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"Lilly asked me to give this to you. The jet will be ready for you tomorrow at 1600 hours. I will be here to pick you up at 1400 hours.”
I was about to take the envelope, while converting the military time in my head, when his words sank in. My eyes flew to his. "WHAT?"
Heart pounding, my head suddenly spun, and I supported myself against the Jeep.
Marcus took a step toward me, but I held up my palm. I couldn't have him touch me.
"Do you need medical assistance?" He eyed my growing stomach, and I automatically followed his gaze.
"No, I—" I what? What was I going to say? Lilly said she would send the jet, but somehow, I didn't expect her to do it.
He seemed to understand my internal battle. "May I speak freely, Monroe?" Marcus stood straight, his hands folded behind his back. One would think that him using my middle name—or, for all intents and purposes, last name—would come across as offensive or condescending, but it did the opposite. I couldn't explain it.
"Were you military?" I didn't know why I asked; it simply came out.
His mouth pressed in a thin line. "I was. But I've been working under George for much longer." That was all I would get out of him. It was odd how I could read him.
"May I speak freely?" he repeated himself.
"Sure." I couldn't help the meek sound of my reply and tried to emphasize it with a nod.
"When Lilly sets her mind on something, there is no convincing her otherwise. She wants you in Stonebriar. She considers you part of her family, no matter how you feel about it or what will happen with you and Sheats."
I felt the blood drain from my face as my stomach dipped. This had to be a trick to get to Gray. "Why would she want to be my—"
"You carry one of her best friend's babies. On top of that, you two have more in common than most. You can relate to each other better than Rhys can probably understand at times. And the two of them are sickeningly in love. I never believed in soul mates until I met them." He chuckled at the last sentence.
"But I have a job." I couldn't just leave. A sensation all too similar to morning sickness began to spread through me. I needed all the money I could get to support us.
Marcus impassively waited for me to catch on. He reminded me of the videos I'd seen of George. I guess it made sense they'd have the same mannerisms if he has worked for him for years.
My shoulders dropped, and he saw it. The corner of his mouth quirked at the side as if he was waiting for me to concede.
"Lilly will meet you the day after tomorrow to discuss the future of you two. She won't let you come back to this dump; I can promise you that." His gaze dropped down to my belly again before he swung it to my decrepit apartment building.
"Do I even go to work today?" I asked him, furrowing my brows, feeling a mix of relief and dread at the same time. I hated it here, and I hated my job, but this was where Gray told me to stay until he came back for me.
"Collect your last paycheck, then go home to pack."
Quit? Pack? Like that? How could it be so easy for him? Them? My nostrils flared at the sudden heat burning my cheeks. I didn't like being ordered around. My gaze dropped to the ground in an attempt to get my temper under control. I scanned the cracked and stained concrete—smears that looked too similar to what had coated the floor of The Pole that night. I left that life, that environment, behind when I went to Stonebriar—even before Wes came into the picture. I swore to myself that I would do anything to give my baby a better future. Decision made, I lifted my head.
"What about my Jeep?" I narrowed my eyes at Marcus. How could I trust these people? They were my enemies—or I was theirs.
"One of my men will drive it back. Give it two days, and we will leave it wherever you are staying." His tone was matter of fact.
This was too good to be true.
Marcus pressed the envelope into my hand and turned without another word. I watched him walk to the SUV and get in. I expected him to leave, but the car didn't move until it followed me to work fifteen minutes later. It took me that long to digest the letter Lilly added to her wedding invitation.
King,
I'm so sorry I couldn't come personally to pick you up. We have some issues with the venue, and I'm hoping to get it sorted out in the next few days.
I meant what I said. I consider you part of my family. Your father's choices in life doNOTdefine you.
Rhys and Wes have started talking again. While they have not been able to move past all their differences—these boys are so stubborn, can you believe it?—I'm confident things will get better. They're meant to be in each other's lives.
Of course, I hope you and Wes will work things out, but either way, Rhys and I will help you and your baby however we can.
