Save Me (The Broken Souls Series Book 1) Read online

  Contents

  Title Page

  Copyright

  Dedication

  Trigger Warnings

  Prologue

  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

  Save Me

  The Broken Souls Series

  Book One

  S.A. Mackenzie

  Copyright © 2021 by S.A. Mackenzie

  The characters and events portrayed in this book are fictitious.

  Any similarity to real persons, living or dead,

  is coincidental and not intended by the author.

  All rights reserved. This book or any portion thereof

  may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever

  without the express written permission of the publisher

  except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

  First Printing, 2021

  Cover Design by DAZED Designs

  Dedication

  This book goes out to everyone struggling with mental illness. I see you, I hear you, I am you. You are so incredibly strong and every single day you wake up and fight, you get stronger. Though you fight the demons in your head, they do not define you. Always remember that you are more than your illness and you are beautiful, amazing, and worthy. Keep fighting, for every day you do, you make a difference in this world.

  Trigger Warnings

  Please note that this book contains mentions of abuse, sexual abuse, and abuse of a minor. It also contains themes of stalking, kidnapping, murder, and slight mentions of gore. There are also themes of suicide, mental health struggles, and death. These themes may be triggering to some, proceed with caution if you have any of the above triggers. I have tried to cover all of my bases here, if you find something else triggering in this novel, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me so I can add it in this warning. This book is intended for audiences over the age of 18 as there is coarse language and explicit details.

  Prologue

  10 Years Ago...

  Most people are afraid of the dark, but not me. I’m terrified of the twilight hour. That moment before total darkness, when the shadows are at their strongest, but you can still see the light just out of reach. The light isn’t coming to save you like it does at dawn. The light abandons you, leaving you to fend for yourself against the shadows and the people who use them.

  I never used to be afraid of the light leaving. It simply meant it was time to sleep. Mom and Dad would kiss me goodnight, tuck me into bed, and my dreams would sweep me off into sweet adventures in mystical lands. When I would wake there wouldn’t be any question of what happened while I slept or what horrors the day would bring because it would be the same beautiful life as always. I was loved, cherished, and cared for by the best parents a girl could ask for.

  That all changed at the ripe age of five when the drunk driver hit my parent’s car on that fateful night that sent my world crashing. It was twilight, of course, and the car would have been a mere shadow since the headlights were never turned on. At least that’s what I heard their friends say at the funeral.

  There’s that horrible time again, it started by taking my parents and went on to take everything. My life changed forever in that moment, in that twilight hour, and I will never be the same.

  Home after home where you don’t want to be tucked in anymore, just in case something more sinister happens. Place after place of swinging fists, too many kids, and not enough care to go around. Foster care was just one hell after another for years.

  Some were emotionally abusive, others physically, and a few were sexually abusive. The worst by far was the Jennings’ house because they combined all three of them. Surprisingly though, it was also the one that gave me Declan. At least until the night they took us away from that home, and each other.

  “Please,” I beg, tears pouring down my face as Mr. Jennings stalks towards me, his belt in his hands.

  The tears do nothing but urge him on, something I know and yet I can never quite turn them off. Declan is tied up behind me, his yells muffled by the ratty rag tied around his mouth. I can’t do this again, I can’t take anymore.

  “Keep begging me, doe eyes. You know I love to hear you—”

  Mr. Jennings’ voice cuts off as a loud bang sounds above us followed by screaming and footsteps. The door to the basement bangs open as bright lights flood the dimly lit torture space and men in black tactical gear swarm down the stairs. Mr. Jennings’ eyes go wide, fear racing through his gaze as he realizes he can’t talk his way out, he’s been caught with his pants literally around his ankles.

  “Get down on your knees, hands behind your head!” The man in front yells, as the others move to cover him and help Declan and I out of our restraints.

  The next few hours fly by as the house is raided and all of the foster children are taken to the hospital to get checked over. The entire time I keep my hand tightly grasped in Declan’s. The paramedics, nurses, and doctors all try to get me to let go, but they don’t understand that he is the one holding me together right now. My body is running on autopilot and as long as I have Dec with me, I can power through this.

  “You’re doing so good, Allie Cat. We’ll get through this and find a better life away from him now,” Dec reassures me after the doctor leaves to grab the social worker. “We’re finally out of there. We turn eighteen in just six months and until then we get to be in a better home.”

  “How do you know this one will be better?” I whisper, my doubts that any foster parent is good take over. “We’re either just a paycheck to them and they neglect us or we deal with shit like this.”

  “It has to get better,” Dec declares, his voice ringing out with hope. His signature lopsided smile comes out as he brushes his unruly brown hair from his eyes. “This is rock bottom, Allie cat. There’s just up from here.”

  My mouth opens to speak as a young looking caseworker comes in, a sympathetic smile on her face. I hate those smiles, they’re always followed by bullshit excuses about how they can’t help us or bad news about our case. The door opens again and an older man enters, a briefcase in his hands that tells me he’s probably another social worker.

  Why are there two?

  “Mr. Hallows,” the man says before anyone else speaks. “Would you please come with me so we can get you to your new placement?”

  “He’s not leaving me.” My voice rushes out of me, the panic and fear I’m trying so hard to hold back cracking through. “We’re going to the same placement so you can just tell us together.”

  “Miss Morgan,” the young woman says, her voice kind and soft. “Alayna. Unfortunately, due to the limited amount of placements, especially for older kids, we have to split you up.”

  “Like fuck you will,” Dec growls out, his body going stiff as he moves into protective mode. “You’ll separate us over my dead body.”

  “Declan,” the man steps forward, his voice disapproving. I don’t like the look or sound of him, he doesn’t care about us. “That’s
enough. You are both almost eighteen years old, start acting like it. You will be coming with me either willingly or by force. We don’t have time for this.”

  “NO!” I scream as the nurse and the Old Asshole start moving towards us. “Please! Please don’t take him from me.”

  Two more nurses come into the room followed by the same doctor as before. Declan and I fight with everything we have to stay together, the tears pouring down my face as I scratch and attack anyone that comes near me. Declan’s hand is torn from mine just before a needle slides into my arm. An icy numbness moves through my body as all the fight drains out of me. The last thing I see before unconsciousness overtakes me are Declan’s terrified blue eyes as he’s held down and sedated. My Declan, gone.

  It's been months since that night, the one that changed my life again. They placed me with a nice woman that had no other children. Declan’s eighteenth birthday passed about a month before mine did and still no word from him. My nights were spent mourning his loss and fighting the demons that haunt me in my sleep.

  I miss him so much.

  The one light in my life of chaos was my best friend and first love Declan Hallows. He protected me in that awful foster home. He took beatings for me, tended my wounds when he couldn't stop what was happening, and showed me love again after so long without it. Being sent to this home without him has nearly destroyed me. I want him back, I want to show him the love he’s always shown me.

  Some day, I’ll find him again.

  Time is changing me. I will not be a victim. Never again will I be taken advantage of or used by anyone. I’m taking back my own life now, becoming stronger and tougher. When the day comes that I can look at myself directly in the mirror and not hate my existence, I will find Declan and make my happily ever after.

  Life tried to break me. Those people who were supposed to take care of me stole my innocence. But if I know one thing, it’s that I am like a phoenix. My time to rise from the ashes they left me in is coming, and when I do it will be with Declan by my side.

  Chapter One

  Alayna

  Now

  I stare at the asshole in front of me just praying he runs his mouth a little bit more so I can show him how much of an ass kicking this sweet little thang can give him. He’s trying to flirt, using his dumbass face to get out of paying his tab but I’m not fucking budging. Men like this think they walk on fucking water but thankfully I’m around to give them a reality check.

  “Your tab is fifty eight dollars. Cash or card, sweet thang?” I give him my best condescending smile with my signature head cock.

  “Don’t be like that, we can work something out. Your boss doesn’t have to know. Just delete the tab and come home with me, you’ll like what I have in store for you.” He licks his lips and grabs his pathetic little bulge that makes me vomit in my mouth a little bit.

  “Actually my boss will know and she’s a real hardass. Pay up asshole and not with your micropenis,” I say as sweetly as possible.

  “Fuck you, slut! I want to talk to whoever’s in charge!” He screams at me and a little spit lands on my face. I wipe my cheek and lose my smile completely. Why is it that fuckfaces like this guy call a woman a slut when they won’t sleep with them? It makes absolutely no sense. Incels like this guy need to follow the yellow brick road and go see the wizard for a new brain because the one they all share is broken.

  “Of course, let me grab ‘em,” I smirk, doing a full three hundred and sixty degree turn before putting on my manager smile. “Hi there, my name is Al and I own this establishment. How can I help you?”

  “What the FUCK?” Dumbass incel yells. “Y-you… you can’t…”

  “Ah but alas I can and I do. Now, the cops will be here really soon so pay up bucko.” I hold out my hand waiting semi-patiently for DI, dickless incel, to hand over some form of payment. I haven’t actually called the cops yet but Josh, one of my massive bouncers, would be more than happy to hold him under arrest until I can get some Po-Po here.

  “Fine, bitch. Here’s your money.” DI hands over a hundred dollar bill, his eyes narrowed in my direction.

  “Thanks dumbass. Now get your dickless friends and get out of my establishment. You guys are no longer welcome here.” I put the full hundred dollar bill in the till then close it. If he thinks he’s getting his change he can go fuck a cactus sideways. With the shit he just put me through, I’m charging a forty-two dollar you’re a dick fee.

  Josh walks up to escort DI to his buddies, finally getting them out of my hair. I love my job, but dickwads like those guys make me question why I continue to run this bar sometimes. It could be that even though I’m not close with my employees, I feel a sense of obligation to them. If this bar goes down, most of them are out a good paying job and that means rent and food for their tables. While the thought may cross my mind to close down the bar, I probably would never do it for them.

  When Josh walks back up I hand him a twenty from the till to split the fee with him since he had to deal with that bullshit as well. He may have it easier since he’s a huge ass man, but no one enjoys having to be around crotch fruit like those fuckers.

  “Thanks Al,” he says with a bright smile. Josh is scary as hell in size at first glance, but he’s actually 6’4” and three hundred and fifty pounds of pure teddy bear. Unless you fuck with someone he cares about because then he’ll rip you limb from limb, something I very much appreciate. Don’t get me wrong, I can take care of myself but having someone with me that people visibly retreat from saves me from having to kick ass and take names myself.

  I don’t look very intimidating at 5’5” and a hundred and fifty pounds but I train in kickboxing, martial arts and I teach an all genders self defense lesson three times a week. I’m about as much of a certified badass as you can get. I don’t enjoy violence, but my past has taught me that you have to fight fire with fire to get anywhere. So what did I do? I made myself into a fucking inferno. I will burn this world to the ground before I ever become a victim again.

  “You okay?” Georgia, my floor waitress, comes up asking. I must have looked out of it if Georgia is questioning me.

  “Yeah, I’m fine. Have you closed all of the tabs out there? Josh is itching to throw some people out and we close in five minutes.”

  “Yes ma’am. Josh can kick people out to his heart’s content,” Georgia giggles.

  She’s a sweet girl but not always the most observant person out there. I feel the need to watch her like a hawk some nights because she doesn’t seem to notice the dangers that follow her. It may just be that I'm the type to see danger in everyone and everything though.

  “Josh!” I holler across the bar. “Close it down!”

  The few people that hear me and see our very own Hulk coming towards them rush to grab their things, getting the hell out of dodge. There are a couple people that Georgia should have cut off a while ago that need help getting out but we actually clear out in decent time for once on a Saturday night.

  “You can head out now Georgia,” I smile handing over her tips for the night. “Don’t forget that I’m heading out of town tomorrow for two weeks. Rachel will be taking over for me while I’m gone, but I want you to watch your back and take care of yourself okay?”

  “Got it boss,” Georgia says with a small two finger salute before grabbing her stuff and waving goodbye to all of us.

  I try to send Josh on his way as well but that man is as stubborn as they come and refuses to leave while I’m still here by myself at three o'clock in the morning. Running through the closing clean up before counting the tills, I quickly finish up, heading out to my car with Josh as my ever present shadow.

  As I get to my car, I wave Josh off. He finally relents with a goodnight before hopping in his own car and driving off. This was my first mistake. I get in my car without checking my surroundings and start it up. That was my second mistake. When I feel the cold steel of a blade at my throat, I realize my phone is in my purse in the passenger seat. That wa
s my third mistake. Just perfect, the one night I don’t do my survival checks this shit happens again.

  Fuck. I promised myself that I would never be a victim again. I promised I would never end up a statistic, yet here I am with a knife to my throat. His hot rancid breath is in my ear and it’s pissing me off. I have my fight instincts and rage burning inside me. None of which is going to do me any fucking good from the position I’m in.

  “You stupid slut,” the fucking dumbass incel from the bar hisses in my ear. “You think you can reject me? You think you can make a fool of me? Think again, bitch. I’m going to make you pay for your disrespect when I jam my cock in your pretty mouth.”

  “Thanks but I think I’m going to pass. I had a tic tac earlier and that’s pretty much the same thing sooo,” I say with practiced nonchalance while I run through every scenario to get out of this unscathed. Pissing him off sounds like a bad idea, but I’m hoping his anger will make him careless. If it works I can get a hold of this fucking knife that’s pressing into my skin hard enough to draw blood.

  “You fucking cunt!” He screams. His anger makes his hand move just enough for my hand to get between my neck and the knife. This is my opening and I fucking take it. I put one hand around the blade while I grab his wrist, expertly breaking it as quickly as I can. The knife cuts into my hand for a split second, but adrenaline has made ignoring the pain easy. The ball is in my court now.

  I turn the knife on my dipshit attacker with fury in my eyes. Keeping him in my sights, I get out of the car to give myself more room to move. He stumbles out as well with a sneer on his face, holding his awkwardly angled wrist against his sweat stained chest.

  “You get your rocks off attacking women, dickhead?” I taunt him. “Can’t get anyone to touch your tic tac dick so you have to force someone to? I bet even your hands turn you down.”