Beautifully Broken (The Broken Series Book 2)

by Ruff, K. S.

  I licked my lips nervously. “Nothing.” Nothing I was ready to discuss anyway. “I’m just overthinking things. Let’s go see the grand staircase.”

  Michael looked hesitant to proceed, but he allowed my evasiveness to slide as he led me into the foyer of the main opera house. My eyes widened at the opulent decor. I would have been content to sit on the grand staircase so I could admire the candelabras, scantily dressed sculptures, and frescos for the rest of the evening, but Michael insisted we take our seats in the balcony.

  I leaned against the ornately carved balcony as I admired the main auditorium. The walls, the massive curtain across the stage, and our seats were lined in a deep burgundy fabric that felt like crushed velvet. I couldn’t pull my eyes from the long columns, balconies, busts, and sculptures that appeared to be carved in gold. The historic chandelier and the softly painted fresco in the ceiling competed mightily against the ballet. Michael didn’t see much of the ballet either. He was too busy watching me. I had a sneaking suspicion that he was simply biding time until he could get me back home in bed.

  He was.

  * * * * * *

  Michael was still sleeping when I woke the next morning. We had been up past three a.m. fulfilling all those wicked promises of his. I propped myself up on my elbow as I watched him sleep. His dark wavy hair was all disheveled. It was nearly long enough to pull back into a pony tail now. His golden skin had turned a deep tan from our time in Saint-Tropez. His five o’clock shadow was about twelve hours overdue, which made me long to bite his jaw.

  A half-smile tugged at his delectable lips. He raised one eyebrow as he peeked at me from under his lids. “Bonjour, mon coeur. Can I help you with something?”

  I couldn’t help but giggle. “I was just admiring the view.”

  “Hmmm. Then you won’t mind if I do the same?” Michael propped himself on one elbow as he pushed me off mine. “You know what I love about you, ma chérie?”

  I shook my head. “No. Actually, I’m at a complete loss about that.”

  “Oh, really? Then allow me to enlighten you. Well, there’s this…” Michael kissed my nose, “and this…” he kissed my forehead, “and this…” he kissed behind my ear, “and this…” Suddenly, he ducked under the sheets. He trailed kisses all down my body, “and this… and this… and this…”

  “Oh my God, Michael! You are insatiable.” I tried to crawl out of bed, but he hauled me back by my ankle. He flipped me over so I was lying on my stomach.

  “Le mienne,” he growled as he peppered kisses up my legs and back. He took his time kissing my neck. He pinned my arms on the pillow with his, then drove deep inside of me. I gasped as he held me there on the edge of pain. He sucked on the sensitive skin behind my ear. Slowly, he began moving inside of me. His voice was seductive and low. “Tell me you don’t want this, mon amour. Tell me you don’t need me as much as I need you. Say the word, and I will let you go.”

  I moaned as my body wound tighter and tighter. I wanted to surrender to him, to give up every last bit of control. I knew then. As twisted and messed up as it was, I wanted Michael to own me… and I didn’t want him to let me go. I relaxed beneath his primal hold. I gasped when he pulled out and thrust forcefully back inside. Stars pricked at the back of my eyes. I yearned for so much more. “Please, Michael, don’t ever let me go.”

  Michael released my arms. He reached for my breasts as he drove inside of me, each thrust deeper and more punishing than the last.

  My hands raked over the pillow. “Yes,” I rasped.

  A searing heat filled me as he buried himself as deep as he could go. My body pulsed in time with his, then shattered forcefully. We both lie panting and speechless until we fell back asleep, an inextricable tangle of arms and legs.

  It was noon by the time either of us stirred again. The second I woke I knew something had shifted between us, but I couldn’t quite comprehend what it was. Michael’s words… and mine… were still echoing through my mind. Had we been talking about sex or something more? A wave of nausea hit me as I tried to make sense of it all.

  Michael shot me a concerned look as I fell back against the pillows and moaned. He eased out of bed, then brought me a croissant and some ice water from the breakfast tray. I hadn’t even heard the cook slip in. “Would you like a cup of coffee?”

  My stomach roiled. “No. This is good.”

  Michael raised an eyebrow questioningly. “Feeling nauseous again?”

  I nodded as I scooted up into the pillows. “I guess I’m not quite over that stomach flu I was fighting off yesterday. I was probably pushing it by going out to dinner last night. Do you feel okay? God, I hope I haven’t made you sick.”

  Michael tucked a loose strand of hair behind my ear before kissing my forehead. “I’m fine. Will you be okay while I take a shower?”

  I offered him a reassuring smile. “Of course, mon chérie, I’ll be fine.”

  My stomach recovered a few hours after eating the croissant. I lounged in the shower for a while. Then Michael and I shared a light lunch in the garden terrace.

  Michael reached for my hand as I polished off the last of my turkey sandwich. “Will you join me for the evening mass at Notre Dame?”

  My eyes widened in shock. My ex-husband had refused to go to church with me, so I was a bit surprised by Michael’s request. “You want to take me to church?”

  Michael’s smile widened. “Oui. I think it will do us both good.”

  I couldn’t help but notice the hope in his eyes as I considered his request. I was raised Lutheran, but I had attended a number of Catholic services with friends. The services really weren’t all that different. I reflected on all that Michael and I had done over the past few weeks, then gently squeezed his hand. “Yes, Michael. I’d like that.”

  We were seated in the cathedral among hundreds of other people just a few hours later. While it felt good to be back in church, the sermon was lost on me. The entire service was spoken in French. I followed along as best I could, but my mind kept wandering toward the architecture and the extravagant decor.

  Large marble columns supported countless arches that ran close to four stories high. Light streamed in blue, green, purple, and gold through stained glass windows that depicted scenes from the bible. Chandeliers glowed softly all along the center aisle, and an insane amount of candles were stacked in front of the altar. When my eyes found the crucifix, I remembered the reason I had come.

  I kneeled as I began praying for my family and friends. I prayed for Michael. Then I prayed for myself, asking for both guidance and forgiveness. I was thoroughly confused about the direction I wanted my life to take, so I simply prayed that God lead me where He wanted me to go.

  Michael joined me as I prayed. Warmth flooded me. I had never had a man pray by my side before. That single act solidified my feelings toward him like nothing else could.

  Michael took me to a small café in the Latin Quarter after the service. My stomach was feeling better, so I was holding out hope that I could finally enjoy a cup of coffee. We had to leave the café before we were even seated. I was still reeling from the experience when we got home.

  Michael removed my heels and peeled my silk stockings off while I sat dazedly on the edge of the bed. “You don’t understand, Michael. I don’t just love coffee, I live for the stuff. I’m quite certain I was born drinking it. So why can’t I stomach it now?”

  Michael listened to me whine about my obvious addiction. Then he grinned. “Because, mon coeur, I do believe you have made me the happiest man alive.”

  I shot him a disgruntled look. It wasn’t like coffee was the bane of his existence. He drank the stuff too. My eyes suddenly widened with shock. “Oh,” I gasped softly.

  Michael beamed as he kneeled at my feet. He rested his arms and chin on my lap and gazed up at me through adoring eyes. “Oui, ma chérie. I think we’re having a bébé.”

  Chapter 20 – It will rain

  Kadyn was exhausted by the time he returned home.
Between the five hour drive back to Germany, the military hop to BWI, the time change, and the hour long drive back to Alexandria, he could barely stand. He unlocked the door to Kri’s apartment. There was one phone call he was determined to make before he collapsed on the bed.

  Kadyn sighed heavily as he dialed Kri’s mom. “Mrs. Stone? It’s Kadyn. I promised I’d call when we got back from Paris.”

  “Hi Kadyn. I’m glad you made it home safe,” she responded softly.

  “I’m sorry, Mrs. Stone, but we didn’t find her. We found two people, a waiter and a barista, who claimed they saw her, but that was it. We aren’t giving up, though. I promise I’ll keep looking.” Kadyn closed his eyes as Kri’s mom began to cry. “I’m so sorry,” he whispered. “I promise I won’t stop until I find her.”

  Eventually, Kri’s mom had to turn the phone over to her father. His gruff voice had Kadyn pulling the phone away from his ear. “Kadyn?”

  Kadyn raked his hand over his face. “Yes, sir. I’m sorry. We didn’t find her in Paris.”

  “Thank you for trying, Kadyn. What’s the next step? What about a press release? Do you think it’s time to get the media involved?”

  Kadyn sighed. “I’ll talk with the federal investigators tomorrow to see what they think. I’m going to ask them to get the American Embassy in Paris involved, since she was spotted in a restaurant there.”

  “Wait. She was spotted in a restaurant? That’s good news, right? It means she is still alive, and she’s not hurt. How long ago was this?” Kri’s dad asked excitedly.

  Kadyn wished he could be as optimistic as Kri’s father. “About a month ago. Yes, sir. I think it is good news she’s been seen. At least we have some idea where he took her, although we don’t know if he still has her in France.”

  “Do you think it would help if Kri’s mother and I went to the embassy in France?”

  “No, sir. I think you should stay put for now. If Kri gets away, she may come there instead of here. I don’t know if she’ll feel safe coming back to this apartment.”

  “Do you want us to come to Virginia to pack Kri’s things? Maybe I can help put a fire under the federal investigators. It doesn’t seem like they’re making Kri’s case a very big priority.”

  “No, sir. I really think you should stay put for now. I promise I’ll stay on top of the investigators, and I’d like to hold onto Kri’s apartment. I’ll take care of her things for as long as it takes to find her.”

  “Thank you, Kadyn… for everything. I don’t know what we’d do… I… I’m so happy Kri met you. Thank you for being there for her and for all you’re doing to help find her.”

  Silent tears streaked Kadyn’s cheeks as he sat and listened to Kri’s father break down and cry. Eventually, the two men disconnected the call, no longer able to speak.

  * * * * * *

  The FBI took the lead on Kri’s case when Mickey offered evidence that Kri was taken out of the country. Special Agent Vargas was the investigator assigned to the case. When Kadyn met with Agent Vargas the next morning, he was disappointed and more than a little frustrated that they hadn’t uncovered anything new. He seemed optimistic when Kadyn advised him that Kri had been spotted in Paris, and he agreed the best course of action was to get the American Embassy in Paris involved. They decided to hold off on a press release in order to give the embassy some lead time to investigate the Garcia residence and Kri’s presence in Paris.

  After the meeting, Kadyn touched base with Phil and Dan to update them on the developments. Both men agreed to continue searching for information on Rafael and Michael Garcia, but it was clear they were running out of places to look. All of the dead ends were chipping away at his confidence, and for the first time in months, Kadyn wondered if he would ever see Kri again.

  * * * * * *

  A week later, Kadyn took an afternoon off so he could drive into Senator Rockefeller’s office to collect Kri’s things. Kri’s friend, Patrick, brought a box of Kri’s belongings to the front office. Patrick shook Kadyn’s hand before he leaned in for an awkward hug. He walked Kadyn back to meet with the senator in his private office. Kadyn quickly updated the two men on the kidnapping investigation.

  Senator Rockefeller looked thoughtful as he studied Kadyn. “What can I do to help?”

  Kadyn shook his head. “I wish there was something you could do, but I honestly can’t think of anything more we can do.”

  Senator Rockefeller scowled. “I’ll put some pressure on the federal agents. I want to ensure they’re making this investigation a priority.”

  Kadyn nodded. “Thank you, sir. I’ll leave the name and number for the lead investigator with Jamie.”

  Senator Rockefeller’s face softened as he rose from his chair. “One of Kristine’s bills passed the Senate last month.” He smiled as he handed Kadyn an autographed copy of the Congressional Record Statement introducing the bill. There was a picture tucked in the bottom corner of the frame, a snapshot of Kri and the senator standing together and smiling at the camera. At five foot seven inches, Kri was hardly short, but the senator still managed to tower over her.

  Kadyn ran his hand over the words at the top of the framed document. “The Homeless Health Improvement Act,” he murmured thoughtfully. “Is this the bill that funds mobile medical services for the homeless?”

  Senator Rockefeller nodded. “Yes. This was the bill she was working on the night Justin Morris took her. This was the second time the bill came up for a vote. After it failed to pass the Senate last November, Kristine negotiated some rather creative amendments with Republican leaders on both the House and Senate side. It’s because of her efforts that the bill has now passed. I’m confident the bill will pass the House with little to no changes.” The senator patted Kadyn on the back. “It’s an incredible accomplishment from a remarkable young woman. I’ve never seen a bill like this pass in such a short amount of time. Thanks to Kri, hundreds of thousands of homeless people will soon have access to medical services.”

  Kadyn shook his head. “Thank you, sir. I’ll make sure Kri knows, and I’ll give her your gift as soon as she gets home.”

  Senator Rockefeller walked Kadyn and Patrick to Jamie’s desk. “Thank you, son. It’s a tragedy how much pain and violence you and Kristine have endured during this fellowship. My heart goes out to both of you. Please know that I am here to help. You need only call.”

  Kadyn was still marveling at Kri’s accomplishment and Senator Rockefeller’s kindness when he drove back home. He wondered if Kri was even aware her fellowship had ended.

  * * * * * *

  Kadyn turned twenty-five three days later. He had no interest in celebrating his birthday, but Cenia insisted on having a small gathering at her place. She bribed Kadyn with homemade lasagna and chocolate cake. The party was subdued, but it included nearly their entire circle of friends. The white elephant in the room was the one friend who was missing.

  The conversation turned to Kri shortly after Cenia served the cake. “I’m worried about how all of this is affecting you, Kadyn. I don’t even remember the last time I saw you smile,” Cenia observed softly.

  “What is there to smile about?” Kadyn asked drily.

  Mason eyed his friend warily. “Kadyn, you need to accept the fact that we may never find her. You can’t continue like this. Eventually, you are going to have to start living your life again. Maybe it’s time you considered dating other women.”

  Everyone in the room fell silent.

  Kadyn stood glaring at Mason. “I don’t have any intention of dating other women,” he bit back sharply. “Ever.”

  Mason rose from his chair. He began pacing in front of Kadyn. “You dated Kri for what... nine months? Kadyn, she has been gone for over four months now. You are twenty-five years old for Christ sake. How can you say that you’ll never date anyone else? What if you never find her? What if she has fallen in love with this guy and doesn’t want to be found? You need to stop and consider that Kri may have already moved on. For crying
out loud, the guy took her to a friggin’ coffee shop. She could have screamed for help. She could have tried to get away. She didn’t. Why do you think that is?”

  Cenia tried to step between the two men, but she was too late. Kadyn slammed his fist into Mason’s jaw and stalked out of the party. He left his furniture with Mason and moved the rest of his belongings into Kri’s apartment the next day.

  Chapter 21 – Forever and always

  When I woke the next morning, I discovered water table crackers, some candied ginger, a tea pot, and matching cup on the nightstand next to me. A soft pink rose adorned the small silver tray. I sat up slowly, hoping to avoid a repeat of the previous morning. My stomach turned when I reached a forty-five degree angle.

  As soon as I lowered myself, the nausea went away. I suddenly realized there was a very good reason why the tray of incredibly odd breakfast items was sitting right next to me instead of on the coffee table by the couch. I reached over and grabbed a couple of crackers. I scowled at the teapot, still perturbed by my inability to drink coffee.

  I was relieved that Michael was gone. I needed some time alone to think. I propped myself up on the pillows at a safe thirty degree angle and reluctantly reached for the tea. Mint and lavender filled the air as I poured the fragrant concoction into a delicate blue toile cup. I was surprised the tea smelled so good. I held the cup in front of my lips as I contemplated whether I might truly be pregnant.

  Although Michael seemed quite certain, I wasn’t entirely convinced. There had been a point in my mid-twenties when I thought I might be pregnant because my period was a week late. When I told my husband, he accused me of doing it on purpose. He hated the idea of having kids and had made it clear he didn’t want children. Ever. I wanted children, but I was terrified of having one with him, given his violent temper. I would never forget how angry he was when I told him. He raced down a narrow back road in his Fiat threatening to kill us both. He disconnected my seatbelt and tried shoving me out the passenger door. It was one of those days when I thought he might actually succeed in killing me.