Fractured Hearts (Shattered Lives, Book Three) (60 page)

BOOK: Fractured Hearts (Shattered Lives, Book Three)

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Josie had taken Cora’s kids to the library to shield them from anything that may occur. Grey was snuggled into Cora’s chest, snoring away after his meal. In silence, she and Elaina waited for some sort of response from Henry or Gunther.

Elaina was so happy they didn’t hear a fight break out. After what felt like an eternity, someone knocked on the door. Elaina nodded at Cora. Without disturbing Grey, she eased up from the couch and padded to the door. Elaina watched as she held her hand on the knob for a moment, then opened it.

Gunther turned back once before I shoved him down the hall toward Cora’s door. He debated for a moment before he raised his fist to knock. When Cora opened the door, relief was in her eyes.

“Hey,” Gunther said softly. He looked like a wreck, but he had his pack and Grey’s teddy bear in his arms. Elaina got up when she saw me lingering behind him. I nodded once at her and smiled.

“Hey. You want to come in?” Cora asked.

“Is this okay?”

“Gunther… I want to help you. I care about you and love this little guy. I think it will be easier on you if we’re in the same room.” His eyes filled with tears again. “You’re not leaving her behind. She’s right here.” She rubbed Grey’s curly mop. “Come in. Let’s get you situated.”

As Gunther walked in, Elaina snuck past him and closed the door. She took my hand and we walked down the hall toward the cafeteria. “How hard was it to convince him?”

“Bloody fucking hard, but I think he’ll be all right now. He’s afraid if he moves forward, he’s leaving her behind. I made him take a good hard look at himself and he finally relented.”

She smiled at me. “I’m so proud of you. I love you.”

With a flush in my cheeks and feeling undeserving of her compliment, I said, “Thanks. I love you, too.”

I let go of her hand and tucked mine into the back pocket of her jeans…not without a squeeze, of course.

On the table in front of the couch, Gunther set down the few belongings he had in his hands. He reached out and took Grey out of Cora’s arms. He whimpered a little, but then snuggled into Gunther after a few grunts. He smiled at his little boy, then looked up at Cora.

“Thank you,” he whispered as his emotions choked him.

Cora reached up and pulled Gunther into an embrace as he cried. “Shhh… It’s going to be all right. It’s time to move forward. She wouldn’t want you to be like this. You’re wasting away. It would devastate her to see you doing this to yourself.” She pulled away from him and rested her hands on his shoulders. “I’m here for you. I want to help you. Allow me to do this for you and Grey.”

Gunther nodded. “I appreciate this.”

He realized what he truly needed was a swift kick in the ass to get him moving and was grateful that Henry was the one to do it. Plus, he was grateful that Cora helped save him. He didn’t want to let on about all of the dark thoughts that would run through his head at night while he lay in bed, trying to sleep. Maybe there was a light at the end of his tunnel of turmoil.

At least, that was what he was hoping for.

Blind Faith

A Teaser from Shattered Lives, Book 4

Elaina dropped in front of Nick’s cross, needing him more than ever. She was so lonely and her heart always felt so empty, it ached. It felt like she was falling into a bottomless, dark pit of nothingness. The blackness seeped in and clutched at her soul, suffocating her.

The only thing which made her happy over the past several weeks of hell was feeling the baby move for the first time. She didn’t tell a single person, not even Henry, she felt the flutters.

Acknowledging her guilty conscience, she knew she should, but she just couldn’t tell him. It would have been one word after another, then one kiss after another…and who knew what would come after that.

“Nick, help me. I need you,” Elaina cried loudly but she didn’t care. “I don’t know what to do.” She rested her forehead against the cross. “Please… Tell me what to do,” she sobbed.

About the Author

Rissa Blakeley is a quirky freelance writer and the author of the Shattered Lives series. She lives a socially awkward life just outside of Atlanta, Georgia with her amazing husband and daughter, four four-legged, furry children, and the many characters poking her brain, looking for more scenes about them in her books. When she isn’t writing, she can be found procrastinating on Facebook.

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