Free Beyond Repair (Broken Girl Book 1) by Annie Hughes Page A

soft. "It's really late and it's not safe for you to be out here alone."
    Her head shakes.
    "You're wrong," she whispers. "I'm safer when I'm alone. Isn't that what he says? Leave her be, stay away from her, don't get involved."
    Her head whips from side to side, "Gotta go, Reeves."
    She rushes away from me, practically running down the street. Argh hell. I take off after her, catching up quickly, and stopping in front of her. She halts abruptly and stares at me again, the unshed tears making her eyes glisten. Her grip on the vodka bottle tightens, her knuckles practically white as she shivers before me. I shrug out of my jacket and drape it over her shoulders, then take her hand gently. I'm almost certain she's about to have one her little 'episodes' which in my limited experience means she'll either freak out and start screaming, or she'll turn mute and unresponsive. I'm not exactly equipped for either.
    "I'm just gonna drop you off, that's all," I say, then begin to lead her over to my truck.
    She lets out a small sigh, then thankfully comes quietly, keeping her small hand in mine. I try not to think about the way it molds perfectly with my own, or the way she sits right beside me on the front bench of the truck when we climb in. I watch out the corner of my eye as she pulls my jacket tighter around herself, still clinging onto the vodka. Does she have an alcohol problem, too? I make the short drive to her apartment building and park up beside the Lex I know is hers.
    "I never wanted it," she suddenly says from beside me.
    I turn to face her, showing my confusion.
    "The car, the money, I never wanted it," she releases a long breath. "I still don't."
    "Then why buy it?" I ask, before my brain has chance to register that I'm being a nosy ass and that it is none of my business.
    A humorless laugh escapes her.
    "Because it's what people expect me to do," she says, a sad smile gracing her. "I don't like to disappoint."
    She shrugs my jacket off of her shoulders and climbs out the truck. I follow her, wanting to make sure she gets up the stairs okay. She's not exactly strong on her feet right now. I expect her to complain about me walking up with her, but she doesn't. Instead she surprises me further by opening her apartment door wide and inviting me in. She makes coffee for us both, finally putting down the vodka, and we sit together on the couch. It's surreal, but I don't say a word.
    "You wanna watch a movie?" She clicks the TV on with the remote. "Or is it past your bedtime?"
    I should say no. I should just leave. I'm tired, and I should be at home in bed by now. That's what I told the guys I was doing when I left Jacks' place earlier, after spending the night playing video games. But I don't want to leave her. Despite the fact that she's crazy, I'm actually comfortable. Really comfortable. I glance over, as she sits with her eyes trained forward. She's still shivering, and her hand is tapping on her shaking knee. She looks nervous, and I wonder briefly if she's taken her medication. Would she scream at me if I asked? Probably. Maybe I can try and get her to calm down a different way.
    "I don't have a bedtime, Little Bit," I say. "What about you?"
    Her eyes flash wide, a reluctant smile crossing her features. She tosses the remote in my direction and stands, turning to face away from me.
    "Could you unzip me?"
    Oh mother of God . I swallow hard and nod, even though she can't see me. She pulls her hair up and out of the way, revealing the long zipper running down her back. I stand to join her, her back so close it’s almost pressing against my chest. I reach for the zipper, and begin to tug it down, my eyes finding the tattoo there. The little birds I'd seen a few weeks earlier are just the beginning. With every inch lower I get, more of the artwork is revealed. The birds continue down her back, curling around a large Bonsai tree which starts at the base of her spine. Small fairies sit on branches, on birds, brightly colored