Adrian's Wrath(20)

“Even though I knew in my heart that Addie was dead, it was twenty minutes before someone let me see her.” The image of Addie lying on the asphalt, the sheet covering her body, the slight swell of her belly evident, was so clear that he was no longer able to hold in the tears.

“Oh, Adrian.” Brea brushed away his tears as her own fell slowly down her cheeks. Here was this incredible woman, comforting him, listening to him, crying for him.

“I buried Addie and our baby three days later.” His life since then had been one big whirlwind of hate and disgust. There had been countless times he had tried to picture the man Addie had fallen in love with, the man she would want him to be, but Adrian knew that man was no longer alive. He had died with Addie and their child that day.

“I wish my story ended at that.” How he wished that were the truth. There was a selfish part of him that didn’t want to tell her the rest because he knew she might hate him, might be just as disgusted with him as he was with himself.

“I’m the last person that would ever judge you, Adrian.”

He wanted to believe that desperately, and once he told her the last part, the worst part of who he really was, he would know for sure if she truly meant that. “I hunted down the man that killed them, found him at the bar already liquored up. Surprisingly he didn’t serve nearly enough time in jail, but I got my vengeance when he was released.” He found his resolve, looked her in the eyes, and told her the truth. “I beat him within an inch of his miserable, drunken life.” He stopped, giving her a moment to let what he just said sink in. There was no remorse for what he had done. “I wouldn’t have stopped until he was dead, but the police came before I had the pleasure of finishing him off.” Brea’s eyes had grown slightly wider at his admission.

“I went to prison for two years for it. That man will no longer walk and he will forever have to use a respirator to breathe. To this day I wish they wouldn’t have stopped me.”





Chapter Nine




The apathetic expression covering Adrian’s face was like nothing she had ever seen, not even in Cameron. When he told her his story, his voice had gotten deeper, harsher, more deadly. Her skin had tightened as he explained the need to kill the man that had taken everything from him. Maybe he wanted her to hate him, to look at him with fear? It would be a lie for her to admit that she wasn’t slightly frightened by the look in his eyes and the menacing tone of his voice, but she cared for Adrian and knew that everything he felt was justified.

Maybe she didn’t agree with his need to kill a man, because she could never see herself taking another life, but then again she had never lost something as monumental as he had. She didn’t know what to say to take away the devastating look in his eyes. Tears streamed down both of their cheeks, and that moment was one she would never forget. It would be etched into her brain so clearly that every time she closed her eyes she would be able to smell the saltiness in the air and feel the tightness in her chest.

The silence that stretched between them was powerful. He had opened up to her, shared a memory of his life that had forever changed him. There were no more questions about whether or not she should share her past with him. The look on his face was one part uncertainty and one part fear. Did he really think she would just turn her back on him because he admitted what he clearly thought was his worst? She would just have to prove to him that she didn’t run easily, not anymore, not when it came to him.

Now didn’t seem like the right time to tell her story, though. Right now she wanted to show him how much she had grown to care for him. Maybe it was the look in her eyes, or maybe he felt the same bone-deep need as well, because he took her hand, kissed it softly, and held it over his heart.

“Adrian.” One step toward him and her chest was against his, their twined hands blocked in the cage their bodies created. “Let’s go.” Did he know she didn’t mean the hour-and-a-half trek back to their homes? She needed him. Now. She needed to show him that he was alive, that he was wanted, and that he was an incredible man. Both of their pains were tangible, sparking like a wildfire between them, trying to consume them. It couldn’t take them over. She wanted to be as close to him as she could, to wash away the heartbreaking look on his face.

He watched her for several long moments, and she could see his throat working as he swallowed. “Oh, Brea.” Yes, he knew what she wanted and the look on his face told her he wanted it, too. They walked back to his truck hand in hand and he helped her in. Hands lingering on her waist, their gazes held for a pregnant moment, a silent communication passing between them.