Page 51 of Fractured Heart

“Because you are my womb mate, my best friend, my twin. You are my exact other half, Waverly. I was cold and alone for years until I got my girl back, but she couldn’t let you go when she got her memories back. I had to be the strong one and let her search so I didn’t break down every time the Seals didn’t find a body in that river. I had to hold her together and be strong for our boys.” He reaches up to cup her cheek. “If I had to choose between loving you and breathing, I would use my last breath to tell you I choose you.”

My heart lurches inside my chest when I see a tear fall from her eye. Xander’s shoulders hunch forward, just like me he is feeling pain for her. I hate that we can’t go to her and hold her. She is too strong and proud for that to happen, she needs this moment with her brother so she can let go of all the anger inside her. Spending these past three days with Lake have really helped her, I can see it in the way she doesn’t sit so straight and tense, and her eyes don’t hold that same haunted look like they always had.

“I’m… sorry,” she chokes out as she pushes forward and falls into Knox, hugging him. His shoulders shake with silent tears as she sobs in her brother’s hold. I look at Clara who has her hand covering her mouth, crying at the sight of her children embracing. It brings warmth to my heart seeing her making up with Knox and letting go of her anger, that shit was eating her up inside.

I hate that uncertainty is warring inside me, what if what we shared means nothing to her and sleeping with me and Xander was just a way to pass time. If she admits to feeling nothing for us, I don’t know how I will heal from that wound. I love her, I fucking need her and I don’t need anyone. If she chooses to go her own way, then I will continue to work for her just so I would be able to catch glimpses of her and see her happy. I just want to be in her orbit.

Xander

I haven’t spoken a word since we got to her room. She’s been talking to Knox and Taylan and even including her mom and Lake in some conversations but never me and Trey. We are sitting in the corner of the room like children who have been placed in a time out. I can feel the unease wafting off him as he worries over what she will decide to do with us.

Will she choose us? Send us away? Finally fucking admit to loving us as much as we love her?

Questions like that have been swirling in my mind for hours and I can’t get them to stop, nor can I stop staring at her. She appears lighter, almost like the weight of the world has been lifted from her shoulders. It makes me happy to see some type of semblance of my Waverly in her eyes or in the way she gestures. I had an inkling that it wouldn’t be her twin to break through her walls, which is why I had Trey call Lake and tell her to follow us when we left for Winnipeg. Lake and Wave share a bond like I do with Tay and Knox, we aren’t just friends we are… family. No, we’re closer than that, I would die for my brothers as I know they would me. Lake and Wave are the same. They proved that the night Wave sacrificed her life to save Lakeland.

“We should get the boys and head back,” Lake says, drawing me from my thoughts.

“Yeah, it’s getting late,” Knox agrees as he climbs to his feet. Tay mimics him.

“Will… you come home with us?” Clara asks. A whoosh of air escapes Wave, she flicks her gaze to us for a split second before looking back to her mother.

“I need a night to… speak to them.” The way she says them has dread pooling inside me. Knox turns to face us, I don’t shy away from the bitter look on his face.

“Why?” he grits out.

“Knox, that is none of your business,” Lake scolds. “Wave will come to us when she is ready.” She looks to Wave as she asks, “Right?”

“Yeah. I swear I won't leave without coming to say goodbye,” she answers.

“Wait, you’re leaving?” Knox’s voice booms around the room.

“Son, you can’t force her to come with us,” Clara tries to reason.

“I am not leaving her here with them, she comes or we stay,” Knox retorts, sounding like spoiled fucking brat.

“You don’t have a choice, it’s her call to make,” I snap as I climb to my feet and stare my best friend down.

“You stay the fuck out of this?—”

Trey cuts him off before Knox can continue yelling. “We have never hurt her. You make her feel weak by thinking she can’t defend herself. She doesn’t need anyone to protect or shield her. She’s fucking strong and will do as she pleases but if you want to push her away, then by all means keep going on like you are, because she will leave you and make no fucking mistake, Knox, we will be by her side when she does but you won’t.” I’m awed by the dominance and protectiveness in Trey's tone. Knox flicks his gaze between us, whatever he sees in our eyes has him deflating.

“Wave, please don’t make me leave you,” he begs his sister.

“You’re not leaving me, you’re just taking your family home so I can deal with my… guys.” Yeah, I am man enough to fucking admit that hearing her call us her guys has pride swelling inside my chest and my heart racing. Maybe, just fucking maybe, this conversation we are about to have won’t fracture my heart and she may just choose us.

“Knox, get your ass moving now because you are not ruining this for her. Say see you soon to your sister, she is a grown woman and doesn’t need you trying to play big brother when it concerns her private life.” I shoot Lake a thankful nod. Knox grunts and grumbles about everyone being assholes and not understanding as he says goodbye to Wave. He leaves the others to say their goodbyes before coming over to us.

“You hurt her or don’t bring her home I will come after you both. I will make it the main mission for the Re Della Strada to hunt you fuckers to the end of the world.” In true Knox fashion he doesn’t wait for a reply as he storms out of the room, making sure to stomp his feet loudly so everyone knows he is in a shitty mood.

“My turn.” I turn to face Taylan and fight the smirk from breaking free. “She may share his blood but she is my sister as well. Hurt her and I’ll peel the fucking flesh from your bones with a rusted pair of pliers.” I lose the battle, I smile wide.

“Does that threat ever work?” I throw back at him.

“I’d say to ask the fuckers that have heard it before but you can’t because they are all dead so, yeah, it fucking works.”

“You have my word, we will bring her home, Tay.”

“Good.” He hugs me goodbye then looks at Trey. “I don’t know you so I am trusting Xan’s judgment of you. Fuck her over and I’ll make your nightmares appear like a daydream.” I shake with silent laughter as he turns and leaves, following after Lake and Clara. The moment the hotel door clicks shut, we are bathed in tension—some of it bad but a lot of the tension vibing between the three of us is sexual. Wave keeps her back to us for another minute before slowly turning around. I take in every subtle detail as I drink her in. She is still the most beautiful woman I have ever laid eyes on and that will never change. She robbed me of my heart when we were just children, she is my middle school sweetheart and I will do anything to keep her with me.

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