Shattered Trust (Shattered #2) Read Online Free Page A

worker showed up to end our fun. Even though I was only five, I’d looked out for my three-year-old brother to make sure he didn’t get injured by a passing car. Protecting my brother came naturally to me. God knew nobody else would.
    I shake my head to rid myself of those thoughts. Not that they will be gone for long. Memories of the brother I couldn’t save will haunt me for the rest of my days.
    An hour later I arrive at Madrigal’s home. It’s barely eight, but she’s inside waiting for me. After her grandfather’s murder, she gave me the code to the front gate so I could let myself into the estate, but of course the system alerted her to my arrival.
    After the way we left things last night, I don’t know what to expect. But before I have a chance to do much more than walk into the house, she wraps her arms around me and kisses me. Her lips are soft and hint of tears. Her scent, her taste, set me ablaze as they always do. But we’re standing in the foyer where anyone could walk in on us, so I attempt to pull away from her.
    Refusing to let me go, she curls her arms around the back of my neck and whispers, “I’m sorry,” against my mouth.
    I glance into her flushed face. Her dark-haired beauty and blue-purple pansy eyes have drawn me in from the first day we met. I’m willing to forgive her just about anything. “What for?”
    “Last night. I shouldn’t have yelled at you.”
    “Madrigal. It was a lot to take in. How are you feeling? Did you sleep well?”
    “I’m fine, now that you’re here. I couldn’t sleep last night. Missed you so much.” She brushes her soft lips against mine once more. “I shouldn’t have kicked you out.”
    I push back a lock of her hair, which has fallen across her face. “I missed you too.” I burn to kiss her, to savor the sweetness of her, but it’s something we can’t do out in the open. Grasping her hand, I lead her into the morning room. After closing the door, I take her into my arms and crush my mouth against hers.
    A soft sigh escapes her as I devour her. Clamping my hand on her ass, I lift her and grind against her. I’m thinking about taking this vertical when, just like last night, a knock sounds on the door. “Mad?”
    Madrigal wriggles free. “It’s Madison.”
    “Have you told her about us?” She would have had time last night after I left.
    “No. It didn’t feel right to tell her without you standing next to me.”
    She hasn’t made our relationship public yet. Not a surprise. Madison is not keen on me. It’s not anything I’ve said or done. She just resents the hell out of anybody taking her sister’s attention away from her. Like the teenager she is, she wants Madrigal’s focus solely on her.
    “I didn’t tell her about Mitch either. I wanted you here. She’s bound to be upset, and you can answer questions about his case better than I could.”
    “I don’t know much more than what I told you last night.”
    “Mad?” The rat-a-tat becomes even more urgent.
    “Come in,” Madrigal yells.
    I try to step away, but she pulls me right back to her. From her shoulder to my hips, we’re glued to each other.
    With the energy of youth, Madison bounces into the room, but stops cold when she sees me. Her gaze pings back and forth between us before it settles on me. “You’re here again.”
    I don’t know what to say other than, “Yes.”
    Her eyes grow wary. “Why?”
    “I have some news for your sister.”
    “News?”
    “It concerns you as well, Maddy. Please take a seat,” Madrigal says.
    “You don’t need to explain things. I know you hooked up. I got eyes in my head. I can tell.”
    Madrigal frowns. “Maddy, please. Don’t be so crass.”
    “It’s the truth, isn’t it? You and him. He’s not moving in, is he? Is that what you wanted to talk to me about last night?”
    Madrigal points to the settee we occupied the night before. In a no-nonsense tone, she orders, “Please sit.”
    The sixteen-year-old flounces to the small