Page 20 of Fractured Hearts

I’m not even sure if he’s alright or not. Patrick could’ve shown up right after I got Jo out of there. He could be hurt or dead right now. My breath stutters in my lungs the moment the thought crosses my mind. I can’t think like that. Even if he never comes back to me, he has to be alive. There’s no way I can live on a planet without him on it.

My phone vibrates in my pocket, the quick double vibration letting me know it’s the specific one set up to alert me to movement on this property. I pull up the app quickly just to watch Jo try to get out of the car.

And immediately fall to the ground when her ankle gives out. I can hear the pained groan that slips past her lips. Instead of helping, I watch her for a moment, some sick, twisted part of me wanting her to feel as much pain as I do right now. I curse under my breath and storm out of the house.

nineteen

JO

“What the fuck do you think you’re doing?”

I watch a furious Ezra stomp over to where my ass landed in the dirt, gun in one of his hands and his phone in the other. The scowl makes him even hotter, which just makes me hate him more. I’m in pain, exhausted, and barely holding down the panic from not knowing what happened to everyone else. The infuriatingly attractive mountain man standing over me is doing nothing to improve my mood.

“I thought I’d check the dirt for cockroaches.” Looking up, I widen my eyes. “Oh shit! There’s a giant one!” I gasp, covering my mouth in mock shock.

Instead of the glare I was expecting, Ezra just sighs and pockets his phone. He bends down, scooping me up into one meaty arm. I squeal and quickly clutch his neck.

“Let’s go, Bambi. We shouldn’t be outside more than we need to,” he says, not hiding his exasperation.

“Bambi? What the fuck? I’m not a baby deer!” I argue while trying to think of an insulting nickname for him. The next thing I know, I’m out of his arms and flying in the air. I scream before landing on an overstuffed couch.

“You sure about that?” he says, smirking like a dickhead.

“Fuck you,” I mumble under my breath. Because no. Right now, I’m probably no better than a damn baby deer.

Ezra ignores me and storms into the kitchen, rummaging through the freezer like an animal. Once he finds what he’s looking for, he makes his way back to me. The scowl is still on his face, but it contradicts how gently he moves my leg to prop my ankle onto a navy pillow with white birds embroidered on it. With the same amount of care, he puts a bag of frozen peas on my swollen ankle. I hiss at the sudden cold on my abused appendage.

I keep the noises to a minimum as he gently pokes and prods at my injury, trying to figure out how bad it is, I’m sure. I take the reprieve from the vocal jabs to study him. Black curls have escaped from his hair tie, blocking his eyes from view. I know what those eyes look like, though. They’re the twin to Kai’s. An icy blue that could both freeze and burn whoever they ensnared. I always knew he would be attractive. He’s identical to Kai after all, and I’m not blind. Except now, he’s all muscular and bearded.

So basically the worst-case scenario. I was secretly hoping we’d find him and find out he got ugly. And married.

“Are you secretly a doctor?” I snark. Not liking the way he’s taking care of me. I don’t want to find anything redeeming in him. I need him to be an asshole, and that’s it.

Ezra chuckles darkly. “I don’t think it’s broken, but you’re going to want to keep off of it for a few days at least.”

“You got it, boss,” I say sarcastically.

Ezra smirks in a way that might be sexy if I didn’t hate him. “I love it when you bend for me, Bambi.”

I bite my tongue, wanting to tell him off, but I know if I keep reacting to the stupid nickname, he’ll use it even more. Like a child. A giant man-child. Instead, I just roll my eyes and pretend to be very interested in the decor. Which is honestly a little too nautical for my taste. Do people really need to be reminded they live by the ocean while in their homes? Are you going to forget if you don’t sleep with a blanket covered in anchors or if your tea towels don’t have seashells on them?

“I want to call Maverick.”

“And you think I don’t?” Ezra says, the contempt is back in his voice. Lucky me.

“Then why haven’t you? You have your fucking phone right there!” I yell, pointing to the black phone that’s in his hand. His whole body stiffens, and the next thing I know he’s standing so close to me, I can feel his warm breath on my face.

“His phone is either off or a victim of the explosion. All their phones are. My best guess is Harrison had them ditch the phones and run.”

His words cause me to deflate into the couch like a balloon with a slow leak. Of course he tried to call them. He loves Maverick. He loves all of them. Hell, Kai is his twin. I’m the odd one out here, not Ezra, and I need to remember that.

“Wait,” I yell and then immediately gasp when the burns on the backs of my legs rub against the coarse fabric of the couch.

“Jesus, Bambi. Stay still,” Ezra says, gently moving my legs so he can look at the damage.

“I’m fine. Is your phone all secure and whatever like Theo did to our phones?” I ask him. His frown tells me it is, but he doesn’t know where I’m going with this.

“I told you, no one has their phones. So why does it matter?” He’s still frowning, but he’s not speaking to me like he thinks I’m an idiot. So that’s a nice improvement.