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

mother nor my father have reached out to me. In a
way, I’m grateful, but it hurts to know that even in this horrible situation,
they can’t even call their daughter to check on her. I need to find a way to
walk away from that pain as well. Nothing I say or do will make them love me.
      I start therapy
sessions tomorrow morning, and I want to start living again. I don’t want Aaron
to think he got the best of me. Right now, he's in my every waking thought.
Heck, he’s even there in my dreams. I can’t wait until the time when Aaron
doesn’t consume my every thought. The phone starts ringing; as usual, I ignore
it. It’s probably Maddox or Molly. They call several times a day. I appreciate
that they want to help, but right now, I’m not ready. I don’t know when I will
be.
    “Kerrigan, it’s Molly,” Ari says with her hand over the
phone.
    “Not yet, Ari.”
    The only thing good that came out of this whole nightmare is
my relationship with my sister. Ari is five years younger than me. Growing up,
I tried having a relationship with her, but it was strained due to our parents’
relationship. I understand now that it wasn’t her fault. Her mom calls all the
time telling her to come home or they'll cut her off financially. She hasn’t
returned home and recently got a job at Hansons. She's grown up so much in just
a short amount of time. I’m so proud of her.
    “Kerrigan.”
    “What, Ari?”
    “You look good today. The bruises are gone. I was wondering
if maybe you’d like to go to lunch?”
    “Ari, I’m not ready. Maybe after I’m in therapy for a while.
Right now, I can’t do it.”
    “I’m not trying to push you. I just worry about you because
you’ve stopped living. You’ve shut everyone out. You haven’t left this
apartment in weeks and all you do is think about Aaron. How about we go to
Hansons? That’s a safe place. You have to start facing people. You have to
start letting your friends back into your life. Everyone misses you, Kerrigan.
Please. I want to know the sister I wanted all those years ago. I miss you and
I’m in the same room with you.”
    I start to tear up because it feels like the roles are
reversed. She's the big protective sister. I don’t want her to feel like she
has to babysit me or that she can’t have a life because of me. That’s exactly
what's happened. Ari has also stopped living. Even Lani rarely leaves the
apartment. Every day, she goes to work, picks up take-out, and comes home.
Then, we all sit in silence and have dinner. The days have been on repeat for a
while now. I don’t think Hansons is the right place for me right now, but I do
agree. I need to start living, or at least fake it, for now. Not only for my
sake, but for Ari’s and Lani’s as well.  
    I look up at Ari and say, “Will you call Molly and Lani and
ask them to meet us at Gigi’s Pizza?” That place is quiet. No one is ever
there. Ari can barely contain her excitement and it’s infectious. For the first
time in probably a year, I smile.

Maddox
    Kerrigan had stopped speaking to me and refused to see me
about a month ago. She said she needed to get better on her own. I’ve been
checking in with Lani and Ari, who say she's healing, but not getting better.
    Kerrigan said she was afraid for my safety. That Aaron told
her he would kill me if she left. She fucking stayed with that motherfucker to
keep me safe. When she told me what he'd said, I was pissed. I wanted to yell
at her for trying to protect me. Aaron is a big guy, but he's also slow and a
pussy. He only uses his strength on women and anyone he perceives to be weaker.
Like Brayden, for instance, that day at the bar with Molly. I’m sure Aaron
mouthed off to Brayden because he viewed Brayden as weak. I’m so glad Brayden
beat the shit out of him. I wish I'd been the one to do it.
    Aaron is out on bail. Even though I can’t see or talk to
Kerrigan, I can still protect her. From what I can tell, he’s been laying low
and staying out