Shattered (The Clans Book 7) Read online

  Shattered

  The Clans #7

  Iris Sweetwater & Elizabeth Knox

  Available Now From

  Elizabeth Knox

  Series: Skulls Renegade

  Reign

  Redemption

  Revenge

  Relentless

  Reckoning

  Reclaimed

  Regret

  Reckless

  Reclusive

  Retribution

  First Generation: A Skulls Renegade MC Boxset

  Series: The Clans with Iris Sweetwater

  Promised

  The Trade

  Cherished

  Deceit

  Love is War

  Defiant

  Shattered

  Series: Steele Bros.

  Tough as Steele

  Stripping a Steele

  Series: Reapers MC

  Scarred

  Blackjack

  Here Kitty, Kitty

  Booger

  Widow

  Sin City Fets with Linny Lawless

  Switched

  Full Throttle with Erin Trejo

  Against All Odds

  Coming Soon From

  Elizabeth Knox

  Protecting a Steele

  (Steele Bros #3)

  Hawk

  (Reapers MC #6)

  Bull

  (Reapers MC #7)

  Forbidden Love

  (Mackenzies #1)

  Tempt Me

  (Crave #1)

  Available Now From

  Iris Sweetwater

  Series: Brothers of Fang

  The New Alpha

  Blood Betrayal

  The Heart of the Pack

  The Power of the Hybrid

  Series: The Clans with ELIZABETH KNOX

  Promised

  The Trade

  Cherished

  Deceit

  Love is War

  Series: Quarter Kings MC with Kasandra Sheckles

  Chains

  Doc

  Series: Red Crows MC

  One Way Out

  Texas Roze

  Nicodemus’ Master

  Coming Soon From

  Iris Sweetwater

  Covert with Elizabeth Knox

  Embracing Salvation

  Yetti with Kasandra Sheckles

  SHATTERED

  This book is a work of fiction. The names, characters, places, and incidents are all products of the author’s imagination and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblances to persons, organizations, events, or locales are entirely coincidental.

  Shattered. Copyright © 2019 by Elizabeth Knox & Iris Sweetwater. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission from the author, except in the case of brief “s used in articles or reviews. For information, contact E. Knox & I. Sweetwater.

  https://www.facebook.com/elizabethknoxbooks

  Cover design by Clarise Tan, CT Cover Creations

  Editing by Raven Heidrich, Hydra Productions

  Formatting by Raven Heidrich, Hydra Productions

  Proofreading by

  Photography by Reggie Deanching, R plus M Photo

  Modeling by Tessi L’Anne

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  www.goodreads.com/eknoxbooks

  www.bookbub.com/authors/elizabeth-knox

  STAY UP TO DATE ON WHAT

  ELIZABETH IS WORKING ON

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  KEEP IN CONTACT WITH IRIS

  https://www.facebook.com/irisissweet/

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  https://www.bookbub.com/authors/iris-sweetwater

  STAY UP TO DATE ON WHAT

  IRIS IS WORKING ON

  https://irissweetrh.wixsite.com/irissweet-author

  Table of Contents

  Chapter 1

  Bethany

  Chapter 2

  Bethany

  Chapter 3

  Bethany

  Chapter 4

  Leon

  Chapter 5

  Leon

  Chapter 6

  Bethany

  Chapter 7

  Leon

  Chapter 8

  Bethany

  Chapter 9

  Leon

  Chapter 10

  Bethany

  Chapter 11

  Leon

  Chapter 12

  Bethany

  Chapter 13

  Leon

  Chapter 14

  Bethany

  Chapter 15

  Bethany

  Chapter 16

  Bethany

  Chapter 17

  Leon

  Chapter 18

  Bethany

  Chapter 19

  Leon

  Chapter 20

  Bethany

  Chapter 21

  Leon

  Chapter 22

  Bethany

  Chapter 23

  Leon

  Chapter 24

  Leon

  Chapter 25

  Bethany

  Chapter 26

  Bethany

  Chapter 27

  Bethany

  One Week Later . . .

  Chapter 28

  3 weeks later. . .

  Bethany

  Epilogue

  Leon

  7 months later . . .

  Chapter 1

  Bethany

  "I still don't understand why on tonight of all nights we have to go to a dinner party with all of those stuck up people," I tell my husband, Noah, hands on my hips. I know I am being a brat, at least in his eyes. I normally wouldn’t argue at all. I know that mingling in this new life of ours is important. It was the whole reason we made the big move from Miami to this glorious old plantation home outside of Pittsburgh not too long after we got together. He wanted the opportunities the local political climate afforded; like his chance now to be elected District Attorney.

  I am really good at playing trophy wife; a role I have had now for exactly one year. It’s not like I mind all the time; I do love Noah.

  Everything I have done over the past two years has been to make him happy and make this work between us.

  But this one night, I want to pitch a fit because it is our one-year wedding anniversary, and bumping elbows with rich, conservative men with deep pockets and gossiping treacherous women is not how I want to spend the night together. I thought we would get some one-on-one time, even if it was only in our own home, in our own bed. I have been missing him like mad lately as he works to raise his status in the world and make things better by putting the bad guys away and defending those that need it most.

  But, no, he is insisting that I get dressed to the nines and plaster a smile on my plump, injected lips, which he paid for, so I had the best lips of all our friends, and go to this party to support him and make him look good.

  "C'mon, Beth, don't be difficult. You know how important this is. It isn’t like I enjoy being around most of these people either, but we need our game faces right now." I see a dimple appear, digging into the right side of his mouth, and I try not to just melt like butter. He knows how to get to me, but I want to stand my ground this time.

  "It’s not that I don’t know this is important. I just . . ."

  He comes up to me, his finger going over my lips to silence me. This is a signature move of his as he comes around and places a hand around my waist and holds me to his warm body. I let myself sink into him, enjoying the touch I have been craving. Being the wife of such a busy man means these intimate moments are fewer than I would like. But it makes it all the sweeter when we do come together, even if this marriage isn’t the easiest, leaving a lot to be desired.

  Supporting him and his dreams is rough, looking perfect for him and those we have to please is rough, but because of him I am challenged, I am beautiful, I am loved. That counts for something, right?

  His hands now trail down my sides, both searing and tickling at the same time, and then he reaches to his pocket and pulls something out, putting it in front of my eyes.

  “Plane tickets?” I ask him, taking them in my hands and seeing the destination scrawled across them: Mykonos. “Really!” I squeal, turning around to face him, a genuine smile on my face for the first time in a while. It almost feels foreign as my cheeks pull, the muscles out of practice. I don’t even realize until now that I have been going through the motions the past few months, not totally defunct but mostly unhappy, unmoving, doing whatever he asks of me in hopes for the end we are both rooting for with him as DA. And then the reward of more money, more say in the world, and maybe more time together.

  “Yes, we leave in three days, and then we will be back in time to get my results. This is why this is so important; it is my last bid to get these votes before I take you on the trip of your life.” A gleam flashes in his eye, and I feel relief boiling in my stone stomach. The end is coming, and he still wants me. This is all going to be worth it.

  “I had no idea you had planned this.”

  “What can I say?” he says with a wink before giving me a peck. “I am sneaky.”

  I roll my eyes and feign annoyance even though this is the least annoying thing he has done in such a long time. Since we got married it has been all business with him. “Okay, I guess I can make an appearance tonight, then,” I say in a huff, and he slaps me on my ass, sending me towards the bedroom, but not before giving me some advice about exactly what I should look like tonight.

  “Be sure to choose something that accentuates those assets I bought you.” He winks and points to my boobs, courtesy of his money. Not that I mind so much. Recovery was painful, but there was nothing there before. Can’t blame a guy for wanting something to grab onto, right? “And don’t forget the pearls,” he adds.

  The pearls are a string of very expensive pearls he gifted me on our wedding night. I wear them all the time because they are a symbol, and even more so tonight not just because it is our anniversary but also because in this crazy world we have to live in, it looks good that I have a pretty thing around my neck that he bought me. He has told me so many times he doesn’t see it that way, but the truth is that the people voting and advocating for him left and right do see it that way. And that’s all that matters tonight, as much as I would rather be what matters. It is my job to make him look good and nothing more. So, even if I hate that I have to play a part or that he dictates how I dress and act, I know that this is what I must do to be a dutiful wife.

  But once we’re on that island, I will be free. We both will. To be in each other’s arms, walk hand in hand on the beach in a bikini or nothing at all, spend my mornings waking up late to breakfast in bed and wearing sweatpants. It will make a night like tonight worth it just to make it to that moment.

  I get ready in a hurry. I have perfected my look for these things now. The only hard part is moving in the dress; these things are always too tight and have embellishments that are worth more than the price of a kidney on the black market I am always afraid to lose. Sometimes in these moments right before I come out of the room to show myself off, I still feel like a fraud. I didn’t grow up with nothing, but I grew up much more normal and laid back than this. I don’t always feel like marriage puts me in league with all these other women I pretend to care for but really loathe.

  That’s what friendship is in the rich political realm anyway; keeping enemies close.

  When I come out, he is already waiting for me, his tux on and hair perfectly slicked back. His face gives away nothing about how I look to him or how he is feeling. He has already put on his own mask, ready to talk about saving the world one criminal behind bars at a time. I simply take his offered arm and follow him out to the car, a black Lincoln, that will be taking us to the party.

  It is a long ride to the city, especially as we hit the traffic on the edge of town. I don’t try to make small talk with my husband in the car on the way and just sit in silence. I should be used to this, but something about this being our anniversary stirs something in me long dormant.

  This is not normal.

  I don’t like how distant we are. I remember when we used to go on dates and hold each other and have romps late into the night and early morning. Sure, every couple does lose that honeymoon phase at some point. But this feels like more than that loss.

  I glance at him and see that he is adjusting his tie and checking his hair in the reflection of the window, and I wonder if he has sensed it too, or maybe he has just been so busy and focused on his career that he has no idea what I am feeling. And it isn’t like I have told him. I have just smiled and done as I have been asked. But maybe it is time that I say something.

  Well, not tonight, but when we go on this trip. Maybe it will be like a second honeymoon for us.

  I soothe myself with that thought as we finally pull to a stop and go inside the building, a restaurant that has been half bought out for this occasion. My heels make a clunking sound on the steps as we take it slow, making sure eyes hit us on the way in. I am grateful for it because even after all this time I am not good with these heels. They make me half a foot taller. Though, I am still shorter than Noah; just the right size he says.

  We are greeted on the way in by so many, shaking hands, nodding heads, talking about elections, the stock market, whatever brand of champagne is the best.

  Well, I should not say we because it is mostly Noah. He is shining tonight, and I say nothing even as it sits poorly with me that this is by far the most I have been ignored at one of these things. I don’t even know why he wants me here.

  “Excuse me,” I finally say, the champagne I had going right through me. Noah doesn’t even look at me as I disengage my arm from him and walk the two yards to the hallway that leads down to the ladies room. I don’t even know if he or the couple he is talking to notices I am not there. But at least it wasn’t like Senator Rinson, staring at my cleavage the whole time my husband was talking with him.

  I take my time in the bathroom, regretting the fact that I have not taken any of the food offerings. I am usually not so easily affected by the champagne, but this must be a strong one.

  But I am instantly sober as I come out of the bathroom and almost around the corner but hang back, hearing my husband’s voice loud and clear, a giggle coming from a girl I believed to be my friend; Brittany is her name. She has been Noah’s assistant for a while now, and she has always seemed professional even if she looks a bit like a blonde bimbo.

  “C’mon, she will never know. I’ll put you up in this nice hotel just next door to ours, and we’ll have some fun. I can’t stand the thought of going to this beautiful island without you,” he whispers, causing her to giggle and sigh.

  Is this some fucking joke? He is going to pay for her to go on the trip with us so he can sneak off with her?

  My breathing comes in and out in a panic, and I go back into the bathroom, locking the door and not caring who might come and bang on it, begging to be let inside to relieve themselves.

  My hands land on either side of the sink, trying to hold myself up when I feel like I might collapse. I look up in the mirror, and I see for the first time that I am a stranger. My hair is different, my boobs, my ass, my tummy, my lips. It all looks like it belongs to someone else. And then I remember it is because it does. It belongs to the man that purchased these parts for me. It is a reflection of what he thinks the per fect woman looks like. Only, this still isn’t good enough.

  And now he dares to ruin everything we have right here on our one-year anniversary.

  In anger, I yank at the pearls on my neck that mark me as this man’s wife and scatter the expensive pieces all over the floor. They mean nothing, are worth nothing now.

  But what do I do?

  I count the minutes and wait until I think he must be gone; he can’t see me leave. But I am determined that is exactly what I am going to do. I will not stay one more minute under his thumb allowing myself to be tucked and plumped and changed for his whims when he isn’t even being faithful to me.

  I know I will grieve for this later, crying my eyes out into some pint of ice cream like the pathetic girl I am, but right now, I am angry and using it to do what I should have done long ago.

  I walk out. I am quick with my head down and take the closest exit before flagging down the Valet and giving him some bullshit on a date gone bad and that I need a cab.

  My eyes dart all around as I stay to the side of the building in shadow, hoping that Noah won’t come looking for me and no one who knows who I am will see me.

  But of course, they don’t. I am as invisible as I always was in this life.

  So, I get in the cab and make my next move.

  The first one of my new life.

  Chapter 2

  Bethany

  I had told the cab driver that I wanted a hotel in midtown, one that was close to the airport but far enough away from Noah that he might not feel like coming to find me, at least not right away. He will be too lazy, or possibly too wrapped up in Brittany’s arms to worry about where I got off to.

  The thought makes me sick as I walk into the hotel, a nice one but maybe not five star. It is nice enough to have a concierge though, which I may need considering I have nothing with me other than this tight dress I am wearing and my credit card, tucked away in my bustier. I did it out of habit, and I am now so grateful for that. No way would I have been able to make it back home to get my things and back here before someone figured out I was gone. We lived just far enough away from the city for that.