Dylan's Story

By Tressa Messenger

From the Amazon best selling series The Protector comes Dylan's Story.

You've read Anna-Marie's story, now I want you to know mine. Of course I'm a vampire, but who likes labels? My human self died, but the man I was is still the man I am. Or at least I try to be, after everything I've ever known and loved has been taken away from me. I may have technically died but I’m not dead and I refuse to give up my life, even if it takes me tag teaming with some unlikely allies to do it. I may not be a human anymore but I am still me; Dylan Williams, a man of substance.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Tressa Messenger
• Release date: Jan 15, 2014
• ISBN: 9781311089540

Tressa Messenger

I am a small town girl with big dreams. I grew up in a small coastal community called Pamlico County in the town of Reelsboro North Carolina. Growing up in such a rural area there wasn't much to do, so I developed a wide fantasy finding solace in writing poetry and songs. After high school I left my little secure coastal town to discover other parts of the country. It was a sad and lonely time, but also a fun and exciting time in my life. I had too many emotions to process so I started to put it all down on paper. That became the start of my first novel, which I have yet to finish. My first complete novel entitled Protector was a dream come true, although I found out during the process, at 31 years old, I am dyslexic. Reading was always a struggle throughout my life and finding out why has really made a difference in me and my writing. It was such a wonderful and daunting process but I have succeeded in doing something I never thought I would do. I have 3 novels published, Protect, Protect Me and Too Close To Home and 2 more on the way. Writing is such a passion of mine and will continue to be whether I become successful with it or not.

Book preview

Preface

Chapter One from Protector

Dylan looks at the clock above his office door and curses to himself. It is seven o’clock already, long past quitting time. Before he left the apartment this morning, he had told his girlfriend, Anna-Marie, they would go out for dinner to celebrate if he got the new account with a major franchise, and he did, but he didn’t realize just how long it would take him to organize all of the information. He smiles to himself and spins his chair around in a circle, overjoyed that he landed the account. He has been with the firm since he graduated college six years ago and it has taken him this long to fully establish himself with the firm. Looking back, it has been difficult, but well worth it. He competed with two other agents who were well known in the marketing industry and after three weeks of endless meetings and strategizing, he knew he was ready for his final presentation. Today was the long awaited day. He had gotten dressed this morning with confidence, choosing his favorite olive green suit that Anna-Marie suggested, dubbing it his lucky suit. It was very expensive and tailored to fit his masculine shoulders and narrow waist perfectly. At the end of the day, he was the one they had chosen to handle the account. If all goes well, this account will be his ticket to a partnership with his marketing firm and the ultimate success he has been striving for.

With one more glance at the clock, he decides enough is enough for the night. He throws a few files into his briefcase, just in case he has a chance to work on them sometime tonight, and then leaves the office.

His office is on the south side of town and with a town as big as Wilmington it takes him a good thirty minutes to get home on a normal day. Thankfully for him, rush hour traffic subsided an hour ago. He makes it to the downtown area in record time on the main road they live on, Market Street, within twenty minutes.

It was Anna-Marie’s dream to go to college at the University of Wilmington in North Carolina, so he was destined to go there as well. He doesn’t mind the big city life most of the time, but he finds himself missing the slower pace of their little hometown, Oriental. Nothing compares to lying around lazily on a pier that is stretched out towards the river and listening to the rhythmic sloshing of the water against the wood as the seagulls and Osprey cry out from up above. There’s no noise from traffic, horns, or sirens to intrude on the tranquil sounds of nature. Wilmington is a beautiful coastal town as well, but much bigger and busier than Oriental. Oriental is only two hours up the coast from here, but it seems worlds away sometimes. Quite frankly, Dylan could live anywhere and be content as long as he has Anna-Marie to share it with. So as long as Anna-Marie wants to be here, here is where they will stay.

A few blocks from his apartment, he stops in at Matrix Jewelry store that is owned by his best friend, Charles. He and Charles met in college and became fast friends so if he was going to buy jewelry anywhere, it had to be there. He had recently made the decision that fourteen years of dating was long enough and had secretly sworn if he were to land the account he would finally propose to Anna-Marie. They never talked much about marriage or kids throughout their relationship, but he figured it would happen eventually.

He says a quick hello to Charles before starting his search. He looks around at various pieces of jewelry then stops to look through all three of the engagement ring cases, while Charles stood behind the counter quietly waiting. He scans each ring as he goes, until his eyes settle on the perfect one.

Hey Charles, can I look at this one? He says, pointing to a platinum princess-cut diamond ring with emerald stones on both sides.

Charles notices the beautifully crafted ring that Dylan is pointing to and gives him a sly knowing smile before he hands him the glistening ring.

How big is this diamond?

That diamond, my friend, is a karat.

Dylan looks up at Charles, Is that good?

Charles laughs and shakes his head, Yes Dylan, it is. Do you know how screwed you would be right now had I not been your friend and you asked that question?

Dylan laughs and pulls his attention back to the tiny object in his fingertips. He turns it all around as he exams the unique ring. He has never seen a ring so beautiful. The emerald green stones match Anna-Marie’s emerald green cat shaped eyes and sets off the princess cut diamond perfectly.

This is the one, Dylan says with a big smile as he hands the ring back to Charles.

This is a very nice choice. It is perfect for Anna-Marie. I was beginning to wonder if you were ever going to bite the bullet.

Dylan runs a hand through his sleek, chocolate, wavy hair, Well, it has been fourteen years. I figure I better do it sooner rather than later.

Charles laughs, prints out the receipt and hands it to Dylan, It will be sized and ready for you to pick up by the end of the week.

Thanks Charles, I’ll see you then. Dylan shakes his hand and as he walks towards the door Charles calls out to him.

Hey Dyl, why don’t you go see Sally next door? Make sure to tell her I’ll be closing up soon.

Dylan smiles, Okay, I can do that, but you have to promise not to tell her about the ring. I don’t care if she is your wife.

I won’t, but you better do it soon because that woman can read me like a book.

Trust me, I am.

Dylan turns, walks out and heads next door to the Fresh Flower Market for some flowers for Anna-Marie. Dylan smiles all the way, knowing that Charles and Sally put these two stores beside each other on purpose because when it comes to women jewelry and flowers go hand in hand.

Anna-Marie has always loved flowers and preferred them over any other gift he could give her and he was always surprising her with them. She didn’t really have a favorite, so it made it easy for him. He sifts through the different assortments and creates a beautifully romantic bouquet of different colored roses, oriental lilies and baby’s breath to break it up. Satisfied with the arrangement of assorted shapes and colors of smelly goodness in hand and a rushed greeting with Sally, he starts back on his journey home. Visions of Anna-Marie’s face as she sees him down on one knee, with that gorgeous ring in his outstretched hand cloud his thoughts for the rest of the drive home.

Once in his parking spot, he turns off the ignition and catches a glance at the clock on the dashboard. It is screaming at him with its aqua blue light that it is almost eight o’clock. He quickly grabs the flowers and his briefcase off the passenger seat and gets out of the car. He doesn’t even bother taking the time to lock the doors; he is in too much of a rush to care. He prays Anna-Marie won’t be too upset. She has never been one to get easily upset and can usually roll with the punches; it is something he has always loved about her. He’s sure she’ll understand, but really, who wants to take the chance. He can picture her now, probably sitting on the couch, dressed up and ready for dinner, as she waits for him to finally arrive. Maybe she even has her sleek, and hopefully bare, legs crossed with the top leg bobbing up and down maniacally in a never ending restless motion. He smiles to himself as he pictures her signature annoyed look. Even then, she is still so beautiful.

With only one foot in the direction of his apartment building, he is stunned by a sharp stabbing sensation to his upper back.

His smile quickly turns to shock, What the -.

He desperately tries to turn around to see where the pain is coming from, but massive arms wrap around his chest holding him in place. The attacker breathes heavily in his ear, his hot breath tainting Dylan’s senses.

Then he feels pain shoot through him again, then another and another.

Someone has snuck up behind him as soon as he got out of the car and started to attack him, feeling as if the attacker is stabbing him in the back repeatedly with something he can’t see.

He feels paralyzed from fear but Dylan wills his shaking hand to drop his briefcase. With trembling hands, he tries to fumble in his back pocket to retrieve his wallet, hoping if the person gets what he wants, he will leave him alone. Just as he is starting to bring the wallet out of the pocket, he feels a sharp stab on his bicep making him drop the wallet.

Oh god, this person intends to kill me, he thinks to himself.

His blood is everywhere. He doesn’t know how much blood he has lost so far, but it seems like a lot. He is beginning to get dizzy and black spots are blurring his vision, threatening to make him lose consciousness.

With his attacker’s arms wrapped around him he is still unable to move. All he can do is stare at his apartment building and wait to die. As thoughts of death flash into his mind, a vision of a scrawny little beautiful brown-haired girl with penetrating emerald green eyes comes into focus. It’s been a long time since he has seen her at this age. She appears to be the same age as when they met on that first day of kindergarten when they were five. Dylan can remember watching her for a few minutes before running up to her that day. She seemed so shy. Without saying a word he grabbed her by the hand and pulled her to the swing set