Beautifully Broken

It shows that I have a message, and I press the button to open it.

Go inside.

I read it over and over until the words blur. Then, it vibrates again, and my fingers get all twisted to press the right button.

Go inside before I kidnap you.

My head snaps up as I glance around me.

Damian’s here.

It’s dark out, and frustration washes over me when I can’t see him. I press reply and type as fast as I can.

Where are you?

The response comes seconds later.

Not at home with you.

Closing my eyes, I let out a soft breath as the warmth from his words trickle into my heart.

Another message comes through.

If we were home, you’d be in my arms where you belong.

My breaths hitch, and I glance around me again.

“Damian,” I whisper.

I strain my ears to listen for Damian, but there are no sounds. Even the crickets have gone quiet. And then I feel his powerful presence behind me. I take the step backward, right into him, and overwhelming feelings of safety and home spill through me.

When he moves around me, I reach for him, gripping hold of his shirt so he won’t vanish into the night. As he comes to stand in front of me, my heartbeat speeds up.

I lift my eyes to his, and for the longest moment, we just stare at each other.

Home. That’s what Damian has become to me without me even realizing it.

Suddenly Damian’s head snaps up, and then he spins around, his muscles tightening as if he’s about to kill someone.

“Stay behind me. Don’t get in my way.”

The familiar words rip through me, making a gasp burst over my lips.

No.

Damian’s hand moves behind his back, and for a stupid moment, I think he’s reaching for me, but then the metal of the gun reflects in the moonlight, and my world tilts to the side.

No. No. No.

“Unless one of you gets visitors at midnight I’m not aware of, we might have a bit of a problem,” he whispers, sounding way too calm.

Fear ripples through me, and I barely manage to get the words out, “No visitors.”

Not again. God, not again.

“Get down.” Damian glances back at me. “Fuck, you’re wearing white. You’re like a damn glowing sign out here.”

I crouch down and huddle behind his legs. Then I close my eyes like the coward I am.

I can’t handle this again.

A horrible scream echoes through the night, and it has me instantly darting to my feet. “Annie!” I cry, and without a second thought, I run toward the house.

The nightgown flutters around my knees in my sprint to get to her. I’m a coward when it comes to my own life, but not Annie’s.

Please, not Annie.

God, I brought death right to her.

I shove the front door open and grab the broom she sweeps the porch with. “Annie!”

I come to a stumbling halt when I see a man and Annie at the end of the hallway. His fingers are wrapped around her throat in a brutal hold as he glances over his shoulder at me.

“Let her go,” I whimper, my voice hoarse with fear.

Seeing how much danger Annie’s in gives me a burst of courage, and I dart forward, lifting the broom so I can hit him with it.

I slam the piece of wood as hard over his shoulder and head, and it works… he lets go of Annie, and she sags to the floor, gasping for air.

The man swings around, his face is set in a dark scowl as he lifts his arm, and then only do I see the gun.

God.

I hear a shot right outside the house, and I lift the broom to smack the man again.

Then I hear two loud shots.

I hear Annie scream.

I watch as the man slumps to the floor, blood trickling from the wound to his forehead.

I suck in a startled breath as my eyes slowly move to Annie. She reaches for me with a trembling hand, her face a picture of horror. “Honey?”

Pain begins to throb in my abdomen, and my vision blurs. “I’m sorry, Annie,” I choke the words out, and then all my strength fades. Arms grab me from behind as my legs give way beneath me.

“I have you. You’re safe.” Damian’s voice comes to me, and then the pain overwhelms me. It feels like something is shredding my insides to pieces. It’s a cold, sharp ache that robs me of my breath.

“Call 911!” Damian orders Annie.

“It… hurts…” My body starts to shiver uncontrollably as I’m laid on the floor. “Damian,” I manage to gasp, and then his hand presses down on my abdomen.

Damian’s features are tight with emotion as his eyes meet mine, and I see my pain reflecting in the icy blue of his irises.

“You’re going to be okay,” he says, his voice breaking.

I can hear Annie’s weeping.

And then my body goes numb, and I can’t feel Damian’s hands as he presses down on me.