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

why are you here?” The sound of my name coming from his lips makes my heart skip a beat. I'm an idiot.
    “ I haven't been sleeping, and before you tell me I'm being a big baby, I already know that, but it's not stopping the nightmares from coming. So...I thought maybe you could teach me how to defend myself. Maybe that will help me feel more confident that if it happens again I can fight back. If I know that, then maybe the nightmares will stop and I can finally get some sleep. I like sleep. A lot. And I wouldn't mind being on better terms with it. I've had more caffeine than should be legal and I have no idea what to do to make them go away-”
    Jay holds his hand up to cut me off, “Stop, you're rambling. You're wasting your breath. I won't help you. You'd be better off taking a martial arts class or something.”
    “That was my first idea, but I have no money. I can't afford classes,” I start to tear up and I want to slap myself for getting emotional about this. I blame my lack of sleep.
    “ Get some mace and don't leave your house alone.” He looks at me like he just solved my problem and he's done with this conversation.
    “ I guess I could start carrying my gun. That might help,” I say it out loud, but I'm really thinking it to myself. I have a really bad habit of talking my thoughts out loud.
    “ You have a gun?”
    “ Uh huh,” I mumble, deep in thought as I leave to head home.
    I'm not really keen on the idea of carrying around a gun, but it might bring me some peace of mind.
    Jay takes hold of my hand and tugs me back to him, “What are you doing with a gun?”
    “ Present from my dad.”
    “ Shit. Normal dads do that too?” He half-grins, swiping the top of his head again.
    “ Not sure, but mine did.”
    “ Why?”
    “ When my parents divorced it made him nervous to think of us alone without him, so he got me a gun.”
    “ Your mom and brother too?”
    “ No, just me.”
    “ Why?”
    I can tell his curiosity is peaked.
    “My mom is anti-guns and my brother was only two when they divorced.”
    “ So you learned when you were eleven?”
    “ Yeah?” How does he know how old I am?
    “ When I checked your I.D. At the bar.”
    Crap, I said that out loud. Wait...
    “I never showed you my I.D.”
    “ Facebook,” he reluctantly reveals.
    “ You looked me up on Facebook?”
    “ Yeah,” he answers uncomfortably.
    “ You're on Facebook?”
    “ No.”
    “ But you looked me up?”
    “ I think we've already established that.”
    “ Why?”
    “ Do you know how to use it?”
    “ The gun?”
    He nods his head.
    “Yeah, he made me take lessons.”
    Why does he look irritated about that?
    “Taking some lessons doesn't mean it's safe for you to be carrying a gun around with you. You'll probably get spooked and end up killing someone, or worse, yourself.”
    Gawd, he sounds just like my mom.
    “ So teach me to defend myself.”
    “ No.”
    “ Why, not?”
    “ I'm not looking to make a new friend, Lily.” Wow, I love the way he says my name. “I helped you out, but that doesn't mean I want you around.”
    Ouch. “Wow, I'd call you an ass, but you did save me the other night so that feels wrong,” I snap, “I'm not looking to be friends with you either, I just want to learn to defend myself in case I get attacked again.”
    “Quit talking like that's an option,” he roars back at me and my breath catches in my throat. The ferocity of his stance frightens me and I take a step back.
    “ I'm sorry. I won't bother you anymore,” I speak softly, unable to look at him. I can't believe this is the same man who held me in my sleep and took care of me when I was scared. Maybe I do have a sick, twisted need to be with men who treat me like crap.
    I walk home as fast as I can. What I really want to do is run, but that would make my hurt feelings that much more obvious.
    I close my front door and slide down it, tucking my legs in so I can rest my forehead on top of them.
    Will did like to