Shattered Secrets

Shattered Secrets SHATTERED BOOK TWO KARIN WINTER Copyright © 2022 by Karin Winter All rights reserved. Contact the author: https://linktr.ee/karinwinter Editor: Killing It Write Cover Design: Inbal Ohana - Une Studio No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review. This is a work of fiction. Resemblance to actual persons, things, locations, or events is entirely coincidental. When the road is dark, Love can light your way Contents 1. Ethan 2. Ayala 3. Ethan 4. Ayala 5. Ethan 6. Ayala 7. Ethan 8. Ayala 9. Ayala 10. Ethan 11. Ethan 12. One Year Later 13. Ethan 14. Ayala 15. Ethan 16. Ayala 17. Ethan 18. Ayala 19. Ethan 20. Ayala 21. Ethan 22. Ayala 23. Ethan 24. Ayala 25. Ethan 26. Ayala 27. Ethan 28. Ayala 29. Ayala 30. Ethan 31. Ethan 32. Ayala 33. Ethan 34. Ayala 35. Ethan 36. Ayala 37. Ethan 38. Ayala 39. Ayala 40. Ethan 41. Ayala Afterword On a Personal Note… About the Author Also by Karin Winter CHAPTER 1 Ethan “It’s time to reveal the truth,” I tell Olive on the phone. “I’ll be there to pick you up in a few minutes.” I hang up and call Ayala. She doesn’t answer, and I leave her a voicemail telling her I’m going to be late. “Hey, Bambi, sorry I’ll be so late getting home today. I know you’re going crazy. There’s no progress yet, but I have an idea. You liked it when I took you to Mohonk, right? I think we should go on a trip where no one will find us. What do you say? Miss you.” I never thought I’d be the one to leave these kinds of messages on the phone, but I do miss her. I stop by Olive’s apartment and pick her up. Her parents live in Connecticut, so we have a long drive ahead of us. Olive sits beside me and digs her nails into her thighs. She’ll hurt herself at that rate. I grab her hand and place it on my lap. “Olive, calm down. We’re going to talk, not murder someone.” She gives me a sullen look. “Not sure it won’t turn into murder after they hear what I have to say. You don’t know them.” “We’ve prepared for every scenario. At worst, they’ll kick us out, and I’ll help you with anything you need, as I promised. At best, everything will continue as usual. They’ll continue to love you and support you.” Her hand on my thigh squeezes gently. “Meeting you was the best thing to happen to me. I hope Ayala appreciates you as much as I do.” I smile. I appreciated the crazy sex last night. “Yes.” “So… what’s up with you two? Are you serious? What about this husband of hers?” “It’s complicated. I don’t know how to solve this problem yet. But yes, I’m serious about her. I love her, Olive.” Her mouth opens. “Love her? Who is this guy talking about love?” I laugh. “I don’t believe it either. She has magical powers over me. That’s what I think.” She does. Ayala hasn’t left my thoughts since the day I met her. Fate sent her to save me. I drive through the large entrance gate and turn the car into the long driveway next to the house. Olive grips my hand when we walk in, where her parents are waiting for us. I don’t understand why she’s so worried. I wish my parents were a little more like hers. I inhale when the aroma of the stew reaches my nose. It smells so good. The other dishes arrive one after the other. Surely these dishes were not prepared by Olive’s mother, Lisa, as I doubt the woman ever worked in a kitchen a day in her life. When dessert is served, I nudge Olive under the table with my knee, and she glares at me. If she doesn’t say something, I will. It’s taken months of persuasion to get to this moment, and I won’t let her get out of here without getting this over and done with. If she doesn’t gather the courage now, it will never happen. And if she doesn’t come clean now that we are officially “breaking up” and the agreement between us is being dissolved, Olive will have to go back to dating other men. The memory of that horrible moment in bed with her hits me… No, there’s no way I will let her go through that again. “Olive wants to tell you something,” I say when she shows no intention of speaking. “Ouch!” I gasp as she steps on my foot with her heel. Damn, those pin heels fucking hurt. Her parents look at us with interest. Now she has no choice. Perfect. “Dad, Mom, I wanted to talk to you about something important,” Olive says. They both look up with expressions that say they are ready to listen. They are great parents, and I hope this ends the way I expect it will. “Ethan and I aren’t dating.” Okay. This is not how I would have chosen to start. With a lie. It’s better to start with the truth. I watch their reaction closely, ready to jump in to help. Olive looks down at her lap, and her parents glance at each other. “We’re just good friends.” She takes a deep breath but still does not raise her face. “I know you were hoping we’d get married soon, but, Mom, Dad, I’m not interested in men. I’m more… I prefer women,” she blurts out. I am so proud of her. She did it! I squeeze her hand under the table. No one speaks. Lisa’s eyes are wide. Larry looks as pale as the wall behind him. Say something, I beg without words. “So you’re a lesbian?” her father