Page 51 of Beyond Repair: Part One

Nina and Henry are laying in the grass by the weeping willow tree. As they watch the branches sway back and forth, Henry pulls Neen closer and kisses the top of her head.

Trevor gives us an odd look. "They've been out there for a while."

"She looks happy," I whisper, not wanting to disrupt the moment.

"They both do," Kai agrees.

As if we jinxed it, the relaxed image they paint shifts into one none of us were prepared for.

Chapter 41

Nina

I'm getting little pieces of myself back every moment I spend with the guys. Curled up on the grass with Henry is one of them. "Remember all the shirts we got grass stains on?"

Henry laughs. "Yeah. My dad always asked me what kind of clouds we saw those nights I came home with green on my white shirts."

"Sometimes when I squeezed my eyes shut, I could imagine the sky. Other times I would swear I could hear your voice." I'm not sure why I feel the sudden urge to share about the worst years of my life, but I want Henry to know our memories helped me. "You saved me those days, Henry."

I feel his stare, but I keep my gaze on the sky. "There were times I never knew if I would see this again.Feelthis again."

Shifting, he pulls me into his side. "I was terrified of never seeing or feeling you again, Nina." My throat closes over with emotion and so much heartache it's hard to breathe. "Thank you for coming home to me."

He kisses the top of my head, encouraging my emotions to unravel a little more with tears now. My lips curve into a smile—one that's content and appreciative. "Thank you for..." I hesitate, but truly accept the words that are about to come out of my mouth. "Thank you for loving me, Henry."

"I'll love you forever, pretty girl."

The peace that was settling my constant anxiety shatters with one vicious WOOF!

All thought springs from my mind, leaving my fight, flight, or freezeinstinct behind to protect me. My automatic conditioning against canines kicks in and I'm on my feet in seconds.

My neck kinks as I search wildly for the dog, but it serves as a reminder that this pain is far less than teeth puncturing flesh and muscle. "Where is it?!"

I don't sound human, and I don't hear any response. Blood roars in my ears as a shaggy gold dog runs around the decorative fence. "Stay back!" I shout, arms out in front of me as I scramble backward.

The weeping willow tree I found so mesmerizing just moments ago now blocks my vision, serving to make me defenseless against my attacker.

WOOF!

Oh my god!"STOP!"

It sprints through the yard with its tongue out and saliva swinging every which way. "Stay back!" Backpedaling like my life depends on it, I don't realize I'm close to the back of their lot until I'm tripping and falling back into prickly bushes.

A scream tears from my throat. The slices of pain on my arms and legs have nothing on the memories of a nightmare I'm reliving.Not again, not again, NOT AGIAN! PLEASE!

Blood running from my calf...

I have to keep running...

Run. RUN! RUN!

I can't even scream as I tumble hands first into a deep ditch that may as well be my final resting place for all the fight I have left in me.

Climb!The voice sounds familiar. Soft and throaty, enough to make me want to melt into a puddle.

"Nina!"Henry?

CLIMB! This voice is more frantic and energized, buzzing my insides enough to make my chin lift out of the dirt.

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