Page 93 of Broken

Tears stung my eyes. I cried for the innocence stolen from me as I faced that last memory, that last ghost from my past, and something snapped. I pushed at Joey. Pushed him with every bit of strength my small frame had.

“No. You’re not. I told you to leave.” I stood my ground. I was done allowing abusive pieces of shit to make me feel like I was less of a person.

“What’s your fucking problem? Fuck!” He yelled, raking his fingers through his dark greasy hair. “Millie.” He yelled again, reaching out to push past me.

“Don’t touch her.” Kai got in Joey's face, defending me. “Get. The. Fuck. Out.”

Kai pointed at the door and pulled me into his side. I’d never seen this side of Kai. The protective, ‘do anything for the ones you love’ side of him. I always knew it was there, but I never really saw it. God, I’d been so blind all these years.

He moved to take another step forward, but not before Cal got in his way. His arms folded over his chest. He towered over the man by a few inches and looked down on him the same way the douchebag had tried to look down on me. “This is my bar; you’ve been told more than once to leave by my sister. You are trespassing, if you don’t leave now, I will call the police.”

“This is fucking bullshit!” He yelled as he turned and stormed out of the bar.

There was an audible sigh of relief that seemed to echo through the entire place after the douchebag was gone.

fifty-five

Sinclair

Therestofthenight was stress-free and fun. After the crazy ex stormed out, and we were sure he was gone, Millie came out of the back office with Mia and Noah. They stayed back with her during the few minutes of drama to give her comfort and support.

All of them had seen the bruises the guy had left behind in the past. They had all been there to help her pick up the pieces of her life when she would find the courage to break away from him, repeatedly.

My heart broke for Millie. I remember the pain as a child trying to cope with the abuse and the feeling of being alone in the world. I remember the fear of leaving home after graduation. If it weren’t for Aine, for the baby growing inside me, I don’t think I would have had the strength to leave. I wouldn’t have been able to heal.

Poor Millie was still caught in that circle, with no life raft to pull her out and keep her from sinking. We were all sitting at the bar, Millie, Mia, Tess, and me. The Carter brothers were making and serving drinks to the patrons. I glanced at my family, my best friends, and Millie.

I smiled. I knew from the start I was going to like Millie, and the more time I spent with her, the more I realized we had in common. I wanted to be that life raft for her. I wanted to help her find the same happiness it took me twelve years to find.

“Whacha thinking bout babes?” Mia giggled, nudging me with her shoulder.

“Would it be crazy if I moved back home?” I whispered to her. It was a crazy idea, but I didn’t want Kai to leave his family, and I wanted Mia and Tess to be fully involved with the baby that was growing inside me.

“Babes! That’d be fantastic. But what about your job? What about your friend Dani?”

“I don’t even know where I’d live. I just know that I want Aine to grow up with a loving family around her. I want my baby…” Shit.

Mia's eyes grew into large orbs, and she gave me a Cheshire cat-style grin. “I knew it!”

“Shh... I’m barely a few weeks along. We haven’t told anyone. No One.” I gave her an intense stare, hoping she would get the hint.

“Well, I won’t tell anyone. I swear. Not even Tess.” Mia hugged me tightly.

“What about me?” Tess asked, looking over at the two of us.

“Nothing. You’re a bitch is all.” I winked and blew her a kiss.

“Your favorite bitch.” She laughed and blew me a kiss back.

Kai came over to where Mia and I were chatting. I couldn’t believe I spent the past twelve years without the two of them. I smiled up at him and he gave me a wink. God, I loved that wink.

“See, Kai, I told you there was nothing to worry about.” Mia gave him a smirk. I looked between the two of them, a little confused.

Kai must have recognized the confusion on my face because he laughed and took my hands. “You seemed distant on the phone the other night and yesterday morning. I was worried you were running away again.”

Oh. Well, I didn’t blame him for being concerned. “Yeah, well. I kinda did run away. Just not from you.”

“She’s moving back home. She’s never leaving us again.” Mia beamed and put her arm around my shoulder.

---