Broken Lyrics (Book 3 of the Black Heart Series)

Twenty-Three

Asher

We drove to the house from the airport in silence.

I knew Bree was pissed off. She had to be.

She had to come here and face the press, and that just added to her patdown at the airport in Maine.

"You still mad?" I sighed.

"That fucker had no right to frisk me," she complained, "I'm not even wearing a bra."

Declan giggled in the back seat.

"I think he just did it to put his hands on you," I growled, "I was two seconds from jumping over that partition."

"I know, and it'll make a great story on the news." She glared at me, "You shouting over the partition, "Touch her there ONE more time, bro!""

"When it comes to people messing with you, I get a little pissy." I shrugged.

It had only been a few weeks since I found out our record label wanted us back and I had tried to prolong the inevitable, but when they threatened to sue it was time to come back.

So, I asked Bree to come with me and sheour her manager in charge of her bar.

"Oh my gosh, can we go to the beach?" Declan asked she had been excited and bouncing around in the back seat for the past 15 minutes.

"You name the day and we'll go." I told her.

We pulled up to the gate and Brie watched in terror as I entered the code.

"This will be quick. Like a vacation." I sighed, not wanting to be here, just as much as her.

"I promise it will only be a few months tops. I had my housekeeper set up a room for DC and do a little redecorating in our room."

"No one takes a vacation for three months and you have a Housekeeper?! You cant pick up after yourself?" Her eyes went wide.

"Her name is Claire. She's cool, don't worry, doll."

"Says the man who lives behind a coded gate."

"It's only to keep the press out."

When we pulled up to the end of the drive DC jumped out excitedly, as Bree and I followed.

"Dad! You have a pool in the front of your house?!"

I laughed.

"We used to the back entrance." I told her, "But yes WE have a pool."

"That's so awesome!" She bounced around with excitement, "We have a pool and a huge house!"

Bree and I moved to the trunk to unload our bags when I heard a fast clacking on the Terrace.

I didn't get to look to see who it was before I heard the screeching begin.

"Glen! They're here!"



"What?!" Another voice boomed from the inner house.

"They are here! Hurry your ass, you old fool!"

I hurriedly turned to Bree to whisper, "I'm sorry. I couldn't hold them off. I swear I'll get rid of them."

"You! Oh my God! YOU!" My mother rushed past me and grabbed Bre in a slamming hug that took the wind out of her, with an "oof".

"I can't believe... YOU!" I couldn't see my mother's face from my viewpoint, but I could hear the tears in her voice.

She stood back to examine Bree from head to toe, but didn't set her hands-free.

"It IS you... It's really you..." She cried, pulling Bree into another crushing hug, "We all missed you so much. Oh, you beautiful child! You know we would have been there for you right? You had to have known. We thought of you as our daughter! You wouldn't have been alone! Ever!"

DC came nervously to my side and I smiled at my daughter. Wrapping an arm around her shoulders as I whispered, "They missed her."

My mom pulled back again, still not releasing Bree, "Oh, God! You're still just a tiny little thing! Do you even eat?"

Bree laughed tearfully, "Hello, Mrs McGhee. I've missed you too."

"NO! None of that! Nothing has changed! I am still Mom, to you!"

"And, if you pull any of that Mr McGhee shit with me, I'll never speak to you again, little one." Dad came up behind Bree and gave her a side hug as my mother still swooned over her.

"Hello, Glenn."

"Cut the shit, kid. You know damn well that we aren't stiffs." He gave her a swift kiss on the forehead, "We've missed that pretty little face if yours."

"I've missed you all too."

"Tell me that you've come to kick my son's ass back in line."

That brought Bree's attention back to me. She narrowed her eyes, as a smile drew across her face.

That, in turn, brought my parents attention to DC.

"Wow, poor kid! You look exactly like Ash. I'm so sorry." My dad laughed.

"Oooh!" My mother squealed as she rushed over to embrace DC in a warm hug.

I ended up being pushed aside with my mother's movement and I chuckled, so this was how it would be from now on. Instead of their sons it would be about the grandkids.

"Oh, hi!" DC hugged her back.

"Don't listen to a single thing that old coot says." She stood back to give DC a once over, "You are absolutely beautiful."

"You are going to have to tell us everything about you. What's your favorite color? Your favorite food? Subject in school? Favorite everything! I want to know it all!"

Given the opportunity, I knew my mother would never shut up, but I let her carry on, knowing that my father would soon put a pause to it.

"Do you sing, like your parents?"

"Beautiful, give the girl a chance to breathe." My father moved behind my mother, "Welcome to The family, little Declan."

This was the normal, my parents snapped at each other playfully all the time. It was sickening and sweet.

I turned away from my Laughing daughter to see Bree bending over the luggage, as she attempted to collect it. It gave me an amazing view of her perfectly heart-shaped ass.

As if sensing me there, she straightened and turned, following my gaze.

"Seriously?!" She scoffed, shaking her head.

I raised a brow at her, and spoke loud enough for my parents to hear.

"Are you guys planning on staying long?" I didn't look away from her as I asked, grinning when her jaw fell and she gaped at me.

"You trying to get rid of us, son?" My father came to stand at my side.

"No," Bree began to draw a slow, daring smile across her face, "Not at all, we wouldn't dream of you leaving so soon, at least stay for dinner."

My father didn't miss the interaction and something on my face must have given us away.

"Ash, why don't you show Bree around the house? Your mom and I can take Declan and show her around. It's not that hard to navigate this old house."

It was my turn to smile at Bree now, as her jaw slid down to the ground. My dad was always on my team when it came to her.

"Uhm..." She looked around nervously and cleared her throat.

"After you, doll." I motioned to the house, grabbing our suitcases, as I watched her climb the steps.

"Not a thing has changed between you two." My father chuckled, but before I could respond Bree was at the door and turned to face me.

"You coming, Ash?" she asked.

I sighed, "Not yet." I said under my breath.