Unbreak This Heart

by Betty Shreffler

  “I’m so sorry, I’m really not feeling well. I promise to make it up to you.”

  “You’re really not going to let me in?”

  “It’s best I don’t.”

  “All right. I’ll head home. Call me if you change your mind. I don’t care what time it is. Love you.”

  “Love you too. Thank you for understanding.”

  I wait as he reluctantly walks away from my door. When I know he’s gone, the events of the evening playback through my mind, tormenting me, reminding me how foolish I’d been. Pushing myself to my feet, I amble to the kitchen, pour myself a glass of wine, chug it down, wipe away my tears and head to my bathroom to clean my face and shower.

  CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR

  —

  ALEX

  “Alex, what happened to your face?” Carter’s panicked tone startles me awake.

  My heart jumps to my throat. Shielding my face, I look at Carter, standing over my bed, concern etched into his brows.

  “How’d you get in?”

  “I stopped by Kyle and Jane’s for the spare key. I wanted to be here when you woke up so I could take care of you today. I didn’t think you’d be going into work. Now tell me, please, what happened to your face?”

  My bed sinks in from the weight of his body. I stare back at his baby blues, pleading with me to explain.

  “You’re not sick, are you?”

  A slight whimper escapes me. “No.”

  “Come here.”

  He opens his arms and I fall into them. Tears pool in my eyes as he runs his hands over my hair and back.

  “Can you talk about it? Is it why you wouldn’t let me in last night?”

  “No and yes.”

  “Did someone hurt you?”

  “I’m fine. It was an accident.”

  I wince when his hand grazes my shoulder. Attention going to my shoulder, he examines it, then my face.

  “Tell me, please, did someone hurt you?”

  “Todd—”

  His tone swiftly changes. “He was here last night?”

  “He had too much to drink. We got into an argument. It was an accident. He didn’t mean to—”

  “To what? Hit you?”

  “He shoved me off him and I fell into the coffee table.”

  “Why was he shoving you off him?”

  “He had pinned me to him and I was trying to break free. He got angry and shoved me away.”

  Scooting farther back on my bed, Carter takes me with him, cradling me in his protective arms.

  “Tell me everything from the moment he showed up at your door.”

  As I explain the events of the evening, he keeps his calm demeanor, rubbing over my body, wiping each tear that dribbles down my cheek. As I get to the end, I feel his muscles tightening, see his jaw flexing. A haze covers his usually sparkling blue eyes.

  “He walked out after hurting you like that?”

  “I made him. I didn’t want his help. He wasn’t himself last night. I’ve never seen him act that way.”

  “Alcohol and desperation can do dangerous things to a man.”

  “You were right.” Laying my head against his shoulder, I nestle further into his arms. “The funeral would have been an opening for him to pursue something between us. That was made clear last night.”

  With a kiss to my head, he sighs. “I didn’t want to be right. I wanted you to be safe and that didn’t happen. I’d like you to stay with me for a while. I don’t want you here alone if Todd comes back.”

  Leaning back, I study his handsome face and lose myself in the deep pool of blue staring back at me, awaiting my response. After last night’s fight with Todd, the thought of being in the safety of Carter’s home, going to bed and waking up in his arms gives me comfort. I don’t want another visit from Todd like last night.

  “You wouldn’t mind having me around all the time?”

  Calloused fingers send a soothing sensation over my skin as he caresses my cheek and jaw, just below the broken, bruised skin.

  “I’m debating whether or not it should be a permanent move.”

  “Yeah?”

  Leaning forward, he kisses my tender skin. “It kills me I wasn’t able to protect you last night. Had I been here, Todd’s face would be the one bruised, not yours.”

  Placing my hand on his shoulder, I rub along his arm, enjoying the feel of his soft cotton shirt and warm skin beneath my fingers.

  “You’re here now giving me the comfort I need. That means so much to me.”

  Gentle lips press to my forehead. Curling at the nape of my neck, his strong fingers caress my hair and neck as I raise my chin and kiss him.

  “Will you help me pack my things?”

  “Of course. Bring as much as you want. I want you to feel comfortable at my place.”

  Grudgingly, I move out of his arms and head to my closet to gather my luggage bags. Just inside, I lean back to look at Carter. He’s sitting on the edge of my bed, his elbows resting on his knees, his chin dropped in his hands, deep in thought.

  “Carter.”

  The hardened muscles of his back shift as he turns my direction.

  “Yeah, beautiful?”

  “You okay?”

  “Yeah, tell me what you need me to do.”

  CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE

  —

  CARTER

  Standing in the doorway of my bedroom, I watch Alex unpack her last bag. Her fight with Todd is visibly worn on her body by her fatigued movements, the puffy, red broken skin on her cheek, and her bruised and scraped shoulder. Exhaustion, mental and emotional, has dulled her bright green eyes. Sliding the luggage bag under my bed, she crawls atop the mattress and I come to her side as she covers herself with my blanket.

  “You mind if I take a nap? I feel so tired.”

  Brushing her chocolate hair away from her face, I caress her cheek before leaning down to kiss her. “Not at all. I have some things I need to take care of. I’ll get ’em done while you sleep.” Tugging at my arm, she pulls me down onto the bed with her.

  “Don’t go. Lay with me.” Turning to her side, she tucks her back to my front as I wrap my arm around her.

  “I’m not going to say no to that.”

  Lying next to her, listening to her breathing, I do what I’ve done all day, hide the rage that’s been festering in my gut since I saw her damaged face this morning. Fear, true fear seized me when I saw her. In that moment, many possibilities went through my mind of what caused it. None of them were good and that fear was an excruciating ache that took hold of my entire body. I haven’t tasted fear like that since I received the news my father had died in a motorcycle accident. Feeling that fear for Alex is something I never want to feel again.

  When I realized her injured face was the reason she didn’t let me in the night before I had a suspicion it had something to do with Todd. Quickly, she confirmed that suspicion. Staying with me keeps her safe to a certain point, but I can’t be with her at all times, at work, when she’s with Jane. No, there’s one problem that still remains—Todd.

  Carefully, I ease my arm from under her and roll to the opposite side of my bed. With one last glance over my shoulder, I check to ensure she’s still resting peacefully.

  ***

  Honking cars and the scent of exhaust fumes reach my nostrils as I remove my helmet and set it on my bike. With it being Monday, the city is abuzz with life—pedestrians walking with their cell phones in hand, taxis looking for work, cars driving too quickly. Glancing at my watch, I see it’s nearly time for the suits to be leaving their desk jobs. Leaning against my bike, I wait for Todd to leave his office building which was easy to find with a simple Google search.

  With each sparkling suit that walks out, my muscles tense, expecting it to be Todd. Finally, the fifth suit is him.

  “Livingston!”

  Turning his head my direction, he sees me and stops abruptly, unsure of how to react. I can see the fight-or-flight response washing over his face. Surprisin
gly, the bastard sticks around even walks over to me. Being a lawyer, I’m sure he’s convinced the witnesses will be at his advantage. Stopping a couple feet in front of me, conveniently out of reach, he nods.

  “I know why you’re here.”

  “You left her pretty banged up.”

  “I tried to help her, but she didn’t want it.”

  “And that’s your justification for walking out after hurting her?”

  “I didn’t mean to hurt her.”

  “That’s what happens when a man can’t control his aggression after too many drinks; he accidentally hurts people.”

  “Yeah, all right. I was out of line. I plan on apologizing to her.”

  “No, man.” My thumb brushes across my puckered brow. Apparently, I need to spell it out for him. “You’re not going to apologize to her. You’re going to stay the fuck away from her…for good.”

  “Is that a threat?” Todd’s eyes narrow on me. The attorney in him is taking over.

  “Yeah, damn straight it is. Stay the fuck away. Don’t show up at her house or her work. Don’t call, don’t text, don’t even email. Don’t send her gifts either. You see her in public, walk away. Because I’m telling you now, you come near her, and I’ll put you in the hospital.”

  His jaw flexes. He’s not ready to back down.

  “Don’t you dare threaten me. What happened between Alex and me is exactly that, between her and me. If I want to see her, I will. Don’t think coming to my workplace and making idle threats is going to scare me. Alex might think you’re what’s good for her right now, but we both know your foolish dream of becoming somebody someday will only drag her down with you. If it wasn’t for you getting in my way, we’d still be together.”

  Stepping closer, I narrow the space between us. “You’re more arrogant than I thought if you think I’m the reason you’re not together. You’re the reason you’re not together anymore. She finally saw you for who you really are—a sleazy, arrogant, spoiled rich boy who can’t handle it when he doesn’t get what he wants.”

  Hazel-green eyes narrow to slits as his nostrils flare. “I can take it all away from you, you know that? I have the means and the money. I can bury you, make you wish you’d never gotten in my way.”

  “Who’s giving idle threats now? But go ahead, try to take it all from me, try to ruin my career, she’ll still love me, and knowing that eats at you. She doesn’t love you. She doesn’t want to have anything to do with you.” Grabbing his jacket, I force his face to mine. Bringing my voice low, I make sure my words are clear.

  “And my threats aren’t idle. I’ll tear you limb from fucking limb. Stay away from her.”

  Flinging his arm up, he breaks my contact with his jacket and shoves at me. “Keep your hands off me.”

  His tone drips with arrogance. Nothing I’ve said to him got through. I didn’t want it to come to this. I didn’t want to have to hit him, but it’s obvious putting fear in him is the only way to get through.

  My arm swings, one smooth solid punch and he goes down like a limp sack. If there were witnesses, they didn’t seem to care. The pedestrians keep walking as if they didn’t even notice. Looking down at Todd, I finally see the hint of fear that’s needed.

  “Stay. Away. From. Her.”

  With nothing else to be said, I turn to leave. My muscles tighten at the tension of a man’s hand on my shoulder. Spinning, I’m prepared to land another punch. Todd’s fist clocks my jaw. A cheap shot, my back barely turned. Stumbling backward, my foot catches on the sidewalk, and the view of a royal blue hood blurs my vision.

  CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX

  —

  ALEX

  Dry lips abrasively graze my ear as he whispers to me, “It’s unfortunate our time together has to end.”

  Cold steel touches my belly and scrapes along my skin. Around me, the pillow is saturated with my tears, but I’ve gone numb to all sensation. Fear has consumed me, body and soul, but it’s my will that fights for life, unwilling to give up, to give in.

  Sweat drenched sheets peel away from my skin as I snap awake. I grasp for Carter, but he’s gone.

  “Carter,” I call out, my voice shaky.

  Silence.

  Entering the living room, I find my phone and look at the missed calls and texts as I wipe away a lone tear. There are several missed calls from an unknown number that’s left a voicemail. Immediately, I listen to it. On the other end, Sandy’s distraught voice asks me to call her as soon as possible. Worry seizes my chest as my hands fumble to call her back.

  “Alex?”

  “Yes, where’s Carter? What’s wrong?”

  “Oh, sweetheart.” Her voice breaks between tears. “You need to come to Advance Medical immediately.”

  My knees weaken and I reach out for the counter to stabilize myself.

  “Please, Sandy, tell me he’s ok.”

  “Just get here as soon as you can.”

  My body trembles with fear as I pass through the hospital’s sliding doors. Sandy and Kevin clasp onto me as I reach them.

  “Where is he? What’s happened?” I plead.

  “He’s in surgery. He was hit by a car,” Kevin explains quickly.

  His massive arms hold me steady as my knees weaken.

  “How bad is it?” I stammer.

  “It’s bad. Head and back injury. We won’t know anything more until he’s out of surgery.”

  “I…can’t…lose him,” I cry out.

  Kevin’s arms enfold me as I sob into his shirt. My very core ruptures in agonizing pain. Sandy’s hand rubs up and down my back barely registering amidst the fear consuming me.

  “My baby, he’s so strong, he’ll fight through this. He needs our prayers, sweetheart. That’s what he needs right now.”

  ***

  Three agonizing hours pass before medical staff comes to find us. In the waiting room, we huddle around the weary surgeon. Lost in my emotions, all I can do to keep my composure is stare at the silver wedding band on his finger.

  “He’s made it through the surgery. He’s resting now in an induced coma. We’ll ease him out of it in forty-eight hours. He’s suffered injuries to his head, lower vertebrae, and spinal cord. It’s too soon to judge the permanent effects, but at this time, he’s lost mobility in his right leg.”

  Tears pool in my eyes. Kevin’s arm reaches around me, holding me steady.

  “Can we see him?” Sandy asks.

  Empathetic brown eyes glance at each of us. “One person, briefly, his body needs the rest.”

  Sandy looks to us and Kevin and I nod at her to go. She follows the doctor out, her head hanging low as she wipes at her face with a tissue.

  My sobs break the silence. Kevin eases me back into the stiff hospital chair.

  “Little bird, he’s alive. Carter is a fighter. If they say he’ll never walk again, he’ll prove them otherwise. He’s always been that way. Nothing stops him.”

  Looking into Kevin’s dark blue eyes, I want to believe that. I want to have hope, but I know the cruel ways of life all too well.

  “If he can’t walk, he won’t be able to fight. He’s going to lose everything he’s worked for. He didn’t deserve this. He’s an incredible man. He deserves so much better than this.”

  A firm hand rubs along my upper back.

  “We don’t know that yet. We have to wait. It’s going to be a long, hard road ahead, but the most important thing is he’s alive.”

  “It’s excruciating not being able to go in there and talk to him, hold him, or kiss him.”

  “You love him a lot, don’t you?”

  My eyes pinch closed, fighting tears as I nod.

  “He loves you too. You’re the first woman to be put in the same conversation as the word marriage. Just don’t tell him I told you that.” He winks.

  A smile tilts the corner of my mouth. “Thank you.”

  With a tap to my knee, he stands. His massive frame blocks out the doorway behind him.

  “I know you don�
�t want to leave, but you should go home and rest. We won’t be able to talk to him until he’s out of the induced coma. He wouldn’t want you waiting uncomfortably in these shitty chairs for the next forty-eight hours.”

  “I moved into his house today. If I go back there, I won’t be able to stop crying.”

  “What about at your place?”

  A sullen feeling drops to the pit of my stomach. “I don’t want to go back there either.”

  “That got anything to do with the cut on your face?”

  I’d completely forgotten about it until now.

  “Yeah,” I admit, embarrassed.

  Studying my face, he tries to read me. “Is there somewhere else you’ll be comfortable?”

  “I’ll call my friend, Jane. I’ll stay with her.”

  With a nod, he seems satisfied. At the sound of Sandy’s return, Kevin and I look to her, observing her emotional state.

  “He’s sleeping, but I still talked to him. I told him how much we all love him and that we’ll be praying for him and be here when he wakes up.”

  Fresh tears sting my eyes at the sight of Sandy’s struggle to stay composed. Kevin moves in and hugs her, giving her the comfort she needs.

  “Uh, uh,” a man clears his throat behind us.

  Two men stand side by side, one in a hospital uniform and the other in a police uniform.

  “Mrs. Maxwell, this officer is here to speak with you all.”

  Our attention turns to the officer as he steps farther into the room. He’s tall in stature, a little round in the belly, and exudes authority.

  “Mrs. Maxwell, I’m officer Carnes. I’m here to inform you there’s been an investigation opened in response to your son’s accident.”

  “What do you mean?” Sandy asks, confused.

  “The driver of the vehicle who hit your son reported that a man pushed your son into oncoming traffic and that’s why he was hit.”

  “Someone pushed him? Why would they do that?” Her tone sounds as horrified as I know we’re all feeling.