Broken: Book 1 of the Scars and Sorrow Saga by Mary E. Palmerin Read Free Book Online Page A

Dark Eyes Vodka, hit a desolate back road, and drink myself into a stupor.
    I take two more long drags from my cigarette, exhaling the smoke and making perfect circles in the air. I blow them away and toss my butt into the parking lot. I take a deep breath, preparing myself for the moments that are before me. I see Bill’s car in the parking lot, a comfort knowing that I will soon flavor the liquor on the taste buds that are going through their withdrawal.
    I open the door and I am greeted by the familiar thick fog of cigarette smoke and the country tunes blaring from the aged radio on the counter. I see his figure coming out of the back stock room. A smile spreads across his crooked face. My heart flutters as I see his mouth opening to speak.
    “The usual, pretty little lady?”
    “Yes,” I reply, trying to keep my eyes away from his.
    Failure, defeat, succumbing to the incubi that once plagued me. Who am I kidding? They’ve always had the upper hand. They were just in hibernation. They’ve never not been present. Giving in for me is the same as claiming rout. It was just a matter of time. Now I have to do what I did so well before I lost control, hide. Conceal the choices that I am making once again and put on a happy front.
    He retrieves the pint of liquor and hands it to me, “Smokes? Still prefer Parliament Lights?”
    “No, I’m good. No stags.”
    “Well, I expect my payment,” he says in a near whisper, gesturing me back to the stock room of the liquor store.
    I follow his heavy steps as he opens the door to the storage area. I take a few steps back so he can get a full view of me, scars and all. He knows how fucked up I am, but he keeps it secret. With those thoughts flooding me at full force, I feel the misery wash over me as I think of the times I shared with Nathan. I’m nothing more than a fuck buddy who isn’t worth anything more. I am his dirty little secret, along with Bill and Davis. Proof that I am unfit.
    I pull my Rigdon High tee off of my battered young body and his gaze remains unchanged. The scars no longer phase him, even the raised ones that are a few months old. I unclasp my bra (a must for him because pulling them free from the cups is not equal payment for the loot). I shake the straps off of my shoulders and allow my bare breasts to stare at him in the face. His hand makes its way to his trousers as he adjusts himself while licking his lips. The front door dings, indicating a customer. The look of surprise shoots across his face.
    “Get out of here,” he says while placing the contents I earned on a cardboard box, then pointing to the back service door.
    I nod in agreement, eager to get the hell out of there to enjoy the liquor that will make me forget. I am trying to clasp my bra, but it won’t take. I’m growing impatient, so I just take it off and begin to pull my shirt over my exposed breasts when the demon of my past comes back to haunt me worse than ever before. Davis Mitchell Moore, the stealer of my innocence, is standing in front of me with a smile on his face as he sees that I am bare chested before him.
    “Bill, get your perverted ass back up front and let me take care of this. I better never hear of you doing this again. If she comes here asking, you call me and only me. If you listen, I will keep this between us.”
    Bill agrees with a nod, perspiration misting his forehead. I’m surprised he didn’t piss his pants with the look of terror on his face. I’m indifferent, honestly. I know what I deserve and the man that will give me my punishment is only feet away.
    I am given strict instructions to follow his cruiser to a trail off Chapel Lane. Ironically, the same road that the church I have grown up going to rests. Davis allows me to have the pint from Bill, only because deep down he knows what he does to me isn’t right and it is a way for me to tolerate it.
    I drink most of the pint within twenty minutes before arriving at the ominous destination. I light a