Marked Heart (Marked Heart #3)

by M. Sembera

  "Keven got moved up state. He's going to counseling. And so am I. We've both made a lot of mistakes but we're working it out."

  "Fascinating."

  Lily started to walk off then stopped.

  "Would you like to know why I married Keven and not you?"

  "Thrill me."

  "He wanted me. That's all I ever wanted. I only wanted to be wanted. I wanted you. I loved you. I wanted to be the most important thing in your life, but I was always second."

  He was so angry with her for trying to make what she'd done his fault, he could feel himself starting to sweat.

  "Oh, and good luck with your new Lily, maybe things will work out for you better this time." Lily said as she continued on her way and into the hospital.

  What the hell was she talking about?

  Shaking his head as he walked to his car, he thought, Lily and Keven deserved each other.

  M28H

  Standing on the cobblestone walkway, Liv stared at the grey house with maroon shutters. She was exhausted but she knew the man inside would want answers. He always came across as accusatory. Not unkind just straightforward.

  After her fight with Braden, Pat had taken her straight home, but the moment she stepped inside, she couldn't stand being there anymore. There was nothing left for her at the farmhouse or in that small southern town. In hindsight, she wished she had hopped in her car and drove, but her mind was so clouded. Flying seemed like a better idea at the time. The flight was actually a blur at this point. All she remembered was listening to 'Scars' by Papa Roach through her earbuds, and trying to get Braden off of her mind.

  Liv knocked twice before a man with varying shades of silver in his hair and beard answered the door.

  "If it isn't my wayward girl."

  It felt better to see him then she thought as she smirked, saying, "I come by it honestly."

  "That you do," he said in a gruff voice that was softened by a smile.

  Stepping back, he opened the door wider to let her in. The house smelled familiar giving her a sense of home, even though she never lived there with him.

  Romeo Vera looked exactly the same as he always had, with the exception of the over-abundance of gray he now had. It was slicked back, long on top, cut high and short on the rest of his head. His beard was long but always well maintained. Although he didn't sport full sleeves like his daughter, his forearms held their fair share of tattoos.

  The smell of coffee wafted through the air as Liv made her way into the kitchen.

  "It's got chickaree in it." Romeo cautioned as she pulled a cup out of the cabinet.

  Pouring herself a cup, Liv asked, "You still retired?"

  "I do the odd job here and there."

  With a smirk Liv questioned, "Depending on what she looks like?" as she leaned against the counter and sipped her coffee.

  Agreeing with a laugh, he asked, "You need money?"

  "No."

  "You in trouble?"

  "No."

  "Runnin' from the law?"

  "No."

  "Man troubles?"

  Liv paused before laughing, "Man troubles?"

  Romeo took notice, questioning, "What happened?"

  "Nothing."

  In a harsh parental tone, he stated, "Lillian."

  Cringing at the name, she automatically narrowed her eyes at him.

  "Still going by Liv? Figured you'd of grown outta that."

  "Nope," she replied with a serious expression.

  Taking a sip of his coffee, he nodded at her.

  "How long you stayin'?"

  "Until I find someplace else to go."

  Romeo nodded again, saying, "Might be good to have you around for a while."

  Thinking it might be, she smiled at him.

  "I'll be in the shed out back if you need me. Get some rest, you look like shit."

  Liv's smile grew wider as Romeo left the kitchen. It was good to be home.

  M29H

  Instead of going back to his apartment, Braden stayed the night at the farmhouse. It was wrong and he knew it but he wanted to be there the second Liv got back. That way he would know without a doubt, she was telling the truth.

  It was around three in the afternoon, Liv still hadn't shown up, and Penny stopped by.

  "What are you doing here?" she questioned as he let her in.

  Braden repeated, "What are you doing here?"

  Penny appeared hesitant to tell him as she replied, "Liv asked me to stop by."

  The thought of her spending the weekend with Pat made his stomach turn.

  "Why?"

  Glancing away from him, she answered, "She just wanted me to check the house."

  His anger flared as he questioned, "For what? For me? Does she wanna make sure I'm not here when she gets back?"

  Penny frowned, saying, "She's not coming back."

  Feeling as if his chest was tearing in two, he sat down on the couch.

  Staring down the hall at her bedroom door, he couldn't seem to get past the pain he was in.

  "She's moving in with him?"

  "Who?"

  Braden couldn't look at his sister as he replied, "Pat. She's moving in with Pat."

  "I don't think so."

  Braden could hear the confusion in her voice.

  "Then where'd she go?"

  There was a pause before Penny replied, "Up north."

  Shifting his focus to his sister, he asked, "Where?"

  "She doesn't want you to know," she answered before taking a seat next to him on the couch.

  He couldn't believe she left town. She left him.

  An over powering sense of dread filled him at the thought of never seeing her again.

  "Braden." Penny said in a soft voice.

  The pain was unbearable. Quickly standing up, he stormed out of the house.

  ~

  Braden parked his car and got out. Swiftly walking up to the Shady Acres Golf Course, he passed the club house and walked straight onto the green. He could hear shouts and complaints from nearby golfers but he didn't care. He knew Pat would be there. The golf course was a Saturday ritual for Pat. He just had to find him.

  Spotting Pat at the seventh hole, he kept a steady pace until he reached him. Pat took notice and stopped as Braden interrupted his putt. Before he could open his mouth Braden punched him in his right eye. More shouts and complaints echoed in the background. He still didn't care. At the moment, the only thing Braden cared about was kicking Pat's ass. Swinging again, and again, Braden continued punching him until he himself was face down on the green with his hands handcuffed behind his back.

  ~

  After declining the option to make a phone call, Braden sat on a metal bench in a holding cell at the city jail. His knuckles were red and swollen and his hand ached from hitting Pat numerous times in the face. He wanted to feel better, feel like he'd at least accomplished something or achieved some sort of payback. Unfortunately, as good as it felt in the moment, beating Pat's ass wasn't going to bring Liv back.

  Leaning his back against the wall, he hung his head and closed his eyes, when he heard the jailer holler to him.

  "Caffrey, let's go."

  Standing up, he shook his head.

  "Come on, Judge Stevens came all the way up here on a Saturday evenin' to set your bail. Don't make him wait."

  The jailer opened the holding sell and Braden followed him down the hall to a door on the left.

  Instantly irritated, he saw Brooks sitting there talking to a man who he assumed was the judge.

  "What are you doin' here?"

  Brooks stood, saying, "Judge Stevens is a friend of my dad's."

  His arm was no longer in a sling and he didn't look nearly as bad as he did in the hospital the night before.

  "And?"

  "Come on, man, I'm just tryin' to help."

  Furious, Braden swore, "I don't want your help."

  "To bad." Brooks insisted before sharing, "Just because you stopped being my friend, doesn't mean
I stopped being yours."

  "What kinda stupid ass..." Braden started before the jailer cut him off, reprimanding, "Want me to take you back to the holding cell?"

  "Yeah." Braden snapped, not wanting to accept his ex-friend's help.

  Judge Stevens spoke up scolding, "Son, you should be a grateful to have a friend like him."

  Clearly the judge had no idea what he was talking about.

  "He's not my friend."

  Brooks stepped in front of Braden, griping, "I am your friend."

  "Cheating on my sister with my ex? Yeah, you're a great friend." Braden mocked giving Brooks a little shove.

  Brooks shoved back and before the judge or the jailer could stop them they were rolling around on the floor swinging on each other.

  ~

  Sitting in the holding cell, Braden was now handcuffed to the metal bench. Brooks sat on the opposite side with his arms crossed tight against his chest.

  "Penny forgave me, why can't you?"

  Braden glared at him griping, "Like hell she did."

  Turning towards Braden, Brooks swore, "Yes she did. A few months after she got married."

  His glare turned into a curious stare as Brooks continued.

  "I ran into her at The Store. She even hugged me."

  Shaking his head at himself, Braden said, "How could you sleep with her?"

  Shrugging, he replied, "Bad judgment."

  Braden started to laugh, that about summed up his own relationship with Lily.

  As a new jailer came on shift, Braden started to wonder if he'd blown his chances of getting out before Monday. He was about to ask for his phone call when the jailer walked up to the holding cell.

  "Strouse."

  Brooks looked at Braden before hesitantly standing up.

  "You want out or what?"

  "Is Judge Steven's still here? I came to bail him out." Brooks explained pointing at Braden.

  Before the jailer could answer, Braden rolled his eyes hearing his brother's voice.

  "What in the hell is wrong with you?" Auggie questioned with a scowl.

  "Sir, you can't be back here," the jailer fussed before his radio went off with a voice assuring, "I cleared him to go back."

  "Braden jerked against his handcuffs griping, "You bailed Brooks out and not me?"

  "You and I are going to have us a talk," Auggie replied before telling the jailer, "Let me in there."

  Appearing shocked that Auggie was giving him orders, he assured, "No one is allowed in the cell unless they're arrested and booked in first.

  With an irritated scowl Auggie gave a loud sigh before offering, "Alright then. It's you or him."

  The jailer stared at him in disbelief as Brooks, questioned, "What?"

  When the jailer took a step back, Auggie turned and punched Brooks in the face.

  Brooks fell backwards into the wall holding the side of his face.

  "What the hell, man!" he shouted at Auggie.

  "Like you didn't have that comin'." Auggie fussed before walking down the hallway with the jailer close behind him.

  ~

  Braden was still handcuffed to the metal bench in the holding cell. Now, he was stuck in the cell with his brother sitting next to him.

  "Got anything to say for yourself?"

  Giving Auggie a stupid look, he replied, "Yeah, but I'm handcuffed and you're not. It would hardly be a fair fight."

  With a hard scowl, Auggie griped, "Fine, I'll go first."

  With a disgruntled expression, Braden waited to hear what his brother had to say.

  "Do you know what I did when I thought I'd lost Charlotte?"

  "Got good and drunk?"

  Shaking his head, Auggie shared, "No, smartass. I cried."

  Rolling his eyes, Braden replied, "Oh bullshit."

  His face was sincere as he swore, "It's the truth. Kneeling on the floor in Will's room, I cried."

  Braden had never seen his brother cry. Not once in all his life.

  "Why?"

  With a heavy sigh, he replied, "Because I'd finally run out of excuses and people to blame."

  Swallowing hard, Braden's chest felt heavy.

  Admitting he was responsible for his life not turning out the way he wanted it to was all well and fine, but it wasn't going to do him any good. Liv was still gone.

  "Charlotte didn't leave though."

  Nodding, Auggie agreed, saying, "That's because she really wanted to stay."

  Drawing in a deep breath, Auggie appeared thoughtful.

  "Ya know, Liv's not Charlotte."

  "Nah, really?" Braden sarcastically replied before informing, "I blew it with her, man. From the beginning."

  "Don't beat yourself up to bad. She was married when you met her," before taking the opportunity to poke fun at him saying, "Although that's never stopped you before."

  Braden laughed, before wrinkling his forehead in distress.

  "I had her before Kieran. I just didn't know what I had."

  "What?"

  "Once in high school while Lily and I were broke up."

  Auggie's eyes grew wide, "That was Liv?"

  With a laugh, Braden assured, "I was surprised when I found out too," before admitting, "I don't even know what to do now."

  "I don't either, but if you're gonna keep half-assing your way through life, then stop expecting things to turn out different than they always do."

  Braden nodded as the jailer walked up to the cell.

  ~

  Charlotte was standing there waiting on them, when Auggie and Braden walked to the front of the police station.

  "You know, somehow I always knew this day would come," she teased, curling the corner of her mouth into a smile.

  Auggie wrapped his arm around Charlotte, kissing her on the cheek.

  Braden smiled wide at her before asking, "Can we go?"

  "Jackson and Emerson are still in there with the judge. All three of them are waiting to talk to you before you can go."

  "Great," he complained before she informed, "Hey, be grateful. If it weren't for them your ass would be going to prison for assault." Braden nodded at her as she added, "And it didn't hurt that Ren had your back too."

  "She did?"

  "Mmhmm. She went and had a talk with Pat at the hospital. He won't be pressing charges."

  Auggie laughed, "Lucky for him it was just a talk."

  "Even her 'talks' scare me."

  Charlotte laughed at Braden as she agreed with Auggie saying, "I think she may have invented the term badass."

  M30H

  6 months later...

  Liv sat with her feet kicked up on a workbench in the shed behind her dad's house. It had become one of her favorite things to do since she arrived there. Watching Romeo create something beautiful out of something as simple as a piece of wood was nostalgic and serene. When she was growing up, Liv would spend hours watching him carve and design everything from cabinets to banisters. Now, she appreciated his keen eye for detail and the skillful craftsmanship that went into each of his creations.

  Today was a good day to relax and watch him. It was taking her mind of what she needed to decide. It had been six month since she left town and she wasn't sure she could get out of going back.

  "This Ren woman, she's important to you?"

  Blowing out a loud breath, Liv wasn't entirely prepared to explain everything to him. He had pretty much let everything lie, not pushing for answers, until now.

  "Yeah."

  Dusting off his hands, Romeo pulled a chair up next to hers questioning, "Why would you think twice about it then?"

  Shrugging, she replied, "I'm not ready to go back."

  "Because of 'man troubles'?"

  Letting out a laugh, she shared, "Somethin' like that."

  Slapping his hands against his knees, he stood up.

  "You never struck me as the kind of girl that would run from a fight."

  Crossing her arms across her chest, Liv assured, "I'm not."

  "No?" Rome
o argued. "Then what put you on a plane in the middle of the night and sent you here?"

  "Nothing."

  "I'm not a fan of you lyin'."

  Swinging her feet off of the work bench, she planted them on the floor and stood up, griping, "No disrespect, but it's none of your business."

  "Lillian Ingrid Vera," he stated in a gruff tone. "I haven't said a damn thing to you since you've been here. I let you have your space, but hell the only time you've left the house was to dye your hair purple."

  Narrowing her eyes at him, she corrected, "Its grey with lavender highlights."

  "I don't care if its traffic cone orange. You're hiding out here and I want to know why."

  Shaking her head, she sat back down.

  She thought time away was what she needed to get Braden out of her system and off of her mind, but neither happened.

  "We're not good for each other."

  Compassion shown in Romeo's eyes as he sat down next to her.

  "I know I can be a hard ass sometimes but..." He started before she cut him off with a laugh assuring, "Not me and you."

  A smile appeared on his face, then disappeared as he asked, "Says who?"

  "I do."

  "And who the hell are you?"

  "What?"

  "Don't what me. Does 'man troubles' feel the same?"

  Closing her eyes for a moment, she remembered Braden telling her he was in love with her.

  "No."

  "So what makes you get to decide?"

  Growing frustrated with him, she grumbled, "Aren't you supposed to be on my side?"

  "Who says I'm not?"

  Feeling put on the spot, Liv shared, "He lied to me."

  "About?"

  With a heavy sigh, she decided to tell him the whole story.

  Leaving out the sex of course, her dad didn't need to know that. Liv filled him in on most of what had happened since the night Kieran died.

  Scratching the side of his beard, he replied, "Sounds to me like he loves you."

  "You should get your hearing checked."

  "Maybe you need to take a listen to yourself."

  "He lied."

  "You ran."

  Unable to stay seated, Liv hopped up, insisting, "I didn't run. He lied so I left."

  Seeing the expression on her dad's face was too much conviction for her to continue to look at him.

  "If that's true, then what's the hitch with going back for an anniversary party?"