LatinosUSA

Content Warning: Violence

Blue eyes

Two weeks pass at my job, and I seem to be doing quite well. All my money is taken away. Gavin doesn’t allow me to keep any, but he has no idea how much I make from tips, so I hide part of it in the back pocket of my purse.

I start my morning shift with a lot of desperate customers who need their coffee fix. I lift my eyes to ask the next customer for his order, and my mouth halts. I can’t say the words.

Standing in front of me is a gorgeous guy—tall, over six foot two, dark hair, a chiseled jaw, and the bluest eyes I’ve ever seen. He looks at me like he can read my deepest thoughts. Then he smiles, and two incredible dimples appear in his cheeks.

“Good morning! You must be new here. I’d like a black coffee, please.” He tells me, but it takes me a while to process his words. I fuss for a moment and finally manage to give him what he asked for.

“Here you go,” I say, finally able to form words.

“Thank you. I didn’t catch your name. I’m Robert Johnson.”

“I’m Eve Dalton.”

“Very nice to meet you, Eve. Have you been working here long?”

“No, I just started a couple of weeks ago.”

“Oh, that’s very recent. I hope I’ll see you every morning,” he says, smiling at me again.

I can’t help but smile back. I don’t answer anything because I can’t return the flirting. I’m guarded property, and Gavin would kill me if I even glance at another man. But this guy is something else. He makes me feel beautiful and strong— something I haven’t felt in a very long time.

He leaves the diner, and one of the other waitresses, Candy, approaches me. “He’s one fine-looking guy. Did you know he’s a fancy businessman? He comes here every morning to buy his coffee. He also travels a lot, so sometimes we don’t see him for weeks. But he’s one fine ass to look at,” she says, smiling and winking at me.

I don’t answer because I don’t know what to say. He is a fine man, and definitely fancy. Probably the kind of guy my parents would have expected me to marry. But I chose Gavin. I always dreamed we’d have a great future together—a white picket fence, two-point-five children. Now all I want is to sleep without being woken up and beaten to death.

The next weeks continue the same way: I wake up, go to the diner, serve people, then go home, where I hand over all my tips. I’m giving him almost the same amount every day, with small differences depending on how busy it is. Weekends are usually busier, so I make more money, but weekdays are slower.

Robert comes in almost every morning. He says “Hi,” and asks how I am.

I always give the same answer.

At some point, he studies me so intensely that I think he’s figured out my life story—but no, it’s just my imagination. I’d love to tell him how my life has become a nightmare, but I’m afraid, and I know he can’t do anything anyway.

One morning, he comes into the diner and waits at the counter for his coffee. His phone is out, and for a second, I think he’s taking photos of me, but I’m not sure. When he steps forward to be served, Robert asks,

“Mornin’! I’ve been looking for you on social media. Do you have any?”

“No, I don’t. I actually don’t exist,” I say, smiling back.

“Really? Nowadays, everyone has an account and a public profile.”

I actually do have one, but I no longer have a phone because Gavin took it, so I can’t contact anyone. Just as I’m about to say something—maybe excuse my non-existence on social media—Gavin appears beside him.

“Hey, babe! How’s work?” he asks, smiling at me. But I know it’s fake, full of promises I’ll pay for later.

I freeze. My face changes. Robert looks at me more keenly, then at Gavin, who starts ordering his coffee. I listen and move as fast as I can, but my hands shake violently, and I drop the cup. Candy rushes over to help me, and with her assistance, I manage to remake Gavin’s coffee.

“I hope you’re not doing too much damage,” he says in a mocking tone. I try to smile so Robert and my coworkers won’t see how scared I am.

“It’s good,” I say.

“I don’t think we’ve met,” Gavin says, turning to Robert. “I’m Gavin—Eve’s future husband,” he adds with a smug grin that I’d love to wipe off his face with a shovel.

“I didn’t know that. But congratulations!” Robert answers, analyzing Gavin, though he doesn’t extend his hand to shake his. Gavin keeps staring at him, then finally says, “When does your shift end?”

“In six hours,” I answer.

“I’ll pick you up then,” he says as he heads for the door.

I watch him leave, but Robert is still looking at me.

“Eve, I can help you,” he says, serious now, already knowing I’m in trouble. I’m probably a terrible actress, and everyone can tell I’m in a violent relationship—or better yet, I’m in hell and Gavin is my jailer.

“I’m fine,” I answer, trying to smile, but I’m sure it comes out as a grimace.

“Do you have a phone number?”

“No.”

“Of course not. He wouldn’t give you access to social media or the police. Look, I know you don’t know me well, but I’m very well-connected, and I can help you get out of his reach. Just say the word. It won’t be easy, but I’m willing to help, and I promise I don’t need anything in return.”

As he says this, he places his business card on the counter. I don’t know what to say. I’m so overwhelmed by his concern and protectiveness that I want to burst into tears and hug him—but I can’t. Gavin might be outside, watching or checking to see if I do anything reckless.

I don’t take his card, even though I stare at it long enough to memorize his phone number. I love numbers. I still remember my bank account number, where I once had money—or maybe not anymore, because Gavin took that, too. He demanded all my money after he killed my parents, so I have nothing left.

If I listen to Robert and go with him, there’s no guarantee I’ll escape Gavin. He’ll always find me. I’ll always have to look over my shoulder. Robert is so kind, and those blue eyes are mesmerizing and beautiful—but that doesn’t mean I’ll survive.

“Thank you for your concern, but I’m fine,” I say, shaking off the crazy thoughts spiraling in my head. He doesn’t insist. He says goodbye with a sad smile. I smile back, trying to make it look happier, more convincing—but I don’t think I pull it off.

When my shift ends, I grab my things and leave. Candy tries to say something but stops herself, only reaching out to squeeze my arm. I smile at her and close the door behind me.

Gavin is outside waiting for me. He takes my arm with enough force so I know what’s coming. When we get inside the apartment, he punches me really hard.

“Do you think you can fuck that businessman and I won’t find out?” he snarls through gritted teeth, squeezing his fingers on my throat. I don’t fight or gasp. He keeps pressing, then suddenly lets go. I collapse onto the floor, coughing and gasping for air.

“Shit! You make me do bad things! It’s all because of you, you little bitch!” Gavin screams and kicks me in the ribs. I curl into a ball and stay like that for a long time. He leaves me there and locks me inside the apartment. Eventually, I get up and take a shower. My body aches everywhere. When I take off my clothes, bruises cover my entire rib cage, and my neck is imprinted with his fingers.

I can’t go to work like this. Everyone will notice. I wash myself, and when I step out of the bathroom, Gavin is unlocking the door and coming back in. He sees my bruises and tells me I’ll be staying home from now on because I can’t keep it in my pants. He knows people would notice the wounds and call the cops on him.

The worst part is that I loved working there. Robert made me daydream that maybe someday I’d be free to be myself again and enjoy life.

Previous Chapters:

Chapter 1, February 9: 
https://latinosenglishedition.blog/2026/02/09/chapter-1-of-bruised-but-unbroken-by-alissa-brown/

Chapter 2, February 16: 
https://latinosenglishedition.blog/2026/02/16/chapter-2-of-bruised-but-unbroken-by-alissa-brown/

Chapter 3, February 23:
https://latinosenglishedition.blog/2026/02/23/chapter-3-of-bruised-but-unbroken-by-alissa-brown/