Warriors Honor: Elite Warrior Novel, #4

By McKayla Jade

Nicole has been treading water for so long, she's going under. She can't continue to fight the injustice of a system that seems to favor a multibillion dollar company. She won't give up on the promise she made to her family, even if it cost her everything.
Called in to help his brother with his most recent mark, Dalton expected something easy. Finding out she was his mate, not so much, if she didn't trust him any further than she could throw him. Earning her trust by slaying her enemies would be a piece of cake, but it wasn't his honor to claim.

• Language: English
• Publisher: McKayla Jade
• Release date: May 1, 2022
• ISBN: 9798201318666

McKayla Jade

Mckayla Jade was born and raised in central Illinois. It’s where she makes her home now with her high school sweetheart and the love of her life. Together they’ve raised three awesome kids. Along the way she never forgot or gave up on her dream of becoming a published author. These days you’ll find her either behind her laptop writing or outside enjoying the great outdoors.

Book preview

Dedications

As I say with all my books, it would not be possible without the help and support from my tribe and they are too many too list, but I will try.

My husband, you remain my rock and my best friend. I wouldn’t trade you for all the silver in the world. Thank you for helping me follow my dreams.

Lynda, thank you for knowing when I needed a push and when I needed a Gibs slap to the back of the head.

Crystal, and Becky, thanks for being breakfast buddies and letting me bounce ideas and plot lines off of you at all hours.

Now for the special mentions, from my reader group. In my group sometimes there are contests for naming a person, place or thing in my books. This time it was the last name of my main character. Pamela Ann suggested I use Sterlington, for Nicole’s last name.

Chapter 1

He’d been watching this creature of habit for months now. He could see why he was sent to protect her. Her routine could be called utterly boring and predictable at best. Even an untrained thug, lest a trained hitman, would be able to find her and take her out. Either she had no idea she was in danger, or she didn’t care. The former more of a concern than the latter. Marcus had never, in all his years as a bounty hunter and mercenary seen a person more uncaring of their own personal safety. Tonight, he was perched in the trees on the outskirts of the parking lot of the bar where Nicole Sterlington worked Friday and Saturday nights. Her rigid work schedule was about the only interesting thing about her. He was convinced if the bar or mechanic shop were open on Sunday, she would work that day too.

As with all his marks, he had her thoroughly investigated. She had no family left. She had no hobbies other than her sports car. Her lack of nightlife made it even harder to figure out who was out to kill her and why? If he could learn why, nine times out of ten it led to who. A few times he had been able to save his mark by killing their attackers. This time it would take far more time and far more work. Nothing he couldn’t handle and indeed he hadn’t had a challenge like this in a long time. He would enjoy this. He stood up and stretched his shoulders back, about to turn from his look out position, on the roof of the bar, when a woman’s scream reached his ear.

Let me go. She yelled. Stop it.

His acute night vision allowed him to see a couple standing near the vehicles in a shaded part of the lot, behind the bar. She yanked her purse away from the man and hurried toward the next line of cars. The roar started in his chest and filled his whole body in a matter of seconds. With one leap he was steps away from the man pursuing her across the gravel. He clamped one hand down on the man’s shoulder and dug his bootheels into the shifting terrain. The drunk turned to look at him and yelled. What the hell?

Marcus clamped his fingers into the man’s shoulder and drug him backwards across the parking lot. Once they were out of sight of the woman, he stood the man up straight and growled. If I see you near her ever again, it will mean the end of your life.

The man’s mouth dropped open, and he stammered. She's my girlfriend.

Not anymore. Marcus growled.

We broke up, Greg. Get over it. The woman yelled as she got in her car and drove away."

He was tired of the way men treated women in these modern times. Am I clear?

Fine, man. The guy gave up struggling. Whatever.

Indeed. Marcus demanded. Now go. And shoved the stinking drunkard away from him. He waited for the man to get in his truck and drive away from the bar, before he turned to head inside. The need to check on Nicole overwhelmed him. He tucked his wings under his long coat and turned his focus where it should have been. On Nicole. The odd but alluring creature he’d been charged with protecting, made his body respond in strange ways. Maybe. Hope dared to spring to life in his chest. He turned the corner of the building and bypassed the line out front. He tapped Travis on the shoulder. The door man glanced at him and nodded toward the door. Go ahead.

He blinked and closed his ears to the volume around him and found a corner from which to watch the room. Just as he adjusted the front buttons to line up on his coat, Nicole’s scent reached him. A little bit wild berry and a little bit nervous. Typical weekend scent from her. Every time this bar was full, she was nervous. He’d asked her about it before and after pressing the matter she told him she had an old boyfriend who sometimes liked to come in and give her trouble. Marcus knew it for the lie it was. She hadn’t had a boyfriend or any true friends since high school. Ironically, they had all abandoned her when she became her family’s full-time caregiver.

Hey sugar. Nicole purred when she got closer. Come to take me home?

Anytime. You need only ask. He smirked; she wouldn’t let him, but he never stopped offering. I’ve told you this.

She smiled and kept moving. She had a tray with empty glasses and napkins covering it. She swung her hips just slightly, just enough to get her noticed, but not enough to invite one closer. Her vibe was a truly, ‘look don’t touch.’ He liked that. It made his job easier. If he didn’t have to chase off every idiot with a hard on, he could focus on protecting her from the true threat. The girl behind the bar filled Nicole’s tray with more drink orders and Nicole kept an eye on the people around her. She wasn’t stupid.

Maybe tonight he would escort her home again and she would invite him inside. He had checked her apartment already but couldn’t sign into her computer. It had been password protected and he did not get time to bypass it before she had finished her shower. She was starting to trust him, and he would be a fool to ruin that. They were becoming fast friends, but the magic didn’t call to him. She had it, he was certain of it, but it didn’t call to him like it should. She turned to the crowd with a new tray full of drinks and their eyes collided. She made a sweet kissing gesture and he grinned, until a man stepped in front of her. The man pushed his weight against her, shoving her back to the bar. Nicole was able to set the tray down and with her free hand she grabbed hold of the man’s trousers.

Time stood still. The man groaned and quicker than Marcus could blink, he had Nicole by the throat. Her face turned red, and her eyes bulged, but her hand was reaching the knife she kept on her side. Marcus pushed through the crowd. This man had just signed his death warrant. Nicole gasped for breath, and he grabbed the man’s head from behind and yanked him off of her. His movements were minimal and quick, but effective and his blade was sheathed before anyone could see just what had happened. The man landed limp and lifeless on the floor behind him. People jumped out of the way as he landed, and two men drug him outside.

The girl behind the bar yelled over the din. Nic are you okay?

Nicole’s eyes were as wide as saucers, but she never looked away from him. Marcus. His name was a bare whisper across her lips but to him she might as well have been shouting. That whisper filled and consumed him like fire.

I’m here. He reached one arm out for her while still watching for more attackers.

She launched herself into his chest. It is all right, Nicole. He wrapped his arm around her and held her head to his chest. He took a deep slow breath. He hoped his calmer heartbeat would soothe her. You are all right. He’s gone. I swear it.

Right here. Right now. If she were his mate, the magic would surely call to him. It did not. Something shifted inside her. Her back went ramrod straight. She took a deep breath and stepped back out of his arms. She ran her hands down the front of her jeans and told him. Um, yeah. Thank you. I’m just shook up. Another glance up at him but she wouldn’t hold his stare. I have to get these drinks out.

He took her face in his hands and made her look at him. You will be alright. I’m here.

She blinked rapidly but didn’t argue. She licked her lips, nodded, and turned back to the tray and the yelling bartender. I’m good Heather. I promise.

Okay. You be careful. Heather told her and Nicole pushed past him and out into the rowdy crowd to pass out drinks.

Marcus stayed closer to her than he ever had before. Something about the crowd seemed off tonight. He stepped into the back hallway to find the manager, Sam. It would take a mere minute. He had met the man before. Hell, he had met all the employees before, because he wouldn’t let Nicole close down the place by herself. She told most of them he was her boyfriend. He didn’t care. Their feelings about him were not his concern. He knocked on the closed office door.

From inside Sam yelled. Yeah, come on.

He stepped into the small space and blinked at the stark contrast compared to the barroom and hallway. The light in here could almost blind a person.

Sam. I am taking Nicole home early tonight.

The hell you are. I have a packed bar out there.

Marcus only raised an eyebrow. He had never liked this guy and just now, he liked him even less. I suggest then, you tend to it.

A loud bang interrupted their conversation. Marcus pulled the office door open and heard it again. Gun fire and a heavy caliber if his hearing was correct. Shit. He breathed the word and started moving. Nicole. He sprinted the few steps down the hall. Bullets were hitting everything. Wooden splinters showered people nearby. Glass shards exploded from mirrors and lights. Where the hell was Nicole? He finally spotted her across the bar. Not concerned with who might see what, he thrust himself up and over the crowd to land behind her and wrap his arms protectively around her. He pulled her behind him and dropped below a half wall. Laying on the floor his body shielded her from most of the danger.

Marcus. Nicole cried out his name.

It is I. He told her. I’ve got you. Are you hurt?

I don’t think so. She told him. What the hell is going on?

The wall rail over them shattered when a bullet slammed into it.  Shit. Nicole squealed. I’d swear, they are after me.

They are. He saw no reason to lie to her. His demon hearing allowed him to single out sounds and from their shouted words he’d heard more than one asking people where Nicole was.

Oh my god this is my fault.

No. The fault lies with them. Marcus demanded. Now, focus. We need to get you out of here.

The fire exit behind the stt...stage should be open.

Indeed. Marcus squeezed her tight to his chest for a second and eased up. Nicole, when I say go, you stay low but run for that door.

Bring her home. Alexandar’s voice filled his mind. Shit. No human had ever time traveled to Hells Vein. Could it even be done? The half wall in front of them splintered again. Nicole squealed and covered her head with her hands. He kissed the top of her head and told her. Now. Nicole. Go.

At the same time, he stood in front of her and pulled his own weapon and fired on the attackers. The one facing him not ten feet away was the first. Then the one to the left then the one to the right. His left arm tingled.  A glance down confirmed he’d been hit. He clenched his jaw and fired at the fourth man in the dark hallway. He didn’t wait for the bullet to find its target. He turned to follow Nicole and heard the fourth man scream. He’d missed his mark. Damn.

She has nowhere to go. She’s as good as dead and so are you. The man yelled. Marcus stopped. Took a breath and his fifth bullet found it’s home in the man’s skull. Mission complete. He could finally follow Nicole’s scent out the back door. He hurried to catch up to her as the back door closed, but before it latched, he pushed through it and abruptly came to a halt. Nicole had stopped at the bottom of the two steps staring at the blazing pile of metal and rubber that was her car. He rested a hand on her shoulder, and she jumped. Be at ease. It is I.

Oh Marcus. She glanced up and turned back to stare at the ruined sports car. They torched my car. Her long hair shielded her face from his view. Her muffled murmur couldn’t hide her hurt. They were friends, but obviously not close enough, for her to be comfortable enough to show him her feelings.

My grandpa’s car. She sighed. It was all I had left of him.

The sirens from police and emergency vehicles were filling the night. We need to go, Nicole. He had no way of knowing how many more men were here. Until he did, it wasn’t a safe place for her to be.

Why? she shrugged.

I cannot answer that, but we must.

That’s good enough for me. Nicole smiled at him. But how do you suggest we go? She gestured to her car.

Trust me? Marcus asked her.

Chapter 2

Her heartbeat threatened to choke her, and she couldn’t catch her breath. Her life had just gone to hell, and she still wasn’t sure why. People had burst into her workplace and started shooting anyone and everyone.  Her only car, handed down from her grandpa, had been torched and now her friend wanted her to leave. Right now. No time like the present. What the hell? How the hell...did they make it out here alive? She pressed her hand to her chest where her heart pounded so hard it hurt. Those men were shooting so fast, and everything was so loud. The sirens were quickly filling the night and this blaze consuming her car was lighting up the back parking lot and drawing a crowd.

Let’s go home. Marcus stood behind her. Steady. Strong. Safe. His warmth seeped into her. A deep contrast from the chill filling her. If she wasn’t careful, she would start shaking and that would lead to another set of problems. She nodded and let him lead her away from the bar and away from her burning car.

Is it safe? Are those men? She couldn’t finish her sentence, the thoughts running through her head were too disturbing and he didn’t make her.

Yes. He gave her the answers she hadn’t asked for, but so desperately needed. She let out a breath and her body felt boneless.

The men were dead and no longer a threat, but for how long before the company sent more? How long before they would come back, or the company would send more? This had been the story of her life since she had started the online campaign to get that damned chemical company shut down. She knew who wanted her dead. She just didn’t think they would really do it. Not with all those witnesses and evidence.

Desperate men do desperate things. Marcus told her.

She glanced up at him but couldn’t see him through the blur. She wiped her eyes. Great now she could add crybaby to her list of accomplishments.  She never cried. Are you reading my mind again?

Perhaps. He told her as they continued to walk. Let’s stop here for a moment.

She shrugged and rolled her tight shoulders. Tension was filling her, and she’d probably have a massive headache later. She didn’t care. Her job was gone. Her boss and friends might even be dead. She bit her lip to keep herself from losing it. Her car was gone. The last thing she had from her family. They were gone too. She had nothing left. She took a deep breath. Marcus took hold of her shoulder and turned her to face him. He really did have a nice body. His chest was firm, and his arms were well muscled. Most women fell all over him. She kept him at arm’s length like a best friend or a big brother. Total friend zone. She had never felt anything but that for him. Until now. Until tonight. Tonight, there was something. Maybe it was the shock of what had just happened.

Nicole. Look at me. He was getting bossy.

She shook her head. If she looked up at him, it would be real. If she stared at anything but his eyes, she could adequately