Fractured Hearts (Shattered Lives, Book Three)

by Blakeley, Rissa

  Roger had to be Henry’s father, which would explain the vested interest in him. The sorrow she felt for Henry seeped from her chest and drained straight through her soul.

  He had no idea, would never know, and she was thankful for that.

  “So…now that we are alone, let’s get to know one another,” he laughed. Elaina tried to call him an asshole, but she was still gagged. “You will have to speak clearer, love, because I can’t understand a lick of what you’re saying. Tell you what. I will remove your gag, but if you scream again, I will stuff something else in your mouth. Understood? Plus, there’s no point in screaming since Liam isn’t around to attempt to be the hero again.”

  Roger leaned forward and stuck one finger around the gag, pulling. The damp cloth fell around her neck. She took several breaths as he lowered himself back into the chair.

  “Magnificent taste in woman.” He groaned and rubbed his hands together. “You aren’t quite as voluptuous as I imagined, but you will do.” Elaina shuddered. He stood and knelt in front of her. “Aw… Come on, love. If you can fuck a half-dead freak, you will enjoy a real man.” She did her best not to let him get to her, but she spit in his face. “That was a mistake!”

  In a blink, Roger backhanded her. A burning welt raised on her cheek. Tears dripped from her eyes, only to sting it further.

  Roger straddled the chair again. He licked his lips and looked her all over. “I wonder how long it will be before he shows his ungrateful, worthless arse.”

  Maybe he isn’t dead. Elaina had a small amount of hope, but she didn’t want to show it. Then she found her voice. “Why did you do this?”

  He smiled. “Why not? I’m going to saunter in like a hero. Providing relief efforts to those who’ve survived. Killing the unkillable. Saving the rest of the population. It’s delicious, isn’t it? Think of the recognition and power I’ll have.” He smirked, relishing in his words. Elaina didn’t understand his line of thinking. She didn’t see any way he could come out on top of the atrocity he caused. “They will want all sorts of help and I have the ability to provide that.”

  “It’s sick. You make as much sense as taking an iced drink into hell. And that’s exactly where you are going! It will not work as you see it! Have you seen the state of the country? I have and there is nothing left!” He laughed. “How could you do this to your own son?” she growled.

  Roger’s eyes flickered with surprise. “Well, well, well,” he purred. “Look who excels at maths and can put two and two together. And so bloody quickly. Well done, bird.” He laughed as he patronized Elaina with short, quick applause. “After all these years, Liam…or, shall I say, Luke…never figured it out. Brilliant, my love. Absolutely fucking brilliant.”

  “I’m not your love, you demented bastard,” she snarled.

  “Ohhh, honey,” he groaned. He adjusted the arousal in his pants, making her want to vomit. “Keep acting all angry like that. It makes me want you that much more.” He grinned. There was a knock on the door. “Be right back, sweetie. Don’t go anywhere and, remember, no screaming.” He chuckled.

  Elaina shuddered again.

  Roger opened the door to his cabin. “Sir. We’ve tracked Finlay and Gabriel for you. Their position hasn’t changed for quite some time. You have to track Liam and Gunther, though. We can’t on our system.”

  They were true dead. That gave Elaina even more hope that Henry was still alive. Wait… Track Henry and Gunther?

  “I knew he would make them true dead. They were baggage. No loss on my end. I will check his position in a few.” Then the door slammed shut again. Elaina was riddled with fear as Roger swaggered up to her. “You know, you should feel lucky and gracious because I think I will cut you a break tonight. I have other plans and promises to keep.” Roger smiled wickedly. She wasn’t sure from where his change of heart came. He walked over to his desk and picked up a phone. “Niles, grab Anne and bring her in here. Then I want you to take Liam’s whore down to the cell blocks.” He slammed down the phone.

  Anne…? Oh, please don’t let it be Henry’s mom.

  Minutes later, there was another knock. Roger strut to the door. “Ah, yes. Thank you.”

  “Please, no. Not again,” the woman cried. “Please, don’t. I beg you.”

  “Oh, Anne, you know I don’t like groveling unless it’s for your life,” Roger said as he stroked her sunken cheek. “You better behave yourself or you will get more than you ask for. You know I need my nightcap. Especially after tonight. What a fantastic evening this has turned out to be.” The frail woman was pushed into the room. Roger grabbed her by the arm and made her face Elaina. “Anne, meet your son’s love.”

  Elaina was in as much shock as Anne was. “How’s Luke? How’s my lad?” Her voice was panicked. “Is he all right? Alive? Please say yes!”

  Roger wiped her around and slapped her, making her crash to the floor. “We don’t talk to other prisoners, Anne! You know the rules!”

  She bowed her head. “Yes…yes, sir. I’m sorry. I won’t speak to her again.”

  Elaina began to cry again. The poor woman was being abused at the hands of that monster. Her heart ached for Henry’s mother and feared for her own destiny. The years of torture she must have endured made Elaina’s hopes dwindle further.

  “Niles, take this one,” Roger barked. “I have matters to conduct here.”

  Niles grabbed Elaina by the arm and dragged her out of the room. The door slammed shut and Roger’s rage was transparent through the walls. When Anne screamed, Elaina shook all over.

  “Never mind them. She’s a whore and likes to be dominated.” Niles dragged her up one set of stairs, back to the deck, then down another set into the dark, unforgiving bowels of the ship. When he opened the doors, the smell of death and bodily fluids slapped her in the face, taking her breath away.

  Niles tossed her into a cell, then unbound her hands.

  “Henry will find us and kill all of you,” she snarled. He causally walked out of the cell like he had no care in the world, locking the door behind him.

  “Sure he will. He’ll waltz right in here and be the hero. That’s exactly what we’re expecting. Then we’ll take him home and give him a full work over before we let him turn. Simple. Get your rest, honey. Roger likes his morning fuck. Maybe when he’s done, I can have a go. You’re fit with your fiery attitude.” He chuckled and headed back to the stairs.

  When he opened the door to the stairwell, Elaina could hear Henry’s mother screaming and crying. Rattled deep to her core, she lowered herself onto the floor, tucked herself into the back corner of the cell, and sobbed.

  As the ship listed against the dock, the steel groaned, making Elaina slide against the bars of the next cell. Thankfully, it was unoccupied, but the others seemed to have residents. There was a variety of sounds echoing in the dank space: growling, moaning, low mumbling, crying, retching.

  This was the sickest fucking shit she had ever witnessed. Elaina curled into herself, praying that Henry was alive and could rescue her.

  Chapter 51

  Gunther shuffled up to Henry who was passed out on the cot. “How’s it going here?”

  “It’s going. This is a nasty gash. I just hope he doesn’t get an infection. If he does…” She shook her head.

  “Right. Well, let’s not think of that right now. I’m going to run and check on all the kids. Are you all right here for the moment?”

  “Yes, I can handle it.” Her body shivered when he touched her shoulder before he left the clinic. “Once I get this finished,” Cora said to James, “we need to wake him so he can drink.” She glanced over her shoulder at Thomas’ lifeless body. “That poor boy,” she murmured. “I can’t stand all this death.”

  Cora tied the last few stitches, sterilized the wound again, and wrapped his shoulder. When she rubbed her hand over Henry’s head, he groaned.

  Cora’s voice rang through the blackness in my head.

  “Henry, wake up. I’m all finished. It’s time for
you to drink.”

  I stirred and opened my eyes. Cora and James helped me sit up. My face hurt and I shuddered from the pain in my shoulder. Cora handed me a full bag. I needed it.

  “Thanks.” My voice was heavy with sleep.

  She patted me on the knee. “No problem. Just be careful and keep that shoulder covered. Try not to overexert yourself.”

  Suddenly feeling the need to hurry, I sucked down the bag in seconds, swallowing quickly. The euphoria hit me hard and fast. Closing my eyes, I rested my head against the wall and groaned. “Fuck…,” I whispered, then moved my head back and forth, feeling the physical tension disappear in my neck. When I opened my eyes, James and Cora were standing in front of me.

  “How are you feeling?” she asked.

  My lips parted and Cora backed up a little. “Better. My shoulder’s throbbing, though.” I tried circling it, but stopped because of the searing pain.

  “I bet. The gash is quite nasty. I did what I could. I don’t know if it will heal properly, and I’m crossing my fingers that you don’t get an infection.”

  “Well, thank you. I appreciate your care. Now I need to go find Elaina.” Swallowing hard, I glanced over at the cot Thomas’ body was on. I teared up, knowing it was my fault he was gone. After clearing my throat, I said, “When I get back, we will bury Thomas.” Sliding off the cot, my feet hit the floor. Standing, I almost fell over.

  “Whoa. Sit back down. Let yourself take a few breaths first,” James advised.

  I glowered at him. “My wife is out there. I have to find her!”

  “I realize that, but you can’t find her in your state.” He held his hands in front of me.

  “You think you can stop me, tosser? Even in my darkest times, I could kick your fucking ass.” I stood again, more stable this time. James backed away as my glare burned straight through him. “Now, if you will excuse me, my wife needs me.”

  “Henry, James is right,” Cora said. “You can’t go out on your own.”

  My eyes never left his face. “I would crawl a thousand miles to save my wife. No one…not Gunther, not an army of undeads, not Roger…will stop me from getting to her. I will murder in cold-blood to get her back. Understood?” It was a low blow, but I had to get my point across. Plus, it was the goddamn truth.

  Cora looked at James, Jake, and Chris. They all shrugged, then Chris got up. “I’ll go with you.”

  “Me, too.” Jake stood, as well. “I bet others would volunteer, too.”

  “Well, we can’t stop you,” Cora sighed.

  “You’re bloody fucking right about that. Thank you for your help.” I nodded at her.

  Forgetting about my injury, I reached for my vest. The heaviness of it pulled down on my arm, forcing a hiss through my teeth. Without another second wasted, I stalked out of the clinic, still a bit unsteady on my feet.

  Feeling raw hatred envelope my entire being, I was on a fucking mission with a killing spree written into my future plans. I was going to get my wife back if it was the last thing I did.

  The further I walked, the quicker my steps became. My balance improved greatly. The blood intake was helping. Storming down the hall, I opened the door to our room.

  Stopping in the doorway, I could smell her…feel her. My hands shook as trepidation and ire were taking over the bit of control I had left.

  “Is there anything you want us to do?” Chris’ voice startled me, not realizing they were so close behind me.

  I turned around, jaw clenched. “Help me find my wife.”

  Chris reached out and grabbed my good arm. “We will. We’ll bring her home.”

  With a nod, tears filled my weary eyes. “I, uhh… I need a minute. Head to the weapons room. I’ll be there in a few.” Chris and Jake nodded, leaving me to have a moment of privacy.

  After closing the door, I leaned against it. Each breath I struggled to suck in made my chest feel as if it were going to tear apart. “Elaina… Please, love. Fight. Don’t give up. I’m coming for you.” Covering my face, the emotions seeped out. My sobs wracked my already battered body.

  All I could think of was Roger hurting my beautiful wife. It terrified me that he would do to her like he did to Sophie. I grabbed the first thing I saw and threw it across the room and against the wall. The spine of the textbook split and pages floated through the air, fluttering to the ground one-by-one in the deafening silence.

  “Not my Elaina! Not her…,” I cried, wiping my face with my arm.

  Time to gear up and kick some motherfucking ass.

  I centered myself. Driven to the brink, but focused. Ignoring the vivid pain in my shoulder, I found a t-shirt, threw on my vest, and put on a hoodie. Then I pulled on my ball cap. I picked up one of her shirts and inhaled her scent, filling my nasal passages with the one scent that made my knees buckle. My love. My anger grew fiercer than ever before and that was what was going to carry me to her no matter the pain or fatigue.

  Turning, I stalked out the door of our room, determination festering in my soul and seeping through my body. I swung open the door to the weapons room and everyone from the community was there. They went silent, words and cries hanging on their lips when they saw my angst-driven behavior.

  “As you have probably heard…” Pacing, I took a few deep breaths, then choked out, “my…amazing wife is missing. Anyone who wants to join me in the search is welcome. I advise you that your life will be in jeopardy. I absolutely will not guarantee that everyone will make it back alive…including myself. Fair warning. We are dealing with some serious shit here. I’m relatively sure they took her to the ship that is waiting to take Gunther and me back.” They all looked at each other. “We are not abandoning you. Nor are we taking off on that ship. We are going to fucking storm it and get my wife back. Seek them out and avenge the deaths of Quinn, now Thomas, and everyone who has died amongst the population. Revenge is mine and it’s going to be bloody sweet.”

  I was a total fucking wreck, but angry at the same time, which made me dangerous. While chomping down on my tremoring lip to prevent myself from breaking down, I stared at the silent faces.

  “I will go on my own, but it would be better with a team. Any volunteers?”

  Chris and Jake raised their hands, then Eli and Mara, then Josiah and Savannah. Gunther stepped forward, cradling Grey in his arms.

  I put my hands up, stopping him. “I appreciate your willingness to help, mate, but I beg you to stay here with your son. He doesn’t need to lose both parents. Besides, I need you to keep an eye on things here.”

  Gunther nodded. “Consider it done, my friend. I’d shake your hand, but I’m kind of…”

  I smiled. “Take care of that lad and do well by him. Thank you,” I said roughly.

  He nodded. “Take care. Safe journey and bring her back.”

  “You better fucking believe I will. Whatever it takes. He won’t see another span of the sun.”

  I filled my pack with my necessities, reloaded every gun, passing them around to the volunteers, then handed everyone a knife or an axe.

  My vigilante crew, totaling seven, walked out the door. One of the seven had a bit of a fragmentary personality. I was going to fuck someone up hardcore. They had better be ready to experience a bloodbath because that was what was going to happen.

  Chapter 52

  When the door at the top of the stairs opened, Elaina woke and pushed herself further into the corner of the cell. Heavy boots hitting the metal echoed through the darkness. Noises erupted from whatever else was locked up.

  Someone was crying… Henry’s mother. Niles dragged her in front of Elaina’s cell and threw her into the one across the way. She was bloodied, beaten, and probably raped. Anne curled up into a ball on the cold, dank floor and sobbed. Elaina’s heart bled for her.

  “You.” Elaina jumped when Niles approached her cell. “He wanted me to tell you that you’re his tomorrow morning.” He smiled and walked back out of the cellblock and headed back up the stairs, slamming the door shut, l
eaving them in the dark.

  She refocused her attention to Henry’s mother. “Um…Anne?” Elaina wasn’t sure what would be appropriate to call her. Mom didn’t seem right at the moment. “I just want to say that Henry—Luke—loves you.” She thought back to Henry’s journals that always started with “Dear Mum” and ended with “Love, Luke”. The sounds of Anne’s cries carried across the cellblocks. “Please don’t cry. He will save us. You’ll be so proud of him and all he has done. Even after all he’s been through, he’s an amazing man.”

  “He will hate me.” Her voice was as frail as she looked back in Roger’s cabin.

  “Why would he hate his own mother?”

  “I got us into this mess.”

  “Can you tell me how?”

  Anne hesitated, not willing to share all of the gory details of her past. Elaina hoped she didn’t sell him into it. “Roger and I had a relationship for a couple years. When we first met, he was under heavy suspicion of murdering his mother, but there wasn’t evidence to prove it. I chose to carry on with him because it just didn’t seem like he could do such a horrific thing.

  “I had no idea what he did for a living. I had no idea it was this. He just told me it was government and such. Please believe me,” she begged.

  “I believe you,” Elaina murmured.

  “We had a falling out and it changed him. I know it’s hard to believe, but he used to treat me like a precious jewel. Then I found out I was pregnant with Luke, and he beat me over it. He didn’t want children. After his birth, he beat me while calling my son a bastard child. He was the most beautiful baby I had ever laid eyes on.

  “My life was a nightmare. I tried to get away many times, but he threatened to hunt us down and take Luke away from me. Out of fear, I stuck around.

  “If Roger wasn’t beating me with his words or his fists, he was raping me. He just took and took. Shortly after Luke turned five, he beat me so badly in front of him, I nearly died. They removed him from my home and placed him into Roger’s. It was several months before I could leave the hospital. I had so many broken bones, the doctors were unsure if I would be able to walk again. Once able, I began my search for Luke. I found out he was in an orphanage that was under Roger’s thumb…just like everything else. I located Roger and begged him to allow me to take him with me. I promised to leave him alone. I wouldn’t ask for money or anything. I told him I would move away. Even to a different country. He denied every plea and I wasn’t allowed to see my son. By the time he was ten, he had already lived in four foster homes. Then, when I wouldn’t stop harassing him, Roger imprisoned me at his facility. Since then, he has beaten and raped me over and over again.”