Breaking Through The Wall (Guarded Hearts) Read online

  Breaking Through The Wall

  Guarded Hearts Book 2

  By: Ashley Piscitelli

  Dedication

  This book is dedicated to my family that has supported me every step of the way. I love you all so much and I couldn’t have done this without you.

  © Ashley Piscitelli 2013

  Cover Model Image © Aarrttuurr - Fotolia.com

  Chapter 1

  Jason

  I swear to God if she doesn’t shut the fuck up I’m gonna kill myself with this damn fork. Why the hell did I listen to Madison and go on a damn date? I had it right before, you take em home give it to them good enough that they can’t talk after and pretend to pass out or just put on Sportscenter until they leave on their own. Trying to pretend that I’m interested in half of the stupid shit she is spouting is fucking exhausting.

  “Isn’t that just crazy?”

  Shit. I haven’t listened to her for at least the past ten minutes and truthfully I really don’t care if she knows it. She could be the best lay in the world but it isn’t worth sitting here another minute. “Yea, this whole night has been crazy. I’m gonna go now though.” I threw enough money on the table to cover the food and tip then got up to leave.

  “You’re leaving?”

  “Yea I got some shit I need to do.” It was technically the truth; Maddy and I had a movie night planned. I’m actually running late right now because jabber jaws didn’t realize I couldn’t care less about TMZ, her sorority, or who won American Idol.

  “I thought we were gonna go back to your place after.” She stood up next to me and ran her hand up and down my arm.

  “Not tonight; I’ll see you around campus Beth.”

  “My name is Carol.”

  “Ok.” I started walking to my car and checked my phone. Shit, I was a half hour late. Maddy better not have some Nicholas Sparks shit picked out, because I had enough torture tonight already.

  I guess tonight was my fault, anyway. When Maddy told me I needed to put myself out there and go on a date, I knew she meant with Nicole. I was not ready for that shit, though. I knew, just from the couple of times that we slept together, that she was different. She wasn’t the kind of girl that you had for only a night; she was the kind of girl who got under your skin and never left.

  I didn’t need that, but I can’t get her out of my mind, either. I was perfectly content sleeping with women and saying goodbye, until New Year’s when I got a taste of heaven. Every time I brought a girl home since then, all I saw was her. I tried to use them to erase her, but all it did was remind me that they weren’t her.

  I knew Maddy wanted me to give Nicole a shot, and maybe it might eventually happen, but not now. I just turned onto the street where Carter and Maddy lived, when I saw something that made my stomach drop. Chris had just shoved Maddy into his car and was now racing out of the driveway.

  I followed him at a safe distance and called 911. “My friend was just kidnapped by her ex-boyfriend and I’m following the car now. I’m heading west on 9street, I just passed Porter street.”

  He’s starting to speed up now. I wonder if he noticed that I’m here. I’m in Carter’s car, but it’s late; at this point there is no way I’m going to lose them. I call Carter but he doesn’t answer, then I see their car racing toward a red light.

  When I notice that he isn’t hitting his brakes, I panic. That crazy motherfucker is gonna run it. My heart stops when I see the truck coming, and then everything happens in slow motion. The truck clips the back of Chris’s car sending it spinning and flipping over a couple times. The only thing that stops it is the telephone pole that the car finally runs into. I race out of the car and over to the accident, screaming Maddy’s name; I can hear the sirens coming now. Her side of the car is the one smashed against the pole, so I am trying to look through the driver’s side window. Chris isn’t in the car anymore, so I have a clear view of her. “Maddy! Maddy! Can you hear me? Shit, answer me!”

  She has a huge gash across her forehead, and duct tape stretched across her mouth. She is strapped into the car with the seatbelt, but her arm is hanging at an unnatural angle. I see the paramedics coming over and start screaming at them to hurry up. “Over here! She’s trapped in the car!”

  They start working on trying to get her out and I pull out my phone to call Carter again. The phone just rings and rings, though. This is the third time I have called him maybe he can’t hear it in the club. I Google the number for Rebellion. He is gonna freak out when I tell him what’s going on. It rings for a couple minutes and, just when I am about to give up, someone answers.

  “Rebellion.”

  “Hey, can I talk to Carter James? It’s an emergency.”

  “Carter? He left here about an hour ago. He said he had to check on his girl and he would be back.”

  “Shit! He hasn’t come back? Are you sure?”

  “Nope, I haven’t seen him, but if you see him tell him to get his ass and my car back here, now.”

  If Carter had left work, it means he was there when Chris took Maddy. He would have never let that happen so I know whatever I am going to walk into when I get there will be bad. I need to see where they are taking her and then I’m going back.

  I ran up to the paramedics to see if they knew anything yet. “Do you know this girl?”

  “Yeah, she is a friend of mine; her name is Madison Stevens.”

  “She have any family?”

  I remember last time Maddy was in the hospital and Carter had to lie and say she was his wife just to see her. This time is much worse and I know it will be the same. “Just her husband, Carter James. I’m trying to track him down now.”

  “Ok, well tell him we are taking her to the hospital and he can meet us there.”

  The other guy was buckling Maddy into the stretcher, but she was still unconscious. She looked so pale all I could do was pray that she would be okay.

  This is why I didn’t let people in. When something happened or they were gone, it hurt too fucking much. I could have never stopped how attached I had become to Maddy, though. She reminded me so much of my sister Sara, and I was so scared I would lose her too.

  I heard someone yelling from the grassy area on the side of the road. “We found the driver!”

  I hope that asshole is dead, because if he isn’t I am going to kill him myself. The paramedic I was talking to grabbed my arm. “Hey you know who the driver was?”

  “Yeah, his name is Chris Johnson. He is her ex, and a psychopath. You can tell the cops he is the reason for this and if he does make it, then they need to cuff him to the hospital bed. I’m gonna go find her husband. I will meet you guys at the hospital.”

  I pulled out my phone again and called the only other person I could think of.

  “Hello?” Hearing her voice made me smile, even with all of the shit that was going on around me.

  “Hey, Nic.”

  “Jason? What’s going on? I thought you were going to Maddy’s tonight.” She sounded irritated and I really couldn’t blame her, I have been blowing her off since January.

  I don’t know how I’m going to tell her this right now. Nicole and Maddy are so close; she is going to freak out. “What are you doing right now?’

  “I’m driving home from a friends house, why?”

  “Pull over, I need to tell you something.”

  I heard her sigh. “Listen, Jason, if this is more of the it’s not you its me crap, I don’t want to hear it.

  Ugh! This girl made me fucking crazy. She just didn’t get it, and that is not even why I was calling. “It’s nothing to do with us, now just friggin pull the car over!”

  “A
lright! There! Now, what the hell is it?!”

  “There’s been an accident, Nic. I’m not really sure about all the details yet, but Maddy is on her way to the hospital.”

  I heard her sharp intake of breath. “What happened?” I could hear the tears in her shaky voice and I wished I was there with her.

  “I don’t know. I was pulling up to the house and Chris was putting her into his car. He sped off and I followed him. I think he saw me, though, and he ran a red light. A truck hit their car and the paramedics just took her to the hospital. I called Carter at work, but they said he left over an hour ago to go check on her. I’m getting in my car now, to go check the house to see if he is there.”

  “Oh my God! I’m driving down there now!”

  The last thing I need is to worry about her hysterical and driving. I don’t know what I would do if she got hurt too. “No, let me sort out this shit with Carter and I will come and get you. I don’t need you driving upset and getting hurt too.”

  “Jason, I can’t just…”

  “Shit, Nic! Will you just fucking listen to me for once!?”

  “Don’t you yell at me, Jason Smith! Or I will beat your ass when I see you!” I knew she wasn’t kidding about that either; Nicole was one of the toughest girls I knew. She always gave my shit right back to me, and I loved it.

  “Okay, just please let me pick you up.” I loved that she could put me in my place and wasn’t scared to do it.

  “Alright.”

  “Text me your address and, once I find Carter, I will drive up.” The thought of seeing her again made me nervous. I could never control myself when it came to her. The attraction was just so strong between us that I usually ended up giving in and then regretting it. I needed to keep her at arms length, it was what was best for the both of us.

  “Ok, let me know if you find out anything else.”

  I hung up and found myself smiling. That girl had a way of getting to me, even in the craziest situations.

  I pulled into Carter’s driveway and ran up the steps. When I opened the door, Carter was face down on the floor with a pool of blood next to him. “FUCK!”

  I ran over and knelt down next to him. When I turned him over I saw that the blood was coming from his shoulder. Hopefully, he hasn’t lost that much blood. “Carter! Wake up!”

  I shook him a little, but, when he didn’t respond, I started to call 911 for the second time tonight. Then I heard a low groan. I looked over and he was starting to wake up. “Carter? It’s me, Jason, open your eyes.”

  He opened his eyes and started scanning the room. “J? What are you doing here?” His voice was all raspy. Then I saw a look of realization pass over his face. “Where is Maddy?” He shot straight up and then winced and fell back down.

  “She is on her way to the hospital; I saw them leaving and followed the car. They got into a wreck because the asshole ran a red light.”

  “Is she ok? We have to go!”

  “I don’t know how she is; she was unconscious when they took her in. I told them you were her husband, so they are expecting you. Come on, I’ll help you up and get you to the hospital.”

  I helped him to the car, supporting most of his weight, which was no easy task. Once I got him in the car and we were on our way, I felt better. “Listen Carter, I can’t even tell you how sorry I am that I was late tonight. I don’t think that I will ever be able to forgive myself if anything happens to her.”

  “J, I know you love her and I know that if you had any idea you would have been there. I don’t blame you.” He may not blame me, but I blame myself. If I would have been there, I doubt that fucker would have ever tried anything.

  “What happened when you got there?”

  He took a deep breath and I could tell that it hurt him to even talk about it. “When I walked in, that motherfucker had her bent over the couch and was grinding into her. Her mouth was taped shut and her hands were tied behind her back. She was crying and, when she saw me come in, I saw the fear etched across her face. I will never forget the way she looked, J, it was horrible. He had a gun and held it against her as soon as he saw me. We went back and forth for a couple minutes, but then he started moving toward the door. He told me to move and I told him that there was no way that was going to happen. He pointed the gun at me and bent down to whisper something in her ear. I took advantage of him not paying attention and charged him. I only got a couple of steps, when I felt a pain in my shoulder and then everything went black.”

  “I can’t believe all this shit is really happening. I called Nicole when I couldn’t find you, and now she is worried sick. I didn’t want her hysterical and driving, so I told her I would come get her once I found you and got you to the hospital.”

  We pulled up outside the ER and I helped Carter in. They told him Maddy was in surgery, and took him back to patch up his shoulder. Apparently, it looked like the bullet went straight through. They said Maddy would be in surgery for at least a couple of hours, so I figured it was a good time to go get Nicole.

  I called her when I got into my car and filled her in on what was going on, even though, at this point, we really didn’t know much. All they would tell Carter was that she was in surgery, and that the doctor would be out to talk to him when he was done.

  It took me about an hour and a half to get to Nicole’s. She had told me the door would be unlocked and to just come in. When I walked in, I saw her asleep on the couch. She was so fucking beautiful; her long strawberry blond hair was tied up in a messy bun and I could see the tear streaks on her cheeks. I couldn’t take my eyes off of her, though, and this is why she was so dangerous to me. No girl had ever held my attention for this long, much less made me feel the way I do when I’m around her.

  I sat down on the couch next to her and she curled up against me. It was so tempting to be with her; she just had this pull that I couldn’t shake. I couldn’t help myself, so I kicked off my shoes and stretched out beside her, wrapping my arm around her and pulling her close to me.

  She fit so well next to me. I think that’s what made me run the first night. I was lying there with her and knew that it was different. I wanted a normal relationship, but wanting one and being ready for one are two completely different things.

  So, I did the cowardly thing and snuck out while she was still asleep. She had seen me after and tried to have a talk about everything, but I blew it off like it was no big deal. The thing was, I knew it was different and, with the way she pursued me, she did too.

  She turned toward me and moved her leg on top of mine. I could feel my dick starting to get hard. Really? This girl could do it to me without even being awake. She was the most amazing girl I had ever met. It was like she had a direct line to me. She opened her eyes and looked up at me. I saw confusion pass over her face. I shouldn’t have done this. What am I some kind of creeper?

  Then she did what I expected least and laid her head back down on my chest. Now what am I supposed to do? I was running my fingers through her hair, when she shifted and turned to look at me. “You know you make me crazy right?”

  I make her crazy? She didn’t even know the half of it.

  Nicole

  I cannot believe that he is here, cuddling with me on the couch right now. Where is asshole Jason? Where is the Jason who can’t stand anything past a one-night stand? That’s the only version I have gotten of him, lately, so this Jason is mindfucking me right now.

  Laying here with him holding me, feels so right that I never want him to let go. I want so much more than just sex from him, but he is so reluctant to give it to me. However, I don’t think his willpower will last very long. I am making it my mission to make him mine. If I have to get a little dirty to do it, then so be it.

  He is staring at me with those chocolate eyes, and I am emotionally spent right now as it is. When he called me earlier tonight, I was beside myself. I thought that we had been done with Chris and all of his bullshit. That asshole is like a bad rash; he just keeps coming back until yo
u want to rip off your skin just to get rid of him. “How is Mads?”

  “Carter told me that he would call me if he found out anything, so I’m assuming that she is still in surgery.”

  “I can’t believe that this is all happening.” One minute I was driving home from the store, and the next Jason calls to tell me my best friend’s life is in danger. I shivered at the thought of what Mads must have gone through tonight. All I can do now, is pray to God that she is ok.

  Jason’s hold on me tightened. “Hey, I’m sure she will be ok. Maddy is a fighter, and there is no way that she is going to give up now.”

  “I know that. I’m just scared that this will be the thing that finally breaks her, J. I mean, she is so strong for even dealing with half of the shit that she did, but I’m scared what version of her will be around after the dust has cleared. Do you know anything about Chris?”

  I saw his face harden and his eyes went cold. “When I was talking to the paramedics, I heard someone yell that they found the driver. I told them his name and that he was the person to blame for everything. With any luck, he won’t make it through the night.” My whole body shook at the thought that he might be ok and we might lose Madison. He tightened his arms around me, making me feel like everything might actually be ok.

  I wish that he was like this all the time. He puts on such a front for people, that sometimes I feel like he forgets to drop the act. I’ve always been able to see right through it and call him on his bullshit. I looked back up at him and he was still staring at me. I did the only thing that felt right at the moment and leaned up to kiss him.

  At first, he stilled and I began to regret my decision. Then, he kissed me back and the sweet little peck I had started, caught fire. Before I knew what was happening, he flipped me onto my back so that he was now on top of me. His tongue thrust into my mouth and his hands ran up and down my body.

  “Are you sure about this right now, Nic? ‘Cause if you’re not it needs to stop now.”

  Of course I was sure! I had wanted Jason from the first time that Carter had introduced us. I just had to wait for a lull in the endless line of skanks to show him what he was really missing. Granted, I lost my virginity when I tried to do that, but I blame the alcohol and the fact that my body acted like it needed him to function. “I’m sure, J. I need you now.”