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Chapter 23
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Breached Chapter 24
I fucking hated the pain. Most days it was manageable, but with the spring weather, pills were sometimes my only solace.I’d spent months pretty much blessedly free from migraines, but they seemed to be back with a vengeance. Between the stiffness and pain, I could find no comfort or reprieve.Scar tissue tugged, exacerbating my symptoms. It felt like the black hole I’d lived in for years was swallowing me up again.Lila’s touch seemed the only thing able to soothe me.“This hurts you a lot, doesn’t it?” she asked as she trailed her fingers down my scar.“Yes. There were broken bones, sliced muscle, and chewed-up organs. Lots of damage that left lots of problems.”She felt around at my ribs, digging in a little until she found what she was looking for. Following a line, she counted when she found the remodeling on each rib.“Five?”I nodded. She took hold of my hand and placed it against her ribs on the left side in almost the same spot. The same remodeling bumps, only
Breached Chapter 25
I wasn’t surprised the next morning when Andrew came up and wrapped his arms around me in a firm hug.“I’m sorry,” he whispered too low for Lila to hear.It wasn’t an, “I’m sorry I was such a douche,” but an, “I’m sorry for what you went through.”We pulled back, and I stared him in the eye and nodded. Andrew gave me a sad smile, then glanced to Lila.“I won’t say anything.”Lila didn’t understand, and her curiosity was getting the better of her. She knew more truth about what happened to me physically, but unlike Caroline and Drew, she didn’t know what I’d lost.There was no longer animosity between us, which confused Lila to no end. The fire had died, and he accepted that Lila was mine. A friendship formed, and it was the first one I’d had in years. I’d forgotten what it was like to talk to someone who didn’t walk on eggshells around me.I begged Lila to give me time, but I wasn’t sure there would ever be enough time to prepare me for that conversation.Scandal hit th
Breached Chapter 26
My chest clenched, and I rubbed the spot with firm pressure. A familiar pain was flooding in, and once again it was all my fault.The doors to the elevator closed in front of me, the number twelve disappearing before my eyes, leaving me to stare at my own lifeless reflection. The weight of my decision hovered above me, poised for the right moment to crash down.I saw her long before I ever met her; Lila, my cohort in crime at work and at home. Across a sea of asphalt and cars was where I caught my first glimpse of the woman who would do the impossible and awaken a long dead part of me.She was unassuming, skittish even, captivating me with the way she walked. There was nothing particularly special about it; maybe it was just the way the light reflected in her natural blonde hair. Whatever it was, my eyes were glued to her. She became more intriguing when her demeanor changed as two men approached: her body rigid, pace slowed, and eyes down. It was subtle. Not many would noti
Breached Chapter 27
The next morning my alarm went off, butI was already awake. My eyes were glued to the ceiling, staring blankly at the white expanse. In the time I was staring, I noticed the nail pops, small cracks in the plasterboard, and the all-consuming ache in my chest.I slept terribly; tossing and turning, fighting nightmares and periods of insomnia.As I lay there, I realized it was the first night in months that Lila wasn’t next to me in the bed. Her delectable cherry blossom scent and warmth filling the room. It’d been months since I’d awoken without her soft body curled into mine, our limbs entangled.Instead the bed was cold.No good morning kisses.No morning sex with my goddess.No sweet smiles from my Honeybear.No Lila.My Lila.An hour later, on autopilot,I was dressed and walking to my car. I noted hers was still in her parking spot a few down from mine. In the rearview mirror the dark circles around my bloodshot eyes made them stand out; evidence of my sl
Breached Chapter 28
Days passed, and Lila was still unresponsive, trapped in the recesses of her mind. For the second day in a row, I found myself leaving the office at five and rushing over to the hospital.Work was utter hell. I hated being away from her.Nothing changed in the ten hours since I’d last been there. I walked into the room with quiet steps up to the bed. She looked so peaceful, like an angel. The constant beeping of the machines, along with the low rise and fall of her chest, put to rest the creeping fear that she was gone. I clung to each breath and beat.She was still there, alive, and she would return.I hoped.My hand reached out to move a stray strand of hair from her face, but I stopped myself. It was one thing to see her, to smell her, and to feel her presence. It was another thing entirely to touch her.This is for the best, I reminded myself.I turned and walked back out to the hall. Once there, I leaned on the wall and stared at the room across the hall. A shiver r
Breached Chapter 29
I’d taken to drinking at night, which was not good for anything that got in my path. The alcohol reduced my inhibitions, and the beast was let out. All my anger and pain was unleashed upon my surroundings.I wondered if I was like a drug addict going through withdrawal. I had all the symptoms, my physical dependence on Lila showing its ugly self.My depression and anxiety spiked, and I craved her more than I ever had before. I needed her.My condo was a mess: the drywall still laid on the floor in the entryway, various pieces of furniture were knocked over, and the closet in the master bedroom was ransacked. Clothes, shoes, belts were strewn all over the floor. Casualties of my search for something, anything, that was hers.I emptied the hamper and found a shirt of mine she had thrown on one night and found it still smelled of her. I sighed, having enough of a fix to calm me somewhat.I was a mess, and it was my own fault. We could have been together. There were ways.But
Breached Chapter 30
It was bright, sunny, and I had to shade my eyes from the light. Something stirred at my side, and I looked down to find my Lila snuggled in. Her head tilted up; her intriguing gray-green eyes met mine briefly before snuggling back into my chest. My arm was around her shoulder, and I leaned my head down to breathe her in, kissing the top of her head. I let out a sigh and pulled her closer, reveling in her warmth.I looked around and found we were outside, lying in the middle of a park, people all around us. People all around, yet there we lay, relaxed and content. I felt something move on my chest and looked down to find Lila’s hand resting over my heart, a diamond glinting from her ring finger, a small band seated just beneath.I couldn’t pull her flush to me, so my gaze moved farther down and saw that her stomach was large and swollen. My hand reached out to rest on her belly. I felt a kick against my palm, and my heart swelled at the feeling of life beneath it. A life we h
Breached Acknowledgments
Thank you to everyone that has read and loved Nathan and Lila’s story. So many times I’ve heard that you wanted Nathan’s point of view from Breach, but it wasn’t until now that story could be told. He was too raw in my mind and I honestly didn’t think he’d ever calm down enough to tell it, but he did. So for all of you that wanted more Nathan, this is for you. I hope it’s everything you ever hoped for. I love you all for following me on this journey and for taking a chance on me and my stories.Love,K.I. Lynn
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