Page 15 of Broken Soul
“Neither are we, though we’re trying to clean up our act.”
“Exactly. I just wanted permission to reach out even if we have to play dirty.”
“One final deal with the devil and then our ex-brothers will be out of our lives for good. Sounds like a bargain to me.”
“I’ll call you as soon as I have more information,” I promise. We say our goodbyes and I lay back down on the bed, rubbing the headache away from my eyes.
One last deal with the devil. Those sound like famous last words.
8
ODETTE
Iroll over in bed, adjusting my position for the hundredth time. It doesn’t help. I’m restless and fidgety yet exhausted. A miserable combination if there ever was one. Taking a deep breath, I focus on relaxing my forehead and unclenching my jaw.
I continue scanning my body for tension and attempting to relax my muscles. How many nights did I lie awake in the trailer with racing thoughts? Too many to count. I learned the body scan technique from a school counselor several years ago and it’s helped in these moments of stress and panic. My fingers loosen their death grip on the sheets and I rest my hands on my stomach while taking controlled breaths.
I’ve been with Diesel for a week now, and he’s somehow made me forget about the whole reason for going on the run. Early this morning, however, my anxiety choked me awake with flashes of that horrible night. What are my mom and Steve doing now? Has she even noticed I’ve been gone? Maybe Steve used my absence as an excuse to go on a bender with her so she didn’t ask too many questions.
“Princess?” comes Diesel’s groggy voice. I smile at his pet name for me. I didn’t think I was the type of person to enjoy stuff like that, but I find I love it coming from my man.
“Sorry if I woke you up,” I whisper.
“It’s okay. What’s on your mind? You’ve been tossing and turning all night.”
“Sorry,” I say again.
“Hey,” Diesel says softly. “There’s nothing to apologize for.” He scoots closer to me on the bed and opens his arms for me. I immediately snuggle into his chest and bury my face between his neck and shoulder, breathing in his woodsy scent. “I’ve got you, precious girl.”
Something about his sweet, calming words has me bursting into tears. Diesel holds me closer, an arm wrapped around my back while he cradles the nape of my neck, massaging me there. He doesn’t speak, but he doesn’t have to. His presence is enough.
I cling to him, my anchor in the storm of emotions rising up from the depths of my soul. Diesel rocks me gently in his arms, soothing me with every tender touch and softly spoken word.
“I’m right here, Odette. I’m not going anywhere.”
My tears eventually dry up and my trembling subsides. All the while, Diesel strokes my back and presses sweet kisses to my forehead and temples.
"I-I'm…" I hiccup before I can get the words out.
"You're perfect," he finishes for me. I shake my head, no, but Diesel nods yes, our noses brushing together and making me smile ever so much. How is he adorable and sweet and dangerously sexy at the same time? "Can you tell me what you were thinking about? What made you cry, beautiful?"
I take a deep breath and blow it out, melting further into Diesel’s embrace. He’s blanketing me in his strength, giving me the courage to tell him the truth.
“I was thinking about the night I left,” I whisper. I’m not sure he heard me, but then he nuzzles into the side of my neck and grazes his lips against the shell of my ear.
“You can trust me with your story,” he murmurs. “I’ll protect all the shattered pieces of your heart and put you back together. I promise. All you have to do is let me.”
I nibble my bottom lip, searching for the right words. “I grew up with my mom in a trailer park in Arizona,” I start. “I remember her drinking a lot and having a hard time keeping a job. Then she metSteve.” I spit out his name like a dirty word.
“Steve?” Diesel asks, his muscles tightening as he senses my anguish and anger.
“He introduced my mother to pills. Oxycontin, Adderall, and everything in between. He gave her a job, too. Distributing pills and collecting payments.”
“Jesus,” he grunts, holding me closer.
“Yeah. Not a great guy. I knew I had to leave and I had a plan to do so after saving up more money. I babysat, walked dogs, and did odd jobs around the trailer park when people needed something done. Basically, any job that paid in cash.”
“Then something happened to move the plan up?”