Broken Shadows (The Broken Series Second Generation Book 2) Read online

  Broken Shadows

  By H. D’Agostino

  Broken Shadows

  H. D’Agostino

  Copyright  August 2021 by Heather D’Agostino

  All Rights Reserved. This book may not be reproduced, scanned, or distributed in any printed or electronic form without permission from the author. Please do not participate in or encourage piracy of copyrighted materials in violation of the author’s rights. All characters and storylines are the property of the author and your support and respect are appreciated. The character and events portrayed in this book are fictitious. Any similarity to real persons, living or dead, is coincidental and not intended by the author. The following story contains mature themes, profanity, and sexual situations. It is intended for adult readers.

  Cover Design by Pink Ink Designs

  Editing by Kellie Montgomery

  Photography by Fusious Fotog

  Cover Model: Zach Fox

  Table of Contents

  Prologue

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Epilogue

  Broken Shadows Playlist

  Other Works by H. D’Agostino

  Acknowledgements

  About the Author

  Prologue

  Easton- age 17

  “Time’s wastin’. Get up!” Dad barked from my doorway.

  “Can’t I just sleep in once?” I whined. I knew I sounded like a baby, but I’d been doing this every day for the last year.

  “Wanna be the best?” Dad leaned against the jamb.

  I blinked a few times as I stared at him from my bed. It was still dark out, and the hallway lights behind him made it hard to see. “I can’t be the best if I’m dead from lack of sleep.” I yawned.

  “Get dressed and meet me downstairs in five.” He pushed away, grumbling something to himself as he headed down the hallway. A few minutes passed and I heard him in the kitchen. Soon the smell of fried eggs wafted upstairs, and my stomach growled.

  Dad and I had been playing this song and dance for a while. After Riley got married, things changed. I spent years begging him to train me. It hurt that he’d trained my sister, but kept putting me off. He said I wasn’t disciplined enough. Back then I would have agreed, but things change. I’ve changed, and I’d like to think that I know what I’m doing now.

  The first time I saw my dad fight, I knew it was what I wanted to do. I remember sitting beside my mom, watching him beat the crap outta some guy. I remember the roar of the crowd, and the look on his face when he would hold a belt over his head. I wanted that, but he wouldn’t give it to me… until now.

  I threw my legs over the edge of the bed and grabbed the shirt I’d tossed on my desk chair. I hurt everywhere. I think even places like my toes hurt. I stretched as I slowly made my way downstairs.

  “Nice of you to join me.” Dad grinned as he set a plate of eggs and sausage in front of me. “Eat up. You’re going to need the energy.”

  “Ugh!” I slumped down in the chair. “Can’t we take a day off?” Dad waited a few beats before he started laughing. It wasn’t just a chuckle of amusement; it was a full-on laugh. “I don’t think that was funny,” I grumbled.

  Dad’s face sobered, “I’ve been there, E. You can’t give yourself a day off when it’s hard. You have to push through. Take a day when it’s easy. If you let yourself off when it’s hard, you’ll never make it. You’re teaching yourself to give up.”

  He grabbed a slice of toast when the toaster popped and took a bite. “I’ll be outside. Hurry up.” He pointed to my plate, and then walked away.

  ooooooooo

  I took my time eating, and after grabbing my shoes, I wandered out to the gym. “I’m here.” I lifted my arms up and let them fall against my sides unceremoniously.

  “Great.” Dad nodded as he continued placing weights on a bar that was resting over the incline bench. He sat down and placed his hands on the metal. “Come spot me.” He lifted the bar and blew out a breath. I watched as he lifted over and over with ease. For fifty-four, I had to admit he still had it. “Your turn.” He grunted as he placed the bar back in place.

  I sighed as I sat down on the bench. “Are you trying to kill me?” I leaned back and gripped the bar. “Because it feels like you’re trying to kill me.” I lifted the bar. It leaned to one side, and Dad helped balance it.

  “Easy. You can do this,” he commanded.

  After five reps, I put the bar back. “Everything hurts from yesterday,” I grumbled.

  “No pain, no gain,” Dad echoed.

  “What are you… an afterschool special?” I shook my head.

  “E, I know you’re suffering today, but trust me when I tell you. You wanna be the best, this is what it takes. I didn’t have anyone pushing me, and I made a lot of bad choices because of it. My parents didn’t understand the sport, and I had to learn it on my own. I’m trying to help you with that.”

  “I know. I’m sorry.” I rocked forward and let my elbows rest on my knees. “I’m just burnt out, I guess. Summer’s almost here, and college is looming, and there’s Liv.”

  “How is Olivia?” Dad smirked. He knew exactly how things were.

  “She’s great when she trusts me.” I stood and made my way over to the pull up bar. “She doesn’t understand all this.” I motioned around at the equipment.

  The truth was, things with Liv were new. We’d only been dating a few months, and I was up front with her. I told her that I was training, and I didn’t really have time for a relationship. She said she understood, but I don’t think she does. I’m constantly defending myself to her.

  “You gotta put her out of your head when you’re in here. You need full focus on this.” He pointed to the bar. “One distraction could cost you everything.” His face sobered. “I’ve seen professionals end their careers over distractions.”

  “I know, Dad. I’m not the one who wanted to talk about her.” I rolled my eyes.

  “So,” Dad smiled, “next goal is to master this.” He pointed to the chin up bar.

  “I can do twenty.” I shrugged.

  “Not pull ups. I want you to master the salmon ladder.” He jumped up and grabbed the bar, adjusting his hands in the process. “It takes precision, and you’re going to fall a few times.” He adjusted his hands once more before pulling up and swinging the bar to the next level. Once at the top, he dropped to the floor. “Your turn.” He pulled some floor mats over before climbing the steps he’d set up to the get the bar down.

  I tipped my head back, and stared at the one thing I hadn’t mastered in the gym yet. I wiped my hands on my shorts, and then jumped up to the grab the bar. “Adjust your hands to a comfortable position.” He started backing up. “Swing your legs and pull out as you go up.” He backed up more.

  “You moving away isn’t very convincing.” I struggled to get comfortable, whatever that meant.

  “I don’t want to get kicked.” He laughed. “It’s happened before when your sister thought she c
ould do this.”

  I blew out a deep breath, and then went through the motions I’d seen him do a million times. The bar caught on the next rung and I smiled. “I did it.” I grunted.

  “Now do it again.” Dad’s head stayed tipped back as he scrutinized me. I repeated the motion and the bar clanged into the position once again. I grinned as I adjusted my grip. “Don’t get cocky,” Dad warned and just as I went to lock into the last rung, I lost my grip. The bar caught on a lower rung, but not me. I fell to the mat, landing on my ass.

  “Easton! Are you okay?” Dad rushed over.

  “I’m fine.” I pushed myself up and brushed myself off. “Bad grip on that last one,” I growled.

  “It takes practice.” Dad patted my shoulder. “I didn’t get it on my first try either.”

  “Well, I’m not you,” I snapped. I hadn’t meant to say it, but I’ve always had a short fuse. According to my father this is why he didn’t want to train me. I’m not disciplined enough.

  “I know you’re not. Keep practicing. You’ll get it.” He started stacking the mats.

  “I’m not finished.” I frowned as I watched him move my makeshift safety net away.

  “I have to go to work, and I don’t want you to do that without someone here.” He pointed to the bar that was still resting precariously on a lower rung.

  “I’m not a baby,” I snapped.

  “E, as your dad I’m telling you it’s not a good idea, and as your trainer, I’m telling you no.” His face went stone cold, and I knew there was no changing his mind. He meant what he said.

  “Great.” I threw my hands in the air.

  “Go cool down, then drink some water. I’ll see you tonight and we can talk about this some more.” He waited for me to acknowledge him, and then he left.

  It’s been like this since I was fourteen. Training time, he’s all business. I see him morph right before me, and I wonder if it was like that for Riley. They always had a different bond, and I never understood it. With me, I feel like he’s trying to change me, and I don’t always know if that’s what I want.

  Chapter 1

  Easton- age 22

  It’s been a hell of a week. Graduation is in a few days, and I’m still trying to decide how to tell my mom that I’m not going. I have a fight that night, and I want to use the day to prepare. I told Dad last week, but he said I had to tell Mom. I think he knows that she’s going to flip out. She always tells me ‘Fighting can wait,’ all these important moments only happen once. The thing is, fighting can’t wait. I’m finally booking fights that attract the sponsors and I need those right now.

  “Hey E!” my roommate, Chase, yelled as our apartment door slammed shut, “Wanna hit this party with me tonight? Lots of ladies gonna be there.” He laughed as his keys jingled when he tossed them on the counter.

  “Dude.” I shook my head when I stepped out of my room. “You just looking to get laid, or do you actually like someone who’s going to be there?”

  “I like her.” He shrugged. “I like the way her hips move, and the way she pouts her lips. They’d look great around my…” I held up my hand to stop him. Chase was always thinking about his next lay. I stopped keeping track after a while.

  “I don’t want to know the rest of that.” I shook my head. “Don’t you think you might want to, I don’t know, stick to one girl?”

  “And miss all the fun?” His mouth twisted like he’d tasted something bad.

  “It’s not fun when you catch something.” I groaned.

  “Okay, Mom.” He shook his head. “You coming or what?”

  I thought about it for a few minutes. I hadn’t been out since Liv and I broke up last month. I hadn’t really wanted to. “Sure. What the hell.” I laughed. I needed to get back out there, and Chase was just the wingman I needed. He wouldn’t let me back out, and he was right about the women. Beautiful ones seemed to flock to him. He never promised them anything, and they practically jumped on his lap the first chance they got. His pretty boy frat look seemed to do something for them.

  “I’m leaving in an hour,” he warned, and I glanced down at my gym attire. I’d put in a workout after work, and was still in my sweat soaked clothes.

  “Ten four.” I saluted him as I shut my bedroom door, and tossed my clothes on the floor.

  ooooooooo

  “Where is this party?” I jogged down the steps toward my car. I knew I needed to be the one driving tonight. Chase would probably end up crashing somewhere else and I didn’t want to be stuck wherever we were going.

  “Phi Kappa.” He grinned.

  “Seriously, Bro?” I skidded to a stop.

  “This is why I didn’t tell you.” He sighed. “It’ll be fine.”

  The last Phi Kappa party we went to ended in me getting asked to leave. Liv was getting hit on by one of their punks, and I threatened to break his nose. I haven’t been back to one of their parties since.

  “Somehow I don’t believe you.” I opened my door. It’s like I was on autopilot tonight. My brain was telling me one thing, but my body did the opposite. I could hear my dad’s voice in my head telling me to turn around and go back to the apartment, but part of me wanted to go just to be defiant.

  “It’ll be fun. Don’t puss out on me now.” Chase grinned as he climbed in the front seat of my Camaro.

  “I’m not,” I growled as I climbed in. I could feel my temper simmering just below the surface, but I pushed it down. I cranked the car and revved the engine before peeling out of my parking space.

  Traffic was terrible and parking was even worse. We crept down fraternity row until we reached the edge of campus. There was a student parking lot that wasn’t monitored at night, so I decided to park there. “I can’t be out late,” I warned. “I have a five-a.m. training session tomorrow.”

  “Fine, fine, fine.” Chase waved me off as we started walking back to the house.

  When we reached the front lawn, there were people everywhere. The porch was covered as well as more spilling out the front door. The windows were lit up with lights flashing from the inside, and the smell of beer filled the air.

  “You cool?” Chase turned to me as a brunette started to approach us.

  “Go ahead.” I rolled my eyes. I don’t know why he invited me. He obviously had somebody waiting on him.

  “Hey, Easton.” She grinned as she wrapped her arms like a snake around his.

  “Have we met?” She didn’t look familiar.

  “I saw your last fight. You looked really good.” She shifted her body and turned tighter into Chase.

  “Thanks.” I lifted my chin. “I’m going to head inside and get a drink.” I waved before moving past them.

  ooooooooo

  The Phi Kappa house was packed. Bodies gyrated to music so loud the walls shook, and chanting was coming from in the kitchen where I could only assume the keg was located.

  After pushing my way through the crowd, I rounded the corner only to come face to face with Liv. She smashed right into my chest before looking up at me. Her face went from anger to confusing back to anger. “Heeeey, babe.” A guy I didn’t recognize came around the corner and slung his arm around her shoulder. “Where’d you disappear to?”

  “Liv?” My eyes went from her to the drunk guy.

  “I was getting another drink.” She smiled sweetly at him before glaring at me. “We can go now.” She kissed him, but while her lips were on his she was watching me. Hurt and anger flooded me. “Where’s your room?” She continued to pretend like I wasn’t there.

  “This way.” Drunk guy began leading her away. She glanced over her shoulder, eyes shooting fire right at me, as she let him lead her down the hallway. I felt every ounce of anger she lobbed in my direction, but I didn’t understand it. She had broken things off. She ended it, but she acted like I did. I was in love with her, but things had always been rough and I didn’t really understand why. Dad always told me that it takes a special woman to understand the sport and the way a fighter thinks
, but I thought I had that with Liv; apparently, I didn’t.

  I stood there for a moment, letting my surroundings fade away as I watched her disappear into this guy’s room. Liv wasn’t that type of girl, so I don’t know where this was coming from.

  “Hey.” Two arms snaked around my middle from behind me. I glanced over my shoulder and smiled at the girl they were attached to.

  “Hey yourself.” I winked. If Liv could do this, so could I. “Wanna get something to drink?”

  “Sure.” She released me and slinked around to lead me to the kitchen. “I’m Jamie, by the way.”

  “I’m…” I started but she cut me off.

  “Easton McKay, up and coming cage fighter.” She swung her hips as she made her way to the keg. “I’ve seen you fight. You’re really something.” She handed me a cup, and then trailed her fingers down my arm. “Pretty impressive up close and personal.”

  “You like that, huh?” I flexed as she licked her lips. We spent the next hour downing drinks, and before I knew it, I was feeling rather happy. Thoughts of Liv had left my mind along with most of my common sense. At the moment, all I cared about was the way Jamie was making me feel. “Wanna go somewhere a little more private?” I wobbled.

  Jamie nodded and began leading me down the hallway. I should have questioned why she knew the house so well, but my dick was doing most of the thinking for me.

  “In here.” She opened a door, and tugged on my arm. When the lights came on, I realized we were in the bathroom.

  “This’ll do.” I grinned as I reached behind me and locked the door. “You’ve seen me fight, huh?” I reached for her waist and boosted her up to sit by the sink.

  “Mmm hmm.” She ran her palms down my chest. When she reached my waist, she went to work loosening my belt. “It’s hot,” she whispered as she leaned in and pressed her lips to mine. Part of me knew I shouldn’t be doing this, but another part of me didn’t care. Why was I not taking advantage of the fact that women wanted me? I’d been with Liv for almost five years, and it got me nowhere. It was time for me to start living.

  “You’re kinda hot yourself,” I mumbled against her lips. I ran my tongue along her jaw before nipping her lobe. She’d gotten my jeans open at this point and was working her hand into my boxers. When she cupped me, that was it. I was done for. “Fuuuccck!” I hissed. Her hand wrapped around my cock before pumping me twice. “Hold on a sec, babe.” I pulled away and reached for my wallet. After retrieving the condom, I shoved my jeans over my hips. I rolled the condom on, and then moved back between her legs.