Broken Boundaries

By Cin Medley

Tess Abbott vanished so completely that even the F.B.I. couldn't find her. There wasn't a trace. After being presumed dead for two years, one fated night changed the course of her life. She was saved by a terrified businessman, who happened to be a non-related uncle. His lies left the F.B.I. with nothing to go on. Only Tess knew the truth of what happened to her, and she didn't know all of it. Strung out on heroin, her body and soul tortured and broken, and her mind shattered, she was left a shell of a woman. Unable to assimilate back into society, she took matters into her own hands and got her own justice, vanishing again into a world only she could navigate and understand.

Walker Westbrook, golden boy, was living his best life. About to become a father, his wife and unborn son died in his arms, breaking him. With nothing left, he traded his company for a piece of land and then disappeared from a world he no longer desired to live in. He wanted nothing more than to join his wife in death. For years, he struggled to live with their deaths.

But destiny had a different plan for them both.

Two lost and broken souls, brought together by a chain of events neither of them could have ever imagined possible.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Cin Medley
• Release date: Mar 15, 2024
• ISBN: 9798989347612

Book preview

Chapter One

Walker

At the sound traveling through the dead air, he lifted his head, his eyes moving to the horizon to see the dust cloud rising through the trees. The filtered sunlight became blurry from the dust. Who the hell is this? he mumbled. Leaning back in his chair, picking up his glass of scotch, he downed the contents.

Rarely did people come this far into the woods. Over the years, a few hikers had crossed through his land. A smile crossed his lips as he remembered scaring the shit out of them.

The unfamiliar car turned down the drive, pulling up in front of his cabin. The man sitting behind the wheel didn’t move, only stared at him. Chuckling, he could see it was his brother Cade. Shaking his head, he knew he was there to try and talk him into returning to the real world, but this was his world now. Cade showed up every six months or so to try and convince him that life, his life didn’t need to be this way. The only problem with his brother’s thinking is that this was the life he wanted. That world, the world he left, the world Cade still lived in, only held pain for Walker. He was, at one point, a highly successful business tycoon. He once had everything one man could want or desire.

Walker watched as the door opened and his brother’s six-foot-two frame climbed out of the car, his eyes on him as he shut the door. Walker couldn’t help but smile at the clothes he was wearing, at his shoes. He watched as he walked toward him. What do you want, Cade?

Why can’t I just come to visit my brother? Cade smarted as he climbed the stairs, taking the seat next to him.

Because it’s about that time.

What time is that?

The time when you make up some kind of problem to get me back there.

Cade laughed. Well, there’s no made-up problem. I’m just here to visit with my brother.

Walker looked at him; he looked older, worn down. I’m not going back, Cade. Not now, not next week, or even next year. I want no part of that world.

Jesus, Walker, we live in the same world. This world. You’ve never explained to me why you left, why you stay isolated out here.

Walker felt the pain sear through his heart, his anger brewing. Looking at his brother, whom he loved, he tried not to sound hateful. Well, to be honest, Cade, I don’t need to explain myself to you or anyone else. There is nothing left for me there, nothing that excites me, except for maybe the bottle of scotch on my kitchen table. It’s not my world anymore. There isn’t a fucking thing in it that I want, need, or desire. My life ended six years ago on a rainy Sunday afternoon.

Cade sat there looking at the forest, his eyes moving to the small barn across the drive. Walker… His voice came out soft, kind, and full of pain for his brother, strangled with emotion. You can’t just…

Walker interrupted him, I can, and that’s the end of it. He stood, moving into the house, to his bottle of scotch. Cade followed him. Listen, I’m not doing this with you. You should just leave. I want no part of this conversation. I want no part of that life. Just go, Cade. Go live your life.

You’re my twin. We shared a womb. I can’t let you do this to yourself. I’m sorry things happened the way they did, but you are the other half of me, and I need my brother.

Walker looked at him. Hugging him, he said as calmly as he could, Little brother, I don’t need you. I don’t need anyone. I’m fine. I’m alive. He chuckled. If anything happens to me, you’ll be the first to know. Now, please, just leave me in peace. He picked up his glass and headed back to the porch to drink.

Cade followed him. But you’re not at peace.

Walker sat down, taking a drink. How the hell do you know what I am? I see you, what, every six months, and it’s the same shit every time. Listen, Cade, I don’t want to sound like a prick, but why are you really here? Why do you keep coming back? I’m not leaving here. I don’t have any desire to live in the world you come from.

Jesus, Walker, you’re my fucking brother. Did you ever stop to think about how I felt, how I feel? It’s like you’re dead, only you’re not.

Walker looked at him. I am dead. I’ve been dead for six years. I died right along with her, with them. He fought his tears, trying to tamper down the pain and rage. Cade, go home to your wife. I’m surviving the best I can. That city is not my home. It holds nothing but pain. There is no joy in this life for me. I’m sure, when I finally die, you’ll be the first to know.

Cade’s words were soft and kind. Why won’t you let anyone help you? Walker, after the funeral, you just left.

I just couldn’t do it anymore. Those five days after nearly ended me. I slept in a hotel because I couldn’t go back into that apartment. Listen, I need you to leave and not come back here. Every time I think I have a hold of this… this feeling of emptiness, you show up and it fills me with nothing but dread. It takes me months to recover, to be as normal as I can. Please, Cade, if you love me the way you claim, you’ll leave and not come back.

Cade sat there, his tears gently falling on his cheeks. God, Walker, I’m so sorry. I’ll go, I love you. He choked on the words, struggling to say them.

I love you, too, brother, Walker whispered, holding back his own tears.

Cade slowly stood, as did Walker. Hugging his brother, Cade walked away. Turning to look at him one last time, he nodded, got in his car, and drove away.

Walker stood on his porch, looking into the forest with tears falling down his cheeks. His heart was shredded, by his loss, by the fear he knew she felt. He knew, no, believed he would never recover. Dropping his head, he went inside the cabin where he cried himself to sleep.

Tess

Walking through the forest, looking for the herbs she needed, the sound of a car stopped her in her tracks. Panic filled her body; she’d been out here for four winters and had never heard a car. Looking around, she realized she had never been this far south before. Crouching down, disappearing into the brush, she waited, listening as the car got closer. Keeping her eyes sharp, she spotted the black vehicle as it slowly passed about a thousand feet to her left. What the hell.

The engine shut off, and then she heard the door shut. Slowly, she moved closer, a cabin coming into view. What do we have here?

Tess hadn’t seen another person out here since she got here. After the first winter, she was out collecting herbs and berries when she heard gunshots, sending her running through the woods toward them. When she made it to the site that gutted her, the rage she felt triggered a major response. She hid in the brush as she watched two men skin a beautiful black bear while its babies cried and cowered away.

The memory was still so vivid in her mind. She watched in horror as one of the men raised his rifle and shot one of the babies. Shut the fuck up, he screamed. Turning his gun on the second cub, Tess pulled an arrow from her quiver and ran into the clearing.

I wouldn’t do that, she said calmly.

The man skinning the momma bear stood, pulling a gun from behind him. Tess let the arrow go, plunging it through his hand. She was quick in her retrieval of another arrow, pointing it at the second man, who had turned the rifle on her.

Well, well, well, what do we have here? he sputtered out.

Shoot the bitch, the other man shouted in pain.

Tess was shaking. She knew she’d have to kill the men. They would and could identify her. Taking a deep breath, her fingers released the arrow, sending it through the air in near silence, watching it sink into the man’s eye. Quickly, she grabbed another arrow as the man fell backward.

What the fuck? the second man shouted.

Tess let the arrow go, sending it plunging into the man’s heart. She stood there frozen; she wasn’t afraid, but her body started to shake. It was the whimpering that brought her back to the reality of the horror that lay before her. Moving her eyes, Tess watched the tiny black bear plastered against the rock crying, shaking in fear.

I’m so sorry. I won’t hurt you. Her words were soft. We’ve got a lot to do. Putting her bow down, she moved. After dragging both men into the cave that had been home to this momma bear and her cubs, She gathered up their guns and stashed them inside the cave, then went in search of their car. When she found it, she found all kinds of equipment and more guns, along with the hides of multiple animals. Assholes, she whispered.

Dumping all the gear onto the ground, she put the truck in neutral and pushed it as far away as she could to the hill, then sent it down where it crashed into a tree. Happy with herself, she trekked back to where she’d left all the gear. After covering it, she headed back to her place to get her wagon, one of the few things she brought with her when the world became too much for her.

The slamming of the car door snapped her out of her memory. As she watched, the man walked to the porch of the cabin. For years, she had lived out in the forest, wandering around, yet she had never encountered another person.

Tess got comfortable and watched the scene in front of her. She could see the similarities between the two men and wondered if they were brothers.

After the man from the car left a short while later, Tess sat watching the man on the porch. He wiped his face and got up, his eyes looking right at her. She knew he couldn’t see her, but she felt his gaze. What the hell, she whispered as he walked into the cabin.

Tess waited to see if he would return to the porch. When he didn’t, she decided to investigate his outbuildings to see if there was anything she could use.

Opening the barn door, she slipped inside, pulling the door closed. Her eyes adjusted to the light, and she looked around, spying a pitchfork. This I could use.

Grabbing the tool, she turned to leave when she saw the horse looking at her. Well, hello. Smiling, she walked over to it, held out her palm, and then ran her hand down its snout. Aren’t you just beautiful? Don’t tell, okay? Next time I come back, I’ll bring you a treat. Right now, I need to go. Remember, this is our secret. Tess let out a little giggle. Opening the door a little, she looked out, noting the path was clear. Closing the door, she took off into the woods with her new pitchfork, which would come in handy while she foraged for herbs and berries.

Walker walked out onto the porch after he slept off half a bottle of scotch. Standing, looking at the spot where his brother’s car was parked, he shook his head. Asshole, he mumbled. It never failed. Every time he started to feel some kind of normal, Cade would show up and all the emptiness and anger would push its way out.

He didn’t want to forget them, but he couldn’t survive them if he kept the memories close. Closing his eyes, he tried for the millionth time to wipe her fear from his memory. To erase the sound of her heartbreaking pleas for forgiveness.

~I’m so sorry, Walker. I love you~

Her words had barely been whispered as the light drained from her eyes, as the last words she’d ever spoken seared through him like fire-hot daggers, piercing his heart. Ripping his soul away with jagged claws of flame as, in horror, he watched his wife and son disappear into the abyss of death.

The tears came unprovoked by him. Fucking Cade. Every time he came, the memories came with him like a train barreling through what remained of his soul.

Wiping his face, Walker scanned his property, his eyes landing on the barn door that was slightly ajar. Grabbing his gun off the table just inside the door, he headed toward the barn. Slowly pulling the oversized door open, sunlight flooded the dim space. His horse, Buddy, peered curiously from his stall. Walker’s eyes scanned the space, looking for anything that was out of order. He started to calm down, thinking maybe he didn’t close the door properly.

He'd had a few encounters with a huge black bear on his rides deep into the forest, but they managed to outrun him. Hey Buddy, you want to go for a ride? The horse neighed at him. Chuckling, Walker saddled him. After leading him out into the sun, he carefully closed the barn door, and then climbed on Buddy and off they went.

Walker loved disappearing into the silent, unpopulated expanse of forest. He learned about this forest, this land six years ago, and bought, well, traded for nearly a hundred thousand acres. Then he built the small state-of-the-art cabin where he’d since lived his solitary life.

As they walked through the woods to the clearing, Walker was amazed at the silence. No traffic, no humans. Just him, his horse, and the creatures of the dense forest. When the clearing came into view, Buddy took off racing across the field, the long grass swaying in the breeze. Walker felt the peace of his solitude returning as the wind whipped across his face. Nothing mattered to him except the feel of his horse’s muscles moving effortlessly beneath him. Out here, he was aware of nothing except for the freedom it provided from the pain.

Tess was on her way back to her tree house, moving toward the clearing as she gathered herbs and berries. She stopped to gather some wildflowers at the edge of the forest. Stepping into the field, she was halted by the cracking of branches, then the ground vibrated. Dropping everything, she drew her bow and arrow, stepping behind a tree as a horse came flying out of the forest at a full gallop. Her breath hitched when she realized the man from the cabin was riding it.

Climbing the tree, she got comfortable and watched him soaring across the field, almost flying. Who are you? She wondered what he was doing out there. Her tree house was on the other side of the field. Is he looking for me?

When the horse turned and they headed back toward her, she watched him close his eyes and let go of the reins. When he spread his arms out to either side, she gasped. He was beautiful, his body perfectly in sync with the horse’s movements. The faint sound of pine needles crunching underfoot had Tess looking over her shoulder. A lone wolf crept through the forest, no doubt hunting her, but it was now heading to the field, his stare on the beautiful man on the horse. Oh, no you don’t, she muttered. She knew this wolf; he had given her a run for her money over the years. Milo always intervened, but Milo wasn’t there.

Drawing her bow, she quietly pulled her arrow back. She hadn’t wanted to kill the creature, but she knew there was no choice now that it had staked its claim to the beautiful stranger and his horse. This wolf was cunning and dangerous.

Tess watched as it slinked through the tall grass, inching ever closer to the galloping horse. She wanted to scream for the beautiful man to open his eyes and grab the reins, but she knew the wolf would run off. So many times over the years, this wolf had stalked her. So many times, she had to tend to Milo’s wounds from their encounters. The wolf positioned itself, ready to launch itself at the beautiful stranger.

Tracking in her head, she knew if she missed that the wolf would either kill the man or seriously maim him. As the horse moved closer, the wolf pushed back and, in the blink of an eye, hurled himself into the air at the same instant Tess let the arrow go.

She watched the scene play out in slow motion. The horse reared up, throwing the beautiful man off backward, just as her arrow sliced through the chest of the wolf, piercing its heart. The mischievous beast fell to the ground next to the beautiful man.

Exhaling, she hopped out of the tree and ran through the waist-high grass to check on the beautiful man. Stopping short, she turned her eyes to the wolf, her bow drawn. The animal lay lifeless within arm’s reach of the man. Her eyes moved to the man, and she knelt next to him, reaching out to feel for a pulse. Her hand shook as she pressed her fingers to his neck, finding his pulse strong. Sliding her hands under his head, Tess felt for blood, but when she pulled her hands out, they were clean. Kneeling next to him, she gazed at his relaxed face. He’s so beautiful.

Looking at the wolf, she grabbed her arrow and pulled it from its chest before slipping it back into her quiver. Standing, Tess grabbed the animal by its back paws and dragged it into the forest. Turning, she looked back to where the beautiful man was, knowing she couldn’t just leave him alone out there. Climbing back into the tree, she got comfortable and waited. Not sure how long she sat there, but rustling on the forest floor caught her attention. Pulling her bow, her eyes scanning, she looked for the creature she could sense was moving closer and closer to her, to the field where the beautiful man lay. When his horse walked out of the forest, she lowered her bow, releasing her held breath. She watched in anticipation as the horse made its way to him. It stopped near him and stood eating grass. Tess smiled when the man reached to touch his head. It didn’t take long for him to get his bearings. Moaning quietly, she watched mesmerized when he stood and swung his leg over the horse. He looked at the ground where the wolf’s blood stained the grass, then got off his horse and touched the blood. Standing, he turned and followed the path she had walked dragging the wolf. He was walking right toward her but stopped next to the downed wolf.

She held her breath as he turned slowly in a circle, searching the landscape. Watching him look back at the wolf, she heard him say as he knelt, What happened to you? Standing, he walked back to his horse, climbed on, and disappeared into the forest.

Walker opened his eyes, his view of the clear blue sky. Reaching up, he ran his hand through his hair. His head hurt. What the hell happened? Turning, he saw his horse eating grass like nothing happened. Slowly, he got up and climbed on his horse but spotted what looked like blood on the ground next to where he’d been lying. His gaze drifted along what looked like a path through the tall grass. Getting down, he bent to touch the dark stain on an otherwise backdrop of green. Looking at his finger, he could clearly see it was blood.

Confused, he stood, his eyes following the obvious disturbance in the field. His feet carrying him, with eyes downcast, Walker followed the path to where Tess had left the dead wolf. His heart pounding, he looked at the huge animal. What the hell happened? Kneeling, he muttered, What happened to you? Who did