Fractured Lies (MAC Security 1)

“Like I got ran over by a truck.” I tried to smile.

“Ha!” she moved over to the couch and picked something up.

“Take these. They’ll help with the pain.” She winked, handed me a box of pills and a bottle of water and then followed Evan out of the room.

Ty turned back to me and leaned against the door frame. His big body intimidating, but to me it just screamed protection.

“Let’s get you back to the house and into something more comfortable,” he said as he sauntered toward me.

Chapter Sixteen

I’d imagined what Ty’s house looked like many times, the wrap around porch with the swinging chair screamed family home. If it wasn’t for the location I would have thought a family lived there.

You know the type, happily married with two children, one boy, one girl. Dad who goes out to work while the mom stays home.

I expected to find a lone couch and pizza boxes all over the place. A typical bachelor pad.

I should have known better, I’d worked with Ty now for well over a month and in that time I’d gotten to know him pretty well. He was organized down to a T and never had anything out of place and always knew where everyone was at any given time.

Opening up the front door with his free hand he carries me inside. I looked around noting the polished hardwood floors that led to a staircase lined with photos much like those in his office. It was all open floor plan with the living room to the right and a door at the back of the room.

A large corner sofa sat in the middle facing an open fire and above that, the biggest TV that I had ever seen. He walked us through the living room to the door I’d noticed as I stared at the paintings that hung off the light gray walls.

Pushing through the door my breath caught in my throat, I’d never seen anything like it. I’d only ever seen photos in magazines of these sort of kitchens, I’d never imagined I’d be inside of one.

The whole back wall was covered in floor to ceiling glass doors, I watched the counters sparkle as the sun shone through them.

Helping me sit in a chair, Ty walked over to the glossy white cupboards and pulled two glasses out. I stared in amazement out of the glass doors, the garden backed straight into the woods. It was breathtaking.

My eyes wandered round the room, a big cooker with at least six hobs sat in the middle. Everything shined and sparkled in only the way an unused kitchen would. My fingers itched to make a mess in here, the kind of mess that only Eli and I could make while we made cookies.

“Don’t get to taking those tablets until you’ve had something to eat,” he said and opened the fridge.

“Okay” I wasn’t hungry but there was no point in me voicing that.

I closed my eyes and breathed in deep, this place somehow settled all the rampant thoughts that swirled in my mind. I didn’t know whether it was the place or Ty.

Maybe it was a combination of both.

Ty had just pulled out some food and a bottle of water when the front door opened.

“Bro? You home?” a deep voice shouted.

My good eye sprung open and I gasped looking over at Ty my face full of panic. He hadn’t told me anyone would be coming over and the thought of someone new being in the same place as me had my heart racing uncontrollably.

“It’s okay sweetheart.” Ty said as he rushed to me, the water and food forgotten.

“I…Who…” I stuttered staring at the door we had come through.

The footsteps getting louder.

“It’s just my brother, Charlie.” he crouched down in front of me.

“Bro!” I flinched at the voice, I felt so out of control. All I wanted to do was disappear.

“In here.” Ty answered back.

I could feel his gaze on me, his hand came up to my face and moved me to face him.