by Amanda Stone
I thought for sure he would bleed out before the paramedics could get him to the hospital. They had rushed him into emergency surgery to repair the damage the bullet had caused to his most vital organs. It was touch-and-go a few times, but he had managed to pull through.
Nate hadn’t been as lucky as Kane. His injuries were far worse than the ones Kane’s had encountered and he had bleed to death before the police had even gotten there. I would carry the guilt of Nate’s death with me forever, just as I had my mom’s. Nate hadn’t been completely crazy. He was just spoiled and used to getting whatever he wanted, and what he wanted was me.
I brought the evil that had taken Nate’s life right to him. My father had been after me and he was willing to end anyone who got in the way of that. Nate taking me just so happened to present the perfect opportunity for my father to strike.
“I miss you, mom,” I whispered and I traced the date, seven years exactly now. When she first died, I felt like I would never be able to truly be happy again. How could I, after the way I had lost her?
I glanced over my shoulder at Kane, the right side of his mouth pulling up into a smile, causing that adorable dimple to sink deep into his cheek when it did. He slowly approached me, then knelt down beside me at my mom’s tombstone.
I laid my head on his shoulder and he took my wrist in his hand. I looked up at him, not sure what he was doing until I felt a coolness being draped across my wrist. When I looked down, I found a charm bracelet—no, not a charm bracelet. My charm bracelet.
Tears immediately pooled in my eyes and I struggled to speak. “I don’t understand. How did you get this?” I choked out. I was sure it had been lost when it was broken that night, but sure enough, here it was … every charm there, plus one.
I picked at the new charm, and Kane leaned in close. “That one is from me. I know this was something from your mom, and I will completely understand if you want to take it off, but the jewelry store I had taken the bracelet to, to have it repaired, had this charm and after everything … I couldn’t help but take it as a sign that you were meant to have that charm.”
I softly caressed the tiny dandelion with my fingertip. It was perfect. All this time the dandelion had represented my mom, and our longing to be set free from my dad, but it now also represented Kane. He had been the one to set me free, like the trapped dandelion seeds, all I needed was one tiny puff of air. Kane was my air.
I looked at him and thanked God that I hadn’t given up when I wanted to. That I chose to keep going even when it hurt too much. I was more certain now, than ever, that everything I had ever been through; I had been through for a reason. Because in the end, it had led me straight to him, to Kane. Straight to the one person who could help me find myself again. The person that would make me breathe again.
THE END
First and foremost I have to thank my husband, who has encouraged me to go after something that I never thought I would do. He has pushed me and made me believe in myself when I felt like giving up. Always cheering me on reassuring me that people would love Breathe into Me. I love you J.
My 2 beautiful babies. They may be 6 and 4 years old but they understood mommy was writing a book and would give me a few quite hours out of the day to work on it. What more could I ask for? I love you K & G!
My sister Nikki for ‘making’ me write Breathe into Me. Through her I developed my love for reading when I borrowed her Twilight books. When we were at a loss for the next book to read she suggested I write one. I never thought I actually would though. – Thank you sister for reading every little piece I sent you and being there for me when I had my panic attacks about releasing. ;)
To my best friend Molly. There are no words really. I cannot thank you enough for all you have done for me throughout this journey. I don’t think I would have ever really gotten to this point in my journey without you! I’m forever grateful and thankful for our friendship! <3 you so hard!
Janessa thank you for believing in me and BIM from the start and taking the time to read every little bit and piece I would randomly send you!
There are a few authors that have shared my pages and my teasers and helped me gain the following that I have. You know who you are and I need you to know that from the bottom of my heart I will never be able to thank you enough for the support you have shown a newbie like myself. It means more to me then you will ever know!
The blogs and bloggers that have supported me from day one, this book goes to you! Bloggers do not get the credit and acknowledgement for all the work that they do enough! Authors would be nowhere without bloggers!
Kim, Holly, Cris you have been there for me and pimped me from the day I made my pages for BIM. Thank you ladies! I <3 you so much!
Stacey B. and Nichele R. Thank you girls for reading BIM and helping me watch for my goof ups and being completely honest with me about my story! I appreciate it so much!
Tiffany F. and Heather C. you took the time to read BIM it its beginning stages to give me some honest feedback. Thank you girls!
To the newbie authors that have been on this journey with me – never give up! Look how far we have all come. I’m proud of you. I’m proud of me. If you believe in yourself enough you can make it happen! <3
When Amanda Stone is not writing she plays wife and mom to two wild kidlets. She lives in the beautiful state of Kentucky where she is a diehard University of Kentucky Basketball fan. At the end of the day when she is done being super mom you can find her curled up with a heating pad reading a good book.
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Playlist for Breathe into Me can be found on the author’s Spotify. Find Amanda Stone on Spotify and subscribe!
Amanda’s next book, Bittersweet, can be found on Goodreads.
COMING Winter 2013.
Table of Contents
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
Epilogue
Acknowledgments
About the Author
Table of Contents
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
Epilogue
Acknowledgments
About the Author
>
Amanda Stone, Breathe Into Me