Page 103 of Shattered

“As a matter of fact, I have everything on several thumb drives due to the sheer volume of evidence.” He pulled the bundle of drives from a box positioned next to him and brought them to the judge. “It goes back to at least three months after Hayden was born and up to when Hayden was taken at the auction. It also shows coordination between Holly, Hazel, and Henry Worthington for the initial kidnapping.”

“You think you’re so smart.” Holly laughed. “You think you have all this wrapped up in a ball, when you don’t know anything at all.”

“Oh?” Charles quirked a brow. “Well, by all means, Miss Geithner, please inform the court what the truth is.”

“Do you know what it is like to be in the shadows of your brother and sister all your life? They were smart. They were special. I was shit. They started PBH on a wing and a prayer, and I did all the grunt work. I scoped out the people who’d be kidnapped. I lured them in. Then one day, I was told to befriend Jase and act like I would help him escape. When the twins were born, I snatched them up, giving Bodhi, who was a plain shifter, to Jase, and I took the squalling brat of a baby.” She let out a rough laugh. “Do you know how hard it is to pretend to be on the run when no one is chasing you? To coordinate everything on the fly to make sure all of the plans would go accordingly?”

“No, I don’t suppose I do,” Charles answered. “Explain it.”

“You couldn’t handle it even if I tried,” Holly snorted. “Suffice to say, I did it all. I made sure everything ran as we agreed. Then those stupid bitches of family members of mine had to go and get themselves killed.”

“Hazel and Simon?”

She nodded. “Yes, Hazel and Simon. It threw off all of my arrangements. It caused chaos within PBH and for a good bit of time, we went to ground. However, when I brought Hayden to Window Rock, it gave us the opportunity to begin again.” The smile on Holly’s face was filled with malice and glee. “And we did, too. Right under each and every one of your noses. Henry and I made a mockery of all of you. While I pretended to be the doting mate, Henry continued to test and kidnap shifters and those with abilities. Hell, Emmitt was a gift given to us by some hapless Good Samaritan who happened to see an injured wolf.”

“What happened in Massachusetts?”

Holly arched a brow. “What do you mean?”

“You were caught holding an auction.”

She waved off D.A. Franks and grinned. “We weren’t auctioning people.”

“Oh?” Charles pulled another photo from the notebook. “What’s this?”

The photo appeared on the projector, and it showed a huddled mass of humans held in a darkened room. If Mackenzie had to guess it was part of the old subway lines where Holly had been living since arriving in Boston.

“Rejects,” Holly said flippantly. “They weren’t shifter or psychic. They were the burn pile. The ‘to-be-killed,’ before we left Boston.”

Another gasp rang out in the court room. Holly’s eyes went wide. She covered her mouth with her hand, Makenzie thought in surprise or shock that she’d spilled what exactly she’d been doing, then she screamed. Holly raged at Charles then raged at her lawyer. She screamed profanities as the deputies brought into the courtroom by the bailiff, surrounded her.

Holly’s arms and legs flailed as she fought those who were trying to subdue her. The Judge dismissed the court in haste, allowing everyone to exit while the deputies and bailiff tried to neutralize the scene. Mackenzie, shocked by the turn of events, wrapped his arms around Emmitt, Nico, and Hayden and ushered them from the room. They didn’t need to be a part of the scene. They didn’t deserve to.

A spark of finality settled with him. They had the truth. Holly had told on herself, and maybe, just maybe, they’d all be able to move on with their lives. As they stepped out into the hall, a group of reporters swooped in, shoving recorders and microphones into their faces. Kalkin was there, though, pushing them back, giving them room to exit. Hayden’s soft sobs along with the vicious growls coming from Emmitt, tugged at Mackenzie. He understood both of them.

“A little further,” he whispered. “I’ve got you.”

When they stepped outside, he took a deep cleansing breath. Nico wrapped his arms around Hayden, while Emmitt shifted and ran off. He didn’t blame the guy after what happened, he wanted to run away as well.

A few minutes later, Kalkin pushed his way out of the building and joined them. “Go home. Charles said he’ll call when court is reconvened. I doubt it will be today. I am sure after Holly’s little display in there, either her attorney will want to plea bargain or she’ll be evaluated for her mental health.”

Mackenzie snorted. “She’s insane. No doubt about it.”

“I agree,” Kalkin said. “We’ll have to wait to get the full diagnoses first, though, if they go this route.”

Mackenzie grunted. “Bitch deserves to be put down.”

“I agree,” Nico snarled.

“Let it go,” Kalkin snapped. “No matter what happens, Holly is done for. Now, all we can do is live. That will eat her ass up. She will die in some cell whether in a jail or in a mental hospital without seeing the light of day again. We’ve finished what we started. All of you did your jobs to a tee. Don’t forget that. Now, go home.”

Mackenzie nodded. “Guess it’s for the best.”

Kalkin laughed. “Don’t you have a mate to move in?” Then he looked to Nico and Hayden. “Don’t you have a new Raferty to create?”

Hayden grinned. “Not yet, but when Danielle gives us the all clear, sure.”

“Then stop living in the past. Start living for now. As soon as I know something, I’ll call you.”

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