Broken In Pieces: Billionaire Stepbrother Romance (Wounded Hearts Book 1)
Broken
In
Pieces
Wounded Heart Series
By Sierra Rayne
Sheridan
The nightmare that has become my life, has damned near destroyed me. I never imagined myself being a victim and my weakness disgusts me. When I look in the mirror, I see a shell of the woman I used to be and I hate myself for it. Then he walks into my life. He brings the first glimmer of hope I’ve known. Will I be strong enough to follow as he leads me out of the darkness?
Blade
I never wanted to get involved but one look at Sheridan and I can walk away. She got so many walls surrounding her, I may never find the real woman behind them. The one broken in so many pieces, I don’t know if she’ll ever be whole again. I can’t turn my back, especially when she starts letting me in. Trouble is, Sheridan is not the only one hiding. I have secrets. Secrets that are far worse than hers. When they come back to haunt me, it might just be the very thing that shatters Sheridan completely.
Copyright © 2015 Sieera Rayne
Kindle Edition
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This book is a work of fiction and any resemblance to persons, living or dead, or places events or locales is purely coincidental. The characters are created from the author’s imagination and used in a fictitious manner.
Cover Designer: Tammie Smith with Renegade Covers:
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Cover Photo
Big Stock Photos
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Trademarks
Any brands, titles, artists used in this book were mentioned purely for artistic purposes and are either used as a product of the author’s imagination or used fictitiously. None of the herein mentioned products, artists etc., endorse this book whatsoever and the author acknowledges their trademarked status which has been used in this work of fiction.
Author acknowledges trademarked status or owners of various products and further acknowledges that said use is not authorized or endorsed by said owners. While some places in this book might mention actual areas or places, author acknowledges that it was purely for entertainment purposes and not endorsed by owners or has nothing to do with actual place and was mentioned to further reader’s enjoyment only.
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The Content in this book is intended for mature audiences only. 18+ and above.
Contains sexual situations, sexual violence, rape, violence, excessive profanity, and death. Reader should please read with that knowledge. Please do not read if any of the above offends you.
Table of Contents
Title Page
About the Book
Copyright Page
Trademarks
Dedication
Chapter 1: Nightmare
Chapter 2: Solution
Chapter 3: Exile
Chapter 4: Homecoming
Chapter 5: Shattered
Chapter 6: Revealed
Chapter 7: Healing
Chapter 8: Demons
Chapter 9: Surrender
Chapter 10: Chaos
Chapter 11: Abandoned
Chapter 12: Insanity
Chapter 13: Tragedy
Chapter 14: Dormant
Chapter 15: Resurgence
Chapter 16: Recovery
Chapter 17: Relinquish
Chapter 18: Enlightenment
Chapter 19: Harmony
Note from Author
Links
Dedication
This has been a dream come true! I never imaged that I would be able to do something as phenomenal as writing. I always loved it in school but it never dawned on me that I would be the author of a book someday. It’s been a wonderful journey, full of ups and downs. I have learn so much and made some amazing new friends. Now I know what I want to be when I grow up.
First and foremost, I want to thank Jordan Maire. You have encouraged me, held my hand and been my rock. Without you, this book would not exist. Your talent as an author is astounding but your dedication as a friend is out of this world. You’re amazing woman, and I freakin’ love you!
To my loving husband and children, thank you and I love you to the moon and back. You have suffered through my breakdowns and chaos and rejoiced with me in my accomplishments. I am the luckiest woman alive because I have you.
To the readers, without you there would be no need for authors. You keep us wanting to achieve more so we can share ourselves with you. Thank you for all you do.
Tammie Smith, you’re badass. Thank you for the wonderful book cover. You work so hard for so many and I’m happy to call you my friend. I hope you know how appreciated you are. Love you.
My street team, you Divas awesome and I love each and every one of you! You have befriended me, become part of my family and stood beside me all the way. We have a bond that can’t be broken. Without you guys, no one would even know my name. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.
CHAPTER 1
Nightmare
It’s a beautiful spring day in Hazard, Kentucky. More beautiful than this little lopsided town deserves. The hills are full, like overgrown mounds of emeralds, with the sun sparkling off them. There’s that sweet smell of honeysuckles in bloom, fresh air and the promise of summer. It’s exactly one week until the end of my junior year at the community college and my twenty-first birthday bash that Mother insists on throwing. She’s already frantic. Everything has to be perfect – especially me.
I’ve always been kinda plain for my mother’s liking. My long brunette hair is usually pulled into a messy ponytail. I rarely wear any kind of make-up and when I do, it’s a small amount of lip gloss and mascara. I’m most comfortable in loose fitting jeans that hide my bubble butt, sneakers and a t-shirt big enough to hide my, too big for my body, boobs. I’m not a social butterfly. I’m usually quiet, except around my closest friends and I’d take watching a good movie at home over partying, any day. But Mother’s another story.
Her appearance is impeccable. Never a hair out of place, flawless make-up, perfectly manicured nails and the finest of clothing. She always looks like she just stepped off the pages of some fashion magazine. Sophia Lorraine Stollings-Stephens is probably the biggest socialite this town has ever encountered. She attends every event, especially charities, and is always on the arm of some intelligent, good-looking, money maker. Their pictures are smeared across the local newspapers on a weekly basis. Mother especially likes it when she ends up plastered across the local evening news.
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br /> My daddy had huge dreams of coming to Kentucky and making it big in the coal industry. And boy, did he ever make it! We’d only been here about a year and a half when Stollings Mining, Inc. took off. Jonathon Edward Stollings was a kind, gentle, loving man but he was a force to be reckoned with in the business world. To me, he was just my daddy and I was the apple of his eye. He passed away from a massive heart attack when I was seven and nothing has been the same since. I’ve never been special to anyone else the way I was to my daddy.
Don’t get me wrong, Mother has always made sure I have everything I need and most of what I want, except for affection and that unconditional love that a mother should have for her child. She has never been a touchy, feely person and can be very cold at times. I’ve always done everything I could think of to get her approval. Piano recitals, voice and dance lessons, near perfect grades, but nothing has worked. Somehow, I, Sheridan Paige Stollings, always seem to fall just a little short of the mark. Most days, I feel like her biggest disappointment in life.
Since daddy’s death, Mother has gone through a succession of men, sometimes younger men, sometimes old, but always very successful men. That all ended last year when she married Dr. Carter Stephens. Their wedding was a huge event, held at the one and only country club in town. My stepfather is a neurosurgeon who came to Kentucky from New York. He’s alright I guess. He’s very reserved and quiet so I haven’t really gotten to know him very well. He seems to love my mother very much and that’s all that really matters to me. He still owns a very lavish apartment, in New York City, that he and mother visit often. I’ve gone along a couple times but the city is a bit loud and chaotic for my taste.
The next week is going to be hectic so my best friend, Donna and I, have spent the day together. We’re hanging out, doing some shopping and taking in the Saturday matinee at one of the only two theaters in town. She is the one person in my life who understands me completely, even though we are as different as night and day. She is very outspoken and confident. A gorgeous, blue eyed, blonde who knows what she wants and usually gets it. She knows my deepest fears and my biggest dreams. I could trust her with my life. With our day out coming to an end, we decide to grab a bite to eat at our favorite burger place.
The place is packed today. While we’re waiting on our food, we talk about our move to the University of Kentucky in the fall. We’ve both been accepted and have decided to finish our education there. As we’re talking about the areas of Lexington that we want to search for apartments in, he walks in. Blonde hair, tanned skin, baby blue eyes and a body to die for. His presence is breath taking. As he walks through the restaurant, those baby blues lock on my eyes and I feel heat surge inside me. He’s beautiful.
I blink and jerk my head down, trying to regain some form of composure. Donna cackles, “Damn Sher, don’t be so obvious.” I can’t help but laugh. “That’s Jarrod Davis,” she pipes up again, “ya know, his father is the most successful lawyer in town”. I nod in acknowledgement. Donna glances up, “He’s staring at ya”. I feel my face turn bright red. “Hey, if ya like him, go on over and talk to him,” she says in her usual, confident way. Although she knows full well that will never happen. Then, all the sudden, she grabs my arm, “Don’t look now, Stud is headed this way.”
Oh no….Oh God no!! My face heats up about 110 degrees. “Good afternoon ladies,” he says with the most gorgeous, wide smile I have ever seen.
“Hey Stud, what can we do for ya?” Donna busts out and I shoot her a holy hell stare. She just grins back at me, of course.
“Well, I was hoping this beautiful woman would do me the honor of going to dinner with me tonight.” he says as he stares straight into my eyes. I could get lost in those big lakes of blue.
“Me?” I squeak as I turn five shades darker and try to clear my throat.
He leans in a bit closer, “Yes, you gorgeous.”
This time Donna shoots me the holy hell glare, “Wait just a minute, Stud. She doesn’t know you. You could be a mass murderer.”
“Yes, ma’am, I suppose I could be but then again, so could you,” he chuckles. His eyes return to mine and I feel their heat again, “I’d just like to take the lady to dinner.”
“Uhh, sure. Okay,” I almost whisper.
“I’ll pick you up at seven?”
“Okay, umm, but you don’t know where I live,” I shift in my seat.
“Oh, I know where you live. See you at seven,” he turns and walks straight out the door.
“Damn girl, if the little miss innocent act work’s that well, I’m gonna perfect it,” Donna moans. I give her an almost embarrassed but satisfied look. She grabs my hand and commands, “Come on girl, we’ve got three hours to get ya ready for ole stud.”
It’s six forty-five and I’m really getting nervous. Donna has me clad in a pair of dark blue jeans that are probably too tight around my behind. A burgundy blouse that shows just a hint of cleavage and black high-heeled boots. She’s fixed my hair and done my make-up with just a bit more than I’m comfortable with. “You look hot!” she proclaims, as the doorbell rings. I stand paralyzed, staring at Donna and feeling nauseous. When the bell rings again, she grabs me by the shoulders, “Come on, ya just can’t leave ole Stud standing out there.”
When we reach the door, I take a deep breath before opening it. There he stands in all the glory that is Jarrod Davis. “Hello gorgeous,” he smiles at me. I smile not realizing I’m looking at him like a deer caught in headlights.
“Okay Stud, have her back before midnight and she damn well better be in one piece,” Donna orders.
“Yes ma’am,” he replies but his eyes never leave mine as he takes my hand and leads me to the car.
We pull back in the driveway around eleven fifteen. Jarrod walks me to the door giving me a small chaste kiss before I walk in with my head in the clouds. Mother and Carter are in New York for the weekend so Donna is staying over. She’s in her pajamas on the couch with a bowl of popcorn when I enter the living room. “Ohhhh, you’ve got it bad,” she cackles. I pay her no attention, head over to the couch and slide off the boots that have been killing my feet all night. “So, I want details,” she demands.
I curl up beside her and grab a handful of popcorn. I give her all the ifs, ands, and what’s of the date. How polite he was, how he opened all the doors for me, how he showered me with all his attention and was continually telling me how beautiful I am. I told her about the comedy we watched at the theater and what a wonderful sense of humor he has. We had a wonderful dinner at the steakhouse where he pulled out my chair and ordered for me. Donna listens intently, only chiming in occasionally with her usual funny sarcasm.
When I’m finished, she takes my hand, “You know I love ya and I’m really happy for ya but please, please be careful. He seems like a dream but there’s something ’bout him I don’t like. I can’t put my finger on it but I don’t trust him.” I can’t figure if this is coming from the need that she’s always had to protect me or if it’s because she knows I’m very inexperienced and have never really had a serious relationship.
“I love you too and I promise,” I pacify her. Then I head off to bed. It’s been a full day and I’m beat.
The next week is a blur of college finals and party preparations for the birthday bash. Manicure, pedicure and eyebrow waxing after class on Wednesday. Pick up the dress from the seamstress; buy shoes and jewelry after class on Thursday. I take my last final on Friday morning and Mother insists I go with her to the caterers and country club to make sure all the food and decorations are coming along as planned. Saturday, before the party, Donna and I go to our hair and make-up appointments together. I know it sounds bad but as much as I hate all the hoopla, I am glad for the bit of time away from Mother. She’s been so demanding and judgmental this week, it makes me want to run into the mountains screaming.
After our appointments, Donna drives me back home. When we pull in the driveway, Mother and Carter are standing outside beside of a black BMW. We get
out of the car and approach them. They’re smiling from ear to ear. “Sheridan, your mother and I love you very much,” Carter begins in a slow, almost monotone voice, “and we’re very proud of you.” I’m stunned but I’m trying not to let it show. This is the most Carter’s said to me at once and he’s never told me that he loves me. He holds out a set of car keys, “Your birthday present from your mother and me.”
I squeal, Donna squeals, and we’re both jumping up and down. I reach for the keys and grab Carter. I hug him tight, “I love you too Carter. Thank you so much!” Then I grab Mother and hug her tight, “I love you Mother and thank you so much!” I look at Donna and we both squeal again as we run to the car and take it for a spin before the party.
Mother, Carter and I arrive at the country club around three so Mother can make sure that everything’s ready for the party to begin. The banquet room is beautifully decorated in the classiest combination of red, black and white that I’ve ever seen. There’s a delicious aroma lingering in the air, from the buffet the caterers are preparing. The open bar is being stocked with anything you could want and the towns hottest DJ is setting up. Mother seems very pleased and honestly, I am too.
I had felt a little overdressed in my way too tight, way too low cut, way too short, red dress with matching five inch stilettos and diamonds dripping from my ears, neck and wrist. Mother had picked it all. After looking around at this place, anything less would have been underdressed.
“Thank you, Mother,” I say as I hug her and kiss her cheek.
She hugs me tighter than usual, “It’s not every day that your only child turns twenty-one.” I think I almost hear her voice crack but she releases me and regains her composure quickly. The guests are beginning to arrive and Mother shifts into hostess mode.
Since she and Carter are working the room, I go in search of Donna. She’s just coming through the door as I round the end of the buffet. We decide to sit and have a drink while the other guests arrive. Donna goes for a margarita but I stick with a soda. I’ve never been much of a drinker. The conversation eventually comes around to whether or not I’ve heard from Jarrod this week. I tell her no and shrug it off as if it doesn’t matter. I think I was convincing but the truth is, it does. I’ve thought about him a lot this week and I’ve been a little hurt that he hasn’t called.