Perfectly Broken (26 page)

"Let's start with how you met Mr. Crawford," she said, pulling out a pen and her notepad.

I relayed the story, giving her what I could remember from the first night at Shadows and ending with my escape from the hotel room. I felt myself withdrawing from the conversation, answering questions mechanically
.
Trying not to focusing on the actual answers, I attempted to keep the memories from dragging me completely under.

"What did he mean when he said…" she trailed off, glancing down at the notes she had made of my statement. "'There are some people out there willing to pay big money for you to be returned to them?'"

I took a deep breath, trying to think about how to answer this question. I bit my lip, glancing sideways at Tish. He, like everyone else in my life now, knew almost nothing about my past. The truth was, I didn't know exactly what Jordan had found. There were definitely people out there looking for me. The decision was who did I want the police to think was out there.

"My… my family. I was a runaway and I haven't seen them in… a while," I said, trying to watch for a reaction from Tish. If he was shocked, he didn't show it. I guess it was the logical explanation and he'd probably figured it out years ago.

"And
,
they had a reward out for you?" She jotted down notes and I nodded.

"It was a while ago," I answered, hoping to keep her from digging too deep. "I guess he thought it would still stand."

"I see. Well, I will write up my report and turn it over to the D.A. But
,
honestly, given the injuries the hospital recorded when you arrived and the statement you've given, I'd say you have very little to worry about
.
" She offered a smile and I did my best to return it. "I appreciate you taking the time to meet with me."

"Thank you," I said politely, shaking her hand again once she gathered her things.

I let out a long breath when she disappeared from the windows, feeling myself sag in the booth. Tish wrapped his arm around my shoulders and pulled me to him.

"You did great, Lee. I'm proud of you," he said and I reached up, brushing away the few tears I couldn't manage to hold inside.

"Thank you for coming."

"I'm here. Always. You should know that by now," he squeezed and I hissed as the pain spiked in my still healing ribs. "Sorry."

"It's okay. It's kinda nice to actually be around someone," I admitted, trying to laugh it off. "It's been a little lonely."

"Well, I'm here now. And you agreed to talk to me if I came," he reminded me and I nodded. "Let's start with why you left."

I sighed, looking down at my hands, focusing on the dirty bandage across my palm, covering the stitches.

"It was too hard. I needed space," I answered honestly.

"From Zane?"

"From all of you. Zane is only part of the problem. You betrayed my trust. You promised you'd never tell," I said, feeling defensive again as the memory dragged the emotion to the front of my mind.

Tish nodded, scooting over in the booth so he could turn to face me more.

"Why do you think I told him?"

I felt my brow crease as I tried to think about his question. Finally, I looked up at him and shrugged
.

"He has feelings for you, too, Lee." I started to protest but he held up his hand. "You didn't let him explain. I did." He placed his hand on my shoulder, ensuring he had my attention. "He didn't kiss her. He doesn't want her. It's you. You're both just too damn stubborn to let the other in."

I looked back at my hands again, attempting to somehow focus my quickly scattering thoughts. He didn't kiss Lizzie? He said he loved her… didn't he? Did he? I fought through the painful memories, trying to remember. I didn't give him a chance to say.

Could Tish be right? I'd seen the contentment on Zane's face when he kissed me but did content equal love? I knew I cared about him and I knew some part of me truly wanted to be with him but was that love? I'd never felt anything like what I feel for Zane. I never
wanted
anyone that way.

I'd admitted to Tish that I liked Zane right after he moved back in, after Kas' comment pushed him to avoid me. I'd been hurt and confused and Tish talked to me, helping me understand that it was Zane's issue and nothing I'd done. I'd never said I loved him because I didn't. I liked him. I didn't know him well enough to love him.

But
,
now?

Now, I felt like I knew Zane better than most people. And he knew me. Well, he knew this version of me. But
,
did I love him?

I couldn't answer that.

Plus, if he did care about me, if we chose this path, it would complicate everything. It would make things harder on him and Lizzie with Conner. It would confuse Conner.

It would tie me to Vegas.

"I need time to think," I admitted, glancing up to meet Tish's eyes.

He grinned and nodded, obviously sure I'd make the decision that would bring me home.

I wasn't so sure.

I went back to the routine of answering only calls and ignoring texts as I tried to wrap my mind around the idea of staying in Vegas. I had been happy here. I'd found acceptance that I'd never found anywhere else.

But
,
could it last?

If I stayed, would I be staying for Zane? And if I was, what would happen if things didn't work out?

Relationships fail all the time, regardless of how they start. I've seen it and heard about it enough to know that. It's why I never wanted a relationship. Even when I was younger. I never had dreams of being a bride like most girls. I didn't wonder what it would be like to fall in love. I had different goals for my life.

The kind of goals that were long past my reach now.

But if I left, could I be someone else? Was I ready for that?

All I knew for sure was there wasn't much more I could do here. I needed to move on from Vegas.

Where would I go next?

It took several days for the plan to form. With the money I had saved, I could afford a bus ticket to New York with enough left over to save for an international flight when I was ready. It would probably cost more for the right documents than the actual plane ticket
,
but it would be worth it in the end.

Maybe Paris would be my final destination.
 

Crowded cities were the best place to hide. Traveling with my injuries would draw attention but I didn't have time to wait until everything fully healed. It would be weeks, possibly months, and I knew I didn't have that long.

It was Thursday when I told Sydney I would be leaving the next day. I didn't tell her where I was going, just that I was. I thanked her again and offered her a little of the money that I had
.
Even with the financial difficulties they were under, she refused.

Thursday night I barely slept, trying to ignore the torn pieces of my heart at the thought of my last night in the city that had come to feel like home to me in a way not many places ever had before. Las Vegas was supposed to be just a short stop on a list of many places to see
,
but I let myself get tangled up and connected here. Ever since Tish came into my life, offering me a second chance, I had believed that maybe I really could start over. I thought I could leave my past behind but I guess everyone thinks that at some point.

The truth of the matter is, unless you keep running, the past catches up with you every time. I knew that in L
.
A
.
and I was learning it once again. How many times did I need this to be proven to me before I learned?

Friday morning I was anxious. I tried walking to the store for some last minute supplies early in the afternoon, convincing myself that the hollow feeling inside was from hunger.

The feeling intensified when I returned to the apartment. I checked my bags again, making sure I had everything I would need. I considered calling Tish and asking him to meet me long enough to say goodbye but as I stood with the phone in my hand, I remembered that he and Kas would be halfway to Florida by now.
 

Tish was competing in a few areas at a convention in Daytona Beach. One of his newest passions was airbrushing. Body painting was a rage in beach towns and this competition in Daytona Beach was something they had been planning for months.

I could call him and say goodbye. He wouldn't be able to stop me from so far away. And this should be Zane's weekend with Conner so without a sitter, he couldn't come after me either.

As I scrolled through my contacts toward Tish's number, something struck me from behind. I was knocked to the carpeted floor of the garage, the air expelled from my lungs in a rush as I coughed.

I immediately struggled against the weight on my back, instinct driving me to escape as I tried desperately to ignore the pain.

"This would be so much easier if you didn't fight."

I froze as the voice registered, my eyes squeezing shut. I'd had this nightmare every time I slept for the last twelve days. Each time it was different
,
but fighting him never helped. I would wake up eventually. I could feel the tears already pooling in my eyes. I hadn't meant to fall asleep.

"That's better," Jordan said
.
The sound of handcuffs caused me to groan.

I felt the bite of the cold metal against my right wrist
,
the pain that shot through the broken fingers of that hand causing me to move. I immediately jerked the hand free and tried again to knock Jordan from where he sat on my legs, his knee pressing into my spine. This hurt. And not like it hurt in the dream.

I twisted and kicked out with my leg, making contact with the ratty couch and sliding it aside. The momentum helped me turn my body to rest on my hip, causing Jordan to have to straddle me in order to hold me to the floor. I kicked again, this time aiming for the leg I'd injured in the hotel room. He fell back, howling in pain as my foot made contact with its target.

I scuttled on my hands and knees, trying to put distance between us
.
I pushed up to my feet and ran toward the door. I cried out as Jordan's arms wrapped around my middle, the pressure against my ribs nearly blinding as he dragged me away from the exit.

"Not so fast. We'll be leaving soon enough but you really should stop fighting me. I don't want to hurt you, Kylee." Jordan's use of the name had the desired effect. I quit struggling, letting out a soft yelp as he tugged my arms behind me again. He pressed me against the wall and the tears that had been close just minutes ago melted away. Determination took the place of the panic.

I was stronger than this. Now that I knew where he planned to take me, escape was the only option. Even if Jordan got me out of this apartment, he'd never get me back there without a fight. And
,
though a fight in public might cause a scene, it would probably be just what I needed to break free. I'd get away. I always did.

The sound of a knock at the door made me jump. It was more of a pounding fist than a knock.

Before I could think to react, Jordan tugged me against him, releasing my hands as he clamped his left palm over my mouth. I cringed and moaned as pain radiated out from my broken nose, my eyes watering automatically at the blow.

"Pixie? Come on, I know you're in there," Zane's voice called out from the other side of the door. Jordan's hand tightened over my mouth and he pulled me a few feet further from the door until we were trapped in the corner of the living room.
 

I could feel my body shaking as the tears started new, spilling onto my cheeks and over Jordan's hand. This couldn't be real. Zane showing up here just proved it was a dream.

At least, that was what I was trying to convince myself.

The doorknob rattled for a moment and both Jordan and I tensed. I heard Zane sigh before pounding again. "Lili, I'm not leaving until you talk to me. You have to give me a chance to explain." His voice was pleading.

Jordan's hand tightened to the point of pain and I reached up, gripping his arm and trying to pry his fingers to loosen them.

"You'd better hope he goes away," Jordan whispered harshly. His breath grazing my ear caused me to shiver and I groaned at the radiating pain in my ribs. Jordan tugged me tighter against him as the sound abruptly cut off on the other side of the door.

"Lili?" Zane's voice sounded different as he spoke this time and I knew he'd heard me. I saw Jordan's right hand break into my field of vision as he reached over my shoulder. I didn't have to see the gun, I already knew it was there. I sobbed silently, knowing where this was going. I wanted to call out to Zane, to tell him to run, but I knew he wouldn't. If he knew for sure I was in here, if he thought for a second I was in danger, he'd never leave me.

The next sound that came was my phone, buzzing and ringing where it had landed against the leg of the end table when I fell. It was Zane's ringtone and I knew what he was doing. Not only did he know that I was here
,
but if I didn't answer, he'd know something was wrong. The song cut off mid-verse as my voicemail clicked on.

I didn't even have a full second before the door flew open. I immediately kicked back with my foot, aiming blindly for Jordan's injured leg as I grabbed for his right wrist with both hands. I ignored the pain, letting out a small yelp as the gun fired in his hand
.
The sound and flash resonated so close to my face that the air around me felt like it was on fire.

The sound of splintering wood drew my attention to the direction of the door. Zane crouched and I lunged forward, reaching for him before I was yanked back again. He started to move but froze in the same second I felt the bite of scalding metal against my temple.

My ears were still ringing from the shot and the smell of gunpowder burned in my nose. Jordan's left arm tightened across my shoulders as he held my back against his front, pressing the barrel of the gun to my head so hard the pain made me dizzy. Fear and anger played across Zane's face as he raised both hands.