Page 32 of Blackmailed

“The minute I read what she endured at five and then at fourteen and again at twenty-three. Seeing the photographs of her tiny body chained. Knowing Worthington kept them in a safe at his home for all these years. Seeing samples from the journal entries that bastard kept. Seeing Holly had supported every inch of the research their forsaken family made that poor child endure... Gentlemen, it made me sick. I have two daughters of my own and a son now if anyone would have tried to do what PBH has done to Hayden, I'd raze the ground they walked on."

“Fuck yeah,” Nico growled. “Wait, you have a son?”

“What are the three of you conspiring about?” Kalkin’s arms were folded across his massive chest, making one hell of an imposing visage.

“Nothing,” Mackenzie grunted. “We’re having a guy discussion.”

“Those always lead to trouble in this family. Who’s pregnant now?” Kalkin joined them.

“Well, that cuts me out of this conversation,” Jefferson said with a hint of humor.

“No one is pregnant, asshole,” Mackenzie snarled.

“Bullshit,” Kalkin quipped. “Keeley is.”

Mackenzie blinked. “Were you feeling left out again?”

“No asshole, I wasn’t.” Kalkin stared at his brother. “Keeley and I discussed having another child last year. All of ours are growing up. We wanted a baby.”

“Why aren’t you being smug about it?” His eldest brother’s tone held a hint of disbelief.

“Would you be smug at a time like this? One... Scratch that. Several of our packmates are dealing with serious shit right now. Add in Hayden, because I know you jackasses were talking about her, we don’t want to rub it in her face. She already smells off and I—”

"She's happy, but not her normal self," Nico said. "Sure, she cares for me and Asher and now Emmeline. Sure, we went on vacation. Sure, she spends time talking to Jasmine and Brie and they're helping, but this shit has gotten to her. I miss my bubbly mate. I miss her laugh. If we don't figure out what's wrong with her soon, I fear what might happen."

Kalkin clamped a massive hand on Nico’s shoulder. “We won’t let that happen.”

“To be honest, I fucking hate the full moon right now,” Nico whispered. “It’s destroying my mate and there’s nothing I can do to stop it.”

“Well, this holiday went from festive to fucked up in less than two seconds,” Mackenzie grunted.

“Speaking of which, did you claim your mate?” Kalkin said in a droll tone.

Royce’s gaze snapped to his father. “What?”

“Yeah, the mother of the sweet little girl who spends the night at Mac’s place. Aurora, our dispatcher. She’s Mackenzie’s mate. He’s also been tramping around Aurora’s apartment, too. From what I read in Logan’s reports.”

“Shut up,” Mackenzie whispered. “It’s not what you think.”

“Oh?” Kalkin cocked a brow. “Really?”

“Uh, why aren’t the fryers going?” Danielle called out from the sliding glass door. “We’re ready to get going in here.”

Kalkin waved at her. “Saved by the bell.” He headed back to the house with Royce in tow.

“Nico,” Danielle called out. “I need you for a second too.”

Nico frowned. “On my way.”

“Looks like they left all the hard work to the old farts, huh?” Jefferson teased.

Mackenzie nodded. “Seems so.”

"So, about Aurora..." Jefferson hedged. He'd seen her when he and Jochi walked into the house. She'd been in the kitchen with the women while Abby had been outside with the older kids.

Mackenzie sighed. “There are things she hasn’t told anyone, and I promised not to tell them for her.”

“But you’re her mate.” Jefferson lit the burner for each of the fryers. “Why aren’t you happy?”

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