“Thank you,” I called over my shoulder.
He shrugged. “It’s the least I can do. Take care, Reed,” the captain shouted and went back to the investigation.
Aiden pulled in front of me in my truck. “Get in,” he ordered. “We heard what happened on the radio. Jeremy came and got Becca and Scott. Don’t argue with me. I listened to you once tonight, but that dog saved my friends. She’s going to get the best this town has to offer,” he insisted.
“No arguments here. Just hurry,” I begged.
Chapter 47
Kate
All the guys showed up to the animal hospital. Becca was there for a while, but agreed to go home with Toni when Scott fell asleep in his daddy’s arms. They tried to get me to go home with them, but Belly saved my life. I had to wait there for her.
Becca and Aiden’s Dobermans had their stomachs pumped and were being monitored, but they were going to recover perfectly from being drugged. Once the sleeping pills wore off they whined and howled like they were in extreme pain.
“Would you listen to those two? I bet it’s all because they have to spend the night on a hard, cold floor. I hope my children aren’t as spoiled as those damn dogs,” Aiden grumbled.
“And what are you going to do with them once they come home?” Reed taunted.
“I’m going to let them sleep in one of the guest beds and feed them chicken. No steak for these two. But I’ll tell you what. I’m getting a couple of those police trained German Shepherds that don’t take food from other people. I’m having a security expert come in and overhaul my system to patch those damn weak spots,” he muttered.
“I’m starting to see the logic in all of that and it scares the hell out of me,” Reed complained.
“You know, there is enough property inside the fence to build a few houses inside,” Aiden suggested.
“We could have our own subdivision,” I joked.
Reed and Aiden stared at me like I was a genius. “Guys, I’m kidding.”
“Why not? We would all have our own homes, but still be close,” Aiden reasoned.
“I’d have to buy the property from you and pay to build our house,” Reed insisted.
Jeremy walked over to me and dropped his arm around my shoulders. “Learn when to give in, or you’re going to go crazy. Aiden and Reed have faced their biggest fear, losing their soul mate, and that’s a hard one to shake off. There might come a point when Becca fights Aiden and his overprotectiveness, but she’s learned to let him cope. Now you have to ask yourself if what Reed’s planning is too much for you.”
“Living near my friends and probably having Reed nearby constantly,” I thought for a second. “None of that sounds bad actually. I was going to fight him on principal, but it isn’t like he’s trying to control me.”
“I knew you were a smart girl,” Jeremy praised and flashed his blinding white smile at me. I loved my husband, but I sighed a little at that grin.
“I don’t know why you’d complain about having a beautiful man constantly hanging around,” he said and winked at me.
Why indeed. When he put it that way I understood better why Becca put up with Aiden’s constant overprotective presence. She didn’t complain, because having him always around wasn’t a hardship. It also explained their rapidly growing family. I doubted they could keep their hands off each other anymore than Reed and I were able to.
We waited together for another hour before we heard any news. Aiden and Reed discussed the logistics of us building a house inside Aiden’s property. Cameron and Jeremy were quietly staring at each other. It was still awkward, but it was better than when they were avoiding each other. Finally, a vet tech came out wearing cutesy little scrubs with fire hydrants all over them.
“Belly is out of surgery. The bullet grazed her shoulder. There was some muscle and nerve damage, but she’s going to be fine.”
I felt tension I didn’t know I held escape. Exhaustion slammed into me, and I felt close to collapse. My body needed to know that she would be fine. There had been enough death tonight, and she'd nearly sacrificed herself for me.
“She’ll need some help for the next month or so getting around, and she needs to be kept as calm as possible, but she’ll be back to normal in no time. She’s groggy now, and we want to monitor her coming out of the anesthesia. She’ll be ready to go home in the morning,” she finished explaining.
We thanked her and headed for the parking lot. Half way to Reed’s truck I realized I had no idea where we were going to stay. I couldn’t bring myself to go back to Becca and Aiden’s. At this hour, I doubted that the blood and gore left behind was dealt with. I didn’t think I could sleep there so soon anyway.
I couldn’t go back to my old place with Toni, because I’d still feel the violation of John going through my things. Although I guess Pratt had been the one to break in the last time. It wasn’t like I could go ask him to clear it up for me. I’d never have all the answers I wanted.
For example, I’d never understand how a nice couple like the Brandt’s produced John. As far as I knew he wasn’t abused or neglected. In fact his mother loved him to the point of delusion. She was practically incapable of seeing exactly what her son was capable of.
I would certainly never understand what made him snap and kill our unborn baby. What rational person could ever understand beating a pregnant woman to the point of miscarriage, or at all?
No, I would never have those answers. The answers I did have would have to be enough. Holding on to the questions would only keep them alive in my mind. John and Pratt would not have power over me a moment longer than necessary.
“What are you thinking so hard about?” Reed whispered in my ear, jarring me out of my thoughts.
“I’m wondering if I want to let go of all of this badly enough if it will just go away,” I admitted.
“I wish it would. Unfortunately, I think we have to put in the time and let ourselves process trauma in our own way,” Reed said.
“How so?” I asked. I’d been so focused on myself lately I hadn’t taken in much of how everyone was handling everything.
“Aiden builds walls and tries to control every aspect of his world. Becca stands back and lets him, because she still feels like his life is more difficult with her in it, and she wants to make loving her easier,” he began to explain his observations.
“You and your brother run. You might have stopped, mostly, but Cameron still hides every time someone or something gets close to what he keeps buried inside. Jeremy hides too, only he hides behind his sense of humor. Although, I’ve seen flashes of temper in those pretty boy eyes of his. I’d hate to see what he’s capable of when he’s cornered.
“Toni relies on sarcasm and her sharp wit to keep everyone from getting too close. I don’t even think she knows why she does it. It does make me wonder, and I’m going to see if Daniels will run a background check on that Miguel guy,” he finished.
“And what about you? You’ve just detailed how all of us deal with our issues, except for you,” I pointed out.
“I hold on to you. I might hover a bit like Aiden does to Becca, but I try and remind myself to live every day I wake up. I’ve had too many close calls. Tomorrow isn’t guaranteed, so I’m going to make the most out of today,” he responded.
“That’s a plan I can get on board with. I’d like to hear some of your other plans too, like where are we sleeping tonight?” I asked as he opened the door of the truck.
“Aiden and Becca are headed to a hotel tonight until their house is cleaned up tomorrow. Now that Pratt is…well, now that,” Reed stopped.
“Now that he’s dead. I know what happened.” For the first time since we left the house I realized I was still covered in blood. “I killed him. I won’t promise to be fine with that overnight, but I know I did what I had to do. Still, I’d like to go somewhere with a lot of soap and hot water.”
“What would you think about going home?” he asked nervously.
I shrugged. �
��I guess we can’t outrun our memories. They’ll follow us no matter where we go. The house is just wood and nails. It didn’t do anything to us, and he’s not going to be coming back.”
“You still aren’t comfortable staying there though are you?” he pushed.
“I don’t cope by running anymore. Now, I’m a fighter,” I told him.
“Yes, Katie girl, you are,” he agreed.
“Take me home, husband,” I demanded.
“I like the sound of that, but you know we have to do a few more scary things before we can settle into being an old married couple,” he announced.
“Like what?” I asked suspiciously.
“You need to meet my family, and we’ve promised everyone a wedding,” he answered.
“I’d argue with you about the wedding part, but I feel like we have a lot to celebrate now,” I agreed.
Epilogue
Kate
I stood in front of the floor length mirror trying to slide the comb of my veil into my carefully crafted updo without destroying it. I closed my eyes for a second and I imagined my mom standing next to me.
She’d take the veil from my hands and fix it for me. I’d be able to see what I’d look like in a few more decades. My blond hair would have a few strands of grey sneaking through my blonde waves. A few well-earned smile lines would frame my brown eyes. My hands might seem older, but they’d be strong and gentle at the same time, just like hers.
I put my hand over my heart and tapped along with the beat. I wanted to see her so badly, especially today, but she was never completely gone. Not as long as her memory came back to me that strongly.
For a moment I felt her next to me. I thought I felt her take the veil from my hands, just as I’d imagined. I forced my eyes open and saw a woman behind me with grass green eyes and thick brown waves. I'd spoken to her on the phone over the last month, but hadn't had a chance to meet her in person, until then.
“A girl needs her mom on her wedding day,” she said as she secured my veil in place. “I know I’m not her, but you married my son, so we're family now. I'd like to step in for her if you'll let me.”
Without permission, a single tear rolled down my face. “Thank you,” I whispered.
“Oh, honey. I’ve watched my kids grow up without their dad. I imagine my son is having a difficult time right about now not being able to talk to him. I told him so when I went to see him. But that boy of mine has such a big heart. He was more worried about you facing this day without your mom. Besides Frank Ryan and the other boys are in there with him,” she explained.
“He’s incredible,” I gushed.
“I have a feeling you are quite remarkable yourself. My son’s too smart for anything less. You certainly are beautiful.” She made one adjustment to the train of the large champagne colored dress Becca and Toni convinced me to wear. “Now you're ready,” she praised, examining me in the mirror.
Becca and Toni re-entered the room with my brother right behind them. Aiden and Jeremy were waiting to escort them down the aisle, and Cameron was escorting me.
It had only taken a month to throw together a wedding. It was held at Jeremy’s family cabin, like Aiden and Becca, but since it was late spring we moved ours outside. It was definitely bigger and fancier than anything I would have planned myself, but I felt Reed and I deserved to celebrate. Most of our friends were celebrating something too.
Becca and Aiden found out they were having a little girl. She was still having a difficult pregnancy and they agreed not to have any more children. Becca was tough, but watching her suffer wasn’t a skill Aiden planned to master.
Cameron and Jeremy were celebrating being friends. For some stupid reason they agreed to stop trying to be together and for now it seemed to work. Personally, I thought it was bound to blow up in their faces. Judging by my brother’s frequent sideways glances at Jeremy it wouldn’t be too far in the future.
Toni was a different story. I couldn’t figure out what kept her running back to Miguel. Her parents certainly seemed to adore him, but she was never one to bow to anyone else’s wishes before. Her parents were both kind people, a bit cold and formal, but decent enough parents.
I hadn’t realized Toni was going to bring Miguel to the ceremony. If I had, I might not have hired Trent to run the bar. I’d remembered they seemed to have something between them, and I...well...I was meddling. Becca and Toni had done it dozens of times to me, and I figured it was my turn.
“I’m going to get you for this later,” Toni mumbled as she prepared to walk down the aisle.
“Don’t run from what’s meant to be. If I’ve learned nothing else lately, I’ve learned that,” I told her.
“It could never work. Look at us,” she replied.
“He’s hot,” I observed.
“He’s also covered in tattoos and has a lip ring,” she reminded me.
“Just because something looks perfect on the outside doesn’t mean the insides aren’t all rotten. John was the golden boy in my hometown. Looks can be deceiving,” I commented.
Jeremy poked his head in the room. “Better get this show on the road. Reed is starting to fidget waiting up there this long, and you guys are already married. And would anyone please explain to me why the bartender told me to tell Toni, and I quote, ‘this isn’t over’?”
Toni smiled and shook her head. “Tell you later, Jer,” was all she said.
“You’re in trouble with that one. He’s not going to give up on you,” I observed.
“So I’ve noticed,” she replied. She tried to seem put-out by his determination, but the smile threatening to break free gave away her real feelings.
The music began, I linked my arm through Cameron’s and started down the aisle. I could feel everyone’s eyes on me, but I wasn’t bothered by it like I imagined. The only gaze that mattered was at the end of this short walk.
The ceremony was a blur. We chose to recite the traditional vows and I couldn’t remember a word either of us said. My mind was filled with Reed in a tux, the glow of his beautiful green eyes, and the naughty smile that pulled at his mouth while he watched me walk toward him.
“I’ve got a surprise for you,” he whispered as we walked back down the aisle after our vows.
He led me straight onto the dance floor that had been built in the field by the house. A band struck the first chords, and tears filled my eyes. It was the perfect song for us. “Bless the Broken Road,” by Rascal Flats began, and Reed spun me around the floor.
“I love you. I’m thankful for every moment in my life, because they brought me to you,” he whispered.
“Even getting shot?” I asked.
“The first bullet brought me home, the second one made you my nurse,” he replied simply.
I smiled at him when I realized he was right. Change one detail, prevent one painful memory, and I might be somewhere else. “You are my miracle. Every day I think I love you as much as I can love someone, and then you surprise me. Maybe it’s today, because my heart feels like it will burst with how much I love you right now.”
“You like the song?” he asked.
“I love it. It’s perfect. Everything is perfect,” I babbled.
“It’s almost perfect,” he corrected.
The song ended and Reed led me over to a table. He hung his jacket over a chair and grabbed a blanket.
“What’s not perfect?” I asked.
“Your hair,” he replied with a smirk.
My jaw fell open. “What is wrong with my hair?” I demanded.
“It needs a little grass in it,” he replied and winked at me.
My eyes dropped back down to the blanket, and then back to his face. I put my hand into his. “My mom was right, life is messy if you’re doing it right.”
“Let’s go live,” he whispered.
"I’ll follow you anywhere," I promised.
The End
If you, or someone you know, is suffering from domestic violence contact the National Domestic Vio
lence Hotline 1-800-799-7233 or visit http://www.thehotline.org/.
Acknowledgements
My first thank you is always to my main man, the guy who has to put up with my head being in the clouds, and my eyes glued to my Mac, my son Luke. I love you someday my constant distraction is going to get you that guy zone you want so much.
To Fawn, thanks for carving out time to read my words, and send your suggestions back so quickly. You have always supported me, been there for every random thought, and late night bitch sessions.
To Lydia Quintana, Missy Borucki, Kelly McCurdy, and Renee Ericson: You guys have each stepped in when I needed that little push to move forward. Without each of your help along the way I'm not sure this book would be in the hands of readers right now. Ly, your support and belief in me has lifted me up when I'm losing faith in myself. I can't wait until our chats are in person instead of online!
I also want to thank my readers. A little less than two years ago the idea that people would read my words was a dream. Whether or not I ever become a best-selling writer or not, the fact that you are reading my book makes me feel like a success. I hope you enjoyed it, and will return for more.
K.D. Carrillo
http://www.kdcarrilloauthor.com
Destroy Me Page 23