Shattered: (McIntyre Security Bodyguard Series - Book 4)

by April Wilson

  He’s hard as a rock, huge in my hand, and I can feel the throbbing pulse in the vein that runs the length of him. Holding him in position, I lower myself onto him, directing the blunt point at my opening. I drop down, and he sinks inside, my wet flesh obediently giving way. He grits his teeth, fisting the sheets at his sides to prevent himself from grabbing my hips and taking over.

  I rock on him gently, gasping as he sinks even deeper inside me. As my body slowly softens to accommodate him, I lean down to kiss him. His mouth latches onto mine, and he eats at me with heated licks and firm lips.

  Eventually, his hands release the bedding and come to rest on my hips, just stroking and kneading me. He still lets me control the pace and the angle, and I position myself so that the head of his cock brushes that sweet, tender spot deep inside me. I rock myself on him slowly, until the pleasure consumes me and my sex clenches down on him. When my climax hits, I gasp with pleasure, and he levers himself up to catch my response with his kiss. A heartbeat later, he erupts deep inside me, filling me with scorching heat.

  I collapse on his chest, panting as I try to catch my breath, and he rolls us so that he’s now on top. His cock is planted deep inside me, still pulsing, still hard, and my sex clenches down on him, eliciting a ragged groan. When he finally pulls out, he collapses beside me, pulling me close, and we lie together with our limbs intertwined.

  “What have you done to me?” he says, pressing his lips to my temple. “You own me, Elizabeth Marie. I can’t ever get enough of you.”

  Hearing him say my full name always brings a smile to my face. I slip my arms around his waist and hold him tight. When I think of Luciana and what she did – how she tried to break us – tears well up in my eyes.

  He kisses me gently, reverently. “We own each other, and no one can take that away from us.”

  Chapter 26

  It feels good to be back to a normal schedule on Monday. Customer traffic in the store is at a fever pitch as we get closer to Christmas. I’m so busy at work I don’t have time to dwell on my upcoming nuptials. I guess it helps that Shane has taken over making all the arrangements, the few that we have yet to make. We’re keeping it simple.

  With Cooper officiating at the wedding ceremony, Jonah providing the music, and Gina Capelli providing the food and the cake, there’s not much left to do. Gabrielle’s handling the flowers and bouquets. We’re just waiting for Shane’s parents to make their flight arrangements home from Italy so we can schedule the day.

  To be honest, the wedding seems like it’s just a formality now because I already feel married to Shane. We weathered that awful hoax by Luciana, and we came out on the other side even stronger because of it. She did her worst, and she failed at driving us apart.

  Now the wedding seems like it’s just an excuse for a weekend house party with our favorite people. I can handle that – that’s going to be fun. We’ve invited everyone to arrive Saturday morning. We’ll have the wedding ceremony in the afternoon, followed by dinner and dancing, and then everyone is welcome to spend the night. That way, everyone can relax and have fun, and we won’t have to worry about anyone driving back to the city after having maybe had too much to drink.

  I work my way through the ground floor of Clancy’s, straightening holiday displays and offering my help to customers. This is my favorite part of the job – just being here and being useful. I move to the calendars and journals, straightening up, when I notice a familiar face perusing a rack of calendars just a few feet away.

  “Molly?”

  Molly Ferguson looks up in surprise and it takes her a minute to place me. “Oh, hi! You’re… Jamie’s sister-in-law. Beth, right?”

  “Right. Well, almost his sister-in-law. Shane and I aren’t getting married for a couple more weeks, but the truth is, I already feel like his family is my family.”

  “That’s nice,” she says, smiling. “I don’t have much family, so I envy you. I know Jamie has a big family. I’ve seen his brothers and friends stopping by since he moved in. I think I’ve seen a couple of sisters, too. A petite blond and a brunette?”

  I nod. “Lia’s the blond, and Sophie’s the brunette. There’s another sister, Hannah, who divides her time between Colorado and Wyoming.”

  Molly’s brow raises. “Sounds like they have a big family.”

  “They do. So, what brings you here today? Is there anything I can help you with?”

  Molly looks surprised. “You work here?”

  “Yes. Actually, I own this store.”

  “You’re kidding? It’s a small world then, as Clancy’s is my home-away-from-home. I love this place.”

  She’s holding a calendar featuring paintings by American artists. “You’re an artist, aren’t you?”

  She nods. “I have a small studio and gallery in Wicker Park. Very small. I paint abstracts, mostly corporate commissions.”

  Someone behind me gives me a light hip bump. “Hey, princess.”

  I turn to see Lia and Jonah standing behind me. Jonah’s wearing a gray knit cap to cover his trademark hair and dark aviator sunglasses. The rest of him – a black leather jacket, distressed jeans, and a tee – is all Jonah. Still, I might not have recognized him if it weren’t for Lia. Lia has a baseball cap on. I guess, as Jonah’s bodyguard, she’s becoming a little too recognizable also.

  “Hey, Lia!” I say, hugging her. “Hi, Jonah. What are you guys doing here?”

  “We were out walking and we’re hungry,” Jonah says. “We thought we’d kidnap you for lunch. How about Casa del Sol? Sound good?”

  “Actually, that sounds really good.” Shane and I had our first date at Casa del Sol, and it brings back such poignant memories. I was so scared then, so anxious to meet anyone new, especially a man. After a few minor setbacks, and after a panic attack or two on my part, he made it all okay. He made me feel safe for the first time in my life.

  I step aside. “Lia, this is Jamie’s neighbor, Molly.”

  “Hey,” Lia says. “How’s it going?”

  “Great, thanks. I’ve seen you a couple of times in my apartment building. My apartment’s next to Jamie’s.”

  Lia’s eyes widen. “Oh, you’re that Molly – the one Jamie can’t stop talking about.” She sticks her hand out. “Pleased to meet you. I’m Jamie’s cool sister.”

  Molly smiles at Lia’s comment. After I finish the introductions, Molly looks astonished when she learns who Jonah is.

  “Wow, I’ve never met a celebrity before,” she says, blushing as she shakes his hand. “I have quite a few of your songs on my favorites playlist.”

  “Why don’t you join us for lunch,” Lia says. “Do you like Mexican food?”

  “Absolutely,” Molly says. “If you’re sure you don’t mind. I don’t want to impose.”

  “Of course we don’t mind,” Lia says. “The more, the merrier.”

  “Don’t forget me,” Sam says, coming up to put his arm across my shoulders. “I’m starving.”

  * * *

  I grab my stuff from my office, and the five of us head out on foot to the restaurant. Erin stays behind because she’s already got lunch plans with a former college roommate. I’m excited that Molly agreed to come with us. She seems really nice, and I think she and I would hit it off. Plus, getting to know her would allow me to put in a few good words for Jamie.

  I don’t know why Molly keeps blowing Jamie off, as he says she is, but I doubt it has anything to do with the fact that he’s blind. I just can’t believe she’d hold Jamie’s blindness against him. There has to be another reason.

  The restaurant is just a few blocks from the bookstore, so we decide to walk. As the signal at the crosswalk changes, we step into the street. I hear the screeching of tires coming from somewhere on my left. There’s a frantic shout, and then suddenly I’m flying across the street. I hit the pavement on my hands and knees, just barely catching myself from pitching forward onto my face. My palms and knees burn from skidding on the bits of sharp gravel and tiny shards of
broken glass that litter the road. Searing pain shoots up my left arm.

  “Beth!” Molly screams, rushing to my side. “Are you all right?” She crouches down beside me and helps me to sit.

  I glance around me, stunned and confused. Jonah’s standing in the middle of the street with his arms outstretched, blocking the intersection, keeping a line of cars at bay. I’m dazed, and I feel sick to my stomach. Then I see Sam crumpled on the street close to the curb, his forehead covered in blood. When I see the unnatural angle of his left leg, I scream as I try to get to my feet.

  “Beth, stay down,” Molly says. “You’re bleeding.”

  “Sam’s hurt!” I cry, pointing across the street where he lies unconscious.

  I hear shouting, then two quick gun shots. Jonah’s yelling at Lia, and Lia’s yelling at someone else.

  “Get out of the fucking car!” she shouts, pointing her handgun at the driver window of an expensive silver sedan. “Get out and put your hands up, now!”

  I hear more yelling, and people screaming and running.

  “I called 911,” Jonah shouts.

  “Call Shane!” Lia yells.

  There’s nothing but chaos all around me, and I can’t make sense out of any of it. My heart is racing, and there’s blood on my hands and knees. Tears are blinding me, and my left wrist is on fire. My hands and knees are stinging from the bits of glass embedded in my flesh.

  But none of that’s important, because Sam’s not moving. He lies lifeless against the curb. When I see the smear of bright red blood on the lamp post, I retch.

  People are crowding around him, staring down at him, but no one’s touching him. And he’s still not moving. One man reaches down to press his fingers to Sam’s throat, searching for a pulse.

  “Go to Sam,” I tell Molly, my voice cracking. “Please! I’m fine. Help Sam!”

  The last thing I recall is hearing the far-away screams of multiple sirens. They’re muffled, though, and growing more and more faint. Shouldn’t they be getting louder? Isn’t anyone coming?

  Then everything goes black.

  Chapter 27

  When I open my eyes, I’m in a bright room, and a nurse is standing beside my bed taking my blood pressure. So much of me hurts – my hands, my knees, my head, especially my left wrist, which is throbbing. I look around, disoriented, my brain feeling like it’s slogging through quicksand. I hear voices, all urgently talking at once, but nothing makes much sense.

  Then one voice cuts through all the others, loud and clear. “Sweetheart? Can you hear me? Look at me, please.”

  I turn toward the source of that familiar, comforting voice and look up, struggling to focus on the dark shape looming over me. The shape leans closer, and I can now make out a pair of blue eyes rimmed in red and filled with pain. My gaze travels past a straight nose to a pair of beautifully formed lips which are moving. But I’m having trouble following his words. “Shane?”

  “Yes, sweetheart. I’m here.” Relief washes over his face as he touches my cheek lightly. “It’s okay. You’re going to be fine.”

  Then it all comes rushing back to me. Sam! Seeing him lifeless, bleeding in the street! “Sam! Where’s Sam? He’s hurt!”

  “Honey, please try to relax,” Shane says, brushing his thumb across my cheek.

  I reach for Shane and cry out when a shaft of pain streaks up my left arm. “Where’s Sam? Is he all right?”

  “Honey, lie still,” Shane says. “Sam’s getting help. You both are. Please, try to relax.”

  My eyes fill with tears. “I don’t know what happened,” I tell him, looking into his eyes. “I don’t remember anything, except Sam was hurt. Where is he, Shane?”

  He gently strokes my forehead, brushing back my tangled hair. “He’s in the ER. You both are.”

  “Is he okay?”

  “I’m sure he’s okay. He’s in surgery right now.”

  “Surgery? Why?”

  I don’t know whether to be scared or relieved. If he’s in surgery, it means he’s still alive. But if he needs surgery, then he’s hurt badly. I remember seeing blood on the lamp post and Sam lying on the ground, not moving. I remember his leg bent the wrong way. “Sam’s hurt.”

  “Yes, he’s hurt. But he’ll be okay, I promise you. He’s getting the best of care.”

  My head feels heavy, like it weighs a ton, and I have to lie back on the pillow. The room is spinning, and I feel numb. “There was so much blood.”

  Shane looks past me to the nurse who’s organizing a tray of sharp implements and bandages. “Please hurry. I want that glass out of her now.”

  “Yes, sir,” the nurse says, lifting my right palm.

  * * *

  My body is sore from head to toe, my wrist hurts, and both my hands are wrapped in gauze. I blink my eyes several times, trying to focus. Shane leans forward in the chair beside my hospital bed.

  “What happened?” I say, my voice little more than a croak.

  Shane gently strokes my right arm. My left arm is in a brace. “Sam pushed you out of the way of an oncoming car. You fell on gravel and broken glass, which cut up your hands and knees, but that’s all been cleaned out. Your left wrist might be broken.”

  I feel a panic attack coming on, and I’m struggling to breathe.

  “Shh,” he murmurs, stroking my forehead. “You’re okay, sweetheart. Just breathe. I’ve called Tyler and your mom. They’re both on their way.”

  I shake my head. “What happened to Sam?”

  Shane frowns. “He was hit. He’s in the intensive care unit, recovering from surgery.”

  “How bad is it?”

  “His left leg is broken – it’s a compound fracture, and they had to put pins in his leg. But it’s his head we’re most worried about. He hit it hard on a light post and fractured his skull. There’s some bleeding in his brain. He’s in critical, yet stable condition.”

  Pain knifes through me at the realization this is all my fault. Sam got hurt trying to protect me. “Is he going to be all right?”

  “He’s in the intensive care unit. According to Lia’s police report, as you were crossing the street, a car came barreling around the corner and would have struck you head on if Sam hadn’t pushed you out of the way. Unfortunately, he was hit.”

  As reality sinks in, I’m swamped with guilt. “He saved me.”

  “Yes, he did.”

  And then it dawns on me. “Cooper! Oh, my God, Cooper! Does he know?”

  Shane nods. “He’s with Sam now.”

  There’s a knock on my door.

  “Come in,” Shane says, looking back to see who’s there.

  The door opens quietly, and Cooper walks in. He looks haggard, his eyes bloodshot and his expression strained. “How is she?” he says to Shane. But his eyes are on me.

  “Better,” Shane says. “They’re sending her for an X-ray soon. Her wrist might be broken.”

  “How’s Sam?” I ask Cooper.

  “He’s stable. Lia and Jonah are with him. I wanted to check on you, kiddo.”

  “He saved my life, Cooper. He pushed me out of the way.”

  A nurse comes into the room holding a clipboard. She introduces herself to me – her nametag says Tiffany. “I’m glad to see you’re awake,” she says, giving me a gentle smile. “You’ve been in and out of it most of the afternoon. How are you feeling?”

  “Everything is sore,” I say. And it’s true. But what hurts most is my heart as I can’t stop thinking about Sam.

  Tiffany looks at Shane. “We’re going to take her to X-ray soon, to get a look at her wrist bones.” Then she looks at me. “Honey, is there any chance you could be pregnant?”

  I shake my head. “No. I’m on the pill.”

  Cooper clears his throat, drawing everyone’s attention. “Actually, I think you’d better make sure,” he says to the nurse.

  I shake my head vehemently. “I’m not pregnant. I’m on the pill, and I’m very careful to take it right on time.”

  “Birth cont
rol isn’t one hundred percent foolproof, kiddo,” Cooper says. Then he gives Shane a telling look. “She needs to take a pregnancy test.”

  “Let’s be sure,” Shane says, nodding to the nurse.

  Cooper bends down to kiss the top of my head. “I’ve got to get back to Sam. I want to be there when he wakes up. I’ll check in with you again, as soon as I can.”

  “Thanks,” Shane says, closing the door after Cooper’s gone. Then he returns to his chair at the side of my bed. Before either of us can speak, the nurse returns with a sterile plastic cup.

  “Can you pee in a cup for me, sweetie?” she says. “I’ll help you walk to the bathroom.”

  Shane stands. “I’ll help her.”

  He comes to my side and helps me sit up, then I slide my legs over the side of the bed so I can stand. I’m wearing a hospital gown, open in the back, and I feel a definite draft. I reach behind me to close the gown, and Shane has his hands at my waist, supporting me as I shuffle to the bathroom. Once inside, he helps me sit down and hands me the sterile cup.

  I look up at him, feeling numb. “I’m on the pill. I can’t be pregnant.”

  Shane shrugs. “As Cooper said, it’s not one hundred percent foolproof.”

  Shane steps out of the room to give me some privacy, and I sit there for several minutes, feeling both anxious and embarrassed. I can’t be pregnant. It’s impossible. I’ve never missed a pill. But Cooper seemed so adamant.

  Finally, I’m able to relax enough to accomplish the task at hand. I screw the lid securely onto the cup and set it on the counter. After washing my hands, I shuffle to the door and find Shane waiting for me on the other side. He scoops me up into his arms and carries me back to bed.

  I nestle into the pillows as Shane covers me up. Then he sits on the side of my bed and holds my good hand.

  “There’s nothing to worry about,” he says, kissing the back of my hand. “Sam’s going to be fine. You’re fine.”

  I laugh, because he’s overlooking the elephant in the room. “And apparently Cooper thinks I might be pregnant.” I glance up at Shane. “What if I am?”