Broken Pieces Read online

  “So you save her, only to lose her? ’Cause you do this, and she’ll never speak to you again. Unlike me, she is not forgiving. And let’s be honest, she might off herself before she marries anyone. She isn’t one to be pushed around.”

  “Hence why I am doing the surgery tonight. I will save my daughter!”

  “You’re not saving her if you force her to do this.”

  “I will do what is right for our clan, Oceanus. A good leader does that, and the fact you don’t see that makes me believe you are not ready to lead the Works.”

  My laugh is harsh. “Please, you never planned on allowing me to anyway. Not anytime soon, at least.”

  “You don’t know that, but that’s fine. We are dropping this. I have a surgery to perform—”

  “I’m not done fighting for my sister, nor will I ever be!”

  “And that’s fine, son. While you’re at it, go down and get that shifter so I can take his eyes and save your sister’s vision.”

  “What?” I roar, throwing my chair behind me, frustrated. “You can’t do this! I thought we were still questioning him.”

  “He won’t talk,” JJ says. “It’s time to get rid of him before he causes any more issues.”

  “Are all of you crazy?”

  “Do as I say, son. Go get the boy. The code is Rebekah’s birthday. Bring him to the lab.”

  “No. You’ve completely lost your mind! I don’t care about the shifter. I care about Rebekah. I am not done talking about her.”

  “Well, I am. You wouldn’t marry Fredrick’s daughter, so now, she’ll marry his son. In reality, it’s your fault.”

  Slamming my fist to the table, I shake my head. “Don’t put that on me!”

  “It’s true, and she’ll marry him soon.”

  “Fuck no. That is not happening.”

  “Then we will not be able to save her!”

  “We will,” I yell back, my body shaking. I’m unsure what I am doing, but I say, “I’ll marry the fucking daughter. Just leave Rebekah alone!”

  When the smug little grin comes across my father’s face, everything inside me goes cold.

  I hate him.

  I hate him so much I could scream.

  “Oceanus,” JJ says, but I shake my head.

  “No, I actually love my sister, and I refuse to allow her to be hurt like this.”

  Everyone looks to my father, and he scoffs. “I do this because I love her.”

  But I shake my head. “You are insane if you think that is true.”

  “Whatever. Oceanus, go get the shifter—”

  “Get him your fucking self. I’m not your errand boy,” I snap, heading for the door. Pausing with my hand on the handle, I look back at him and shake my head. “I’ll never forgive you for this. Never.”

  He shrugs. “I’ll keep that in mind.”

  Before I can turn, JJ says, “Please go get the shifter, son. You’re only one who is strong enough to handle him.”

  With nothing but a nod, I turn, a lump forming in my throat at the fact I just agreed to marry someone who isn’t Taegan. Someone I don’t love, nor will I ever love.

  But it’s for Rebekah.

  All for Rebekah.

  Like I have told myself from the beginning, I can’t be selfish. I have to do what is best for the people I love.

  Even if it continues to kill me slowly.

  Slamming the door behind me, I see Cyrus coming toward me, his eyes dark with anger.

  “Not now, Cy.”

  “No, dude, I’m pissed! This shit is insane. We can’t let this happen.”

  I nod as I start for the kitchen where the door for the bastille is. “I know, Cy.”

  “We have to fix this.”

  “I already did.”

  “What did you do?”

  “I’m gonna marry Fredrick’s daughter.”

  Cyrus stops, while I keep going. I’m on a mission to get this shifter, take him to my father, and then sulk in my room. I also need to call Taegan, tell her the truth before she hears it from someone else. What the hell did I do? I basically just ruined my life even more.

  God, I hate my father.

  “You’re going to do what?” Cyrus yells, running to catch up.

  “I have to.”

  “No! You don’t.”

  “I have no choice. I won’t let Rebekah be unhappy. I will do everything I can to give her a good life.”

  “It isn’t your job,” Cyrus yells, trying to stop me, though I keep walking. “I’m telling you, Osh, this is bullshit.”

  I nod, pushing the door open to find my sister sitting at the bar, tears welling up in her eyes. With a shaky voice, she says, “I’m not marrying anyone.”

  Rushing to her side, I kiss her temple as I hold her tight. Looking to Cyrus, I shake my head, hoping he gets not to say anything as I whisper, “I know, we’ll fix this.”

  She is already upset; I don’t want to upset her more by telling her I’m marrying someone so she won’t have to.

  Cyrus must have caught on because he comes around the table and says, “Don’t worry, Rebekah.”

  Hugging her tightly once more, I say, “Why don’t you go get some rest?”

  I’m surprised when she agrees, and a part of me assumes she is up to something as she says, “Okay.”

  I don’t know why, but in my gut, I feel something is off. It isn’t that she doesn’t usually cry—she’s an emotional mess—but this time, it seems raw and I really don’t understand it. Yeah, she assumes she has to marry someone, but it wouldn’t make her cry like that.

  No, something is up.

  She then wipes her face as I look to my brother. “Cyrus will walk with you.”

  “Yeah, come on, sister,” Cyrus says, taking her in his arms before leading her away. As I watch them, I see Rebekah look back at me, her eyes wide and full of worry.

  What the hell did she do?

  Rushing to the bastille, I throw the door open before falling the ten feet, landing on my feet. The bastille is dark, a dungeon full of nothing but cells for our prisoners. Looking to my left and then my right, all I hear is water falling and maybe some bugs crawling, which is odd. Why is there no other noise? Instead of going right, where our regular prisoners are, I head to where the shifter is being held. I don’t know why I’m running, but I am, splashing through the puddles before reaching the door to his cell. It’s cracked. Which isn’t part of the norm. Going to it, I hear nothing. No breathing, no rustling of him getting up, nothing.

  Opening it, I light the lamp that hangs by the door. The light illuminates the room, only for me to find that the cell is not only empty but also wide open.

  “Rebekah, what in the hell have you done?” I mutter before dropping the lamp and rushing out of the bastille. Climbing the ladder to the top, I’m met by JJ, whose eyes are wide and confused.

  “I was coming to help you.”

  Ignoring him, I rush to my feet, running to the wall where a button is. I hit it, and the sirens sound. I look back to JJ, and his eyes are full of bewilderment. “Go get Rebekah. The shifter has escaped.”

  I know Rebekah did it, I know it in my bones, but there is no way I’m selling out my sister.

  I just pray the shifter doesn’t kill her.

  Or worse, convince her to run away with him.

  “Where is Rebekah?”

  Cyrus looks to me, his face a little white. “JJ has her.”

  “Good,” I say turning the corner in the Clandestine.

  We can’t find him. The shifter. He’s gone. But thankfully, Rebekah is safe.

  Even if she is the one who freed him.

  “She did this,” I say in a hushed tone so that no one hears me.

  “I know,” Cyrus says, and our gazes meet before we shake our heads. “She’s insane.”

  “She is.”

  “Do you think he was dangerous?”

  “I don’t know.”

  “Do you think she’s safe with him out?”

  I sh