Broken Butterfly: Fallen Brook Series: Book 3

by Jennilynn Wyer

  Fallon chews on the side of his lip and I don’t think I’ve ever seen him look so lost. “I guess this is it then.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “Ry’s here now. You’ll be leaving to go back home with him.”

  “Are you trying to get rid of me?” I tease, causing Fallon’s icy blue gaze to harden. “Fallon, I’m not going back yet.”

  “What?” he says in disbelief.

  “If I recall, we still have Venice, Amsterdam, and Sydney left on our adventure.”

  He stares at me in confusion. “You still want to go? What about Ry?”

  “He can come with us if he wants to. I really hope he wants to. But if he doesn’t, I’ll understand. However, I’m still going to go with you. I’ve got money I can access from the trust that Daniel and Drew set up for me. I can pay my and Ryder’s way for the rest of the trip.”

  “What the fuck are you talking about? I’m not taking your damn money, or Ryder’s.” Fallon turns to face me in his chair so that our knees touch. “Are you serious? About the rest of the trip?”

  “Totally and completely,” I say, and lean over to hug him. “These weeks on our adventure together have meant the world to me, Fallon. You mean the world to me, and I want to finish what we started. That is, if you want to.”

  “Fuck, kitten,” he relents. “If you’re sure and Ry can handle it, then hell yeah. Let’s finish this thing.”

  I squeal and bounce in my seat while still hugging him. Fallon lets out a laugh that warms my heart. “You’re still coming for Thanksgiving and Christmas,” I remind him.

  “What’s going on?” Ryder says from the portico that leads to the patio, his gaze fixed on me and Fallon hugging.

  I stand up and quickly make my way over to him. “You’re up,” I comment happily, eye-fucking the hell out of him because every inch of Ryder Cutton is gorgeous, even though at this moment his hair is sticking up all over the place and he looks exhausted.

  Ryder’s light brown eyes soften as he watches me approach until we’re standing toe to toe. “Good morning,” I happily sing as my hands explore his expansive, bare chest and my thighs clench with a desire to have him inside of me again. Ryder reaches down to grab the back of my thighs, pulling me up to straddle his waist and proceeds to kiss the daylights out of me.

  “Good morning,” he says when we finally pull apart. He nips me tenderly on the tip of my nose and looks over my shoulder.

  “Hey, man,” he says to Fallon who has been watching us. Ryder carries us over and sits down with me in his lap. I adjust slightly so I can see Fallon. Ryder reaches for my coffee and drinks it down in two gulps. Fallon slides his cup over and Ryder thanks him, then guzzles that one down as well.

  “I think I’m going to need about a gallon’s worth today. Jetlag sucks ass,” Ryder complains. “Thanks for the lift over.”

  Fallon barks out a laugh and shakes his head. “My personal jet is not an Uber, fuckwad.”

  “I’m so happy you’re here,” I tell Ryder, and because I can’t help myself, I start kissing a path up his neck to his ear.

  His hand that’s cradling my thigh gives it a squeeze, and I’m about to pull Ryder back inside and up to the bedroom when he says, “Babe, I need to talk to Fallon. Do you mind giving us a moment?”

  I’m about to ask what and why but decide to trust him, just like he’s putting his trust in me. I kiss him lightly on the lips and tell him that I love him. I ruffle the top of Fallon’s hair and call him Nutter Butter when I pass by him. He throws up his hand, giving me the middle finger.

  Once I get to the doors that lead back into the house, I hesitate for a second. With my heart hammering thunderously beneath my ribcage, I shove aside the worry that’s creeping up my spine and make my way inside the house. I guess I can keep myself busy making us something to eat while the two of them talk.

  I watch Elizabeth go and I know she’s worried about why I would need to speak with Fallon in private.

  “I don’t know if it’s the weeks we’ve been separated, but she is even more beautiful than I remember.”

  Fallon makes a humming sound and rubs his thumb across his bottom lip. He reaches into his pocket and takes out a stick of gum, something he’s done a lot since he stopped smoking.

  “She’s been through a lot. She’s in a good place right now. Settled and happy. You being here makes it perfect for her. I told you she just needed time and distance.”

  “Thank you for being there for her. It seems you were exactly what she needed. But things are about to become very hard for her. She left a lot of angry people back home.”

  “Then we’ll both be there to protect her,” he says.

  I narrow my eyes at him and ask the question that’s been rattling around my brain since I saw how they acted together at the bottom of the stairs last night.

  “Is something going on between the two of you?”

  I love Elizabeth and I told her I forgive her, but part of me is still hurt about the whole thing with Jayson. Add the fact that she ran to Fallon for help and not me, and my uncertainty about where I stand with her skyrockets. Watching the easy and intimate way Fallon and Elizabeth interact with one another also has my jealousy flaring. With everything that has happened, my insecurities are running high.

  The brief widening of his eyes makes my stomach drop, but I need him to tell me everything. I may have to beat the shit out of him afterward.

  “If you’re asking if I fucked her, the answer is no.” Oh, thank God, I think, then he says, “But that doesn’t mean I didn’t want to or didn’t try.”

  “What the hell, man?”

  “You wanted honesty. Shut the fuck up and let me finish.”

  I sit back, crossing my arms so I don’t punch him in the face, and listen to what he needs to tell me.

  “She was broken, Ry, when she appeared on my doorstep. The girl we knew didn’t exist anymore. She was in jagged, damaged pieces and she needed someone to help her put herself back together. She couldn’t face you, and she hated herself for it. She kept talking about Old Elizabeth and New Elizabeth. She destroyed my room, by the way. Even broken, she’s still a fighter. But I watched as she shut down and started to disappear. I knew if I didn’t get her away from you and Jay and Julien, she might never have recovered. She had been through too much, and the weight of it was crushing her. Elizabeth was at a point where one more thing would tip her over that cliff of no return, and if that happened, she would never come back to us. I couldn’t live with myself if I allowed that to happen. So I took her, and we got the hell out of town. I told you that you wouldn’t like my methods.”

  The resentment I feel over the fact that she went to Fallon for help dissipates somewhat. “But it worked,” I tell him. “Whatever you did, it worked. I was pissed as hell about it, but I owe you for what you did for her.”

  “I’m not finished. You said you wanted everything,” he warns me. “I may not have had her in my bed, but I did kiss her… twice. Those are on me. I was the instigator. And I won’t apologize for it. We may have also shared the same bed a time or two, but I swear, nothing happened,” he finishes, staring at me, unblinking so I see that he’s telling the truth.

  I groan out a frustrated sigh, looking up to the sky for guidance. “You really want me to beat the ever-loving shit out of you, don’t you?”

  Then Fallon hits me with something totally unexpected. Something that I don’t think I could have ever prepared myself for.

  “I love her, Ry. I love her in every fucked-up way imaginable. I’ve never loved anyone before. I even told her that love was a lie. I don’t like feeling this way, but I can’t help it, and it pisses me the hell off. None of it matters because you are it for her. I know that I’ll never have a shot at a future with Elizabeth because she is completely in love with you. However, if you screw this up with her, I can promise you that I will be standing right there, ready to take her away again—for good this time.”

  “You try it, and I w
ill bury you,” I growl. “We’ve been through a lot together, Fallon, and I’ve always had your back, but Elizabeth is mine. I love her too damn much. I’m not letting her go again. You try and mess with that and you’ll regret it.”

  The threatening scowl that was on Fallon’s face falls away into a huge grin. “That’s exactly what I wanted to hear. You continue to fight for her. She loves you, Ry. You’re the man she wants.” He sits back and gives me a pointed look. “But like it or not, she and I have gotten close. She understands my darkness, and I trust her with my secrets. I’m not asking for your approval and couldn’t give a shit if you don’t like it. It is what it is. I hope you can accept that.”

  Some people may think the entire situation is screwed up and so way out there, it’s unbelievable. Me, Jay, and now Fallon all in love with the same girl. Hell, throw Julien in there too because he also loves her; he just loves Elijah more. All I can say to those people is: Go fuck yourselves. You can’t help who you fall in love with.

  I’m mulling over what Fallon has told me when he adds, “And just to warn you, she’s invited me for Thanksgiving and Christmas.” He grins at me like a snarky asshole, and I punch him on the arm. “She also wants you to come with us on the rest of our journey,” he finishes.

  That takes me by surprise. I had assumed she and I would be going back home after today. “What are you talking about?”

  “She wants to finish our adventure and she wants you to join us.”

  “She never said anything about that.”

  “When could she? You had your dick shoved up her pussy all night long. The walls are not soundproofed.”

  “Shit, Fallon. Warn a guy next time,” I cough, then grin like the Devil because I’m the man who had his girl screaming in ecstasy all night long. Hell, I hope the whole of Spain heard her yell out my name.

  “So, what are the plans then?” I ask.

  “The last cities on her bucket list are Venice, Amsterdam, and Sydney. We were planning on arriving in Venice tomorrow. What do you say? You coming with?”

  If Elizabeth and I are going to be together, I have to accept her new friendship with Fallon. Fallon has never cared for a girl before. He always used them and threw them away. The fact that he says he loves Elizabeth doesn’t sit well with me, but I’m also happy that he has allowed himself to open his heart to the possibility of love. After everything he’s endured, that alone is huge. I guess it comes down to whether I trust my friend and my girlfriend, and the answer is, I do. Fallon can be a dangerous son of a bitch, but he’s also loyal to a fault and extremely protective of those he lets in. He’ll protect Elizabeth with his life, and I couldn’t think of anyone better for her to have on her side.

  “I want us home for Thanksgiving,” I tell him.

  “Fine. Now let me catch you up on what’s been going on and tell you how your girl knows how to hustle me at pool, drink me under the table, and dance like a pole stripper.”

  I spend a very long time making all of us a huge breakfast. Finding some Italian sausage and Danish bacon, I whip up a crustless quiche and squeeze a bag of oranges to make fresh orange juice. I add pieces of toast, bowls of fruit, and a fresh carafe of coffee to complete the meal. I find a rolling tray cart to pile everything on and push it outside. Once out on the patio, I listen for the sounds of yelling or fists hitting flesh, but all is quiet, thank goodness. Breathing a sigh of relief, I plaster on a brilliant smile and make my way out.

  “Breakfast!” I call out. Ryder and Fallon are where I left them, mirror images of each other as they sit back, legs splayed out in front of them, grins on their faces. Fallon turns his head my way and winks at me. Ryder stands up and smacks him on top of the head as he walks over to me. My breath goes all wispy watching him come nearer, and my hands shake, causing the cart to rattle. “Is everything okay?”

  “Couldn’t be better.” He smiles. He places his hands on mine to still my jittery nerves. “Baby, everything is good. Stop worrying.” He kisses me lightly and peels my fingers from around the cart’s handle. “I heard we’re going to Venice.”

  I shriek with happiness. “You’re coming?”

  “Couldn’t keep me away.”

  I spin around doing a happy dance, and Ryder shakes his head with laughter. “I love you! I love you! Thank you, Ryder!”

  “Hop on,” he tells me, and I eagerly jump on his back. “I’m starving and this breakfast looks fantastic.”

  I ride piggyback on him to the table and then jump off and hug Fallon. “You’re the best,” I enthuse.

  “Damn straight, kitten.”

  Ryder goes back for the cart, and we all dig into our food but leave the entirety of the coffee to Ryder. He needs it much more than we do.

  “Since it’s just the three of us here, I want to know the story behind the two of you,” I tell them. Then I say to Ryder, “I thought I knew everything about you, but apparently I don’t. You visited Fallon in the hospital?”

  “You told her about that?” Ryder looks at Fallon, bewildered.

  “Like I said, she knows more of my secrets than you do now. I trust her.”

  “Well, hell. Um, okay. You may not like what we tell you.”

  “I love you, and if we’re going to be together, there can be no more secrets. I will tell you anything and everything you want to know, and I’ll answer any question you ask of me. I expect the same in return.”

  “She’s a feisty thing, isn’t she?” Fallon quips, slinging his arm across the back of my chair.

  “She’s perfect,” Ryder replies and leans over to kiss me while also pushing Fallon’s arm away. “She’s also my woman. Hands off.”

  Fallon smiles his approval and I roll my eyes. “Stop delaying. Spill. I want to know. What is the deal between you and Fallon?”

  “No one knows about this, not even Jay or Julien.” Ryder takes his time pouring himself another cup of coffee as I wait patiently for him to begin. “Fal and I worked for this guy stealing and stripping cars.”

  Mind blown. “What? How the hell did I not know about this?”

  “Ry and I first met at the Fields when I was like, what, eleven and you were ten?” Fallon asks Ryder. “I saw Ryder racing his dirt bike and I thought he was one cool motherfucker.”

  “Ah, the beginning of the secret bromance,” I say.

  Fallon laughs. “Call it what you will. As you know, I hated being home and loved getting in trouble. My family name caught a lot of attention, even when I was young. One day, this guy approached me while I’m watching Ryder race his bike and asked me if I’d be interested in doing a job for him. I guess he saw something in me that he liked. Rebelliousness. Recklessness. A young boy who didn’t give a fuck. Hell, I don’t know. Anyway, he explained how he needed someone on the inside to get access to certain luxury cars and told me I was perfect for the job because no one would suspect a kid my age. He asked me if I knew how to drive, which, of course, I did—but that’s a story for another time. The guy told me all I had to do was keep my eye out for certain cars and let him know which ones I found. He would then tell me which car he wanted me to jack. Once I did, I would drive it to his garage where it would be stripped for parts or sold, illegally, of course. I was bored, so I said yes.”

  “But you were eleven!”

  Fallon gives me his famous head tilt as if to say, “remember who you’re talking to.”

  “Fal and I had already become friends by that time. We’d hang out at the Fields or he’d come to Dad’s garage when I was there.”

  “You also let me bunk in your room a time or two by then as well,” Fallon reminds him.

  “Fal told me about the guy and said his first job was to swipe a Mercedes SLR. I didn’t want him going by himself, so I told him I was coming along to make sure someone had his back.”

  Again, I scoff at how young they were. “But you were ten! How did Faith and Randy not notice? Or Brea or Jamie?”

  “It was easy sneaking out of the house in the middle of the night
when everyone was asleep. Earlier in the day, I would hide my bike in some bushes down the street and then once I was able to sneak out of the house, I would meet up with Fallon.”

  “Needless to say, I’m glad Ry had my back because we got into a lot of fights, even as kids. I never knew people were so damn possessive over their cars. Do you remember what happened that first job with the Mercedes when I set the car alarm off?” Fallon looks at Ryder, a mischievous grin splitting his cheeks.

  “That wasn’t half as bad as stealing the McClaren. I thought for sure those guys were going to shoot our asses.”

  They both laugh at the memories and I decide not to ask for clarification. Perhaps ignorance truly is bliss.

  “We worked for this guy until high school,” Ryder continues.

  “By that time, the fun of it had worn off, so I gave him enough money to disappear and live the rest of his life comfortably in a non-extradition country. Just in case.”

  “The both of you are shitting me, right?” Fallon merely smiles and Ryder ducks his head, not meeting my gaze. “Again, how did I not know any of this?”

  “People see what they want to,” Fallon blithely states.

  “Damn.” I really was clueless back then. Ryder had been helping Fallon steal cars for years. I should be upset about it, but for some reason, I’m not. Old Elizabeth would have been outraged. Good thing I’m not her anymore. Ryder hasn’t smiled once, and I can tell he’s ashamed of his part in it all. In contrast, I’m strangely and oddly excited. “Did you guys ever have to hotwire a car?”

  “A few times,” Fallon says.

  “Why do you ask?” Ryder says.

  “Think you could teach me?”

  Ryder’s mouth drops open as Fallon laughs maniacally.

  “Hot damn! I really like this New Elizabeth,” Fallon shouts and stands up. “Enough secrets for now, kitten. I’m going to leave you two to enjoy the rest of your day. Don’t break the bedsprings. Make as much noise as you want, though. Eduardo sent all the staff home yesterday.”