Beautifully Hurt (Beautifully Broken)

“No. The case is closed.”

We end the call, then Quinn asks, “What did the sheriff say?”

I shake my head. “Just that the case is closed.” I walk to Quinn and press a kiss on her forehead, then decide it might help her to know why they did what they did. “Harry said the guys were mentally unstable.”

“Is that why they murdered Katie and her parents?” Quinn asks.

“Yeah. He said it’s a case of evil meeting evil, and the combination turned explosive.”

Quinn nods, drawing her bottom lip between her teeth as she takes in the information.

“You okay?” I ask.

“Yeah.” She starts to mix some ingredients. “It helps to know why they attacked us.”

I stare at her for a moment, making sure she’s okay, then say, “I’m just going to check on the hardware store. Be back in ten minutes.”

“Okay.”

As I head across the road, I dial Jason’s number.

“Hey,” he answers.

“I have news.” Having been focused on Quinn, I haven’t told him about the second attack yet.

“Yeah?”

I walk into the store and glance at Mom, then head to the stock room. “They came back.”

“What?”

“They’re dead,” I quickly add.

“How?”

“My dad shot the one, and I killed the other.”

There’s a moment’s silence, then Jason asks, “How did you kill him?”

“I crushed his skull against a tree.”

I hear him suck in a breath of air, and his voice is hoarse as he says, “Thank you, Eli.”

“Want to know their names and why they did it?”

“No.” Jason clears his throat. “I just needed to know justice was served for Katie and her folks.”

“Okay.” I pause for a moment, then ask, “How are you holding up?”

“After hearing the bastards got their well deserved, I feel better. It feels like I can let go and somehow rebuild what’s left of my life.”

“I’m glad to hear that,” I murmur. “Any chance you’ll come home?”

Jason doesn’t answer immediately, then he replies, “Maybe one day.”

“I hope so. I miss you.”

“Miss you too, Eli,” I say, his voice hoarse again. “I got to go. Talk soon?”

“Yeah.”

I end the call, then lean back against a wall, the feeling in my gut telling me Jason will never come back to Southport.

Taking a couple of minutes for myself, I let me miss my friend, then I lift my chin and walk to the front of the store.

“You okay?” Mom asks.

“Yeah.” I smile at her. “Slow day?”

“Yeah, but as soon as the Christmas lights and décor come in, we’ll be overrun, so I’m enjoying the quiet.”

Placing my hand on the counter, I say, “I’ll be across the road if you need me.”

Mom gives me a smile, and then I walk back to Quinn’s store. I glance up at the space where the sign will go once they deliver it this afternoon.

Quinn’s started baking, and I move behind the display fridge. “Which ones are you making first?”

“The fairytales ones,” Quinn replies as she pours the cupcake mixture into the molds. She glances at me. “Can we stop somewhere after work?”

“Sure. Where?” I lean back against the counter, crossing my arms over my chest.

“Katie’s grave.”

Surprise ripples through me. “You ready to visit her?”

Quinn nods. “I want to tell her they’re dead, and I’m opening a cupcake store in her memory.”

“Okay.” My eyes drift over Quinn’s features. “You okay after the attack?”

She nods. “Obviously, I’m shaken up, but it could’ve been a lot worse.” Her eyes meet mine. “And you and Alex saved me.”

“Only protecting what’s ours,” I murmur.

“How am I your dad’s?” she chuckles, scrunching her nose.

“You’ll be his daughter-in-law someday.”

Quinn’s eyes widen. “Oh… ah… right.”

Then the thought strikes.

I’m going to marry this woman.

My heartbeat speeds up, and a grin spreads over my face.

Soon.

Chapter 25

QUINN

Climbing out of the truck, Eli leans back against the side of the vehicle, and crossing his arms over his chest, he says, “You go ahead, baby. I’ll wait here.”

“Thank you.” I grip the lilies tighter and then walk in the direction of Katie’s grave.

A light breeze picks up, playing with my dress, and it reminds me of when Katie had to stop the fabric from flying up.

A sad smile tugs at my mouth, and when I see her tombstone, my heart clenches painfully. I stop dead in my tracks, and my eyes mist up, blurring the words.

Swallowing hard, I whisper, “Hi, Katie.” I step forward, and crouching, I lay the flowers in front of the tombstone. “I hope you like them. I know daisies were your favorite, but I couldn’t find any.”

I sit down flat on my bottom, and pulling my knees to my chest, I tuck my dress around my legs. “I’m sorry it took me so long to come to visit.” I rest my cheek on my knees. “I guess I wasn’t ready to say goodbye.”

My throat closes up, and the tears begin to flow. “I miss you so much.” I cry for the loss of my beautiful friend until the tears stop naturally. Using my dress, I dry my cheeks while I clear my throat. “I’m opening a cupcake store in your memory, so I’ll never forget you.”