The Broken Road (The Broken Series)

by Ruff, K. S.

  I sighed as a fresh round of tears threatened to fall. “Okay. Thank you. I’ll be in touch.”

  Jonathan rounded the corner with a cup of coffee. He handed me the cup and smiled encouragingly. “It’s a caramel macchiato, skinny and extra hot.”

  I smiled weakly. “Thanks, Jonathan. That’s very sweet of you.”

  Patrick offered a sympathetic look. “I'm sorry I couldn’t find a cheaper ticket, Kri. They really rake you over the coals for last minute flights.”

  I took a sip of coffee and steeled myself as I picked up the phone. I called all three airlines that flew into Montana to inquire about bereavement fares. None of the airlines offered a bereavement fare for a hospitalized cousin. They all said the same thing… bereavement fares were extended to immediate family only.

  I was calling my credit card companies to see if they would extend my line of credit enough to pay for a plane ticket when my cell phone rang. The Caller ID displayed the toll free number for my old office.

  I reached for my phone. “Hello?”

  “Hi, Kri. It’s Ann. I think I’ve found a way to get you home.”

  I clenched the phone. “What? How?”

  “Mac and I have enough frequent flyer miles for a plane ticket. Mac has been too sick to travel, and I’m not going anywhere without him. So we’d like to use the miles to purchase you a ticket,” she explained.

  I breathed a huge sigh of relief. “Ann, are you sure?”

  “I’m positive. Mac and I want to help you with this. I just need to know which day you want to fly in and how long you want to stay.”

  I shook my head in disbelief. I pulled up the calendar on my computer and quickly glanced it over. “I have to clear this with my legislative director, but I should be able to fly out tomorrow and stay for a week. Can you give me an hour or so? I need to track her down so I can get her approval.”

  “Sure, Kri. Call me as soon as you can.”

  “Thank you, Ann. I don’t know how I’ll ever repay you, but thank you.” I disconnected the call, then rushed downstairs to search for Ellen. I eventually found her in the Capitol building, hovering just outside the senate chambers. She immediately approved my request.

  I tried to call Ann back, but she didn’t pick up. I left a message on her voice mail, then turned my attention to work. There were a number of briefings I needed to complete before I could leave.

  My cell phone rang just before five o’clock. I answered on the first ring. “Hello?”

  “Oh, Kri. I’m so sorry,” Ann hoarsely exclaimed.

  My shoulders tensed. “Ann, what’s wrong? What happened?”

  “I lied. I’m so sorry I lied to you; but I couldn’t follow through with it. I… I had to tell you,” she stammered as she began crying.

  “I don’t understand, Ann. Why would you lie to me? What did you lie about?” I asked, thoroughly confused.

  “I don’t have any frequent flyer miles. Justin made me tell you that I did. He was standing over my desk when I called.”

  All of the air rushed from my lungs. “Why would Justin do that?”

  “He wanted to buy the plane ticket, but he said you wouldn’t accept it from him. He asked me to lie… to tell you that I was getting the plane ticket, so you wouldn’t know it was coming from him. I just wanted to help you get home, but Justin made me promise that he’d get some time alone with you. He said you two had some things to work out.”

  I choked on bile as it burned its way up my throat. “I told Justin I never wanted to see him again.”

  Ann sighed heavily. “Kri, he’s already purchased the ticket. He’s going to lose all that money. You should still come.”

  “Ann, you have no idea what Justin has done to me. There’s no way I’m flying to Montana on his dime. I won’t owe him. Justin is a lying, manipulative cheat. My days of being manipulated are over. I won’t go down that road again.”

  Ann began sobbing. She spoke between deep, shuddering breaths. “I’m so sorry, Kri. Please forgive me.”

  I bit back my own tears. “There’s nothing to forgive, Ann. You were just trying to help. Justin manipulated you the same way he manipulates everyone else. You did the right thing by telling me the truth.”

  “So you aren’t coming?” she asked dejectedly.

  “No, Ann. I’m not coming,” I admitted sadly. “Thank you for trying to help. I have to go.” I tried not to cry as I ended the call.

  Patrick shot me a concerned look as I texted a quick message to Kadyn. I’m heading home. Please come by after work. I really need to see you.

  I shut down my computer, gathered up my things, and gave Patrick a quick hug. “Thanks for trying to help, Patrick. You’re a good friend.”

  I held it together until I climbed into my jeep… the same jeep I’d driven to Lexie’s house a million times. She used to live ninety minutes away. Ninety minutes. If I were still living in Helena, I would have been there by now. But, now? She was an entire continent away.

  There was no gradual succumbing to tears. I wrapped my arms around my stomach and curled in on myself as they claimed me in huge overpowering waves.

  * * * * * *

  Kadyn beat me home. He was standing in front of my apartment door in his uniform looking capable and strong. He turned toward me when he heard my heels. He froze the moment he saw my face. “Kri?”

  I was immediately reduced to tears.

  Kadyn gathered me into his arms. “Kri, what’s going on?”

  “It’s my cousin, Lexie. She's in the hospital in Great Falls. There’s been some complications with her transplanted kidney. She… she could die, and I can’t get home.” I sobbed into his perfectly pressed shirt.

  Kadyn slipped the keys from my hand. He unlocked the door to my apartment and steered me toward the couch. “Why can’t you go home? Did Ellen refuse to grant you leave?” He walked to the bathroom to retrieve a box of tissues, then joined me on the couch.

  I tugged a couple of tissues out of the box and swiped at my cheeks. “No. Ellen gave me the time off. The plane ticket costs close to three thousand dollars. I don’t have that kind of money, even with my credit cards.”

  He handed me a couple more tissues. “What about your parents?”

  I shook my head. “No. There’s no way they can afford an expense like that.” I buried my face in the soggy tissues as I began sobbing all over again.

  Kadyn held me until my tears ran dry. “Hey,” he interjected softly. “I’m going to run home so I can change clothes. Why don’t you slip into something more comfortable, fix yourself a cup of tea, call the hospital, and check on your cousin? I’ll order a pizza and bring it by in a little bit.”

  I shook my head. “I’m not hungry. I just want to go to bed.”

  Kadyn pulled me to my feet. “I think you should go lie down then. Do you mind if I take your house key so I can come by to check on you and walk Cade later?”

  “No, not at all.” I handed him my keys as I walked him to the door. “Thanks, Kadyn. Thanks for being here for me and for putting up with all the tears.”

  He pulled me in for a soft kiss. “There’s no place else I’d rather be. Go lie down. I’ll be back to check on you in a little while.”

  I changed into my Eeyore pajamas before dragging a pillow and blanket to the couch. Cade settled in next to me as I dialed Lexie’s husband, Nate.

  “Hi, Kri,” he answered tiredly.

  I closed my eyes as I braced myself for the worst. “How is she?” I asked hesitantly.

  “She’s stable now. She just fell asleep.”

  I breathed a small sigh of relief before the questions came tumbling out. “What are the doctors saying? Does she have to go on dialysis? Will she need another kidney transplant?”

  “It’s too soon to tell how badly the kidney has been damaged,” he responded cautiously.

  I hated drilling him with questions when I knew he’d been fielding them all day. I vowed this would be my last one. “Do you know how long she’ll be
in the hospital?”

  “My guess is a week, maybe longer. It depends on whether they need to place a dialysis catheter in her. They’re trying to sort through her drug protocol first. The nephrologist is adjusting her meds, so it’s going to take some time to see how her kidney responds.”

  I sighed miserably. “Okay. I’m trying to get there, but I’m having a hard time finding an affordable flight. I’ll keep trying, I promise. When Lexie wakes up, tell her I love her. Tell her my kidney’s still got her name written all over it. Make sure the nephrologist knows she has a potential donor.”

  “Thanks, Kri. I’ll let them both know.”

  “Hang in there, Nate. I know it’s difficult, but try to get some rest.”

  “You too, Kri.”

  I disconnected the call and immediately dialed my parents to see how they were coming along with their drive to Great Falls.

  My mom answered on the first ring. “Hi, honey. Did you have any luck finding a flight?”

  I fell back against the couch. “No. Maybe I should just drive back.”

  My mom gasped. “Kri! That would take days. You can’t make that kind of drive alone. It’s too dangerous.”

  “She’s not driving!” my dad bellowed in the background. “Tell her she’s not allowed to drive back here.”

  I couldn’t help it. I started laughing at my father’s stern tone. I was twenty-eight years old, and he was still laying down the law.

  “Promise me you won’t, Kri... not unless you find someone who can help you with the drive,” my mom interjected in a pleading tone.

  “Mom,” I groaned. “No one can take that kind of time off from work.” My confidence crumbled as tears stole through my lashes. “What if she needs me? What if she needs my kidney?”

  My mom’s voice grew firm. “Then I’ll get tested. She can have mine.”

  “Oh, God,” I sobbed. “Mom, you can’t go through that kind of surgery, not without me there. I couldn’t bear it.”

  My mom sighed. That single breath revealed more than any words ever could. “We’ll figure something out, Kri. Just… keep her in your prayers.”

  I reached for the box of tissues Kadyn had left sitting on the coffee table. “I will. How far are you guys from Great Falls?”

  “We're about three hours away,” my mom responded. She sounded every bit as tired as I felt.

  I sniffled loudly. “Be safe, okay? Hug her for me. Hug dad, too… and tell him to hug you.”

  My mom laughed. “I will, Kri. I’ll call you when we get there.”

  “I love you, mom.”

  “Love you, too.”

  I set my cell phone on the table and fell back against the pillow. Cade whimpered softly as he curled up next to my chest. I tugged the blanket over both our heads and burst into tears.

  * * * * * *

  I woke four hours later. Kadyn was sitting in the chair across from me. He was typing something into his phone. “Good. You’re awake,” he observed without looking up.

  The blanket slid from my shoulders as I sat up. “How long have you been here?”

  His thumb hung suspended over the phone as he glanced up at me. “Two hours. I’ve already walked Cade. There’s pizza in the kitchen if you’re hungry.”

  I shuffled into the kitchen to grab a piece of pizza and a glass of water. Cade padded after me.

  “How soon can you be ready?” Kadyn called out from the living room.

  “Ready for what?” I mumbled around a mouthful of pizza. My head was still foggy from sleep.

  “To fly to Spokane.”

  I swallowed my food with some difficulty, then cleared my throat. “Spokane, Washington?”

  “Yes. I can get us on a military hop to Fairchild Air Force Base, but it leaves early tomorrow morning. We’ll have to drive to Montana from there. Unfortunately, there aren’t any hops into Malmstrom since it’s almost exclusively a missile base.” Malmstrom was the Air Force base in Great Falls.

  My hand fell to the counter. I abandoned the pizza and slowly walked around the breakfast bar while staring at Kadyn. “What is a military hop?”

  Kadyn shoved the phone in his pocket. “When you’re in the military, you can ride on military aircraft scheduled for your destination. Typically it’s done on a stand-by basis and only when there are extra seats available. Shawn pulled some strings and got us both on a military flight to Fairchild Air Force Base in Spokane. As best I can tell, Great Falls is five and half hours from Spokane. I’ve already lined up a rental car.”

  “What’s the catch?” I asked nervously.

  “Nothing.”

  I stilled. “What’s the cost?”

  “Nothing.”

  I stared at him in complete shock.

  Kadyn rose to his feet. “Come on, let’s get you packed up.”

  I shifted nervously. “What about you?”

  He nodded toward a duffle bag by the door. “I’m already packed.”

  My eyes grew wide. “Just like that?”

  A smile crept across Kadyn’s face as he closed the distance between us. “Just like that.”

  I threw my arms around him and burrowed into his chest. “Thank you, Kadyn. Thank you so much!”

  He wrapped his arms around me. “You're welcome. I hope you don’t mind that I’m tagging along. It was the only way I could get you on a military hop.”

  I looked up at him and smiled. “I'm thrilled you’re coming. I can’t wait for you to meet Lexie, my parents, Kimme, Charlie, and Dan…” I pulled away as a new thought struck me. “Oh, no. What do I do about Cade?”

  Kadyn chuckled. “I’ve already called the dog walker. She’s going to pick Cade up at noon. She’ll keep him at her place until we get back.”

  I shook my head. “Is there anything you haven’t thought of?”

  He grinned. “Nope. I think we’re good to go.”

  I rolled up to my tiptoes and kissed him softly on the lips.

  He scooped me into his arms as he sought a more thorough kiss. I braced my elbows on his shoulders as my feet dangled a few inches from the floor. My body slid down his until my feet touched the floor. I groaned softly when I felt Kadyn harden against me. My breasts pebbled against his chest, betraying me. His tongue swept through my mouth in slow, seductive strokes. I lingered in the kiss, my tongue coaxing and teasing him toward something more.

  Kadyn groaned as he pulled away. “You keep kissing me like that and we’ll never leave this apartment.” He smiled as he swatted me on the bottom. “Let’s get you packed.”

  I called my parents and Nate back while Kadyn helped me pack. He wandered back into the living room when I called Kimme. I knew we wouldn’t have much time in Helena, but it was on the way to Great Falls. I wanted to see Kimme, Dan, and Charlie, even if it was only for a few minutes.

  I grabbed a piece of pizza and joined Kadyn on the couch when I ended the call. “What time do we have to leave for the airport?”

  Kadyn raked his hand over his head. He suddenly looked tired. “Our flight leaves BWI at seven, so we should leave for Baltimore in four hours.”

  I glanced at him nervously. “Would you mind staying here tonight? We’re both tired, and four hours isn’t very long to sleep. I don’t want to risk sleeping through my alarm. If you sleep here, we can each make sure the other one’s awake in time to leave.”

  Kadyn nodded. “Sure. I’ll crash on the couch.”

  I shifted nervously. “Kadyn, I… I know this is a bit forward, but I was really hoping you would sleep with me.”

  Kadyn’s eyes widened in surprise.

  “Just sleep,” I clarified. “Well… hold me and sleep.”

  Kadyn studied me. “That sounds difficult… but nice. I’ll give it a try. If it proves too difficult, I’ll sleep on the couch.”

  I stood and pulled him from the couch, suddenly anxious to be back in his arms. “I’ll behave. I promise.”

  Kadyn grinned. “It’s not you I’m worried about.”

  Kadyn changed c
lothes while I washed my face and brushed my teeth. My breath caught when I saw he was no longer wearing a shirt. He was wearing loose fitting pajama bottoms that rode low on his waist. I couldn’t take my eyes off his chest as he brushed past me with his toothbrush.

  I stumbled into my room in search of something appropriate to wear. I dug a black camisole and gray sleep shorts out of my drawer and quickly changed. I pulled all the decorative pillows from my bed and slipped under the covers. Cade jumped up and settled in next to my chest.

  Kadyn walked back into the room. He paused just inside the doorway. “You sure about this?”

  “Yes,” I whispered hesitantly. I was nowhere near sure.

  Kadyn flipped the light off and climbed into bed. He wrapped his arm around my waist as he pulled my back to his chest. He nuzzled my ear, then whispered, “Sweet dreams, Kri.”

  I rolled over so I could face him. I reached for his face as my eyes adjusted to the dark. I kissed him softly on the lips, then whispered, “Who needs dreams with you around?”

  Kadyn chuckled as he rolled onto his back. He pulled me toward him until my head rested on his chest. His heartbeat thundered in my ear. Clearly, this man wasn’t a dream. He was very, very real.

  I linked my leg over his and ran my fingers over his finely sculpted chest. I couldn’t resist touching him, after seeing him like this. I traced my finger all across his pecs, then over each line that defined his abs. My pale hand practically glowed against his dark skin. “You’re beautiful,” I whispered in the dark.

  He laughed as he linked his hand with mine. “You’re crazy.”

  I held our entwined hands up so I could better see them in the thin strands of streetlight that were shining through my blinds. I loved the way his dark skin contrasted with my light. I pulled his hand to my lips and kissed his knuckles. “I’m crazy… about you.”

  Kadyn pulled me on top of him. He fit our hips together so that we were perfectly aligned. “Say that again,” he demanded in a husky voice.

  My breath caught at the feel of our bodies fit so snugly together. I groaned as desire pooled along every inch where his body touched mine. “God, Kadyn. No one should feel this good.”