Broken In Pieces: Billionaire Stepbrother Romance (Wounded Hearts Book 1) Read online

  Mother and Carter are headed back to their apartment for the night so Blade walks them out. This gives Donna and Styx some time alone with me. I’ve felt like she’s wanted to say something to me ever since she walked in the door. She comes over, sits in the chair that Blade usually occupies and takes my hand. She takes a deep breath, “Sher, I feel a lot of tension between you and Blade. If ya don’t want him here just say the word and he’s gone. I’ll make sure of it.” I smile but I can’t contain the tears that begin rolling down my cheeks.

  “I’ll deal with it. I know he’s concerned about the baby. I’ll be outta here soon and I won’t have to worry about it much.” My broken voice sounds pitiful, even to me.

  “Please don’t cry. You’ve been through so much this year, I can’t bear to see you hurt anymore. I’ve been trying to figure everything out but I don’t have enough pieces to get a full picture,” she begins to cry with me while Styx takes my other hand.

  I exhale hard, as if trying to cleanse myself, “Well, let’s see. I’ve completely given myself to a man that does not love me and turned tail and ran as soon as he heard that I love him. In the midst of everything, I realize I don’t even know him. He refuses to share anything about his past and very little about his present. Caroline was from his past, ya know?” They give each other a look that tells me they had no idea.

  “The night I told him I loved him, he left me. He couldn’t handle it. It was after midnight and I stepped out into the garden for some fresh air. I was listening to music on my phone when I get a text. I really thought it would be him apologizing. It was pictures of him in bed with another woman.” My tears are turning to small sobs as Donna moves to sitting on the edge of my bed.

  “Then, I was grabbed from behind and taken to an abandoned building. She tied me up and left me there, but she would come back to torment me every so often. I still don’t know exactly where I was or how long I was there. I wasn’t sure anyone even knew I was gone or if anyone was looking for me. One night, she came back to see me after leaving Blade’s house and he must have followed her.

  “She hadn’t been there long when Blade and the officers busted in. Caroline was holding me at gun point, Blade stepped in front of me trying to reason with her but when I saw her pull back the hammer of the revolver, I used every ounce of energy I had left to knock him out of the way. I remember the pain of the bullet and hitting my head on the concrete floor before I went out.” I’ve gotten my sobs under control now.

  “That motherfucker. I thought I could trust him with you. I’m so sorry, I really did think he would take care of you,” she whispers between her tears.

  “Sis, after all he’s done and not done, if you don’t want him here, I’ll take care of it myself,” Styx says through gritted teeth.

  “I just want to get out of here and go home. I really don’t think I could deal with the chaos it would take to keep him away from here,” I squeeze his hand in appreciation.

  “Okay, we’ll do what’s easiest for you right now but eventually I’ll say my peace to him,” Donna says as she leans in to hug me.

  “I still love him. I don’t want to but I do,” I cry into her shoulder while she holds me.

  As she releases me, she wipes my tears, “Only you can decide if this can be fixed. Only you can decide if he’s worth it. I know you feel like he doesn’t love you but even though his actions haven’t always shown it, I still see it. He hasn’t left this hospital since you got here. I just don’t know if love is enough to get you past something like this. Hell, I’m not even sure if a relationship should get past something like this.”

  Blade comes back into the room so Donna and Styx prepare to leave. “If you need anything, anything at all, you call my cell or call Styx’s house and we’ll be straight back here,” she kisses my cheek. They turn to leave and completely give Blade the cold shoulder. No handshake, no good bye…nothing. I may end up regretting giving them all the details.

  “Hmmm…I’m assuming they know everything now,” Blade says as he returns to his chair.

  “What makes you say that?” I try to avoid giving a real answer.

  “Well, in the time that I walked Carter and your mother out, the room and everyone in it turned into an ice box,” he almost smirks.

  “Donna is the only person in this whole universe that I have to talk to. So, yeah, I talked to her and I’m not sorry for that,” I storm at him.

  His voice is softer now, “Baby girl, we really need to talk about this. I need to try to explain some things to you.”

  “Later, I’m tired,” I close my eyes for the night.

  CHAPTER 16

  Recovery

  I wake to a blood sucking vampire in my room….getting more blood for the tests that Dr. Sanchez ordered. The morning sun beaming through the windows feels wonderful. I can’t wait to be outside again. As the vampire is exiting, Carter and Mother are entering on Dr. Griffin’s heels. Their chatting brings Blade to life as he raises his head from the side of my bed. “How are we today, Miss Stollings?” Dr. Griffin inquires.

  “I’m good and ready to go home,” I say with a hopeful smile.

  He gives a chuckle, “What’s the matter? You don’t like our accommodations, Miss Stollings?”

  I smile, “They’re fine, I’d just rather be in my own apartment.”

  He begins to examine me so the others step out into the hallway. “This is wonderful. Your body is already starting to heal itself. You’re still going to be sore for a while but you should recover one hundred percent,” he assures me.

  “So, when does it look like I could possibly go home,” I push.

  He chuckles again, “I want to have the physical therapy team help you to walk around the hospital a bit today. If that goes well, if your blood tests come back normal and Dr. Sanchez agrees to it, I will let you go home tomorrow.”

  “Awesome!” I almost shout as I clap my hands. Blade swings open the door with a concerned look on his face. “Sorry, I just got excited. Nothing’s wrong,” I explain as the doctor motions them back in.

  “I was just telling Miss Stollings that if all goes well, she will be released tomorrow,” he furthers my explanation and there is an instant look of relief on everyone’s face.

  “Now, since we have that settled, onto some more important issues. When can I eat real food? I’m starving to death. And when can I have a shower because I’m starting to smell like death,” I let out the chuckle this time.

  “You can eat anything you feel like you can tolerate now. As for the shower, let’s hold off one more day. If people don’t like the way you smell, they will just have to stay away,” he smiles. I give a confirming nod and begin trying to decide what to eat first. He and Carter have a few words by the door again as Mother and Blade approach my bed.

  “This is wonderful news,” Mother can’t contain her excitement as she reaches for my hand.

  “Yes, it is. Now what do you want to eat, baby girl?” Blade asks with absolute relief in his voice.

  “Pepperoni pizza,” I damn near squeal which causes Blade to laugh for the first time in days.

  “Whatever baby girl wants, baby girl gets. I’ll be right back,” he kisses my forehead before he leaves. I don’t resist because I don’t want a barrage of questions from Mother and Carter. While he’s gone, they take their usual sitting spots and we chat. It’s nice, not loaded with questions or judgements. I don’t recall the last time we had pleasant conversation without discussing any particular issue.

  Blade’s back in a flash with several pizzas, drinks and a bag of pure junk…I love it. Everyone sits around eating and talking. Mother even has pizza which is very out of her norm. “You’re gonna make me fat,” I say as I devour my second piece.

  “You’re far from having to worry about being fat,” Mother insists.

  “You’ve lost weight, we’re going to have to put some meat back on those bones,” Blade chimes in. We? There is no we! We aren’t going to do jack shit! I put the thought ou
t of my mind because I don’t want to ruin the relaxing time we’re all having.

  I’m so full, I think I may be sick but it was damn sure good. I felt like I hadn’t eaten solid food in a month. Mother and Carter say their good byes and head back to the apartment for the night. As much as I have enjoyed their company, I’m glad because I’m exhausted. It doesn’t seem to take much to drain me. Blade takes his normal spot, putting his hand in mine again. I still can’t bring myself to hold his back.

  “Baby girl, can we talk now?” he hesitantly asks.

  “Later, Blade,” I answer, closing my eyes.

  “Later? That’s what you keep saying. This isn’t just going to go away. We’re going to have to talk about it,” he insists more sternly.

  “Later was always your answer and I was expected to just deal with it so all I can tell you is suck it up buttercup. WE don’t have to do shit, Blade. There is no fucking WE so I don’t really see what WE have to talk about,” I grit my teeth, trying to hold back my anger and close my eyes again.

  “Open your eyes, damn it!” he blasts. I pay no attention and keep them closed. “I said, open your eyes, now,” I feel his breathe on my face and open my eyes to meet his. You could barely slide a piece of paper between our faces. “There is a fucking WE. You are mine! You will always be mine!” he storms, with his jaw clenched.

  I turn my head, close my eyes and make sure there is a look of distain on my face. Maybe he will get the clue. He finally backs away but only far enough to allow me to breath. I feel his fingers trailing from my temple, down my jaw line to my chin. He grasps my chin between his thumb and finger and gently turns my face back toward him. I open my eyes as tears begin to well in them. The slightest touch from him sends my heart flipping. “That’s it. Those are my big, beautiful brown eyes,” he smiles as our eyes lock.

  “Baby girl, I love you more than you can even imagine,” he whispers.

  “I don’t want you to love me anymore,” I whisper back.

  He removes his fingers from my chin, sits back but his eyes never leave mine. He takes a deep breath, “You don’t mean that.”

  The tears begin to roll down my face, “Yes, I do. There was a time when I would have given anything for you to love me. Now, I just want to forget that I ever wanted that. I don’t even know who you are. You refused to share your past with me, I know very little about you now and ….” My sobs take over and I just relent to them.

  “Baby girl, please don’t cry. I never wanted to be the reason for your tears,” then his tears begin to fall. I’m almost shocked. I’ve only seen him cry once, when he was having the nightmare. “I love you more than I ever knew I could love and I already love our baby. All I want is to spend the rest of my life showing that love to the both of you,” he’s voice is broken and raspy.

  “You didn’t love me a few days ago, you didn’t want my love then, so much so that you jumped straight into someone else’s bed,” I scream through my tears.

  He hangs his head, “I know about the pictures but I promise, it’s not what you think.”

  My anger is hitting an all-time high, “Don’t you fucking dare! Not what I think? Isn’t that the oldest fucking explanation in the book? I don’t have to think anything, the pictures said it all. Give me my phone, I know you have it.”

  “Sheridan, do we….,” he begins but I cut him off.

  “Give me my motherfucking phone, Blade,” I loudly persist. He removes my phone from the bag that has his bloody clothes in it and hands it to me.

  I pull up the pictures, “I guess this isn’t you snuggled into Bridgette’s neck!” I shout as I shove the phone at him. Then, I pull up the next picture, “And I guess this isn’t Bridgette on top of you, kissing you,” I growl as I shove the phone at him again.

  He doesn’t give the pictures more than a glance as the disgust on his face grows. “You need to listen to me. Those pictures aren’t real…I mean, they’re real pictures but ….” he seems confused or at a loss for words. He runs his hands over his face in frustration. “I was drugged. Bridgette undressed me then posed us in those pictures to try to run you off,” he sits back in his seat as though he realizes how lame his explanation sounds.

  “Look, I don’t want your crazy ass explanations. I don’t want anything from you anymore. You don’t owe me anything, I don’t owe you anything, so we can go on about our lives as if this was all just a bad dream.” An unusual calm comes over me and the tears begin to fade. I just have to face this for what it is and stop this insanity.

  “You’re right, we don’t owe each other anything but we do owe our baby something,” he says. Then, he leans forward and locks eyes with me again, “Tell me you don’t love me.” He catches me off guard and I can’t find my voice. “Tell me. If you can look me in the eye and tell me that you don’t love me, I’ll leave and you’ll never see me again.”

  Just fucking say it. Get this shit over with. You don’t have to mean it, just say it….my fucking inner witch is back again. I can’t. As much as I wish I could, I can’t say it. I do love him but I don’t believe most anything he says now. He stares into my eyes, in silence, for the longest time before he sits back in his chair. I finally break the silence, “Good night, Blade.”

  “Good night, baby girl.” I see him smile just before I close my eyes.

  It’s morning still but I’ve slept later than usual. No vampires came hunting for blood this morning. Blade is sleeping in the chair by my bed but his hand is still wrapped around mine. He looks so peaceful, no nightmares, no tears, no painful look on his face. The door opening breaks my stare at him. It’s the bubbly nurse with Donna and Styx right on her heels. She’s checking my vitals as she informs me that I’ve missed breakfast. I’m still full from last night so it really doesn’t matter. Blade wakes up when she begins talking. Donna and Styx still don’t acknowledge him. I really wish I hadn’t told them everything.

  “When will the doctor be here?” I ask.

  “He’s just down the hall so it shouldn’t be long,” she smiles.

  “Good, I may get to go home today,” I gush.

  “Well, good for you. Of course, you’ll miss us when you’re gone,” she giggles and I roll my eyes sarcastically. As she’s leaving the room, Mother and Carter are coming through the door.

  “Good morning, my love,” Mother says as she firmly kisses my check. Everyone seems rested and in good spirits.

  The door opens again and it’s Dr. Griffin and Dr. Sanchez. “Good morning all,” Dr. Griffin says as he and Dr. Sanchez head to my bed. “So, I hear the walk yesterday went well,” he says, giving me a half grin.

  “Yeah, if you call a walk through hell fire well, then it did,” I laugh.

  “You’ll be sore for a long while but that’s to be expected after everything your body has been through,” he answers.

  “Yeah, but even that will be better when I’m finally home,” I wiggle my eyebrows at him.

  “Very cute, Miss Stollings but that will get you nowhere,” he smiles. “I want to examine your incision one last time and if it still looks good, you can go home for my part,” he gives Dr. Sanchez a questioning look.

  “Miss Stollings, it’s still very early in your pregnancy but from what I can tell, everything is going wonderfully. I want to see you for an ultrasound in three or four weeks so please call my office tomorrow and set up an appointment. I will give you a prescription for prenatal vitamins before you leave today. Start taking those immediately,” she insists.

  “I will. Thank you both so much for everything you’ve done for me and my baby. I am eternally grateful,” I start tearing up but I hold it back. The others step out of the room and Dr. Griffin examines my incision.

  “Everything looks great,” he smiles just before letting the others come back in. “It looks like our girl is ready to head home,” he announces. “I will be giving you a prescription for an antibiotic and some pain medication. Neither of them will hurt the baby but take as little of the pain medication as
you can. Only when you really need it,” he explains and I give him a confirming nod. “It’s good that you have plenty of folks here. You’ll need someone to drive you home and stay with you for at least a week while you get on your feet,” he insists.

  “She’ll be going home with me,” Blade chimes in and I shoot daggers at him out of my eyes. The others don’t catch it but he sees it instantly.

  “Good enough for me,” Dr. Griffin agrees as he heads for the door and Carter follows him out.

  “I’m not going home with you. I’m going to MY apartment, where I belong,” I clinch my jaw so that I don’t scream.

  Blades eyes grow wide, “Then I will be coming to your apartment where I can take care of you.” He’s so exhausting.

  I close my eyes and take a deep breath, “I will hire someone to take care of me.”

  “Like hell you will,” he persists.

  “Wait. If we can just get someone to stay with you for a week, then I’ll be here to take care of you,” Donna pipes in. I give her a confused look and she continues, “Carter has everything lined out with Berkley so I’m moving here to be with you. I just have to go home for a week and get everything sorted out.”

  “You can’t just disrupt your whole life for me. I won’t allow it,” I growl.

  “Oh shut the hell up, Sher. Your mom and Carter have to get back because he has surgeries scheduled. You’re here, Styx is here and I absolutely love it here. And let’s face it, someone has to be here to take care of you and keep you out of dangerous situations,” she gives me a sarcastic frown.

  “Then, it’s settled. I will stay with you and in a week or so, Donna will be here,” Blade declares. I really don’t know what choice I have at this point so I just give up and don’t say anything else.

  The nurse comes by with my release papers and I don’t think I’ve ever been so happy about anything. Blade pushes my wheelchair through the hospital and out the front door. I take a deep breath, capturing as much of the fresh air as I can. It feels like I haven’t been outside in forever. Styx and Donna have his small SUV waiting outside the door because it’s going to be easier to get in and out of than Blade’s sports car. Mother and Carter have gone on ahead to pick up my prescriptions.