Broken Beauty

by Bry Ann

  Rain continues to run her hands over my wounds.

  “Rain.” The blonde man grabs her wrist, making her freeze. She tries to act subtle but she’s panicking.

  “Don’t touch her,” I pant through the pain. “She don’t like it.”

  “Oh tesoro, I rode in the car with them. It seems knowing there’s a man bleeding out mutes my terror.” (darling)

  There’s a warmth in my chest at that. A cough escapes my lips before I can respond. “Just a man?” I tease her. Even dying, I can’t help it. Rain let it slip that maybe, just maybe, she cares about me in some way. As searing pain hits my chest, the first time I met her crosses my mind. My energy is fading so only the good memories cross my mind: movie nights with my family, my mom’s smile, my dad’s laugh… meeting the most beautiful woman in the world with the haunted eyes.

  “As much as I love some good sexual tension, he’s bleeding and I gotta see how bad it is. Move, Rain,” the blonde man says.

  I hear Rain shuffle to the side.

  “Okay, man,” he says to me as he assesses my wounds… the wounds Anthony gave me. “None of these are deep, thankfully. You must be in a lot of pain, though. There are a lot of stab wounds here.”

  I glare at him. “Yeah, no shit.” I suck in a breath. Fuck, this hurts. “You need to get Kiki.”

  My eyes flutter. I'm fading and they need to hear me. They need to know what Anthony did, what he’s gonna do. They shouldn’t be here with me. They should be saving her!

  I try one more time to warn them but when I can’t speak and the pain increases, I let my eyes close. I’ll rest, just for a moment…

  Beep. Beep. Beep.

  As my eyes start to flutter open, the hospital machine’s beeping fills my ears. I swallow past the dryness in my throat.

  “Where am I?”

  “Ajax?” I hear a tired voice ask. “You’re at Daylight Memorial Hospital.”

  I turn my head to look at her. Rain’s here. My eyes are still hooded from exhaustion but I can make out her pale form. She’s, of course, still dressed up, but you can tell by the paleness of her skin and the dark circles under her eyes that she’s been through an ordeal.

  “Do you remember what happened?” she asks.

  I squint as I try to remember how I got here. Flashes play in my head: Rain huddled by a closet, Anthony ripping clothes off Kiki, Anthony stabbing me, Rain’s hands running up and down my chest with worry.

  “I remember,” I whisper, then try to sit, making pain rush through my body.

  “Ajax, watch it!” Rain gasps.

  “Where’s Kiki? Anthony left with her. Tell me you found her.”

  I wish I could say I said that firmly and strongly, but that would be a lie. My voice is desperate and my eyes water.

  Rain’s eyes soften. “We found her. She’s safe. She’s hurt.” Her voice cracks. “She’s still asleep, but the doctors are optimistic.”

  “And Anthony?”

  Rain stiffens. “Not now, Ajax,” she whispers.

  “Is he alive?”

  “He’s alive. For now.”

  I swallow past the pain. He deserves what’s coming to him after what he did to Kiki, but a part of me still loves him.

  I'm all alone in the world. He was all I had. His dad hates me and his mom died years ago.

  “You should be with Kiki,” I tell Rain.

  “I will be. I’ve been checking on her. She’s still out. There’s nothing I can do. You were touch and go for a bit. The doctors made you seem like the most imminent risk, so I wanted to, you know, be here. Just in case.”

  “Thanks, Rain,” I whisper. She didn’t want me to die alone. “But you can go. I'm fine.”

  “Ajax,” she murmurs.

  “Go,” I tell her quietly.

  She looks at me deeply. “I’m just gonna check and see if she’s up. Guy said he’d make sure I knew when she was awake, but I need to see her. I’ll be back to check on you.”

  “Who’s Guy?”

  “Oh, yeah, he’s the blonde with the ponytail. The one who hit you with the gun is Frances, his best friend. Guy… Well, when Kiki was in hiding from Anthony, she met Guy. He protected her.”

  “Ah, okay. Glad someone was there for her.”

  Rain nods. “It’s a fucking miracle given she ran to a deserted island.”

  My eyes widen. “What was he doing there?”

  “I don’t even know. Just thank God he was.”

  Rain turns on her heel to go but I can’t stop myself. “Rain?”

  “Yeah,” she whispers, glancing over her shoulder.

  “Thanks again for, uh, being here.”

  She gives me a stiff nod. “I’ll get a nurse on my way out.”

  I close my eyes as she leaves the room. Sure enough, a few moments later, a nurse walks in.

  “You had a close call there. All that time in the gym probably saved your life.”

  “Has to come in handy for something, I guess.”

  The nurse cocks her head. “Are you okay, hun?”

  “Fine.”

  She watches me the entire time as she checks my wounds then the machines. She gives me a list of dos and don’ts before heading for the door.

  “Do you want the lights on or off?”

  “Off, please. With the door closed. I'm gonna shut it down for the night.”

  “And if that young lady comes to visit you?”

  I sigh. “She won’t. I'm alive and she knows it.”

  The nurse glances down and nods. “Goodnight, Ajax.”

  When the lights go off and the door closes, the first tears I’ve shed since my parents died fall. I'm all alone.

  Again.

  Why did Anthony become a monster? I needed him. I fucking needed him!

  I can’t roll over because of the pain, so I'm stuck staring at the ceiling, pondering what the hell to do with my life.

  Three Days Later

  It takes me five goddamn minutes to pee. Add to that trying to get dressed. I have to sit and awkwardly shuffle my shorts up my legs because too much bending causes me pain and threatens my sutures. The shirt is a bit easier. Forever later, I'm dressed. I'm walking slowly as I make my way out of the bathroom. I'm supposed to get discharged today and I don’t have anyone to pick me up. I don’t think hospitals let you leave via Uber. Maybe that’s a rumor, but I'm pretty sure. I don’t fucking know. If it’s true, I really don’t know what I'm gonna do.

  Sighing to myself, I walk towards the bed to grab my jacket. It’s cold as hell in here.

  “So, you ready to bounce, grande uomo?” (Big Man)

  My gaze snaps up and there she is, wearing an olive green dress with a lace overlay, heels (I can’t even begin to predict how high they are), and beautiful, soft makeup with lightly curled hair. She’s literally the model of a perfect woman.

  “What are you doing here, Rain?”

  “You need a ride. I have a car.”

  I look at her, biting back my smile.

  “Okay, okay, I have a driver.”

  “I’ll be fine. How’s Kiki?”

  “She’s good. She’s getting discharged and she and Guy are going on a date.”

  My heart both softens and burns at that. Is that weird? It softens because I'm happy for her. Anthony put her through hell. She deserves a good man. But part of me struggles, a part I know is wrong. Anthony loved her. It’s hard to see her move on without him. He’s gone and her being with someone else makes that real.

  I don’t realize I'm holding my face in my hands until I hear heels clicking. Rain’s pacing. She doesn’t know what to do. Right as I swallow down the overwhelming feeling, Rain’s voice echoes in the room.

  “Get it together, Ajax. Now’s not the time or the place.”

  I nod. She’s right. “I'm fine.”

  “Hmm,” she huffs, snatching my things off the bathroom vanity. “Take a seat. I’ll pack. You’ll rip your sutures.”

  “You’ll break your ankle prancing around in those.�
�� I gesture to her shoes.

  Her glare swings my way. Her hands curl around my shoulders and she pushes back and down. “Sit. Oh, and tesoro…” She leans in so her red lips are right by my ear. “I know you like watching me prance around in these heels.” (Darling)

  The annoying thing is that she’s right. Even injured, watching the way her hips sway, her ass bounces, and her strong, toned legs hold strong in the tall white heels has my cock stirring.

  “Is this all you brought?”

  My gaze snaps up from her ass. Whoops, my bad. “Hmm, what?”

  She rolls her eyes. “Your shit, Ajax.” She throws a smile pile of clothes at me, but I don’t miss how she holds back the stuff that may hurt me. “Is this all?”

  “Yeah, that’s it. Got no one I need to impress.”

  “Okay, let’s get you out of here, big guy,” she sighs.

  We don’t say anything as I sign the paperwork and make my way out of the hospital. She’s quiet as she opens the door for me and watches as I struggle to sit, but lets me do it on my own. When we’re both seated, I don’t miss the way her leg bounces and how she keeps glancing over at me.

  “When’s your follow-up appointment with the doctor?”

  “Few days.”

  “You’re going, right?” I ignore her by looking out the window, because I don’t know. I don’t even know if I’ll be here. I have no reason to stay. I feel something rub against my leg. I look over to see her sitting forward in her seat so she can run her heel up and down my calf. I don’t think she realizes I'm the only person she voluntarily touches. I don’t miss it. How could I?

  Sometimes I still see the little girl in the closet, but the other times, well… Rain is out of every league I could possibly be in. She’s perfection wrapped in a fiery exterior and a vulnerable interior. I'm nothing. A void wrapped in muscle. “Don’t ignore me, tesoro.” (Darling)

  “If I didn’t know better, I’d think you care.”

  Rain jerks her foot away. “You sound desperate.”

  “You sound like you’re in denial.”

  “I don’t care about anyone, except Kiki.”

  “And Richard.”

  Rain’s eyes soften. “And my dad,” she says softly. Honestly, the way she worships that man is really pure. The news talks about moms pulling cars off their kids, but Rain would do that for Richard Brown. I come out of my thoughts when the driver slams on the brakes, sending both of us flying forward.

  “I'm sorry,” the driver says immediately. “This fuc—person just came out in front of me.”

  Rain shakes her head and looks at the driver. “It’s okay, Donald. And you can curse. That idiot deserves it.”

  The driver shakes his head. “No, ma’am, I'm sorry.”

  “Donald, for the millionth time, call me Rain. And it’s fine. I won’t tell my dad. Say it, that driver was a motherfucker.”

  I laugh, and so does the driver. “You’re trouble, miss.”

  Rain giggles. “Missed you too, Donald.” She turns to me. “He was on vacation.”

  “Probably needed a break from you.”

  Rain smirks. “I'm so well behaved. Not me.”

  “Oh yes, you’re a saint.”

  “An angel. Halo and all.”

  “Psh, only if your dad bought you one.”

  “Still counts.”

  “I’m not sure if whatever higher power you believe in would think so.”

  “Shame. They’re missing out. I think I’d fit in in heaven.”

  I chuckle. She certainly looks the part of an angel. Kiki and I have joked that she’s trouble because she likes to rile things up and she puts up a wall of words to stop people from discovering how truly tender-hearted and innocent she is, but the woman has a heart of gold. She’d sacrifice everything for those she loves.

  “Well, here we are.”

  I suck in a breath through my teeth. The sudden stop hurt like a bitch. Standing up right now sounds like actual torture.

  “You planning to stay here all night?” Rain says when I don’t move.

  Without thinking, blinded by the imminent pain, I snap. “Give me a fucking moment, Rain!” Rain freezes. “Rain, I'm sor—”

  “Are you okay?” She scoots towards the door. “I’ll help.”

  She climbs out, leans her upper body into the car, and extends a hand. I don’t miss the way her hand shakes. She can make physical contact with me when she’s messing around but helping, something vulnerable, hand-to-hand contact… I can sense the feelings this invokes in her.

  “I got it.”

  “Take the damn hand, Ajax!”

  Staring into her eyes, I reach my hand out. My rough hand wraps around her soft, perfectly manicured one. Her entire arm stiffens when I touch her. I know it’s fear. She’s not used to physical contact. She never slowly introduced it back into her life after whatever she went through before Richard took her in, so her body still associates touch with pain. I hate seeing it. Literally, every time I see her subtly flinch at a random or friendly touch, it breaks my heart a little.

  “Right.” She tugs… way too hard. I'm pulled forward.

  “Shit,” I cry, gritting my teeth at the pain.

  “Oh my god, I'm so sorry!” Rain releases me. “Damn it. Ajax,” she whispers. She places one knee on the seat and her arms come to my shoulders, gently pulling me upright. She’s still stiff but she’s trying not to hurt me. She’s close to me now, her beautiful brown eyes inches from my green ones. “I'm sorry,” she whispers.

  “Don’t worry about it. Grab Donald. He can help.”

  She nods and goes to Donald’s passenger side window. A minute later, he’s there, practically lifting me out of the car.

  “Can you make it up to your apartment okay?”

  “Yeah, I’ll be fine. There’s an elevator.”

  “Alright.”

  “Thanks for the help.”

  Donald nods, then I turn to Rain.

  “Thank you for the ride, mon ami.”

  “Yep. No problem.” I smirk at her trying to act careless. “So…” She rocks back on her heels. “Guess this is it.”

  We have no reason to see each other anymore. Anthony was our link. The thought of Anthony has my heart aching again. I hate it.

  “Guess so. Have a good life, Rain.”

  “Take care of yourself, Ajax.”

  I nod. I'm just about to turn when the feeling of someone watching us has me turning in the opposite direction. I glance at the bushes across from my apartment and squint. Hmm, strange. Shaking my head, I turn away. I give her one last look and turn towards the entrance to my building.

  “Go to your follow-up appointment, Ajax!” Rain shouts as I'm about to shut the door. I wink at her and let the door shut.

  Who knows where I’ll be by then.

  11

  Rain

  “Did I stutter?!” I hear Dad roar from his office. Oh shit, someone’s in trouble. Hearing my dad in business mode took getting used to. God, I remember being eight years old, hiding in the closet for hours until Dad called my therapist. She was able to talk me out of the closet, but it took a while. Over time, I began to separate who is with me and who is elsewhere in the world. It’s still weird though.

  “If you can’t upload the contract we agreed upon…” The rest is drowned out when he notices me. He nods and shuts the second door so I can’t hear a thing. He had those installed after my eight-year-old meltdown.

  I rock back on my heels and look around. So… what do I do?

  I should maybe call Kiki. She had a rough night a couple days ago. She and her island boy, Guy, went on a date a few days ago. Long story short, he ended up having a meltdown. She thought it was about her but it was a whole separate issue.

  Bzzz. Bzzz.

  I glance at my phone. Well, speak of the devil…

  Kiki: So… I invited Guy to my house tonight.

  She did what?!!! Oh my god. Oh. My. God. Eek, go, my girl.

  Me: You did wha
t?!!!!!!!!

  Kiki: I wasn’t thinking. He’s leaving tomorrow. It just slipped out.

  Rain: You really wanted that dick lol.

  What can I say? I'm crass. And I love to embarrass Kiki. It’s kind of my passion in life.

  Kiki: Shut up.

  Me: What about your dad? Hahahahhahaha…

  Her dad is staying with her right now. I think she got caught up in her feels and totally forgot. This is hysterical.

  Kiki: IDK. SHUT UP.

  Me: Omg, is he gonna put a gag on you Fifty Shades of Grey style :p

  I wait for a response, but after several minutes, I don’t get one. I squeal and smirk. Oh, I think I got that girl’s mind spinning, ha!

  Me: Holy SHIT. That turns you on. Wow, kinky. I wouldn’t have guessed.

  Kiki: We’re no longer friends.

  Me: Haha aw, you love me. It’s not my fault you’re horny and kinky.

  Kiki: I officially hate you.

  Me: OH HAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHA. He’ll come. In more ways than one.

  I couldn’t help that joke. Kiki just said she invited him, not that it was a for-sure thing, so I know she’s questioning whether he’ll show or not, but he will. No question. He’d be an absolute idiot not to and Guy’s no idiot.

  Kiki: RAIN!

  Me: KIKI!

  There’s a bit of a pause before Kiki responds.

  Kiki: What about Ajax, hmmm. See him lately?

  I swallow, remembering the last time I saw him. I'm worried about that idiot and I hate it. He’s not gonna go to that doctor’s appointment. I know he’s not. There was a brokenness in his eyes I’ve never seen before. He’s always had sad eyes. It’s the reason for this weird bond between us, but it’s different now and it scares me. I’ve never been truly suicidal. I’ve been delusional, I’ve pulled my hair out, I’ve almost been admitted into a psych hospital, I’ve been under the care of a very well-known treatment team, but I’ve never been suicidal. But Ajax’s eyes in the car with Donald and I… that’s what I imagine that looks like. He has no one. That’s why I went to his hospital room. Who would have taken him home?