Page 4 of Unbreakable Thread

“You’re a lucky woman,” she says, pausing at the door with a wink before disappearing.

I knew from the very first night. Max and Drake walked me to my bedroom, and something about Max cracked me open in the best way. I hadn’t smiled like that in a long time. Solace always finds you when you’ve almost stopped, hoping it will.

He was a knight protecting me from the darkness.

Max took so many of those beatings to protect me, his thin shoulders hunched like a shield. He was brave beyond belief for a boy his age. Standing there with his chin lifted and eyes unflinching, his lip split and bruises blooming across his cheekbones. He never cried—not once—though I’d hear his shallow breathing as I lay next to him. I didn’t start putting two and two together until I tiptoed downstairs one night and saw him being beaten because of me. I would hear our foster father shout, “Every time you keep her from me, I’ll beat your ass.”

Max never told me why he was getting hit. He would just say, “I misbehaved.”

I would frown at that because I had never seen him misbehave.

That night, while he was in bed, catching his breath, I lay next to him and told him what I saw and heard.

Typical of Max to say, “I won’t let anyone hurt you. You’re my best friend. Besides, I don’t think your parents would be happy if I didn’t take care of you.” Max gave his signature lazy smile.

Later that night, Drake walked in with a busted lip and a swollen eye. He put cold, wet towels on Max’s back. I remember it being a roadmap of blotchy red marks. He never liked me to see them.

“Rainey.” Max groans next to me. “Shit, I fell asleep. Did I wake you? Or did I take up too much space?”

I shake my head. “No, the nurse woke me when she came in and gave me meds. It seems we slept for four hours.” My voice sounds off with the heart-shattering memories I just recalled.

“I’m glad you slept. How do you feel?” He examines me. “Are you crying? What hurts?”

Oh, my heart, for starters.

“Some memories that I remember I had while I was in and out of consciousness make me teary-eyed.”

“Were they a good, happy memory?”

“No, not happy, but a memory of a strong, amazing boy… Remembering everything is a curse and a blessing.”

Max straightens the messy strands of hair covering my face. “Sunshine, I understand where you’re coming from. Those shattering memories in our lives can be soul-crushing, just as they can shape us into the better person we want to become. They have dragged me through gravel, and they could have sent me straight to hell, baby. I chose not to let that turn me into a drunk, a drug addict, or a thief.” He lifts my chin. “My purpose in life fueled the fire in me. You. You were my hope when I was lost.” He kisses the top of my head. “You’ll find yours.”

Chapter Two

Rainey

“Wow, Rainey, I’m shocked. Like, blown away. I’m so sorry you’re going through all this,” Lana says, sitting next to me on the hospital bed.

I had to send Max home to rest. It took convincing. He said he would wait in the waiting room so I could talk to Lana and my brother. He needed rest, and he knew it, although he was worried something would happen to me. I assured him I’d be fine. Stubborn ass. Max finally believed me and went home to shower and pick up Daisy at Johnny’s house.

“I’m still wrapping my head around it all… I feel like I don’t know who I am, and now waking up with those memories makes it all so real.” I shake my head. “I’m so confused, Lana.”

Lana’s fingers tangle in my messy hair as she braids it. “I understand, sweetheart. It’s normal to have all those emotions. You’ve been through some trauma. You went from finding out you’re adopted to finding out your biological parents passed away. Then you found out you knew Max before high school, and on top of that, you were kidnapped by a mobster or whatever they are. Honey, you had another head injury, which triggered your memory. It’s rare, but it happens.” Lana finishes up my braid and wraps it with an elastic. She begins to massage my shoulders.

“It’s going to take time to find your footing. It’s a lot, but luckily you have a man who has been by your side from the start. He knows you from your childhood. Hell, he knows you better than I do.”

Better than I know myself, apparently.

Lana gets off the bed, shoves her hands into the pockets of her scrubs, and peers at me with those pretty blue eyes. I know that face. She’s worried about me. After all, I was running out of town to get away from the newfound news and ended up locked in the basement of some crime organization’s leader. It was all my father’s fault for scheming like the criminal that he is.

God, how did I live under the roof of parents who buried me in a pile of lies? How hard could it have been to tell a grown woman the truth? I’ll never know the honest answer to that. My adoptive mom is gone, and my scheming, cheating father? I want nothing to do with him.

I sigh and tuck myself back into the rough sheets. “He protected me,” I whisper, my voice hoarse, “from a horrible man who could have done so many cruel things to me.” My thoughts go back to those monstrous memories.

“Justin told me about how Max fought in the”—she looks around, then whispers— “Underground to save you.”

“Yes, but I’m talking about the foster home we lived in.” I haven’t shared any of my memories with Lana. I woke up early this morning from being in a coma, and I’m still getting out of the fog. My brother was here with me for a short time as well. He had to get everything in order at the law firm since he’s taking over, as he had said. He didn’t press much on the topic, and I’m sure he sees now is not the time.