Shatter
The Unbreakable Bonds Series
By Jocelynn Drake and Rinda Elliott
The Unbreakable Bonds Series
Shiver
Shatter
Also by Jocelynn Drake
The Dark Days Series
Bound to Me
The Dead, the Damned and the Forgotten
Nightwalker
Dayhunter
Dawnbreaker
Pray for Dawn
Wait for Dusk
Burn the Night
The Asylum Tales
The Asylum Interviews: Bronx
The Asylum Interviews: Trixie
Angel’s Ink
Dead Man’s Deal
Demon’s Vengeance
Also by Rinda Elliott
Beri O’Dell Series
Dweller on the Threshold
Blood of an Ancient
The Brothers Bernaux
Raisonne Curse
Sisters of Fate
Foretold
Forecast
Foresworn
Also by Rinda Elliott Writing as Dani Worth
The Kithran Regenesis Series
Kithra
Replicant
Catalyst
Origin
Crux Survivors Series
After the Crux
Sole Survivors
Copyright
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the authors’ imagination or are used factiously and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or organizations, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
SHATTER. Copyright ©2016 Jocelynn Drake and Rinda Elliott. All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. By payment of the required fees, you have been granted the nonexclusive, nontransferable right to access and read the text of this e-book onscreen. No part of this text may be reproduced, transmitted, introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of Jocelynn Drake and Rinda Elliott.
Cover art by Stephen Drake of Design by Drake.
Proofread by Meg Weglarz of MegEdits.com.
Dedication
Rinda—I am dedicating this book to Jocelynn because there were a few hard bumps in the road during the writing of this book and she did not once lose faith in me.
Jocelynn—I am dedicating this book to our husbands. We put in a lot of long hours and several long phone calls to get this book done. Thanks for sticking it out with us.
Acknowledgements
We would like to thank a bunch of people who helped in the creation of this book.
L.D. Rose, author and doctor extraordinaire, who answered our questions in between saving lives. (http://writerldrose.com/ )
Author Maria Bitar for her help with our Greek translations. (https://www.facebook.com/amadjournalist)
Robert Smith for his valuable help in blocking fight scenes. (FightWriteConsulting.com) Any mistakes made are our own.
Stephen Drake for designing yet another gorgeous cover. (DesignbyDrake.com)
And we’d also like to thank our wonderful fans in our Unbreakable Readers Facebook group. Your enthusiasm and help in spreading the word on our books is priceless!
Chapter 1
The bar gave new definition to the word “dive”.
Ashton “Snow” Frost sprawled in the most unrelentingly painful chair he’d ever sat in and tried not to look too closely at his surroundings. Either the decorator had been into early seventies drug den or the place had been tucked into this corner of Covington, Kentucky since before he’d been born. Some nineties grunge band grumbled from a jukebox near the restrooms and the high number of college kids swilling beer at the long, battered bar and around the pool tables surprised him. And depressed him. He wouldn’t even be able to salvage his original plan to get laid tonight—the crowd was too young for his tastes.
The evening wasn’t an entire bust, though. He watched his friends across the room, visible despite the crowd. They’d grabbed one of the pool tables, and from the disgruntled expression on Andrei Hadeon’s face as he pressed the cue stick against his forehead, Melissa Ward was kicking his ass.
Lucas Vallois and Ian Pierce sat on barstools on either side of a raised pub table, both laughing. Probably because they all knew Rowe’s wife was a shark and it seemed nobody bothered to warn the Romanian. Snow couldn’t help but grin. Lucas and Ian didn’t blend though they were similarly dressed to everyone else in jeans and boots. Ian, despite his short stature, looked like he’d stepped off a runway in his untucked blue shirt and sharp, brown blazer. And Snow couldn’t believe Lucas wasn’t even cracking a hint of sweat in his cashmere sweater in this sweltering place.
Apparently the owner didn’t mind wasting money because the bastard had the heat cranked too high, forcing the staff to keep the front and back doors open to let a little cool air in. Snow shifted in his seat and glared at Rowan Ward, who sat next to him at the large table he’d reserved near the back of the bar. “You know what, Ward?”
Rowe turned green eyes his way and frowned as he pulled at the neckline of his black sweatshirt. Perspiration darkened the red hair around his temples, making it curl. “What?”
“I figured out what’s wrong with this bar. I’m neither blind nor deaf. ”
Rowe smirked and wiped a drop of sweat rolling down his temple with a paper napkin. “It’s popular with some of my employees, so I thought we’d try it out. Come on now, doc. The place has ambiance—even you have to admit that.”
Snow shot him a glare. “It has wood paneling.”
“I always liked wood paneling. My granddad had this old hunting cabin in Colorado with paneling in every room. I think it gives a place a homey feel. I loved it there.” He picked up his mug of beer and took a huge swallow, then tilted his glass toward Snow. “And the brew’s cheap.”
“That’s because it’s shit beer.” Snow turned back to catch Andrei leaning over a pool table and chuckled when he saw Lucas watching as well, focus firmly locked on his former bodyguard’s ass. It was a really nice ass, so he didn’t blame him.
Rowe had followed Snow’s gaze and shook his head. “It’s wild, isn’t it? Turned my straight employee gay. That’s some superpower Vallois has.”
“Doubt he was ever completely straight.” Snow slouched, hooking his elbow over the back of the chair. “I walked in on them a couple of weeks ago and caught a bit of the action. There was nothing holding the Romanian back. So fucking hot.” Snow waved one hand at Andrei as he straightened from his shot. “Look at him. I would have worked to turn the man fully to my side as well.” Lucas didn’t admit that he was exclusively sleeping with his ex-bodyguard, but it was obvious that’s what was happening.
Rowe nudged him. “You saw them?”
Snow heard something in his friend’s tone that made him look closer. Genuine curiosity made Rowe’s eyes wider than normal and there was something in his expression Snow had caught before a couple of times, but years ago prior to Rowe meeting Mel. Like he was interested, but not sure he was entirely comfortable with it. “Is that something you’d like to see yourself?” he asked, narrowing his eyes to study his friend.
Rowe’s eyes flitted away before he casually shrugged. “I love my wife. You know that. But I’m not blind and those two are ridiculously gorgeous—so it had to be something to see.” He leaned closer so he could lower his voice. “Did you see who’s the top?”
Snow had been taking
a drink of his beer and he sucked it in so fast, he choked. He never expected to hear those words cross Rowe’s lips. As foul as he could be, Rowe had never demanded details or even shown interest in knowing them. Of course, over the years, Snow and Lucas had been pretty damn graphic in their sexual comments, happy to volunteer details. Rowe never had to ask.
Clearing his throat, Snow set the mug down. “It’s not always one way or the other. You do get that, right?”
“No, I don’t actually. From things you and Lucas have said, I got the feeling it was one or the other. Come on. Fill me in.”
Snow shook his head. “Fuck no. Rent some porn. I happen to know your wife loves gay porn. Like really loves gay porn.” Snow paused and smirked at his friend, causing Rowe to clench his jaw as if tensing against whatever twisted mess was about to leave Snow’s tongue. “You do know she asked me to film something, right? That time we were all out at that steakhouse and I picked up that blond waiter?”
“I remember.” Rowe groaned, his shoulders slumping again. “Unfortunately. You left us with the check and started making out with him before you were even out the door. What’s funny is you think I don’t already know about the porn and my own damn wife.”
Snow lifted an eyebrow, intrigued. “You two watch it together?”
Green eyes rolled. “No way in hell am I giving you any wank material.”
“Too late.” Snow gave Rowe his most wicked, teasing grin.
“Right. You don’t like sex with women.”
“Oh Rowe, do we need a lesson on porn and watching versus action? I enjoy good, straight porn at times. Admittedly, it’s rare.” He picked a bottle cap off the table. “When something is hot, it’s hot.”
“You’re telling me…” Rowe’s expression went serious and he leaned his forearms on the table, edging just a little bit closer. “You’re telling me, you could be with a woman?”
“No. I learned a long time ago that doesn’t work for me.” Snow had never found himself interested in anything beyond friendship with women. He liked everything about men. Liked their harder edges, their calloused hands, and masculine scents…their ability to take rough handling. He knew there were women out there who liked the latter, but he liked dick. Always had.
Recently, his mind had been going back to a particular man who was off-limits. That damn paramedic managed to catch his eye every time he was passing through the ER or the break room or just about anywhere around the hospital. His hands itched to grab the man and find out if those lovely muscles on display in his form-fitting black uniform were as strong as they looked.
But Jude Torres was untouchable. Snow didn’t fuck those he worked with. That rule insured that his personal life stayed out of the hospital. His brain understood that, but even now, just thinking about those dark eyes and crooked grin, made Snow hard. Jude had a look about him, like his easy-going, smiling exterior masked pure, unadulterated fire.
Snow shifted in his seat, trying to find a comfortable position without having to adjust himself. He toyed with the bottle cap, turning it over with the tips of his fingers. “What I’m telling you,” he continued, watching Rowe. “Is that what we like to watch doesn’t always coincide with what we like to do. You watch gay porn with your wife, but you don’t do guys, right?”
His friend’s nod was slow and contemplative. “I get it.” Rowe looked up and his expression’s odd mix of curious and concern disappeared into a genuine smile as he shoved out the chair next to him.
Snow followed his gaze to find Ian pushing through the crowd toward their table. Something about that kid had always put their group at ease—from the very first time Lucas and Snow had seen him.
It looked like the heat in this bar was getting to him as well because he peeled off his stylish jacket and draped it over his arm. His light brown hair was gelled into a style that looked messy and probably took him twenty minutes to get right. Everything about Ian always flowed together like it was effortless and knowing Ian, it mostly was. He had an impressive, distinctive flair when it came to creating a whole picture. Snow went shopping with him and Ian knew exactly what would go with what before he even took it off the rack. Hell, he let Ian pick out most of his suits now. It certainly saved him the trouble of staying up to date on fashion. Not that he really cared about that. He just liked to know that he looked good. Plus, he loathed shopping and only Ian’s genuine clothes euphoria made those outings tolerable.
“I don’t know why I thought dressing for January was a good idea,” Ian’s voice dripped with sarcasm as he sat next to Rowe and picked up the house cabernet he’d left on the table. He sipped it and grimaced just as he had the first time he’d tried it. “But I’m still having a good time. This place is fun!” He set down the glass and pushed it away with one finger, eyeing the liquid like it might leap out and attack his taste buds again.
Rowe turned a smug look Snow’s way. “Snow doesn’t agree. He’s a bar snob. Lucas and his fancy nightclubs have tainted his view of proper men places.”
Snow’s grin grew, stretching his mouth wide. He leaned back in his chair again and crossed his arms. “Proper men places? Do tell more.”
“You know,” Rowe said, closing his hands into fists for emphasis. “Man caves. Places where we don’t have to dress up. Where we aren’t on display or trying to pick someone up. Where we don’t have to smell nice for the ladies. We can be with other men in our natural slob states. Let our balls hang out.”
Silence followed his emphatic speech. Then Ian’s mouth fell open. “There are so many things wrong with what you just said.”
Chuckling, Snow picked up a napkin to wipe the condensation from his beer off the table. “Ladies aren’t the only ones who dislike body odor and not every man has a natural slob state. Just how does the world look with your head stuck so far up your ass? You’re the only man I know with a natural slob state—” He sucked back the laughter, cocked his head. “Wait, that’s not true anymore. I just remembered Banner.”
“The cop?” Rowe asked.
It didn’t escape Snow’s notice that Ian, who’d been looking over his shoulder, instantly turned back to their conversation. Hollis Banner, an annoying detective for the Cincinnati Police Department, had been wearing out his welcome more than usual lately and none of them were under any sort of misunderstanding as to why. The big, hard-edged asshole was sniffing around Ian and it made Snow want to hurt things. It wasn’t that he was interested in Ian himself—no, their friendship was too solid for that—it was that nobody was good enough for the young man. Ian brought out every protective instinct Snow had. Plus, they didn’t need law enforcement hanging around when they all had things to hide.
He wiped the napkin over another spot of condensation and when it stuck to the table top, he snatched his hand back, snarled and pointed. “Really Rowan? I prefer my real men caves to at least be clean.”
“This from a man who drops to his knees in men’s bathrooms all over town.”
“I thought you’d been paying more attention all these years.” Snow winked and Ian softly snorted a laugh. “I’m not the one usually on my knees.”
“Selfish bastard.” Rowe laughed, probably because he’d heard enough over their more than a decade-long friendship to know that was true. Snow sometimes marveled over how well Rowe took the frank talk among their group of four when he was the only straight man. Well, mostly straight. Snow had always had an inkling there was a little curiosity going on up in the scrambled mess of Rowe’s brain, that maybe Rowe was a little more bi than he’d ever been willing to admit. Tonight’s conversation stirred up old memories of Rowe with him and Lucas at gays bars and nightclubs. A flirtatious Rowe who seemed more comfortable with the touches and gropes than any straight man he’d ever known.
Snow didn’t worry Rowe’s eyes were straying. The man was crazy about Melissa and judging by how often he’d searched her out tonight, his infatuation with his wife remained strong. Curious or not, he would never cheat on her. But it did make Sno
w wonder if things would have been different if Melissa had been a man rather than a woman.
And while Lucas occasionally jumped the fence and slept with women, Snow had always known that was more about what Lucas felt he should want, not what he truly liked. He was for all intents and purposes a gay man. Like Snow and Ian.
The others came back to the table, fresh drinks in hand, and the talk turned to Melissa’s prowess with hard balls. Snow half-listened, finding that despite Rowe’s poor taste in drinking establishments, the company relaxed him. He let his gaze roam the bar again, hoping to see someone old enough to be interesting and frowned when a figure stepped quickly out of sight and into the thick of the crowd. He narrowed his eyes, tried to see who it was because he had the distinct feeling the person had been watching them and that feeling carried something, too. A faint, black edge that made the hair on his arms stand on end.
“What do you think?” Ian snapped his fingers in front of Snow’s face. “Snow?”
“Huh?” He turned to Ian, realizing he’d missed the subject entirely.
Ian frowned, brown eyes probing for a moment before he sighed. “Don’t you agree that grocery shopping together is like a commitment?” He waved his finger at Lucas and Andrei. “They go together now.”
Snow pursed his lips, biting back a comment. That was…unexpected. As far as he knew, Lucas hadn’t stepped foot in a grocery store in over a year. His housekeeper, Mrs. Mason, picked up any food that Ian wasn’t bringing over himself.
A hint of red colored Andrei’s neck. “Ian, it’s just food. We get that for you, it’s a religion or maybe even some kind of twisted foreplay, but it doesn’t work that way for the rest of us.”
“It should.” Ian stared at Lucas until the older man started to glare back. But Ian gave him that smile—the sweet one that could melt the coldest of hearts—and Lucas’s expression softened. Ian touched Andrei’s arm. “This is serious, though? You two? I’m right, aren’t I?” He laughed. “Your parents did come to Thanksgiving, Andrei.”
Shatter (Unbreakable Bonds Series Book 2) Page 1