Page 118 of Broken Bonds

Jack’s smiling face flashed in my mind as I headed for the highway, needing the miles to calm my emotions. Flying through the streets, I narrowly missed a swerving truck and entered the highway with no destination in mind.

Ryan didn’t understand what losing a sibling felt like. He didn’t know what that kind of pain and loss did to a family. He didn’t know the emotional and mental damage it left behind.

Celine’s bruised face entered my mind, followed by her stomach, then the fingerprints around her neck. Tightening my knuckles around the handles, I accelerated. I wanted to kill Julian for hurting her. I wanted to get my hands on him and beat his face like he did Celine’s. I wanted to break his ribs with my feet. I wanted to make him suffer like he did my princess.

I couldn’t fucking believe Ryan. He’d allowed Julian—the jackass that’d crassly flirted with Celine on more than one occasion without any respect to her as a woman—near her. But not me. I’d once been his best friend, and he’d shoved me away, yet let an abusive, narcissistic asshole be with her.

Lost in thoughts of revenge and Ryan’s fucked-up mind, I didn’t see the truck in time. Swerving away to miss the big semi that was switching lanes without warning, trying to move lanes at ninety miles per hour without checking, I lost traction, and the bike flew from my grip. I was thrown into the truck’s hood and onto the asphalt below. I rolled, my sleeveless arms scraping and burning.

The screech of tires was the last sound I heard as my world went black.

chapter forty

CELINE

Ryan’s buzzing phone caught everyone’s attention during the silent dinner. The food was good, but everyone was on edge, most of us angry and upset with Ryan. Ace wasn’t answering my calls or texts, and I was extremely worried. What if Ryan drove him away again?

Ryan glanced at my parents before answering the call, stepping away from the table for privacy. “He what?!” he exclaimed a moment later, panicked eyes swinging to me. “I’ll be right there.” He came back to the table, his body tense, his eyes on me, and Iknewsomething was wrong.

“Who was that, Ryan?” Dad’s stern voice interrupted the silence.

Ryan swallowed, his Adam’s apple bobbing. “Ace was in an accident.” My blood began whooshing in my ears, making everything sound like I was underwater. “That was the hospital. I’m his emergency contact.” Dropping his forgotten phone to the table, he ran his hands through his hair. “I’m sorry, Celine.” He looked at me, but I couldn’t register his words.

This wasn’t happening to me.

He wasn’t Aidan, and this wasn’t happening again.

“Celine, honey, let’s get you in the car, and we’ll take you to the hospital. I’m sure he’s alright. That boy is tough.” My mother stood from the table and searched the kitchen for her purse. My heartbeat was echoing in my ears, getting louder and faster with every moment that passed.

Amber hadn’t moved her gaze from me, like she knew I was falling apart. Slowly, she stood and walked over to me, resting her hands on my shoulders. “He’s going to be okay. Come on, Cece.” Ryan carried me to the car, and the short drive to the hospital was done in silence while Amber sat beside me, holding my hand.

At the hospital, Ryan carried me in, and we were given a wheelchair. He pushed me quickly through the narrow halls until we stood outside a closed door. Nurses brushed past us, whispering in low tones. I tried not to listen, but it was hard not to.

“Did you see the boy?”

“I hope they aren’t here for him.”

“You mean what’s left of him. I hate motorcyclists.”

No! Stop, please!

Tears welled in my already swollen eyes. I shook my head and clutched at my throat, trying to breathe steadily. Amber opened the door, and we stepped inside. All at once, we sucked in a breath of air. The man lying on the bed was not Ace—it couldn’t be.

The man lying on the bed was hooked up to what seemed like a million different machines, tubes draped all over his chest, his whole head wrapped in white bandages with holes for his eyes, nose, and mouth. His tan arms were covered in road rash, destroying his tattoos.

A cry tore from my throat as I took in every detail of his broken body. “Ace, oh, God. Oh, my God. He… oh, my God.” I couldn’t form words. My mind was crashing in on itself.

“Oh, God,” Ryan muttered, leaving me in the doorway to take a closer look at Ace, walking around the bed, shaking his head. “What have I done?” he whispered, sounding agonized.

Amber pushed me closer to the bed, parked the wheelchair, and went to soothe Ryan, who was pacing the small room, muttering to himself.

“Ace?” I croaked, reaching for his hand.Please answer me, Ace.

“He’s in a coma, Celine.” My doctor from a week ago walked into the room, clipboard in hand. I bit my lip to hold in my sob, squeezing my eyes shut as tears slid down my cheeks. “Since Ryan is his emergency contact, and I can discuss his status. It doesn’t look very good, so I want to prepare you for the worst. Mr. Danvers might never wake up,”

No, no, no. This isn’t happening. God, pull me out of this nightmare. Don’t do this to me, God, please. I don’t deserve this.

“No!” I screamed, dropping my face to the bed near his hand. I sobbed, my shoulders shaking. My entire world was falling apart.

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