Page 51 of Shattered Union

I knew she was a fucking pyscho, but I never truly realised just how evil she could be. She uses her children like pawns. They’re there for her benefit, to be used in her stupid games to trump her opponent. She’s a joke and the fact she calls herself a mother is fucked up.

“Not only do I have my sisters here, I also have my nieces and nephew with me. It’s been a while since I’ve had the entire family under one roof. Luckily, there’s been no bloodshed.”

That’s my cue to get a move on.

“Yet,” a guy yells, I'm pretty sure it’s Emanuel. Mav’s best friend.

“Jessica,” Jer says with so much love and affection in his voice. Jess is my cousin, she’s thirteen and timid. She’s an only child, but she’s family and we all love her. I step toward the door and see love glowing in his eyes.

“Maverick…” he says, and then his gaze comes to the doorway where I’m standing. “Callie,” his voice softens even more when he says my name. He’s been worried about me. My entire family has been. I’ve barely left the bed; I’m tired and I’m sore. Not to mention the nightmares come once the darkness hits.

I’ve not been able to sleep with the light off in a week. I hate feeling weak. That I’ve allowed that animal and bitch to do this to me. To make me scared to be in my own home.

“Fuck,” I hear the tortured whisper, and my body tightens. I know that voice. I crave it, dream of it, need it. But it’s not mine to have.

Damn it. I pull in a shuddering breath, ignoring the pain which rips through my ribs.

I plaster on a smile and turn to face him. The smile dies as I see who he’s sitting next to. He sure knows how to break me. Every time I see him, it’s as though he takes a piece of me with him. Slowly and painfully. Soon enough, I’ll have nothing else for him to take. I’m dying inside.

It’s my own fault. I should never have believed him when he told me he’d leave her. Nor should I have listened when he told me he loved me.

Denis is great at playing games. I’m foolish enough to continuously be a fucking player.

Not anymore.

“Oh, would you look,” Zoe says loudly, sneering at me. “Your whore’s here, Denis.”

That bitch has some nerve walking into this house and sitting there bold as brass.

“What the fuck?” Maverick growls low.

“That is the cunt who orchestrated me being hurt,” I whisper. I hadn’t told anyone she was there, or it was her who organized it. They believe it was a robbery gone wrong. Only Maverick, Freddie, and Stephen know the truth. That the married man I fell in love with has a deranged wife who wanted to kill me.

Now they know it was Denis who I fell in love with.

My family still does not know I’m pregnant. I’m not announcing it just yet. I’m still trying to wrap my head around it.

“Well,” Jerry says as he steps off the stage, “I guess I was wrong about the bloodshed this evening.” His gaze firmly on me, those knowing eyes searing through me. He sees way too much.

“Callie, baby,” Mam says as she walks over to me, her hand running along my back. “What’s wrong?”

I can’t take my eyes off the fucking bitch sitting at the table. This house was safe. A home where my family comes to unwind. It’s off limits to the world. Only those who come here are family and friends. They’re welcomed with open arms and yet she sits at the table like she owns the place.

“Callie girl,” Jerry says. The tightness in his voice has his men standing to attention. There’ll be no bloodshed here tonight. He won’t allow it.

I wonder if he found out the truth. Would he change his mind?

Denis getting to his feet drags my attention from his wife.

I can’t do this shit. I can’t deal with it.

“Go on to my office. I’ll be along shortly,” he instructs me, and I hear the threat in his words. He’ll be finding out what’s happened. Why am I behaving like this?

I glare at the bitch who’s still sitting like she belongs. She shouldn’t get used to it when my family finds out the truth.

Just as I make it to my uncle’s office, a hand clamps around my wrist.

“Mo ghrá,” Denis whispers, his lips against my ear.

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