Beautifully Broken (The Beautiful series Book 1)

by Tara Lee

  I run my fingers up his chest, finding his jaw. That little voice of reason silently screams at me to stop. With every stroke of his tongue, every press of his lips, all the reasons why this was a terrible idea melted away. I glide my hands over his shoulders, tangling into the hair at the nap of his neck. Ethan breaks the kiss; his lips press to mine softly for one final kiss. He brushes his nose over mine, and I can’t help but smile a goofy smile.

  This wasn’t fair, I was second-guessing myself. Even though I lie here in Ethan’s arms, with every sweet word he has been saying, I feel like I’m about to be hurt all over again, and I can’t shake the feeling that something bad will happen. It isn’t equal, it was just one-sided. Ethan claims to love me, but does he really?

  “ I know what you’re thinking, Luna, and trust me, I’ll die for you. Nothing will ever come between us again. I will love you until I take my last breath. You are the only thing I care about, fuck the rest. I want you, baby bird, only fucking you, you hear me.”

  The way Ethan spoke had gruffness to it, the molten look in his eyes was mesmerizing. I’m taken back, by the ferociousness in his tone, the words he spoke held so much meaning, so much more than anytime before.

  I caress his jaw, and my fingers scratch his growing beard. “Thanks for sleeping with me.” I smile.

  “Woman, you're not sleeping.” He growls.

  I can’t help but smile. I lay my head against his shoulder and close my eyes. His heartbeat is like a lullaby that sings me softly to sleep. Within minutes, I’m fast asleep.

  I’m at work trying to sketch out a design I thought up for Luna. Yeah, she isn’t quite there on the tattoos, but one day I’ll get her there.

  My phone beeps, and I look over, expecting to see Luna’s name but see his instead.

  I let out a sigh and run my hand over my face as I answer.

  “Time’s up,” He says.

  I clench my teeth so hard they almost crack.

  “I’m not—”

  He chuckles.

  “I think you’ll change your mind.”

  My phone beeps again. I pull it from my ear and look down. He’s sent me a video.

  I open it, and as soon as my eyes see who’s in the video, I stand, my chair scraping against the floor. Luna!

  I placed the phone to my ear again, my breath coming out jagged and panicked.

  “I swear to fucking God, if you put one finger on her, I’ll fucking kill you,” I seethe.

  “Are you listening now, son?” Lorenzo’s voice is void of any emotion, as if he didn’t hear what I just said to him.

  “Please...” I can’t breathe.

  “I warned you over and over, Ethan, told you not to mess with me, but you thought just because you share my blood I’d go easy on you. Well, your time is up, and your girl is going to pay for your tardiness.”

  Fuck.

  “No, please don’t—”

  He cuts me off with a sickening laugh.

  “Don’t you? She’s a beautiful girl, and I could have some fun with her.”

  My stomach twists with knots, and I might actually vomit.

  “Just please don’t hurt her, I’ll do anything,” I beg and close my eyes.

  By now Bishop, has seen my turmoil and is in front of me.

  My hand flies to my head, and I pull at my hair.

  Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.

  This is my fault. If I just said fucking yes to him, he wouldn’t have used Luna. I was selfish in thinking she’d be safe.

  “You know what I want, Ethan. This is your destiny. Once you accept that, it will make it less harder on the girl.”

  “Okay, I just... Don’t touch her, please.”

  He chuckles again, and this time I feel it crawl through my skin.

  “The boys already had their fun. You’ll find her at the Plaza Hospital.” He hangs up.

  I run out, without a word to Bishop.

  “No, no, no, no, no.” I chant and throw my leg over my bike. Fuck, my helmet. I don’t care about me right now.

  “I’m coming, baby bird, just hold on.” My voice breaks.

  I start my bike.

  Even the cold-hearted bastard he is, Lorenzo is nice enough to tell me what hospital she is at. I pull up outside, and my bike is barely parked. I jump off; my legs can’t run fast enough.

  Please, please, please be okay.

  I rush into the reception area I bang on the bench.

  “Luna Hawkins. I need to know what room she is in.” I say I don’t care that I’m being rude.

  “Excuse me.” The lady gives me a warning glance.

  Fuck you, lady I’m in a rush.

  “Please, what room is she in? She was brought in.”

  She types on her computer and frowns.

  “She is in room three forty-five on the third floor”

  I take off, but not before I hear:

  “Sir, she is.—”

  Fuck knows what she was going to say. I run so fast my lungs are burning by the time I get to her room. Yeah, fuck the elevator, I wasn’t waiting for that shit. I ran up all flights of stairs to the third floor.

  I get to her door and take a few deep breaths to prepare myself for what awaits. I open the door; it creaks loudly. I walk in, and my legs stop dead when I see her. She's laying in a bed, a tube sticking out from her mouth and machines beeping around her.

  Fuck, baby bird. What’s he done to you?

  My heart stops.

  I stop in the doorway and take her in. I look around. There is no way this is Luna. Not my baby bird.

  “She’s unconscious,” a voice interrupts my inner turmoil.

  I turn.

  A man in a white coat enters the room and shoulders past me.

  “She was brought in an hour ago. She was found in an alley.”

  I gulp, my throat as I try to get air into my lungs.

  My throat goes dry, and I attempt to swallow. I'm not sure if I did or not. I am pretty sure I haven’t blinked.

  “Her father is on his way; he was her next of kin.”

  I finally blink at him and I swallow, but I’m pretty sure my heart has stopped.

  “Sir, are you a friend of Miss Hawkins?” He’s by her bedside now, looking over the machine she is hooked up to.

  I go to say something but I have no idea what to introduce myself as.

  The doctor stands .The folder he clutches against his chest makes me nervous.

  What does it say?

  “What’s wrong with her?” I finally learn how to use my voice again.

  He sighs. “She has fractured ribs, a few cuts and bruises, like she was beaten. She has a nasty gash on her left thigh, which we treated. She hasn’t woken up yet.”

  Somehow, he’s calm telling me all this, like it’s no big deal. I swallow hard. My throat feels like glass, and I’m pretty sure I’m plotting Lorenzo and his men’s death right now.

  “Was she…?” I close my eyes. I can’t say it. Fuck, I can’t say that word.

  “Not that we can tell. She was found in just her under garments.”

  They left her half naked in an alley. Those bastard are fucking dead.

  I feel a sudden relief that they didn’t go that far, but this? This is... I can’t even imagine what she went through while they had her.

  My tears fall, and I finally make my way to her. I reach for her hand but stop when I see her hand is full of cords.

  “I’m going to sit with her,” I tell him, silently dismissing him.

  A few hours have passed, and there is still no sign of Luna waking anytime soon. Before long, there’s a commotion outside the room. I stand, ready to protect my girl, my fists clenched by my sides, and the angry scowl I have softens a little when Jax bursts through the door. He takes one look at Luna laid up and comes straight for me. His fist lands a mean right hook on my chin before I even get a “Hey” out.

  “Your sorry piece of shit,” He yells at me. He balls the collar of my shirt up and yanks me back to my feet.

&n
bsp; He slams me hard against the wall. Pain shoots through the back of my head as he gets in my face, inches from mine, his teeth bared, and he’s ready to kill me if the murderous look one his face is anything to go by.

  “This is your fault, you sorry excuse piece of shit.” he slams me again, harder this time, his fists tug hard on my shirt,

  “My baby girl is hurt because you fucked up again.” He glares with venom; he’s ready to tear me to shreds.

  I relax my hands on top of his to try to calm him down. I understand why he is pissed. I'm not trying to excuse what happened to Luna, because he’s right, it’s all my fault she’s laid up in this hospital bed.

  “Jax, I didn’t mean—”

  “Save it, Ethan.” He hisses, he pulls me forward slightly, enough to think he’s going to head butt me, knock me the fuck out, but he frees my shirt but stands close enough that he could easily knee me in the balls without even a second thought.

  “I hope you're happy?” He chokes as he keeps his tears at bay.

  I swallow hard. My own tears threaten to fall, and my hands automatically go to my hair and yank on it. I pull hard as I pace back and forth. I already feel guilty that this happened because of me. I wish it was me.

  “I’m sorry,” I choke out.

  “You're always sorry, Ethan.”

  He’s fucking pissed, and I get that ,but I am, too.

  “I wish it was me in that bed instead of her, I wish I—”

  “You bet your ass if she doesn’t wake up you will be in a bed just like this, Ethan, and it won’t be because you didn’t pay some drug dealer what you owed. I’ll put you there and believe me, you won’t wake the fuck up.” He growls.

  “I’m going to fix this.”

  He scoffs, shakes his head in disbelief.

  “You got a magic fucking potion that will fix her all up?” His nostrils flare, and he takes another look at Luna.

  She lies still , not even a blink from her.

  “If I lose her.”

  He chokes again, and this time, the first tear falls. He leans on the end of her bed as he stares at her. She looks so tiny buried under the covers and the cords that stick out of her.

  Jax starts a pace so fast he nearly doesn’t have time to turn before he steps angrily the other way. He runs his hands through his already messy hair ,which I assume he’s been using as a coping mechanism since he started the drive here.

  “I can’t lose my baby. I will fucking kill you if I lose her, Ethan.” He glares at me.

  “Jax, I’m so fucking sorry. I never meant for her to get hurt. It’s not that you think. I don’t owe any—”

  “Get the fuck out.” He points to the door.

  “I want—”

  “I said, out.”He grabs my arm and practically shoves me out the door before I have a chance to speak. He shuts the door in my face.

  “Fuck.” I run my hand down my face as I realize Luna may never wake up. And it’s all because of me.

  As I make my way towards the section of seats across the room, I see the nurses and a few doctors look my way. I’m sure they heard the shouting. I'm surprised no one removed us from the room.

  I plant my ass on one of the hard plastic chairs as I make myself as comfortable as possible. If Jax thinks he’ll get rid of me that easy, then he needs to think again.

  I can’t leave, not until she wakes, but as soon as she does, I’ll be paying Lorenzo a little visit.

  My eyes flutter open, and everything hurts. I groan when I try to sit up.

  “Take it easy, cupcake,” Daddy tells me.

  I stare up at his smiling face. He looks relieved ,like a weight has been lifted from his shoulders.

  “What…”

  “Shh.” Daddy pulls me to his chest and hugs me so tightly, he almost crushes me. He doesn’t let me go for what feels like hours. He takes a few deep breaths and he sniffs a few times. Is he crying?

  “Daddy.” My voice sounds muffled on his shirt.

  He finally lets me go but only at arms length. He doesn’t make a move to let me go. He stares down at me and smiles the biggest smile I’ve ever seen on his face.

  “You're awake, that’s all that matters, cupcake.”

  I look towards the door.

  “Where’s Ethan?” My voice breaks as a tear slips out.

  “I sent him away.”

  I give Daddy a sad look. He holds his hand up for me to stop before I plead with him why.

  “He’s no good for you, sweetheart. You got hurt because of him. If he comes near you again, I will kill him.” He almost growls.

  There’s a threat in his voice. Daddy is serious.

  “What on earth were you thinking, cupcake, working at a topless bar, getting close to Ethan again? God, I send you to New York to help with the death of your mother, and this is how you live,” He almost screams.

  “How did—”

  “I found out ,Luna, I’m not stupid. Why didn’t you come to me if you needed money? Fuck, I should have been your first call, cupcake.” he’s exasperated.

  “Daddy, please.”

  The door opens, and Ethan walks in and smiles when he sees me. I can’t help but smile back. His smile fades in seconds.

  “I told you to get the fuck out,” Daddy screams so loud Ethan stops in the middle of the room.

  They both stare at each other, and neither one makes a move to stop.

  “I told you I’m not going anywhere.” Ethan shouts back.

  Before I can blink, Daddy has Ethan shoved against the wall, and his fists slam hard in his face.

  “Daddy, stop.” I scream, as tears stream down my face. I try to pull the cords out of my hands to get between them.

  I look up. Ethan lands his own punch on Daddy’s face. He steps back from the impact, and they end up on the floor, both wrestle to get on top. They both scream at each other, and a few more punches are thrown.

  Daddy, Ethan, stop, please.” I plead. I finally get the cord out. It hurts like a bitch, but as I step out of the bed. My legs fall from under me, and I end up on the floor. Tears stream down my face, and I struggle to get up.

  The door bursts open. A doctor and nurse, along with two security guards, came in. They pulled both men from each other. Daddy tries to grab Ethan again, but the doctor stands in front of him with his hands on his chest. The nurse runs to me and helps me up. Ethan notices me first and tries to come to me. The security guard holds him back by his arms.

  “She’s hurt, just let me go, you fucking asshole,” Ethan pleads.

  His eyes find mine, and an apology is written in them.

  “Enough,” The doctor says.

  “I understand things can get heated in the moment, but this is a hospital. You both need to leave this instant.”

  “I”m not fucking leaving,” Daddy says the same time Ethan says,

  “Like fucking hell I’m leaving her.”

  They glare at each other, and Daddy manages to break free long enough to grab Ethan by the shirt and land another punch.

  “Stay the fuck away from my daughter,” He yells.

  The security guard drags him out, and Daddy screams to Ethan to get the fuck out of my life. My tears are falling so hard now, I hiccup as I let out sob after sob.

  “You, too.” The doctor says as the guy goes to drag him out.

  “Wait, please.” I go to stand again.

  “Miss, you need to rest.” The nurse places her hand on my shoulder.

  “Just a minute, please.” I beg the doctor again.

  Daddy’s yelling at the top of his lungs as he’s dragged from the building. I close my eyes. The pain in my chest aches so bad I can’t breathe.

  I start to hyperventilate. I clutch my chest, and it hurts so much.

  “Luna.”

  It’s Ethan’s straggled voice.

  Everything goes black.

  “Fuck,” I roar and I throw my hands in the air outside the hospital.

  I’ve been kicked out with no idea what the fuc
k happened to Luna and if she is okay. I hit my head with my fists, clench my eyes shut, and curse some more. When I open my eyes and see a trash can in front of me, I pick it up and toss it in anger.

  “Fuck.” I growl again.

  A few people stare at me, but I don’t give a fuck. They can stare all they want.

  “Real mature, Ethan,” Jax says from behind me.

  “Go fuck yourself.” I hiss and go to storm off.

  “What the fuck happened?” he asks.

  “I’m locked the fuck out of the hospital because of you.”

  He hisses as he points towards the doors. The security guards are there, and one shakes his head at me, at the mess I’ve made. I feel guilty and start to pick the trash can up. Thankfully, it must have been emptied recently; there isn’t much to pick up.

  “Ethan.” Jax shoves my shoulder hard and makes me face him.

  “What the fuck happened after I left.”

  “She collapsed.”

  He steps back, and runs to the door, he argues with the guards, trying to enter, pleading with them to see Luna.

  “Please, I just need to know if she’s okay.” He pleads harder now he clasps one of the guys shirts.

  I see him nod at the other guy, and he enters the hospital, hopefully to check what’s happening with Luna.

  Jax comes back over towards me and places himself on the bench seat just outside. His leg bounces as what I’m sure are nerves that curse though his body, because they are in mine. I still can't keep pacing back and forth as we wait for answers. We’ve been banned for the rest of the day. Neither of us allowed to enter the hospital unless it’s a life-or-death situation. Doctors orders.

  I mean, that’s a good thing, right? They haven’t come and got us, so Luna must be okay.

  It feels like half the day has gone before the guy makes his way back though the doors.

  He stops, as we both wait on bated breath for his answer.

  “She had a panic attack and fainted. Lack of oxygen to the brain.” He says and leaves us, walking back through the sliding doors.

  Jax doesn’t say anything, just stands and walks away. He leaves me, as I stand there confused as fucking hell. So she’s okay, right? I mean, she’s awake now, right?

  I run my fingers through my hair and wince when I brush over what I assume is a cut that was left by Jax. My lips hurt like a motherfucker, and it's then I look down at my hands. My right knuckles are cut open and bleeding. Mind you, he doesn’t look too much better. I got some good punches in. Fuck if I was just going to stand by and let him hit me and not defend myself.