Page 20 of Unbroken

The letter slipsfrom my hand and falls to the ground. I was wrong. I was so wrong. And I think I just made the biggest mistake of my life. I never even considered how he felt or why he did what he did. I let my anger rot my thoughts. But he was only ever trying to look out for me. He only wanted me to be happy.

I hate to think of him in that place. Scared and lonely, locked away amongst dangerous men. Suffering in his pain. I should’ve known it wasn’t real. I should’ve read through all of it and seen the truth. But he always promised he’d never lie to me, so I believed him wholeheartedly, even when it came to this. And now…he’s gone.

He didn’t leave an address or a phone number. There’s no way to get in touch with him. There’s no way for me to tell him that I’m sorry. That I love him.

The tears rock me harder. It feels like I’m breaking all over again. My heart is gone and I don’t know if he’ll ever come back.

God, please send him back to me. Please.

CHAPTER 15

Kayden

Day 2,259

I can’t breathe without her.

It’s been six days of me chasing lead after lead, only to find out that the bastard who framed me is living two hours away from my girl. How the fuck that happened, I’ll never know, but talk about a small world. With that new piece of intel, I’m driving back to my Wren, hoping that she’s had a few days to cool off and will give me a chance to take her out on a date so we can at least talk. I know I wrote my feelings in that letter, but I want to tell her how much I love her straight to her face. I don’t want to hide behind a piece of paper anymore.

After making one stop along the way, I’m finally winding my way back up Wren’s mountain, hoping that she’s not asleep yet because I really need to see her face tonight. After having gone six years without her, six days feels like a fucking eternity. Evenif I have to sleep in my truck tonight parked outside of her trailer, I just need to be near her. To know she’s safe.

As soon as I park, her door is opening and out walks my girl with her shotgun in hand. I bite back my smile as I climb down from my truck, having bought a better suited vehicle for this part of the country. That fancy-ass sports car wasn’t exactly my speed, and it sure wasn’t my girl’s speed either. Another fact I love about her.

I shut my door and turn, finding myself up against the end of her gun again. I’m ready for her to give me lip about trespassing and how I need to get off her property. If she wants to call the Sherriff, she can, but there’s something I need to tell her first.

“I’m only going to say this once, Kayden.” She steps closer, pushing the metal deeper into my chest. “If you ever leave me again, I’m going to put a bullet in your ass and teach you a lesson on commitment.”

She narrows her stare on me, and I’m fucking speechless. On my drive back, I’d pictured this scene a hundred different ways, figuring she’d be pissed for my return, but never once did I imagine her giving me hell for leaving her. I send a silent prayer to the man up above and drop to my knees, ready to prove to my girl just how committed I am. She’s never going to have to worry her pretty little head again because no matter where the fuck I am in this world, my heart is always with her.

“Baby, you mind putting that thing down? I need to ask you something.”

She lowers her weapon down to her side, and tears fill her eyes. “I didn’t think you’d come back, Kade. I thought you’d finally respected my wishes and left.”

I reach for her waist, tugging her closer. “Never, baby. I can’t even breathe when I’m not near you. The only reason I left was because there was a matter I needed to handle.” Although, that matter still hasn’t been dealt with. But the fucker will have towait. Right now, I’m not leaving my girl’s side. Not when she’s letting me back into her heart again.

“I’m sorry, Kayden.” Once more, I’m caught off guard by her response. Not sure what my girl is apologizing for, unless it’s for pointing that weapon at me. Though, I sure as hell like knowing she can protect herself when I’m not around.

She reaches for my cheeks, running her soft fingers through my stubble. “I’m sorry that I let the pain take over and didn’t even consider your side of things. I’m sorry that I let my anger blind me to the truth. I love you so much it hurts, Kade. My pain and hatred never erased the way I feel for you. Every night, I stared up at the moon and whispered the words. I never missed a one.”

Just when I didn’t think I could love this girl more, she goes and steals the air from my lungs again.

“You don’t owe me an apology, Wren. I understand the way you felt and why you wanted to push me away. But I sure as hell hope this means we can put all this behind us, because I’m ready to start chasing those dreams with you. I want us to get married and start our lives together. I want to see that smile back on your face and wake up knowing you’re mine.”

Another tear slips down her cheek as her lips tip up into a grin. Soon, I’ll get one of her big radiant smiles, but for now, I’ll take what I can get.

“Marry me, babe.” I reach into my pocket and pull out the ring I got her. I thought it was going to be some time before I actually got down on one knee and gave it to her, but today turned out to be my lucky day. “From the day you drove into my life, I’ve known you were the one. So please, little one, say you’ll be mine.”

Her head starts nodding as more tears run down her pretty face. As I was sitting inside that cell, I thought my chance of happiness was gone. I thought I’d be locked behind bars foranother fourteen years, only to be set free to a life of hell. I’d anticipated her having moved on by then, being married with kids, having built a life for herself, and I was going to be the miserable interloper, watching from afar, jealous of the man who stole her heart away from me. But fate had a different plan.

I slide the ring on her finger and rise, pulling her to me for a kiss, tasting her salty tears on my tongue as she opens up and lets me in. God, it’s like the very first time. My entire body is lit with sparks. My heart is pounding hard inside my chest as my nerves kick me in the gut. This girl is my world, and I’m going to spend the rest of my days making sure she knows it.

“Are you going to invite me inside, babe, or do I have to fuck you up against the side of my truck?”

I pull back so I can see her pretty eyes, and her coy smile makes my chest swell.

“Who said I would fuck you?” Her sassy little brow cocks, making my dick swell too. “I think you need to make an honest woman of me first, Kayden. And then, I’ll let you between these legs again.”

Look who’s gone and whipped out a sense of humor. I shake my head on a chuckle, leaning back in for another kiss, but her hand comes out bracing my chest, stopping me from getting to her lips.