Page 46 of Broken

There was a fleeting time when my parents tried to keep us from being friends, they wanted me as far away from the Grant home as possible. But I wouldn't listen.

Sin lived just a few houses down from me, and I would sneak out and run to her house every chance I got, and vice versa, whenever she didn't stay at Mia's.

When her father first abused her, she came to me. Crying, in pain, and scared. Noah and I took her to my dad for a checkup. I supported her even though she lied to the police and said a stranger beat her up. We were kids, barely thirteen. No one understood why she would do that, and I still don't, but we all stood by her.

When she was at Mia's, I begged Noah to walk with me across town to the shop so I could be with the girls. Sin was the whole reason Mia, and I became best friends. It was the three of us for years. Noah would hang around when he got bored, or when our parents tasked him with supervising the three of us.

During freshman year of high school, Adam moved into the neighborhood, and I finally had a guy friend who wasn't family. Thinking of Adam, and what he did to Sin pissed me off. I wanted nothing more than to dig up his corpse so I could kick the shit out of it all over again.

I had every right to be angry with Sin, and I did not intend to let go of my anger quickly, but her track record with the men in her life sucked. I was one of those men, and it hurt more knowing that she thought of me in the same light as she did her father and Adam.

I needed to talk to her, and it couldn't wait. I needed to meet my daughter, and I needed to understand why she lied all these years.

It didn't take long for her to answer her phone. Her voice was soft, scared. Fuck that hurt like hell, knowing that I was part of the reason she felt broken right now. The last thing I ever wanted was to hurt Sinclair.

" We need to talk. I want to meet my daughter." I tried hard to tone down the edge in my voice.

"Kai. I..." She was hesitant, afraid. I was hurt, and I needed answers.

"Not today. Not now. We need to talk first. Have you told her about me?"

She hesitated; she was going to run. I couldn't let her run this time. I needed a way to fix this, to assure her that I loved her no matter how hurt and angry I felt.

"Just, please don't run Sin. I'm begging you not to do that to me again." This time my words came out soft, a vulnerable plea. I couldn't lose her a third time; I couldn't lose them both.

"I won't" She whispered, then hung up.

twenty-five

Sinclair

DanielleandImetEric and Joel for dinner and drinks at their restaurant. Aine was spending the night with Riley. I still hadn't told her about her father. The very thought of telling her about him and having both hate me killed me.

It was who I was though. I destroyed all I touched and ruined everything I loved. I was broken. That's why I stayed away from relationships. That's why I walked away from the ones I loved all those years ago.

That's why I left and didn't tell Kai about Aine. I wish he understood.

Joel said something to make Danielle laugh and pull me out of my own head. Poor Eric, I was not here with him at all. We were having a private dinner in Eric's office. A beautiful dining table with black satin-covered chairs had been brought in for the four of us. We planned a work dinner for tonight, but it was obviously anything but.

Eric talked to us about some new advertising ideas he had to boost traffic in the bar. The restaurant was successful, but he wanted to make the bar a hot spot for young people looking for a weekend spot.

I barely listened though. I thought about what it would be like to be naked spread out on this table, Kai between my legs feasting on my earthly delights. The velvet curtain was open but rather than the room hidden behind the glass, I would be on full display for the patrons below to witness my sacrifice.

What was wrong with me? I'm here, with a great guy and I couldn't stop thinking about Kai.

Sure, Eric wasn't as skilled in bed as Kai, but that could have been first-time jitters, or maybe me and my broken self who can't be satisfied by anything that won't hurt me or the ones I love.

"Sin, are you okay?" Danielle's voice broke through my fantasy. I had been staring off into space, gnawing on my bottom lip.

"Yeah, sorry. I've just got some shit on my mind." I sipped at my wine. A bold Malbec made in the Mendoza region of Argentina. The food and drinks the brothers served reflected their experiences and adventures in South America. You could feel their love for the regions they visited through their appreciation for the food and drinks traditionally served throughout the continent.

"You sure, honey? You look like you're somewhere else right now." I hated how Danielle focused on me rather than enjoying herself. The girl never bothered with a real date let alone a second date.

"Yeah. I need some fresh air." I stood up and turned to Eric, "I'm so sorry Eric. Please, continue. I'll be back in a few minutes."

I didn't wait for him or anyone else to say anything, I walked out of the office with my purse in my hands. I ran down the stairs and out the back door at the end of the hall.

My head spun. Probably from the wine. Or the inappropriate fantasies I had about one man, in another man's office. Either way, I would lose my mind if I didn't leave the room.

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