All is Lost (All Series, Book 2) (6 page)

Feeling my heart hammering as my anxiety
skyrockets, I ask, “What are you saying,” Pausing a beat, I scan
their faces before adding, “The night of Morgan's welcome home
party there was a possibility that she was a target to be injured.
Was she also the intended target in last night’s shooting spree?”
They remain silent, but their stoic expressions give me my answers.
They aren’t personally invested in Breesan, like I am or my heart
is, so they can remain indifferent, but I can’t.

“
Fuck,” I growl loud, scrubbing my
hands through my hair.

“
We'll get to the bottom of this
Marcus.” Kole says, joining our conversation after ending his phone
call. “We just need to keep it on the down low. There is no
exception. In order for us to help her, we must do it all off the
record. The DTF administrators are pissed off knowing that we were
involved in the shoot out and I’ve promised full disclosure. The
police department wants written statements from you and Breesan.
But first I want to review them.” He nods at Rhys as he continues.
“Homicide isn't our department and this is
not
our case.
However, because Breesan aligns with our case we can justify it,
sort of. But not until there's something concrete tying Dr Asshole
to this shit. So we will stay under the radar while protecting her
and hopefully without jeopardizing the Ryske
investigation.”

“
That's why Attacus came in this
morning,” Rhys says. “No one knows he is here. That of course
always works to his mission’s advantage, but now it's imperative
that HQ doesn't think our mission and your part in the operation
are compromised. During the ongoing police investigation he’ll link
up with Raithe avoiding the investigators completely.”

“
Right,” I say.

“
Marcus, we knew about you and
Breesan before last night.” Rhys says locking eyes with me and I
stare suspiciously. “Whether you choose to admit anything is your
business, but we've seen it coming for a while. Julia may have too,
therefore blowing your cover. If there is a correlation between the
shooting and your discovery in this mission then the powers that be
will shut us down.”

Dammit, that could be it
. Julia could
have figured out I was working undercover, which is why Breesan
mentioned Julia saying that I was falling for her. Could it be that
I'm the reason Breesan’s life is in jeopardy? Is my involvement
with this taskforce the reason Tristan is lying in a hospital bed
fighting for his life? Guilt washes over me in waves and I agonize
over what to say in response to Rhys’ claims.

“
It's my fault.” Growling low, I
stand and stalk toward the doorway. Reaching up I grab the handle,
yank it open and mumble, “I need to get to Breesan.”

“
We're not done here, Marcus. Sit
down.” Rhys demands.

He did not just order me.
Turning
around swiftly, I rush back, lean over his desk with my hands
supporting me and yell, “This meeting is bullshit Rhys! You could
have handled all this without me being here. You know what? You all
can talk this through until you are blue in the face for all I
care. But I’m leaving now.” Still yelling, I pound a fist down on
the desk, giving it several angry whacks before I point a finger at
my chest. “Protecting Breesan is my damn responsibility. Don’t you
get it? She is in danger because of me.”

My body trembles visibly with anger. My hand
hurts like a motherfucker, but I don't care about any of it. I must
go find Breesan now. Feeling cold, delicate hands slide up my arm
and around my back I flinch away, but realize almost immediately
that Sam isn’t relenting as she continues pulling me against her.
Sighing softly, the guilt begins consuming me.
I didn't mean to
pull her, or anyone else in our family, into this bullshit with Dr.
A, when I fell for Breesan.

“
Hey.” Sam says, “We understand how
you may be feeling right now, but getting pissed and snapping at
Rhys isn't helping anything. We're in this together Marcus.
Understand?” She soothes, slowly releasing her hold on
me.

How can I trust anybody with Breesan? From the
moment I claimed her lips, I subsequently claimed her as mine, and
therefore she is
my
responsibility. Swallowing back the bad
taste in my mouth from letting her out of my sight, I fight the
panic threatening to possess me and reluctantly sit back down. I
can feel the tension rolling off me as I flip my glare at each of
them.

Reining in my temper, I say, “Breesan is at
the hospital. Raithe is there, but…if those bastards are brave
enough to pull off this shit at my grandfather's private residence
then what will stop them from getting to her at the fucking
hospital?”

“
We think they had prior access at
the Walker estate,” Rhys says. “Either they were working for your
grandfather last night or they were invited guests.”

I lean forward, placing my elbows on my knees
and drop my head in my hands.
Someone I could be familiar with
came in unnoticed and shot up the place
? Running all of the
faces from last night through my mind, I no longer hear the
conversation.

“
Marcus,” Sam says, gaining my
attention. I raise my eyes to see her sympathetic smile.”Does she
know they were shooting at her?”

I stare at Sam with uncertainty. Breesan
blacked out while we were discussing all the options that could
have been the reason behind the shooting. I don't think she
overheard us. After everything that we shared this morning, that
was the one thing I couldn't tell her.
Not until I knew for
certain
. It crushes me to think about how she will react when I
tell her that with all the evidence we have, she was the one that
was supposed to be shot.

“
Hell no,” Averting my eyes to the
floor, I shake my head. “I couldn't tell her something that we
aren't sure about. If she thinks that she is the reason for Tristan
being injured she will freak out and I needed confirmation before I
break her heart like that.” I look up into Sam’s face, “You don't
know what living with Julia did to her. I won't let her take the
blame, Sam.”

“
I understand,” she
replies.

Even through Breesan passed out last night, I
don’t think it is because she is fragile. However, I do believe
that she will shut me and everyone else out if she believes someone
is in danger, just by association. Even though neither of us
confessed love, we are committed and our relationship is fragile as
hell.
I can’t lose her.

“
Can you tell me what we do know?”
I ask.

“
The preliminary report indicates
there were two shooters,” Tac responds. “But I think there was an
additional person on the inside. Shooter one, the guy on the roof,
left a gift behind. We have his DNA from where he fell and was
impaled by the trimmed hedge. I've got a friend in the Birmingham
lab that owes me a favor and I'll take a sample up to him today. It
shouldn't be more than a couple of days before we get the results.
That's if the douche bag has been in the system before.” He smiles
and adds, “Also, the investigators found a wireless surveillance
ear-piece lying against the edge of the house where the second
shooter was standing. This is the piece of the puzzle that makes me
think there was another person on the inside. The ear piece is
receiver only.” I narrow my eyes waiting for his explanation. “Most
likely the person inside was acting like the eyes for the shooters.
That's important because the department is going to treat this case
as a hit.”

Just hearing the words spoken out loud causes
my stomach to drop as panic threatens to consume me. Feeling ill,
my mouth dries as my heart rate spikes and if I was standing I
might have fallen to my knees.

Tac checks the time on his watch before
continuing, “I'm going to need every bit of documentation I can get
on the girl. I requested a background check on her and her parents
before I left Birmingham this morning. I need access to high school
transcripts, details of summer jobs, and anything that will give me
clues about her and her connections. Most importantly, I want to
know why someone would want a nineteen year old girl dead on her
birthday.”

Motherfucker
! Again I am reminded that
yesterday was Breesan’s birthday.

“
Yeah,” I sigh, “Breesan found some
things that Julia has stored in their attic. I brought a couple
boxes back with me. There are over thirty boxes up there, and it
all looks like journals. Maybe there's something in them of
significance.”

“
Looks like our little angel will
be a busy girl.” Rhys says smiling at Sam.

“
Oh you think so?” Sam glowers at
him and he laughs. “Well it's a good thing I don't have other shit
to do.”

“
You don't. Since Dr. A's yacht
launched early this morning, you are free to do as I instruct.” he
orders quirking an eyebrow up at her, then turns to me, “You too,
Marcus.”

“
What about me?”

“
Your security job with Julia has
ended. She left with Dr. A.”

I nod, happy with the thought of Julia and Dr.
A being out of the picture because it means Breesan is safe,
temporarily.
Wait. Breesan doesn't know Julia is gone
either
. Why would Julia take off during a shooting that has the
potential of being a hit on Breesan's life; and why wouldn't she at
least leave a note telling Breesan that she was leaving this
morning? Warning sirens blare deep within my mind at these
questions, and shit begins to fall into place. If she was behind
the orders to kill Breesan, leaving behind trip details for a dead
girl would be pointless.

“
That's all we have for you now,”
Rhys nods toward Tac. “Attacus, do you have anything to
add?”

“
No, I think I'm good. I’ve got a
private call to make and I need to use the post office land line.”
Confused, I raise an eyebrow and Tac catches my expression. “It's
the only secure phone line on this entire island. No one is
monitoring it. I don't need anyone knowing shit about where I am,
but I do have to check in.” Tac tells us.

Sam jumps from her seat and walks toward the
door. “I'm heading to the hospital Tac. You can follow me, if you
can keep up.” She challenges him with a wicked smile as she grabs
her gear.

Rhys’ face drops and a heated look grows in
his eyes. Sam doesn't even glance his way when she says bye to the
room. The smile plastered across Tac’s face hints that he is up for
her challenge.

“
I'll be right behind you, Honey,”
he announces, rushing to gathering his files. “Talk soon
Rhys.”

Grinding his teeth, Rhys says,
“Yeah.”

Pausing in the doorway, Tac pins me with a
serious look, “Marcus, I'll get them. No worries okay?” His words
shoot panic through my veins. A need to get to Breesan is stout and
demanding.

Standing, I tell Rhys’ and Kole, “I'll see ya
later too.”

“
Wait one second, Marcus,” Kole
says.

Remaining in the doorway poised and ready to
bolt, I turn around and give him the respect he deserves. The
moment I am given my freedom I'm out of here. I can’t deal with
anymore damn delays.

“
Let's go over a few things before
you head out,” Kole says and I nod. “First, with Julia gone we're
expecting you to assist Sam with locating her and Dr. A once
again.”

“
I half expected to be alone on
digging through all of the shit in the attic, but I'll be more than
happy to share with my sister.”

“
Okay good, and the other thing,”
Kole says, “When Julia left Sam noticed that there was another
woman on the yacht with them. Do you know any women that Julia may
associate with or have issues with?” He peers sideways at me. “Sam
said they spoke shitty to each other, but when Dr. A was consoling
Julia the other woman seem to get really pissed off.”

Frowning, I shrug, “Except for a few board
members at the castle, I haven't seen Julia around any women in the
weeks that I worked with her or while watching Breesan. Do we have
a description? Was she with Julia or Dr. A?”

I can't blame anyone for getting shitty toward
The Witch. She damn sure deserves it.
To be a fly on the wall in
that yacht and see Julia getting treated as badly as she treats
others would make my day
.

“
No description,” Kole grunts and
then he adds, “We're going down to the docks to interview some of
the workers. If anybody knows anything it will be Old Tucker,
perhaps he'll enlighten us. Hey Marcus, I suppose asking you to
join us is out of the question.” He narrows his eyes on me, but
continues not expecting my response. “Alright, get Breesan home
then check in with me later.” I nod, but Kole isn’t done with me
yet. “Just remember what I told you at the gym about her; Breesan
Maxwell is special.”

Well no shit
. I, of all people, know
the power in that statement, but to me she is so much more.
She’s precious.

The weather turned nasty while we were in our
meeting. The torrential downpour reminds me of Breesan again and a
smile sneaks across my face as the memories of a very special night
flash in my mind. Breesan was storm chasing–her favorite
pastime–and I was volunteering at the temporary shelter. Her
vehicle got trashed by a downed pole leaving her stranded. Craving
some alone time just to get to know her better, I offered to drive
her around. We rode around the island in my old pickup truck all
night. My feelings for her swelled, after trusting me with her
secrets, she pushed me right over the edge.