Rebuilding Stone (The Stone Brother Series Book 2) by T Saint John Read Free Book Online

the bitter woman asks.
    Ari looks at her confused, “Why would she blame you, mom?
You didn’t do anything.”
    “Because I told her six months ago that she couldn’t stay
here. I didn’t tell her to go back to her boyfriend, though. I guess I
should’ve known. I mean she is just like her mother. Always trying to find Mr.
Right while loving Mr. Wrong,” the bitch says.
      I don’t say a
word this time, because I have never been this close to hitting a woman in my
life. I stand and walk away. I decide to go sit in the car. I see Lani and Ari
talking. They hug, and Lani starts walking towards the car. I can see Ari is
yelling at her parents. She starts shaking her head and runs towards the car as
Lani opens the door.
    “Lani, can I stay with you tonight? Or for a few nights?”
    “Sure, Ari.”
    It hurts when I realize that Kerrigan has had a shit life
too. Knowing her entire life, she had to deal with some level of abuse tears me
up. Ari seems to love her sister, and for that, I’m grateful. When I glance in
the rearview mirror, I can see Ari quietly crying. Yes, Ari loves her sister
immensely.

Chapter 5
 

Kerrigan
    I’m still alive? It’s the first thought I have as I try to
open my eyes. Since they won’t open, I try moving my hand to feel my face.
Someone is holding it, though. Who? I squeeze the hand and try to talk, but I
realize but that I can’t get my mouth to move. Terror starts to build inside
me. My heart starts pounding. Alarms are going off in my head. Where am I?
Who's with me? Where is Aaron? Not knowing any of the answers, I start
thrashing around.
    “Kerrigan, stop. You’re safe. I’m here with you. You’re in
the hospital.” It’s Ari. Calmly, she tells me what’s happened and why I can't
talk. “Aaron broke your jaw and it had to be wired shut. Your eyes are too
swollen; you won’t be able to see for a while. Listen to me, Kerrigan. You are
safe.”
      I don’t feel
safe. I’m stuck in this hospital bed. I can’t see. I can’t speak. I am not
safe. I want to scream, and I start trembling.
    “Hold on. I’ll be right back.” I try to convey that I want
her to stay and not leave me, but to no avail. Please, Ari, come back!
    A minute later, I feel another hand grab mine. This one is
warm, strong, and comforting. Then, I hear his voice. It’s Maddox. Please,
Maddox, stay. Please, don’t leave me. Again, with no way to convey that
message, I squeeze his hand. God, even that small squeeze hurts. The pain is
setting in now. How am I going to get out of here if I can’t walk or talk? I
try to calm down and listen when he speaks.
    “Kerrigan, it’s me, Maddox. I’m right here. I need you to
try to relax. I know it’s hard, but you need to calm yourself. Ari and Lani
have been taking turns staying here with you, and I’ve been right outside your
door. You’re safe. I promise you, no one will get in here. Not without my
permission.”
      As the memories
play out in my mind, I start screaming, or at least try to. I remember the
first punch after I told Aaron I was thinking about Maddox. He'd taken off the
handcuffs and dragged me by my feet to the bathroom where he pushed my head
under the bath water he had run. I thought that was how he was going to kill
me. He was going to drown me. Again, I start to shake until my ribs make a
protest for me to stop. I feel Maddox’s warm hand squeeze mine. I don’t want
him seeing me like this, but I feel safe with him beside me. I know Maddox
won’t let Aaron anywhere near me. I give Maddox’s hand another squeeze before
releasing it so I can trace p-e-n in his palm. He lets go of my hand and I hear
a drawer open and close. A few moments later, he puts a pen in my hand and
places my hand on a notepad.
    “Here you go.”
    As I start trying to move my hand, my wrist starts aching. I
know my writing is sloppy. Hopefully, he can read it when I write ”Aaron?”  
    “Aaron is in jail, Kerrigan. Your neighbors called the
paramedics when