Marked. Part I: The missing Link by J.M. Sevilla Read Free Book Online

was just so fucking pissed when I saw you in there I needed to break something, and the window was there before the guy.”
    “Oh.”
    “ I think it's time for you to go now,” the hardness is back on his face.
    I try not to let my disappointment show, but I know it does, “Thanks for saving me, for helping me, for letting me crash here...for the coffee.” I get up and grab my purse, shutting the door softly behind me and stealing a glance over my shoulder before it closes all the way. Jay is bent over the island, hands clutching the edge, his head hung low.
    It's hard to leave and go home, but I think its for the best. Jay is unnerving and he unsettles me in a way I can't describe. I want to know all of him but I also know the smart thing to do is stay away.
    It's past nine so I decide to take a long, hot shower. Then I clean my house to keep myself busy and distract myself from thinking about my neighbor, who's consuming way too many of my thoughts.
    Mid-morning both Stevie and Naomi call, wanting to know what happened. I keep it simple and basically say what Jay told them: he saw the three men grab hold of me on the street, he scared them off with his colossal size, and I fainted from the drama of it all. They wanted to know all about the car ride home, but I lied, telling them we never talked and I went straight to bed. Both girls apologized for our argument at the bar and for letting me go outside alone. I told them I was serious when I said not to feel guilty, and that I truly wasn't mad at them.
    I spend the rest of the day trying to read, but I can't seem to concentrate. I keep thinking about Jay and replaying last night's events.

 
     
     
    Chapter 5
     
    Friday, January 3
    11:36am
    I sleepily wave to my mom from the front door as she heads to work. She flips out when she finds yet another bruise on my face, but I tell her the bar was packed and some guy accidentally elbowed me. Luckily, she believes me and doesn't press it any further.
    The past two nights I slept horribly. Nightmares consumed my dreams, making me toss and turn all night. Some dreams consisted of me not escaping and what happens to me, others Jay doesn't make it out alive, or I choke to death on my vomit. All feel real when I wake up and it takes me hours to go back to sleep, only to have another one and start the whole process over again.
    Jay's truck is in his driveway and I chew on my lip, contemplating if I should go over to ask him about the plan I came up with during my many wakeful moments last night.
    I decide to go for it; the worst he can say is no. I slip into my gray TOMS and go to his house. I hesitate before knocking. I'm not sure if this is a good idea. He was nice to me for a brief moment, but that doesn't mean he's my friend or even an acquaintance.
    I suck it up and knock. I need sleep and he's the only person I know who might be able to help ease my mind.
    No answer.
    I hear loud music from the garage and figure he didn't hear so I knock louder, four times. The music turns down so I knock again to make sure he knows someone's here.
    I hear the thumping of his feet, and his door finally opens. His brows knit together and he doesn't look pleased to see me, the exact opposite actually. He looks a little pissed.
    “ What?” Jay bites out in the gruff voice that I hate.
    I stand there not speaking like a fool, feeling embarrassed for coming over. I should have known better. The feelings I had Wednesday morning were aftershocks of him rescuing me.
    “Sorry, I didn't mean to bother you,” the words stumble out. I don't understand how I have moments with him where I’m undeniably drawn to him and others where he makes me want to cower away.
    He swipes the top of his head, sighing, and stares up into the sky. “What do you want?” He tones down the roughness to his voice, but it doesn't quite carry the warmth I prefer.
    “I...uh...never mind.” I rock back on my heels ready to leave. This was stupid.
    “ Seriously, Lily,