Forever We Fall: Broken #4 (The Broken Series) (19 page)

Kyle

Well, I'd broken a dying woman's wish. I should have felt disgust, but all I felt was relief. Relief and sheer amazement at the forgiving nature of the woman in my arms. I didn’t deserve to hold her in my arms. I didn't deserve her loving touches. Goddammit, I was such an asshole…

"I am sorry, Lee," I whispered, pulling her closer to my body as we snuggled on the couch. We'd come inside and lit the fire to warm up when I'd realized the ground was cold as fuck and I could have caused the girl to catch pneumonia. "I know I promised Linda, but I should have said something sooner …given you some sort of explanation."

"Don't," she whispered as she lifted my hand to her lips. "I understand why you did what you did." Nuzzling her cheek against my chest, she sighed heavily. "I've missed you so much these past few weeks," she confessed. "Being without you feels like I've lost a crucial limb."

Catching her hand with mine, I lifted it to mouth, but my heart sank into my ass when I noticed she wasn't wearing her ring. "Where's your ring, Lee?" I croaked out. She snatched her hand away quickly.
Too fucking quickly.
"What's wrong?" I asked.

"Don't get mad," she begged as she twisted her body around and knelt beside me.

"I'm not mad," I told her calmly.
But my heart is beating at a hundred miles an hour…

"Yeah, but don't get mad," she said nervously.

I stiffened, my eyes locked on her wide gray eyes. "Tell me."

"Daddy took it." Lee bit down on her lip and stared at me as if she'd done something terrible. "I'm sorry, Kyle. I said no. I did try to stop him, but…he was drunk."

"What?" I sat up and grabbed her hips. "When the hell did this happen?"

"The day I left the hotel," she said quietly. "I tried to tell you, but you…so I just..." Exhaling a ragged breath, she attempted to smile at me, obviously trying to appease me. "I'm fine though."

Biting down on her lip, she clasped her hands together and let the words spill from her lips in a burst...

"He's in jail now?" I asked when Lee finished explaining what had happened. I couldn’t get my head around this. She'd been attacked, beaten up, and I'd told her I didn’t want to know.
Jesus Christ.
David had saved her. He'd been there for my family when I hadn’t and if he hadn’t arrived Jimmy could have hurt Hope.

"Yes," Lee mumbled. "It's over."

She looked upset.

"There's more?" I asked slowly. "What else did he do to you?"
Besides kick you in your goddamn kidneys and smash your face with his boot…

"He cut me," she muttered and thrust her hand into my face. My eyes locked on the
W
marked into her skin.

"W," I said, much calmer than I thought possible, as I stared at her, stroking my thumb over the scar. "Is that code for something?"

"You know what its code for, Kyle," she blushed.

I shook my head. "No, Lee, actually I don’t."

"It means whore, Kyle," she muttered. "It means I am a whore and he wants you to know it."

"You were a virgin," I snarled. "A fucking virgin. I took your goddamn virginity." I raked my hand through my hair in frustration. Frustration because Jimmy was locked up and I couldn’t get my hands on him, and fucking hatred towards myself for breaking every promise I'd ever made her. "Christ, Lee, I'm fairly certain I was your first kiss?"

She nodded in confirmation and I groaned in shame.

"It's because of Hope," she informed me – as if having a baby with me automatically made her a whore.

Goddammit to hell...
"I'm marrying you. You are mine," I hissed. "Mine. How the hell does that make you a whore? You are pure. Fucking
pure
."

Jerking off the couch I grabbed my pants and searched the pockets for my keys. "I'm gonna kill him, Lee." Pulling on my sweatpants, I reached for my t-shirt on the coffee table. "He won't get away with this."

"Don’t you dare leave this house," she warned me as she jumped off the couch and grabbed the waistband of my pants.

Jerking me towards her, she stepped around me and shoved me down on the couch before straddling my lap.

"I handled it," she said calmly. "It is over, Kyle."

"He put his hands on you," I spat, my fingers knotting in her shirt.

"And he'll never be able to do it again," Lee replied firmly. "So calm down…"

The buzzer for the front gate sounded and Lee automatically flinched and ducked, tucking her face into my neck. "Relax," I coaxed. "It's just the intercom. Someone's at the gate."

With my hands on her back, I stood up and strolled into the hall with Lee wrapped around me like ivy "Yeah?" I said, holding my finger to the buzzer.

"Mr. Carter," a familiar female voice said and Lee stiffened in my arms. "I'm sorry to disturb you at this time of night, but could you buzz me in. I have something important to discuss with you. It's about Jimmy Bennett."

"It's open, come on up," I told Kelsie while I kept my eyes locked on Lee's.

"What do you think's happened?" she whispered. "Oh, Kyle, what if it's bad…"

"It can't be bad," I told her as I walked us into the kitchen. Hoisting Lee on top of the counter, I rested my hands on her hips. "Just relax. We'll know soon enough."

The doorbell sounded and we both stared at each other nervously. "Do we want to know?" Lee asked anxiously.

"We do," I assured her before kissing the tip of her nose. "You need to let me go, princess. I have to get the door."

"Oh yeah." Lee blushed as she unlocked her ankles and released me. "Sorry."
Jesus, she was sitting with her legs spread open chewing on her damn lip…

Shaking my head, I adjusted the tent in my pants before going and opening the door. "Is it…?"

"Good news?" Kelsie finished for me before nodding. "It's very good news," she purred. "It's fantastic news."

****

"I don't understand," Lee said as she placed two mugs of coffee on the dining table. "He was only arrested a few weeks ago."

"Your father had a list of convictions as long as his arm," Kelsie replied and she lifted one of the mugs to her mouth. "And
your
father has friends in high places," she said as she glanced at me.

"I know my father," Lee argued. "He would never plead guilty." She shook her head and chewed on her nail. "This has to be a mistake."

"Jimmy knew it was the end of the road for him," Kelsie said in a gentle tone. "This is
good
news, Lee," she added. "Do you understand what this means?"

"No trial," Lee breathed. She shook her head as if she couldn't get her head around it. I couldn't either.

"Is this on paper?" I asked as I pulled Lee onto my lap. Her body was shaking as she leaned her back against my chest. "Is this a done deal or more bullshit?" I didn't believe for one second Jimmy would plead guilty. Something was up. This wasn't right.

"It already happened," Kelsie said with a grin. "There was an emergency hearing this morning. I was there. He pled guilty. To every single charge. So, yes, Mr. Carter. It's a done deal." Kelsie said with a grin. "And you should thank your father for this one." Kelsie sighed heavily before adding. "We could have used him with the Grayson trial."

"Oh Kyle," Lee sobbed. Turning in my lap she wrapped her arms around my neck. "It's really over. He's really gone."

****

"Do you need to go back to hospital?" Lee asked me, after Kelsie had left, as we were lying on our bed. "I know I'm not supposed to know," she continued. "But I could come with you – wait in the car or something…"

"No," I whispered, tightening my arms around her as I pressed a kiss to her hair. "Just lay here with me for a little while."

Closing my eyes, I yawned and shifted around to get comfortable. "I haven’t slept in so long, Lee," I told her. "I'm so tired."

"Sleep, Kyle," she whispered. "Just for a little while. All our troubles can wait until the morning."

****

Chapter Sixteen

Kyle

"Is she okay?" I demanded the moment I found Cindy sitting on the floor outside of Linda's hospital room. I'd fallen out of bed and rushed straight to the hospital when I'd listened to Cindy's hysterical voicemail. "Cindy," I hissed. "What's happened?"

"I'm sorry for calling you in the middle of the night," she sobbed, her tone thick with emotion. "But it's nearly time. You need to say your goodbyes, Kyle."

It's nearly time…

You need to say your goodbyes, Kyle…

"Are you sure?" I croaked out.

Cindy nodded sadly. "The doctor has been in," she sniffed. "H-he said s-she's fighting it." Covering her face with her hands she wailed. "You have to tell her it's o-okay, Kyle," Cindy begged. "Tell her it's okay to go. We've all told her…but she's holding on." She sobbed harder. "You need to give her peace. It's you she needs to hear it from."

Exhaling a ragged breath, I opened the door of Linda's hospital room and forced myself to step inside before walking slowly towards her bed.

Patty made to stand, but I shook my head, and chose to kneel instead. I figured it was safer this way. At least my body was closer to the ground, because I was fairly certain something inside of me was tethering dangerously close to the edge. And when she…and when it was time, it would snap.

"It's me, Linda," I whispered, taking her cold veined hand in mine. "I'm right here, just like I promised."

The rattling sound coming from her chest was something that would haunt me for eternity. "K…"

"Shh," I coaxed, pressing a kiss to her hand, intertwining our fingers, as the tears trickled down my face. "Just relax," I whispered. "You're safe. I'm here. I love you so damn much."

Stroking my cheek against her hand, I told finally told her what I should have told her years ago." You were more than…" my voice broke and I had to take a few deep breaths before I could speak. "You were more than a just mother to me," I sobbed. "You were better and I'm so…I'm so thankful to you."

Her throat rattled, fucking rattled. "Sc…"

"Nothing to be scared of," I promised, kissing her hand repeatedly. "This is your new adventure. It's okay…" I clenched my eyes shut and forced myself to speak the words I knew would set her free. "Everything is gonna be okay. Everyone…I'm gonna be okay."

"H…"

Climbing onto the bed next to her, I tucked her into my arms and held her, whispered how much I loved her, as her body jerked briefly, her breath rattled, and her life slipped away.

"Kyle," I heard someone say. "She's gone."

"Just…give me a minute," I whispered, clutching the only mother I'd ever known in my arms, as I tried to come to terms with the fact that this was it.

It was over.

She was gone.

****

Lee

I was dressing our bed when the bedroom door flew open, slammed against the wall, and Kyle staggered into the room, shaking like a leaf and heaving.

I didn’t have to ask him what was wrong, or why he'd rushed out of the house in the middle of the night without telling me where he was going.

The paleness of his skin and his bloodshot eyes were enough of an answer. The answer was etched on his heartbroken face.

Linda.

"Kyle." Dropping the pillow I'd been holding, I rushed towards him.

He staggered past me and threw himself down on the bed. "She's dead," he cried, his chest heaving with huge gut-wrenching sobs. "She fucking died on me, Lee."

She's dead…

Oh god…

Kyle had said Linda could die any day, but I just hadn’t expected it to be
this
day. And knowing Linda would die hadn’t prepared me for the swell of sadness in my heart. I didn’t know what to say to the broken man in front of me. My grief was nothing compared to what Kyle was undoubtedly feeling...

He covered his face with his hands, twisting his body at an irregular angle, writhing in emotional agony. "I can't fucking breathe from the pain," he hissed. "I feel like I'm dying with her."

"Oh, Kyle," I choked out as I rushed over to where he was and covered his body with mine, desperate to comfort him. He cried harder and my heart split clean down the center. "I'm so sorry, baby."

"No," he roared and it was a soul-shattered, heartbroken roar of pain. "FUCK."

Moving quickly, Kyle jerked to his feet, accidently knocked me to the floor in his rush, and proceeded to trash the room, tearing every book shelf off the wall, knocking over every piece of furniture that could be moved. I remained silently on floor, barely breathing, eyes locked on him – on his rampage.

He was completely out of control, lost in a violent haze of grief-stricken rage, but I wasn’t afraid of him. I was afraid
for
him…

He punched his fist through the dresser mirror, grabbed the drawers and flung them at the windows. The panes of glass shattered and Kyle punched his hand through the remaining pieces of glass. Shards of glass and the contents of the drawers scattered out of the window.

He yanked on his hair so hard clumps of hair came away in his hands. He didn't stop, he just kept annihilating everything that came in his way. The TV went next and then it was the bed's turn.

I scrambled out of his way, backing into the corner, as Kyle dragged the mattress off the base and pummeled it with his fists. Blood streamed from his hands, tears spilled from his eyes, and a continuous agonizing roar tore from his throat.

The bedroom door swung inwards and I gasped in relief when I saw Derek come to the rescue. He glanced down at where I was huddled and he sagged in relief. "Linda died," I told Derek, letting him know what had come over Kyle.

"Died?" Derek croaked out, his face pale, clearly shocked. "Jesus, Kyle," he whispered. "It's okay, buddy." Rushing over to where Kyle was now kicking and beating his fists off the timber frame of our bed, Derek grabbed his shoulders and swung him around.

Kyle's head snapped up, his eyes locked on Derek, his whole body shook as he shoved Derek's chest.

Derek fell backwards, steadied himself, and stepped forward, arms out.

Kyle pushed him again and Derek repeated the same ritual. "It's gonna be okay," Derek choked out, wrapping his arms around Kyle's trembling body.

"Walk away," Kyle snarled as he shoved away from Derek's hug. "I mean it, Derek, walk the fuck away from me or I will kill you." He pushed Derek harder. "You too, Lee," he choked out. "Leave me be."

"Then you might as well kill me," Derek shot back, his voice thick with emotion. "Because I am
not
walking away from you. Not now. Not fucking ever. You're my family. And she's your family," he said, jerking his thumb in my direction. "Don't you dare tell us to walk away from you. We. Are. Family."

"Go," Kyle roared. Punching Derek in the face, Kyle shoved him so hard he fell onto his ass and I couldn’t watch another second of his self-destruction.

Climbing over the rubble that was our bedroom floor, I took Kyle by surprise when I jumped up, locked my arms around his neck and wrapped my legs around his waist tightly.

He stiffened and for a moment I truly wasn’t sure what he would do, but then a deep shudder rolled through his body, his arms came around my waist, and his legs went from beneath him.

We fell to the floor, but I didn’t budge an inch. I kept a death grip on the man who was crying so hard I thought he would pass out from the pain. "I'm breaking, Lee," he choked out. "I feel…hollow."

"You are not breaking," I told him, tightening my hold on his body. "I refuse to let that happen."

Kissing his forehead, I guided his face to my chest and stroked his hair. "I will fix you."

Smoothing my fingers over the parts of his scalp that were bleeding from where he'd ripped out his hair, I used my other hand to cup his tear soaked cheek. "I'm going to take care of you," I vowed quietly. "I won't let anything happen to you," I whispered. "I promise."

"I won't let that happen either, man," I heard Derek say in a gruff tone moments before he sank to his knees behind Kyle, took his bleeding hand and wrapped it in a towel. "I'm not going anywhere."

****