Page 104 of All My Broken Pieces

I jerk as a small hand rests on my arm. Blinking at the hand, I follow it up to the person beside me and find I can breathe a little easier when I see Arriana staring back at me. The haunting memories fading away as I get lost in her dark eyes.

“It wasn’t your fault.Noneof it was your fault.” I’m already shaking my head before she finishes. Her hand suddenly grips my chin, forcing my eyes on hers again. “Listen to me.” She snaps, searching my gaze desperately. “You didnothingto deserve what those men did to you. I’m sorry I couldn’t protect you. I’m so sorry.” Her own broken tone has me reaching out.

“Hey.” I murmur, brushing my fingers down her neck, feeling her gulp against my fingertips. “It wasn’t your fault either.” Something clicks in me at the reassurance I offer her.

None of this was on us. It’s those men who cause so much pain. Those men who should pay.

My eyes search hers, and I find I understand why she did what she did.

She made them pay.

And, while I don’t understand how anyone could be capable of something like that, I know she did it because she loves me. To protect me.

And somehow, I love her even more for it.

The hangover following my brief stint with tequila has me swearing off of it for good.

“Too loud.” I grumble, blindly swatting around to turn down the radio.

Arriana chuckles beside me, twisting the knob on the radio to shut off the music. The car fills with a blessed silence. I release a thankful sigh, leaning back against the passenger seat.

“We’re almost there, just a few more hours.” Arriana says, keeping her voice soft so as not to exacerbate my pounding head.

I groan, wishing we were out of this damn car already. “Okay.” I mumble, allowing myself to drift off to sleep once more.

My dreams are full of nightmarish men preying on myself and other innocent women before a ghost of the night swoops in to save us, to saveme.

I reach out toward the masked hero, my fingers shaking as I grip the mask. “Can I?” I whisper. The hero nods their head, allowing me to remove the mask concealing their identity.

My hand covers my mouth as I find Arriana hidden beneath. “Are you really surprised, baby?” She strokes my face softly. “I’ll always protect you. No matter the cost.”

I jerk awake, looking around the dark. “Arriana?” I whisper, my heart thundering in my chest when I get no answer. I strain my eyes to look out the windshield at the dark expanse before me, but can’t make anything out.

The door opens and I scream, moving away as far as I can in the seat. “Shhh. It’s just me.” Arriana soothes. “We’re here.”

I suck in a breath, hold it for four, then slowly release it. Repeating the process until my heart doesn’t feel like it’s about to burst from my chest. “We’re here?” I repeat when I’m able to form the question.

Arriana smiles at me, nodding her head and holding out her hand. “Come on, let me show you our new home,mi vida.” I stare at her outstretched hand, debating if I trust her enough to go with her.

Unbuckling the seatbelt, I gingerly place my hand in hers and allow her to help me out of the car. She guides me toward the back of a beautiful small building. It’s hard to make out in the dark, but I can see molded ridges lining the rooftop. The closer we get, the more details appear as my eyes adjust to the darkness.

The home itself is different shades of the same sandy color, pops of reddish brown accentuating the design. There are several windows along the walls and off to the side of the front door, a small pathway leads to an open courtyard.

“Arriana,” I breathe. “It’s beautiful.”

She beams at me, bending to scoop my body in her arms. I squeal despite myself, clinging to her neck. “Home sweet home, baby.” Crossing the threshold, she presses a kiss to my forehead. She moves to pull away but I stretch my neck out, capturing her lips with mine. Arriana lets out a surprised gasp before sinking deeper into the kiss.

I don’t know what the future holds. I don’t know how we’ll get past what happened. But there’s one thing I do know, that I’m going to try.

I love this woman more than logical reason. We’ve fought through the pain, through all the forces trying to keep us apart, and this is no different.

My life didn’t turn out how I always imagined. But, if I’m honest with myself, I never wanted that life anyway.

I was always destined for a story meant for a book, one that would feel so incredible it could only be fictitious.

Smiling up at the woman who I never expected, I press my lips to hers once more.

My psycho lover.

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