Page 7 of Unbroken Promises

I see the tears sliding down her cheek, but she ignores them as she continues stirring whatever is in the sizzling pan. I realize that is her distraction, her tether back to reality, so I say nothing. Watching in silence, I force myself to remain still as I listen, feeling tears sliding down my own cheeks as my heart breaks for the little boy who would grow to be the man I loved so dearly.

“There was one night when it all became too much. I won’t speak of the details. Only that I was attacked by someone who I thought could be trusted. After dragging myself back home, I did my best to clean myself up, but I knew there would be no hiding it from Eduardo. The signs were too obvious. And I was right. He came home, and in a jealous rage, he would have killed me, had Theo not intervened. He took my place, and in doing so, placed his own life at great risk. My husband was killed in the ensuing altercation, and Theo was ultimately responsible. By that point, Theo was no longer a small child, and because of the situations my husband had placed him in, he already had a reputation with the local law enforcement and he surely would not have come out of the mess unscathed. Dante helped him clean up the mess, and Theo stepped back from his rightful role as Don of the Giovanni Family. Dante gave him a clean start, and hockey gave him a future.”

Shock hits me in waves as her words slowly sink in. So many secrets. So many past hurts that my Hoodie Guy was carrying on his shoulders alone. And then, when he finally had a fresh start, a bright future where he could escape his troubled past, a spoiled, drunk high school girl barged into his life and dragged him right back down. No wonder he thought I was too immature to be his future. I could barely handle the news of how he handled my abusive ex who surely would have killed me. What was he supposed to think? If he had ever tried to share the weight of the true burdens that plagued him, could he trust my reaction?

He was right to break up with me after how I confronted him with the autopsy paperwork. I was triggered and dealing with my PTSD, with my history of trust issues. But how could he trust me if I couldn’t even sit down to listen to him about how he saved me? A complicated past, he said. Ha. No fucking kidding.

Lost in my own thoughts, I didn’t realize that Elena had paused her retelling to glance over at me, all the while continuing to stir her meal she was preparing. I swallow thickly, the weight of my guilt now heavy as it fights for top spot in my chest over my grief. “Please.” The word is raw as I croak, “continue.”

She smiles a sad smile at me, but continues as requested. “My dear girl. Hockey gave him a future, but you gave him life.”

What? I blink, confused at her words.

“My boy was going through the motions, trying to make something of himself, to prove to himself that he wasn’t his father. But he wasn’t really living. Not until you came. He may have helped you like he helped me get out of a dangerous abusive relationship, but it was you that truly saved him. And don’t think that he doesn’t know that. That it hasn’t been on his heart every day since you told him you love him. Now tell me,” She points the wooden spoon in my direction, “what did my boy say to you?”

I swallow thickly, the words stuck in my throat. I try again, and this time the words flow out in a tumble, like they have been bottled up for far too long and are ready to burst free in an explosion.

“He . . . he told me that I was too immature to date. That I couldn’t handle dating someone of his nature, someone with such a complicated past. He said we were good for each other when we needed each other, and he did truly love me, but we both had some growing up to do. That we both have exciting careers ahead of us and we should see what the world has to offer, that we shouldn’t hold each other back; maybe play the scene a bit.” I am crying as I speak, unable to hold back the tears that fall freely down my face. But for the first time since everything happened,I feel relief, the burden eased by the comforting woman standing across from me in the kitchen. She is Theo’s mother but she has loved me too, and I feel an even deeper connection to her now, knowing what she went through, not so dissimilar from my own recent past. How her incredible son saved us both.

“I didn’t want to believe him. I don’t think I even cried when he told me all of this. But then, not three days later, I saw it blasted all over social media that he was at a party with another woman. She was in his lap and his hands were all over her.” I choke out the words, bitter on my tongue. “She was kissing him and he was kissing her back like he meant it. The videos were everywhere. People kept tagging me in the posts.” I laugh bitterly at the cruelty of being a public figure, how everyone always has to know our business and get amusement out of our presumed suffering. “She was gorgeous.” And she was.

Finally stopping in her food preparation, Elena is quiet as she takes the pot off the hot stove and turning it off before walking over to me and wrapping me in her arms to let me cry. “Cara figlia. Andrà tuttobene. Shhh.”

Chapter Six

Danica

Present Day

The next few days pass by in a blur. Going between my work at the Sports Center and my other daily routines, I sink into the monotony, relying on the consistent pattern that I have painstakingly built since moving to Seattle. The beauty of having such consistency is that at times like this, when my mind is spiraling down a dark rabbit hole of painful memories and future worries. I can just sink into the routine, the daily grind a comfort to my aching heart and anxious thoughts.

I haven’t been able to get Bash’s words out of my head. He wants me to come to the game, and I know, really, it is the least I can do to support him. Sebastian Adamare (aka Bash) and his twin sibling Finnley, are just as much older brothers to me as Caleb; never mind the fact that we aren’t related by blood. I learned the hard way my senior year of high school, and in the aftermath of all that followed, that family is not those who you are born with, it’s the people that you choose. More importantly, it’s the people who choose you in return. The people that you put first, that make you a priority in their own lives. Those are the bonds that tie you together. And Bash has been here for me in all my darkest moments. The least I can do is give him this small request, even if it pains me to do so.

I mean, it’s not like we don’t see one another. During the summer, he often flies out to stay over for weeks at a time, before having to fly back to Edmonton for off-season training. But with his brother Finn, along with myself, both residing in the Seattle, it makes more sense for him to come out this way to visit during his downtime, rather than trying to coordinate both of us flying to Canada to see him.

As for my brother, Caleb? Well, these days he is deep in the trenches of our family’s corporation. After years of cleaning up the mess left behind by our parents, Caleb has finally come out on the other side, stronger and more successful than ever. Unfortunately, that also means busier than ever. We don’t get to see each other in person very often, but he does make it a point to check in on me almost every day via text or video chat, which I appreciate.

With a heavy sigh, I glance at the clock on my dingy wall of my run-down apartment. I need to clear my head, and thankfully it’s not too late in the day to go for a run. Rising from the couch, moving over to the window, and checking outside. Gray and overcast. Not a surprise for this time of year in Seattle. No rain yet, but that could change at any given minute. Turning on my heel, I make my way to the front door, quickly putting on my tennis shoes and jacket. Once adjusted, I grab my fanny pack and quickly clip it on, before unzipping to check the contents. I pull out my headphones and place them in my ears then reach once more into the pack.

No hesitation as I fall into my normal habit, pulling out the small gun, checking to ensure the safety is on and that it is loaded correctly before placing it once again in the pack and securing it in its rightful place. Next, I ensure that the small vape pen is nestled at the bottom. I'm not a smoker, but Finn left a small tracker in it, wanting it to be unobtrusive should I ever be in another tight situation. I never leave home without either anymore. After everything that has happened since high school it is a necessary step in ensuring my safety that I am unwilling to compromise on.

Quickly pressing the button on my smart watch, music comes to life in one ear while my other remains silent. I use two pairs of headphones, one synced to the music while the other remains disconnected. It gives the appearance that I have music on and that I may even be distracted, but I try never to let my guard down. One last furtive glance around the room shows that I haven’t missed anything. Turning to exit the room, I place my hand to the scanner that is completely out of place in my old run-down apartment as I set the sophisticated alarm system and lock the door on my way out.

Chapter Seven

Theo

The smell of sex and cheap perfume fills the air as the crude sounds of breathy moans and skin slapping against skin echoes through the empty space. The busty blonde that I am currently fucking is bent at the waist, slender curves, and tight ass in the air as I pound into her from behind. Reaching over to her front, I take a breast in my calloused hand and pinch firmly on one nipple, twisting it slightly and eliciting even more lewd noises from her dirty fucking mouth. A dirty mouth that was just fucking my cock a short time ago.

Sweat beads at the base of my neck and I can feel the familiar tingle in my spine as my balls begin to tighten. This needs to be over, quickly. I’m gonna come, and while this may not be my forever girl, I am still not one for taking my pleasure without making sure that the girl gets hers too. Reaching with my other hand, I slidedown her taut stomach, pushing my rough fingers past her curls and spreading her wide while I use my thumb to quickly circle her clit. Her breathing becomes more ragged and I twist her nipple once more, eliciting a loud cry of pleasure as she explodes around me.

Riding through her waves of pleasure, I give myself a moment, waiting. . . but still feeling nothing except the raw release of my own pleasure as it courses through me. Pulling out, I quickly dispose of the condom and pull the zipper back up on my jeans before tapping her lightly on the ass to signal that we’re done. Turning to peer over her shoulder, she is still working to catch her breath as she attempts to throw me a coy smile.

“You could stay over, if you’d like-”

Thanks, but no thanks babe.

“Ugh thanks but I actually have to head out.” Not having bothered to undress for this quick fuck-fest, I am already headed towards the door, not waiting around for her reply.“You were great, Katy, really. I’ll call you.”I’m not going to fucking call her.I never bother to call back, never stick around to see if there could be anything more, because the fact of the matter is, there won’t ever be.

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