Page 28 of Breaker

I shake my head, cutting her off. "She has trust issues, Liv…. I fought hard to even get her to give me a chance. Even when she sees the footage Tech is sending her from my number, she'll use this to push me away."

She flinches, her light blue eyes tearing up as she puts her head on my shoulder. We’re sitting in silence for about ten minutes, my tears falling, knowing I've most likely lost my girl, when the back door opens.

Smokey sits on the other side of me and rasps, "Hey, Liv...."

She flinches a little because he hasn't called her his nickname for her, meaning he still doesn't remember her. She clears her throat and whispers, "Hey, Jonny."

He doesn't flinch despite asking her to call him his road name until he feels comfortable, instead he smiles a little. My heart hurts for them. His body and heart know she's his, but his head can't wrap around it.

Smokey sighs. "She'll understand, brother."

I shake my head as Liv pleads, "Don't give up, Alex. Don't you dare give up on her, not now, not after you finally found your One." I feel Smokey's eyes on us as I look at Liv, whose eyes shine. "She loves you so much, and yeah, she is probably scared, but now you need to prove to her that you're not going to give up."

I nod as Smokey squeezes my shoulder. I look into the club's grassy yard and admit, "I won't give up Liv; I physically can't. I love her too much."

She nods then kisses my cheek, causing Smokey to growl before he coughs to cover it. She shakes her head, then stands. She hesitates for a moment before bending down and lightly kissing his lips, making me smile at her bravery. She heads inside, most likely going to see Rose before her consultation with Doc.

"My heart gravitates toward her," Smokey states as the door shuts, and I smile. "She kisses me, and my whole-body lights up, yet my fucking brain just can't understand it."

I nod. "It will, brother." I look at him. "You'll remember; you will, and then you'll have your family back."

He nods as we both look forward, and he rasps, "I have a plan, but it could go bad." I look at him again. He admits, "She has a check-up with Doc in about half an hour, and I'm going to act like I fucked Crystal, who is in on it with Snake's help, who will have a go at me outside of Doc's medical room." My eyes widen. He groans. "I just need a few days, brother, that's it, without seeing her, and hopefully my heart will miss her so much my memory will jog, because, fuck, I feel like I can't breathe."

I nod in understanding. "I hope it works out, brother, because fuck, you and Liv, you’re end game. Know, though, she'll no doubt kick you in the balls."

"I know, but it's a risk I need to take. Besides, I'm hoping she wants more kids, so my balls are safe…. It'll work out for you, too, brother." I chuckle sadly, hoping he's right, because if I lose Quinn, I'll fucking lose myself.

She's become someone I need every day, but I know she'll undoubtedly use this as an excuse to leave me.

I run my hand through my hair. "Fuck, I should have knocked her up."

11

Quinn

I sit cross-legged on my bed, wiping away the tears as I watch the footage Alex sent me.

He was drugged and then sexually assaulted.

It's hard to comprehend that someone is evil enough to do this, but here I am, watching it all play out, feeling sick to my stomach, and I want to talk to him, to call him and make sure he's okay, but I just…. I can't.

Seeing him yesterday with her wrapped around him, the pain I felt, still feel…it's consuming, and I’m scared. I don't want to be consumed by that kind of pain. It's how my momma felt when my father decided to screw his nurse, and I promised myself I'd never feel that, knowing what it can do to you. And as much as I have let that man into my heart, I refuse to fall. I can't.

I sniffle as more tears fall, knowing what I need to do to protect myself.

I won't lose myself because of a man.

An hour and a half later, I'm setting up my class, adamant that I'll call Al…shit…I mean Breaker, later to let him know we won't work out, even if it hurts me, when the intercom over my door beeps, and Ms. Holden's voice echoes.

"Miss Sanders, can you come to my office immediately, please."

I furrow my brows and check the time. I see I have five minutes until class, so I quickly get up and head to her office, wondering what this could be about.

When I get near her door, I furrow my brows when Lola, Doc's sister, walks out. She freezes, seeing me before rushing past, leaving me even more confused.

Why would she be in the principal’s office? And why is she even here when she doesn't have a child in the school?

Shaking my head, I knock on the door, then enter. I give Ms. Holden a smile, which she tries to return, but it looks more like a grimace as she points to the seat opposite her brown desk.

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