Marvelous (Whispering Falls #3)

Prologue

Alec

I stared out the window as I watched my brother Garrick stand there.

I had no clue that he had figured it out.

Well... he had figured out part of it.

But not the whole part.

And he never would.

Because only a select few individuals knew what I actually did for a living.

Sure, others that I knew thought I did something else.

And I went right on in letting them believe that.

It was easier that way.

Better.

Because as long as that number stayed on a select few individuals, it would make it harder for those who wanted me dead to find me.

Over the years, I had to be smart.

Quick.

Never allowing anything about me to appear on social media.

Always being careful to hide any identifying marks.

No visible tattoos.

And keeping the beard I always wore in place.

I sighed as Garrick became a spec, blending in with the terrain.

Then I rested my head back and closed my eyes.

I needed to get some sleep.

Because there was no telling if I would get any.

Four Months Later

I sat there in my dark living room.

My hands shook as I stayed planted in my seat.

Not reaching for my phone.

Not reaching for my keys.

Not getting up and going out.

This whole working on myself was going to kill me, I was sure of it.

Because in working on myself, I needed to find another distraction from the nightmares that plagued me, other than fucking faceless and nameless women.

Alcohol only numbed the pain, and then it led to bad decisions I couldn’t change.

Like the tattoo that was right above my cock.

Here’s Your Pole.

Yeah. Enough said.

Operation FUBAR Text Thread

Wolf – Glad to have you back.

Smoke – Fo’ sho.

Ice – Ops have been going to shit.

Hyde – Command doesn’t know shit.

Jekyll – Preach.

Me – Needed the time.

Wolf – After that, I can see why.

Smoke – When are you gonna come see me?

Me – Oh. Jealous?

Smoke – Talia still single?

Ice – Fuck.

Hyde – You went there.

Jekyll – The fuck.

Me – Yeah. But my money is on Dom.

Smoke – Yeah, he’s the only person crazier than she is.

Wolf – True that.

Ice – My ass hurts.

Hyde – Throw ice on it.

Jekyll – Get it.

Wolf – Hilarious.

Smoke – Save us.

Me – Why have I missed y’all?

Operation IDGAF Text Thread

Playboy – When are you going to leave that unit and join the cool kids?

Stripe – Cool kids on the block, Yo.

King – For once, I agree with him.

Raptor – See you next trip.

Ripper – Cree has gotta quit sending me shit. Brothers are riding my ass.

Sire – I bet you’ll wanna ride her ass.

Sire – I shouldn’t have said that.

Playboy – *picture of Sire in a headlock. Out cold*

Me – Nobody talks about Cree that way.

King – Fool should have already learned that.

Stripe – But seriously...

Me – Love my team.

Then I put my phone on silent, took the meds I was given, and tried to find sleep.

I only woke drenched in sweat nineteen times.

It was going to be a long day.

***

I had just repaired Mrs. Water’s gate when she came outside and handed me a check. “You know, Alec, I have a daughter who’s about your age. She’s sweeter than pie. I’m going to tell her that you're going to take her out on a date. Is that okay?”

I shook my head as I smiled at the old biddy, “Thank you for thinking of me, but I’m seeing someone.”

Over the past four months, that was the lie I had been telling.

The lie I told the women, at least those who wanted to have a fun time.

And thankfully, it had been working.

She lifted a brow, “That’s funny. Your mama didn’t mention that to me when I brought up the idea to her.”

Oh. Fuck.

She talked and talked, and I was never more thankful than for Mrs. Coleman to show up.

I got out of there as fast as I could.

Daddy-kins & Mommy-kins Text Thread

Me – Did you tell Mrs. Waters that I was single?

Mommy-kins – I sure did. You need a nice girl.

Daddy-kins – Woman.

Mommy-kins – Don’t you start with me!

Carter – Warn her about his sexual activities.

Garrick – Send her medication.

Ethan – Enroll her in an insane asylum.

Talia – That girl is a menace.

Mommy-kins – She is not.

Talia – Umm. Yes. She is. She’s the one who was found with her pants around her ankles in the coach’s office.

Mommy-kins – *gasp*

Garrick – Heard about that.

Ethan – Why I said what I said.

Carter – How much do you know Ethan?

Ethan – I know that some waitress told Harlee that she was going to be your wife.

Carter – Fuck me. Not this again.

Talia – Don’t worry. Harlee already knows.

Carter – Fuck.

Mommy-kins – Language.

Carter – Yes, ma’am.

Mommy-kins – She told me to tell you to tell her that you will pick her up at seven on Friday.

Garrick – He can’t. He’s helping me at the house.

Mommy-kins – Well. Darn.

I clicked out of that thread and shot a text to Garrick.

Me – Thanks, G.

Garrick – Got your back, lil bro.

And to make matters believable, at six I headed over to Garrick and Tatum’s house.

But instead of helping them, I took Sage out back and played with her, while Garrick and Tatum had some time to themselves.

There were sounds I didn’t want to hear.

Sounds that I could never unhear.

And just to be a shithead, I winked at Tatum an hour later and said, “So, how hard was he pounding into you?”

I laughed as I raced out of their house with Garrick on my heels.

He caught up to me as I stopped at my truck.

“Gotta head out in the morning,” I told him.

He jerked up his chin. “Got your back.”

But not before I had my first session to remove that stupid tattoo.