Shattered (The Clans Book 7) Read online

  “What is that game when you whisper something to someone and by the time it gets to the last person it’s not the same thing at all?” I say, wracking my brain.

  “Telephone,” Anton answers.

  “Yes, that’s the one. I think something like that has happened here. I did say something, but what it was is that I would be hitting on her if this thing with her husband was not happening right now. I know it’s the wrong time to be so forward,” I assure him, my hands in the air in surrender. “And besides, she too thought I liked men, so I needed to make it clear that was far from the truth.”

  Anton chuckles as I shoot one of my colors into the pocket.

  “But you do have some kind of thing for her?” Anton asks as he watches me miss one and goes to take his turn. He has already cleared half his balls, but I like being the underdog and beating him last minute. It’s more fun that way.

  “I guess you could say that.”

  “But aren’t you going back to Romania soon?”

  “I don’t think so.” He finally misses, and I go to take my shot, getting three into pockets at once. I point at him and smile as he flips me off. He hates when I do that. “I want to stick around and make sure everything goes okay for Bethany and if nothing else to make sure that fucker doesn’t come around here. I know you won’t always be home to protect her, and I don’t trust that he won’t come here at some point if he gets desperate enough. I don’t want to ruin her confidence, but she has told me a lot. He is a controlling motherfucker, and I don’t think men like that let go so easily. There is sure to be another incident.”

  I get another one in the hole, and Anton curses at me, slapping his stick against the wood in frustration before taking a swig of his drink - vodka I think this time. It’s useless as I keep getting them until I have already won.

  “Rematch?” he offers me.

  I nod. “Sure, but let me make a quick call.”

  I step down the stairs, knowing that I need to let Mariana and Ion know what my plans are. It is important that they are aware I won’t be in my territory for a while. Part of me dreads this conversation after they already scolded me in a way, but maybe if they realize what I am up to they won’t jump on my back about sticking around in Miami.

  I get through to Ion’s personal line, and he picks up. “Leon, to what do I owe the pleasure? Have you finally decided to ask me for an arrangement?” he asks, and I scoff, knowing he means an arranged marriage. It was one of the solutions I was offered a couple days ago in New York, and I flat our turned him down.

  “No, I actually needed to inform you that I will not be returning to Romania when I planned originally. I stopped in Miami to see Anton, and it turns out I may be here for a little while.”

  The silence is what clues me into the fact that Ion is furious. He always gets quiet like that before he blows up. But what I don’t expect it to hear him put it on speaker and bring Mariana into the conversation. There is something that is even more intimidating about her than Ion. I think it is the contrast between how beautiful she is and how ruthless she can be, but her last name really tells me all I need to know. The direct lineage of the mafia actually comes right down to her, and she makes sure everyone knows it even though the old view is that only men can rule. The two of them are actually pretty equal, though.

  Ion has me repeat myself to Mariana who doesn’t hide her disapproving hiss. “Leon, Romania is where you belong and where we need you. You can’t just abandon your territory.”

  “I am not abandoning it,” I argue. “And I am pretty sure right now your priority would be me offering an heir for my clan. Well, it just so happens I met a woman that could be my wife and start popping out babies for you, so you need to let me do this.”

  I am pacing right now as the two debate quietly so I can’t hear exactly what they are saying over the phone, and that’s when I see her. She must have come in to grab something, but Bethany is staring at me like a deer in headlights.

  I think she heard what I said, and I think she knows I meant her.

  Chapter 8

  Bethany

  I print out my balance at the ATM and smile happily that there is a number bigger than zero. A year ago, before Noah and I got married, I had my own bank account. Once we combined accounts, I just left it there untouched and didn’t know if there was anything in it or not. I had been in college but had stopped due to getting married. Noah had told me I would never want or need anything so why would I need to continue pursuing a degree? At the time, it had felt like a weight off my shoulders that he would always take care of me. I hadn’t realized it was a way of controlling me.

  Inside my account now, though, I find I still have the remainder of a scholarship I had won to pay for school supplies, housing, and whatever else I needed during college. It isn’t much, but it might be enough to get me to a point where I can support myself. I don’t know how I will, but I will figure it all out in time. Plus, Anton had shoved a loan at me too, even though I didn’t want it. he had insisted I take it, so the only way I was doing that was by promising to pay it back within a year. No way am I taking charity like that. In the end, I got myself into this mess, and only I can get me out, right?

  It's been a little over a week now since I came to stay with Natasha and Anton, and in that time I have done so much to help myself I can’t believe it’s been such a short time.

  During my avoidance of Leon after I caught him talking about me being some kind of baby machine, I have found plenty of ways to keep busy and stay away from him. It began with me filing for divorce. That very next morning Anton had set up a meeting with a lawyer he knew, and I had filled out all the paperwork. The lawyer admitted that getting Noah to sign after what he had done would be hard but that there were things he could do if Noah did not cooperate. It would require having a restraining order and a judge forcing it due to abuse, but we both agreed that kind of a hassle would be a last resort. I want to see if he signs it first. Maybe he has come to his senses and realizes that what he did is appalling and it’s over. Now, he is free to fuck whoever he wants.

  I also just finished my second session of emotional abuse counseling just before coming to the bank to get a new debut card and check my old account.

  The counselor is glad to see that I am in good spirits and making lots of good changes, but she is concerned it will all suddenly hit me one day. She is also concerned about me moving on too fast. She does not want me to jump into yet another emotionally abusive relationship because I have not learned to love myself, take responsibility only for those things I am responsible for, and recognizing the signs of abuse. Those are just some of the first steps she has mentioned in my therapy.

  Though, that’s not the only therapy I have partaken in. I went shopping for some new clothes that reminded me more of myself. I haven’t dressed much like me in a long time, and while I have a few different tastes than I used to, mostly adding more accessories in, I am loving just hanging out in cute tees and crop tops and cut off shorts, something that Noah never let me get away with once we were living together. He had told me they were too casual and made me appeared immature.

  It’s funny the things I am remembering about him and noticing now that we aren’t together anymore. It’s like I was in a trance or hypnotized or something. I can’t even explain it.

  I walk up to the door, about to go into the guest house when I see a small package at the doorstep. I sigh, looking around to see if Leon is nearby. It’s the third package I have gotten in the last week, and they always contain something romantic. Not that I don’t like things like white roses, chocolate cherries, and other things like that, this is com politely inappropriate for so many reasons. Firstly, I am still not divorced. I literally just filed for divorce less than a week ago. Like, I don’t know for sure if I ill wait to date until it is final considering it could take years according to the lawyer if Noah goes out of his ay to be difficult, but that doesn’t mean one week is enough time either. Also, this many gifts is a little stifling, especially from someone who I am not in any kind of relation ship in. I hardly know Leon, and while he is nice and admittedly attractive, we have dyed my hair and had a couple of conversations. That does not usually warrant this kind of attention.

  I pick up the package for the sake of it not sitting outside and take it in, staring at the small size of it and trying to guess what it is. The roses are currently decorating the small dining room table right now, just for the sake of having a centerpiece and not trashing good flowers, and I have already eaten a few cherries. The box was clearly sealed, so why waste good chocolate? I gave some to Natasha and Nina as well, though. What could this one be?

  I finally reach for it and dare to open it, freezing when I find myself staring at a pearl necklace. A chill goes through my bones, and I feel the need to throw up. This is exactly what I am afraid of, that if I ever let anyone in again that they would do me the same way as Noah did. This is like de ja vi, staring at this string of pearls that to me represents ownership. I am ready to rip them to pieces the same way I did the one Noah gave me. But that won’t help anything. I need to be strong and face my problems.

  I throw the thing down onto the kitchen counter in annoyance and march right over to the main house, knocking on the door. I am only assuming that someone is home, not knowing for sure since I have been gone myself all day. But shortly it is Natasha that answers, Simion on her hip which just out at a funny angle to hold him there.

  “Bethany, is everything okay?” she asks. I just loo really shaken, but I am too upset to calm down right now.

  “I need to talk with Leon,” I tell her, and hearing his name, he is at the door before she has to call for him. I pull him outside, the door closing behind him, though part of me wonders for a second if Anon and Natasha will sat at the door to listen in. Not that it matters that much, but I feel I have been intruding on them enough and would hate to ruin their evening with more drama.

  “Bethany, what can I help you with?” he asks. He doesn’t look like he has any idea what I am upset about, and that serves to frustrate me more.

  “The gifting has got to stop. You are not going to win me over that way, and in fact it is getting a little creepy. I know that I have been with a man with money before, but for me it is not about that. I can’t be bought, and certainly not right now.”

  Leon is looking at me like I just accused him of a crime. “I am unsure what you are talking about,” e says coolly, and I can’t tell if he’s pulling my leg or really ha nothing to do with this.

  “The white roses, the chocolates, the pearls?” I ask.

  Leon shakes his head. “I will admit that I fine you to be gorgeous and I do have some feelings for you, but if I were to do something for you it would be much more personal than flowers and jewelry. I am not that kind of man. So, if you have been receiving gifts, it hasn’t been from me.” He looks over me with worry as my face literally droops, all color draining as I stand there and put the pieces together. And to think I was so sure that I had seen Noah for the last time.

  But if Leon has nothing to do with these gifts, and this third one is a set of pearls, there is no other logical explanation. Noah has found me again and is playing games trying to get me back.

  “So sorry, Leon, for assuming. I didn’t realize…”

  I turn n my heel to walk away, feeling both embarrassed and frightened, needing the space to work out this information in my head.

  Chapter 9

  Leon

  Bethany looks like she has seen a ghost, and as she turns to walk away, I know I can’t just let it go. Something is going on, and I am going to get to the bottom of it. So, I grab her wrist as gently as I can but hard enough to hold her back and get her to turn around and face me. "What is it Bethany, what’s wrong?" I ask her, pressing my gaze into hers to try and get her to be forthcoming. I know she has been avoiding me since she heard me on that phone call, and I can’t exactly blame her. I don’t know what details she knows about Anton - if she is aware we are involved with the mafia, and even if she did know, it couldn’t have sounded good to hear me talk about her like she was some baby machine. That’s not what I meant at all but in this world it kind of comes out that way It wasn’t a conversation she was ever supposed to overhear. In fact, no one was supposed to hear it.

  "I just want to help," I reassure her, and I can see the moment that she concedes in her stance.

  "Well, I told you I have been receiving these gifts. I was sure they were from you, but since they’re not...well, they must be from Noah, my ex. I think the one I got today seals the deal." I can see the stress in her eyes, and I, not for the first time, want to find this motherfucker and bash his head in. I just don’t get men treating women this way, especially ones they decide to commit to. like no one is holding a gun to your head, don’t commit if you can't handle it. Fuck.

  "What was it today?" I ask her out of curiosity. Of I am going to stick my neck out and end up going after this shithead at some point, iw want to know that she is certain it’s him.

  "It was a pearl necklace." She bites her lip, and I hold back on telling her how damn sexy it is because this could be serious. that last thing she needs right now is to be hit on no matter how I am feeling. "He have me one for our wedding and I have worn it all the time ever since until the night I left him. I ripped it and spilled the pearls all over the bathroom floor once I found out he was cheating. He used it like a way to mark me as his property in front of all those people we were always buttering up to get him in as DA," she explains. I clench one of my fists at my side and hope she doesn’t see how angry it makes me. the last thing I want to do is make her uncomfortable, and I am typically not an angry man, but this takes the cake. I know for a fact she has file for divorce already, and yet he still doesn’t get it. he sis till treating her like cattle.

  "You need to get out," I tell her. She cocks her head to the side at me. "We're going somewhere," I announce, not allowing her a chance to tell me no.

  "It can’t be a date," she blurts out.

  "You just came to me mad at me for possibly showering you with romantic gifts." I rill my eyes at her. "I get that it’s not a date. but you really need to just have a night and let loose. Get dressed up and meet me out here in an hour," I order her with a smirk before walking away. We were going even if I had to carry her over my shoulder.

  ***

  I go around to her side of the car and help her out, taking her in as she notices we are at Casino Miami. There is nothing more freeing than spending an unlimited amount of cash on gambling and possibly winning or losing, and not even caring.

  She looks damn good in a crop top and matching flowy skirt that has a slit damn near all the way up the fucking side to show off her tan legs. And she has on some low black heels, her hair blown out like beach waves, though they are that vibrant deep purple we dyed it a few days ago. She stands out in the best way, and part of me is a little jealous by the fact that as we walk inside she gets eyes from many of the men at the closest tables.

  "You brought me to a occasion?" she asks with a scrunched, cute smile on her face.

  "Why not? What better place to let go and just have fun?" She nods in agreement. "So, what do you want to do first?"

  She smiles mischievously. :truthfully, I want to hit the bar and then maybe some slots."

  "Sounds good to me."

  She least me lead her to the bar and order for her, opening up a tab so either of us can come up at any time if we get separated, though she doesn’t seem to feel the need to stray from me. That makes me feel good even if we didn’t agree this is not a date.

  We both take our drinks over to the slot machines; me a dry martini and her a Manhattan which surprises me, It isn’t the strongest drink, but it’s not some sissy drink either. I do a mock cheers before we both turn to the slots and begin playing, cheering each other on as we both win and lose. We stop once we hit a big high and head for more drinks, this time doing some shots – tequila and jaeger bombs. I don’t know how much she can handle before she is tipsy, but I begin to notice she is at least a little less in her head, which is what I wanted, but I also notice she keeps getting closer to me as the night wears on. I don’t know whether I am concerned about it or I should be through the moon.

  By the time the clock strikes midnight, I know that I have had one too many as well. It is a good thing a driver brought us here because neither one of us could be a designated driver. I am still perfectly aware of my choices and surrounding, but I am happy and loose when I am usually so controlled. And I can’t help but to continually touch her skin in any way I can, my fingers trialing up and down her arms every one in a while or skimming across her thigh as it peeks out of her split. But she doesn’t stop me.

  “Okay, let’s get out of here,” I tell her finally with a laugh. “Let’s go cash out.”

  She nods, though I see a bit of hesitation in her movements. I am so glad she had a good time because she so deserves it.

  It doesn’t take us long to get out of there and bac in the SUV that brought us here. That’s the really good part of hanging around Anton is his unlimited resources. Being the owner of so many restaurants affords him not only favors everywhere but lots of vehicles and rives that not all of the Clan leaders can say they have. Not that my crib and car are anything to laugh out, but it is nothing compared to all the things he has stockpiled.

  There is a tension between us on the drive back, and I feel like I want so badly to make a move, but I don’t want to go back on what I said about this not being a date. And she is not a one night stand to me and never could be. She is worth more than that, and she is so vulnerable right now.

  But as soon as I take her up to the guest house, she invites me in, a nd I have a feeling she has been noticing it too. While I won’t make the first move, I am not going to deny her either if she wants me. I don’t think I have it in me to say no to her about anything. For her, I am weak. And that’s what a good woman should do to a good man.