Page 16 of Shattered

“Riley and Liam who are fourteen and twelve,” he replied.

“Still,” Ulysses pressed. “You’d enjoy yourself. You always have a sour look on your face.”

“Comes with the territory.” Mackenzie grabbed one of his tools. “Besides, I’ve been to every bar in the area. They’re nothing special.”

“The women, though,” Ulysses replied. “You should get laid.”

“The women stay away from me,” he said. “Don’t you know who I am?”

The kid nodded. “It’s not your fault.”

“Sure, it is.” He set to work on cutting the PVC pipe to fit the junctures. “I’ve accepted my responsibility in all of this.”

Ulysses frowned. “Whatever you say.”

They worked in compatible silence for the remainder of the morning. He appreciated the kid wanting to help him out, but he swore to himself, he’d never make the same mistake twice. Or well three times. He had to concentrate on his children. Maybe when they were grown and out of the house he’d try again. Until then, they were his priority, not trying to get his dick sucked or fucking some random woman.

As he walked back to his truck to eat his lunch before running over to the realty office, a large crowd drew his attention as they shouted their questions. They stood at the entrance of the site snapping photos while trying to ask questions. Their vans and SUVs blocked the driveway where the cement trucks were supposed to enter to pour the concrete. Rapier stood in front of them, barking out orders while the journalists continued to scream their questions.

Damn it, why me?

Rapier’s angry gaze caught his and Mackenzie sighed. Again, this was his fault. The chirp of Enforcer sirens finally pushed the group back. The car muscled between the cluster of people and the construction site. When the door opened and Kalkin got out, Mackenzie cursed again. He trudged over to the area, knowing they wouldn’t leave well enough alone until he said something to them. Shutters clicked and more questions were lobbed at him as the group swelled toward the property. He held up his hand. “I have no comment. Go home.”

The throng roared with indignation. They grew angry at his refusal to answer their questions, but Mackenzie didn’t care. He didn’t have to explain himself to them. His part of the case would be thrown into the court of popular opinion after he testified, not before, and he’d be damned if he’d allow them to drag his children through the mud with him.

“I’ll remind all of you this is private property. I can and will have the sheriff remove you if you don’t leave now!” Rapier roared.

The journalists took a step back then grumbled. When Rapier didn’t relent on his stance, they finally dissipated, leaving room for the cement trucks to get through. Mackenzie realized standing there, that the reporters would return. He wouldn’t get away from their assessments or their questions.

“I hate to do this, Mac,” Rapier muttered. “But for now, until the trial is over, I think it’s best if you stay home.”

His heart sank, and his stomach clenched. He understood why. Rapier couldn’t have any bad publicity right now, not with how well his company was growing. Mackenzie was a liability to all of them. “It’s okay. I understand.”

Rapier growled. “You don’t have to take it so well.”

“What do you expect me to do? Piss and moan?”

“Show some fucking emotion, asshole,” Rapier snarled. “You’ve been a moping SOB for far too fucking long.”

“So, because I’m not fucking everything with two legs and pussy or breaking shit or beating the fuck out of anyone who gets in my way, I’m fucking moping?” Mackenzie shook his head. “I have fucking responsibilities. My kids can’t have their father losing his shit because of his own short-comings.”

“None of this is your fault,” Rapier said.

“Yeah, it is. I put all of us in this mess to help my niece. Now, I have to get all of us out of it.” He turned to walk away.

“Shut up, old man!” Kalkin snapped. “You did what you thought was right. No one blames you for shit.”

“Yeah, well, I do.” Mackenzie left his hand in a wave. “I’m going home. Probably should make sure Riley and Liam aren’t being fucked with at school, too.”

“I’ll take care of it,” Kalkin called out. “I’ll get one of the deputies to make sure the vultures don’t camp out in front of your house, too.”

“Fine.” Mackenzie continued to his truck.So much for wanting to buy a new house.

Chapter Three

“You okay, you look stressed,” Aurora said, sitting down beside Keeley.

Aurora, on the other hand... Since the Halloween party, she’d felt a bit off. Everything ached. Muscles. Bones. Her heart. Her skin was too tight, and every time she brushed her legs together, especially while wearing her training uniform, it made her tingle, arousing her to the point of pain sometimes.

---