Convincing Lina: A Bachelor of Shell Cove Novel (The Bachelors of Shell Cove Romance Book 2) (18 page)

“Lincoln James and my mother were married for less than two years. When my mother remarried she gave me the Cardar family name.” Bishop’s jaw was tight and Lina knew it cost him to disclose that information in her presence. It still bothered him that he didn’t have a choice in keeping his father’s last name. She didn’t know Bishop well. Their kinship had been strained most of her adult life. Her father, Lincoln and Bishop’s mother had ended their marriage long before Lina was born. With her father gone, and her mother rarely acknowledging his existence, Lina didn’t learn of her brother until she had prodded her mother for information regarding her heritage.
 

“Why does it matter? Your job shouldn’t be in jeopardy because I’m a drop in patient of Doc Rice.” If only it were as simple as Bishop presented it.
 

Lina straightened her spine and proceeded to do what she did best. Make everybody happy. “I’m proud of you for recognizing you needed help and for seeking out Dr. Rice. He’s one of the best at what he does.” She could feel the heat seeping out of her body. The cold settled into her limbs. She wanted to go home. Lina watched as Bishop looked from her to Gideon.
 

“You both look as if my coming here is worse than a six shooter in a combat zone.”

“I see finding humor in any situation is a family trait,” Gideon offered.

“What are you not telling me?” Bishop directed his question at Gideon. Typical, Marines questioned Marines.
 

“Lina and I are dating.” He’d said the “d” word.
 

“We must have decided that while I was sleeping.” Gideon didn’t take his eyes off her when he spoke. Lina refused to look away. Dating had never come up in their conversations, their time together was a natural progression they both accepted, but never validated with a label. She wouldn’t sacrifice her family, for a man. Family came first. She didn’t know how much Bishop would allow their budding kinship to flourish, but she was sure it would last longer than one of her relationships.
 

“Bishop, I’ll call you in the morning with a plan for moving forward.”

“Sure thing, Doc.” Lina wouldn’t look at him. Too afraid that she would change her mind, if she met his eyes. Bishop pulled free of her embrace.
 

“Walk me to the elevator, lil sis.”

“Sure.”
 

Lina’s voice a whisper in the room, had the affect of a cymbal in her head. She couldn’t continue
dating
Gideon if Bishop was his patient. There were other psychiatrists in Shell Cove, but none that were veteran Marines. Lina knew after witnessing one of Gideon’s nightmares that he struggled with his own demons from combat. She understood that Gideon could help veterans suffering from combat fatigue and post-traumatic stress disorder beyond the average mental health professional. He’d walked in their shoes, literally. He survived pain and loss. His body bore the scars of his sacrifice.
 

“Sis, you need to leave the Doc alone.” Shocked was the only word to surface in her head.

“You’re the patient, and you think the doctor is crazy?”

“You don’t know him like I do.”

“I’m the one dating the man.” For all of five seconds, but hey, he’d been the one to let the cat out of the bag.
 

“And I’m the one that knows what drives a Marine. How his mind ticks. As in ticking time bomb. We all are.”

“Well, we’re not going to see each other anymore.”

“Doc said you were dating.”

“And what did I just say?”
 

“Marines have a short half-life. If he says you are with him, I’d take him at his word.”

“He’s not a Marine anymore.”

“Once a Marine, always a Marine. Never forget.” That was the problem. She couldn’t forget Gideon. Not now.

The dresser hit the floor with a crash, sending the etched purple vase filled with two dozen white roses careening to the floor. A special order for their first night together. Glass shards, framed photos, and perfume bottles skittered across the carpeted floor. Where was she? For over an hour, he waited patiently in her bedroom. Tonight belonged to him. He never took anything from the boss, but Lina was his prize for faithful service. He earned her.
 

“My Lina.” He roared, rage tearing a chasm inside him like a caged animal clawing for freedom. She was with him. Images of the man touching her that first night, flooded his mind.
 

He spun, grabbing the bedside lamp, he yanked the cord from the wall. He hurled the bulbous glass base at the wall art, watching as they both shattered. Debris rained down, joining the soppy mess on the floor. She would pay for ignoring him. He would make them both pay, for every touch. For making him watch.
 

She’s mine.
 

He pulled at his hair, gripping his head as he stormed in the bathroom. The counter top was organized with containers of various sizes. Things to make her beautiful. Beauty she gave to another man. With a furious swipe of his bulky arm everything on the counter took flight. The sound of glass hitting the tiled-floor fueled his rage. Sweet fragrance filled his nostrils and he remembered Lina’s dark almond shaped eyes the first time he’d seen her. He glanced down eyeing the glass waste bin, he picked it up, measuring the weight. Seeing his reflection in the mirror, hair standing on end, eyes wild, he hurled the object at his image. He didn’t flinch when small cuts burned on the exposed skin of his face and arms.
 

Lina was unfaithful.
 

He turned and strode into the bedroom. Reaching into his back pocket he pulled out his blade.

Gideon waited until he heard the ding, signaling that the elevator had started its descent before he moved in Lina’s direction. Whatever Bishop Cardar, now Bishop Cardar James had told Lina he knew it involved her ending what they had found in each other. She stood, staring at the closed elevator doors, no doubt contemplating how to give him his walking papers.

“Lina, I’m not giving you up.” The fire in her eyes, at his words, made his heart soar, then the reality of their situation brought it crashing to the searing, hot Florida pavement.
 

“You’re not. I’m walking away.”

Lina grabbed her purse, and moved toward the elevators. “Man fast, remember?”

“And I recall telling you, not on my watch. I’m hot on your trail, sweetness. Expect me tonight.”
 

Lina stepped in the elevator when it arrived and kept her eyes trained above his shoulder until the doors closed. Gideon returned to his office, logged off his computer and grabbed his keys. Lina was not walking away from him. He wouldn’t survive it.

Something bad had happened at Lina’s condominium. Gideon arrived at Lina’s complex to find the service road partially blocked by three police vehicles. Blue lights bounced off his windshield then lost their vibrancy amid the dense forestry.
 

He pressed the brake pedal, slowing to a near crawl, snaking his way through the haphazardly parked cars. The road was clear of pedestrian traffic. An ambulance was parked in the center of the parking lot, both rear doors opened away from his field of view. Assessing the scene Gideon concluded the police had parked on the road leading to the complex to leave the ambulance a clear path out of the parking lot. What the heck was going on?
 

His heart pounded in his chest. He needed to find Lina. She would’ve arrived home within the past fifteen minutes. Had this scene happened since she arrived or had she been greeted by flashing sirens? Pulling his car in front of an abandoned squad car, he killed the engine, pocketed the keys, and set out on foot.
 

Lina’s condo came into view. Two men dressed in dark blue pants with short sleeved shirts were wheeling a gurney out of Lina’s floor door. His heart sped up. He ran toward the building yelling her name.

“Lina!” Had Lina been hurt? Fear and rage swelled with the force of a crashing wave. First he had to know what happened to Lina. Then someone’s family would need a priest and a black suit. Seeing Lina’s metallic purple Camaro, parked underneath her building in its designated parking space, ratcheted up his fear for her safety.
 

Approaching the gurney, Gideon was floored to see a bruised, bloody, but conscious Estrella.

“I tried to stop…him.” Gideon scrubbed one hand over his face at the sight before him. Vivid purple bruises covered Estrella’s face. Her left eye was swollen shut.
 

“Mo…man came,” she panted. As she talked fresh blood coated her teeth. Gideon took a breath, reining in his fury. What kind of animal would beat a woman?
 

“Danger, get away.” Estrella’s skin had an ashen blue hue and wheezy sounds followed each syllable as she spoke. Her words were non-sensical. Each breath seemed to drain her strength.

“Estrella, save your energy. Don’t talk. You need medical attention and I’ll get Lina someplace safe.” The effort to nod her head siphoned her remaining energy. Gideon turned his attention to the paramedic when her eyes slid closed. “She’s a friend. Were there signs beyond a physical assault?”
 

“She was fully clothed when we arrived.” Gideon nodded his head in acknowledgement. He needed to lay eyes on Lina. A man capable of hurting another person like this, would do more than physical harm if given the opportunity.
 

“Lina?” Gideon shouldered his way toward her, making steady progress through the crowd of onlookers.
 

“Gideon, I’m here.” The fear in Lina’s eyes unleashed buried memories of another woman who’d depended on him to have her back. Seeing her quelled the storm brewing inside him, but that’s where the calm ended. On slow approach, he noticed the fine tremble to her lower lip and he wanted to gather her in his arms and erase all her hurts. Reaching for her, he tightened his arms around her. Peering over her shoulder, her condo looked like a bomb had been detonated at center mass. The glass doors were smashed. All the artwork was broken or dumped in the center of the living area. Slash marks covered the soft cushions.
 

“You okay sweetness?” Her tremors vibrated through his chest causing anger to coil in his veins like a cobra ready to strike. When he found the man responsible for putting that fear in Lina’s eyes Gideon would make him pay.
 

“No.” He searched her for injuries. Her exotic scent blanketed him and he held her tighter. Breathing her in soothed the beast in him wanting to break free. The one ready to hunt the man foolish enough to target Lina. How far would he go to protect her? He’d kill to protect his woman. And Lina was his. He would take her home. There would be no compromise on this. He needed to keep her safe. Everything in him said she was his to protect. Capturing her chin between his thumb and forefinger, he raised her head until their eyes met.