Page 78 of Shattered

Jade

“So, what are you going to do about your parents?”

We were in my kitchen, and I’d just finished telling Henley about the video Koen had of my mom stealing the backpack from the house.

“Honestly, I’m not sure. Nelson is working hard to track down the missing jewelry. That’s all I really care about.”

“You need to press charges.” My brother leaned against the doorframe with his arms crossed.

“Jett—”

“I’m serious, Jade. Why are you even entertaining the possibility of letting them walk free after everything you went through? You could’ve died and where would that have left me?”

Ouch.He hadn’t intended for his words to filet me open, but they did. They sliced deep. Probably because the same thoughts had been playing on repeat in my head since I woke up in the hospital. They plagued my dreams almost as often as being buried alive. I had a plan though; one I wasn’t prepared to share until I had a chance to discuss it with Koen. It would affect him as much as it would Jett and me.

Henley threw an arm over my shoulder and fixed her gaze on my brother. “Cut your sister some slack. If she needs a minute to catch her breath, we’re sure as hell going to give it to her.”

His shoulders drooped. “Sorry, Sis.”

I held up my hand. “No apologies, not between us. You have every right to feel how you feel, but I’m going to ask you to trust me to make the right decision. Can you do that?”

He crossed the room before speaking, plopping down in the chair next to me with an exaggerated huff. “I suppose.”

“Gee, thanks for the vote of confidence.”

“What time is Koen going to be home anyway?”

His abrupt subject change nearly gave me whiplash. Looking at my watch, I noted the time. Five oh five. Crap. I’d completely forgotten about dinner.

“It’ll probably be late, which is why I’m sleeping over,” Henley answered for me.

“Sweet. Can Pheebs come over?”

“Absolutely.” I nodded. “We’ll order takeout and watch a movie.”

One movie turned into two and by the time the credits rolled, Jett and Phoebe were sound asleep on the makeshift bed they’d created on the floor. Henley and I were each curled up in separate corners of the couch with our feet touching in the middle. The TV screen went black, plunging the room into total darkness, yet neither one of us moved to switch on a light.

My voice shook when I asked, “How did you get the nightmares to stop?”

The cushions shifted as she moved across the space, slipping her hand in mine. Instead of answering, she asked a question in return.

“Have you spoken with Koen about what you went through?”

“No. He’s been dealing with his own brand of hell, even though he hides it well.”

“Then talk to me.” She curled her arm around my waist and laid her head on my shoulder. “Put your fears out in the open so they can’t hurt you anymore.”

For what seemed like hours, she listened without interruption while I gave it all to her. She held me tight when I told her about the horror of fighting with the man outside of the elevator, and the pain I felt—both physical and emotional—when I woke up tied to the chair. Then she cried with me as I described the soul-crushing sorrow which shattered my heart when I thought I’d never see Jett or Koen again. That was the worst part; thinking I wouldn’t get the chance to say I love you one last time.

With the hum of the TV in the background, my eyes drifted shut. Reliving my trauma had been exhausting, yet cathartic in a way I never imagined. I was almost asleep when Henley snorted.

“What would Koen do?” My body shook with her laughter. “I’m getting T-shirts made. No, wait. Bracelets. They’re all the rage.”

Her giddiness was infectious. “You’re nuts.”

“You love me anyway.”

“Yeah, I do.”

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