Mangled Hearts: Francesca and Cade (Scarred Hearts)

by Felicia Tatum

  “Francesca, doll face, you gotta quiet down before the cops show up. You can’t go shouting out things like that. They’re destroying it anyways. We’re just saving them some time,” he shrugged, like stealing a bench was nothing.

  I slid off the seat, watching him heft the heavy bike in the back like it was a sack of potatoes. I didn’t know what to do, where we were going to put it or anything at this point. All I did know was that here I was, following Cade’s lead, and I couldn’t be more excited.

  Chapter Twenty-Cade

  Francesca’s expression was a cross between shock and delight. She was always safe, the quiet one that didn’t try anything, didn’t rebel. I knew I was a bad influence. My head screamed for me to take her home and stay far away, but my heart…it ached for her. Seeing her smile at me, because of me, was the most amazing feeling in the world, and I didn’t want to lose it. I wouldn’t let that go.

  So here I was, having her assist me in a robbery, albeit the thing was getting destroyed anyways, but that was beside the point. She was my lawyer, I was already in trouble, and she’d been arrested days ago. Francesca Taymon was arrested because of you Cade. She would never have gotten in a fight with the queen bitch if it wasn’t because of me. It gave me hope she still held feelings for me, despite all we’d been through. All the bad I did to her, the hurt I caused her. She continued to stare at me, her hair windblown from the ride back, her face flushed a sexy pink, her eyes wide and dancing with the adrenaline rush she was about to experience.

  “Cade,” she hissed, taking long strides to me. “I can’t believe this. Ok, I can’t lift it. Do you have any tools?” she questioned, her head turned in all directions, searching for any sort of witnesses.

  This woman continued to amaze me. One second she’s terrified, the next she’s barking orders. And through it all, she had no idea how incredibly sexy and appealing she was. “I have a crow bar. It’s just nailed down at the legs. Keep watch,” I commanded.

  She stood straighter, her back curving so quickly that my mind quickly forgot the task at hand. Before I could get my mind any deeper into my thoughts, she saluted me. “Yes, sir,” she spat at me like I was her sergeant.

  “Really?” I whispered, looking her over.

  She nodded quickly, a small smile playing at her lips. She really tried to not laugh, I had to give her credit there. I chuckled, shaking my head at her. I lifted the crowbar out of the truck bed, briskly jogging up and down the sidewalk to look for any signs of life. Satisfied we were alone, I worked quickly and smoothly, removing the heavy nails from the base of the bench. It wasn’t heavy, and the years had worn on the wood. I knew why the city was set to destroy it…I just couldn’t bear the thought. In mere minutes it was loose and I had it situated in Jay’s truck. Francesca paced under the streetlamp, chewing at her nails. It was obvious she was a nervous wreck, convinced we would get caught and that would be it. I couldn’t stop myself from staring. Her hair looked darker in the moonlight, her eyes peered at me from under her thick, long lashes. She was mesmerizing.

  “We’re ready,” I said, ushering her forward. I opened the door, helping her in.

  “Thanks,” she said, her eyes still darting all over the area. “Where are we taking it?”

  “My place,” I said, starting the engine with shaky hands.

  “What’s wrong?” she asked, nodding to where they were.

  “I dunno, I have a headache. I just need some Tylenol or something,” I said, shrugging her worry off.

  “Cade, are you sure?” She reached a cold hand out and caressed my forearm.

  “Yes,” I snapped, “I’m sure.” Why did I snap at her, I thought. A beautiful girl is worried about me and here I am being mean. “I’m just gonna get home. I’ll be ok,” I explained, my voice slightly less harsh. I didn’t know what was wrong with me, but I needed to pull it together before I lost her again.

  ###

  She fidgeted with the hem of her shirt all the way back to my apartment. Things were different, they’d changed…probably because I was a total asshole to her moments ago. I rushed around to her door, being gentlemanly and opening it. She smiled and said a small thanks as I inwardly kicked and cursed myself. I led her to the door, pushing it enough for her to step in.

  “Make yourself at home. I’m gonna go grab that Tylenol real quick,” I told her, heading towards the bathroom. I closed the door behind me, reached under the sink, and pulled out a small bottle of vodka. Opening the cabinet, I took out four Tylenols and downed them with a big swig. It burned going down. It’d been hours since I had a drink. I’d promised her I would be sober, but I had to take the pills with something.

  “Ok, much better,” I said, coming in to see her seated on my old, black couch. “Do you want something to drink?” I asked, suddenly feeling very nervous.

  “Water please?” she asked, her voice showing obvious uneasiness.

  “Sure,” I said, going to the kitchen. I poured her a water, adding a few pieces of ice, and fixed myself a coke, adding some of the vodka I’d stuffed in my pocket. Walking back in, I saw her twisting and pulling at her hair. “You ok, doll face?”

  She peered up, looking scared and unsure. “Cade…I’m sorry I blamed you,” she sniffled, a tear rolling down her face.

  I swiped it away, cupping her cheeks and making her face me. “It’s ok. It’s just as much my fault,” I whispered, my eyes fixated on hers, then moving to her lips. I asked her with my intense stare if it was ok. She whimpered as my thumb traced her bottom lip and I knew. This wasn’t going to be last time. Nothing would stop us.

  6 years prior-June

  Francesca’s head lay on my shoulder, her hair cascading around me, coating me with a lavender blanket. Her body was snuggled close to mine, giving off more heat than I’d like, but I didn’t care. She was here, laying in the backseat with me as we watched the glow of the stars around us. I ached for her, longed for her, wanted her to be mine, but it hadn’t happened. I was technically still with Jade, though I hadn’t seen her in days. I kept telling her it was over, but every time, she would show up with my favorite drink, and we’d end up in bed together. It was a bad habit. I needed to break it.

  “Cade,” her soft voice said.

  “Yes?” I replied. My hand reached up and smoothed her hair.

  She wiggled closer, peering up at me. “Kiss me.”

  It was so unexpected, so sexy, that I couldn’t say no. My lips found hers, my tongue exploring every inch of her mouth. She moaned into me, moving her body so her leg draped over mine. I needed her closer. My hand found her waist, my fingers digging deep into her hips. She pulled back, her eyes wide and full of desire. I knew she couldn’t be experienced. She bit her lip while she stared at me, then straddled me. One move and she undid my whole being. I gripped her tighter, feeling her skin hot under her shirt. I moved my hands underneath, her silky body shivering at my touch. I leaned her back, throwing our stuff in the floor, and guided her body to the seat. Hovering over her, I stared down into her beautiful face. She reached her tender hand up, caressing my cheek, then arched her body against mine.

  Groaning, I bent down to bite at her neck, “You’re trying to kill me,” I growled in her ear before taking the lobe between my teeth.

  “Cade,” she gasped, her nails sinking into my upper arms.

  I kissed her deeper, my hands sliding higher. Her fingers gripped my back, pulling my shirt to my head. I watched, wide eyed, as her trembling hands pulled it off. Her delicate fingers explored my chest and back. My heart fluttered under her touch, my breathing becoming difficult. Her innocence shone in her eyes, but the desire was stronger. Ever so slowly, she pulled up, resting on one elbow, and lightly left a fiery trail from my jaw to my chest. Her lips scorched my skin. Growling, I leaned down, taking her lips with more aggression. She moaned into me, releasing herself from the shirt that covered the body I so desperately needed. I ravaged her skin, my lips touching every inch of her body. My teeth nibbling her most sensitive
areas. Eager fingers tugged and buried into my hair, guiding my face back to hers. Our tongues danced, sending tingles all through my body. When her breath hitched and she made a path to my jeans with her fingers, I knew I couldn’t do this now.

  My thoughts cleared, and I looked around. I couldn’t take her virginity here in this car, in the middle of nowhere. I bent, kissing her one last time, then sat up. She looked hurt, rejected, and it tore my heart in two.

  “Not here, Francesca. You deserve the best. Not this,” I told her, pulling her closer. I didn’t know if she believed me, but we spent the rest of that night talking and enjoying our time together. It was the last time we were alone before the accident.

  Present Day

  Her pink, full lips parted, ready for mine. I took my time, slowly inching closer to her, my eyes never leaving hers. Her breathing intensified, as did mine, and the anticipation was enough to make us crazy. I kissed her, gentle at first, then letting the passion I felt take over. Her hands found my hair, using it to guide me closer. Francesca Taymon was finally going to be mine.

  Chapter Twenty-One-Francesca

  My mind was reeling. Cade’s lips were so consuming. I wanted him, and he obviously wanted me, but the rational part of me was screaming to stop and wait until I knew this was for real this time. The rest of me…well it was pressed into every hard muscle on his body. His hands roamed freely, igniting my skin in its path. His lips drew me in, making my head spin and my knees weak. His teeth nibbled at my neck, causing a rush of need to overtake me.

  “Cade,” I moaned into his shoulder, slipping my hands under his shirt to feel his skin.

  He hissed as I scraped my nails up his back, stopping to grip his shoulders. “Dammit, you’re driving me insane,” he said huskily. He stood, taking my hands in his and leading me to the bedroom. His room was a wreck, but I couldn’t let my clean nature get to me at this moment. All I thought of was him.

  He gently laid me down, his fingers brushing my hair off my face. His deep sea eyes gazing at me with an intensity I’d only seen from him once before. I could feel his heartbeat against my chest. Our breathing was heavy, labored, as we eagerly, yet deliberately, undressed each other. His eyes grew dark with desire while he ravaged me with them. Our hands explored, driving each other wild with longing. We took turns, leaving soft trails up and down necks, chests, and every other sensitive area we possessed. Being with Cade was everything I’d ever wanted, but was better than anything I could have imagined. We came together, over and over again. We were a perfect fit in every aspect. Our hearts grew more in sync as our bodies connected. He drove me to the brink, only to stop and start again, until finally our bodies exploded in bliss together. When we were spent and needed a break, he wrapped his arms around me, leaning his head on my chest and falling fast asleep. I lay there for a long time, my fingers lightly tracing hearts in his hair. He mumbled a few times, though each time was incoherent and I couldn’t coax him to repeat it. I finally drifted off to sleep, having my first night without nightmares since the accident.

  ###

  The glaring sunlight shone on my face, waking me. I felt something hot and wet against me, and I tried to move away. I looked around, seeing a huge mass of clothing in the corner, and trash littering the floor. Cade’s. I remembered now, I slept at Cade’s house. Turning my head, I saw his body glistening in sweat. One leg was draped over mine, his arm still around my waist. Now I knew where the wetness was coming from, but I didn’t know why or how to get away without waking him. I stretched my free arm around, checking his forehead for a fever. Cool. Weird, I thought. Why would he be sweating so much if he didn’t have a fever? Surely snuggling up to me wouldn’t make him that hot. I slid out from under him, searching his floor for my clothing. I walked to the hall, seeing only one door and assuming it was the bathroom. I made myself presentable, combing through my hair with my fingers, brushing my teeth with my thumb. Satisfied, I went to find his kitchen and get water. His garbage can overflowed with empty liquor bottles which concerned me. His sink was high with dirty dishes, showing how much of a bachelor he truly was. I snuck back to his bedroom door, seeing his body half covered with a sheet, his dark hair sticking in every which direction. He looked adorable. I headed back to the sink, diving head first into cleaning his kitchen.

  I sung softly to myself, flittering around wiping counters and throwing trash away. I heard Cade’s feet shuffling through the carpet before I saw him. He stood at the kitchen entrance, his face pale, still sweating.

  “Cade, are you ok?” I questioned, moving to stand in front of him.

  “Francesca,” he croaked out, his eyes weren’t focused. Something about him was off.

  “Yes?” I asked, reaching my hands out to feel for warmth once again.

  He flinched away, then his eyes widened as he quickly darted to the bathroom. The retching sound came through his thin walls and I cringed. I leaned against the wall outside the room, patiently waiting for him to recover. He finally stepped out, gingerly taking each step. He wore only boxers, showing how toned and smooth his arms and back were. He kept his body turned away from me, like he didn’t want to see me. I could see his hands trembling when he reached out to the wall for support.

  “Cade,” I said hesitantly. He drove me here, so I wasn’t sure what to do. He didn’t want me around, whether it was because he was sick or because he regretted it, I didn’t know.

  “Cason,” he huffed out, uneasily walking back to his room.

  “What about him?” I asked, following him.

  “Call him. Tell him I need him. Now,” he said urgently. He finally turned to me. He looked like he’d been to hell and back.

  I nodded, moving quickly to find his phone. I searched and found Cason’s number, dialing.

  His voice sounded so much like Cade’s on the phone that it was shocking. “Hello? Cade?”

  “Uh, no. Sorry, this is Francesca, Cason,” I awkwardly spat out.

  “Francesca? Hey, how are you? Is everything ok?”

  “I’m not sure, Cason. Cade is sweating and he threw up, and he told me to call you. Is there any way you could come over?” I asked hopefully.

  “Shit. Yeah, I’ll be right there. Don’t leave him, Francesca,” he demanded.

  “I won’t,” I said. And I wouldn’t, even if I could.

  I paced a hole in his floor, eagerly waiting for Cason to get there. I checked on Cade often, though he lay in the bed with the sweats, and he kept clutching his stomach. I didn’t know what to do for him. How to help him. And it killed me inside that he wanted Cason instead of just asking me. I was already here. I could have had him to the hospital by now. A deep pounding on the door brought me from my thoughts. I hurried over, ushering Cason in. He looked so different from Cade, his hair light instead of dark and his build was much wider. He was a tall, muscular man. Cade has muscles in his arms and across his back, but Cason was like that all over.

  “It’s good to see you, Francesca,” he said, smiling widely. “Where is he?”

  I pointed to his room, “In there.” I chewed my lip for a moment, debating on whether to tell him about last night. “He won’t let me help him,” I said instead.

  “It’s ok. He’s stubborn when it comes to you. Let me go check on him,” he gave me a reassuring pat on the arm and headed off.

  I waited anxiously, wondering about his comment. He’s stubborn when it comes to you. Had he discussed me with his brother? Or did Cason just assume? I couldn’t ponder over it for too long, because he came strutting out, holding Cade in his arms. I gasped at the sight.

  “I’ve gotta take him to the hospital. Do you have someone you can call?” he asked, a worried look on his face.

  I nodded quickly, opening the door for him. I worriedly watched him move closer to leaving me behind and my heart ached. Seeing Cade like this, after our night together, was almost too much for me.

  “He cares about you. Don’t forget that,” Cason said, giving me a knowing look.

&n
bsp; I just whispered, “Ok.” I caressed Cade’s hair back from his face, kissing his forehead gently. Cason rushed him out, and I watched until he was down the road. I sat on his couch for a long time, just thinking about him and everything that happened. Finally, I dialed Daphne, giving her the address and asking her to come get me. My head began to pound thinking about all the interrogating that would follow. I tried not to think about Cade and whether or not he was ok. I kicked myself for not giving Cason my phone number to keep me updated, so I added his to my phone and decided I would call him later. I didn’t know what happened, or if Cade would be ok, but I did know that my heart was breaking. I just wanted to curl up and cry. I felt helpless and didn’t know what to do. Walking to the door, I turned and took in all the area Cade lived in. I tried to memorize every last detail. Locking the door, I went outside to wait.

  Chapter Twenty-Two-Cade

  “Let me go,” I growled at Cason, pushing him away. “I can walk, dammit. I’m not an invalid.”

  “You were passed out, sweating like a pig, and mumbling about God knows what. Chill, I’ll let you walk,” he snapped, backing away with a glare.

  “You couldn’t have gotten me clothes?” I asked him harshly. Why was I being so mean? I couldn’t even stop the words from coming out.

  “You’re right. Next time I think my brother is dying or something, I’ll just stop for clothes. And if the girl that’s head over heels for him tries to stop me, I’ll just kick her out or something,” he mocked, rolling his eyes at me.

  I wanted to punch him, but something he said reminded me of the previous night. “Francesca.”

  “Yeah, bro, you don’t want to screw that up. Now get out of the car so we can go inside,” he commanded.

  We sat outside the emergency entrance of the medical center. I knew something was wrong, but I also thought I knew how to fix it. This happened once before, a few years ago, and all I needed was a drink. Or two. I couldn’t tell Cason that, though. He was already on my ass about drinking. If I went in there…they’d know. The doctors would tell him and he’d tell Pops. Closing my eyes, I rubbed my temples. Think, Cade. “Bro, it’s probably just a virus. It’s cool. Just take me home,” I said, hoping and praying I was convincing.