Forever Marked (Marked Series Book 1)

by Jesse Lorenzo

  “Thanks, Doc.”

  Ellora wrenched open her car door, jumping inside at lightning speed, and locked the doors immediately. It took only a moment for her to get a grip on her debilitating shock. She frantically searched her pockets for the car keys, panicking as she checked the front then the back. As despair washed through her, her body broke out into cold sweats. Her stomach bottomed out when it dawned on her… that she’d left the keys in the house. Ellora was hyperventilating as she frantically tried to think of another way to escape. The fragrance of the pine air freshener seemed overpowering now that her senses were on high alert. The unpleasant smell assaulted her nose, making her feel nauseated. She hung her head in defeat…

  BANG! BANG! BANG! Ellora leapt out of her seat as the monster nearly cracked the glass pounding on the window. She turned her head slowly, terrified at what would happen next. Her heart slammed hard inside her chest. His evil black eyes glared, unblinking, back at her. Pressing his face against the glass, he lifted his hand up and jingled the keys… Ellora’s keys.

  “Forget these?”

  Time stood still. The jingling of the keys seemed to echo loudly on the quiet street. The sound grew louder and louder as Ellora’s reality came crashing down around her.

  She watched in horror as he lowered the hand that grasped the keys. Everything moved in slow motion as her brain tried to wrap itself around her predicament. She heard him push the key into the lock. Ellora lunged into the passenger seat, getting as far away from him as possible. She grabbed the door handle and waited for him to unlock the door. If she could make a run for it, she’d yell and scream down the street until someone helped her. Ellora pushed the door open the moment he unlocked it. Scrambling to get out, she slipped on the blood that coated her leather seats. Ellora was halfway out of the door when his hand came down hard, grabbing her ankle in a tight vise like grip. She yelped in surprise. He yanked her leg back, almost pulling it right out of the socket. Ellora winced in pain as she fought against his powerful hold. He easily forced her back into the car.

  “Where do you think you’re going, sweetheart?”

  Ellora held on to the door handle with all her might, using it to pull herself away from him. Her muscles twitched and shook as she used every bit of strength she had left, hoping she could break free from his unbearable command. She stared at the opened door, focusing on her escape. Grabbing the door handle, she pulled harder. Ready to run.

  “You will only get hurt worse if you try to fight me.” His fist came down hard, pounding into the gaping wound in her back, disabling her efforts. Ellora’s scream shook the windshield, and she didn’t stop. Her forceful shriek grew hoarse and eventually became nothing more than a breathy whisper. Blood splattered all over the interior of the car and continued to ooze out onto the seats. Excruciating pressure exploded in her back, throbbing from the abuse. The sensation had her close to losing consciousness. She finally let go of the door handle. Her arms fell limply on the seat. The whole world was spinning as she felt him tugging her onto the driver’s seat and flipping her on her back.

  In the distance, sirens blared, announcing their arrival getting louder the closer they came. Ellora felt hopeful that they were coming their way. “Well, I can't have you talking, my sweet.” He adjusted his body so that he was straddling her. He pinched her nose with one hand and covered her mouth with the other, effectively cutting off her air. He pressed all of his body weight onto Ellora’s face. The punishing heaviness bore down on her, and she feared her front teeth would break under the pressure. She struggled weakly, trying to pry his hands off. If she could move just enough, she would be able to suck in a breath, but it was no use. Blood vessels broke in her eyes as the pressure built from the lack of oxygen. Her head felt like needles were piercing her from the inside.

  “That a girl. Sshhhhhh, just shut your eyes. It will be over soon, honey,” he whispered soothingly, which made it that much more disturbing. All her strength left her body. No longer able to fight him off, she stopped kicking and let her legs fall limp. Ellora’s body finally gave up the fight. Her eyes blurred with the flood of tears. Her last thoughts were of her parents… She would finally get to see them on the other side. Everything got dark and cloudy as she slowly faded away into oblivion.

  He rose up off her, grabbed the keys, and walked toward the ambulance that approached him. Waving his arms, he shouted, “Help! This girl needs help!”

  Ellora awoke with a start, jerking her head up off the pillow, and gasping for air. She took a look around and felt the panic start to rise up as a dreadful sense of déjà vu crept inside her. She was in a hospital room, and she didn't remember how she got there. Ellora was clenching her bed sheets in tight balled-up fists. A giant hand came down on top of hers. She gasped, startled, when she realized she wasn’t alone. She flinched and yanked her hand away. Breathing deeply, Ellora readied herself for an ear-piercing scream. She grabbed for the tubes in her arms to rip them out. That’s when she heard the most divine voice she’d ever heard.

  “Relax, love, it's all right. You're ’avin’ a bad dream, but you’re safe ’ere with me.” He steadied her hands in his and rubbed them soothingly. “You gave us all a scare, Lor.” His voice was warm, deep, and irresistible. It had her whole body humming like a bee to honey. Ellora closed her eyes listening to his breathing, letting it calm her.

  “Oh my God, what happened?” She rubbed the restless sleep from her eyes, and pinched the bridge of her nose. That action made her cringe. Her head pounded at every small movement she made. Sitting up in the bed proved to be difficult as her back protested every move.

  “You dinnae remember? You collapsed in Grady's pub. We brought you ’ere a few days ago. Lachlan’s been caring after you. He got your fever down and patched you back up.” Behr left that hanging in the air. Ellora looked up at him, straight in his eyes, and realized that he knew. She nodded, not knowing what else to say. What could she say?

  They let the silence stretch out between them. It wasn’t awkward or uncomfortable… just quiet. Behr was holding her hand, rubbing the back of it gently with his other hand. Ellora was happy that it was Behr who was there beside her when she woke up. She watched him caress her hand, enjoying the feeling of it. Surprisingly, his touch didn’t bother her, not even after such a gut-wrenching nightmare.

  Ellora took the time to get a good look at him. He was unshaven and disheveled, and he looked like he hadn't slept. It was only then that she realized Behr was in the same clothes that he had been wearing when they were working together. She’d always remember the amazing connection they shared that day. Then something he had said before finally sunk in...

  “You said I've been here for how many days?”

  Behr tilted his head to the side and nodded. “Aye, you’ve been here for two and a half days, love.”

  Ellora blew out a breath. “You've seen my back then.” Her face flushed with humiliation.

  “Nae, love, I wouldnae invade your privacy in that way. I do know about it, though. It was badly infected, Lor. Lachlan had to take out the old stitches and replace them. Ah, the pain you must have felt...” Behr shook his head as a pained look spread across his face. “You should’ve told someone, if not me, love.”

  Ellora just shrugged; it had always been hard for her to ask someone for help, or let them see her vulnerability. She didn’t like feeling helpless. Plus, how would she bring up that subject? ‘Hi, my name’s Ellora. I’m homeless, I was almost killed, and oh yeah, check out this bodacious scar on my back. Isn’t she a beaut?’

  “I'm sorry I worried you all.” She looked up at Behr, tears filling her eyes, and continued. “I should have been smarter about caring after myself. I... I should've told someone, I know, but I just wasn't...” She hesitated. Ellora was so bad at this, at explaining how she really felt. She’d gotten so used to hiding her real feelings. It was hard trying to talk about it, especially with this man.

  “I just wasn't ready to tell anyone, or ask for hel
p. I'm still not ready. I had just met you all. I... guess I’m having a hard time trusting again. I am absolutely petrified.” Lowering her head, the tears streamed down her flushed cheeks.

  “Well, love, you dinnae ’ave to ask a soul. You ’ave help now, whether you want it or not. You dinnae ’ave to go through this alone. We are ’ere for you… I am ’ere for you, and I won’t let anything harm you. Not while I live.” Ellora looked up at him through her wet lashes with disbelief. If only he knew. Before she could refute him, he went on. “Adelle will help you clean and dress the wound. She and I ’avenae told a soul what we now know.” Behr reached out and tucked a stray hair behind her ear. His hand lingered there as he rubbed his thumb soothingly back and forth across her cheek. Gazing into Ellora’s eyes, he added, “And it's going to stay that way, love.”

  Ellora placed her hand over Behr's, lacing their fingers together. She placed his hand on her lap, holding it tight. “Thank you. I'm sure everyone at the bar has already told everyone in town by now, though.” Her anxiety rose to new heights at the thought of everyone knowing her hidden secret. She wouldn’t be able to stand the pitying looks. People would be undressing her with their eyes, imagining her grotesque scar.

  Behr shook his head adamantly. This movement snapped Ellora out of her terrible thoughts. “All they know is that you had a bad fever. The whole lot of 'em think you caught the flu, love. Almost everyone has stopped by Grady's or ’ere to check up on you.”

  Looking around the room, she finally noticed that it was flooded with flowers and balloons. In the corner, on the counter, were empty food cartons, and the trash was full. Behr followed her gaze, and commented, as if reading her mind. “Kristy has been cooking non-stop since that very first night. She knows nae what to do with herself if she cannae help. She made sure I stayed well fed while I sat by your side. I ’ave but to say the word, and she will ’ave food brought down faster than the turn of the tide! Fattened up is what she'll ’ave ya by the end of the week, if she’s got a say in it.” Behr lifted his head, peaking at her through the curtain of his thick lashes. His mouth turned up in a crooked grin.

  Ellora laughed weakly at his expression, but a sharp pain stopped her immediately. Wincing as she felt her stitches tighten with the slightest move in the wrong direction, she drew in a quick breath. She pinched her eyes closed and hissed, “Oh, ouch, don't make me laugh. It hurts.”

  When she blew the breath slowly back out and opened her eyes, Ellora saw the concern all over Behr's face. He looked exhausted. She felt awful that he must’ve felt obligated to stay there with her, since she had no family or friends to be there by her side instead. God, she must look so pathetic. This thought made her soul ache for her parents to be there, to hold her in the safety of their loving arms just one more time. Ellora wondered if she would always feel this empty -- this alone.

  “Well, I'm okay now, Behr. You don't have to stay here any longer. I'm sure you have better things to do than sit here with me. I make poor company. I can't even laugh at any of your hilarious jokes.” She scrunched her nose and smirked, trying her best to tease him. Raising her arm like a queen on a thrown, Ellora flicked her wrist. “I release you! You may go now.”

  Behr had his head down, looking at her delicate hand in his, and snickered lightly at her sad attempt at humor. Drawing imaginary figure eights on the back of her palm, he shook his head slowly then raised it, leveling her with his deep penetrating stare.

  “Miss Ellora Belle Sutherland, trying to be rid o’ me so soon, are ya? A hard job o’ it you'd ’ave, too, if you knew me well enough.” His crooked grin turned into an erotic smirk. Looking at his sultry eyes and dangerous smile was like looking into an eclipse. You know you shouldn’t stare, but the magnificent beauty of it drew you right in. Her stomach performed little flip-flops when his expression darkened. “I am nae the sort of man to back off so easily once I have something I want in my sights.”

  Ellora shook her head, ready to interrupt his banter with a witty comeback, when Behr reached up and cupped her chin. He lifted it so she was again looking him straight in the eyes, as his playful expression turned serious. “You ’ave people ’ere who care about you now. You'd best be used to it...” Behr hesitated for a moment, like he was debating on what he should say next.

  “And I... I care about you, Ellora.” He let that sink in and continued hesitantly. “I, or um, we will be by your side. Whatever is going on, you dinnae ’ave to endure it alone. Think on that.”

  But, she didn't want to. She didn't want to think about anything right then, but getting out of there. Being in a hospital bed so soon after the last incident made her want to run and hide. The longer she stayed, the more fearful she became. Each tick from the oversized clock above the door felt like a countdown to her inevitable capture. She felt like the longer she laid in bed, the better the chance that he would find her there.

  “When can I check out of here? I want to get out of here, like now! I DON'T like hospitals!” Ellora felt the panic grow steadily inside of her. She could tell by the look on Behr's face that she wouldn't be able to get out of there as fast as she wanted. Cold sweats appeared on her forehead, and her palms grew clammy as she started to hyperventilate. The walls felt like they were closing in on her. Prickles of stress spread across her body, the sensation making her want to claw at her skin.

  Thankfully, that’s when Lachlan walked through the door with confidence in his step and a bright smile on his face. “As long as it's the facility that has you desperate to go, and not the doctor that's been caring for you. How is my most popular patient today?” Lachlan stopped at the foot of her bed, holding a clipboard and what she assumed was her chart in his hands.

  “Hey Dr. Lach,” Ellora called out. “It's not you. Hospitals are creepy. So Dr. L, when can I bust outta this joint? I’ve got things to do and people to see.”

  Behr let out another hearty laugh that sounded deep and soulful, which made her spine tingle. Ellora realized then just how little he laughed when she first met his broody self, and decided then how much she loved the sound. She would try to get him to laugh more often. For both of their benefits.

  “Well, you’ve got the fire back in that spirit of yours! That's a good sign. Let me make a note of it in your chart.” Lachlan mocked writing with an imaginary pen, verbalizing his pretend notations... “Resumed her normal smart ass comments.” The two men laughed at the doctor’s dig at Ellora. “In all seriousness, Miss Ellora, you will be well on your way tomorrow morn’. You will be heading home with an antibiotic, which you MUST keep taking until finished. It is strong on the stomach, so take it with food. I also put up something for the pain if you should need it.”

  Lachlan was silent for a moment, then he walked around the foot of the bed to her side. He finally donned a serious expression before continuing. “I printed out an instruction sheet on how to properly clean and dress the wound, which you must do in order to have it heal correctly. Miss Adelle demanded one as well, so I printed one out for her. You could use some help. It will be a difficult task for you alone.”

  Ellora looked down, feeling guilty for being a bad patient and not taking proper care of herself the first time. She just nodded, ashamed. Behr gently squeezed the hand he was still holding, and she liked the way hers felt in his strong, encouraging hold. She realized how she hadn't shied away like she usually did when he was this intimate and forward. Ellora was at ease with him. She didn’t feel a need to yank her hand away either. Not only was his caress okay, she liked how it felt.

  “I know. I'm realizing that I'm going to have to start asking for help when it's needed. There are some things I simply can't do on my own, no matter how uncomfortable and on edge it makes me feel. I get it, Doc. I will have Adelle help me. I’m sorry for all the trouble and worry I’ve caused you all.”

  Behr snapped his head up as though what Ellora had said had a different meaning to him. He searched her face, almost waiting for her to say more -- willing her to say more. She
knew he was aware of her back, and had heard of the constant night terrors. It’s an explanation he wanted, but one she couldn’t give to him.

  “Oh, and thank you, Lachlan, for everything.”

  Lachlan nodded his head. “You are nae trouble, Ellora. Dinnae worry yourself.” He looked at her then to Behr. “All right, I will sign off on your discharge papers for tomorrow. Get some rest. I will see you a little later.”

  “Soooo... what will it be, love?” Behr lifted up one eyebrow, reached over to catch another stray hair, and curled it between his fingers before tucking it behind her ear. Ellora couldn’t see what she looked like, but she was sure she had a severe case of bed-head. She must’ve looked like she stuck her finger in a light socket.

  Her eyebrows knitted together in confusion, so Behr continued. “You must be starved with nothin’ but this liquid drip in your veins. What would you like to eat, love? Just name it and it's yours.”

  With eyes as big as saucers, she realized just how hungry she was. “Oooooh, a double bacon cheeseburger, with everything on it, toasted buns, greasy fries, and a thick chocolate milkshake… for starters.” She snickered with amusement at the shocked look on Behr’s face. “Don’t look all judgy. I’m hungry, okay,” Ellora shot back, amused by his expression.

  “What was it you were sayin’ ’bout toasted buns now, love?” Behr lifted his eyebrows and gasped with mock horror.

  “Speaking of which, you need to get your buns in there for a much needed shower.” Pointing a weak finger at the washroom in the back, she cupped her hand around her mouth and whispered, “You kinda stink!”