Fractured Hearts (Shattered Lives, Book Three)

by Blakeley, Rissa

  Elaina listened to the weak voice full of pain and sorrow. She wiped the tears from her eyes that fell for Anne and Henry.

  “When he finally brought Luke to the facility, I was so excited. The first time I saw him, he was so brilliant…handsome in every way. I thought I could save us both. I had plans on breaking both of us out. Through two-way glass, Roger would make me watch them beat Luke to near death. They would tie his arms behind his back, tie his feet to the chair legs, gag him, and blindfold him. They did that to him over and over again. He almost died a few times and was even hospitalized. They also made me watch them inject him with the virus, then the tracking devices. I wanted nothing more than to hold him and tell him I loved him, make his pain go away. I wanted to tell him how sorry his mum was for all the things I brought on him.”

  As Henry’s mother sobbed, she apologized quietly many times.

  As Elaina ran Anne’s words through her head again, something caught her ear. “Did you say tracking devices? As in more than one?”

  “Yes.”

  “He cut out the one in his arm. There’s another one?”

  “They placed one in his head when they repaired his fractured skull. A fail-safe.”

  “Oh, god… That’s how he knew where we were,” Elaina whispered.

  They were silent for a while before Anne spoke again, “Promise me, whatever you do, don’t fight him tomorrow. Just let him do what he wants to do. If you fight him, you’ll get hurt worse than you already will. He gets vicious and violent. He enjoys it.”

  Elaina appreciated the advice…if that’s what you wanted to call it. She listened to Anne cry herself to sleep. With reluctance, Elaina closed her heavy eyelids.

  The exhaustion was setting in, but I needed to stay tight. There was no time for fatigue or the throbbing in my shoulder. I needed to rescue the love of my life. We had been walking on pure adrenaline for hours upon hours with no break.

  “How much farther?” Chris asked.

  “Well, breathe deep,” I murmured.

  He did, then whispered, “I smell the ocean.”

  “Precisely. We’re close. When we arrive, I want everyone to do as they are told. No arguments, even if it means I have to sacrifice myself. I will do whatever it takes. You are under my orders. No matter what happens, I want my Elaina off that ship. Understood?”

  Everyone agreed with zero hesitation. They knew I wasn’t fucking around.

  We continued for about another mile or so before we came upon a clearing. The ship was in the port, all lit up from the rising sun. Thankfully, it was the one I knew well from a few training expeditions.

  There was a small building off to the side of the docks. I pointed toward it and nodded. We ran in a single, soundless line and hid behind it. I readied the sniper rifle while peeking around the corner and watching what was going on at the ship.

  “Chris,” I whispered. “You see those two guarding at the dock?” He nodded. “Think you can pick them off?” He looked at them, shrugged, and nodded. I sure fucking hoped so. “Okay, I’m counting on you. I’m going to run ahead to the next building closer to the docks. The rest of you wait until Chris picks them off. There will be more, but getting rid of those two will give me the advantage. Then I’m going to get on the ship. Listen for my cue to board. There are cellblocks below the deck. She’s probably in one.”

  I hoped with everything I had that Elaina was locked in a cell versus in that fuck’s quarters. I needed to stop thinking and just act on instinct. After handing Chris my rifle, I pulled out my Sig and nodded, signaling I was ready to proceed.

  Treading lightly down to the next building, two shots rang out and both men fell into the water. Bloody well done! The rest of the crew ran toward the building I was just leaving.

  With my knife in one hand and my Sig in the other, I ran to the deck. When I heard a female screaming, my body went rigid. My jaw tightened to the point that my teeth ached, pressing together to near breaking point.

  It was Elaina. My love. My wife.

  I glanced around, surprised that no one had heard the shots. The deck was devoid of life. I dodged behind a few supply crates. Her screams grew louder, which almost broke me. I saw two recruits dragging her up the stairs from the cellblocks. I wanted to grab her right then, but that wouldn’t work. I would fight the two at once, but not with her in range. She would get killed.

  I didn’t want to hold her like Gunther did Quinn.

  I watched them drag her down to the other set of stairs to Roger’s quarters. That made me growl under my breath. A minute later, the two recruits came back up, laughing.

  “Yet another whore. I hope we get some of her. She’s pretty hot.”

  I stepped out from behind the crate. Two younger recruits, and I didn’t recognize either of them. Although one looked remarkably like Gunther.

  “Hullo, lads,” my voice rumbled from my chest, my gun trained on them. They both stopped dead in their tracks. Neither one was ready for me. Perfect. I was angry as fuck and they were just two more in my path. Such a bloody shame. They looked around for the guards. “Killed them. And now…you. Goodbye,” I murmured before shooting both of them in the middle of their foreheads.

  I waited a moment and heard the others scurrying on the deck. “They dragged her to the captain’s quarters. I’m going down there. You guys clear the ship. Stick together. Paw these fucks for keys to the cells and release anyone who is normal or even like me.”

  Upon descending the stairs toward Roger’s quarters, a pair of green eyes glimmered in the darkness. Not giving a fuck who it was, I shot him or her. No one was going to stop me from getting into that room.

  The sounds of her crying were coming through the walls. I wanted to rush in there, but I felt that would put her in more jeopardy. I needed patience, no matter how much it killed me.

  The door swung open at the top of the stairs, blinding the prisoners with the morning sunlight. They were coming for Elaina and she was quaking. They stopped right in front of her cell.

  “Good morning, love! Hope you had a good rest because you have a morning full of activity,” Niles tormented.

  The two recruits chuckled. She was scared far more than she’s ever been. Niles unlocked the cell door and they dragged her out, flailing around and screaming herself hoarse again.

  “It’s going to be okay, sweetheart! Just don’t fight,” Anne called from her cell. They dragged Elaina up the stairs.

  The sun was rising—the beautiful sun. She feared that would be the last time she would ever see it. The sobs broke from her throat. As they nearly threw her down the stairs where Roger’s quarters were, a nod was exchanged between them and the guard in the hall.

  Roger opened the door before Niles could raise his fist to announce their arrival. “Ah…yes. Look at you. Luscious. Thank you, lads. I’m already throbbing thinking about what we’ll be enjoying.”

  Elaina looked down and saw a bulge growing in his pants. Saliva rose and she spit in his face again. Then he backhanded her, splitting her lip open.

  “I told you yesterday that was a mistake! And you disobeyed again?”

  “I’m not one of your brainwashed recruits, you disgusting fuck!” she shouted in his face as she struggled against their grip.

  “No. No, you’re not, but you’re going to be my morning fuck every day. I’m getting bored with the frail, loose bird. I need someone young and fresh, and you fit the bill, especially since you are…were Liam’s. I have taken everything away from him, including his life. And now I will take his bird, as well.” Roger’s grin brought new meaning to sadistic. “Check your program files, lads. I sent what you needed to track. I don’t want to be bothered unless his worthless arse boards this ship. Got it?”

  “You got it boss,” Niles replied.

  They left Elaina in Roger’s custody. As he slammed the door shut, he threw her against the wall and tried to kiss her, forcing his tongue in her mouth. Elaina tried to twist away, but he held her firm with his broad ha
nds, pushing her narrow shoulders into the wall, his knee pressed into her abdomen, pinning her.

  Roger pulled out a knife and ran it down Elaina’s cheek, scratching it just enough for her to feel the sting. She cried out of fear.

  “Oh, love. You haven’t felt pain yet. Wait until you feel me slam into your every opening over and over again. I’m never satisfied with just one time. I will ravage every part of your brilliant body,” he promised.

  He dragged the knife to Elaina’s chest, slicing through her shirt at the collar so he could tear it off. Then he used the tip of the knife and cut off her bra, starting with one strap and then the other. Finally, he pushed the blade under the center section between her breasts and sliced through that with no resistance from the fabric.

  Exposed, Elaina’s breasts instantly perked in the cold air.

  “Sweet Jesus… Let me look at you.” He stepped back, giving her a good view of his tented pants. “You are stunning.” Another rush of saliva made Elaina gag. “I’ll give you something to gag on, whore.”

  Roger touched her breasts, then dug his hands down into her pants, working his disgusting fingers around her apex. Not believing what was happening, she kept telling him no, pleaded for him to stop, and sobbed, hoping he would end his attack.

  “Shut up! Or I will fill your mouth with this.” Unzipping his black and gray camos, he forced her hand in. He groaned as frantic fingers fought to get away.

  Elaina shook in fear, knowing he was going to rape her, but she found the strength to give him a warning. “I’d bite your dick off!”

  “You are one feisty bird! Nice try.” He chuckled.

  Roger pulled off her pants. She worked to cover her body with her arms, while his sinister eyes danced around her from head to toe. He knelt on the tops of her feet, then pinned her wrists to the wall so she couldn’t fight back. He licked and nipped, leaving a trail of bite marks down to her most personal of places. She whimpered, then screamed as he latched onto the thin lace edge of her panties with his teeth.

  A gunshot rang out close by the cabin door, and Elaina began to sob.

  Roger jumped up. “Hold that thought, sweetheart.”

  After zipping his pants, he grabbed a gun from the desktop—Elaina’s gun. Just before he made it to the door, it was kicked in.

  Roger’s sadistic laugh reverberated through the cabin when Henry stepped into his quarters.

  “Henry!” Elaina screamed.

  I glanced at her. When I saw that she was cut and almost naked, the rage boiled over. Motherfucker tried to rape my wife! The craving to brutally gut him for all that he had done grew tenfold. One hand gripped my knife; the other had a death grip on my Sig.

  We stood eye-to-eye.

  Our guns were pointed at one another’s head, fingers hovering over the triggers.

  “Well, hullo, Liam.” Roger smiled. “I knew you would come. I was about to have my way with your bird. I commend you. She is a rather fantastic specimen. Care to watch how a real man does it?”

  I growled through a clenched jaw, “You stay away from her.”

  Roger barked out a laugh right in my face. “Stand down, soldier,” he said with an eerie calm.

  “Fuck you. I have been waiting for this day for years.”

  “Have you now?” I didn’t move as Roger grinned. Instead, I studied his muscle movement, just as I was trained. “You know what’s funny? Within minutes of meeting me, your little bird figured out the biggest secret of all. It makes me wonder how intelligent you really are. You must take after your daft whore of a mother.”

  Any reference to my mother would always be a mental drain for me, but I kept it tight for Elaina. The muscles twitched in my face. Shouts and gunshots rang out on the deck above, but Roger’s eyes never left mine. I was ready to kill him. I was just waiting for the right cue.

  “Luke…” Roger paused, a depraved grin on his face. “Oh, Luke. I remember the day you were born. It was a rainy day. Wet and muddy. Your useless whore of a mother–”

  “Henry, don’t let him get to you!” Elaina yelled, trying to cover herself up with her tattered clothing.

  “Shut up, you whore! I’m tired of your fucking mouth!” he spat.

  “Don’t you dare talk to my wife that way, you insignificant fuck!”

  “Did I upset you? Poor Luke. Always the tough life. Anyway,” he said in a bothered tone, “I watched your undeserving, treacherous mother give birth to you, a bastard child, on her living room floor. Then I kicked her arse for giving birth to such a whiny lad! I didn’t want a child, let alone one like you.”

  I was shaking. “Henry, stay in check,” Elaina begged me. I swallowed hard.

  He continued to prod, egging me on. “I enjoyed beating her. It shut her vile trap. Then I would fuck her until she bled from every opening of her body. You remember that day?”

  “I don’t give a fuck about her,” I growled.

  I tried to shut her out of my mind, but remembering my fifth birthday made me ache. I remembered the cake and that toy truck she squirreled pennies away to buy me. I worked hard to swallow the lump that swelled in my throat.

  “I can see that.” Roger smirked. “Would you care to know she’s still alive?”

  “I already know what happened. Kellan told me shortly before I made him turn.”

  Roger laughed. “Kellan is full of shit.” My face went flat. “I’ve had her locked up for ages. Great fun. But I decided that she’s getting boring. Now this beautiful bird will do.”

  “I will kill you before I allow you touch her again,” I warned.

  “Will you? You will kill your own father?”

  “You are not my father.”

  “Oh Luke, Luke, Luke… I knew you were too fucking stupid to understand.”

  “I don’t have a father,” I growled and saw my moment when his eyes shifted to focus behind me.

  I pulled the trigger.

  At the same moment, chaos ensued. Screams pierced the air, and Roger’s gun discharged as he fell to the ground. In depraved satisfaction, I watched the blood seep from the hole in his head, not worrying about the sounds behind me. To make sure he wasn’t going anywhere, I plowed my knife into his chest. A twist, then I pulled it out, smearing his own retched blood across his face.

  The deed was done and I was beyond pleased with myself. Although I did regret not gutting him.

  Screams and cries continued behind me. I didn’t give a fuck what was happening. All I needed to do was take care of my Elaina.

  I ran over to her and took off my hoodie. “Here, put this on. You okay?” I asked, running my thumb over the scratch on her face. Still terrified, she nodded. Then I helped her pull on her pants.

  Now I could focus on the situation developing behind me.

  Josiah was on the floor, gasping for air. He touched his chest, then lifted his hand to his face, fingers dripping with his life. Blood pumped out of his chest at an alarming rate. Panic showed on his face when he realized his end was near.

  “Josiah… Shit.” I dropped down to him. “Shh, Josiah. Calm yourself. It’s going to be okay.” I looked at the wound, then looked up at Savannah.

  “Te-tell J-J-…” Josiah was trying to say something, but we couldn’t figure it out. “J-J-J-osie…love…” He choked. Blood sprayed out of his mouth as he coughed.

  “Save him!” Savannah screamed as she pawed at him. “Save him!”

  “I can’t,” I murmured, wrapping my hand around Josiah’s cheek. “Listen to me, Josiah. You are a great man. You did well for us today.” He reached up to my face, gasping. Blood continued to run out of the sides of his mouth. His body shook and his eyes aimlessly wandered. I grabbed his face. “Look at me. You played an important role in rescuing Elaina. You’re a hero. A hero, Josiah. You hear me?”

  His hand dropped from my face just before his eyes fluttered shut. My head and shoulders sagged.

  Savannah held him as he passed, telling him how much she loved him and how proud she was to be his si
ster. It brought me back to Nick’s death, seeing Elaina in the same position.

  I was so pissed that we lost another. “Goddamn it!” I yelled.

  Twisting around, I jumped up and kicked Roger in the head. A gasp made me spin around. Elaina had a horrified look on her face, making me realize I needed to center myself and calm down.

  Needing to hold Elaina, I rushed to her. The images of Quinn, Thomas, and now Josiah repeated in my head like a flip book. Then, realizing I had almost lost Elaina, I pulled away, my eyes full of tears.

  “Love, I was afraid I would never see you again.” She fell into me and sobbed. “It’s all right, love. I’ve got you. I’m right here with you,” I murmured and held her until Chris cleared his throat. I glanced over my shoulder.

  There stood a woman—pale, frail, and obviously abused—in a dingy shift dress, her bony arms reaching for me. My body stiffened. She began to cry when she looked me up and down.

  “Luke…,” she said.

  I felt ire take hold of my every fiber. That woman sold her son. She rejected him.

  Me… She fucking sold and rejected me.

  “It’s Henry,” I snapped. “Luke died years ago when you fucking sold him to that!” I growled, pointing at Roger. “You’re no better!”

  “Listen to me…” Elaina began rambling, but I shut her down.

  “Quiet, Elaina.”

  “Henry, please, you have to listen to me…” I looked at her, not sure what was going on. “It’s not what you think. She didn’t sell you like Kellan said.” My breath staggered as I inhaled. “She has been imprisoned at the facility since you were ten.”