner, for any possible hidden threats behind him as he stepped through the door. Adrenaline heightened his senses, helping him focus.

  Clear
ing each room on the first floor was done in much the same way. When he was positive there was no one in the house, he came back to the front entrance, finally noticing the dried up pools of blood and the skidded smear marks left behind. “Holy shit! What the Hell did Dominick get me involved in?” He let out a nervous breath and holstered his weapon. An unsettling feeling grew inside of him, making his gut twist. He wondered what had happened in here, and what was really going on with the young girl he was ordered to locate. There was definitely more to the story than a run-away investment. Dominick couldn't help it; the CSI in him switched on, and immediately, he wanted to solve this obviously violent crime he’d literally walked into.

  Following the blood droplets up the stairs, he observed the trail as it continued to the left. Once again, he took out his gun and kept to the right side of the hall, heading toward the last room. The door was wide open. As he scanned and cleared the room, he was amazed at how trashed it was. Tables were knocked over, lamps were broken, and rugs had been pushed aside, all telling an unspoken story of an incredible struggle for one’s life. Dominick spotted a straight line of sprayed blood on the wall, the spray pattern giving the impression that someone had been stabbed. This was obviously where the attack started, but there didn't seem to be any signs of a break-in that he could see at the front entrance. The attacker must have gotten in another way, he noted thoughtfully. He was going to have to come back when it was light out so he could inspect all doors and windows.