Broken Lyrics (Book 3 of the Black Heart Series)

Four

Bree

As he gaped at me with those big blue orbs that were glossing over, I knew that I did the same. He had changed drastically since we were kids. The years of travel and probably smoking and drinking, had definitely worn on him, but he was still so handsome.

"Bree..." When the shock lifted, it was as though a lightbulb had gone off in his head and tears began to well in his eyes, but he never looked away. I don't even think he blinked... He just stared, "I-am I dreaming?"

"No, Chris." I was trying, but not succeeding, to keep it together. My eyes began to well up with my own tears.

"Dammit, Bree-Lee..." Chris stomped his foot and his head fell back, as he tried to collect himself. Once he had done what he needed to compose himself, he turned to look around the bar, then to the door before turning back to me.

"You-uh..." HE continued to look around, his voiced weighted, "You own the bar?"

"Yeah." I took a shaky breath. I never thought I would see any of them ever again.

"Okay, little one. You have two seconds to get your ass over here and hug me," His voice was trembly and only mildly composed, "Because I could hurt you, if I grab you and hug you myself."

I did as he directed and he folded me into his lengthy arms, pegging me firmly into his chest. That was when my tears fell.

This man- along with his bandmates, had been like a brother to me for so many years. We were a family- all of us, and I had missed them all so much.

My tears were for my brothers and the man I had once loved, but they were also in the fear that they would find out why I had left, and I couldn't afford that, not now.

He gave the top of my head a swift kiss, before mumbling into my hair.

"We thought you were dead... You have no idea how much it hurt." He gave a weighted sigh, "W-we... God... You were here... The whole time, and you were here?"

"I have been." I squeezed his trunk tight. Even if Asher did walk through that door right now, I had been able to hug one of my brothers again.

"I need to sit." He smiled and sighed again as we released each other, "I feel like the wind has been knocked out my ass."

I laughed, a full-hearted laugh. Then motioned to one of the tables.

"Ash has-" He shook his head as he took his seat. His body stiffening as he looked between the door and me. Then he leaned across the table and gaped at me.

"Ash is gonna loose his shit, Bree." He whispered.

My breath froze in my lungs, turning to ice.

"He isn't here, is he?" I stared at the door, starting to shake.

"No," He shook his head, "He's hungover at the rental. That's the only reason he didn't come, but... Fuck, Bree... He-."

"Hey, mom, you never answered my question." Declan came out from my office with a huge grin on her face as she looked between Chris and I.

"DC!" I turned in my chair to face my daughter.

"Mom?" She paused, examining me, "You look like you're gonna puke."

I turned to face Chris, who was now gaping as he examined my daughter.

Fuckfuckfuckfuckfuck!

I stood quickly and turned back to Declan and tried to usher her back into my office, "I'm fine, baby. Can you go and... Uhm..."