Fall To Pieces: Broken #2 (The Broken Series) Read online

  I was going to win Lee back, starting today. No doubt.

  “Come on dude.” I glared at Lee’s brown Labrador that I was becoming fond of. Bruno cocked his leg for what had to be the fortieth time in an hour.

  Jesus, when I got things settled with Lee, I was going to get him checked out. There was nothing normal, about the amount that dog pissed.

  I turned onto our street, slowed down by the arthritic crawl of Bruno. I’d walked her dog more times in the past six weeks than I could remember. Sad, I know, but by walking Bruno, I felt like I was doing something for Lee.

  Something was better than nothing. It fucking hurt that she didn’t want me near her.

  Well, she’d had her time. I’d given her the space she wanted; now it was time to fix this shit.

  Approaching the house, my eyes zoomed in on the red Porsche parked on the road, outside of my driveway.

  No fucking way.

  I quickened my step, practically running to the front door. Bruno must have sensed the danger because he galloped at a speed I hadn’t thought him capable.

  I’d never used physical violence on a female before, but this particular one, was fucking pushing me.

  The door opened just as I reached it and there she stood. “What the fu-”

  Rachel grabbed the lapels of my jacket and pulling me towards her, she planted her lips on mine.

  Bruno growled and I pushed her away roughly.

  Since Christmas, I’d tried futilely to avoid her. But the girl kept showing up everywhere. Last night, after I left Lee’s room, I’d received a call about an emergency at the hotel, except it hadn’t been so much an emergency, as another one of Rachel’s very crazy-very naked- attempts at winning me back.

  I’d arrived at my office, late, last night; only to find her draped over my desk, butt-naked, and that hadn’t been the first time either.

  Last week, Linda, my hotel manager, had endured the same ordeal when she’d gone out to get some paperwork from my truck.

  Rachel needed to see someone. This was getting too fucking creepy.

  “Good, you’re back. We need to talk.” she purred, then turned on the heels of her thigh high boots and marched into my house, her skinny ass swaying, in what had to be the most indecently skimpy white dress I’d seen a girl wear, on a Saturday morning in February.

  I shook my head, and followed her inside, but the damn dog pulled on his leash.

  Bruno broke away from me and ran towards my truck. I glanced back at him. He was sitting beside the truck, yowling. Fucking coward.

  “What the hell are you doing here?” I demanded stepping inside and closing the door behind me. I could hear the violent tone in my voice. Her eyes widened in surprise. “This has to stop Rachel. This is bordering on harassment. I could have you arrested for this. After the stunt you pulled last night, I should have you arrested.”

  She had some nerve showing up at my house, and the only reason I hadn’t had her ass hauled off by the cops, was my very strong suspicion that the girl was mentally ill.

  “I’m not here to fight with you, Kyle,” she said petulantly.

  Yeah, I seriously doubted that. But I refrained from telling her that as she continued spinning her yarn of lies.

  “I came to apologize to you,” she said. “And to tell you what I’ve heard about your little southern belle.”

  Oh, this was going to be good.

  “What could you possibly tell me about Lee, that I don’t already know?”

  She smiled and hiked herself onto the table, spreading her legs, wide enough to give me a clear view of her bikini-wax. “I could start by telling you where she is right now?”

  I shook my head, and focused on her face. “I know where she is, Rachel. She’s in bed, resting. Now, if you value your freedom, you will get the fuck out of my house.”

  She smirked as she trailed her red-painted fingernails up the inside of her thigh.

  “Oh, of course, well I must have misheard things.” She hopped down and strutted over to me. I stepped sideways before she could touch me.

  “Give us another try, Kyle. Please.”

  I gaped at her, and moved to the other side of the table to put some space between us.

  “Are you kidding me?” I looked at her face and paled. “Oh my god, you’re serious.”

  Rachel was unleashing a whole new brand of crazy. She should bottle that shit up, she’d make a fortune; eau de delusional.

  “Just think about it,” she said, prowling towards me. “We were good together once.”

  I flicked her hands off my chest in disgust.

  “Which part? The part where you were slapping the shit out of me? Or the part where you were blackmailing me? Because, let me tell you, none of that was particularly good for me, Rachel.”

  I strode out of the kitchen and opened the front door. “Now, this is the last time I’m gonna say it; get out. Go and get yourself some help, hell, send me the bill, but don’t step foot on my property again.”

  I held the door open widely, and thanked Jesus, that she got the hint.

  Brushing past me, she paused in the doorway.

  “Just think about it,” she crooned, before kissing my cheek.

  Sweet Jesus, she was insane.

  I pulled away quickly and watched as Rachel pranced down the driveway.

  Leaving the door open, I ran upstairs to check on Lee, praying to god that she slept through that.

  I opened her door quietly, her bed was empty. Shit.

  “Lee?”

  Running downstairs, I whistled Bruno inside. “Come on dude.”

  Lee’s stubborn old dog wouldn’t budge from the truck.

  Goddammit.

  I stormed over to get him.

  “What the hell is up with you today?” I muttered, my last few words trailed off when I noticed the tiny figure, with a head of brown curls, hunched inside of my truck.

  Aw hell.

  ****

  Lee

  Okay, so storming out of my own house probably wasn’t my smartest move ever, especially when I was barefoot, and wearing nothing but a t-shirt.

  But I hadn’t, for one moment, forgotten what Rachel was capable of, and I had a baby to protect.

  Freezing and mortified, I made a quick dash for the only vehicle parked in the drive; Kyles truck.

  I tried the handle and almost cried out hallelujah, when it opened.

  Kyle’s carelessness for his property was my saving grace.

  I made three ass in the air attempts to get in, before making it on the fourth.

  I ducked low in the seat, my heart hammering in my chest as I tried to map out my options.

  Going back inside the house was out of the question, and I couldn’t exactly take a stroll through the neighborhood, dressed in a t-shirt, in the month of February.

  Kyle’s keys weren’t in the ignition-which wouldn’t have mattered either way because I didn’t know how to drive, and I didn’t own a cell phone.

  I settled on locking the doors and sitting right here, where it was safe and a least a little warmer than the driveway.

  My mind was like a broken record, stuck on Rachel’s disgusting words, repeating them over and over, until the dam burst and my eyes flooded.

  I’d known cruelty; I’d suffered it for eighteen years at the hands and mouth of my father.

  But never, never in my life, had I heard anything so disgusting, so unspeakably repulsive, as what I’d heard come from Rachel’s mouth.

  I hated her.

  It was in that moment, that I felt my first dose of pure unadulterated hatred towards another human being.

  And I was angry, so unbelievably furious with Kyle, for dragging me into their world.

  Had Rachel been serious in what she’d said? Had Kyle been with her last night?

  I didn’t know what to believe. I wished I didn’t care. But I did. The thought of Kyle with Rachel was excruciating.

  A dog barked loudly and I watched in wide eyed horror, a
s Kyle came running up the driveway. He rushed past the truck, pounded up the steps to greet a sickly, smug Rachel, who was now standing at the door.

  My heart plummeted into my stomach as I watched her kiss his mouth, and even further, when he followed her inside and closed the front door.

  My brain went into overdrive as I imagined all the possible scenarios that were occurring between them.

  Was he with her? Were they doing things, right now?

  My stomach churned at the thought, and a deep swell of jealously ignited inside me; burning through my veins.

  Of course, I was jealous.

  I was freaking pregnant with his baby and he was doing god knows what, again.

  How was I ever supposed to trust him?

  I decided to make a run for it.

  Screw the neighbors; I was getting the hell out of here.

  I put my hand on the door handle of the truck at the same moment the front door of the house flew open. Pausing, I watched as Rachel leaned over and kiss Kyle’s cheek.

  I stiffened, biting down so hard on my cheek, that I tasted blood.

  Marching down the driveway, Rachel muttered, “Bye bitch,” as she passed the truck.

  It was then, that I realized, she’d done it on purpose; kissed Kyle, knowing full well that I would see it.

  What was her game?

  She’d already won; she’d broken us up, so why in god’s name, was she continuing to torture me?

  I sat silently, trying to calm myself down before I went back inside.

  Dropping my head in my hands, I allowed myself to wallow for a few moments, until the door handle of the truck jerked, and I found myself looking through the glass, into those corn flour blue eyes.

  ****

  Kyle

  Lee unlocked the door, and I jerked it open.

  “What are you doing in my truck, princess?” Nearly naked.

  Lee was crouched low on the passenger seat of my truck in nothing but an over-sized gray t-shirt. My t-shirt, I realized, and my pride swelled a little at that.

  Lee glared up at me with angry, accusing eyes.

  “I was waiting,” she said coolly, straightening up in the seat.

  “Waiting for what? Wait, you got up yourself?” I asked grinning.

  Lee had never been able to get her short, sweet ass in my truck before. Hell, she’d tried enough times, and I’d given her more than enough shit for it. This was a first for her and I was oddly upset that I’d missed it.

  “Wait, did you strain yourself?” I asked, touching her stomach gently.

  Fear climbed into my heart. Dammit, she shouldn’t be stretching like that in her condition, should she?

  Lee pushed my hands away as she tried to shimmy down the truck; an easy thing for a person of average height, but Lee was a short ass; barely reaching my shoulder in height.

  The drop from the truck’s foot step, to the ground, was three feet more than I was prepared to risk. I ignored her protests and lifted down her with extra care.

  “Yes, I got in myself. And no, I didn’t hurt myself, you big douche,” she snapped, storming off towards the house.

  I trailed after her, thanking the heavens she’d missed the Rachel exhibit, whilst shamelessly enjoying the view of her swaying hips and peachy ass.

  “Why am I a douche?” I asked, following her through the front door and up the stairs.

  “If you don’t know why you are a douche, Kyle Carter, then you are, by far, the biggest douche I have ever met,” she growled.

  Slipping inside her room, she attempted to slam the door on me and I had to stop it with my hand before it connected with my face.

  “Leave me alone, why don’t you go chase after Rachel, I’m sure she’d be more than thrilled for you to run after her,” she spat before adding, “It’s not like it’s uncommon for you to chase after her.”

  So, she had seen the Rachel exhibit…Perfect.

  “No,” I said calmly. “I’ve left you alone enough. I’m not leaving you anymore.”

  I stuck my head through the small gap in the door, forcing Lee to relinquish her death grip on the handle.

  Thankfully, she did, because for a brief moment she looked tempted to slam the door on my head.

  “I’m sorry about Rachel coming here. I’ll talk to her and make sure she doesn’t upset you again.”

  That must have been the wrong fucking thing to say, because Lee backed away with her palms held out in front of her, shaking her head in disgust.

  “Uh, don’t do me any favors, Kyle. Bring as many girls as you want back here, after all, it is your house and I’m just your roommate. Well, that and an incubator for your child, but who’s counting?”

  “What the hell are you talking about?” I asked trying to rein in my temper. “I haven’t done anything wrong.”

  Today, at least.

  Lee snorted, actually fucking snorted at me, as she stormed over to her bed. “Go screw yourself, Kyle.”

  I tried to rein in my temper, I really did, but she had this way of driving me insane and drawing it out of me.

  “What is your fucking problem, princess?” I spat, losing my hold on my self-control, words spewing from my mouth before my brain had a chance to filter them. “I said I was sorry. Jesus Christ, you’re overreacting. You need to calm your shit down and breathe.”

  Lee bent down and started rooting under her bed.

  “You make me sick. The both of you do. Go, Kyle, run along and chase her, because I don’t want to be near you right now,” she screamed, pulling a duffel bag out, and standing again. “This was a bad idea. I knew it. I knew I shouldn’t have come back here.”

  “Whoa, baby, what are you doing?”

  All the anger I’d felt moments ago, sizzled out at the sight of Lee throwing her clothes inside that bag. I knew exactly what she was doing, but I was praying she’d prove me wrong.

  Lee moved towards her wardrobe and I stepped in front of it. “Get out of my way, Kyle.”

  “Would you stop for a second?” I asked, for once trying to calm the situation down. “Tell me why you’re doing this.”

  Lee tried to push past me, her movements wild and frantic. “I’m leaving. Get the hell out of my way so I can get my stuff.”

  I grabbed her shoulders, trying to hold her still. Getting this worked up couldn’t be good for the baby.

  “Lee, will you just stop for a second and talk to me?”

  Turning her head away, she stared out the window, refusing to look at me. Her body stiffened.

  “There’s nothing to talk about,” she spat. “I have nothing to say to you.”

  I exhaled sharply, the air leaving my lungs in a rush. “There’s nothing to talk about, really? Lee, you’re packing your bags and trying to walk out of my life, and you have nothing to say me. Are you serious?”

  “Stop trying to make me feel bad,” she said in a defensive tone.

  Releasing her, I staggered over to her bed and sat.

  “I’m not trying to make you feel bad; I’m trying to make you explain,” I said, running my hands through my hair, before leaning over and resting my elbows on my knees.

  “Do you agree with her?”

  I sighed in exasperation, looking up at her. “Lee, baby, I have no idea who you’re talking about.”

  Lee folded her arms over her bump, her stance defensive. “Rachel. Do you agree with her?”

  I fucking knew this outburst had something to do with Rachel. Everything bad always led back to her.

  “What did she say to you?” I asked tiredly. I was so sick of the drama.

  “According to Rachel, she was with you last night.” Her voice cracked and she shook her head as if she was angry with herself for showing emotion in front of me.

  “Though, I really shouldn’t be surprised all things considered,” she added before turning her back on me.

  I stood up and strode over to Lee, turning her to face me.

  “Listen to me clearly,” I said, staring down at h
er face. “I am not involved with Rachel, or anyone else, for that matter. She showed up at the hotel last night because she’s a sick little freak, that doesn’t seem to be able to take no for an answer.”

  Her eyes narrowed, and I watched the flurry of emotions flicker across her face; anger, distrust, hurt, settling on confusion.

  “I saw you kiss her on the porch earlier.”

  I shook my head. “You saw her kiss me.”

  “She wants you.”

  Pulling her closer to me, I ran my hands up and down her arms.

  “Well, that’s too bad,” I said. “Because I want you. Just you.”

  Unable to resist, I bent down and brushed my lips against her forehead. “You’re mine, baby. I don’t want to look at anyone else.”

  Her body sagged in my arms as she drew in a ragged breath. “I’m not… I don’t want…”

  I cut her off before she could finish. “Don’t say it. Please. And you are mine, or at least you will be, when you forgive me.”

  Lee shivered.

  A deep frown wrinkled her cute forehead. She seemed to think about what I had said for a moment, before speaking. “Why should I believe you this time? You, Kyle Carter, are a big fat liar.”

  She looked so cute, sounded so prissy that I couldn’t help smile. I knew this was a serious situation, but, for the life of me, I couldn’t wipe the smirk off my face.

  Pulling back from her, I lifted my shirt and pretended to inspect my stomach. “Fat, you think I’m fat?”

  Lee sank down on her bed and burst into tears.

  “Are you okay?” I demanded, crouching down in front of her. “Are you sick?”

  Jesus Christ, I was about two seconds away from calling 911.

  I shouldn’t have gotten in her face. Goddammit. I reached for my cell in my pocket.

  “I’m the fat one, not you,” Lee hiccupped, pointing at herself, and then me. “You…you’re all ripples and sexy grooves and I’m…I’m a cow.”

  I laughed and Lee threw her hands over her face, crying harder.

  Shit, I was not good at this.

  “Are you serious?” I asked as I tried to coax her hands from her face.

  She swung her face up to meet mine.