The Broken Road (The Broken Series)

by Ruff, K. S.

  I smiled as Habib repeated my own words back to me. “I truly believe that, and I hope you do too. You did what you had to do to save Diwa. I’d offer you forgiveness, Habib, but I don’t think you have done anything that requires it. I’d like to offer my friendship instead.”

  Habib softly touched my hand. “That I will gladly accept.”

  The waitress set lamb kabobs and a plate filled with Kadu Chalua in front of us. She walked back to the kitchen and returned with white rice and a meat sauce that hinted at coriander and cumin. Habib identified the meat sauce as qurma. The waitress refilled our water glasses, then promptly disappeared into the back.

  Habib and I settled in to eat lunch. His eyes grew wide when I explained everything that had transpired in Trout Lake. Habib’s gaze shifted toward Kadyn when I finished describing the rescue efforts. “He must love you very much.”

  I glanced over at Kadyn and smiled. “Yes, Habib. I do believe he does.”

  Habib looked thoughtful. “Did he tell you what his friends did to Abdul?”

  My fork hung suspended in front of my mouth. “No.”

  A small smile tugged at Habib’s lips. “They wrapped his entire body in duct tape.”

  My jaw dropped. “His entire body?”

  Habib nodded. “It took Diwa and me over an hour to cut him out of that tape.”

  I scowled at Kadyn when his eyes met mine.

  He shrugged. Then he leaned back in his chair and folded his arms across his chest. He knew what I was scowling about, and he had no intentions of offering up an apology.

  Habib chuckled softly. “I told my brother he deserved much worse for threatening you with that gun.”

  When the waitress brought the check, Habib and I laughed, both recalling what had happened the first time we ate lunch together. I sat back in my chair as Habib reached for his wallet. He looked pleased that I was allowing him to pay the bill.

  I reached for his hand as we stood to leave. “Thank you, Habib… for everything.”

  Habib smiled as he squeezed my hand. “Thank you, Kristine. It is good to have my friend back.” He nodded politely at Kadyn as he joined us.

  My eyes flitted between the two men. “I’d like for all three of us to be friends.”

  Kadyn nodded. He reached for Habib’s hand. “I’d like that too.”

  Habib was visibly moved. His eyes moistened as he shook Kadyn’s hand. “I’d be honored to count you among my friends.”

  I laughed as I patted them both on the shoulder. “Good. Then the next time we go to lunch, the three of us can eat together. No separate tables.”

  Habib laughed. He opened the door to the restaurant and followed us outside. “Just as long as you don’t try to pay the bill.”

  I grinned at him. “Sorry, Habib. I’m not making any promises on that one.”

  Habib shook his head as he walked toward his cab, but I could see he was still smiling.

  Kadyn stopped just short of the jeep. He reached for my hips and pulled me in for a hug. “That went much better than I expected. Thanks for letting me tag along.”

  I linked my hands behind his neck. I rolled up to my tiptoes and kissed him softly on the lips. “In case you haven’t noticed, I kind of like having you around.”

  He smiled as he rubbed his nose against mine. “In case you haven’t noticed, the feeling is mutual.”

  As I gazed up at his handsome face, I was suddenly struck by how much we’d been through in two short months. “You know, God really does work in mysterious ways.”

  Kadyn smiled as he tugged me closer. “That he does.”

  * * * * * *

  Kadyn grew concerned about my recurring nightmares and my lingering fear of being alone, so he started spending the night at my house again. This time, he didn’t seek to increase the intimacy between us. He just held me as I slept and soothed me when the nightmares came. If he noticed that I would only kiss him with my eyes open, he didn’t say a word about it.

  The Senate took a long recess over the holidays, so I suddenly found myself with more free time than I could handle. Cenia convinced me to make handmade Christmas cards. She hauled me off to a craft store and loaded me up with a ridiculous amount of supplies. I was done in three days.

  Gabi had just finished up with final exams, so she took me out holiday shopping at Tyson’s Mall. Tysons wasn’t exactly a mall. It was two malls. And the people milling around both malls were completely insane. Noting the panic on my face, Gabi led me straight to Starbucks. She hooked me up with a peppermint white mocha with two extra shots of caffeine. When that didn’t do the trick, she dragged me into Coastal Flats for appetizers and wine. Shopping proved much easier after that. Although, I later questioned the rationale behind purchasing all of my friends red lace thongs for Christmas.

  Cenia, Marie, and I were brainstorming additional activities to keep me busy when we met up for lunch at Panera Bread the next day. We had been batting around numerous ideas.

  Marie’s face brightened as she reached for her cup of chai tea. “Why don’t we continue your tradition of baking cookies for one of the local homeless shelters?”

  “That’s a great idea!” Cenia exclaimed excitedly.

  I mulled over her suggestion as I warmed my hands by the fireplace. “I think I’d like to bake cookies for a battered women’s shelter instead.”

  “You know,” Marie said thoughtfully, “kids often join their moms at those shelters.”

  “That’s perfect,” Cenia said. I’ll track one down. She immediately began searching the Internet with her phone. “Found one!”

  I dipped a piece of bread into my curried pumpkin soup. “We need to make sure they accept homemade food donations, not all shelters do.”

  Cenia nodded as she dialed the phone. “Hi, my name’s Cenia. Some friends and I would like to bake Christmas cookies and bring them by your shelter within the next few days. Do you accept homemade food donations?” Cenia grew quiet. “She’s transferring me to the director,” she explained as she covered the phone.

  Marie and I exchanged glances.

  “Yes, thank you. I’m calling to see if you would accept a food donation of homemade Christmas cookies.” Cenia nodded as her eyes met mine. “Do you have children staying there?” Again, she nodded. “Sure. We’ll bring them by Thursday.” She smiled as she disconnected the call.

  “Yes!” Marie exclaimed. “Now, what kind of cookies do you girls want to make?”

  “Sugar cookies!” Cenia and I shouted, each trying to call dibs before the other.

  “Oh. That’s what I was thinking too,” Marie replied with a hint of disappointment.

  “Why don’t we just pick one recipe, instead of making three different kinds of sugar cookies?” I suggested, completely abandoning my soup.

  “Well, what are your recipes like?” Cenia asked hesitantly.

  “My sugar cookies are frosted, and they’re made with sour cream and nutmeg,” I revealed reluctantly. The sour cream sugar cookie recipe was a well-guarded family recipe, one that could only be shared with my mother’s consent.

  “Mine are more traditional, and they aren’t frosted. They have colored sugar sprinkled on top, and they practically melt in your mouth. What about yours?” Marie asked, turning her attention to Cenia.

  “My cookies are frosted, but they’re made with almond extract,” Cenia responded.

  “How do we decide which recipe to go with?” I inquired with mock innocence. I knew full well what the answer would be.

  Cenia’s face lit up.

  “Oh, no,” Marie groaned. “Here we go again.”

  * * * * * *

  Senator Rockefeller invited Kadyn and me to a Christmas Party at his home in DC. I was curious to see what the inside of his house looked like and excited about the opportunity to dress up. Gabi took me shopping, this time at a much smaller mall. She helped me pick out a breathtaking dress in midnight blue. The dress had thin straps that crisscrossed artfully across the back, so she insisted
I wear my hair up for the event.

  Gabi asked Kadyn to get ready at his place so we could surprise him with my dress. She had just finished helping me pull my hair into an elegant up-do, when Kadyn arrived.

  Gabi blocked the door to my bedroom when I moved to answer the door. “Oh, no you don’t. You’re staying right here. I’ll get the door while you slip into your dress. And I don’t want you coming out of your room right away. I want Kadyn to wait a little bit. Trust me, he’s not going to mind once he gets a load of you.” She winked before disappearing to answer the door.

  Gabi’s melodic voice trailed from the living room. “Hi, Kadyn. You look great. Kri will be out in a little bit. You don’t mind waiting, do you?”

  I smiled when I heard Kadyn respond, “Did you seriously just ask me that?”

  Gabi laughed as she strode back into my bedroom with two glasses of wine.

  “Can I go now?” I asked as my hands smoothed over the dress. “I’m starting to have flashbacks to my high school prom.”

  Gabi handed me a glass of wine, then plopped down on the bed. She began swinging her legs off the edge of the bed. “Nope. We’re just going to sit here and enjoy a glass of wine.”

  I tried to object as I slipped a pair of silver heels on. “But…”

  Gabi threw her hand up to cut me off. “A little anticipation goes a long way. Kadyn will be fine. Drink up!”

  She giggled as I sank into the arm chair next to my bed and took a sip of wine. “I can’t believe I’m making him wait,” I whispered nervously. Kadyn was strangely silent, and I had no clue what he was doing to entertain himself in the living room.

  Kadyn popped his head inside my doorway. “You girls having a good time in here?”

  Gabi gasped. “Kadyn, you weren’t supposed to come look!”

  My eyes widened as Kadyn’s broad shoulders filled the doorway. The tux looked like it had been designed with Kadyn in mind. I couldn’t believe how well the cut emphasized his muscular shoulders and trim waist. “You look amazing,” I whispered as I set my wine glass on the nightstand and stood. Desire pooled from my abdomen to my toes as I closed the distance between us.

  Kadyn appeared to be at a loss for words. His eyes swept over my dress.

  I froze just a few steps in front of him, then smiled as I turned around. “Do you like it?”

  “Kri,” he said brokenly.

  Goose bumps scurried down my back. Kadyn had said my name the same exact way the first night we met, when he walked me to Mickey’s car. My heart clenched as our eyes met.

  Kadyn captured my hand as I reached for his face. He kissed the inside of my palm. “I have never seen anything as beautiful as you.”

  “Ahhhh,” Gabi sighed from the bed.

  Kadyn and I exchanged looks, then laughed. “Shall we?” he asked as he tucked my hand into the crook of his arm.

  I nodded as Gabi handed me the silver pashmina that had been draped over the side of my bed. “Thanks, Gabi!”

  “I expect a full report in the morning,” she responded as she followed us through the front door.

  “Sure,” Kadyn answered. He tucked me into his car. “You be sure and hold your breath while I work on that report.”

  Gabi just laughed and waved as she walked back to Mason and Kadyn’s place.

  “I don’t know about that girl,” Kadyn said as he joined me in the car.

  I smiled. “I like her. A lot. Do you think she and Mason will ever admit they’re dating?”

  Kadyn smiled as he pulled away from the curb. “Mason’s thinking about proposing.”

  I gasped. “Are you serious?”

  He nodded.

  “That’s awesome. They’re perfect together,” I responded happily.

  “He thinks she’ll be more surprised by the proposal if he’s still refusing to admit they’re dating.”

  I just shook my head. “That sounds like Mason.”

  “I don’t think they’re the only ones we’ll see engaged next year,” Kadyn predicted.

  “Cenia and Roger?” I asked.

  “Yep.” He chuckled. “The jury’s still out on which couple will get married first.”

  I laughed. “Maybe I’ll get another opportunity to wear this dress after all.”

  Kadyn’s face grew serious. “You have to promise me you’ll wear that dress again.”

  I smiled. “Only if you promise to buy that tux. I’m going to want to see you in that again. Soon.”

  Kadyn pulled my hand to his lips. “Is New Year’s Eve soon enough?”

  “For what?” I murmured, completely distracted by the feel of his lips brushing teasingly across my fingers. As innocent as the gesture was, there wasn’t a single part of my body that didn’t feel that kiss.

  Kadyn laughed. “I’m asking you out for New Year’s Eve.”

  My eyes widened. “You’ll wear the tux?”

  Kadyn nodded as he brought the car to a stop. He gave our names to the security guard in the gatehouse just outside Senator Rockefeller’s property. The guard checked our names against a list, then waved us through.

  “Where are we going?” I asked curiously.

  Kadyn eased his car through the gate. “To Senator Rockefeller’s house, where else?”

  I thumped him in the arm with my clutch. “For New Year’s Eve!”

  “Oh, I think I’ll keep that under wraps for now. You know, a little anticipation goes a long way…”

  I gave him an indignant look. “Hey! Gabi’s the one who said that. Not me!”

  Kadyn laughed as he pulled into the large circular driveway. He handed his keys to the parking valet, then walked around the passenger side to help me step out of the car. He tucked my hand into the crook of his arm as he led me up the wide marble steps.

  The butler took our coats before ushering us into the living room. The place was packed with elegantly dressed people. I peered through the crowd, trying to identify a familiar face.

  Kadyn kept my hand tucked snuggly inside the crook of his arm as he snagged a glass of white wine from a cater waiter and inquired about a Sprite. He handed me the wine, then kissed me on the top of the head. “You really do look breathtaking, Kri.”

  I stopped scouring the crowd so I could look at Kadyn. The waiter returned with the Sprite just as Kadyn was leaning in to kiss me. Kadyn smiled as he accepted the Sprite. “Just so you know, I’ll be collecting on that kiss later.” His tone suggested he’d be collecting far more than a kiss.

  “There she is!” Senator Rockefeller exclaimed as he approached with a pretty blond woman. “This is my newest staffer, Kristine. She’s the one spearheading the bill that will deliver mobile medical care to the homeless. Kristine, I’d like you to meet my wife, Sharon.”

  I shook Mrs. Rockefeller’s hand. “It’s nice to meet you, Mrs. Rockefeller. This is my boyfriend, Kadyn.”

  Senator Rockefeller reached for Kadyn’s hand. “Captain Rand. I’m pleased to finally meet you. I want to thank you for your rather heroic efforts to find and free Kristine.”

  Kadyn shook Senator Rockefeller’s hand. “We couldn’t have done it without your help, sir. Thank you for letting us use your plane.”

  Mrs. Rockefeller reached for Kadyn’s hand. “My husband has told me all about you. You are a remarkable young man.”

  My eyes met Kadyn’s. “That he is,” I agreed.

  “You two have fun,” Senator Rockefeller said as he patted my shoulder. Then he and his wife ambled away to greet another guest.

  Kadyn and I circulated among the other guests as we sampled hors d'oeuvres and looked for my colleagues.

  “Kristine, over here!” Jamie called out. Patrick, Jonathan, and Jamie were standing just in front of the piano.

  There were so many people packed into the living room that it took some time to reach them. “You look beautiful,” I told Jamie as I gave her a quick hug. “Emerald green is definitely your color.”

  Patrick shook hands with Kadyn before giving me a hug. Jonathan did the
same.

  “You guys clean up nice,” I said teasingly.

  “You don’t look half bad yourself,” Jonathan needled back.

  “What do you think of the house?” Patrick asked.

  I studied the décor a bit more closely. “It’s lovely. I’m surprised by all the color. I was expecting something much more subdued.”

  Patrick nodded. “Me too.”

  “You should check out the artwork in the hallway,” Jamie suggested, “and just outside the bathroom.”

  “Where is the bathroom?” Kadyn asked.

  “That way,” Jonathan pointed. He snagged a glass of wine from a nearby waiter.

  “Do you want to go check it out?” I asked Kadyn.

  “Sure,” he agreed, offering me his arm.

  I waved at Jonathan, Patrick, and Jamie as Kadyn pulled me into the crowd. “We’ll see you later,” I called over my shoulder.

  Kadyn led me to the other side of the room before ducking down a long hallway.

  I stopped short of the painting just outside the bathroom door. “No way. Is that what I think it is?”

  Kadyn nodded. “That’s an original Picasso.”

  I shook my head in disbelief. “I would have never guessed you could own this kind of art. I thought it was all held in museums.”

  He shrugged. “Senator Rockefeller probably loans his art collection to museums.”

  Kadyn ducked inside the bathroom, so I continued on down the hallway, which was far less crowded than the living room. The walls were lined with original paintings, which were displayed under small spotlights. I stopped in front of a painting of Monet’s gardens. Monet was my favorite artist. I had two of his prints hanging inside my apartment. This was not a print. This was one of his original oil paintings, a canvas that Monet had actually touched. I was still staring at the painting when Kadyn walked up behind me and kissed my shoulder.

  “I want to touch it,” I confessed, “but I can’t.”

  “Why not?” Kadyn asked, glancing at the painting.

  “It’s too beautiful,” I whispered.

  “I know what you mean,” he murmured softly.

  I tore my eyes from the painting so I could look at Kadyn. My breath caught at his heated gaze. My body swayed instinctively toward his.