Page 113 of Shattered

“Who is Charisma?” Alika prodded.

“Our brother’s wife,” Liam replied. “I still have so much to tell you about our family. I think you’re going to like them.”

Aurora wrapped her arm around Mackenzie and gave a content sigh. “He’ll make a fine addition to our family one day.”

Happiness and love filled Mackenzie. “Yeah, he will.” He kissed the crown of her head then filled the cups for them. “Now we’re really going to be late.” He handed her one of the cups. “We’ll be back later.”

“Better hurry, mumsy,” Abby called out. “You’re really late.”

Aurora laughed. “We’re out the door. Love you, Abby.”

“Love you, too.” The little girl waved at Aurora as they left the house.

As he stepped outside he saw a small, black BMX bike parked against the detached garage. Mackenzie instantly knew it belonged to the boy inside his house, playing video games with his son. To say he was thankful to the boy for giving him back his son was an understatement, however, he also worried about the boys when others found out about their relationship.We’ll just have to take it one day at a time and let them be kids for as long as possible.Sometimes, it was easier said than done. Mackenzie would try, though.

Once he and Aurora were settled in his truck, Mackenzie started the pickup then dropped it into reverse, and backed out of the driveway. As he put the vehicle into drive, Charisma pulled up; music blasting from her car. Mikey and Charisma were singing along to some Lady Gaga song at the top of their lungs while also laughing. Mackenzie shook his head as he pulled alongside her van. She turned down the radio as a strip of pink stole across her the bridge of her nose.

“You’re late,” Charisma said, opening the door to get out.

“We know,” he answered. “Liam has a friend with him. The kid is Alika, and he’s from Hawaii.”

“The boy Lorenzo was telling me about when we were working at the orphanage?” Charisma’s face lit up, and an excited giggle burst from her. “Oh, I am so glad it worked out.”

“Don’t know about that yet,” Mackenzie replied. “I’m not sure how much Liam has explained to the boy. He’s—”

“Human,” Charisma said. “We know. It’s the biggest worry Liam had.”

Well, shit.“Just watch over them. Don’t need them experimenting yet.”

Aurora groaned. “Oh, God. Why’d you have to say it all weird-like?”

He cut his gaze to his mate. “What?”

“We need to update your vocabulary.” Aurora glanced at Charisma. “We’d better be going or else.”

She nodded. “Let us know how it goes.”

“We will,” Mackenzie said, with a wave. When they stopped at the stop sign at the end of the street, he turned to Aurora. “Update my vocabulary?”

She laughed. “Yep. We’ll make you hip, yet.”

Mackenzie shook his head. “Somehow, I believe you will.”

The courthouse was just as full as it had been the day the shit hit the fan. Signs were posted around the building reminding people to be respectful. The one on the door to the courtroom where he’d spent the last few weeks had an X through cellphones, tablets, and cameras. It also prohibited all unauthorized persons from entering. He glanced at Aurora and pointed to the sign. “I guess we should figure out how to get in here.”

“You could ask your brother,” Kalkin said, coming up behind them. “Sorry, we had to do it this way after Holly’s last outburst.”

“Not a problem,” Aurora answered.

Kalkin pulled two passes from his back pocket. “I need your cellphones.”

Mackenzie and Aurora handed over their phones, and Kalkin handed them the passes. He ran his thumb across the word guest and shook his head. “Is it really over?”

“As far as I can tell. From what Charles told me, she’s agreed to everything, including extradition.”

“Shit,” Mackenzie muttered.

“She fired Walker, too.”

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