Deep (Heavy Hearts Book 2) by Sarah Duncan (reading tree txt) 📕

I’d still probably say no. I guess I’m just too damaged to be a normal child.

“Thanks for the offer, but I’ll be okay. I’m so sorry for waking everyone up.”

“Don’t be silly. There’s no need to apologise for that. I just wish I could help you.” Andrea’s warm smile reaches her caramel eyes.

“You are helping me. You’ve given me a roof over my head. A safe place to stay. Meals. It’s so much more than I’ve had in a long time.”

“Perhaps. But you are so young, too young to be having such worries.” Andrea sighs, “Are you sure you don’t want me to stay with you?”

“I’m sure. Thank you.” I offer her a warm smile hoping she buys my confidence.

Standing from the bed, Andrea cringes, “It’s possible we will all be having nightmares about Tony tonight. Did you see how white his arse was?”

I burst out laughing, and Andrea joins in. She finally leaves me alone and returns to her room when our laughter dies down, but I can still hear her giggle to herself as she walks away from my room.

Since sleeping is out of the question, I decide to settle in for a night of reading. Through tired eyes and overwhelming exhaustion, I keep nodding off while I try to read, but dreams drag me back to my reality each time which makes for a very long night.

My Monday morning starts with a trip back to school for my mandatory counselling session with Mr Matthews. Typically, my visits with him are spent deflecting, but today I push aside my pride and open up. I can’t deal with re-living the assault by Mike or my dad's strange behaviour, but I talk a little about my mum, as well as the things that have been going missing from my house.

Our hour session goes quickly, and before I know it, I’ve caught the bus back to Marcus’s to an empty house since everyone is at work and school. I try to ring my mum, but she still won’t take my calls. I do my usual search on the internet to see if anything pops up about Mike or my dad, but there’s nothing as usual. I sit in the lounge and try to watch TV, but there’s nothing on. It’s a lonely feeling when I’m in someone else's house, so I’m thankful when I go to the kitchen in search of food and come across a note on the bench with my name on it.

Lex, there’s a surprise for you in the garage! xx Ayden

A smile instantly engulfs my face, and I rush out to the garage. Lifting the heavy roller door, I push it all the way up, and my eyes widen when I lock onto my gift. Hanging from a ceiling beam is a shiny new boxing bag. I squeal and do a girly jump and clap my hands. Jesus, this guy has the ability to turn me into a sappy chick!

Taking out my phone, I line up a shot and take a selfie with my new bag behind me before sending it to Ayden. He replies, straight away.

Ayden Mitchell

You look happy! I take it you like it?

Lexi West

Hell, yes I like it! I LOVE it!

Ayden Mitchell

☺

Lexi West

Thank you!

Ayden Mitchell

No need to thank me!

Lexi West

Are you kidding? Of course, I need to thank you. How can I make it up to you?

Ayden Mitchell

You don’t want to know the answer to that!

Lexi West

Yes, I do!

Shit! Wait! No, no, I don’t. I mean, I do, but I know what his answer will be, which will just complicate things.

Ayden Mitchell

What I really want is to feel your soft lips on mine again.

BUT because I can’t have that, all I want is for you to be happy.

Fuck me! Seriously! Why does he have to be so good at making me weak at the knees? Now all I’m thinking about is his lips.

Lexi West

I am thrilled with the bag!!! I’m gonna enjoy kicking the shit out of it!

Ayden Mitchell

That’s my girl!

Why do I think I can resist him? And why am I trying to? Ugh!

Frustrated, I decide to take it out on the bag, which is what I spend the next hour doing. It helps to get out my pent-up anger and pass the time and not think about the fact I’m alone and lonely. That feeling doesn’t last.

As if someone has walked over my grave, my skin chills, and a ripple of warning runs up my spine. Someone is behind me. I know it as much as I know Ayden will never give up trying to win my heart. The same heart that races as I continue punching the bag, not wanting to let whoever it is know that I’m aware of their presence.

All my instincts are screaming at me to run, but since I’m fairly certain it must be Mike behind me, I don’t want to run because I’m going to kill him! He needs to pay! He needs to be gone forever. It’s the only way I know I’ll ever be able to walk down the street and not need to look over my shoulder.

As soon as I feel the slightest shift in the air behind me, I spin around, throwing my fist out. A firm hand catches my gloved fist mid-air, and I come face to face with Muz.

“Is that any way to greet a visitor?” Muz drawls past the unlit cigarette hanging out of his mouth.

Gasping, shocked to see him here, and disappointed that it wasn’t Mike because I’m ready to get that shit over with, I rip my hand out of his grip.

“What the fuck are you doing here?”

“Lexi, Lexi, Lexi. Such a little firecracker, aren’t you?” Muz is wearing a blue cap which makes him seem less menacing, but his dark eyes still hold evil intent.

“You need to leave!” I hiss, standing as tall as my 5’5” height will allow me.

Muz grins, reaching into his pocket and pulling out a lighter to ignite the cancer stick