R. Hunter - Undone

She followed Morgan out the back door and down a set of stairs that wrapped around to the front of the building. Sure enough, underneath the overhang was another bathroom for the people who used the marina. They only had to wait behind one person.

As they waited, Morgan’s phone rang. She pulled it out of her clutch. “Hi, babe, we’re just downstairs. Babe? Can you hear me?” She huffed, shoved the phone back in her purse, and turned to Embry. “Bad service, I guess.”

The bathroom door opened, and the occupant left.

“Go ahead,” Morgan said, waving at the empty bathroom. “They’ll have a fit if they can’t find us. I’ll pop my head upstairs and let them know where we are, and I’ll be back by the time you’re finished.”

“Okay.” Embry watched Morgan walk back up the stairs before she entered the bathroom and locked the door. She took care of business and washed her hands then spent a few minutes fixing her hair and makeup. She flipped the lock and left the bathroom, looking for Morgan.

He came out of nowhere and slammed her into the concrete wall. She let out a startled cry and immediately began to struggle.

“Hello, Embry,” he whispered, holding her back against the wall with the weight of his body.

Her breath caught and her eyes filled with tears as she stared up into his hate-filled gaze. “Jack,” she choked out.

“You’re looking lovely this evening, Bree,” he said, leaning into her face.

She fought against him, trying for even a sliver of space, but he wouldn’t relent. “What are you doing here, Jack?” Embry bit out, continuing to struggle against his hold. His heavy thighs were crushed against hers, his body holding her flush against the wall, his hot breath coming down on her face. He smelled like a distillery.

“Well, it just so happens that my dad docks his boat here. Imagine that,” he sneered.

Embry’s mind spun, trying to grasp onto a single thought, anything to help her. She shook her head and continued her fruitless attempts to break free. Jack’s hands moved to the wall on either side of her head, freeing her arms. She took a deep breath, biding her time until she could catch him by surprise. “What do you want, Jack?”

“I didn’t get the chance to visit with you last night. When I saw pretty boy’s truck out here, I thought I should stop in for a chat.”

Jack turned his head slightly to indicate Luke’s truck, and Embry made her move. Summoning all the strength she could, she threw her arms up and out against Jack’s chest. She was quick, but he was quicker. Jack caught her wrists and squeezed, pushing her hands down to her sides. His grip was too tight, cutting off circulation and making her fingers tingle. Where were Morgan, Brett, and Luke?

“Jack, please. You’re hurting me.” She felt hopeless. Weak.

“I’m hurting you, Embry?” He let out a mirthless laugh.

“Let me go,” she pleaded as tears fell down her face.

“Not a chance,” he growled. “I want answers.”

Embry swallowed thickly. “To what?”

His expression softened infinitesimally, and Embry almost saw the boy she had once fallen in love with. Almost. He released her hands, but as soon as Embry made a move, he slammed her back against the wall. Her head bounced against the concrete, sending a wave of pain through her skull.

“You left, disappeared. How?” he demanded.

For just a moment, she thought he was actually hurt and asking how she could have left him. Then she remembered he was Jack Stowe, and he wasn’t capable of feeling any emotion other than anger. He didn’t want to know why she left him. He wanted to know how she’d pulled it off.

She trembled from head to toe, and shame swept over her, resting heavy on her shoulders. She couldn’t count how many times she’d thought about what she’d do if she ever saw Jack again. How she’d show him just how strong she had become. But when it happened, she fell right back into the same old pattern. Crying, scared, weak Embry. She was backpedaling into her past so quickly she wasn’t sure how she would find her way out.

She still hadn’t answered his question, but he didn’t seem to notice. His feral stare shifted and his eyes turned heated as he pushed his body harder against hers. His rough hands slithered up her sides, and he brought his face to her neck. She felt him inhale against her throat.

“Mmm, I forgot how good you—”

Jack was pulled off of her so quickly, she was nearly knocked over. Everything was a blur as Morgan dragged Embry toward the parking lot, but she didn’t miss the unmistakable sound of bones crunching as Luke’s fist met Jack’s face.

She winced as he used Jack as a punching bag. Her southern gentleman was keyed up. His hair was perfectly styled and his shirt sleeves were rolled up in typical Luke fashion, but his expression was one she had never seen. She’d gotten a preview when Jack had shown up at Thanksgiving, but that was nothing compared to the pure, unadulterated fury on his face. He landed blow after blow on Jack’s bloodied face, never giving him a chance to retaliate. A left hook sent Jack’s head snapping back and Luke went in for another punch.

Embry jumped forward, shouting, “No!”

She didn’t want that. She wanted Jack out of her life, but not like that. Luke couldn’t risk his future over him. Morgan continued to hold onto Embry as Brett stepped in, gripped Luke around the biceps, and pulled him back. Jack slumped down onto the hard concrete, listing to the side as blood dripped down onto his shirt.

“Easy, buddy,” Brett said. “You got him. Get your girl out of here. I’ll take care of this.”

Luke turned to Embry, the anguish in his eyes piercing her heart. Tears streaked down her cheeks as she gulped for air. “I’m so sorry,” she sobbed.

Luke kept his eyes trained on hers and shook his head. He approached her, nodding at Morgan, and grabbed Embry’s hand. “Let’s go.”

She gripped his hand loosely and followed him to the car. She looked over her shoulder and saw Brett grabbing Jack by the collar and pulling him so close they were nearly nose to nose. She didn’t want to see what happened next.

Turning back, she followed Luke around to the passenger side of the Rover as he opened the door for her. They sat in the car, silence stretching between them. The adrenaline was leaving Embry’s system, and she was shaking like a leaf. She hugged herself tight, afraid that her arms were the only things holding her together. She chanced a look at Luke. His stare was fixed on the darkness in front of them, the muscles in his jaw working furiously. He was angry, that much was obvious. But was it at her? Did he regret getting involved with someone with an abusive past? She stared at her lap, not knowing what to say.

“Goddammit!” Luke shouted, pounding his fists into the steering wheel.

Embry let out a startled yelp. Her nerves were shot, and a fresh wave of tears clouded her eyes.

Luke looked over in wide-eyed horror. “Fuck.” He scrubbed a hand down his face and took a deep breath before pinning Embry with his sad, blue gaze. “I’m sorry, baby. I’m so sorry.”

Embry began to cry in earnest. Heavy sobs wracked her body as she buried her face in her hands, her body working through all of the emotions she’d been suppressing for the past month. Strong arms wrapped around her waist, tugging her out of her seat. Luke arranged her on his lap and cradled her to his chest. He tucked her face into his neck and held her tightly as she fell apart in his arms.

Keeping one arm locked around her, he ran his free hand over her hair and whispered, “Shhh, it’s okay.”

Her sobbing quieted, and she slowly lifted her head. She sucked in a shaky breath, but the tears wouldn’t stop.

His hands came up to cup her cheeks, and he attempted to brush away her tears. “Breathe for me, baby.”

She tried. Gasping for breath, she fought the tears, fought all of the anger and sadness inside of her. The damage Jack had caused was long-reaching, and she was finally realizing how poorly she’d dealt with it. Running had been the answer to her problems, but they were right there waiting for her when she got back. She had no choice but to deal with it. She laid her head against Luke’s chest and let the tears fall until she had no more left.

* * *

By the time they made their way back to Embry’s parents’ house, it was well after midnight, and the house was dark. Embry went to the bathroom, avoiding her reflection in the mirror at all costs. She didn’t want to see the evidence of Jack’s terror on her face. Luke had agreed not to call the police, at least for the night. She just wanted to curl up in his arms and try to forget.

She walked into the bedroom and found Luke lying on the bed. He was staring up at the ceiling, and the small bedside lamp cast a soft glow on his face. His eyes shifted to hers, and she eased onto the bed next to him in the same position. Reaching between them, she entwined her fingers with his. She rubbed her thumb lightly over his knuckle, and she felt him flinch at the same time she felt the broken, jagged skin. Pulling their hands toward her face, she let out a soft gasp as she took in the damage. His knuckles were swollen and bloody, split in two places.

“Oh, Luke.” She sat up, eyes wide with concern.

Luke pulled his hand away, flexing his fingers. “It’s nothing.”

“That’s not nothing.” She tugged on his arm until he sat up. “Let me clean you up.”

He shook his head. “Really, it’s not a big deal.”

She glared at him, and he stopped arguing. Embry hopped up from the bed and banged around in the bathroom until she came back with an armful of medical supplies. She laid them on the bed in a heap. Peroxide. Cotton balls. Neosporin. Gauze. Band-aids.