Somebody's Angel.

Fifth in the Rescue Me Series.

by Kallypso Masters.

Dedication.

To one of my earliest readers (way back in 2011), Linda Thurmond DeCristofaro, who helped me discover what Marc had been hiding from me in the first three books in this series (even if she forgot what she told me later on).

To Lisa SK, who helped me see some serious problems with both Marc and Angelina and fix them before it was too late-and to Ekatarina Sayanova, for helping me teach them both discipline and the power of the submissive and the Dominant.

And to author Siobhan Muir, my roommate at Authors After Dark 2012 in New Orleans, who realized I needed to give Marc and Angelina another book, even if it did mess with the promised line-up of books. I know there are people picking up this book expecting it to be about Luke and Cassie, but I couldn't stand to leave Marc in so much pain now that he was on the threshold of finally deciding to change.

Acknowledgements.

It takes at least a continent to put out one of my books, one of my editors said. Among those who contributed this time (on two continents) are: Caterina L. who seemed to channel Marc and Luke while I was working on this book. She's also begun to help me understand how Luke's work with his horses will eventually translate into helping Cassie heal.

Mountain_Jewel and Teckla Satterlee for providing invaluable help on the ice-climbing scene.

My awesome beta readers, Khriste Close, Margie Dees, Kelly Mueller, and Lisa SK who read through the entire book (several times!) and helped me fix some major problems. Also to Kellie Hunter who beta read some of the early versions before life intruded.

My proofreaders who found many typos and errors, I extend my gratitude and thanks to Sandy Davis, Eva Meyers, Christine Sullivan Mulcair, and Annie Van Camp.

Eric Pride, a "master" at the BDSM interrogation scene, for that wild cab-ride conversation where we discussed mindfucks, torture, kidnapping, and more. I wonder what the cabbie was thinking. Thanks also for taking time to check over my scene and offer suggestions for improvements.

Top Griz for once again helping me channel my inner master sergeant (Master Adam). Thanks for your help with the intense interrogation scene that probably reminded you too much of SERE School! And thanks, once again, for expanding my Marine vocabulary to include the awesome word "unfuck."

Kayla Proctor for her help with my Navy questions. Your Navy Corpsman cracked me up with the "they're just psycho" comment, but I played it safe and went with the psychO usage that matches up with other "officer" nicknames in the Navy. Oh, and thanks for helping me get Marc dressed properly for the big day!

Psychologists Jennifer P. and Ruth Reid for helping me understand the psychological aspects of Marc's inner pain and for advice on how to help him overcome that cycle of coping that just wasn't working for him or giving him any peace and happiness. Also to Ekatarina Sayanova, whose knowledge of psychology helped me understand Marc (and intense interrogation scenes) much better, as well.

Cynthia Gonzales for giving me the details necessary to get a certain couple hitched in this book! Your knowledge and attention to detail made that chapter so much more meaningful. (I hope my Catholic readers will understand that this is still fiction and I took a few liberties with the traditional ceremony, but I tried to stay as close as possible to reality.) Irene Eneri, one of my Italian experts, who lives in Italy and provided so many of the translations to Italian in the words and phrases sprinkled throughout Lombardy native Marc's book. And to Maria Cristina Robb, also in Italy, who gave me some "quickie" translations when I was on a deadline crunch for a blog and this book.

My Facebook friends and fans who chimed in over the last year at least on countless questions I asked on my Facebook group Rescue Me Series Open Discussion or on my Facebook timeline. You always are there to help me out when I just don't have one more brain cell left! With thousands of Facebook friends, there are way too many to name here without leaving too many out (or adding 100 pages to this book), but I thank you for joining me on this amazing journey and for helping me whenever I got stuck on something. I like to imagine your "squeeeee!" when you see something in here that you suggested, too!

My editorial "dream" team (in alphabetical order because each is a vital part of the team and brings her own expertise to content and line edits)-Meredith Bowery, Fiona Cox, Jacy Mackin, Rosie Moewe, and Ekatarina Sayanova. Each has helped bring out the best book I had in me this time (and all have helped in the past on various books, as well). I continue to improve and grow as a writer because of all that you awesome professionals teach me. Of course, it's those things I change after my editorial team and subject experts sign off on the book that usually lead to the need for later corrected versions. As always, all typos and errors are solely my responsibility. But this is truly the cleanest version I've ever published on a first upload. I don't plan to make any revisions until the print version comes out!

Rosie Moewe for keeping track of my series timeline and series bible, which was extremely helpful to me in writing this story because there were so many important parallels with events in Nobody's Perfect (Rescue Me #4) to keep straight. But her hard work also helps me to move forward in the series without losing track of all those important details (and even the minutiae).

The Kallypso's Street Brats who always entertain me with their pimping exploits. And to my Masters Brats (fans) the world around. Without you all telling all your friends about my books, I never would have reached so many readers. Here's hoping this one makes the New York Times bestseller list, as well as getting me on the USA Today list again!

My awesome new personal assistant, Charlotte Oliver, who helped keep me sane since August of this year. I had quickly come to see I couldn't keep up with business and marketing and still have anything left to write, so she freed up so much of my time to allow me to focus on writing.

Thanks also to my virtual assistant, Leagh Christensen, owner of Romance Novel Promotions, who has helped me with marketing; online things like newsletters, blog tours, web site; and my street team for almost two years now.

Author's Note.

Nobody's Angel (Rescue Me #2) was a struggle to write because Marc D'Alessio was the most emotionally closed off character I'd ever encountered. I knew there was some inner pain that made him that way, but just couldn't put my finger on it. When Adam and Karla decided enough was enough and hijacked that book to continue their own journey I just decided I would have to come back to Marc later in this saga. That book did find some growth and development for Angelina on her journey of discovery.

In Somebody's Angel (Rescue Me #5), you will discover what makes Marc who he is. I originally thought I'd be able to crack him in a subplot in Nobody's Perfect (Rescue Me #4). Unfortunately, a bombshell was dropped over that New Year's weekend in Aspen that made it difficult for me to resolve Marc's own inner pain without bouncing back and forth too much between the two couples. Eventually, I realized Marc and Angelina needed a separate book to sort out their issues and move forward. This is that book.

If you haven't read the prior books in the series, I urge you to do so, now more than ever. This is a series where each book builds on those that came before it. I can't contain my characters to one book, although I love it when I am able to get a couple to Happily Ever After.

Let me warn readers that Marc is a risktaker and will engage in activities in this book that go beyond the Safe, Sane, and Consensual (SSC). There is an interrogation scene that goes into Risk Aware Consensual Kink (RACK) that is way beyond SSC.

This book has been through more pre-publication editing rounds (with a five-person editorial team, plus subject experts and beta readers) than any book I've ever published. While I wish it could be perfect, I'm sure it's not. In the past, I agonized over every typo and constantly uploaded new versions, but this took away from my being able to continue writing the series and working on new books. So, with this one, I'm asking anyone who does notice an error or typo to please notify my personal assistant, Charlotte Oliver at charlotte@kallypsomasters.com. She will keep track of them and I will go over them all just before preparing the book for the print version in February or March. (In the interim, I plan to focus totally on the next new book-Nobody's Dream (Luke and Cassie's story)!

But first, please enjoy Marc's journey of self-discovery as you once again enter the world of the Rescue Me series (and the Masters at Arms Club). You'll also revisit favorite characters from other books in the series, plus get some information about characters from future books.

Cast of Characters.

Marisol Baker-Savi and Damian's 8-year-old daughter.

Savi Baker-formerly Savannah Gentry; with Damian Carmella D'Alessio-Marc's sister (youngest D'Alessio).

Gino D'Alessio-Marc's older brother; killed in action in Afghanistan Marc D'Alessio-Navy corpsman ("Doc"); co-owner of the Masters at Arms Club; has been dating Angelina since Nobody's Angel Natalia Zirilli D'Alessio-Mama D'Alessio, Marc's mother Papa D'Alessio-Marc's father.

Sandro (Alessandro) D'Alessio-Marc's younger brother Luke Denton-Marc's search and rescue partner who adopts rescued, abused mustangs; he is an artisan who makes furniture, including pieces for the kink community Jose Espinosa-Damian's nephew Rosa Espinosa-Damian's sister.

Teresa Espinosa-Damian's niece Patrick Gallagher-Adam's half brother Angelina Giardano-Marc's girl; a chef by trade Franco Giardano-Angelina's brother; a fire fighter Mama Giardano (Angela)-Angelina's mother Matteo (Matt) Giardano-Angelina's brother; a fire fighter; likes to go skijoring Rafe Giardano-Angelina's oldest brother; a fire fighter.

Tony (Antonio) Giardano-Angelina's youngest brother; a fire fighter Pamela Jeffrey-Marc's most recent girlfriend before Angelina Gunnar Larsen-a sadist whip master who trained Damian, Grant, and others; retired Army Delta Force Allen Martin-Angelina's former boyfriend who abused her in the club leading to Marc's rescuing her (in Nobody's Angel); also known as Sir Asshole Mrs. Milanesi-Natalia's friend from secondary school; babysat Gino and Marco as children in Brescia, Lombardia, Italy Adam Montague (pronounced MON-tag)-Marc's master sergeant; patriarch of the Masters at Arms Club "family"; surrogate father to Damian Damian Orlando-served with Marc in Iraq; rides a Harley; Patriot Guard Rider; in love with Savi/Savannah.

Melissa Russo-Marc's old girlfriend; he found her in bed with his brother Gino (aka Queen Bitch of the Universe to Angelina).

Paolo Solari-husband of Emiliana and brother-in-law to Natalia.

Prologue.

As Marc D'Alessio followed his girl Angelina Giardano into the bedroom, he tried to shake the trapped feeling that had hounded him all day.

What the fuck was wrong with him? This had to be one of the best Christmases he could remember. He and Angelina had played Santa's elves to his buddy Damian Orlando's newfound daughter this morning. Well, that had been a high until the orphaned kitten they'd brought the little girl had triggered an emotional meltdown for her mama. Did witnessing that have something to do with his mood?

Angelina rested her head against his chest, and he wrapped his arms around her. He'd found the woman of his dreams a few months ago and couldn't believe his luck that she was still with him despite a huge mistake on his part. They'd been together almost three months, closing in on his record with Pamela, his last girlfriend.

He crushed her closer to him, as if afraid she'd leave. Or perhaps his unsettled feeling had him worried he'd leave her; he'd certainly done that enough times. How could he even think of doing such a thing? They weren't even having any issues worth fighting over. Why these unbidden thoughts about someone leaving? They weren't even having any problems.

Marc decided to make sure she wasn't sending some vibe he was picking up on. "You okay, cara?"

"Better than okay, Sir. You got me to a very good place, but I'm exhausted." She pulled away and stared up at him, a bliss-filled smile on her face, before placing her hand behind his neck and dragging him toward her face. Her lips were warm, inviting, and promised this evening wasn't going to end in them rolling over and going to sleep right away.

Angelina broke the kiss and stepped back. "I'll join you in bed after I take a shower." She hadn't bothered to dress from their time in the tower room. Watching her strut toward the head gave him a renewed sense of pride in the red marks he'd placed on her ass. The sashaying of her hips conveyed her pleasure in them, too. Angelina brought out the Dom in him as no woman had before.

He began undressing and hanging up his clothes as he continued to analyze what had him so off-kilter. Dinner with Angelina's family had gone well, considering her brothers didn't think much of anyone she dated. The setting had been the picture-perfect, Italian-American family gathering. Shit, despite his being born in Italy, that dinner had been an eye-opener. Meals with his family were formal, stately affairs-seating charts, waitstaff, and course after course served precisely on time. The Giardanos, however, sat wherever they liked at the table for eight after filling their plates to overflowing from a buffet stocked with enough food to feed a platoon of Marines.

The noise level had been mind-numbing, too. At one point, Angelina interjected a comment into a conversation happening at the opposite end of the table before going right back to her discussion with her youngest brother, Tony, seated next to her. How she had picked up on two separate conversations at once without missing a beat both impressed and confounded Marc.

Still, nothing that would account for the way he felt. They'd come home to top off the day with an intense, satisfying session in the playroom. He loved getting kinky with his girl. It relaxed them both. So why did he feel...disconnected?

He loved Angelina and wanted her in his life more than his next breath-no, not wanted, needed. What was keeping him from proposing? Angelina had made no mention of leaving him, and yet the thought haunted him, as if he expected it to happen any day.

Tonight, he planned to focus on her completely, worshiping her body. Reminded how sore her ass would be, he walked over to her vanity and retrieved the tube of lido.

Beside her hair clip, he noticed her red hairbrush had been replaced by one with a wooden handle and back. A vague feeling he couldn't even name washed over him, and he picked it up. His friend Luke had branded his artist's mark on the front of the wooden handle.

"Marco, spazzolami i capelli." The older woman's disembodied voice asking him to brush her hair sounded oddly familiar, as if coming from a place deep inside him. Who was she? Definitely not Mama's voice.

"I'm sorry, little one...you didn't mean for me to get hurt."

His chest grew tight, and he dropped the brush as if it had grown red hot. But the voice echoed in his head.

Angelina, don't even go there.

Marc had seemed so distant when she'd come out of the shower. He'd applied the soothing ointment to her burning butt. However, before they could make love, he pleaded exhaustion and rolled over. His uneven breathing made her doubt he slept despite the hours they'd lain here, which only left her to wonder what had changed his mood.

The day had been so good. Even her four brothers had played nice at Mama's for Christmas dinner. Although they never liked anyone she dated, they knew she was more serious about Marc than she had been about any past relationships.

So why did she get the feeling Marc was retreating from her?

From the night they'd met at Rico's, he'd gone hot and cold on her. Sometimes she wondered if planning a future for them might just lead to heartache. Could he ever commit to something more than living together?

She reminded herself again not to be so pessimistic. Marc just happened to be a very private man. He shared himself with her in amazing ways, becoming more creative the better they got to know each other. Hard to believe they were living together already having only met in September, well not counting that time she had no memory of in August.

Maybe they'd just moved too quickly. She yawned, and her eyelids drooped. She'd give him time...

"Mamma, no!"

Angelina jolted awake and turned to find Marc lying on his stomach, punching at the pillow underneath his head.

"Scusami! Scusami!"

"Marc, wake up! You're dreaming."

Her words had no effect. His face turned toward her, perspiration plastering his hair to his forehead. The light from the bathroom showed the torment on his face.

Marc had always been plagued by nightmares but had never called out to anyone in Italian before. Other nights, she'd always thought he was remembering combat duty in Iraq. He'd taught her soon after she moved in here never to touch him while he slept without announcing herself, but his continued thrashing told her he wasn't hearing her.

Without warning, he rolled toward her and onto his back. His swinging arm sucker punched her. Regaining her breath after a moment, she straddled his waist, her sore butt burning against his skin as he tried to buck her off.

She grabbed his wrists to hold him down. "Marc! Wake up! You're scaring me!"

His brows scrunched in confusion. Had he heard her now? His eyelids fluttered open, and he stopped struggling. He'd come out of it. Thank God.

"You had a nightmare."

He reached up to brush the hair from her face. "Are you okay, cara?"

"I'm fine, but you scared the crap out of me. What was that all about?"

His face grew puzzled. "Strangest dream. A woman I called mamma who wasn't Mama. And Gino and I were in combat but on opposing sides. Then there was a wolf."

She grinned at him. "No more leftover lasagna before bedtime." She bent to place a kiss on his cheek before stretching out beside him. She needed to comfort him rather than go back to sleep, as if she could sleep now anyway.

He stroked her belly, and she winced when he touched where he'd punched her.

"What's wrong? Did I hurt you?"

Angelina stroked his chest, fingers running through the sprinkling of hair. "I'm fine, Marc. You scared me more than anything. I've never heard you talk in your sleep before. Or scream like that."

"What did I say?"

"Mostly yelling at your mama not to leave you. You said you had a different mama in the dream?"

He nodded before shrugging. "Maybe not. She looked a bit like Mama, only...younger than I can remember her."

She felt his heartbeat returning to normal under her hand. "Oh, and you kept saying you were sorry about something."

He stopped breathing. "Did I say who I was speaking to?"