Free Fractured Hearts (Shattered Lives, Book Three) by Rissa Blakeley Page B

she felt…beat up, bloodied, and defeated.
    He sat on the floor across from them, leaning back against the wall. “Let me give you some perspective,” Gunther murmured through the cloth.
    Elaina was shocked he would even insinuate she didn’t get it. “I’m pretty sure I have a handle on how things are for Henry. I have all of the perspective I need, thank you very much,” she muttered in anger.
    “Just hear him out, Elaina,” Quinn pleaded.
    “Yes, he’s broken, mental, an alcoholic…” He paused, looking around, making sure there wasn’t anyone else listening. “Not fully alive… You have no idea what it’s like for us.”
    “How dare you sit here and try to tell me I have no clue about what is going on with Henry?! I have lived this right beside him!” she growled. “ You were the one who beat him, nearly killing him on more than one occasion!”
    With pursed lips, Gunther knew her anger was justified. “I know, and I feel tremendous guilt about that, but it wasn’t my choosing. It was either do that, or I was beaten and starved.”
    Clenching her fists, her voice grew fierce. “So you chose to beat someone else, hurt someone else, to save your own fucking ass?! How does that work? Real fucking noble.”
    “You don’t understand. If I didn’t do it, someone else would have. Kellan and Drew were much more brutal than I was.”
    “Oh, so now you’re showing him some compassion?! Fracturing his skull wasn’t brutal?!”
    Gunther continued, ignoring her, “If it was Roger doing the dealing, all bets were off. If we didn’t obey, they would starve us to the brink of true death. I can’t even begin to tell you how painful that is. Then they would beat us on top of that.” His eyes watered, obvious guilt weighing heavy upon his shoulders. Then he choked out, “Or make us do unspeakable acts as punishment.”
    In silence, they watched Elaina pick at the frayed hem of her jeans.
    “Elaina, he can’t help it,” Quinn said as she rubbed her back. “He just happened to be graced with an addictive personality on top of all his other issues. You can’t walk away from him right now. He needs you to take care of him.”
    “Why does it matter to you if I take care of him? Who is going to take care of me? Who?!”

    I was exhausted, but I knew Elaina was upset. I needed to go to her. The distress in her voice tore me apart. She couldn’t give up on me because she was the only one who could help me heal. I had to get to her and make my plea before she closed the door on us for good.
    On my hands and knees, I crawled to the door, pulled myself up, and turned the handle just as she asked who would take care of her.
    Goddamn it. Me! That was my job, but I had been failing at it.
    “I will,” I breathed out. They turned around and stared at my pale, sweaty body wavering in the doorway. “If you want to walk away, fucking do it, but I won’t let you leave quietly. I will fight for you with every ounce of whatever is left of my being.” Sweat poured off of me as I teetered on the verge of crying, vomiting, and passing out. Great combo.
    “You should lie down, mate.” Gunther stood, ready to help me. “You aren’t looking so well.” He stepped closer to me, but I held my ground.
    “I’m fine,” I growled. I wiped the sweat off my forehead. “I’m not going anywhere until she agrees to stay with me.”
    “I think you should talk about this later,” Quinn added.
    “Later will be too late. I can’t lose her…” My voice trailed off as I breathed deep, trying not to cry. I felt like such a loser who wasn’t able to control my emotions at any given moment.
    “Listen, we understand what you’re saying, but neither one of you are in the right state of mind to talk about your relationship right now.” Quinn looked at Elaina. “I think you both need to cool off and wait until Henry completely detoxes before you make any rash decisions.”
    “I would fucking die for her,” I whimpered. My