Accepted & Rebuilt (Shattered Duet Book 2)

by Bry Ann

  “No, I-I won’t leave him.”

  “Figured. Maria, Sven is coming to pick you up. No arguing.”

  She opens her mouth, but he holds up a hand.

  “Gotta watch Sage,” Cut tells her.

  She immediately gets it. Even with his lack of explanation. Maria comes over, crouches down on her toes, and takes both of my hands.

  “You stay strong, alright, girlie?”

  I nod.

  “And when this fight is over for you, convince Nix to let us come see you: me, Lacey, Rose. We don’t have to bring the guys. We’re good people. We won’t bring trouble into your life. And Lacey could use a friend like you.”

  Like me?

  “Maybe,” I whisper.

  “Good.”

  With that, Maria plops down on the floor next to me while she’s waiting for Sven and starts spouting off random stories. Ridiculous things that make no sense. I can’t even begin to re-tell them. As crazy as it is, it helps me stay present in a world that’s spinning wildly out of control.

  “Maria,” Cut grunts. “Sven’s here. Out front.”

  She nods at that, giving me a knee squeeze on the way up.

  “Sage, us women are way stronger than we think. Tap into that.”

  She rubs my head, kisses Cut’s cheek, and runs outside.

  “She’s really nice,” I whisper.

  Cut nods. “Little crazy.”

  I let myself half-smile. “A little.”

  His eyes crinkle slightly. Right as he goes to open his mouth, the emergency room doors are thrown open and a bunch of EMTs rush in with a stretcher.

  My dad’s on it.

  Nix

  I don’t know how long it is before I come to. Everything’s fuzzy as I blink my eyes open.

  “You’re so lucky I picked up hours, you fuck.”

  Ray.

  Ray? I’m at the hospital. Why?

  “You were stabbed,” Ray says, seemingly able to read my confusion. “Bad, Nix. You lost a lot of blood.”

  “Sage?” I croak, trying to remember how all this happened.

  “Nix, just take a moment. It’ll all come back to you. I think it’s best if you get clear before you talk to her.”

  Ray immediately gets to work checking all the beeping machines surrounding me.

  “Sage?” I repeat.

  She sighs. “She’s with her father. I didn’t want her in here until I was sure you’d wake up.”

  “Charles?”

  Ray’s head falls to her chest. “He was in a car accident,” she murmurs. “It’s bad, Nix. He was rushed here in an ambulance. He’s in a coma right now.”

  I push on my hands to sit. I groan immediately. Ray shrieks and runs over.

  “My God! Lie down!” she screams, a little frantically.

  “Gotta see Sage.”

  “You just had surgery. Sit the hell down! You ruin the doctor’s work and you’ll be in no condition to see your girl. If you lie down, I’ll get her. Some hella intimidating man is with her right now.”

  “What?”

  “He hasn’t left her side. Watches her doors and shit. What’s going on, Nix? You almost died. Her father probably has brain damage. That poor girl is not only dealing with the possible death of two people she loves, but she’s scared of her own shadow. I know you’re out of it, I know your body’s just endured a lot, and I’m being a total bitch, but are my staff in danger? Are you guys? Do you need the cops?”

  I groan and hold my head. “Don’t know yet, Ray. I can’t remember what happened.”

  Her eyebrows raise.

  “What’s your name?”

  “I didn’t lose my mind, Ray. I’m just fuzzy.”

  “Name.”

  I sigh. “Nixon Marketta.”

  “Date.”

  “I wouldn’t know that regardless of getting stabbed.”

  She snorts. “I believe that. What do you remember about coming here?”

  “Nice try, Ray. Don’t ask, don’t tell, remember?”

  Something I never thought I’d see on Ray’s face appears. She loses her hard-ass exterior and actual worry overtakes it.

  “You almost died, Nix. I almost watched you die.”

  “I’m fine, Ray,” I murmur. “I’m okay.”

  “You can’t remember anything. How can you tell me that? You don’t even know.”

  “I will remember,” I tell her confidently. “I just need a minute.”

  She takes a deep breath. “Right, sure. Whatever, Nix. I’m gonna go get Sage. I need to get away from your stubborn ass.”

  “Ray, how long have I been out?”

  “Post-surgery? Not long, just a few hours.”

  I nod. “Just checking.”

  “Yeah.”

  She opens her mouth to say something else, but chooses to close it and walk out without uttering another word. As soon as she’s gone, I close my eyes and will myself to remember what the hell happened.

  I’d stolen evidence to get Lacey’s husband and Sven free from prison. Long story. Then I… what did I do?

  “Nix, what the hell are you doing?!”

  I pointed the gun directly at Gerald and the three men standing next to him. Gerald straightened, as did the other three.

  “Nix…” Gerald growled.

  “Don’t wanna kill you all, but I will.”

  “What do you want?” His eyes darted from my gun to the loose set of my jaw.

  “I want you to work with me, Gerald.”

  He raised his eyebrows.

  “Why the fuck would I do that?”

  “I know you hate me, but your reasoning is bullshit. I didn’t wanna kick your ass that day way back when. I was a kid. Aaron told me to. I still said no — at risk of my own ass kicking, I may add. I only did it ‘cause he threatened your daughter. You’re fucking welcome.”

  “He doesn’t know about Katie.”

  “Fuck he doesn’t. He knows the hospital she’s at. He knows her illness. She’s safe ‘cause you hate me and do his bidding.”

  Gerald’s body went tight.

  “You know I’m not lying. Would you really put it past Aaron to keep tabs on your family?”

  “Regardless, what are you doing, Nix?”

  “I want you to tell Aaron’s men that Renner killed Aaron and Rod.”

  I quickly spun to the left and aimed the gun at Renner’s heart.

  “Don’t. Move.”

  He snarled at me, showing his teeth.

  “I’ll fucking kill you.”

  “Try,” I challenged with a single word.

  “Well, Gerald? You have thirty seconds.”

  “What’s the threat?”

  “Do I need one? He has your daughter’s life hanging over your head. You don’t want him gone? I’ll use Aaron’s money to cover your daughter’s remaining medical expenses. I’m not directly involving you. You simply have to tell people that Renner killed Aaron and Rod.”

  “I’ll do it.”

  “Gerald, I don’t wanna threaten you. I respect you.”

  “I’ll do it. You have my word.”

  “Good. Renner, D… truly sorry. Enjoy hell.”

  And I put a bullet in both of them.

  Gerald’s eyes went wide. He knows how much I hate killing. And I do. My stomach felt nauseous. I couldn’t look at the two men lying sprawled out on the floor. There was no way around not killing them, especially Renner. They would have gone straight to Rod.

  “What are you doing, Nix?”

  “Don’t worry about it. Clean these two up, then spread the word about Aaron. Where’s Rod?”

  “Probably at his house. Candi or whatever the fuck her name is has been giving him trouble. I’m sure he’s hiding from her, since he’s not on a job.”

  “What a man,” I grumbled before slipping out the door. I had no doubt Gerald would do as he was told. His daughter is everything to him, which is a large reason he lived, to be honest. D and Renner had nothing. They added nothing good to the world
. They were murderers, con artists and probably rapists. Gerald did good things, too. Like me. He was a bad man with good intentions. He has hope. I wouldn’t ever kill someone like that. Fuck, I didn’t want to kill anyone. I was just left with no choice. I tried to keep the death toll to an absolute minimum, but taking down someone like Aaron left me no choice but to take some lives.

  It’s me or Aaron.

  And it’s gonna be me this time.

  When I got to Rod’s house, I kicked in the door only to find it empty. Not even two seconds later, I was ambushed. Rod came out with a butcher knife and slammed it into my side. D, the one person I didn’t truly have my eyes on during the whole interaction, warned Rod via a quick and simple 9-1-1 text that I was coming before I shot and killed him.

  Luckily, I’d been training. I had more muscle to temper it a bit. I had a plethora of weapons on me. It only took a second of Rod thinking I was down to pull out my spare gun, shoot him in the heart, and use my phone to text Gerald a simple “clean up @ Rod’s”. He got it and texted back.

  GERALD: I’ll be there soon.

  I knew I had to get to my house to get my supplies. I was losing too much blood. Ray was off that day, so I couldn’t go to the hospital and risk raising suspicion. I didn’t have time to deal with that. I had to get to Aaron before he found out what happened with Rod. Hell, I put in almost two years of training for this exact thing so I could be strong enough physically, but mostly mentally, to handle this severe of an injury.

  My biggest regret of this whole thing, at that point, was that I didn’t get a chance to tell Rod why I killed him. I couldn’t tell him the bullet in his chest was for daring to lay a finger on Sage and for attempting to murder my sister. That it had nothing to do with me. That it had nothing to do with the fact that he helped Aaron raise me. He died for Sage and Rose. I never got to say that.

  That was my biggest regret. Up until I managed to get myself home, a bloody wreck.

  And I passed out at Sage’s feet.

  Quickly, the plan was going to hell.

  I jolt out of my memory. Before I can start beating myself up, a head lands on my chest and hands are thrown over my opposite arm. I startle and look down.

  Sage.

  “Hey, princess,” I whisper in a hoarse voice, cupping the back of her head.My heart skips a beat, seeing how easily I cover the back of her head with my hand alone. She’s so small and breakable. What am I doing to her?

  As soon as my hand lands on her, she immediately starts to sob against me. I’m talking full-body-wracking sobs so hard she’s nearly shaking the bed. The sound of it makes my heart hurt worse than my healing wound ever could. Sage rarely cries. She usually just disappears. So the pain she’s feeling right now must be too much for her to bear without losing herself.

  “I’m here. I’m here,” I murmur. I can’t tell her it’s okay. It’s not. What has she seen? What has she heard? And then there’s Charles. What really happened? What’s going on with him? I can’t stop hurting this girl.

  “You al-almost died,” she cries. “You almost left me.”

  “I wouldn’t leave you. I’m right here.”

  “It-it… all happened so fast. Dad’s not waking up. Mom is so angry.” She pauses for a moment, then, in a tiny voice, whispers, “I’m so glad you’re awake.”

  She almost sounds slightly insane. It’s not what she’s saying, it’s how she saying it that has my eyebrows raising.

  “Sage, princess, can you look at me?”

  She rolls her head to the side, so she’s still on my chest, but facing me. Her eyes are swollen and red, like she’s been crying for hours. Which she probably has.

  “Ray said a big guy was with you? Did you drive me here?”

  “Cut. I… I… don’t be mad. I didn’t know. So fast…”

  Her breathing increases.

  “Hey, hey, I’m not mad. I’m not mad. I just wanna know what’s going on, doll. That’s all. Please breathe for me.”

  All of a sudden, Sage’s tears dry and her eyes widen and harden. Fury takes over her features. It’s such a stark difference to the broken woman from the moment before that it sends chills up my spine.

  “Sage?” My eyebrows furrow. “Sage?”

  “Aaron knows we’re here. That’s why Cut stayed. Nix, he’s planning something. I don’t know what your plan is, but I’m betting this wasn’t it.”

  She sits and grabs my hands.

  “What do we do?”

  We? What do we do?

  Her dad is still here. Her dad who’s in a coma. ‘Cause of me.

  I can’t go there right now. I just can’t.

  “You wanna stay here with your dad?”

  “I have to,” she whispers. Her eyes water. “I never told him thank you for... I never…”

  She sucks in a breath that gets caught in her throat as her eyes well with water. I feel my eyes water as well.

  “I don’t wanna do this, but it’s all going to shit anyway. I’ll set up protection for you here.”

  “I have Cut.”

  I glare at her. “If Aaron wants to hurt you, I have to be sure that’s not a possibility.”

  “Okay.”

  Thank God she doesn’t argue with me.

  “The men coming to watching you…” I say carefully. “Don’t let them scare you. Ironically, I don’t know who else to trust right now. They wouldn’t hurt you, but they are the perfect amount of ruthless I need right now. Aaron’s men won’t get past them and the only one of his men who might have been able to is no longer an issue.”

  “No longer an issue?”

  “Don’t ask. Please, Sage.”

  I take her hand and squeeze. Talking about murder with her makes me want to vomit. Sensing this, she leans forward and rubs the sweat from my forehead. When my hair’s out of the way, she kisses me gently.

  “I won’t.”

  “I’m sorry, babe. I’m so sorry.”

  “Ride or die, remember?”

  “I love you so much.”

  “I love you, too.”

  Her hand is shaking when it finds mine.

  “Stay with me, okay?”

  “I will. Promise.” I wink at her. She lets out a reluctant laugh.

  “Only you are cocky enough to promise you won’t die in the condition you’re in.”

  I grin at her. “Go with your dad. Tell Cut I said thank you and ask if he doesn’t mind staying. If he says he does, send him to me. Although, it’s Cut. He’ll stay.”

  Sage very reluctantly slides away from me.

  “Don’t die on me, Nixon! I’m serious.”

  I’d been so focused on her eyes, I immediately freeze when I see her whole body from a distance. She’s covered fingers to toes in blood and shivering profusely. How did I not notice this when she was on me? I must still be off.

  “Sage, go shower,” I whisper. “Tell Ray. She’ll help you.”

  “She’s tried. There’s no time. No time.”

  Sage scatters from the room before I can respond.

  “Fuck,” I hiss. “Fuck!”

  Ignoring Ray’s orders, I let out a groan of pain as I push to a fully seated position and look around for my cell. I find it on the side table. I throw it over my ear, debating heavily between the two men, Rose’s now-husband Sven or his boss. I think on this for one too many minutes, but ultimately decide to go straight to the source. I click Adam Ruston’s number. Adam Ruston, AKA, the mafia boss/Lacey’s husband. He owes me big time for getting him out of prison, not to mention he owes it to Lacey to do a good deed every now and again. The two of them aren’t on good terms right now. He crossed one of the only lines she ever set for him. She knows better than anyone how dangerous he is, but she has one very distinct line and he crossed it. It’s a long story, but he’s desperate to get on his wife’s good side again.

  “Adam,” I basically groan into the phone. My side is throbbing.

  “Nix,” Adam answers — blunt, cold and to the point.

&
nbsp; “I need help.”

  “What do you need?”

  “Sage is here at the hospital with her father.”

  “I know about him. Cut sent me and Sven to help the man.”

  “Oh.” My eyebrows raise. “Well, I’m still trying to catch up with everything. I just woke up. But Aaron’s going to try to pull something at any moment. Everything’s going to shit. I need your help.”

  “You have it,” he says immediately, and somehow I don’t think it’s because he “owes me.”

  “Sven, too. He happen to be there?”

  “Yes. Rose is with Lacey and Maria, so yeah, he’s here.”

  “Call him over. Put it on speaker.”

  In a flash, they are both on the line.

  And from there, I lay it all out.

  The plan.

  I’ve been at this too long to be blindsided. Aaron’s dead. He’s done. He’s gone, and he sure as fuck won’t be fucking with my life and the lives of the people I love anymore.

  He’s. Fucking. Done.

  Sage

  “Dad, can you hear me? I’m sorry,” I choke. “This is all my fault. I’m sorry.”

  My mom’s heels click, click, click in the background.

  “Why didn’t you call the police, Sage?”

  “I—”

  “Huh?! Why did you call him?!” She throws an arm over my dad. “Like he’s prepared for this fucked up mess you’ve gotten yourself into!”

  I shrink back away from my father, feeling my heart shatter.

  “Answer me!”

  “I… I was just… I…”

  “Dumb!” she shrieks. “You were stupid and now my husband is going to die! Because of you.”

  I slide to the floor and wrap my arms around my knees, putting myself farther away from the man I don’t deserve to be around. I feel the tears on my face, but not the pain behind them. Sage is finally going away. Nix flashes into my mind, but I can’t fight the black hole I’m being pulled into.

  “That’s enough,” a voice booms from the doorway. Both of us roll our heads that way to see three men standing there. I know Cut. The other two make me cower. Two pairs of dark eyes land on me. Cut’s eyes go to my mom. He walks over, and as he does, she flies backward.