Too Broken to Love

32

Averleighs POV.

"Hello?" Spencer's voice shook through the phone.
"Hey I got your message is everything okay?" I asked.
There was a few seconds of silence before I heard him sigh, suddenly I was nervous.
"Not really!" He said.
"Spence whatever it is, we can handle it together." I attempted to reassure him as I heard his breathing stagger over the phone.

A few more moments of silence passed before he finally spoke.
"Listen I've kept something from you, something from my past. I hope you'll let me explain before you hang up!" He stated as I tried to guess what he was talking about.
"My dad." His breath hitched, "fuck, Averleigh my dad is a criminal, and what's worse than that is I used to help him." He muttered as My mind failed to grasp what he was saying.

I stood up and walked to the kitchen, grabbing a glass of water and returning to the couch.
"Spence I don't understand? Your dad owns a company?" I managed to say, setting the water down on the table.
"Yeah he does, but he didn't get to the top by playing fair or legal. I can't say too much without putting you in the middle, but my father is dangerous!"
"I understand, I'm with you Spencer! But how were you involved?" I asked confused.

He took another breath.
"Listen when we moved, dad wanted me to take over the company. The legal side would have been fine, but as I worked more with him he would have me run errands. At first it was just depositing checks and cash into different accounts, As I got better at it I had to start meeting with his associates, some shady people. One time I met with a guy that refused to pay up a loan, my dad forced me to beat him, he is now stuck in a wheelchair, then when I refused to finish him off, he had his men beat me."

I was now crying as I thought of Spencer's young face being beaten by grown men.
"Spence that's not your fault, you were still a kid!"
"Averleigh I can't protect you, I can't protect the kids, what kind of a man am I if I can't even protect the people I care about most." He sniffled.
"What are you talking about Spencer? You didn't hesitate to confront those men that broke into my house!" I argued.

I took a sip of water, trying to calm down, my head was already starting to pound and I knew that I couldn't afford to pass out alone with the kids asleep.
"That's the thing, they wouldn't have been there if it weren't for me. My dad hired them to bring me to him! I'm so sorry, I know it's too late for apologies, —". He started to ramble as his words sank in.

His dad paid someone to break into my house? To kidnap my fiancé?  What the actual fuck!

Now it was anger that washed over me. I raised my voice in a stern but agitated tone.
"No! Just No! He doesn't get to do this Spencer! He doesn't get to ruin your life again! I don't care what bullshit he wants to throw at us, I choose you!" I began.
"Averleigh I can't put you or the kids in danger.."
"No! I don't want to hear it! We figure this out together! I already let you go once, I'm not doing it again!"

I'm not sure if I expected the silence or what I expected from him, but I knew that I wasn't going to give up. Would it be easier, sure, but I also knew that I didn't want to think about a life without him.

"Averleigh, we can talk more after the party tomorrow okay?" He finally spoke.
"That's fine Spence, but I'm all in. I know this whole thing is scary, but it's you and me okay, always and forever!"
"Always and forever" he mimicked me.
"I love you!" I said.
"Love you too, and Averleigh?"
"Yeah?"
"Derek is sitting outside, one of your other co workers will be by later to keep an eye on the house, you notice anything strange you call okay?"
"Okay, love you Spence."
"Love you too, get some rest, we have a busy day!" He said, his tone lighter than it had been.

I disconnected the call and ran my hand through my hair. I thought about the new information about Spencer and his dad. As much as it would make sense to be mad at him for his participation, I knew that I would have done the same for my father before he got sick.