His Immortal | Marcus Pike

19

As he hung up the phone, Marcus felt a sense of determination and resolve to settle over him. He had failed to protect Andrew, but he wouldn't fail me. He had sworn to keep me safe, and he would stop at nothing to make good on that promise.

Marcus was so focused on his task that he didn't even see me until I bumped into him. He was immediately on edge, his hand instinctively going to his hip where his gun was holstered.

"You're bleeding?! Are you hurt?" I asked him.

Marcus looked down at himself, realizing that his hand was still covered in Andrew's blood. His mind was still racing with thoughts and plans, but he couldn't help but soften slightly at my concerned expression. He shook his head, trying to focus on the task at hand instead of the fact that he had just witnessed his second murder in less than a week.

But as he looked at me, his heart softened again. Despite everything he had just been through, he was still drawn to my kindness and concern for him. He took a deep breath, steeling himself against the turmoil of emotions brewing within him. He couldn't afford to get distracted by his feelings for me, no matter how strong they were. He had a job to do, and nothing could stand in his way.

He stepped forward, placing his hands firmly on my shoulders, his eyes searching my face. He needed to make sure I was okay, to know that I hadn't been hurt in all this chaos. His touch was firm but gentle, and he spoke firmly but gently. "Are you okay? Did anything happen to you?"

"No, the team of officers rushed out, I thought something happened to you," I said as I looked into his eyes.

Marcus felt his heart skip a beat as he looked into my eyes. He could see the concern and worry written all over my face, and it only served to heighten his feelings of protectiveness towards me.

He wanted to pull me into his arms and hold me close, to shield me from all the danger and violence that had come my way recently. But he knew he had to stay professional, to keep his feelings in check.

He reluctantly let go of my shoulders, taking a small step back to put some space between us two. He couldn't let himself get too close to me, no matter how much he wanted to. He had to keep his head in the game, to focus on the case and on protecting me.

"What did you find out?" I asked him, Marcus led me to his car, unlocking the door and gesturing for me to get in. He got in on the driver's side and started the engine, but he didn't pull out of the parking lot right away. Instead, he took a deep breath, steeling himself for what he was about to tell me.

He turned to look at me, his expression serious and focused. "I found out more about what's going on," he said quietly. "But you're not going to like what I have to say." He paused, letting his words sink in. He could see the worry and curiosity in my eyes, and he knew that I was bracing myself for whatever it was he was about to tell me.

"Just tell me," I said.

After hearing everything I just nodded "What's the next step?"

Marcus was slightly taken aback by my calm and collected response. He had expected me to be more scared or upset by everything he had just told me, but I seemed to be handling it surprisingly well.

He shook his head slightly, clearing his thoughts. He had to stay focused on the task at hand. "The next step is to find Mae," he said firmly. "She's the key to all this, and she's the one with the answers we need."

He turned to look at me, his eyes intense and serious. "I need you to stay here and stay safe, okay? I don't want you involved in this mess any more than you already are. Let me handle this."

I nodded. Marcus held my gaze for a moment longer, silently trying to convey all the emotions he was feeling. But he knew he couldn't give in to them, not now. He had to keep a clear head and focus on the task at hand.

I looked into his eyes "The kiss. Did it at least mean something?" I asked quietly.

Marcus's eyes widened slightly as he heard my question, caught off guard by the sudden change in topic. He hadn't expected me to bring up the kiss, not now. He clenched his jaw, trying to keep his emotions under control. But even as he tried to keep his cool, he couldn't deny the truth. The kiss had meant something to him, more than anything he had felt in a long time.

He wanted to tell me that, to spill his guts and lay his heart out open for me to see. But he couldn't. It would be unprofessional and inappropriate. He couldn't let himself get too close to me, to let his emotions cloud his judgment.

He looked away from me, his eyes fixed on the steering wheel. "It was a mistake," he said quietly. "A moment of weakness. It shouldn't have happened and it won't happen again."

Marcus could see the disappointment and hurt in my expression, and it tore at his heart. He wanted to take back what he had said, to tell me that the kiss had meant the world to him. But he couldn't. He had to stick to the line he had drawn in the sand.

"I will leave you to it," I got out of the car and walked away.

Marcus watched me walk away, his heart heavy and conflicted. He wanted to call out to me, to stop me from leaving and explain everything. But he knew he couldn't. He had to let me go, for both our sakes.

He let out a deep sigh, running his hand through his hair in frustration. He had made a mess of things, and he knew it. But he couldn't let himself get sidetracked by his feelings for me. He had a job to do, and he couldn't let anything stand in his way.