Page 48 of Beautifully Shattered (Secrets & Scars #3)

S creams rip through the crowd, and in my peripheral, I can see my Angel thrashing against the Doxies, trying to break free to run to Jols, or perhaps to me.

A strangled cough catches in my throat as I stare at my best mate on the ground. His eyes are wide, still locked on Jols, not even flinching when faced with death.

I scan JD’s body, desperate to see where he’s been hit, and it takes a long fucking second for my brain to catch up to what’s actually happening.

Where’s the blood?

My gaze flicks to Smitty, a wide smirk split across his face, his arm raised… above his head.

He… The gun… It’s fucking skyward!

I cough as air rushes from my lungs, finally realising Smitty didn’t shoot JD .

He didn’t fucking shoot him!

Jols lunges forward, a sob tearing from her lips as she skids to her knees in the mud, throwing her arms around JD.

In an instant, his arms are around her too, hugging each other hard before they pull back, cupping each other’s faces to murmur a few words… then they are kissing.

“He’s not dead!” someone yells, and the crowd erupts in cheers as Spud and Tups finally release my arms.

I double over, bracing my hands to my knees as I try to calm the fuck down.

“I had to be sure you’d die for her,” Smitty says over the noise, tucking his gun into the back of his pants. “This is cause for celebration! My stepdaughter has been claimed!”

The crowd cheers, but I’m ready to punch the fuck outta my Prez. His fucked-up mind games are gonna get him killed. Most likely by one of his own.

My gaze snaps to my wife, and I straighten as I see the rage twisting her expression. Her face red, fists balled, and eyes zeroed in on Smitty.

Fuck.

I move at the same time she does, knowing I need to stop her before she gets herself killed. I practically leap over JD and Jols still on the ground, closing the distance as Abbey charges straight for my Prez.

An oomph flies from her when I collide into her side, and I bite back a hiss from the burn of my healing wound as I wrap her up in my arms and shove us through the crowd.

“What are you doing?” she protests, nearly tripping over her own feet as we break through the rear of the crowd .

“You’re gonna get yourself hurt, Angel. Just leave it,” I mutter, needing to pick her up as she starts struggling to break free of my grip.

“I won’t leave it! That arsehole is crazy. Someone needs to stop him!”

I keep moving, carrying her across the yard, heading for the nearest tree.

“In his own twisted way, Smitty felt he had to test JD,” I try to explain, the only thing I can come up with myself. “What greater declaration of love is there than a man willing to die rather than give her up?”

A sob escapes her lips as she falls slack in my arms, so I stop and set her down so I can see her face.

Tears spill free, streaking through the dark eye makeup she’s wearing as she breaks.

“I thought we’d lost him,” she whispers, the agony of that thought clear in her eyes as she stares up at me. “I can’t lose anyone else, Cam. I can’t bear it.”

“Fuck,” I hiss, feeling the pain of her words slam into my chest and grip my heart in a tight fucking fist. “I know, Angel. I know.”

I pull her to my chest right as the heavens open up, and heavy drops of ice cold rain begin to fall.

Scooping her up, I hurry under the big oak tree, getting us out of the rain.

When I go to put her down, she whimpers, her arms tightening around my neck, so I squeeze her close and lean back against the trunk, just fucking soaking up the feel of her and taking this moment to be fucking thankful JD is still here. And now, he can be with Jols freely.

I stare out over the yard as everyone scatters. Most run inside the barn, while others dart for their bungalows or the carport to gather around the fire drum.

JD and Jols stay put, both of them on their knees, kissing in the rain and mud.

“Angel, look,” I urge, tilting her so she follows my gaze, finding our friends.

“Oh… wow, look at them,” she whispers on a sob. “Have you ever seen anything more beautiful?”

My eyes fall to her tear-streaked face. “Yes.”

Those caramel pools flick up to mine, and a soft flush blooms across her cheeks.

“Stop. I probably look a mess right now.” She swipes under her eyes, smudging her eye makeup, which she notices on her finger when she pulls it back. “Oh, God. Has my makeup run?”

“Yes.” I smirk.

“That’s not beautiful,” she sniffs, wiping under her other eye.

“It is to me. I love seeing you all made up and perfect. I love seeing you completely natural with nothing on your skin. And I love seeing you all messed up. Mostly after I’ve had my way with you, but still,” I brush my thumb over her black tears, “I love seeing how much you trust me to fall apart in my presence.”

Even as more tears pop free, she keeps her eyes pinned to mine.

“I was a bitch to you the other day. I’m so sorry for saying I was losing respect for you. I didn’t mean it,” she rushes out. “I’m so in love with you it hurts.”

She bursts into sobs, and I hug her close, pressing my lips to her forehead as I struggle with my own fucking emotions.

“I know you didn’t mean it, Angel. Things got heated and… well, you’re passionate about something that’s a very serious matter, and it’s a conversation more men should be having.”

Pulling back, she blinks up at me, swiping at her eyes.

“You really believe that?”

“Fuck, yes. I know I say I own you. Hell, I’ve even told you I’ll never let you leave me, but let me be clear.” I cup her face and lean in, pressing our foreheads together. “ You own me. And I’ll never let you leave me because I’ll do whatever it takes to be the kind of man worthy of your love.”

“Shit,” she sobs before pressing a salty kiss to my lips. “I’ll never leave you.”

I claim her lips in a deeper kiss, lowering her feet back to the ground and spinning us so I can press her against the tree. She paws at me like she can’t get close enough, and I fucking wish we were at my place instead of this fucking compound where privacy is a fucking myth.

“Fuck,” I breathe as I pull back, practically panting with the need to bury myself inside her.

It’s got nothing to do with scratching an itch and everything to do with being close to her. Losing myself in her touch, her words, her kisses.

Glancing over my shoulder, I see JD and Jols disappearing down the road that leads to the row of bungalows, and know I can’t go to the one we share.

They need alone time now more than anyone.

Looking back down at my wife, I cup her precious face and swipe at the tears drying on her cheeks.

“I don’t have anywhere to take you to be alone right now. JD and Jols just headed down to my bungalow. ”

Her lips twitch into a small smile. “I hope they don’t come up for air for days.”

I chuckle. “I fucking hope so too.”

I consider our options and realise the barn is the only place we can go right now unless we want to catch a fucking chill.

“What are the chances you’re gonna try to kill Smitty if we go into the barn?”

I swear the fucking devil has possessed my wife’s body with the way she smirks at me.

“I’ll only try to kill him a little bit.”

I bark out a laugh at the way she flutters her lashes like she’s fucking innocent.

“Okay, little demon. Let’s get you cleaned up.” I press a quick peck to her lips as she giggles and lead her out into the rain.

She’s carefree as she skips beside me, arms out, spinning as she looks up into the falling rain.

Fuck.

If I could save an image of her, this would be it. Her blonde hair darkened by the rain, the black smudges of her dried tears getting wet again as she blinks those long dark lashes.

“Do you think she’s up there?” she asks, not looking at me as she stops to stare past the tumbling drops. “Do you think she’s watching? That she sees what I’ve become?”

It’s then that her head lowers and those caramel eyes lock with mine.

“Do you think Bobbi sees the monster I’ve become?”

“I think she’s up there.” I nod. “I think she’s in every raindrop that falls.

In the sun that warms the Earth. In the leaves on the trees, and in every breath of wind.

But most of all, I think she’s in you , Angel.

” I step up to her and brush a clump of wet hair off her cheek.

“And Bobbi sees the same thing I do. A fighter. A warrior. A beautiful woman who loves with all of her heart, and fights for what’s right. ”

She stares at me for a long moment, her eyes dancing between mine before she speaks.

“I really hope she doesn’t see me in those moments when I change.”

“Change?”

“Into the monster. Into the rage that consumes me.”

“I think she’s watching when she needs to, Angel. And you need to do what you feel is right, no matter who’s watching.”

A small smile tugs at her lips as she gives me a nod.

“I think Hope is with her.”

“Yeah, me too, Angel. They’ve got each other.” Leaning forward, I press my lips to her wet hair. “Come on. Let’s get you inside.”

When we step inside, I ignore everyone until I’ve got Abbey safely in the bathroom so she can clean up.

Given what’s happened here today, she’s surprisingly light-hearted by the time we step out again, and I reluctantly let the Doxies lead her away to huddle in front of the fire, chatting to her like she’s an old friend.

Shit. I hope she finds friends among them. Family even. A found family, just like the one I found when I needed it the most.

“How many bodyguards do I need?” Smitty’s voice has me turning as he hands me a stubbie.

“To protect you from me or my wife ?”

“Pfft.” He rolls his eyes. “Your wife, of course. You, I can handle. Her…” We both glance across the room to where she’s smiling at Darla, wh o seems to be recovering well. “She’s fucking scary.”

I bark out a laugh. “You’re scared of that little thing?” I lift a brow his way, and he nods.