Broken until you, p.1
Broken Until You, page 1
by J.R. Grant
Copyright © 2015 J.R. Grant
All rights reserved.
ISBN-10:0682454489
ISBN-13:978-0692454480
This book is a work of fiction. Any characters, conversations, circumstances and incidents are products of the author’s imagination, and a purely coincidence. Any and all references to real products, objects, locations, events, and people are meant to lend the reader a sense of authenticity but are used fictitiously. If certain places or characters are referenced it is for entertainment purposes only.
The author acknowledges the trademark status and trademark owners of various products referenced in this work of fiction, which have been used without permission. The publication/trademarks is not authorized, associated with, or sponsored by trademark owners. This eBook may not sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, purchase an additional copy for each person you share it with. If you are reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then I highly encourage you to return it and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the author’s work.
No part of this work can be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews. This book is not allowed to be offered for sale, discounted, or free on any sites other than Amazon and B&N. This book may only be distributed by J.R. Grant, the author of this story.
About the Series
The Until You series is based off of three brothers, a cousin and a best friend. When I began writing Brax’s story in Lost Until You last year, I didn’t expect it to turn into a series. However, after receiving numerous emails from anxious readers wanting more, I decided to give each Sorrentino guy and Stone their own story. To clear up any confusion, each book in this series is based off of two different characters and can be read as a standalone except for Stone’s story in Broken Until You. Broken Until You took a major turn as I was wrapping up the ending, therefore in order to give the characters the ending they deserve, I had no other choice than to break this particular story down into two parts. Please note; you can expect the sequel of Broken Until You to be released early this summer.
♥ Happy Reading ♥
J.R. Grant
Table of Contents
Prologue
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty-One
Chapter Twenty-Two
Chapter Twenty-Three
Chapter Twenty-Four
Chapter Twenty-Five
Chapter Twenty-Six
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Chapter Thirty
Acknowledgements
About the Author
Dedication
To those who have suffered from abuse. Never give up hope. If you continue pushing forward, you will come out on top. I promise your day will come.
Just remember everyone deserves a second chance.
When you go through deep waters,
I will be with you.
Isaiah 43:2
Prologue
It was all too much; the torment and lies, the secrets and betrayal. My mind raced continuously, my thoughts stood in despair. I couldn’t handle anymore, the physical and mental pain destroyed me. I stood in front of him with my fists clenched at my sides, ready to take the beating, ready to fight with all that I had. I braced myself for what was to come, for the minute he attacked me.
Niko ruined me. He abused and manipulated me every chance he got. And when I gave into his demons, I allowed him the power to win. Well not anymore. I made my fair share of mistakes, but I was ready to give up my past and move forward. It was time for a change. There wasn’t any other solution. I’d never survive if I didn’t do something to help myself. He was out for blood, out to seek revenge. I couldn’t blame him for being upset, but it hurt knowing the reasoning behind his anger was my fault.
Hot air brushed across my neck as he stood behind me, with his arms wrapped around my waist. “You think I don’t know what’s going on? You think I’m fucking stupid?”
I fisted my hands tighter and pain shot up my arms, as I waited for the next blow, waited for him to kill me. But he didn’t move, didn’t budge, he just stood there egging me on, trying to make me more upset than I already was. Niko wasn’t an idiot. Albeit his actions said otherwise, there wasn’t anything I could get away with. I wasn’t sure why I thought differently because somehow he knew it all; my thoughts, my intentions, my secrets.
“Answer me, damn it,” he squeezed my stomach tighter, pressing against my diaphragm.
I inhaled sharply, the air trapping inside my lungs. “I’m sorry... I didn’t mean for this to happen,” I pleaded, not wanting him to hurt me anymore. If he saw even a tiny ounce of pain, the satisfaction on his face would destroy me.
He smelled like another woman, the scent of Chanel perfume lingered across his skin. The buttons on his plaid shirt were ripped down the front, claw marks visible across his chest. It disgusted me, yet proved my only point; Niko would never change, no matter what kind of bullshit sob story he tried to feed me. He let go of my waist and jerked my body around, forcing me to look at him, his dark black eyes boring into my soul. You could see his demons coming alive.
He grabbed the back of my head, gripping his fingers roughly through my hair. Then he bent down, tipping his chin into the crevice of my neck and pressed his tongue against my skin, licking his way up to my ear. My body shook, disgusted by his touch. I would do anything to get him away from me. He tugged my head back harder and shoved me violently against the wall, a loud thumping blasted through my ears. I closed my eyes, soundlessly praying that God would help me. Because at any given moment, I was afraid I was going to die.
My eyes traveled to my suitcases across the room, where a huge part of my life sat in a glass jar on the floor. The jar was filled with sea shells, my treasured keepsakes. I kept every shell over the last three years, holding on to them for dear life. They brought a smile to my face when I was down, luck to me when I needed it the most, and when I reminisced every detail of the man who gave them to me, the power of love overruled every ounce of pain I’d received. I tuned out the chaos around me, picturing the face I threw all of this all away for, when a thumping sound snapped me back to reality. Niko bent down, with a smirk on his bitter face, watching me closely, as he picked up my favorite jar.
“No,” I screamed, not caring how much pain I was in, and scooted across the floor. “Please... don’t break it,” I begged. “Please.”
That was all I had left. Everything in that jar. The promises we made, the love we shared, resembled every single shell Niko held in his hand. If he broke them, I would have nothing. My memories would be forever gone.
Niko watched me carefully from across the room. Disgust twisted his mouth into a grimace. He looked downright scary. Possessed. “Stupid fucking cunt,” he barked and shook the jar in his hand.
I wished I was strong enough to take him down. I wanted him to suffer. He needed to know what it felt like when someone tore you down mentally and physically.
When I least expected it, Niko tossed the jar in the air, the sound of shattering glass echoed through the room. I cupped my hands over my ears and sat there lifeless, as he stomped his steel toe boots over my keepsakes. I wasn’t sure why I cared anymore, because no matter what happened Niko always won. That part shouldn’t have surprised me. I had been weak for too long. However he could hit me and call me every name in the book, but nothing would ever top the pain I felt as I looked down at my memories scattered the floor. Those shells meant everything to me. The few tiny pieces of my heart I had left were now gone; crushed, damaged, destroyed.
My body shook fiercely against the wall, as Niko stalked in my direction. Without warning, he threw his arm back and slammed it against the side of my face, a deep growl roared from his throat. My cheek immediately swelled, as pain radiated through my jaw. But before I could grasp what happened, he jumped up in my face, catching me by surprise. Just as I turned my head his fist connected with the side of my cheek again. I tried covering my face and dodging each punch, but it was too late; I lost my balance and fell to the floor. A brunt sob escaped my throat. It was impossible to see. It hurt to move. Breathing felt too painful. The aching covering my body was intense.
Niko crouched down in front of me and extended his arm. My body flinched as he ran his fingers down the side of my cheek. Why is he doing this to me?
“Why’d you make me do this, love?” he asked, his tone changing from bitter to soft.
I kept my eyes closed, ignoring his question. I didn’t make him hit me. He did that all on his own. I should have known better than to defy him. I should have been smarter than to go after another man and follow my heart while we were together. Things never turned out good that way. Besides, people like me didn ’t deserve happiness. We fought our battles and kept going. That’s how we survived. However all of this arguing, fighting and yelling was too much to bear. I couldn’t handle it anymore. I might have deserved Niko’s wrath for everything I had done, but he treated me far worse, no matter how many times he tried to put the blame on me.
Niko pinched the tip of my nose and stood to his feet. Grabbing a hold of my arm, he pulled me up and drug me over to the couch, then pushed me down on the cushion. I knew he wasn’t finished. That wasn’t long enough. And if anyone knew this man’s agenda, it was me.
He paced back and forth in front of the couch, cursing angrily under his breath. “You think I’ll just let you walk away? Let him have you?” He bent down and wrapped his fingers around my necklace, the one I hadn’t taken off in three years.
No…
I pulled my bottom lip between my teeth and bit down as hard as I could. Please don’t do this to me.
“Because I won’t,” he promised, twisting the string of small shells around his finger. “But if you run.” He moved in, pressing his forehead against mine. “I’ll fucking kill you.” He yanked off my necklace then squeezed his hands around my neck. I arched my back, swinging my arms, and fighting with all of my strength.
Niko threw his face forward, his head slamming against my forehead. My eyes trundled back, knocking me unsteady. The pressure around my head became unbearable. I tried everything within me to remain alert, but my eyes wouldn’t stay open. My lids felt too heavy. My breathing became shallow, my heart slowed its beat.
Starting from five, I counted down but only made it to three before I realized this was it.
Niko finally killed me.
Chapter One
Blue
Thirteen Months Later…
I placed one foot in front of the other,
but my journey didn't begin until I took the first step.
“Here are your keys,” I told Mrs. Freeman as I pulled the key ring off the hook. “If you make a right out of the parking lot and drive eight blocks down, Mystic Harbor sits on the right hand side of Coastal Highway.”
She signed her initials on the last page of the rental agreement and handed it back to me. “Thank you for all of your help today, Blue. My grandbabies are excited to be here.”
“Any time¸” I said, proceeding to the main door. “If you have any questions feel free to call the office. We close every day at five, however there is a twenty-four hour hotline for emergencies hanging on the fridge in the kitchen.”
“I apologize for keeping you after hours. I’m sure you’re ready to go home yourself.”
“Oh, you’re fine. That’s what we’re here for,” I reassured the nice woman.
Mrs. Freeman stepped outside and pulled down her sunglasses. “Thanks again,” she waved as she walked toward her SUV.
Thank God the work day was finally over. Grabbing my phone, I dialed Kaya’s number, hoping she still wanted to meet up tonight for dinner. I needed to unwind and hang out with my friend. It had been one of those days.
“Blue, baby! You almost done?” Kaya’s perky voice radiated through the line.
“Yep! Just finished signing the last lease,” I replied, pulling my keys and purse out from the bottom drawer of my desk.
“Oh good! Meet me at Island Inn?”
Gah…. That sounds divine. My mouth watered just thinking about their food. I’m starving.
“Sounds good. I’ll be there in fifteen.” I hung up and armed the alarm. Shutting off the main lights, I locked the door and walked across the lot.
With tourist season underway and having to put in extra hours due to an unusual work load, I felt like I was being pulled in a thousand different directions. I loved my job, but it could be overly tiring at times.
Walking toward my black, two thousand fifteen Honda Accord, I stopped at the crosswalk, waiting for the light to change. Lifting my hand, I wrapped my fingers around the vial of my necklace when a trickle of fear creeped up my spine. I sucked in a gulp of air, panic rising up in my chest. Something didn’t feel right. My hands started to shake and my palms were clammy. I need to hurry up and get to my car. Mentally scolding myself for not parking closer when I came in this morning, I kept my focus in front of me and picked up my pace, jogging across the highway.
God, please keep me safe.
When I made it to the far left section of the lot, I unlocked the door and tossed my purse on the passenger seat. As I stood back up I noticed a dark shadow lingering over my shoulder. I jumped back, keeping a tight grip around the vial, my heart racing.
Oh, no… this can’t be happening.
My knees were knocking. I was too scared to turn around. I wanted to scream at the top of my lungs and run as fast as I could, but I couldn’t move. I was frantically cornered in between the car and the door. There wasn’t a way to escape. Closing my eyes, I took small quick breaths and counted backwards from ten. It was a coping mechanism my therapist taught me for when I was scared or suffering through a panic attack. And at that moment, it was the only thing I could do to keep myself calm.
When I counted down to three, I climbed inside my car and locked the door before arming the alarm. Panting heavy, I tried to keep my breathing under control, but I wasn’t having much luck. I lifted the necklace to my mouth, grazing the vial across my lips, and begged for the love of my life to save me. God, I wish he was here. As I willed my emotions back in check, a slight shiver ran across my skin. Taking another deep breath I turned my head, looking out all the windows and then both mirrors. The shadow was gone.
No one’s here.
I exhaled sharply and rested my forehead against the steering wheel. It was nothing. Just me being overly paranoid yet again.
I can’t keep doing this.
It had been thirteen months since my ex-boyfriend, Niko, beat me to a bloody pulp and left me to die on our living room floor. What started as an argument over Niko realizing I was leaving to be with another man, ended with me waking up in Anne Arundel Medical Center with substantial injuries throughout my body, three days later. The doctors said I was lucky to be alive, considering how off balance my brain activity was the night of my arrival. After four long, dreadful weeks, I was discharged with specific instructions to rest and stay off my feet. The only problem was, my home was Niko’s home, and it had been completely destroyed.
Having no other choice, I reached out to Jazz and her husband, Brax. I was reluctant at first, knowing how much Jazz loathed Niko, but there wasn’t anyone else I could call. I had no one to turn to. The following morning Jazz and Brax drove in from Delaware, and as soon as they walked through the door, my best friend fell over in tears, sobbing. I knew her reaction wasn’t going to be pretty, I looked absolutely terrible. However, I hadn’t fully prepared myself for the outcome of Jazz’s emotions either. When it came to me, Jazz had always been overprotective. For the last seventeen years, the two of us had an unbreakable bond.
After I filled Jazz and Brax in on everything that happened with Niko, Brax immediately took charge and got my house back in order. I always knew Brax was a good man, however that morning I finally saw why Jazz had fallen head over heels in love with him. Through all of Brax’s cockiness, muscles and refined beauty, he was definitely a keeper.
While Brax steadily worked on getting things somewhat back to normalcy, Jazz spent the next twenty-four hours begging me to move to Bethany Beach. If I could have packed up that day and left with Jazz and Brax, I would have done it in a heartbeat. It was hard saying goodbye to my best friend, but since I was the key witness for the state in Niko’s case, I was subpoenaed to attend the trial. However unfortunately, with all the setbacks Niko’s lawyer was granted, the hearing took forever to complete.
After three long, painful months, the judge finally sentenced Niko to two years in prison. I was devastated, though it shouldn’t have surprised me; money talked and bullshit walked. Wasn’t that how it always worked? Besides, Niko’s lawyer, Lyle Nix, was damn good. During the trial, Lyle had the audacity to claim I attacked Niko first. That little ole’ me. All of my five foot one, one hundred and fifteen pounds, attacked a six foot, two hundred and sixty pound guy. That whole assumption made me sick. I mean, who in their right mind would have believed something so ludicrous? Thankfully the jury didn’t buy into Lyle’s theory and put Niko away. His sentence wasn’t long, but I was grateful he at least received something. That was all I asked for.
