Picking Up The Pieces: Book 1 of the Broken Series

  Picking

  up the

  Pieces…

  BOOK 1 OF THE BROKEN SERIES

  SIENNA GRANT

  WARNING.

  This book contains scenes of domestic violence and rape; these scenes could cause triggers or distress.

  DEDICATION.

  The number of cases of domestic violence reported, and the ones that go unreported are increasing every day. More women and men are suffering at the hands of a partner/spouse.

  To all of those people who; whether, you are trying to get yourself out of a situation or you’ve already broken free, this book is dedicated to you.

  Remember you are not a victim.

  You are a survivor.

  Love always xx

  RIGHTS

  Picking up the Pieces is the official workings of Author Sienna Grant.

  ©2016 AuthorSGrant. All rights reserved.

  Published in the UK.

  No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author. All events and characters in this publication are fictitious, any resemblance to persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental by all standards. Any trademarks, service marks, product names or names featured are assumed to be the property of their respective owners and are used only for reference.

  Covers Design by Coquette Graphics

  Edited by Danni (Ellie) Williams ©2016Thîm Elzi-Dell-Willz/ @2016 Danni Williams

  Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid.

  ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS:

  First and foremost, I want to thank my husband, he is my backbone, my anchor, my everything. This was the biggest and hardest secret I’ve ever had to keep from him until I broke down and told him. It’s because of this man I had the strength and the confidence to write this book. I love you more than life itself.

  To my kids who thought I’d sat on my backside for the last two months while I’ve been writing, well the secrets out now! I love you three more than words can say!

  To my best friend: I know I kept this a secret from you but hey, you know I love you Mrs B, you’re my sister, my bestie. Love ya! <3

  To my betas: Aidan Willows, Kerry Chicks, Amo Thomson, Jessica Harris, Rhiannon King, Laura Nelson and Julie Clark, this book wouldn’t have been worth reading without you ladies, you’ve put up with everything from me and kept me going even when I wanted to give up. Love you girls!

  A HUGE THANK YOU goes out to my editor, Danni Williams. You are my saviour. <3

  To my author friends who pushed me to do this and the ones who have built me up and when I needed it: S.J. Batsford, GL Chapple, KL Humphreys, Maria Macdonald, Lucas Black, Jacob and Logan Chance, Grace Risata, J. Napier, Abby Gale, Karen Raines and N. Isabelle Blanco. You guys totally ROCK!!

  To my friends: Amo, Aidan, Sara, Gemma C, Jessica, Stacey, Lisa, Val, Anastasia, Beth and Donna. If I missed anyone out, I’m sorry. You guys supported me and believed in me as soon as I told you I was writing, and I love and appreciate you all. I couldn’t ask for better support THANK YOU!!

  To Amo & Sarah’s Book Corner and the review team, Sassy Book Club, Jackie and Val’s Book Reviews, Book Lovers Hangout, The Ultimate Fan Blog and Tangents and Tissues.

  To Chance Promotions, thank you to everyone on the team there for helping to put my name out there and also all the other blogs who have shared and helped with my release. A huge thank you goes out to you all, without blogs, authors don’t get known. I am not worthy!

  To Rachel Hadley, Sharon Marshall and Dawn Vickers for pimping me everywhere. You, girls, are diamonds.

  Last but not at all least. A massive thanks goes to you, the readers. Without you guys, this isn’t possible. Thank you for taking a chance on a debut author, who just wanted to share a story.

  LOTS OF LOVE <3

  CONTENTS

  WARNING

  DEDICATION

  Rights

  ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

  CHAPTER ONE

  CHAPTER TWO

  CHAPTER THREE

  CHAPTER FOUR

  CHAPTER FIVE

  CHAPTER SIX

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  CHAPTER NINE

  CHAPTER TEN

  CHAPTER ELEVEN

  CHAPTER TWELVE

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN

  CHAPTER FOURTEEN

  CHAPTER FIFTEEN

  CHAPTER SIXTEEN

  CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

  CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

  CHAPTER NINETEEN

  CHAPTER TWENTY

  CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

  CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

  CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

  CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

  CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

  CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

  CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

  CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

  CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

  CHAPTER THIRTY

  CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE

  CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO

  EPILOGUE

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  AUTHOR LINKS

  A Sneak Peek to Mending the Pieces

  CHAPTER ONE.

  ALEXIA

  I look across at Grady in his cot, while I lie in my bed. He’s kicking his legs, talking in his own way. He’s so happy. At least he’s not affected by it all.

  How did my life come to this? I’m a 25-year-old woman with a 9-month-old baby, and my husband is the biggest scumbag on the face of the earth!

  What did I do to deserve this life? Me and my poor choices; again, that’s what. Well, no more! I won’t be a punching bag for anyone anymore, I refuse to let myself be treated like shit by anybody, ever again.

  That’s it - I’m done - I’ll show him…

  While Grady’s happy, I quietly get out of bed. Standing up in pain I go to the bathroom to see how much damage he’s caused this time. I half expect my body to be full of bruises, he won’t leave a mark where people could see it, he’s really good at that because that’s just the type of coward he is.

  I stand in the bathroom and take a long hard look at myself in the mirror. I have a hand print around my throat, a bruise on my breast where he grabbed me and a huge bruise along my ribs where the bastard kicked me and don’t even get me started on my legs…I won’t be wearing skirts for a few days that’s a sure fact!

  After showering, I lift Grady from his cot and head downstairs, “Come on, little man. Let’s go and get some breakfast.”

  In reply, I get a ‘mumumum’ from Grady. I smile at him because, in spite of everything, I have my little man, he can’t take that away from me.

  I sit Grady in his highchair while I go about making tea for me and some breakfast and a bottle for him. The house is quiet thank goodness. I don’t even think he came home last night after the big blow up. I wish he would stay away for good, but I know I’m not that lucky.

  I spend the next couple of hours getting Grady cleaned up and dressed and put him down for his nap. I consider doing the housework and clean up from the battle that was breakfast and decide to sit for a while with a cup of coffee instead. I try to think back to when everything changed so drastically.

  When did I become so weak?

  What did I do?

  As much as I’d come to think it was my fault, I know it’s not, and I won’t make excuses for him anymore. The drinking got heavier, and from what started as a little name calling, skyrocketed to full on abuse, verbally, emotionally and physically.

  I hate him, he makes me sick. I think back to when we
first met and he was so sweet to me, albeit a little bit controlling but I was blind to it. I figured it was normal, I thought all men were like that. I was 17, fresh out of school, naïve, and I thought all my Christmases had come all at once when he wanted to take me out.

  Stupid me, why did I fall for it. He was happy when I found out I was expecting Grady; even though he was an accident, but that was short-lived, it took all of a week for the verbal abuse to start again…

  Why didn’t I leave when I had the chance - before my baby was stuck in the middle of all this shit?

  I will leave.

  I will get away.

  I WILL get my baby away from this shitty life and provide a better one for him even if it kills me.

  I’m taken from out of my head by the slamming of a door….

  “I see you’re sitting on your fat arse again, do you ever do anything?” I just carry on drinking my coffee and shut him out; I’ve gotten really good at that, it’s when I reply to him, that’s the problem.

  I have no filter, which means I pretty much say whatever comes into my head, but that’s when the violence starts, I can’t keep my mouth shut, so he hits me. Then I know I’m in trouble, if I didn’t answer back he’d still hit me - because he can, he says.

  I get the blame for making him. How fucked up is that?

  “Where have you been?” I hate how weak I sound, get a grip woman! “Nothing to do with you, is it?” he looks at me with so much contempt.

  “Actually, I’m your wife, so yeah I think it is.”

  “Where’s Grady?” he asks. “He’s taking a nap, I’m gonna go and see if he’s awake.”

  As I start to walk past him, he stops me by grabbing my arm roughly, “I’m not in the mood for your shit today so you can take that look off your face. Otherwise, you know what you’ll get. Keep that big mouth of yours shut, we’ll be fine - got it?”

  I don’t answer him, I just walk away, refusing to let him see me hurting. I rub my arm to get some feeling back in it. As I look down, I can see the fingerprint bruises forming already.

  Great! That’s another one to add to the collection.

  I walk into our bedroom and see that Grady is still sleeping, so I lie down for a while and slip off back into my head, I’m safer there. Grady really should be in his own room, but the idle bastard hasn’t decorated it yet, and he doesn’t do anything else in this house, so Grady is still with me. I feel safer that way. Grady is his pride and joy, he wouldn’t hurt him, not intentionally anyway.

  I awake with a start, remembering I only came to lay down for a short time while Grady slept. I look across, and Grady is looking at me.

  “Hey, beautiful boy.” He looks up as I stand above him and he beams at me. This is my happy place. He makes everything better.

  We go downstairs, as I reach the sitting room, I see Paul sleeping in the chair, he must have heard Grady talking though because he wakes.

  “Great,” I mumble to myself, “you woke the beast, Grady,” I say with a snort.

  “What’s for dinner?” Here we go.

  “I’m doing Grady’s, not yours. You’re a big boy now, do it yourself.” Yep, there goes the lack of a filter again! So stupid. I put Grady in his highchair so I can start his dinner.

  I hear his heavy footsteps coming into the kitchen, as I turn around, he grabs me and forces me up against the wall, pinning me hard.

  “Listen here bitch, what did I say earlier? Don’t start, just do as you’re told.”

  “If I’m a bitch, it’s only the way you’ve made me. You know what, you don’t have to stay. Leave! Do us both a favour!”

  At that snarky little comment, he slaps me so hard up the face I think my cheekbone is going to pop out. While I’m trying to open my eye, I can hear Grady crying.

  Shit - I pick him up to soothe him, while he’s calming down, I hear the door slam again.

  Thank god for that, he’s gone out again.

  Once Grady quietens down I put him on the floor with his toys and leave him to play while I go get some ice for my face. Why can’t I just keep my mouth shut? I tell myself probably for the hundredth time since last night.

  Paul doesn’t come back for the rest of the day, so me and Grady get to have some quiet, happy time together. When he does come back, though, there’s something different about him, he seems...strung out. He’s tampered with drugs before, but it used to make him more easy going. Not this time, though.

  Grady is already in bed and seeing him like this scares me a little. Expect the unexpected, I always told myself. Nope, not this time…I can’t tell what’s going through his head. He looks at me with a sneer on his face.

  “You’re quiet, not got anything else to say? You had enough to say before I went out.”

  “I’m going to bed,” I say not looking up. I need to get some distance from him. I don’t like the shake in my voice and the tremble of my hands.

  “No, you’re not.”

  “Paul, don’t. You’ll wake Grady up.” I say hoping, that if I mention our son, it’ll get him to hold off and see sense. But no, before I know it I see his fist coming towards me, and I’m not quick enough to get out of the way. I’m in BIG trouble now, before I know what’s hit me, I’m on the floor, scrambling to get away.

  I wake up on the floor, the house is quiet. I’m in pain everywhere, I don’t know what hurts more? My body or my pride. But then again my pride was gone the first time he raised a hand to me.

  I lock the front door and crawl up the stairs, not even bothering to see if that sadistic bastard is still here. I think Grady is still sleeping because I can’t hear him so that’s a blessing at least. Once I check on Grady, I gingerly go to the bathroom too, yet again, assessing the damage Paul’s done.

  After bathing my eye, I lie down on the bed and think, think about my life…while I ponder, the tears formed wells in my eyes and streamed down my face. As much as it stings, I let them fall. I need to get this out, I can only be strong for so long.

  What happened to my Paul, as soon as I saw that man and locked eyes with him, I was his, that strong jaw, full lips and those gorgeous sea blue eyes, were mine. But he’s not the man I married. I used to love running my hands over his chest, it wasn’t ripped just natural lines. I should’ve known when he first started controlling me what kind of person he really was, but I didn’t want to believe it.

  I dry my tears and take a deep cleansing breath. That’s it now, I’m done. I can go back to being that woman; the strong one who doesn’t show people they can hurt her, the one who can pop a smile on her face and say…this is me. I won’t be this person anymore. I need to do this for me, but most importantly, for Grady.

  He’s my priority.

  I send a quick text to my mother telling her I’m busy for the next few days and won’t be able to see her. Leaning over the cot I give Grady a kiss goodnight, telling him I love him, then I get into bed careful not to cause myself any more pain and welcome the sleep that takes me.

  Tomorrow is a new day.

  For Grady and me.

  CHAPTER TWO

  ALEXIA

  It’s Monday morning. Paul left at 4:00 am to go to work. He drives a 45-tonne lorry around the country, so at least Grady and I get a few hours to ourselves. The bruises on my face have healed a little since Friday, so me and Grady are venturing out for a while to go to town and get some essentials. I can’t stay in this house any longer, I’m getting cabin fever. I’m also meeting my friend, Becka, she’s made the trip from London to see me too which I’m really looking forward to, I haven’t seen her in so long.

  I send a text to my mum telling her I couldn’t see her, I think she had her suspicions that it has something to do with Paul, she doesn’t like the way he talks to me. In all honesty, I can handle that, it’s the insults and the abuse that’s what gets to me. I feel so ashamed that I let him treat me like this and he hits me as if I’m nothing. Mum doesn’t need to know that. The less she knows, the better.

  I was brou
ght up in a happy home, my mum and dad are still together and are happily married after 30 years. I won’t tell them; I can’t, it would crucify them. I can look after myself. I’ll get myself out of this mess. I told my mum that I’ll see her sometime this week and I was fine just a little under the weather and tired which seemed to appease her.

  Grady’s awake - he has had his breakfast and now happily sitting in his cot playing with his toys while I get showered and dressed ready to start our day. I don’t usually wear much makeup, but today I need it to hide what’s left of the aftermath of Paul and his temper. I throw on a pair of jeans and a round neck t-shirt that will hide most of the bruises on my collar bone. I brush my long brown hair. Usually, I put it up in a messy bun so it’s off my neck, but today, I think I need to leave it down. I put some concealer on my neck to hide the fingerprints and hope that Becka isn’t as observant as she usually is.

  After going around town and getting Grady some essentials like nappies, powdered milk and some jars of food, I head towards the local coffee shop to meet Becka, ready for some adult conversation over a caramel latte. I drop her a text to see where she is.

  Me - I’m here.

  Becka- I’m a few minutes away,

  get me a Cappuccino please.

  Me - Yeah k. See u in a few.

  I go up the to the counter to order both our coffees, not looking where I’m going of course and walk straight into, what feels like a mountain.

  “Ugh, shit.” I say as I look up into the most mesmerising eyes I have ever seen, “I’m so sorry! I wasn’t looking where I was going. Shit, I’m rambling again,” I cover my face with my hands to hide my embarrassment while his one hand is holding my arm to steady me, he looks at me in amusement.