Shattered

by Tl Reeve

  Shattered

  Leaving the Past Behind

  By

  TL Reeve and Michele Ryan

  Shattered

  Leaving the Past Behind

  Copyright ©2019 TL Reeve and Michele Ryan

  Edits ©2019 Michelle’s Edits

  Cover Art ©2019 K Designs

  All rights reserved.

  No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, recording, or otherwise, without the prior written permission of R2R Publishing.

  This book is a work of fiction. Any similarity to actual persons, living or dead, locales, or events is wholly coincidental. The names, characters, dialogue, and events in this book are from the author’s imagination and should not to be construed as real.

  Manufactured in the USA.

  Blurb

  Mackenzie Raferty’s had a crap life, most of it his making. When he meets Holly Geithner over ten years ago, he believed it was his chance to make up for his past transgressions. There’s just one catch, Holly isn’t who she says she is.

  Now, with Holly in prison for being the backbone of PBH—Paranormal Bounty Hunters, Mackenzie has to pick up the pieces of his life once again.

  However, this time he’s do it alone...

  Aurora McNamara doesn’t have time for relationships or people in general. As the sole guardian of her niece Abigail, she’ll do whatever it takes to give the little redhead a normal life with normal friends, especially after a life-threatening and life-altering surgery.

  When the doctors tell Aurora dry, warm climates would help Abigail heal and feel better, she begins her new life with her niece in Window Rock, Arizona.

  The trial of Holly Geithner is upon them.

  Mackenzie along with Hayden, his niece, must testify against Holly. Doing so will bring back old memories and open scabbed wounds. There is a bright spot though—Abigail. The little girl who calls her mom mumsy, has wormed her way into Mackenzie’s heart.

  Yet, things aren’t what they appear.

  Mackenzie is losing track of time. He’s doing things he’d never dream of and the reality of it comes crashing down around Makenzie and Aurora. Together they must face the consequences of their sordid lies. Can Mackenzie and Aurora salvage their budding mating, or will their lives be shattered forever?

  Author Note

  Dear Reader,

  Welcome to the last part of the trilogy. As you know, Shattered, is Mackenzie and Aurora’s book. This time around, we’ll see how the eldest member of the Raferty family deals with the stress and destruction of his family while meeting his true mate and dealing with the downfall of PBH—Paranormal Bounty Hunters and Holly Geithner.

  When Michele and I discussed Aurora and her “daughter,” Abigail (Abby for short) we knew Abigail was sick. Her color is off. She’s kind of pale and when it’s cold her hands and around her mouth turns blue. I hear your question of, “but, doesn’t everyone when they’re really cold?” Sometimes, but I can tell you from experience, no.

  My heart (I know, we do pull from so much personal stuff. Ha-ha) is kind of broken. I have Mitral valve Prolapse with regurgitation ( https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/mitral-valve-prolapse/symptoms-causes/syc-20355446). Basically, my valve doesn’t pump blood properly. When it “regurgitates” it flushes blood into the left atrium while also pushing it into the blood stream. That causes my heart to choke then cough the blood out and send it on its way. (Ew, gross, I know) Anyway, it’s a weird, painful thing I have had all my life. I used to tell my doc at the age of 3, my heart flutters in my throat. (I got laughed at a lot. Not mean, more ha, ha, aren’t you so sweet.) At 24, 8 months after I had my daughter, I started taking meds for it, to stabilize my heart.

  Anyway, back to Abigail.

  Certain medications cause blue hands/mouth/body parts. Every winter I experience it. Every summer if I stay in air conditioning too long, it happens. It freaks everyone out. My skin pales and goes blue, then it turns red/black/blue when heat is introduced. (It’s crazy freaky) Well, Abigail also experiences the same thing, only hers is more about her condition than her medication.

  Abigail has Patent Foramen Ovale (https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/patent-foramen-ovale/symptoms-causes/syc-20353487) she has had the fix completed for her heart, but there are other issues at play, which you’ll see later in the book.

  With all these things, Aurora hasn’t devoted any time to meeting adults or even attempting to have a relationship. Well, in Shattered, that all changes. But, she has secrets of her own too. Some of them will test her resolve and make her question everything she’s done in her life.

  And, on top of all of this, Mackenzie has to face Holly one more time in the biggest trial Window Rock has ever seen.

  Michele and I hope you enjoy Shattered. We’re not sure what the next book for the series will be, but as soon as we know, we’ll announce it here: R&R Raving Readers (https://www.facebook.com/groups/RandRRavingReaders/) and Leaving the Past Behind (https://windowrockorphanage.blogspot.com/)

  Until then...

  Keep reading,

  TL and Michele

  Prologue

  Eleven years ago...

  Hayden Raferty...

  Mackenzie chuckled as he stepped into his house. Who’d have guessed the wiry pup was theirs and the twin sister to Bodhi. They were inseparable now, and Jace... Well, thank fuck, he got his head out of his ass.

  The man had spent the better part of his life mourning.

  Mourning his pups.

  Mourning the violations of his body.

  It almost cost him both of his mates, too.

  Mackenzie didn’t blame Loraine or Blake for almost walking away. He didn’t understand how Jace could stare at them month after month and not claim them. Sure, poor Loraine had been through so much after the firebombing of the Sheriff’s Department, but she was made of sterner stuff. On occasion, Mackenzie wondered if the Sheriff’s Department hadn’t been firebombed and Loraine hadn’t been hurt, if all three of them, Blake, Jace, and Loraine would’ve even been living in the same house.

  According to Kalkin and Caden, Blake had been the dark secret his brother had kept for years and went so far as to drive over thirty miles away from pack lands to fuck his mate. Jace never brought Blake home to meet his brothers. Never talked about him. Mackenzie couldn’t imagine the shame the wolf had to feel at being denied his new pack mates and mated brothers.

  Had Hayden not shown up when she did or given the spark Jace needed to see the world around him… Mackenzie didn’t want to think of what would have become of Jace’s life or his mates’. Shit... Wasn’t that a heavy load for a little girl to bear? Time would tell how it might affect her relationship with her brother and her family, let alone her mate when the time came.

  So, what did it say about Mackenzie?

  Sure, he could tell people how to fix their shit, but when it came to himself, he couldn’t deal with his own. He snorted. Royce still wouldn’t talk to him much. Caden was the same. He didn’t blame his brother. Hell, he’d betrayed Caden. Even after he knew what Marjorie had done to Caden—after leaving a small girl pup, still covered in blood, on their doorstep—Mackenzie had still pursued Marjorie.

  He’d been in lust.

  He’d thought Marjorie Burke was his mate.

  Of course, he’d figured out the truth while he lay on the sunbaked desert sand—the barrel of a snub-nosed .38 pointed at his temple, while Raymond’s runt bastards cut away his tattoo—that he’d been a victim of another sort.

  A victim of his own making.

  He’d appreciated Kalkin more in those few moments, laying in the middle of the desert, waiting for his l
ife to end, than he’d ever be able to say. Kalkin had kept Royce safe. He hadn’t allowed the boy to follow Mackenzie the night everything went south. Of course, Kalkin had tried to persuade him, too, but Mackenzie wouldn’t listen. He’d thought he knew better. Thought he knew more. Even with the truth staring him in the face, he hadn’t cared. Marjorie was his, and he’d prove it, too.

  With one act, he’d destroyed everything and, if he’d been human, would’ve died as a consequence for those actions.

  So, he’d been grateful Royce didn’t see what came next. Didn’t experience the trauma Mackenzie endured. His son didn’t have to witness the blinding pain. The missing memories. The years of relearning how to walk or how to speak again.

  In the beginning, Mackenzie had spent more time in his wolf form hiding and healing from the damage Raymond Quincy had inflicted on him than living his life. It’d been a few years, before he could shift and hold his human form. Then he met a young group of shifters. Two of them were brothers, though they really didn’t look it; nor were they the same shifter-type. Anyway, they helped him, and in the long run, he found a second family.

  But he always knew he belonged in Window Rock.

  It might have taken a hell of a lot longer than he expected to get back home, but it was worth it. Seeing Royce again... The man he’d become... Mackenzie realized Kalkin had done exactly what he said he’d do. Protected his son. But did it really? He might not have suffered as you did, however he suffered because of you. Mackenzie grimaced. The truth would always nip him in the ass.

  Royce’s pain wasn’t his, and until they could talk about it, their anguish would linger between them.

  It had also ripped the scar open between Mackenzie and Caden. Heck, could he even call it a scar? Maybe a scab? Did it matter? No, it didn’t. Because when he looked into Caden’s eyes, even now, he saw the frightened boy who’d been assaulted not only by Marjorie, but by him as well. Caden had lost thirty years with his daughter, while he selfishly paraded Royce around. For three years he’d raised his boy with the woman who took Caden’s innocence and abandoned their daughter on Mrs. Martin’s doorstep. She was then sent away, adopted by someone else because Caden couldn’t even care for himself at the time, let alone a daughter. Everything Mackenzie did in front of his brother was like adding salt to a wound.

  Karma’s a bitch, isn’t it, old man?

  Yeah... It had been.

  Mackenzie pulled into the driveway of the house he’d recently purchased and sat in his truck for a minute. Since Hayden had shown up, things started changing. The cohesion between him and his brothers became tighter. He could breathe a little easier. Sure, things between him and Royce weren’t any better. He supposed some things might not heal as well as others. All he could do was be there for his son and give him the time he needed to heal. When his boy was ready, they’d talk, and he’d explain the hows and whys as best he could.

  After pulling his keys from the ignition, Mackenzie made his way into the house. He didn’t know why he’d offered up his place as somewhere for Hayden and Holly to go. It just seemed right. Jace was still figuring out his shit with his mates and needed space, plus Hayden didn’t want to be too far away from Holly. Mackenzie didn’t mind the company as it was, and for now, it made sense. He was single, as was Holly, and they might have fibbed a little... But, for them, it just felt right.

  Mackenzie kicked off his work boots in the laundry room before stepping into the kitchen to grab himself a cup of coffee. Since he didn’t know what kind of plans Holly had for the day–and he wasn’t about to push her, either–he’d dropped Bodhi and Hayden off at the high school. It didn’t bother him to do it. He’d missed his chance with Royce, and in a way, this was his chance to try again. As he sat down at the table, the house had been quiet. He figured Holly needed a few more hours of sleep. Who could blame her? She and Hayden had been on the run for such a long time, she—they deserved some down time—a chance to sleep in and not have to worry about someone stalking their every move.

  Laughter came from the bedroom Mackenzie had given to Holly, drawing his attention from the cup of coffee in his hand. No one should have been in there but Holly and now, him. He lifted his nose and drew in a deep breath. Feminine with the hint of something spicy. When his body didn’t respond to the scent, he frowned. Rafertys were known for their sexuality. For being virile men. Mackenzie, on the other hand, hadn’t had anyone in his bed since shit went downhill with Marjorie. Sure, the pull of the moon made him a nasty asshole to be around, but it didn’t hold—the same yearning—it once did. He’d figured it had something to do with the trauma and assumed the sexuality of his wolf or the man, would never be normal.

  A fucked-up price to pay for ruining his family.

  Mackenzie eased down the hall and came to a stop outside the room. The soft sighs and giggles of pleasure between two women filtered through the door. The sweet smell of arousal followed. What the fuck? He shook his head. How had she gotten someone into the house without him knowing? Without him smelling them? Was he that wrapped up in himself that he hadn’t paid attention? This shit could get him—them—into trouble.

  With Hayden spending more time there, with them, instead of with her father because of Holly, the chances of her finding out the truth, just grew exponentially—especially since Mackenzie ‘claimed’ her, so Holly and Hayden never had to be apart. If anyone found out what Holly was doing... Damn it. Mackenzie turned away from the door and headed back to the kitchen where he’d left his coffee.

  They couldn’t do this. There needed to be ground rules. Parameters. They had to be on the same page, and they couldn’t be if Holly couldn’t keep her head on straight.

  When Holly finally emerged with the woman who’d joined her, she wore the expression of a well-fucked female as did the other woman. Mackenzie stared after both of them. They were carefree and oblivious to the world around them, another sign he needed to nip that shit in the ass before it got out of control. He waited patiently, drinking his coffee as Holly kissed the woman again, then closed the door after making plans to meet up later.

  Makenzie cleared his throat.

  Holly jumped and turned to him. The freshly-fucked glow retreated, exposing her pale skin and dread-filled hazel gaze. “Mac, I thought you went to work today.” She lifted her trembling hand and raked her fingers through her bed-tussled hair.

  “Nope. I’m on school duty today. If Hayden needs one of us, I’ll go to pick her up. First time in years she’s been with kids her age.” He didn’t take his eyes off of Holly while he swallowed another sip of his coffee. “So, we need to talk.”

  A tinge of green and pink filled her cheeks. “I’m not sure—”

  “I don’t give a shit who you fuck,” he snarled. “What I care about is keeping up pretenses around here. We’re doing something mutually beneficial for each other. You’re staying, and I get to see my young niece grow up with her father and her brother.”

  Holly slipped into the chair across from him. “You’re right. You’re right. Sorry. I-I wasn’t thinking.”

  No, she wasn’t. Couldn’t have been easy finding a side piece while being on the run and being a single mom to a pup. However, jumping into bed with someone after they made their announcement... Not cool, either. Window Rock was a small community, everyone knew everyone’s business. All it’d take is for the girl to talk about what she did at a Raferty home, and boom, their little ruse would be over. “Look, we just need to make adjustments. First and foremost, we need to put a lock on the bedroom door to keep Hayden from stepping inside at the wrong moment. Also, I would prefer you didn’t screw your partners while I’m home.”

  She nodded. “You’re right again. I’m sorry. I can put the locks on today.”

  “Don’t worry about it, I’ll get it done.” He placed his cup down. “We have to make this as real as possible. So, from here on out, we’re a happy family.”

  She sat there for a moment, not saying anything. Her gaze was fixed on a k
not on the polished surface of the table. When she did speak, she surprised him. “Have you given any more consideration on how you’d like to handle the children situation?”

  All of his brothers had pups, pretty soon, since he claimed her, someone would be asking the question. “It’s something I have thought about, yes. How to handle it, I’m not sure.”

  “You have Royce,” she said. “Do you honestly want any more?”

  “A wolf’s inclination is to reproduce to carry on the line. After everything that’s happened to me, I’m not sure I can have any,” Mackenzie answered.

  “Then we’ll say we’re adopting, right? I-I don’t want any after what Hayden and I have gone through. I don’t want to carry on the Geithner name,” Holly added.

  There was an undercurrent of something else there, what exactly, Mackenzie couldn’t put his finger on. But the wolf deep inside him bristled at the hint of the lie. “Fine, then we’ll adopt from Danielle and Keeley. We’ll be one big happy family if it kills us both.”

  Holly frowned. “It shouldn’t kill you to have children, Mac. You should want all of this.”

  “I’m too old to want anything like my brothers have.” He glanced up at her then changed the subject. “With us living in such close quarters, our scents will mingle, and no one will notice.”

  She picked at her cuticle and tucked her bottom lip between her teeth. “I still don’t understand why, Mac. Why are you doing this for me? Us? Make me understand.”

  “Let’s just say, this is only a small portion of my redemption in this family. I’ve done things to hurt my brothers and my son. Been blinded to others as well. If I could turn back time, I wouldn’t be the haggard old man you see before you. I also probably wouldn’t have agreed to this arrangement.” However, he couldn’t turn back time. He could only move forward, and he’d prove every damn day to his brothers and Royce that he would do anything to rebuild everything he destroyed.