Fractured The Broken Series

FRACTURED (THE BROKEN SERIES, BOOK 1)

ELIZABETH STACEY

SMASHWORDS EDITION

Copyright © 2014 by Elizabeth Stacey

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Formatting by: Mayhem Cover Creations

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PROLOGUE

I am lying on something hard and cold. I try to move but panic when I realize I can’t. My eyes fly open; I can see a dirty concrete floor, one light bulb hanging from a long cord in the center of the room. The pungent musty smell of dirt and urine turn my stomach and my reality comes crashing down around me as I remember where I am. I am locked inside a basement. Trapped like an animal, inside this nightmare that may never end. My senses are all coming back at a snail’s pace like my body and brain have stopped communicating to preserve themselves. My head is pounding and my shoulder feels like it’s on fire from the angle in which my arms are tied behind me. I realize I must have fallen over at some point because I am slumped over on one side and my legs are bent awkwardly in front of me. I try to move around to get myself back up to a sitting position and the pain is so sharp I nearly scream. I bite my cheek  hard and the taste of iron floods my mouth. I can feel my heart beating rapidly as I try to keep the panic attack at bay. Breath, just breath, its only pain you can do this, you have to get yourself up McKenna. It will be worse if he finds you lying down.

When I finally sit up, I can feel the wooden beam behind me keeping me captive. The restraints dig into my wrists and slice into my raw flesh. I hear someone whimper and I catch my breath, looking to find the source. Millie!  She is sitting with her back to the opposite wall facing me her long blond hair like a veil over one side of her face.  Her shoes are gone and her feet are dirty. I can see blood dripping down her arm. Oh God, how long was I out?

Mu... I try to talk but it comes out all strange and muffled. As the pain seeps down my jaw I remember the nice little present left behind, my split lip and the duct tape over my mouth.  I start to wiggle my tongue in-between my lips so that I can gather any moisture left to wet the tape and get it off. 

Mac? Millie’s voice is just barley a whisper but I can hear the panic and feel the anxiety radiating off her body. I look up into her brown eyes and see the fear and terror. "Mac, you have to be still, don’t move he is coming back. Please Mac! I can’t take it anymore, please!" 

Amelia Taylor is my best friend, my only friend. We met at the NYC dance academy three years ago when she walked into our dorm room and took over my life.  Her bubbly carefree California beach girl look immediately turned my defenses on. I thought I was in for a long semester with the poster child for trust fund Barbie. I worked my ass off to get a scholarship and I wasn’t about to be derailed by some girl wanting to be the next music video slut. Little did I know, she would worm her way into my heart of steel.  We are inseparable, she has become the family I thought I lost, the only one who takes my shit and gives as good as she gets. Under that blond hair is a firecracker and she keeps me in check.  She’s the only one who knows about my past. The girl who I tried to leave behind, it’s also why I can’t leave her here. She has a family, friends, and a world to change. I have to keep it together long enough to get her out of here.

"Mac, please just stay still... please."  The tremble in her voice is heartbreaking. I try to smile to let her know I am ok but my lip hurts too badly and the tape hides my attempts. I almost have the damn tape wiggled off my lips when I hear the door slam. Millie immediately looks down so her hair covers her face again and she is lost in the shadows. I try to look out of the corner of my eye but don’t see anything. I close my eyes to see if I can focus on the sounds in the room. Footsteps echo in the distance, and I can hear the dirt scraping the floor under the shoes as they move. I hear someone coming down the steps, and then they stop. I try to slow my breath down, and relax. Maybe he will think I am still sleeping. I can hear keys jingling. More footsteps, but I can’t tell if they are his yet. The sound of the pipe dripping in the distance disguises the sounds of his movements. I think they are getting closer, I strain to hear him, any clue as to who or where they are and then I smell him. The cigar, the cologne that burns my nose, I can feel his breath on my cheek and my whole body stiffens.

Well, well looks like the little minx is awake.  Are you ready to play nice sweetheart? I sure hope not, because I do like it when we play. As he laughs, I can feel the vibration so close I know if I open my eyes we will almost be touching.  When I am brave enough I turn my head and have to force myself not to flinch as I stare into his ice cold eyes.  He is bent down so close to me that our noses are touching. He grins and his breath hits my face like venom. A mixture of whiskey and tobacco envelop me and turn my stomach. He takes his fingers down the side of my arm. Yeah, you like it rough too don’t you?  He laughs and turns to Millie. Now, let’s see how my Princess is doing. 

I can remember the first time she met him. We were at our normal club, The Six. It’s a little dive we like to go to on Friday’s because we knew the DJ and Millie liked to flirt with one of the bouncers. The night started out normal enough; drinks, friends, and plenty of dancing. I had just started to actually loosen up and enjoy myself that night, when some random bar guys, trying to buy us drinks, came to our table. They were burrow hoppers, non-natives as they call them. Guys hoping they were going to get the golden ticket to paradise with some of the local girls. They were a little too cocky and it got out of hand very quickly. Then, in walked the knight in shining armor, Vincent Callaghan. He was charming, as he swooped in to save the day.  With his short blond hair and baby blues, he looked like a New York prep boy. The girls were swooning at his feet but he never paid any them any attention. He only had his eyes set on Millie. Who wouldn’t? She is beautiful on a normal day. Then you add make-up and heels, and model agents come knocking at her door.  They hit it off immediately after he saved her from the douche-bag that would not leave us alone. Little did we know the douche-bag was the better choice. 

From that moment on they were inseparable. Over the next few months they got hot and heavy pretty quick. Vince would come over every night and out with us on weekends. He was always polite, never got angry, and was a complete gentleman around us. But I always got this nagging feeling about him that I couldn’t shake. Like he was watching me, or checking on my comings and goings. When you’ve lived my life you know that means something, you know to trust your gut. So I did.

I tried to tell Millie to take it slow, that I felt like things were moving too fast. I tried to tell her something didn’t seem right about him, but she just brushed me off, saying I was too cynical and closed off to love. That was definitely a punch to the gut, but I just figured out other ways to divert some of their plans. I would forget to tell her he called or plan things knowing he couldn’t come with us. Anything I could to separate them and remind Amelia that she had a life outside of Vince.  I think Vince knew I was on to him because they started spending more time away from the apartment where I couldn’t watch him. Millie started changing too. She was quiet, more reserved, and never went anywhere without calling him. Anytime I questioned her about it we would end up fighting. She started skipping class, dressing different, ignoring her family and friends, opting to spend time with Vince. I should have known. I think I did. I just didn’t want to believe that it was happening again to someone in my life. The final straw broke when I walked into our bathroom at the exact moment she was getting undressed. And I saw the bruises on her back. 

"What the fuck, Millie! Where the hell did those come from? Did Vince do this?"  I can feel the tension set in as I yell at her.  Her back stiffens and then she slowly starts to turn around and the breath is knocked out of me. Millie, the larger than life girl I once knew is gone, replaced by this shell in front of me.  She is thinner. Bruises run along her ribs and down her arm. But the shocker is her neck. I can see the marks I know all too well the dark blue ring starting to form, where someone’s hands were.  Her eyes are filled with tears and as she stands there looking at me, I know the delicate porcelain exterior that is holding her together is splintering, cracking around the frayed edges of her soul.  He...he said he loved me. She sobs. He said I was special, that he would always protect me, and that we were soul mates. He...he... said...he just liked, he wanted to try.... She sinks to the bathroom floor like a rag doll. I collapse down with her and lean in to hug her but she recoils. I slowly lift my hands up and wrap my arms around her moving so slowly she knows my intentions. She is a like a scared child damaged and broken. 

"Shh... it’s going be okay Mills.  It’s going to be alright. I am here. He won’t touch you again. We will get through this, but first we need to get you to the doctor and call the police, okay? Then I will call your brother." 

NO! I struggle to keep her sitting as she yells and thrashes about trying to get up from the floor. NO! You can’t do that. You can’t call Dalton or the police, Mac. He will know. We can’t tell anyone, please. Please! 

I look up at her and I can see everything I need to know in her eyes. The terrified look on her face is all too familiar. I know I have to protect her. This time it won’t end the same way, it can’t. I grab her and wrap my arms around her frail shoulders.

Ok Mills, we don’t have to do anything right now. Let’s just get up off the floor and get some breakfast. I will skip class today and we can splurge on some Starbucks and catch up on some TV. What do you say?  My gut is telling me that I should at least call Dalton, tell him what a mess this is and how bad it could have been or get. But I know I have to keep her here, safe and away from him. To do that I have to keep her trust. And I won’t be able to do that without keeping her secret. So I cave and I tell her what she wants to hear. 

"Yeah, ok... umm ok. That actually sounds good."  The corner of her mouth curls up into a sad smile as she looks up at me. I can see her working it over in her mind how to run, how to leave before I can get the story out of her. She thinks she will be able to leave as soon as I am gone, I can see it in her eyes. Yeah, not going to happen friend.

"Ok, well you get a shower and I will run and get some lattes, okay?" I start to leave the bathroom to see if our neighbor can make a run for us. He is a punk kid and you can get him to get you anything in the city for twenty bucks. When I glance back at her I see her blank expression as she sees herself in the mirror. The pang of guilt hits my chest making it hard to breath. I should have known. Damn it!

"Millie... She looks up at me with vacant eyes.  It’s going to be okay Mills. I promise. You can trust me, you can tell me anything."  I know I shouldn’t promise that because it’s not going to be okay. It’s never going to be the same again. Her world has been damaged, turned upside down, and I understand all too well how nothing will ever seem right again. 

"Princess, how are you doing? I missed you. Did you miss me?" Vince is squatting down next to her, his jeans and blue polo shirt look so out of place in the filth that surrounds us. He goes to stroke her hair and she flinches. Damn it Amelia! Why do you have to do that? Why?

He screams at her then stands up grabbing a wooden crate on the floor throwing it across the room. It hits the wall with such force it cracks and shatters, the sound ricochets around the dark room.  Millie starts to cry again while he storms around the small space smashing anything in sight. 

I am sorry. Please, I am so sorry.  She pleads with him. Vince turns around and looks at her and his face softens. He goes over and sits next to her, wraps his arms around her in an embrace. Shh... it’s ok Amelia. It’s Ok. It’s new, it’s all so new. You will get it, you will understand. I am doing this for you, for us. It’s better this way Princess.  He leans back and holds her face in his hands. "You know I love you baby, right? You know I would do anything to keep you safe Princess, you’re mine and no one else will ever touch you. She shakes her head yes and then he kisses her forehead. I have to go back out to take care of some things. But I will be back soon. When I come back Princess, we will have a long talk about everything." 

And then he is gone and the silence sets in. We both stare at each other as a wordless conversation passes between us and we know what we have to do, we have to survive. 

CHAPTER ONE

Hey D, how’s it hanging man?

Long, hard, and a little to the left, thanks for asking. I smirk as I make my way into the locker room.  I have three months until the fight of my career. I am at the top of the food chain. Everyone wants a piece of Dalton The Detonator Taylor.  Endorsements are coming out of my ass, chicks are throwing themselves at me at every turn and not the ugly ones either. We are talking grade-A, prime beef, playboy model types. I am in the best shape of my life, living in Vegas and making the dream.  Life is good.  I have to adjust myself as I think about the chick from last night. Damn. She was seriously talented. Those lips were like a fucking vacuum made for my dick. I’m sure I will be seeing her again in my rotation.

I smile, throw my bag on the bench and take in my surroundings. I love this place, the smell of sweat and the sound of flesh hitting flesh. I grew up in this gym and have been working my ass off to climb the ladder. I finally got my MMA Champion fight, and now that it’s here, it’s time to show all the haters that I am here to stay. When I defeat, Ian Hammerhead Hendrix, and win the belt, the circle will be complete. I will no longer be riding on the coat-tails of my father. No one will see me as some pretty boy trying to mooch off his father’s titles. I will have made it on my own blood sweat and broken bones. My undefeated record will be complete. Damn, I can almost taste it.

You ready for today man? Max is looking pretty pissed off this morning. I think the old lady is holding out on him again.  I’m snapped out of my daydream by the sound of my friend, Becks’ voice, the only guy in this whole place who never treated me like a redheaded stepchild to my father’s legacy.  Shoving his shit in his locker, he is every bit 6’2 and pushing 220 of pure power. His signature move is the skull cracker. He literally cracks people’s skulls with one punch. Definitely someone I would not want to piss off in a dark alley and I’m thankful I never will. I notice a book that falls out of his bag and I can’t help but belt out a laugh when I see the cover.

"What the fuck are you reading now?" I lunge and grab the book as he scrambles to conceal it.  "Fuck you man, give it back!"  He glares at me before looking around the room to see who’s watching. I look down to see a picture of two half naked people making out on the cover. A Romance novel?  Seriously dude, are you gay? I mean, I will still hang and shit, but we may need to talk about a shower schedule at the gym. 

Becks ears start to turn red and I know he is embarrassed. Why don’t you ask your girlfriend how gay I felt between her legs last night? Now shut the fuck up and give me the goddamn book. He says through clinched teeth. I can’t keep from laughing so hard my sides hurt.  If I had a girlfriend I might be pissed, but I don’t do relationships. I love to rile him up. I flip open the book and glance at the page.

His gaze turns dark as I slip two fingers under the lace that covers my heat and into my wet folds. My other hand twists my peaked nipple and I moan as the anticipation of his mouth covers mine ... HOLY SHIT! WTF?

The page rips as the book is snatched out of my hand by Becks and pushed into his locker.  Wait a minute! What the hell man?  I might need to finish that last line. Do they have pictures in those books because if so ‘Game On’ man ... Game On! I might need to rethink this gimmick you have going here. I grin.

"Hey man, get your own shit. The lines I get from these things make women cream. I can’t get it out fast enough before they are pulling my pants down. Besides it’s not like I buy them, I just steal them from my sister!" He laughs as we make our way to the training room. He says it’s