Page 45 of Marked

A snarl twists up my lip, and I’m about to lay into her when Jack wraps an arm around my shoulders and pulls me away from the cowering woman. “Stupid fucking incompetent piece of shit.”

“Stop,” he chides, quickly pulling me out of the lab. He doesn’t stop until we’re in my office. He lets me go and closes the door behind us. Before I can say anything, he grabs my face and forces me to look up at him. “You can’t be self-destructive right now. That’s not going to help her.”

“I’m not!” I bite out. “I asked her a question and the dumb ass didn’t even know—”

Jack covers my lips with his, silencing me. “Attacking your coworkers isn’t going to help either,” he says, breath fanning over my lips. “I know it’s hard right now, but you need to try to remain calm and logical.”

He’s right, I know he is, but anxiety doesn’t listen to reason.

I take in a deep, shaky breath. “I’m trying,” I murmur. “It’s hard.”

“I know,” he soothes. “But if anyone can find her, it’s you. And I’ll be with you every step, okay?”

I can’t do anything but nod, my words now tied up in my throat. Right as I lean towards him, my office door flies open. There’s a surge of hope that it’s Taylor, but it’s immediately crushed when I see Scott standing there instead. Surprise lights his features as he looks at us, no doubt taking in how intimate our position is.

Jack drops his hands from my face and turns to our lieutenant without an ounce of shame. “What is it?”

Scott shakes off the surprise, his face becoming grim. “We have another body. Same style.”

My breath wheezes out of me. My mind floods with images of Tay’s headless body lying on the ground in a puddle of blood. I can clearly see her picture joining the rest of the Jane Does on my whiteboard.

I must have made some pitiful sound, or maybe Jack just saw the cord of my resolve snap, because his arms are around me, one of his hands cradling the back of my head. “Shh, Valkyrie. We don’t know if it’s her.”

I shamelessly cling to him, absorbing the strength he’s freely giving me as my eyes sting. “What if—”

“No,” his voice is sharp. “None of that. Not until we know for certain.”

Scott clears his throat forcefully to get our attention. “What is going on?” he demands. “Dalton, it’s not like you to get choked up like this.”

Jack’s chest rumbles with a protective growl. “Taylor is missing,” he bites out, shooting our boss a look that could wither him where he stands.

Scott’s lips part in shock. “Meyers? When? Why wasn’t I notified?”

I press my face to Jack’s shoulder as he relays the information to Scott. In this moment, I’ve never been more thankful for anyone. I’m barely holding back the floodgates, but I know if I talk about it, I’m going to snap, and I can’t do that.

Not yet.

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