Page 16 of Broken By The Devil

“I’ve thought about it you know, what it would be like to just end it all…”

No.

“It won’t stop with me though. It’ll continue with someone else, I can’t have that weighing on me. Why did you leave me Thea? We could have solved this together. You’ve left me to deal with this, and I can’t do it anymore, I’m not strong enough!”

She starts clawing at the grass at the foot of the stone, raising both of her arms, and punching at the ground, sobbing, and screaming. “Why did you have to leave me Thea, why?”

I can’t sit here anymore. I get up from behind the tree and move towards her slowly, I don’t want to startle her. She hears me approaching and darts her head around to look at me “What the hell are you doing here?” she chokes out, still sobbing.

“I’m here for you, Viper, and I always will be here for you.” I sit next to her with my knees bent, and we stay like that for an hour in complete silence. I don’t move to touch her; I let her take full control of what she wants from me. If she just needs me to sit here with her then that’s exactly what I’ll do. She’s not alone in this world anymore.

She leans her head on my shoulder and sighs, “How much of that did you hear?”

“I heard enough to have a lot of questions, but only one that really matters to me.” I press, but not too hard. I want her to open up to me.

“Which is?”

“Who is he?” I chance the question to see if my hope of her telling me isn’t quite as delusional as I’m thinking.

Emilia shoots up from where she’d been leaning on my shoulder “Don’t, Kade… just don’t.” She darts from the cemetery so quickly I don’t get a chance to reply to her. From everything I just heard, I’m determined to make her smile more, laugh, find the light in the shadows before she drowns in them.

I gained a lot from this. I know that her mother and Thea did kill themselves. I’m convinced Emilia’s mother just couldn’t stand the grief anymore and I know that someone did something to Thea for her to want to kill herself. The same someone who hurt Emilia.

I will find out who, and when I do… my face will be the last thing they ever see.

EMILIA

Istruggle to get out of bed this morning, my body feels heavy, my eyes are bloodshot, and my head is pounding. I should not have drank last night. I just can’t believe Kade turned up at my sisters grave. I don’t know where to go from here. I don’t want to face him today, but I know he’s going to be there, everyone will be at the assault course. It’s an annual event where officers compete to get the best time.

I’m not in the mood for today. I don’t have the motivation to get out of bed.

I text Kade, Hey, not feeling great, going to take a sick day, I’ll see everyone tomorrow.

I fall back into bed and pull the covers back over me. I don’t even have a minute to get comfortable when I hear the notification go off on my phone. I know it’s him before I even look.

Nice try, get your ass out of bed and get over here.

Infuriating. He is a rage-inducing asshole of a man. I begrudgingly get myself out of bed and put some gym gear on. If he wants me there, fine, but I’m not going to be good company, and I’m certainly not doing the course.

I walk out onto the field, Cass and Cara are competing in the course. My money is on Cara, she’s fast and small. Many officers underestimate her. I’m greeted by Kade and Cyrus, they both look happy to be here, energized and chirpy. I hate it.

“You look like shit,” Cyrus jokes.

“Thanks, and you look like a horse’s ass, but I don’t say it to your face,” I reply.

“Here, have some coffee, it’ll take the edge off.” Kade offers me the cup and I take it all too willingly. Strong coffee with two sugars and cream. How does he know how I have my coffee? All I know is, I’m going to need at least two cups if Cyrus keeps talking.

“Kade, you’re up in five,” Cyrus announces. I smirk at the thought of who is going up against him. Whoever it is, is going to lose.

“What are you smirking at? You’re going up against him.” Cyrus laughs and inhales a bit of his coffee.

“The fuck I am. I draw the line at competing. You want me here? Fine, I’m here, but I’m not doing the course,” I announce.

“You nervous you won’t keep up?” Kade teases.

I clench my teeth till my jaw hurts. He knows exactly how to push my buttons, but I’m glad he doesn’t mention what he saw last night. “Why don’t you ask Bree? I’m sure she’d be more than willing to bend over for you, Sarge.”

“Wow, smart mouth Viper, why don’t you put it to better use?” Cyrus spits out a mouthful of coffee, I’m surprised he has any left.