Page 85 of Shattered

“Not like it matters, but now we can prove all the shit Holly is trying to pin on us, is bullshit,” Hayden chirped.

“What did they find?” Mackenzie murmured.

“IUD,” Royce said. “Danielle has no idea how long it’s been there.”

“Probably since one of the early kidnappings, I would assume,” Mackenzie said.

Royce nodded. “Are there bar codes or serial numbers on those types of things?”

Danielle faced him. “I would assume so. We’ll find out after this full moon cycle. I can have it to Kalkin by Monday.”

“The sooner the better,” Hayden said. “I’m going to nail her ass.”

Mackenzie chuckled. “There she is.”

“If you need any help,” Jefferson said. “I have a person. He’s dependable, and I trust him.”

Kalkin nodded. “He’s one of our sources, too. Should be here in a bit.”

“Who is it?” Hayden asked.

“His name is Adrian Kirkpatrick.”

Royce gasped. “The kid from Boston.”

“What?” Mackenzie leaned in.

“I know him,” Royce said. “We all do. He helped lead us to Holly.”

“I’ll be damned,” Mackenzie mumbled.

Aurora came up beside him. “Sounds like we should be celebrating?”

Mackenzie growled. “Should we?”

She nodded. “I have an answer for you.”

Mackenzie allowed her to lead him away while the rest of the family plotted out how to get the IUD to the judge and ready for when the trial began again on Wednesday morning. Aurora stopped in front of the tables where they’d be putting the turkeys when they came out of the fryers. She took his hand in hers and gave it a squeeze.

“I want you to do it,” she said. “I want you to bite me.”

He shook his head. “I’m sorry. Can you repeat what you just said?”

She laughed. “I’ve been thinking about what you said earlier. Is it selfish of me to want this? To be a part of all this? I know we didn’t start off on the right foot, we’ll get there, though, right?”

Fear and excitement clogged his throat. “I’m no good for you, though.”

“I’m going to assume that’s the trauma talking,” she teased. “As cliché as it sounds, I want to take care of you. I want to be the person who comforts you when you’re having a bad day. I realize how this is going to sound, but seeing you handle a very difficult situation with Liam, made me realize, you could all use a hand.”

Mackenzie stared at her. She left him dumbstruck. “Are you saying you want to be my mate and their mom?”

She gave an exaggerated lift of her shoulders. “I mean, I can never be Royce’s mom, he’s too old, and he’d probably consider me a trophy wife or something. Riley and Liam, though... yeah. I think they’re both yearning for a mom’s love.” She cursed. “Shit, I don’t want to take Holly’s place, either. I want—”

Mackenzie cut her off, slamming his mouth down on hers. He couldn’t explain the emotions rushing through him other than he if he could find a quiet corner and fuck her, so he could knot her and mark her, he would. His tongue tangled with hers, and he moaned. The taste of black licorice snapped across his taste buds. The wolf whistles and cat calls from the back door, prevented him from playing out his plan.

Without looking, he knew who the fucking instigators were, Kalkin and Caden. “Damn heathens,” he snarled, when he broke the kiss.

Aurora laughed. “Come on, let’s go enjoy the rest of the feast. Later, we’ll talk more about this.”

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