Page 97 of Shattered

“Then you shouldn’t be worrying about it. It’ll all work out.” She wrapped her arm around him and hugged him. The warmth of Charisma’s embrace pushed back some of the cold fingers of dread spreading through him.

Giggles from his daughter and Abby along with the clomp of their feet on the stairs pulled him and Charisma apart. Riley, a sullen Liam, and Abby joined them moments later. Riley went straight for the box of cereal, while Liam threw himself in a chair, and Abby rushed to Mikey’s side as if she hadn’t seen him in days.

“Hey, how about you take Riley and Abby to school? I’ll take Liam. I have to be to court by nine, anyway, and it’s on the way,” Mackenzie said.

Liam’s gaze snapped to his, and a tint of pink spread across his nose. “Dad...”

“I think we should discuss some things, and it’s better to not do it around the girls.” Mackenzie shrugged. “Besides, I think you’re old enough for coffee, too.”

Riley whined. “I want coffee. One of those iced-mocha thingies with all the whip cream and caramel.”

Charisma laughed. “We’ll get one after school without the boys.”

“Coffeecoffeecoffeecoffee,” Mikey repeated several times.

“What do you say, boy?” Mackenzie groused.

Liam nodded. “Sure.”

Once they stopped by the cafe in town to grab their coffee, Mackenzie drove toward the middle school. He tried to keep the conversation light, not too prying, but enough so he could gain a little bit of information from his son, which Liam held back on.

“I wanted to ask you a question,” Mackenzie said. “I don’t want you to be embarrassed or ashamed.”

“I already am,” Liam grumbled. His cheeks were bright pink as a frown built between his brows.

“I want to help you. So, a simple yes or no answer will do and know no matter what, I love you and it’s not going to change.” Mackenzie took a sip of his coffee.

Liam licked his bottom lip. “One question?”

He nodded.

“Okay,” his son agreed. “Ask.”

“Would everything you’re feeling, be easier to express if you were talking to Tate and Lorenzo?”

Liam turned his head. His surprised features, in any other situation would have made Mackenzie laugh, right now, he appreciated Maria’s astuteness while simultaneously wanting to hug his son. “How did you—?”

“Remember, you only have to answer, yes or no.”

His son swallowed hard. “And, you won’t be ashamed of me?”

“Never!” Mackenzie snapped. “I love you, Liam. You and Riley. I knew you both belonged to me the minute I laid eyes on the both of you. You never have any reason to feel ashamed or scared or embarrassed.”

Liam blew out a breath and nodded. “Yes. Talking to them would be easier, Dad.”

“Then consider it done. I’ll find a time that will work for both of them and set it up.” By the time he dropped Liam off at school, the boy seemed a bit more relaxed and not so uneasy. Or maybe Mackenzie was projecting it on him.

Once Liam got out of his truck, he continued on to the courthouse. He’d been apprehensive for the last two days. He was sure the evidence they collected would be for naught. Holly would get away with everything. While he’d been lying beside Aurora, he promised himself and his family, if Holly was acquitted of her misdeeds, he’d kill her himself. It only seemed appropriate since he brought her into their family. Which meant Kalkin was still on the hook for his promise—take down Mackenzie because he’d gone feral.

As he pulled into the parking lot, the area was surrounded by reporters and Sheriff’s deputies. They surged toward the doors of the courthouse, their excited chatter almost too much for Mackenzie to take. So far, the press had been cooperative when it came to giving everyone space during the trial, now they acted like ravenous fools.

“Took you long enough,” Kalkin said, wrapping his arms around Mackenzie’s shoulder when he finally exited his pickup. “This way.”

His brother pulled him in the direction of the back entrance. “What the fuck happened?”

“The judge allowed our evidence and denied the psychological profile Walker provided to the judge about Hayden. Anyway, now Holly’s attorney has been making the rounds, decrying the justice system and trying to sway public opinion.” Kalkin’s lip curled.

“How’s it going?”

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