Page 112 of Broken Bonds

The doorknob jingled in the darkness, and I sucked in a breath, my eyes darting to the crack of light coming from the bottom of the door, where I could see two dark shadows. Suddenly, my heart skipped a beat. I couldn’t move. I was defenseless in this bed, my right foot elevated and my right arm hooked up to an IV. Instantly, beads of sweat gathered on my forehead as the door squeaked open slowly.

He’s come back for me.

He’s here.

He’s going to kill me.

Sucking in a harsh breath, the heart monitor beeped crazily near my head, waking Ace. He jumped out of the chair, his eyes darting around the room before finally landing on me in my hyperventilating state. “Celine?” His sleepy voice caught my attention briefly before it was back on the creaking door.

The door opened fully as a nurse appeared, holding her brown clipboard, her eyes scanning the contents. Falling back against the pillows, a sigh of relief escaped my lips, and I watched Ace look between me and the door before his gaze settled on me, and he justknew.

It brought tears to my eyes.

The nurse checked my vitals and bandages, then administered more pain medicine before quietly leaving the room without a word. My attention was on Ace now as he stood in front of me, arms crossed over his chest, brows furrowed, his mouth set in a scowl.

“You’re safe with me,” he said, his deep voice washing over me like silk.

“I know, but?—”

He cut me off by placing his finger over my moving lips. My heart skipped another beat, but this time, it was because he wastouchingme. And I wanted more. “No; he won’t come near you while I’m around. Rest, princess. You’re safe.”

I swallowed thickly, my tongue darting out to wet my lips when he removed his finger. “What happens when you leave? What then, Ace?” I couldn’t help the words. Couldn’t stop them, even if I wanted to. I was just waiting for the moment he left me again. Because the last time I’d needed him, he’d broken his promise and disappeared for an entire year.

Anguish tightened his handsome face.

“I’m not leaving again.”

“Ace…”

Shaking his head at me, he sat back in the chair, crossed his arms, and looked away from me. “Get some sleep. You’re safe now, Celine.” The effect of the pain medicine started to work as I succumbed to the darkness, my eyes lingering on his face until I couldn’t stay awake any longer.

I wished I could take back my words because I hated the pain on his face.

“Why don’t you go home and have a shower and get something to eat, honey?” Mom’s voice filled the silence, pulling me from a dreamless sleep. Fighting the urge to open my heavy lids, I tried to go back to sleep.

“She needs me here, ma’am,” Ace’s tired voice answered.

“I’m here now,” Mom said softly. “You need to take care of yourself. She’s sleeping now, anyway. She won’t even notice if you go for a bit.” The selfish side of me wished she would stop. I wanted Ace here, next to me. I didn’t want him to leave. What if he didn’t come back?

“With all due respect, Mrs. Wilson, I’m not leaving until she can go home. I wasn’t here to protect her from this. I never should’ve left. If…” He paused, anguish clogging his throat, and I fought every instinct to open my eyes. “If I had stayed, she wouldn’t be here. She wouldn’t be hurt or scared of that creep coming back to hurt her more. There’s a shower in the bathroom I’ll use and food downstairs, but Mrs. Wilson, please don’t ask me to leave again because I’mnotleaving her.”

“Okay,” Mom sighed, giving in. “Can I get you some breakfast at least?”

“I’ll eat when she wakes up.” The squeak of the door opening and closing reached my ears, and then silence rang again. Ace’swarm hand wrapped around my lightly bandaged one, and it sent a tingle through my whole body. His lips on my forehead were the last thing I remembered as sleep pulled at me again.

I opened my eyes to find Ace’s seat empty, but the soft sound of running water could be heard from the closed door of the bathroom, stopping me from panicking. From the light filtering into the room through the curtains, it must have been midday, and the rumbling of my stomach reminded me that I still needed to eat.

The bathroom door opened with a cloud of steam, and Ace stepped out, dressed in a pair of navy sweats, his hair damp, and his eyes bloodshot. “Morning.” He smiled, coming to the bed and taking his seat, his hands reaching for mine.

“Hey.” My voice was a dry rasp, and he reached for the glass of water on the table beside the bed.

“Your mom and dad are downstairs with Amber getting breakfast. What do you want?” Taking a sip of the water, the cool liquid rushed down my throat, and it feltsogood.

“Anything. I’m starving.” He pulled out his phone and started typing away. “Do you know if Amber told Ryan?” I asked.

He hesitated before shaking his head. “She tried the first night but couldn’t get in touch with him. Now, she doesn’t want to be the reason he comes home early. She’s been waiting to ask you if you want him to know.”

“He doesn’t need to know now.” Because Amber was right. He would come home. He would request a transfer to a base closer to home. He wouldn’t be able to accomplish what he’d set out to do. “It can wait until he comes home.”

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