Page 43 of Shattered

“It still hurt me deeply just the same.Mia became pregnant after about a year.He asked her to marry him, and she was happy to agree.I begged her not to do it.I pleaded with her to leave him, to come home and raise her baby with us.I warned her if she stayed with Michael, he would eventually kill her.She thought I was being crazy, but I could see by the look in her eye she believed me, even if she didn’t want to admit it out loud.”

Alek walked back toward the couch and took a seat next to me, reaching for my hand once again.“They were married by a justice of the peace three months later, and she moved in with him.Away from me.I tried to call her numerous times a week, but he would always answer her phone, telling me she wasn’t available to talk.He was alienating her from her family and friends, making sure he was the only one in her life.I even went over there a few times, banging on the door and threatening him, but it didn’t do any good.Every call I placed to the cops was a wasted effort.They told me unless she pressed charges, there was nothing they could do.I felt so helpless.”

My heart broke for Alek.Such a heavy burden he carried around with him.I wished there was something I could have done to take away his pain, but there wasn’t.He had to live with the loss of his sister for the rest of his life.I only hoped he wouldn’t carry around such guilt.He was barely an adult, for God’s sake, all of twenty-two years old when she died.

He continued on with the rest of the story, speaking quicker than before to try to end the pain sooner.“It was late one night when I received the dreaded visit from the cops.They told me my baby sister was dead.”Alek took a quick breather, hesitating to finish his story.It was almost as if revealing the final part of the story made it real.All over again.

“The bastard slit her throat, killing her and my unborn nephew.It wasn’t bad enough he beat her repeatedly. He had to go ahead and end her life and do so in such a horrific way.”

My breath caught in my throat.Instant sadness and fury raced through me, gripping my insides in a vise so tight I had trouble breathing. “Oh, my God.Oh, my God,” I kept repeating.“Alek.I am so sorry.”I didn’t know what else to do but throw my arms around his neck and sob for him, for the burden he’d carried around since that tragic day.For the loss of his sister and her unborn child.

For the loss of a love that would never flourish to anything beyond a naïve young woman and her older brother who was forever trying to protect her.

“What happened to him?To Michael?Is he in jail?Please, tell me he’ll never see the light of day again.”

“No, he’s dead.”He said the words with such finality it actually sent shivers up my spine.

“How did he die?” I cautiously asked, preparing myself for his answer.

“I didn’t kill him, if that’s what you’re thinking, Sara.Although, I wish I had been the lucky one to take him out of this world.No, while he was out on bail, awaiting the trial, he was drunk and mouthed off to the wrong person.He was shot dead in a seedy bar.He died like the animal he was, with a bullet to the head.It’s the only thing which brings me some sort of comfort, knowing he isn’t breathing the same air I am.”

Even though I knew it was extremely hard for Alek to talk about his sister, he almost seemed relieved to have been able to share it with me.I didn’t really know what to say, except, “Thank you for telling me about Mia.I know it was hard for you to do.”

He pulled me close and tipped my chin upward so he could gaze into my eyes.“I think my overwhelming need to protect you is driven by the fact I couldn’t save my sister.What I mean to say is, I would have this fierce need to keep you safe regardless, but my sister’s death fuels it even more.I don’t know what I would do if something ever happened to you.It would be like the last good part of me was stolen.I wouldn’t be able to go on.”He squeezed my hands in his.“So please try not to be too upset with me when I’m making my demands.They’re irrational to you, but they make perfect sense to me.Your safety is my sanity.”

“I do understand your need to protect me a little more now, Alek, but it doesn’t mean all of a sudden I’m going to give in to all of your overbearing tendencies.”Before he could interrupt with his rebuttal, I cut him off.“I’ll try to be more understanding and more accommodating, but it’s hard for me to give up any part of my independence.This will be a work in progress.I’m just warning you now.”

“I know.I wouldn’t expect anything less from you, sweetheart.Your strong will is one of the things I love most about you, although it drives me insane most of the time.But thank you for at least giving me what I want.”

“Wait…I didn’t saythat.Let’s not get ahead of ourselves here.”

He laughed.He was teasing me. “You can’t blame a guy for trying.”I was so elated to see my man smile, even if it was for a brief moment.Hopefully, he’d be able to release some of the guilt he’d been carrying around for the greater part of a decade.

~22~

Alek

Climbing the stairs, I did nothing but reflect on the evening.We’d spent a wonderful time with two people who were very special to me.I loved that Sara got along with them so well, and they with her.Envisioning a night out in the near future with everyone managed to put a small smile on my face.

Soon, thoughts of my sister filled my head again.Mia.I missed her so much, time doing nothing to heal the hole in my heart.Normally, I would have shut down each and every time anyone asked about her, but I knew I had to tell Sara the story sooner or later.Since she pushed the issue, I figured there was no better time than the present.

It was painful. I’m not going to lie, but I’m happy I did it.The guilt still ate at me, but my heart was a little lighter.All thanks to the beautiful woman walking in front of me.

I knew the story I threw at her feet affected her.I made her cry, for Christ’s sake, a reaction I never expected.Or did I?I knew Sara had a big heart, so why was it a shock she wept for me?In truth, I wasn’t used to really opening up to anyone.She was the first woman I’d ever let inside and to be quite honest, while I reveled in it, it freaked me out a little.

Sara made me feel vulnerable.

She didn’t know it, but it was the truth.

Trying my hardest to not succumb to my own desires, wanting to give myself the evening to recuperate emotionally, I looked down at my feet with each step I took.Her phenomenal ass was beckoning to me, though, and I wasn’t sure how much longer I was going to be able to hold out.With every sway of her hips and every bounce of her tits, I weakened more and more.

Confliction took hold and shook me like a rag doll.The closer we came to my bedroom, the more my thoughts were overrun with images of her writhing underneath me in ecstasy.

“Are you all right, Alek?” she asked, turning to press her hand on my chest, right over my heart.

“Yes,” I answered.“I think I am.”Hating the distance between us, I grabbed her hips and pulled her close.One kiss was all it took to unleash the beast inside.

The weight of my guilt was suspended for a time, and I was going to take full advantage.

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