UNBREAKABLE BOND novel Chapter 9

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For a moment, Shane didn’t know where the sound was coming from. It was only when Chris grabbed him tightly and sank to the floor with him in his arms that Shane realized that the shockingly horrible sound was coming from him. Deep and desperate gut-wrenching sobs that were the buildup of years of pain and sadness tore from Shane’s throat. Great heaving sobs, that sounded like they were coming from a wounded animal, shook Shane's frame. He’d never shed a tear since that night all those years ago. So the feeling was alien to him.

It was painful and Shane wished he could stop. God knew he tried to stop but he just couldn’t. After a while of non-stop sobbing, he finally heard Chris’ voice saying how sorry he was, crooning softly to him, rocking him as though he was a little boy… It only made Shane cry even harder. He felt like he was dying. He clung desperately to Chris as though he were his anchor on a sinking ship.

After what felt like hours, Shane eventually quieted down. He noticed how soaked Chris’ t-shirt was with his tears and couldn’t believe how weak he’d been. Chris was the last person he should have shown any weakness to, Shane thought miserably. To think that the very first time he’d broken down after years of holding back…and it was in front of none other than Chris Donovan, the very person who had caused his misery...the very person he couldn’t afford to show any weakness to.

Just his fucking luck, Shane almost groaned. What was Chris going to think of him now? Shane pulled back from Chris’ chest and looked up into his face, for the first time noticing how wet Chris cheeks were with his own tears. Shane pulled himself up and picked up the gun from the floor.

“You can show yourself out.” Shane croaked and walked off.

Chris sat on the floor and watched as Shane walked away. He was saddened even more at the defeated and dejected way Shane walked. The Shane he watched walk away was nothing like the tough and proud businessman the world knew. Shane was a broken man and it was all because of him, Chris groaned. He was going to leave Shane alone…just for that day as he’d seen the shame in the other man’s eyes when he looked at him after falling apart in his arms. No need to emasculate the man further by hanging around.

But Chris swore to himself that he was not going to give up. He planned on coming again the next day and every day after that till Shane talked to him. If Shane thought Chris was going to let him be, he had another thinking coming. Chris stood up and let himself out of the garage by simply clicking on ‘open’ on the consol. This was just the beginning.

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And true to his resolution, Chris was at Shane’s gate the next day which was a Sunday. He sat on the ledge on the side of the back gate and worked on his mini-iPad. This time around, he didn’t attempt to enter the house. He couldn’t have been able to anyway because there was a security guard at post. He knew Shane was aware of his presence because the security guard had come to ask him whether he wanted to see the boss.

Chris had shrugged. “Does the boss know I’m here?” He’d asked.

“Yes.” Was the man’s brief answer.

“And did the boss send you to ask me that?”

A sheepish look appeared on the man’s face. “No.”

“Did he ask you to remove me or send me away?”

“No.”

“Then don’t worry your head. I’ll just sit here for a while.”

And he’d sat on the ledge and worked for about four hours before leaving for home. The following day which was a Monday, Chris closed from work early because according to the private eye, Shane usually got home around four p.m. By half-past three, Chris was on the ledge. He’d taken off his jacket and tie and rolled up the sleeves of his shirt. When Shane eventually got to the gate, he drove in without looking at Chris. Chris watched till the gate came back down and went back to his iPad. And that was how it went for two weeks. Shane never once spoke to Chris but Chis knew he watched him from the house. He could feel Shane’s eyes on him.