Unbeautifully Loved (Breathe Again) (46 page)

“Kane, no!” she yelled, begging me with her eyes.

“Don’t you get it Mr. Archer,” he said simply and I knew what he meant, I knew it the moment I walked in the room and saw her. I struggled before something hit me over the back and I fell to the cement ground. “I already got what I needed – Mr. Hayes, take her away,” he said swiftly.

“
No
!” I roared as I tried to push myself up and shake the guys off me so I could get to her. “I’m gonna find you and when I do I’ll
fucking
kill you
, you son of bitch!” I bit out as I could see her struggling with Hayes again, kicking him as her raspy voice muffled through the warehouse, crying and begging, almost out of my sight. He stopped abruptly and his fist connected with her stomach and she collapsed into his arms before he began to drag her out of the warehouse.

I grunted as a foot slammed into my ribs and I felt it crack. As his foot pulled back ready to connect again, my hand shot out and grabbed his foot, twisting it in a quick motion and I felt a snap in my hands as he shouted out in pain then fell to the cement ground. I flipped over to my back, grabbing the leg of the next foot that was coming my way and twisted it just as quick and hard feeling the same snap before he shouted and fell to the ground. As I pushed myself up a fist connected where my rib was cracked and I ignored the pain as my arm wound back and my fist shot into his face not once or twice but three times before he was down on the ground with the others out cold.

The sound of a gunshot echoed from outside, followed quickly by Aimee’s scream. “
Aimee!
” I roared. I grabbed the gun from one of the guys waistband then ran towards the door he had pulled her through and saw the dust and smoke fill the air as the cars spun their tires in the gravel. When I threw open the door another shot rang out, paralyzing me in my place.

I watched as two cars sped down the gravel road, the last car gaining on the other as I tried to force myself to move but couldn’t, no matter how much I tried; I only ended up on my knees in the gravel. I felt pain in my chest, a familiar burning feeling I had felt once before in my shoulder. I looked down at where the pain was coming from and saw the bright red blood soaking through my white shirt at my midsection.

My eyes shot up as I heard the crunching of metal and the screeching of tires. I squinted to see Aimee driving the car in front with someone following right behind her. The front of his car banging into her bumper, I watched as they disappeared down the road and around the bend. I didn’t know how she got away but I began to pray, harder than I ever had in my whole pathetic, fucking life that she made it somewhere safe and far away.

At that thought another gunshot fired and I fell backwards, pain shooting through me as I laid there looking up into the bright blue sky, while the sun beamed down on me; its hot rays heating my cooling skin. My eyes became heavy as I laid there looking up, not making a single movement as it felt like a fucking eternity had passed when I heard it, the loud bang and I fucking knew, I knew it in my fucking heart and my fucking soul. A second went by when the silent surrounding me filled with a loud explosion.

It was then the sky went from bright blue to dark grey. My eyes fluttered between open and closed and I saw the clouds of smoke billowing in the sky in the distance. The sky had an eerie orangish red glow to it.

Aimee
.

Fuck. No. No, no, no…

Right then I knew my prayers weren’t heard by God and Aimee was gone...and I wasn’t far behind her.

I’ve been writing since I was fourteen and not many people knew that about me, so when I finally let the cat out of the bag and started telling people what I was doing it was terrifying. Writing was my own little safe secret, where I could run to when I just needed that small break from reality.

Writing is my favorite thing to do; I do it because I love it. I love it as much as I love music and chocolate and nib licorice. Now, there is a list of people I need to point at and give an extra special hug and kiss too because without these people I probably would have lost my mind back in January.

First to my amazing son for being who he is and giving me the complete inspiration for Finn (video games and superheroes and all), who when I finished told me he was going to buy the first copy and who, no matter what my mood was or where my head was, always had a way of bringing me back to the moment with a simple smile or laugh.

To my mom and dad, I never planned on telling you I was writing this, not until I finished it because I honestly didn’t know how you guys would take it, I mean it’s not every day your child comes to you saying they’re writing a book. But I’m so glad I never followed through with it because let’s face it, you probably would have thought I was doing drug or something and wondering what the hell I was doing up till five am and looking like a cracked out owl. I could not have made it through to the end without your constant pushing and support, always making sure I was doing okay and where I was with my story and when I needed a vent you were always there. I love you guys so much for it.

I need to thank my mom extra though, without her... Erik wouldn’t have been who he turned out to be and Kane, my scary beautiful Kane, wouldn’t even have been brought to life. Through this my mom wasn’t just my mom, she was my critique partner, she was my rock and the person I went to when I hated my story or felt it was missing something. I bounced idea after idea off her, whenever I seconded guessed myself on something she was always there to tell me to just write and not worry about it. Thank you for helping bring Kane to life and for putting up with my constant worry, love you.

To my brother Jordan and Shayla, you two were the first to know I was writing a book and when I told you what my plans were you didn’t laugh or brush it aside but instead you pushed me forward believing in me. You believed in my ability that I could do it and you’ll never know how much that helped me. I love you both.

Teri, babe, I’m sitting here wondering what to say to you and it’s hard. Not in the way that I don’t have anything to say but I don’t know where to start. Excluding my family, you are my biggest fan and you have been from day one all the way through. There is a reason I named a character after you, there is a reason why not one but two characters remind me of you it’s because you are an amazing, genuine friend and I feel so blessed to have you in my life; even though you live billions of km’s away. Writing conversations between Lexie and Mollie, a lot of it is stuff you and I would say to one another, so not only is Teri you but there’s pieces of you in Mollie as well and I couldn’t be happier that those two are a mix of my best friend. I can’t thank you enough for all the ass kicking’s you gave me when I felt like I couldn’t do this, when I wanted to just give up and forget about my dream. Love ya babe, muha!

Taryn, it’s hard to believe we’ve only been friends for coming ten years when it feels like I’ve known you for my whole life. Thank you for being there and understanding this whole process when I’d go days without talking to you and missing out on, what would have been, much needed coffee dates. I know you missed your bestie, as I missed you, but you’ll never know how much your understanding means to me, you’re one of the few friends who actually gets it. Love ya– coffee soon??

Brandon. Brandon, Brandon, Brandon... You are quite the character. You knew just when I needed you to be who you are - one of the funniest guys I know. No one makes me laugh, or roll my eyes, as much as you do. I thank you for putting humor into my journey just when I needed it.

When I put myself out there on Facebook I thought I was just going to create a page and use it to get my name and my book out there, I never thought I’d meet some of the most amazing, kind, talented authors who took me under their wings and helped me with any and everything I needed and I now have the pleasure of calling them my friends.

Wbwp, Trevlyn, Madeline Sheehan, S.L. Jennings, E.L. Montes, L.b. Simmons, Nichele Reese, and everyone else in ANGTFD, you all rock so much.

Author Kimberly Knight, thank you for taking the time when I started out in helping me get on my feet and put myself out there. I thought it was the coolest thing, a published author, helping me out. I’ll never forget it. P.S. Go OILERS Go!!!

To my cover artist, Meredith from Authors Angels, you made me a cover I couldn’t love more than I do right now; your work is quick and flawless. You’re awesome to work with and I look forward to working with you on
all
my upcoming projects.

To my beta readers: Dawn, Nicole, Lisa, Teri and Trisha. Hitting that send button and watching my baby head off into all of your hands was terrifying; I would have picked watching Texas Chainsaw Massacre then doing that, (okay maybe not
that
terrifying, but close... ha!) But I really had nothing to worry about, you ladies rock!

Trisha, thank you for being you and for setting up and helping out with my blog because I’d have no idea what I was doing if it wasn’t for you. You came into my life as a huge fan dying to read
Unbeautifully Loved
, not being able to wait till it was done to ending up being a great and close friend who I know I can go to about
anything and everything
, no matter what time it is or what it’s in regards too. Party time love.

To
Redbulls, Rockstars
and
Starbucks Refreshers
, thanks for the energy perk and keeping my eyes open until five in the morning.

Criminal Minds
for being the kick ass show and keeping me company late at night.

Florence + the Machine
who’s song
‘Shake it Off’
inspired the title for my book.

Phillip Phillips
who’s song
‘Home’
was perfect for Lukas and Lexie’s ending.

I love writing and I love reading. I look up to some amazing authors who are huge role models to me and I just have to say a quick thank you to them for bringing their books into my life, changing it for the better.

Author Nicholas Sparks and Author Kristen Ashley, I doubt you’ll ever see this, but thank you for introducing me to the type of writer I want to be. You both write differently, each being in your own league I think, but your writing affects me the same, yet in completely different ways. And it’s because of you that I now finally know the type of writer I want to continue being.

This journey has been so surreal, as I finish up I still can’t believe I am where I am right now and doing what I’m doing. It’s been a dream of mine for as long as I could remember and I couldn’t be happier that I get to share it with all of you and all who have been there right from the star. I hope you guys enjoyed
Unbeautifully Loved
and love Lukas and Lexie as much as I do.

Much love,

Emma

Emma Grayson is a Canadian author who resides outside of Edmonton, Alberta with her family and five year old son. She is currently working on
Take it All,
book one in her new series,
Blinded by Love
, as well as
Unbearable Guilt,
book two in her
Breathe Again
series. When she’s not writing she enjoys time with her son, going to movies, reading, or enjoying
Starbucks
latte’s with her girlfriends. She’s the lover of music, television, all things purple,
Oilers
hockey and doesn’t leave the house without her iPhone,
Kobo,
flip flops or a pack of gum.