Page 8 of Fractured Heart

“What the fuck are you doing in the woods dressed like that?” I snap as I drop my gun to my side not wanting to sheath it in case this is a trap.

He ignores my questions as he answers. “I’m assuming since you found this place my grandfather sent you?”

“You still have to hold up your end of the deal, asshole. I’m not leaving until I have your father’s body.” A look flickers across his face and I snarl at the fucker. “You renege on this fucking deal and I’ll blow a hole in your head,” I shout. He stops at the edge of the woodlands but doesn’t come any closer. He keeps his arms raised and that’s when understanding dawns on me, I snap my gun up and dart my gaze around. “Come out, motherfucker!” I roar.

“You don’t want to do that, Grayson,” he warns.

“Shut the fuck up, you little rat bitch. Who the fuck is out here with you?” I sneer at the bastard.

He sighs and shakes his head. “She won’t come out here, you want to know the answer to that question then you need to follow me but you leave that fucking gun in your car.” The warning in his tone is clear, causing me to bristle.

“Why the fuck would I trust you?”

“Because we’re both dead if you don’t, and from what I have learned, you wouldn’t kill her.”

I jerk in surprise. “Her?”

He nods. “Follow me but leave that fucking gun behind or you and me will have a problem.” His tone is hard and unyielding.

“You’re out of your fucking mind if you think?—”

“Do as I say and fucking stow the gun away now!” he screams. We stand here glaring at each other for a minute before I relent. I make a show of tossing the gun in the car and slamming the door, then raise my hands, shooting him a dirty look as I round the car. “Ditch the second one, now.” I tense, my nostrils flare in anger as I grind my teeth. “I won’t allow you to set her back after the progress she has made.”

“Who the fuck is this bitch?”

“Someone you won’t want to hurt. Now, do as I say, because if you try anything I will kill you.” I growl as I turn and toss my second piece through the open window and turn to him.

“Your bitch better have the information I need.” I sneer in disgust.

“She isn’t mine or yours,” he mutters as he turns, leaving me no choice but to follow after him. My senses are on high alert as I keep my head on a swivel and listen for any sign of an ambush. If I wasn’t so desperate to kill his father so I could go home, I would never take such a stupid risk like this. Trevante doesn’t stop moving until we are in the thick of the forest. I'm about to call him out when he pushes through shrubs that are taller than me. I follow after him and come to a halt at the sight of a… campsite set up in the middle of this tiny clearing.

I look around, two tents, a small fire in the middle, a couple of tables are scattered but it’s the sight of the wooden training dummy, bow target and set up of knives on the far side that has the hairs on the back of my neck standing up.

“What the fuck are you doing out here?” I demand. He slowly turns to face me and the look of regret that flashes in his eyes has me taking a step back and dropping into a fighting stance. “Motherfucker!” I roar as I ready myself to charge the cunt.

“Touch him and die, Gray.”

No one calls me Gray, only she did.

I freeze, my body turning to stone. I’m a statue. My eyes track the movement from across the campsite as she slowly comes out from the cover of the trees. My breath hitches, my heart beats over time as she comes closer and everything inside me goes haywire. One second I’m standing and then the next thing I know, I’m on my ass gasping for air as she comes closer and stands next to the fucker in front of me. Her moss colored eyes look haunted and angry. Her hair is short, around chin length and dyed black, she looks like my Wave but… doesn’t. I feel like my eyes are playing tricks on me, this can’t be real.

“I’ll give you two a minute.” She shakes her head in response to Trevante.

“No. Him and I have nothing to say to each other, he won’t touch you.” She looks at me with nothing but hatred in those beautiful eyes. I open my mouth but no words come out. My mind is playing tricks on me, there is no way my sweet Waverly is alive and looking at me like I am nothing to her. She only ever looked at me with love and joy. I run my gaze over her. She wears black yoga pants and a sports bra. I frown at the scar that runs from the center of her breasts and disappears into the waistband of her pants. She shoots me one last glare before spinning on her heel. I make a strangled sound in the back of my throat at the jagged raised lines on her back. Some are fully healed and some aren’t, tears fill my eyes at the sight.

What happened to you Wave?

When she tenses and slowly turns back to face me with a deep seated look of hatred in her eyes, I realize I must have said that aloud.

“Waverly died fourteen years ago, Alexander.” I flinch at the use of my full name, she only called me Gray or Xander, never my full name unless she was pissed off. “I am nothing to you and you are nothing to me. Run back to my brother and let him know when I am finished with these Irish cunts I’ll be coming after him next. Enjoy the time you have left because it isn’t long.” She doesn’t stick around for a response.

“Waverly, wait!” I call out as I climb to my feet ready to go after her but the fucker darts in front of me and blocks my path. “Move, bitch!” I snap as I shove him in the chest, needing to get to my girl.

He shakes his head. “Her name is Doxy, she will never be your Waverly again.” I see red and before I know what is happening, I strike out and clock him across his jaw, relishing in the feeling of releasing some of my pent up rage.

Doxy

Past.

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