All My Broken Pieces (FindingLight #2)

Chapter 6

Arriana

Me

I love you, mi vida.

Please, please just text

me back. Just once.

I stare at the message, the read receipt glaring at me below it. I don’t know what I expected. It’s not like she has responded to a single one of my messages this whole time. I just can’t bring myself to stop.

Maybe if she stopped reading them, maybe if she asked me not to reach out anymore. Maybe then I could stop.

Even as the thought crosses my mind, I know it’s a lie. I can’t stop, I won’t stop.

A muscular arm reaches around me, plucking the phone from my hands. “What are you doing, Ree?” Andrew sighs, keeping the small device just out of reach.

“Give it back.” I growl, hopping up in a futile attempt to retrieve my stolen property.

Tsking, he shakes his head. “Nope. This ,” He inclines his head toward his outstretched arm. “Is not healthy.”

Glaring at him, I cross my arms. “So what? I’m not giving up on us.” I snap.

He sighs, his expression taking on a frustratingly pitiful look. “Princess…” I roll my eyes at the nickname. I’m far from the damsel in distress he found me as when we first met. But I haven’t been able to shake the nickname.

“Just,” I start and stop, my shoulders slumping in defeat. “Just give it back, please.” I avert my gaze, embarrassed to be showing this side of myself.

Andrew places a warm hand on my shoulder, waiting for me to look back at him. He studies my face for a moment before sighing again and handing me the phone. “Fine.” As I go to reach for it, he pulls the phone out of my reach again, making me growl in frustration. “On one condition.”

“What?” I snap, getting tired of his macho attitude.

Stupid ass men. Just because they’re bigger doesn’t make them better. If I didn’t like him, I’d have slit his throat already and taken back my phone all on my own. Thank you very much.

Andrew chuckles at my furious expression. “Come to dinner with me and the fam.”

I can’t help but roll my eyes. Sure, I like his family, but I don’t much care for being blackmailed into doing something. “ Fiiine .” I grumble, holding out my hand.

Handing it over with a smirk, he pulls me into a one armed hug. “Mamma is going to be thrilled!” He laughs, ruffling my hair.

I shove him off, opening my phone again to see if there’s a message. My shoulders slump when I find the same thread of unanswered texts.

Maybe it will be good to get my mind off this. Just for one night.

“ Cara mia!” Evelina cries, pulling me into a hug.

“H-hi.” I gasp, a smile breaking out on my face.

She pulls back just far enough to place a kiss on both of my cheeks, a grin to match my own on her face. “Oh, how I missed you!”

“Mamma.” Andrew warns, the effect lost as he chuckles.

Evelina turns to him, clucking her tongue. “And where have you been, amore mio ?”

Andrew blushes and looks away, avoiding her gaze.

Interesting.

I quirk an eyebrow at him, earning a scowl. A laugh bubbles from my chest as I mouth we’re talking about this later.

He glares at me, shaking his head and mouthing fuck off .

Evelina sighs, pulling our attention back to her. Finally releasing me from her arms, she straightens her apron and spins back toward the kitchen. “Dinner is almost ready. Go freshen up.” With that command, she struts off to finish her magic.

I elbow Andrew, chuckling, “Where have you been, ‘ amore mio ’?” He pushes me away, heading off toward the dining area. I follow after him, a permanent grin on my face.

Maybe he was right to invite me tonight. I really needed this.

As we grow closer, I can hear the sounds of bickering. Turning the corner, I take in the sight before me. Most of Andrew’s siblings are seated around the table, except for two who are currently rolling on the floor, one with his head locked in the other brother’s chokehold.

“Take it back.” Noah growls, refusing to give in to Luca’s desperate attempts to free himself.

I laugh watching the baby of the family be choked out by Andrew’s second youngest sibling. The boys are so close in age they could almost be twins. My eyes drift over to find Mila and Beau distracted on their phones, the family’s actual twins and oldest of the seven siblings.

I can’t imagine giving birth to one child, let alone seven. Squeezing my thighs, I shudder at the thought.

Yeah, that’s gonna be a big ol’ nope for me and my vagina.

Looking around, I spot Rylee and Izabella, Andrew’s other sisters, playing with his nieces and nephews. I take a deep breath, soaking in the love in the room, despite the aggressive showing between the two youngest.

“Let your brother go.” A deep voice sighs. All eyes shoot up to watch Isaak Mikhailov walk into the room, a disappointed scowl on his face. Not many people intimidate me, but Andrew’s father is one of those few.

The old Russian man is one scary dude.

He used to be a general in the military before meeting Andrew’s mom and he’s never lost the hard edge from war. Despite his gruffness, though, the man loves his family.

Rolling his eyes at the boys as they continue wrestling on the floor, he bends over to scoop up one of his grandchildren into his arms. “ Zaychik. ” He croons, nuzzling her head with his.

I smile, my heart melting at the display of such a gruff man showing such sweet emotions.

Not that I’d ever admit that that’s why I’m smiling.

Quickly schooling my features, I saunter over and flop down into a seat beside Mila. Andrew follows behind, taking the open spot next to me. Nudging my shoulder with his, Andrew smirks. “See? Aren’t you happy you came?”

I roll my eyes, muttering under my breath and crossing my arms. A small hint of my earlier grin breaks on my face despite my efforts.

Of course Andrew notices.

Laughing, he slaps my shoulder and reaches for the bottle of wine on the center of the table. I hold up a glass, nearly downing the whole thing when he fills it. He quirks an eyebrow at me, but doesn’t say anything as he refills the glass. His focus is pulled away as Noah and Luca finally come take their seats and begin babbling about some sports game.

Taking the moment of distraction, I pull up my phone to check and see if there are any new messages.

One new message

My body freezes as I see the notification.

With numb fingers, I unlock my phone and open the text.

Mi Vida

I need you

I leap to my feet, startling everyone around me, but I don’t care.

She needs me.

The thought sends me into overdrive as I sprint from the room, the sound of Andrew’s voice following me.

Running as quickly as I can, I dive behind the wheel of my car. The vehicle I learned to drive for my baby. Throwing it into reverse, I speed down the street, my fingers strumming on the steering wheel.

She needs me.