Mikala's Passion (Pulse Series Book 2)

Copyright © 2014 Jennifer Rose

All Rights Reserved Worldwide

This book is a purely fictional. Names, characters and events are the mind creation of the author. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead or events is entirely coincidental.

Any unauthorized reprint or use of this material is prohibited. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form, or by any means, electronic or mechanically, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system without express written permission from author Jennifer Rose.

All songs, titles, and lyrics are the property of the songwriters.

Printed in the United States of America November 2014

ISBN-10:1502883198

ISBN-13:978-1502883193

Book covers design by Sarah Foster of Sprinkles On Top Studios.

http://sprinklesontopstudios.com/

Editing Services by Melissa Burton

Proofing by Lynn Martin

Typesetting and formatting by C.L. Foster

http://authorclfoster.com

To Melissa,

You keep me on my toes, make me laugh and you're not shy about throwing in your two cents and I love you for it. You are a special part of every book I write, I don't know what I would do without you girl!

-Jenn

Captivated by the yellow, orange and red hues, as the perilous sloth of destructive flames cascaded out of the now destroyed second story windows, Mikala took a long drag from her cigarette. She blew out a cloud of blue smoke with a shudder. A window blew out from the third floor with an almighty boom, causing her to flinch as she watched plumes of black smoke roll over the top of the window. Like inverted waves on the ocean, they curled round and crashed against the brick with a ferocious, savage passion. It was hauntingly fascinating, like a train wreck, she couldn’t force her eyes away.

A strong arm slung over her shoulder bringing her momentarily from her meditation. Turning with an unwavering gaze, her eyes met the familiar stare of Mason’s dark chocolate eyes. Her heart leapt, she had to swallow back the urge to jump into his arms, to allow him to wrap her in his warmth and grasp onto a tiny piece of solace if only for a moment. As if his standing at her side wasn’t in anyway affecting her, she turned back to stare at the fire and puffed ever so unconcernedly on her cigarette to disguise her hidden happiness that he was back. Mikala had to remind herself that she was angry with him and after all this time the bridges between them were burned beyond recognition. It was far beyond over and he could simply crawl back under the rock from which he came and leave her alone.

“A little bird tells me you need a guardian angel to watch over you.”

“That little bird has a big fucking mouth and has no idea what he’s talking about,” Mikala said, turning her gaze towards the sound of crackling paint burning wood.

The air was filled with the thick dense smell of smoke as her lungs filled to capacity with the smoke from her cigarette and the fumes from the air. Mikala was reminded of bonfires and bush parties she had enjoyed as a teen. She closed her eyes and wished that when they opened again she would find it had all been a dream brought on by too much alcohol and teenage stupidity. She sighed as they slowly opened and Mason and the fire were still very much there.

“Beak.”

“What?” she snarled, not at all impressed with his take on humor.

“Birds have beaks.”

She leaned into his strong body and attempted to force him away with a shove, “Fuck you, Mason, I don’t need anyone taking care of me.”

“The fuck you don’t,” his grip tightened. “Talk to me, because I’m not going away until you do.”

“Some son-of-a-bitch is out to shut me down. You can tell by the building that’s on fire there.” She knew her announcement was a waste of time, that he had to have been briefed on the matter already, or he wouldn’t be there.

“Do you have any idea who did this?”

The burning ember on the end of her cigarette glowed bright as she took another drag from her cigarette and blew it out.

“Nope.”

“This isn’t the first incident, is it?” Mason asked, watching the flash of blue and red emergency lights reflecting in her eyes, as she stared straight ahead. She was unreadable and, unsurprisingly, cold.

“This is not the first and probably won’t be the last. This sick asshole isn’t going to be happy until I’m out of business completely.”

“What else has happened?”

Mason watched Mikala’s mouth intently as she exhaled another cloud of smoke, her tongue darting out to moisten her lips, “My apartment was broken into…there have been a few bomb threats on high volume nights and I get at least a letter a week warning me to close the doors or he’ll close them for me…hence, the fire.”

“Do you think it’s someone you know?” he asked.

Shrugging her shoulders she flicked her cigarette butt to the ground and watched as the glowing heater was extinguished in a puddle. “I have no idea. Maybe it’s a pissed off housewife because her hubby is coming in and getting his rocks off. Maybe it’s some bitch that got a drink spilled down her pretty little dress while she was dancing, a disgruntled ex-employee, I don’t have a fucking clue.”

They stood quietly watching as firefighters quickly dealt with the blaze, shouting orders and rushing in all directions. There was an unusual calmness about Mikala. Although she was smoking like a chimney, lighting cigarette after cigarette sometimes lighting one from the end of the last and standing in a large puddle in bare feet, she was managing to hold it together. He knew without a doubt that this was the calm before the storm and when she eventually raged, it was going be a tumultuous tempest.

“Where are your shoes, sugar?” Mason asked, taking the unlit cigarette from her hand and tossing it on the ground behind him.

“Back of the bar,” she fleetingly laughed, “my feet were sore. I slipped out of them just before the smoke alarm went off. Rotten fucker, they were my favorite pair too.”

Mason tucked a lock of her wild red hair behind her ear and she shook it free, annoyed by his attempt at tenderness. He had no right to console her, no right to be her hero now. She was finished with what had been, and what was now carefully swept away under the rug. She was more than happy to keep it there. No longer did she care what they had shared. He had his opportunity to stay and make a life with her and chose another direction to follow, one that didn’t allow for her. She had moved on as had he.

“Why are you here?” Mikala asked, holding her palm to her forehead as a headache threatened to start, blowing out an exasperated breath.

“You need me,” Mason boldly told her.

“I don’t need anyone, especially you.” She turned to walk away as Mason’s hand clamped onto her elbow. Her glare was as burning hot as the flames that threatened to destroy her business and home. “
You
walked away from me, you should have stayed away,” she hissed.

Her words practically brought him to his knees; he was crushed with regret each and every day since he had left her life. His decision was the most difficult he had ever had to make, no one could begin to understand why and he wouldn’t know where to start explaining. He just knew she’d survive until his return. Mikala’s strength astonished him most times, she had strength like no one he had ever encountered, a true force to be reckoned with. However, he knew she also had a stubborn, determined streak. When she erected walls, they stood forefront like steel obstacles with an impenetrable surface virtually impossible to tear down.

“I had to make a choice, I know now it wasn’t the right one and the timing was off, I idiotically thought it was best for both of us if I left. If I could take it all back and do it over, believe me I’d try.”

“I don’t care,” she said, tearing herself from his grasp and staring into his eyes with such a calm, collected venom he could feel its effect surging through his veins. “I don’t fucking care!”

Allowing her to have a moment he pulled back and kept his distance, watching every move from afar. He hadn’t realized until that very minute exactly what he had given up these past months. He had never forgotten the warmth of her touch and the scent that was Mikala’s alone. Closing his eyes he could smell the scent of lime and pears embedded deep in his memory, a smell that got him through the darkest, bleakest hours while he was on assignment, the memory that now threatened to disappear. It was
her
and the indomitable spirit that she emanated that he had missed most of all.

Mason wasn’t ready to let her give up on them. He had acted like a fool when he had hastily accepted his assignment, regretting it the moment his feet hit the tarmac at the air force base. His biggest regret however was leaving without telling her he loved her and would think of her every day. It was too late now, he’d have to spend some major time making it up to her, if at all possible.

Mason moved to her side as she lit another cigarette. She turned to look at him and blew the smoke into his face, before looking away. “Go away Mason. Tell that little bird you couldn’t help me. Tell him that this eagle has flown and doesn’t need rescuing.” Mikala wrapped her arms across her chest, walking over to a police officer who appeared to be filling out paperwork. Mason slid his hands into his pockets and watched.

Time passed slowly as he observed her talking with officers and the fire chief. Mason bided his time until Mikala stood alone, still barefoot, shivering in the night air. He came to her side and stood silent.

“Still here I see,” she said, clenching her jaw defiantly. “Surely you have somewhere to be.”

“What’re you going to do now, sugar?” he asked.

“Wait for one of the firemen to get my shoes… stop calling me sugar.” She looked to the doorway of the club. “I’m not allowed back in tonight.”

“Are you staying at Eden’s?”

“Her and Chase are away, I’ll get a hotel room for the night. I have to meet with the fire chief at noon tomorrow to get the all clear.” She wondered why she was telling him all this, why she thought he deserved to know. “The damage is bad, but it could have been worse. Thanks to that fancy sprinkler system I put in the dance club last year. There’s still going to be one hell of a mess to clean and a lot of water damage.”

“Come stay with me tonight,” Mason suggested.