“Okay,” he agrees, then he looks at Sheriff Miller and Alex. “I’ll take care of Quinn’s bruises.”
I wrap my arms tightly around Eli and watch as he shakes the other men’s hands.
The ambulance drives away, and soon after, the patrol cars follow.
Alex turns to us. “I’m going to head home. Your Mom’s been calling me every couple of minutes.”
“Why didn’t she come?” Eli asks.
Alex shakes his head hard. “I told her not to. I didn’t want her seeing any of this.”
Probably because it would trigger her own trauma.
“She’ll be here at the crack of dawn to check on you,” Alex says, giving Eli a sideways hug.
Eli pulls me to the house, but I stop, then call out, “Alex.” He turns to look at me, and I quickly close the distance, hugging him tightly. “I’m so glad you heard me.”
He embraces me. “I’ll always come running when you need me.” His hold on me tightens for a moment, then he lets go. “Try to get some sleep.”
I nod and then walk back to where Eli’s waiting.
Eli locks the front door behind us, then asks, “Can you give me five minutes to fix the back door’s lock?”
I nod and follow him to the kitchen. While Eli takes care of the lock, I take two bottles of water from the fridge.
I haven’t realized how thirsty I am, and I down half of the water in one go. I set the bottles down on the kitchen table, and taking a seat in one of the chairs, I look down at the scrapes and bruises covering my body.
My eyes drift shut as the evening replays in my mind.
“Come on, baby,” Eli suddenly says, then his arms slip beneath me, and he lifts me to his chest. “Time to get you cleaned up.”
I glance at the backdoor as I wrap my arms around Eli’s neck and see it’s closed.
“I should’ve known when I saw the door standing open you’d never make a mistake like that,” I mutter as we head up the stairs.
“It’s okay,” Eli murmurs, walking to our bedroom.
He sets me down in the middle of the bathroom, then reaches into the shower, opening the faucets.
Taking hold of my dress, I pull the fabric over my head and drop it to the floor. I tug off my underwear and bra, and when Eli’s naked, he pulls me under the warm spray.
Before I can reach for the body wash, Eli takes hold of the bottle and squirting some on a loofah, he carefully starts to wash the dirt and dried blood from my body.
I overheard he killed one of them, and for a moment, I wonder if I should keep quiet, but then I whisper, “Thank you for killing him.”
Eli’s eyes snap to mine, and we stare at each other, then he says, “I’ll kill anyone who tries to hurt you.”
He continues to clean my body while my eyes remain locked on him.
Today was a page straight out of my nightmares, but knowing Eli will always protect me makes the trauma less potent. It doesn’t dig into my soul like before, and maybe it’s because I saw one of them die.
Maybe.
But I think it’s because deep down, I know Eli will never let anything terrible happen to me again. He’ll always be there, a strong force to be reckoned with whenever trouble comes knocking.
“I never thought the seventeen-year-old boy I fell in love with would turn out to be my hero,” I whisper as an emotional tear blends with the water.
Eli’s eyes find mine again, and lifting his hand to my cheek, he brushes his thumb over my skin. “I’ll do my best to always be your hero.”
Wrapping my arms around his waist, I rest my cheek against his chest. Eli starts to wash my hair, and I close my eyes, soaking in how protected he makes me feel.
ELI
At first, I waited for the trauma to overwhelm Quinn and drag her back into a deep depression. But as the days have passed, the fear lessened.
Watching her as she goes over the list of cupcakes she wants to bake, I can only admire how strong she’s become.
Her eyes lift to my face, then she asks, “Why are you staring at me like that?”
Taking a deep breath, I let it out slowly. “Just admiring my strong woman. You amaze me.”
A bright smile instantly jumps to her face. “I’m only strong because I have you.”
My phone starts to ring, and pulling the device out of my pocket, I answer, “Eli Jackson.”
“It’s Harry,” the sheriff says. “We’ve finally identified the bodies. Want to know their names?”
I almost say no, but then I think of Jason. “Yeah.”
“Steve Aldrin and Jerry Mosby. They’re from Wilmington. No prior records.” Harry lets out a sigh. “We found out they met while in a psychiatric hospital. They were both mentally unstable, and I guess it was a case of evil meeting evil, the result turning them into killers.”
“Why Quinn and Conleys?” I ask.
“Could’ve been the fight at the bar that triggered them. They probably fixated on the girls and watched them before attacking. God only knows, Eli.” Harry takes a deep breath, sounding tired. “At least they can’t hurt anyone else.”
“Yeah,” I murmur. “Thanks for letting me know.”
“You can collect your gun,” he says.
“I’ll stop by,” I reply, “Need anything else from us?”
“No. The case is closed.”
We end the call, then Quinn asks, “What did the sheriff say?”
I shake my head. “Just that the case is closed.” I walk to Quinn and press a kiss on her forehead, then decide it might help her to know why they did what they did. “Harry said the guys were mentally unstable.”
“Is that why they murdered Katie and her parents?” Quinn asks.
“Yeah. He said it’s a case of evil meeting evil, and the combination turned explosive.”
Quinn nods, drawing her bottom lip between her teeth as she takes in the information.
“You okay?” I ask.
“Yeah.” She starts to mix some ingredients. “It helps to know why they attacked us.”
I stare at her for a moment, making sure she’s okay, then say, “I’m just going to check on the hardware store. Be back in ten minutes.”
“Okay.”
As I head across the road, I dial Jason’s number.
“Hey,” he answers.
“I have news.” Having been focused on Quinn, I haven’t told him about the second attack yet.
“Yeah?”
I walk into the store and glance at Mom, then head to the stock room. “They came back.”
“What?”
“They’re dead,” I quickly add.
“How?”
“My dad shot the one, and I killed the other.”
There’s a moment’s silence, then Jason asks, “How did you kill him?”
“I crushed his skull against a tree.”
I hear him suck in a breath of air, and his voice is hoarse as he says, “Thank you, Eli.”
“Want to know their names and why they did it?”
“No.” Jason clears his throat. “I just needed to know justice was served for Katie and her folks.”
“Okay.” I pause for a moment, then ask, “How are you holding up?”
“After hearing the bastards got their well deserved, I feel better. It feels like I can let go and somehow rebuild what’s left of my life.”
“I’m glad to hear that,” I murmur. “Any chance you’ll come home?”
Jason doesn’t answer immediately, then he replies, “Maybe one day.”
“I hope so. I miss you.”
“Miss you too, Eli,” I say, his voice hoarse again. “I got to go. Talk soon?”
“Yeah.”
I end the call, then lean back against a wall, the feeling in my gut telling me Jason will never come back to Southport.
Taking a couple of minutes for myself, I let me miss my friend, then I lift my chin and walk to the front of the store.
“You okay?” Mom asks.
“Yeah.” I
smile at her. “Slow day?”
“Yeah, but as soon as the Christmas lights and décor come in, we’ll be overrun, so I’m enjoying the quiet.”
Placing my hand on the counter, I say, “I’ll be across the road if you need me.”
Mom gives me a smile, and then I walk back to Quinn’s store. I glance up at the space where the sign will go once they deliver it this afternoon.
Quinn’s started baking, and I move behind the display fridge. “Which ones are you making first?”
“The fairytales ones,” Quinn replies as she pours the cupcake mixture into the molds. She glances at me. “Can we stop somewhere after work?”
“Sure. Where?” I lean back against the counter, crossing my arms over my chest.
“Katie’s grave.”
Surprise ripples through me. “You ready to visit her?”
Quinn nods. “I want to tell her they’re dead, and I’m opening a cupcake store in her memory.”
“Okay.” My eyes drift over Quinn’s features. “You okay after the attack?”
She nods. “Obviously, I’m shaken up, but it could’ve been a lot worse.” Her eyes meet mine. “And you and Alex saved me.”
“Only protecting what’s ours,” I murmur.
“How am I your dad’s?” she chuckles, scrunching her nose.
“You’ll be his daughter-in-law someday.”
Quinn’s eyes widen. “Oh… ah… right.”
Then the thought strikes.
I’m going to marry this woman.
My heartbeat speeds up, and a grin spreads over my face.
Soon.
Chapter 25
QUINN
Climbing out of the truck, Eli leans back against the side of the vehicle, and crossing his arms over his chest, he says, “You go ahead, baby. I’ll wait here.”
“Thank you.” I grip the lilies tighter and then walk in the direction of Katie’s grave.
A light breeze picks up, playing with my dress, and it reminds me of when Katie had to stop the fabric from flying up.
A sad smile tugs at my mouth, and when I see her tombstone, my heart clenches painfully. I stop dead in my tracks, and my eyes mist up, blurring the words.
Swallowing hard, I whisper, “Hi, Katie.” I step forward, and crouching, I lay the flowers in front of the tombstone. “I hope you like them. I know daisies were your favorite, but I couldn’t find any.”
I sit down flat on my bottom, and pulling my knees to my chest, I tuck my dress around my legs. “I’m sorry it took me so long to come to visit.” I rest my cheek on my knees. “I guess I wasn’t ready to say goodbye.”
My throat closes up, and the tears begin to flow. “I miss you so much.” I cry for the loss of my beautiful friend until the tears stop naturally. Using my dress, I dry my cheeks while I clear my throat. “I’m opening a cupcake store in your memory, so I’ll never forget you.”
A sad chuckle drifts over my lips. “Also, I had sex with Eli.” This time a real chuckle escapes me. “Yeah, you can scream, and yes, it was amazing.” I brush my fingers over the blades of grass. “Jason moved to Toronto. Eli says he’s doing okay.”
I take a deep breath, then lift my eyes to the tombstone.
“I love you, Katie.” I take a shuddering breath. “I’m going to be happy and live life to the fullest for both of us.”
Climbing to my feet, I straighten my dress, and then I brush my fingers over the tombstone. “Maybe you can visit me in my dreams again? I’d really like to give you one last hug.”
I suck in a breath of air, my voice hoarse as I whisper, “Bye, Katie.”
Turning around, I walk back to Eli.
He straightens out, opening his arms for me, and then I crash into his chest. Wrapping me in a protective hug, he holds me while I regain control over my grief.
“You okay?” he asks.
I nod. “Yeah. Just emotional.”
He presses a kiss on my hair, then says, “It’s pretty by Katie’s grave.”
Pulling back, I look to my friend’s final resting place, and only then do I see the tree with daisies growing around the trunk.
A sob sputters from me. “They’re Katie’s favorite.” I point to the daisies.
“I know.”
My eyes snap to Eli’s face.
“Mom planted them after the funeral.”
My chin quivers as my heart fills with warmth because of Nina’s thoughtfulness.
I stare up as Eli and Alex put up the sign for the store.
Katie’s Slice Of Heaven.
“Aww… that’s perfect,” Nina says as she comes up behind me.
I turn to her with a smile, and when she’s next to me, I wrap my arm around her waist, giving her a sideways hug. “Thank you, Nina.”
She gives me a confused smile. “For?”
“Planting the daisies for Katie.”
Her features soften. “I just wanted to do something for her.”
“If she’s looking down on us, I’m sure she loves them.”
“All done,” Alex says. He and Eli climb down their ladders, and then the four of us stare up at the sign.
“Ready for tomorrow?” Nina asks.
I gesture at the store. “As ready as I’ll ever be.”
“I’ll be here to help manage the counter because I’m sure the whole town will come to show their support.” Nina tugs me into the store, then she points at a dark purple cupcake with stars sprinkled over it. “I’ll have that one.”
I walk around the counter, and picking up one of the boxes, I place the cupcake carefully in it.
When I glance up, Nina’s holding six dollars out to me. “I wanted to be your first customer.”
Letting out a burst of laughter, I take the money and hand her the box. “I hope you enjoy it. Please come again.”
I put the money away, and then Nina takes a big bite of her cupcake. She groans, making Alex's eyes snap to her.
Eli pats his dad on the back. “Easy there, Dad, you’re in a public place.”
Nina almost chokes as she swallows the bite down, and soon laughter fills Katie’s Slice Of Heaven.
The ringtone from my phone draws my attention and picking the device up from where I left it on the counter, I see it’s Finlay calling.
“Hi,” I answer.
“The house sold!” she shrieks happily in my ear.
“Really? That’s the best news,” I say. “When are you coming?”
“Oh, another two weeks. I have to put Dad’s stuff in storage and clean the place.”
“Still, you’ll be here in two weeks.” I’m so happy she’s finally coming. “I can’t wait. You need to see how beautiful the bakery turned out.”
“Send me photos. The opening’s tomorrow, right?”
“Yeah, I’m a little nervous, but I’m sure it will go well.”
“Don’t worry if business is slow. I’ll eat all your cupcakes once I’m there,” she teases.
“I can’t wait.”
“Me too.”
“Let me know what day you’re coming so I can pick you up from the bus stop.”
“Okay. Talk to you soon.”
We end the call, then I grin at Eli and his parents. “Finlay’s coming in two weeks.”
“Finally,” Eli says. “I can’t wait to meet her.”
“You’ll love her. We could’ve been twins if we didn’t have different fathers… and if she weren’t two years younger than me.”
Alex frowns at me. “I’m not sure Southport can handle two of you.”
“Why?” the word pops from me, my eyebrows shooting up.
“All that sweetness and the bakery…” then he gives me a playful grin. “Just kidding.”
“Dang, you had me there for a second,” I chuckle.
ELI
Walking into my parents’ kitchen, I call out, “Dad?”
“Yeah?” he answers as he comes into the kitchen.
“Do you have a couple of minutes?”
“Sure. W
hat’s up?” he asks as he gestures at the table.
We sit down, and I rest my elbows on the table, giving him an anxious look.
His features instantly tighten with worry. “Eli?”
“I want to ask Quinn to marry me.”
Dad’s eyebrows dart up, then he lets out a relieved sigh. “Wow. Okay.” He stares at me for a moment. “You’re ready?”
I nod. “Yes. I want to marry Quinn. Soon.”
“How soon are we talking?”
I shrug. “How long does it take to plan a wedding?”
He lets out a burst of laughter. “Hell if I know.”
“How long did it take to plan your wedding?”
Dad pauses. “It’s too long ago to remember.”
He never forgets anything, and it has me frowning, which has him rising from the chair.
“Walk with me.”
Getting up, we head outside and toward the beach.
After a while, Dad says, “We never officially got married.”
My eyes snap to his. “What?” Grabbing hold of his arm, I pull him to a stop. “But… Mom’s last name’s Jackson.”
He takes a deep breath. “For the family’s safety, I can’t tell you everything.”
Worry begins to spin in my stomach.
“Alex and Nina Jackson weren’t always our names. They’re identities I created for us.”
“Dad,” I breathe.
“I can’t tell you who we were and why I changed our names. All that matters is what we have now, the life we’ve built for ourselves.”
Understanding, I nod. “But, why not make it official?”
Dad chuckles. “Everyone already thinks we’re married.”
“Do it under the pretense of renewing your vows.”
He stares at me for a moment. “That’s actually an excellent idea.” Placing his hand on my arm, he nudges me to start walking again. “But let’s talk about you wanting to ask Quinn to marry you. Have you asked Josh for his blessing?”
“No. I wanted to talk to you first.” We come to a stop on the beach and stare out over the ocean. “I want to ask her on her birthday.”
“Isn’t that in three weeks?” Dad asks.
“Yeah. Two days before Christmas.”
“The ring?”
I shake my head. “I still have to get it.”
Beautifully Hurt (Beautifully Broken) Page 16
