His expression was sadistically comforting in a way, like he was easing me into the afterlife with the gentle reassurance of things that would come soon.
“You’re the beautiful number ten,” he whispered, before my eyes closed again.
The pain on my chest eased then started again.
“This is precisely how it should be for us. He may have enjoyed you in life, but he’ll never be with you in death. I’ll always remember you. I’m the one that will always love you.”
I shuddered as I took a deep breath and screamed at him with all the rage for the things he'd done. With anger that came from deep within, for what he was doing to Cade.
Opening my eyes, I saw him lean over, then the world seemed to explode. There was the awful sound of the door slamming open behind him. I thought I heard a roar, but it was more than that, it was a painful guttural noise coming from somewhere. I couldn’t move my head enough to see what it was.
Garrett’s head turned toward the sound, then he flew to the wall beside me, howling in pain. I could only stare at his face, not comprehending what hallucination I must be having.
The only thing that I could see, was the man who I hated most right now, and he was struggling to get up.
A fist landed in his face as he kicked out at something. Blood began trickling out of his nose when he lunged at someone standing above him.
I shut my eyes and listened to the snarling sound of two people ripping each other apart. Things crashed to the floor, the couch beside me moved. Terrible noises filtered through my foggy brain, and all the shouting was enough to drive me senseless.
My eyes fluttered open to see Cade wrestling with Garrett on the floor. Garrett’s arm was clenched around Cade’s neck and Cade was struggling against him.
Cade kicked his legs out furiously, his face a mask of fury. When he rolled over, Garrett lost his grip and they moved out of my vision.
Something smashed in the living room behind me.
“You motherfucker!” Cade bellowed. “What the fuck have you done to her?!”
“Just setting things right, brother,” Garrett hissed. “Now you can be free to be who you really are.”
“What kind of garbage shit are you spewing? Tell me what the fuck you just did!”
Garrett laughed in a deep, evil way. “It’s not garbage, Caden. It’s an awakening to your past. Dig deep and I’m sure you can find the answers. Unless all those years of alcohol and beatings really has destroyed your memories of our loving childhood.”
“Holy fuck. You look just like him.”
“Our father? That’s not nice, Caden. Not after all the little gifts I’ve given you.”
“Those weren’t gifts, you asshole,” Cade hissed. “You’re just a crazy fuck that likes to hurt women.”
“You wanted her to die just as much as I did. And with all that red hair, I would have thought that, you of all people, would connect the two. She is dead, by the way, fire is a nasty way to go.”
“Shut the fuck up, Garrett. I should have known you’d do something just as sick as them. Should have clocked your ass a long time ago and put you out of your freakish misery.”
“Sick but alive, Caden,” Garrett responded. “I’ve embraced who I am, but have you? We’re bred from the same twisted genes, brother. What life do you have that isn’t touched by them in some way?”
“You’re not my brother, asshole. You were dead to me a long time ago.”
There was no response from Garrett, then sounds of fists hitting flesh began again. There was a scraping sound, then a loud thump from somewhere and no more sounds.
I breathed in air steadily, trying to remain calm, but I was terrified for Cade. He was a big man, with plenty of muscle to fight anyone, but Garrett wasn’t a drunken bar patron at a club.
When the sounds ceased, there was a moment that seemed suspended in time before I heard something clatter on the floor.
I closed my eyes briefly, then felt a hand on my arm, gently rubbing. When my eyes fluttered open, Garrett grinned down at me.
My heart dropped into my stomach, and I wanted to scream.
“Guess my brother doesn’t like my gift,” he said. His face was red with exertion, his nose was clearly broken. Blood dripped out of his mouth, and he used the back of his hand to wipe it away. “No problem, though. It just changes things.”
My lips started to tremble slightly with fear for what he might have done to Cade. I didn’t hear him in the room.
Garrett ran a hand down my cheek, and if I’d had one ounce of strength left, I would have leapt back from his touch.
A tear slipped from the corner of my eye, and he rubbed it away with his thumb. His expression was thoughtful for a moment as he looked at me.
“I wish we’d had more time together, sweet Suzanne. Maybe you’d find a way to cry for me, instead of your dead lover.”
I made a keening noise as another tear slipped across my cheek.
“No matter,” he said, as he leaned back and brushed his hands over his pants. It was as if he'd moved on and was done with what he needed to do. One task off his daily agenda.
He stood up and moved out of my field of vision. I heard him moving around in the kitchen briefly, then he came back and knelt down.
“I have to go. I’ve stayed too long as it is. I wasn’t expecting the birthday boy to be back today. I thought they had enough evidence to at least hold him another few days. At least until you were found. Of all the women I’ve had the pleasure of meeting, you were the most perfect, Suzanne. Perfect in life, but not in death. I’ll always remember you, and I doubt you’ll ever forget me.”
With his parting remark, he walked back to the kitchen and I heard the backdoor slam shut.
Laying there, listening to the sounds outside, waiting for him to come back, was terrifying. After a time, my breathing slowed, and I closed my eyes.
The smell of smoke registered before I heard something that sounded like a crackling sound in the kitchen. It wafted through the air so subtly that, had I not already met the sadistic man that had just left, I might not have thought much of it.
He’d set fire to the house in some final farewell to both of us. Maybe he hoped that I would think of him in my last moments, but the only thing I felt was anger that I couldn’t move.
There were shouts coming from somewhere outside, but I couldn’t call out. The only sound that left my lips, was a small humming, before I felt the drug’s effects pulling me under. I fought it, struggled against it with everything I had.
Shouting inside the house filled my ears, and deep voices. A yell emanated from somewhere near me.
The next sensation I felt was that of someone shaking me.
“Get the fuck away from her,” someone growled.
I was pulled up into a pair of arms and gently rocked.
“Baby, please open your eyes. Please don’t give up. Don’t leave me,” a familiar voice pleaded. But it couldn’t be who I thought it was, unless I was already dead and dreaming.
I felt like a ragdoll, jostled around, my arms were raised by hands I couldn’t see. More noises, sirens, moving as if I was floating. Something felt like it was searing my chest.
All the while, I concentrated on one breath after the other.
I had to live, had to live, had to live.
It was like a steady thought that beat to the same rhythm of my heart. There were things I needed to do. People I needed to love. Things I wanted for myself.
Slipping over the edge of consciousness, I tumbled into a deep abyss of nothing again.
When I woke again, I heard hushed voices around me, and a large hand squeezed mine. It felt comforting, so I willed my hand to return the gesture, and surprisingly felt my fingers move.
“Suzie?” Cade’s voice said somewhere near me.
I let out a small groan, feeling groggy as ever. The voices in the room quieted. The only remaining sound was something that rhythmically beeped.
A cold hand touched my ar
m, then an unfamiliar voice was speaking about vitals and waiting. I heard the words but didn’t understand most of what he said.
The only thing that mattered to me was the fact that Cade was here somewhere. Worried, from the tone of his voice, but safe.
A kiss was placed on my temple and I breathed in Cade’s distinct woodsy scent. His mouth peppered me with light kisses then dropped to my ear.
“The drugs are wearing off, pretty girl. It’s just going to take some time.”
I hummed again in response, trying to form coherent words.
“Mom,” I managed to whisper after a moment.
His hand softly ran over my hair. “She’s okay. She was out with the neighbors. It was a shock when we told her what happened, but she’s fine. Charming the hospital staff downstairs with Olivia.”
“Garrett,” I managed to whisper.
“We can talk about it later, baby.”
“No,” I whispered.
He chuckled softly. “That’s my girl. Stubborn as fuck. You wake up and the first thing you do is start arguing.”
“Ass,” I whispered.
He gave me a gentle kiss near my ear before responding. “You don’t have to fight me all the time, you know. I got you now, anything you want it’s yours.”
“Garrett,” repeated. I needed to know what happened to him, where he went.
Cade sighed. “Okay, then you sleep.”
I hummed an answer.
“He took off, don’t know where yet. He clocked me with your baseball bat, otherwise I would have killed him. Might have been the best thing he ever did in his worthless life. Can’t believe we’re even related.”
His hand brushed against my cheek gently and I let out a sigh.
“I got out of custody and came straight to you. Aiden’s guys didn’t think he was a threat when you let him in. Guarantee there’s going to be some people that lose their jobs. Otherwise, I’ll be taking care of it myself.”
“No more,” I whispered, as my eyes fluttered open.
He sighed and laid his head on mine. “I can’t help it. You’re everything to me. If I’d lost you, I don’t know what I would have done. I can’t stand the thought of someone hurting you. I know that’s fucked, but I don’t know how else to be.”
I took a deep breath and raised my hand to the back of his neck.
“I got there, and something didn’t feel right. I looked through the window and he was there. You had blood all over you. I was scared out of my mind. They’ll catch him, though, he won’t be running for much longer. Brock is pulling strings, and the FBI is letting him for once, with permission.”
Knowing just a little bit about Garrett, I knew that he would never give up in trying to destroy Cade. And I hoped that Cade in turn, wouldn’t pull some disappearing act to find him.
Someone came into the room, and spoke to Cade for a moment, while his thumb kept brushing over my cheek.
His lips found my temple for a quick kiss again when he was done.
Staring into my eyes, he whispered, “I love you. You’re such a fighter, and it’s one of the things that makes me love you. I’ve never met anyone else like you and I never will. Just remember that you’re beautiful to me, and you always will be. When this is over, we’re getting married, sunshine.”
My eyebrow lifted.
“Don’t argue, eventually I’ll win.”
I hummed my displeasure at his assumption that I would say yes. Meanwhile my heart swelled with happiness. Not that I was going to tell him outright, or at least for a few weeks. I’d make him work for it. That’s exactly the kind of woman I was, and he knew it. Anything less would set a precedent in his mind that he could actually get away with demanding compliance. He could try but he wouldn’t always win.
He rolled his eyes. “So fucking stubborn. I’ll make sure to ask when you’re in a sex haze next time. You’ll be so worn out that you won’t say no.”
My eyes narrowed at him. He had a point.
Smirking he said, “I’m here and I’ll be staying in the room with you tonight, so you can sleep. You never have to worry about anything again. I’ll always be here.”
With that my eyes drifted shut thinking of just him. Not the threat Garrett still posed. Not the worries of my past. Just him. Cade. Alive, healthy, and happy. And the woman standing next to him would be me.
Epilogue
Six months later…
Fiddling with my halter top dress, I stared in the mirror at myself in the mirror and frowned. Dark green was normally my color, but I still wasn’t quite sure this was the right dress today. I kept pulling it up and adjusting it in frustration.
Letting out a deep sigh, I checked my makeup again. Everything was nearly perfect. My hair was piled on my head and cascaded down my back. I had my favorite pair of earrings on that were a gift last month from Cade. The man had finally gotten a yes from me about getting married, and he'd been showering me with jewelry every week since.
Knowing I wasn’t a high maintenance person with clothes, or just about anything else, he'd made it impossible to refuse with my mother standing in the room each and every time he produced something new.
Stubborn man.
I pulled the top of the dress up again and let out a frustrated sigh. It would have to do.
Turning, I found Cade leaning against the bedroom door, eyes twinkling with an amused smile on his face.
“I should have picked a different dress,” I remarked.
He straightened and walked over to me slowly, taking me in with a lingering glance from head to toe.
“You’re gorgeous, as always, sunshine,” he said, as he paused in front of me. His hands reached out and rubbed my arms gently. “Let me show you.”
He turned me around to the mirror again, so that I was looking at both of us. Him in a black suit behind me, leaning over to kiss the side of my neck.
“We’re not having sex twenty minutes before our damn wedding, Cade. I swear to God if you fuck up my hair, I will poison your ass.”
He smiled against my skin and chuckled darkly. “Would never dream of it. As it is, one bout of food poisoning was enough for me this year.”
I rolled my eyes. “It looked like it was cooked all the way through. Are we talking about this again? I think I need to change.”
“You can wear whatever you want, babe. You know it doesn’t matter to me if you wear cut off shorts and flipflops. I just want you to become my wife today. That’s all that matters.”
Blinking at his reflection in the mirror, I reminded myself for the millionth time, how lucky I was. What this man saw in me was beyond what I’d ever hoped someone ever would. He was my best friend, lover, and the one man that I admired the most.
I pulled the top up again subtly and glanced at him.
“You’re worked up over nothing, babe,” he said as he ran his hands over my shoulders.
Looking in the mirror at my chest, my eyes roamed over the scar Garrett had left. It was an ugly reminder of what had happened, and I was a little shy when it came to exposing it to anyone but Cade. The scarring had been minimal due to some phenomenal healing, but it was still ugly.
Luckily, Cade had interrupted Garrett before he had completed carving a “10” into my skin. It looked more like a “C” to Cade, as the zero was incomplete. And in typical Cade fashion, he had talked me into getting an elaborate tattoo of a “C” to disguise it somewhat. It bordered the scar and to anyone that glanced quickly at it, they wouldn’t notice. It was still there, though, and it made me self-conscious.
Garrett was sitting in a federal prison, pending a trial date for the murders he’d committed. When Agent Kennedy had caught up with him, it'd ended with an agent dead, and Garrett wounded. He had led them on a chase across the state then a standoff. I was thankful that Cade didn’t kill him, but I wondered some days whether it would have been an easier conclusion to the nightmarish havoc he’d caused. I knew that we’d both have to testify against him, and it was hard to imagine
what that day would look like. The tattoo on my chest was a reminder, that no matter what he’d done to us, he hadn’t won in tearing us apart.
Cade’s hand slipped down over the tattoo and he smiled. “There’s a beautiful woman in the mirror right now, and you know what?”
“What?” I asked grudgingly.
He slipped his hand off the tattoo and stepped back. “There still is.”
Rolling my eyes, I turned toward him and grabbed his hand. “Let’s go, before I start balling all over the place.”
He chuckled and let me pull him into the hallway. “You’re really cute when you start crying.”
“Please! Being pregnant has made me a complete mess. I don’t think I’ve ever cried so much in my life. I cried at a fucking pet store commercial the other day.”
He laughed and stepped into the living room of his house with me. “I know, I saw you. Are you sure you want to name the baby, Landon?”
“Why wouldn’t I be?”
“Marcus sounds better.”
“Two words. Hell. No.”
As we stepped further into the room, we were greeted by family. Not blood relatives, but the family we chose to love.
All in suits and dresses, they were gorgeous company. Aiden and Holden were leaning against one of the walls near the entrance. Logan had his arms wrapped around Kate as they looked through the window into the back yard. Liv, Julia, and my mother were laughing about something on the couch. And by the embarrassed features and red cheeks on Andi’s face, Brock was whispering something naughty into her ear as they stood by the kitchen.
My mother saw me first and smiled proudly. “You look beautiful, sweetie.”
The girls walked over, each giving me a smile. The guys gravitated toward the entrance and looked like they were amused by something. Knowing them a little better now, it was probably something crass.
Each was so different in eye and hair color. None of them the same in height. Even the things they wore and the way the spoke was dissimilar. Even with all the times I had seen them together in the past, it surprised me how much I really didn’t notice how close they were back then.
Damage: (Lakefield Book 5) Page 23