Beneath Broken (Imperfect Heroes #2) Read online

  It was these things I wanted to share with Harper. I wanted to tell her that losing her husband was a horrible tragedy, but for him to have lived through such a trauma sometimes changed a person, and she might not have liked the man who had come back. Of course I would never say these things to her… in fact, I avoided the subject of her late husband altogether unless she brought him up.

  Admittedly, I had been relieved to not see any pictures or anything reminiscent of him in her bedroom. She said she’d redone it – that she was moving on. It had to be a big step for her… but I was selfishly happy she had taken it. I wanted her all to myself. I didn’t want to share her with a ghost.

  Speaking of ghosts…

  I stood up from the bed and walked to my dresser. Pulling open the top drawer, I removed Christy’s Dear John letter and photo, and looked down at it once more. I read the letter for the last time, and for some reason, it didn’t make me angry or make my stomach turn over in disgust this time. The words didn’t invoke any emotion at all, actually. Happy about my own little breakthrough, and with the letter and photo in hand, I walked out into my kitchen and snatched a book of matches from the top drawer.

  My apartment had a tiny patio, and out here I had set up two chairs, a small table, and a little barbeque that could fit about two steaks or four hamburgers on it – depending on how big they were.

  I lifted the small, round lid and set Christy’s letter and the photo of us and on the grill’s grate. With a smile on my face, I lit a match and tossed it on top of the papers. They slowly lit up in flames, and with my arms folded across my chest, I watched happily as at first Christy’s face began to curl and burn, and then mine next to hers turned black and disappeared. That chapter in my life began to dissolve into ashes forever and I had no regrets. After all, I needed to let go of that part of my life and realize Christy was not for me. I used to think she was strong, but she wasn’t; she had been weak and I was not attracted to weak women. I liked them strong and brave and beautiful, and Harper most certainly was that trifecta.

  I closed the lid to the grill to let my past burn out, and went back inside, tossing the matches onto the kitchen counter and wandering back into my bedroom. Lying down, I put my hands under my head as I contemplated my life with a grin on my face that wouldn’t go away.

  Chapter 29

  Harper

  Unsure as to why I was nervous, I pressed my finger to the doorbell of Mason’s brother’s house and waited nervously as the sound chimed behind the front door.

  The house was in a typical suburban neighborhood and I began to wonder briefly what kind of person Duke was.

  Looking down at the china plate Adria had her meat on – as the instructions we’d been given was to bring your own meat – I then looked back into my best friend’s pretty face.

  “You gonna eat all that?” I asked, looking at the two large, thick steaks marinating in their own juices.

  She flicked her gaze up at me and laughed, then eyed my plate full of sausages and chicken. With a laugh, she asked, “You gonna eat all that?”

  “Absolutely not,” I replied with a smile. “I may have an Andouille Jalapeno Chicken sausage, but the rest of this is for anyone who wants some.”

  “Typical Harper,” Adria replied with a smirk, and I took it as a compliment.

  A tall, intimidating but hot-looking bearded man wearing a skin tight black T-shirt answered the door.

  “Yeah?” he asked, eyeing us both.

  Before we could reply, Mason had pushed him out of the way and measured his gaze at me. “Hi, gorgeous.”

  The bearded guy stood there looking at us. Mason pointed at him and said, “Duke, don’t be an asshole.” He pulled me by the hand and wrapped his arm around my waist. “This is Harper.” He pressed a small kiss on my lips. “Harper, this is my big brother, Duke.”

  I smiled up at him and this seemed to diffuse him a bit, as he relaxed. So I said, “Hi, Duke. It’s so very nice to meet you.”

  He nodded in reply. “You too.”

  I heard Adria clear her throat.

  “This is my best girlfriend in the whole world, Adria Green.”

  Duke cocked his head at her and said, “You look way too fucking familiar. Where do I know you from?”

  Adria gave him a knowing smile. “I’m a nurse at Tampa General. You’re a cop, too, aren’t you?”

  Duke nodded. “Yes, FBI.”

  “That’s it. You interviewed me about the Shane Watson thing a few months ago.”

  Duke’s mysterious dark blue eyes went wide and he smiled, a set of perfectly white teeth on display. “That’s right. You’re the nurse with the attitude I liked so much.”

  She laughed and nodded. “It’s not the first time I’ve heard that.”

  “C’mon, everyone is out back,” Mason said, his hand still in mine.

  Duke, Adria, and I all followed Mason out back. I was led through a very modernly furnished house until we reached a back sliding glass door. We walked through it, out to the backyard. I noticed a nice green lawn and a small blue swimming pool set at the center of the yard with a small child splashing around in it. A group of beautiful people were seated around a large, unlit fire pit set into the deck. I smiled at couple familiar faces. There was a dark-haired guy seated next to a very pregnant pretty redhead who looked very familiar.

  I also spotted Detective Jenkins and his pregnant wife sitting next to the other couple.

  Duke walked ahead and went over to a large grill smoking with meat and began flipping the food. My first instinct was to follow him there to bring him the plate of meats I’d brought but Adria suddenly stopped short beside me. I looked at her questioningly as we were about six feet from the group of people.

  “Ky?” she whispered.

  Kyle Adams sat there with the group wearing a pair of khaki shorts and a black T-shirt. His service dog, Lucy, a yellow lab, sat faithfully next to him.

  My brow furrowed in confusion. Wait… what? Why is Kyle here? I was so confused, and as I was about to ask what my employee was doing here, I looked at Adria. I watched as her eyes moved to his face then down to where his leg used to be and she suddenly dropped the plate she’d been holding. The ceramic shattered at our feet, shards of china and steak splattering on the redwood deck. Both her hands went to her mouth.

  Kyle stood immediately, his eyes zeroed in on Adria as he limped toward us, Lucy following at his heels.

  I put my hand on my best friend’s shoulder. “Adria, what in the heck is going on?”

  Kyle came to stand in front of us, not even looking at me, but staring down at Adria.

  I glanced at Mason, who wore a confused expression that matched mine, then back at the couple. Everyone was now staring at Adria and Kyle. I wanted to clean up the mess she had made by dropping her plate, but something deep in my gut told me to leave it, and just back away from them. So I grabbed Mason’s hand and stepped back.

  Watching in pure fascination, I looked on as Kyle gazed down at my best friend. “Adria, is that you?”

  She looked into his green eyes then down at his leg, then back up into his face. I watched in amazement as her eyes shone with unshed tears. Her chest hitched up and she choked on a sob. “Ky? Oh, my God, Ky.” A lone tear escaped and cascaded down her cheek.

  Then it clicked. Ky… Kyle… Wow. This cannot be. Oh, my God. Adria’s long, lost high school boyfriend has been working for me, and I had no clue.

  They didn’t stop looking at each other, not for one second. I felt like I was eavesdropping on some intimate moment.

  “Yes, it’s me. What are you doing here?” he asked her.

  “Harper invited me…”

  Kyle looked over at me, a now embarrassed expression coloring his face. “Harper, I’m so sorry. I didn’t recognize you at first.”

  Not that he’d even looked at me since we arrived, but I had my hair down in soft blonde waves, and wore shorts and a pink V-neck T-shirt. “It’s okay, Kyle. I’m not so sure me being here
is the biggest mystery we’re encountering today, though.” I looked at Adria, who still stared up at Kyle. Their height difference was almost comical. Kyle was taller than Mason, about the same height as his brother, Duke, but Adria was barely over five feet tall.

  “Daddy! I did a dive!” Kyle’s son, Luke, came bounding over to us, dripping water in pools under his feet and wearing nothing but dark blue swim trunks. His auburn hair was sticking up everywhere and his blue eyes were bloodshot from the pool’s chlorine.

  Adria stood there in shock, and when she glanced at Luke, then back at Kyle, her brown eyes went wide. “Ky, you have a baby?”

  Kyle ruffled his son’s wet hair. “Good job, buddy! Go show me again.”

  Luke’s face beamed then he ran off toward the pool again. Kyle then looked at Adria. “He’s five, not a baby anymore.”

  “I need to sit,” Adria murmured, wiping her wet cheeks with the back of her hand, and heading toward the chairs set around the fire pit.

  Leaning down, I collected the now-no good meat and shards of china and went inside to find a trash can. My mind was buzzing. I was excited, bewildered, and a tad hopeful. I couldn’t believe Kyle Adams was the “Ky” that Adria had so often spoke of as her high school love. I’d met Adria in college and hadn’t ever met Ky. She had said he’d left to join the military after high school and it had ended for them. She talked fondly of him occasionally and had always wondered what had happened to him.

  I dumped the items into a trash can I’d found in Duke’s kitchen and went back out to the deck to tangle myself in Mason’s arms, where I felt I belonged, and looked at this group who’d gathered here. They all looked like amazing people, and honestly? Any friends of Mason’s would soon be friends of mine.

  The pregnant redhead introduced herself to me as Talia, and when she introduced me to her fiancé, Ellis, I realized I already had met him. He’d been referred by Kyle to me, and I’d helped him get a job at the federal prison in Sumpter County. Another surprise for the day. How did Mason know these people?

  “How have you been, Ellis?” I asked.

  He nodded, his dark hair cut shorter than I remembered. “Good, surprised to see you here, Ms. Mathis.”

  “Please call me Harper. Are you enjoying the job?” I asked.

  “Yes, it’s an adjustment but I’m making it. Benefits are great.” He looked at Talia, who rubbed her belly.

  “Congratulations,” I said to them.

  Talia said, “Thank you.”

  “Harper, this is my wife, Reece,” Hunter said, and I reached out to shake his wife’s hand.

  “Nice to meet you. And congratulations to you, too,” I said, pointing at her belly.

  She placed a hand over her swollen stomach and said, “Thank you. Nice to meet you, too. I’ve heard a lot about you.” She wore a knowing smile on her pretty face as she moved some light brown hair behind her shoulder.

  A blonde with short hair wearing a fitted yellow dress introduced herself as Duke’s girlfriend, Rayanne, and I grinned at her. She must be a special girl to put up with the hard-edged attitude Mason so often mentioned to me his brother had. But when I saw Duke pick her up and plunk her down on his lap, I smiled. He kissed the back of her neck and whispered something in her ear, and she giggled. They looked seriously in love.

  There’s someone for everyone, they say…

  I saw Adria take a seat next to Kyle, her eyes flicking down to his injury, then back into his face as they talked… caught up on old times… and still couldn’t believe what had happened. As I watched them, I hoped something could re-ignite between them.

  After all… love wasn’t something anyone should pass up if it’s right in front of you. I sat on Mason’s lap and pressed a kiss to his perfect lips and stared into his hazel eyes. He smiled and his eyes reflected happiness and adoration right back.

  “How do you know Kyle?” I asked him quietly.

  Mason glanced at Kyle then back at me. “He and Duke served together in the Marines.”

  It all clicked now. I know that Ellis also served with Duke, was there when Duke injured his leg. What a great band of brothers I see as I look around. They all seem to be happy and have found love… well, almost all of them. I watched as Adria and Kyle continued to talk, and I smiled.

  Love can be lost but it can be found again, too… and giving it a second chance had been worth every second of heartache I’d endured. Mason had healed my crushed and shattered heart and saved my life.

  THE END

  Untitled

  Book 3 in the Imperfect Heroes Series

  Meet Kyle Adams

  Fall 2016

  Partial proceeds of the books in this series will go to Honor the Sacrifice. You can donate, too, here. God bless the troops!

  SONG LIST:

  I Knew You That Way – Luke Bryan

  Fall Into Me – Brantley Gilbert

  All of Me – John Legend

  Body Electric – Lana Del Rey

  Tryin’ To Love Me – Jason Aldean

  Crazy Girl – Eli Young Band

  A Little Bit Stronger – Sara Evans

  Words – Skylar Grey

  Learning To Live Again – Garth Brooks

  Start of Something Good – Daughtry

  Just A Dream – Carrie Underwood

  Take Me There – Rascal Flatts

  Hello – Adele

  Probably Wouldn’t Be This Way – LeAnn Rhimes

  Habits (Stay High) – Tove Lo

  When Doves Cry – (the late, great) Prince

  Goodbye – Secondhand Serenade

  Dirt – Florida Georgia Line

  Cut – Plumb

  Love The Way You Lie – Skylar Grey

  September –Daughtry

  Better Than Me – Hinder

  Saving Amy – Brantley Gilbert

  Faded – Alan Walker

  Heart of Stone – Iko

  Love Your Memory – Miranda Lambert

  Where Are U Now? – Justin Bieber

  Can’t Help Falling In Love – Haley Reinhart

  Broken – Seether

  Take Your Time – Sam Hunt

  Lost In Paradise – Evanescence

  I Know You – Skylar Grey

  Open Up Your Eyes – Daughtry

  Call Me – Shinedown

  Break On Me – Keith Urban

  Ready To Love Again – Lady Antebellum

  OTHER BOOKS BY C.J. PINARD:

  Paranormal Fantasy:

  Enchanted Immortals 1 DOWNLOAD FREE

  Enchanted Immortals 2: The Vortex

  Enchanted Immortals 3: The Vampyre

  Enchanted Immortals 4: The Vixen

  BSI: Bureau of Supernatural Investigation DOWNLOAD FREE

  Enchanted Immortals Box Set: 4 Books + Novella

  New Adult Contemporary Romance:

  Patriotic Duty (Duty & Desire, #1) DOWNLOAD FREE

  Tour of Duty (Duty & Desire #2)

  Boots Beneath My Bed (Duty & Desire #3)

  Playing the Field (Duty & Desire #4)

  Romantic Suspense:

  Antihero (An Imperfect Heroes Novella)

  Above Protection (Imperfect Heroes, Book 1)

  Paranormal Romance:

  Unscathed (A paranormal romance novel with Tim O’Rourke)

  Soul Rebel (Rebel Riders #1) DOWNLOAD FREE

  Soul Redemption (Rebel Riders #2)

  Soul Release (Rebel Riders #3)

  Lotus, Daughter of Darkness (Lotus’s Journey, Part I) DOWNLOAD FREE

  Watcher, Daughter of Darkness (Lotus’s Journey, Part II)

  Coming Soon:

  Beneath Broken (Imperfect Heroes, Book 2)

  Guardian (Daughter of Darkness) Lotus’s Journey, Part III

  Soul Seeker (Kovah’s Story, A Rebel Riders Novella)

  All books available on Amazon. Click HERE for complete list.

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  I'm a California girl living in land-locked Colorado. Lover of red wine, wearer of fabulous sh
oes, and a die-hard Niner fan, I'm also an editor at heart. I've written over a dozen books and short stories that contain both contemporary/new adult and paranormal romance that are a little bit badass, a little heart-wrenching, and sorta funny (to me, anyway). Almost all my books usually contain law enforcement or military undertones, since strong, brave, alpha men and women are my weaknesses. When I'm not writing, I can be found working at a very strange day job, which may or may not have some mild influences on my gripping stories - so strange, in fact, I think I'll write a book about it one day.

  I'm also a proud member of the Romance Writers of America (RWA). Maybe one day they'll give me a super cool romance award! (A girl can dream!)

  Now pay attention!! I've got several free books available for download, and you can find a list of books on my website, cjpinard.com OR on this site. Feel free to email me anytime, I love hearing from readers! [email protected]

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