Page 51 of Shattered

“Have you seen my jewelry box?”

The morning started the same way the previous night ended; with me inside my wife. Then, despite my best efforts to wear her ass out, she jolted from the bed at six thirty, leaving me to wonder what the fuck had happened. One minute, she was lying in my arms, quietly making plans for the future, the next it was like the hounds of hell were chasing her down a one-way street toward Satan. I took way too much time deliberating this because when I followed her to the shower, she’d already rinsed the suds from her slick body and was reaching for a towel. So much for round two.

We had twenty minutes until we had to leave and her anxiety had reached the boiling point. She looked stunning in a formfitting navy dress with a deep V, which crisscrossed under her breasts. It perfectly matched the charcoal-gray suit I chose to wear, right down to the dark-blue silk tie around my neck.

“This one?” I lifted a small frosted pink box from the dresser.

“No. The one I’m looking for was an old pine box with my gran’s initials carved into the top. I always keep it right there.” She pointed to the corner of the stand next to the bed.

“Sorry, Angel.”

“Dammit.” Her face fell. “I wanted to wear her cross necklace; to have a part of her with me today. It wasn’t worth anything except the memories it held.”

Stepping to her side, I took her hands in mine. “You’re the keeper of your gran’s memories, Jade. Not an old piece of jewelry. She’ll be there.”

“How do you always know the right things to say?”

“It’s my God-given talent.” I winked.

She threw her head back and roared with laughter. Exactly what I wanted.

“Are you two decent?” Jett banged on our door.

“Define decent?” I answered.

“Are you naked?”

“Not at the moment.”

“Good.” He burst into the room. “I need help.”

The kid cleaned up nicely. He had on tan dress pants that were tailored to fit his slim build, and a white button-down shirt tucked inside. Though it only took two-point-six seconds to figure out what he needed my help with. It took considerably longer to smother the hysterics threatening to bust me at the seams. All because wrapped around his neck, fastened like a shoelace, was the crimson tie he’d asked to borrow.

Jade didn’t have my self-control. She lost it with dramatic flair, falling sideways onto the bed in a fit of giggles. She meant no harm, but considering he lookedlike someone kicked his puppy, I needed to get the situation in hand.

“Ignore your sister and follow me.”

I stepped into the bathroom, positioned myself in front of the mirror and loosened my tie in order to use it as an example. Distant memories of my dad doing the same with me and Riley the night of junior prom flashed through my mind as I waited for Jett. As quickly as they’d come, they fled when my thoughts turned to Jett and Jade. My father’s death––while traumatic––wasn’t a tenth of the hell they went through growing up. Yet, not only did they survive years of abuse and neglect, they thrived with only their love for each other to see them through. Now, they had me and the rest of our chosen family to shield them from their tormentors, who were trying to fuck with their happy.

When he joined me moments later, we went through the process, step-by-step, until he was able to tie the perfect Windsor knot. It took him four tries to get it right, but the mile-wide grin spreading across his face made it all worth it.

“Are you ready for this?” I kept my gaze on him through the mirror.

“I don’t really have a choicebutto be.”

“You don’t have to face them. We can have Michael ask the judge if you can sit in his chambers.”

“Fuck that, Koen.” His words were laced with venom as he gripped the edge of the counter with his fingers. The happy-go-lucky teen I was used to vanished, replaced by a brother on a rampage. “Those assholes don’t get to think I’m scared of them because I’m not. Ihatethem. I hate them for every punch or kick they landed on my sister while I was forced to stand and watch. I hate them for all the times they called me stupid or told us we weren’t worth shit. I fucking hate them!”

“Damn, kid. As your sister’s husband, I feel the need to reprimand your choice in language, but as your brother-in-law, the desire to high-five you is winning out.”

He scrunched up his nose and tilted his head. Clearly, my attempts to lighten the mood went right over his head.

“Let’s get your sister and hit the road.”

The small courtroom was standing room only with the number of people who showed up in support of Jade and Jett. Only Lanie, Noah, and Waverly were noticeably absent. If not for Jade’s reaction when we entered the room, I would have sworn the ladies from Over Easy promised half the town a free breakfast in exchange for an hour of their time. These were her regulars from the diner; the customers who spilled their life stories to her over bacon and coffee five days a week. She had tears in her eyes by the time we reached Michael, who was waiting for us at the front.

“All rise,” the bailiff announced as the judge stepped from his chambers.

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