Free Unforgivably Broken (The Broken Series Book Two) by Maegan Abel

one of them. Not if I can protect him.” I knew I was being graphic but I was making a point. “I’m not taking him from your lives completely. He needs his grandparents and I understand that. But if you fight me, it will only make this worse.”
    They both looked crushed and I stepped back, glancing at Conner who was sitting on Lili’s lap now, still chatting away.
    “We’ll be at the house,” Marna said as she moved toward Conner. She was fighting tears and a part of me hated being so direct but I’d trusted them to protect him and they let him in a car with Lizzie who, though I hadn’t seen a tox screen yet, had probably been high. And if she had, that meant that she was endangering two children today, not just one. I silently fumed as I hugged Conner carefully, letting him know I would be picking him up later so he could come stay with me.
    Once Tom and Marna left with him, I turned to face the rest of my family.
    “You’re going for custody?” Tish asked, verifying what he assumed from what he’d overheard. My eyes flicked to Lili and she smiled, reaching out to twist her fingers into mine.
    “Yeah. She… she didn’t even have him in a car seat. I can’t… he’s not safe with her and I need…” I swallowed but I didn’t have to finish. They’d all been waiting for this to happen. I choked back the emotion as they all told me they were behind me. They thought this was the best thing for Conner and they would do whatever it took to help me. Having the support of my family was what I needed right now but it didn’t stop the fear that flooded my veins.
    If I lost, I would most likely lose what rights I had over Conner now.
    I would lose him completely.
    I couldn’t lose.

 

    I tried to st ifle the feeling of jealousy when Zane went back to find out how Lizzie was doing. He didn’t ask me but I knew he could see how much I hated it. I hadn’t once asked about her but neither had anyone else. Before he left, I could tell he was concerned. I slumped in the chair, pulling one knee up and dangling my foot over the armrest of the chair beside me as I stared blankly at the television mounted in the corner of the waiting room.
    I hated hospitals. I hated Lizzie for being irresponsible. I hated myself for the spiteful thoughts I was having about Lizzie, knowing that her being in pain was hurting Zane.
    What’s worse was I didn’t even have my phone to help occupy my time. Sighing, I tried to focus on the boring news report but the insipid voice of the newscaster only brought its own flood of memories and I quickly tuned her out. I didn’t want to think about Hunter right now. Actually, I’d been doing well with not thinking about him at all before Kaitlyn showed up. Now he seemed to be rooting himself in my brain, stretching out like a weed, poisoning my thoughts, choking out my confidence.
    “Lee?” I started at Tish’s voice, swallowing and blinking as I realized I must have fallen asleep. “Hey, Zane just called and they’re about to release Lizzie so we’re going to head out. You coming?”
    My heart was pounding as I grasped at the tiny fragments of the dream in my mind, reaching as they slipped through my fingers. What had I been dreaming that had me so scared? I wiped my palms along my jeans and shook my head, letting out a long breath as I steadied myself. I needed Zane. “No. I’m going to wait for Zane.”
    “You okay?” Kas asked.
    I spotted Paige standing near the door looking exhausted. She’d been uncharacteristically quiet through out all of this and I wondered briefly if she was just waiting for the right moment to make another dig at me. I didn’t think I could take it on top of everything else that had happened today. I really wasn’t going with them now.
    I pushed myself to my feet, brushing my hair off my forehead as I tried to discreetly wipe away the sweat. The feeling of terror still lingered in my bones but I brushed it aside, knowing it was just the effects of the