Shattered and Torn: The Fated Series

By HL Packer

What lurks in the shadows is even more horrific than I could have imagined.

 

The only thing worse than having a bad reputation is having no reputation at all. So, as invisible as I am, I can't say no when the La Famiglia heir drops an invitation to party in my lap. Even if that party is rumoured to be more dangerous than the man himself.

 

Tino holds all the keys to my future status at The Academy, and all I need is an opportunity. But is his world more than I can handle? He seems to think I could be the light at the end of his tunnel, but all signs point that we'll both end up in the dark…

 

Fans of M Robinsons angst ridden emotional duets and Tracy Lorraine's dark and driven heroes are falling hard for Shattered and Torn.

Please note, this is a tragic, yet beautiful, and heart-breaking love story. It does not have a Happily Ever After (HEA) or even a Happy For Now (HFN). The hero in this book gets his HEA in the Love on the Line duet; Broken Lies and Fractured Truth.

• Language: English
• Publisher: HL Packer
• Release date: Jan 18, 2023
• ISBN: 9798215634417

HL Packer

H.L. Packer is, quite frankly, a busy bee. An avid reader as a child, her love for all things written waned into adulthood, the excitement of real life things taking over. But when her life slowed down as she finished her office job for maternity leave, her husband purchased her an e-reader, and that obsession was rekindled. Quickly she went from reader to reviewer, and then from reviewer to blogger; street teams and promo tours galore. When she began collating her own book boxes over at Romance Readers Book Box UK and had the opportunity to include her own words and worlds, the characters began talking. Those cheeky characters quickly found themselves written down on the page, and her first series was in progress. When she is not coordinating her worlds, you can find her running around after her free-spirited three children, and husband, or tending to the dogs, bearded dragons, and snakes that also reside with them. A break can be found soaking in a bubble bath or enjoying a glass of wine, often still with a book in her hand. H.L. Packer is, quite frankly, a busy bee. An avid reader as a child, her love for all things written waned into adulthood, the excitement of real life things taking over. But when her life slowed down as she finished her office job for maternity leave, her husband purchased her an e-reader, and that obsession was rekindled. Quickly she went from reader to reviewer, and then from reviewer to blogger; street teams and promo tours galore. When she began collating her own book boxes over at Romance Readers Book Box UK and had the opportunity to include her own words and worlds, the characters began talking. Those cheeky characters quickly found themselves written down on the page, and her first series was in progress. When she is not coordinating her worlds, you can find her running around after her free-spirited three children, and husband, or tending to the dogs, bearded dragons, and snakes that also reside with them. A break can be found soaking in a bubble bath or enjoying a glass of wine, often still with a book in her hand.

Book preview

C1 Bria

This story doesn’t have a happy ending.

I don’t ride off into the sunset with the man I love.

I loved and lost, and so did he.

Was it better than never loving at all? I’ll let you be the ones to decide that when we get to the end of the story. For now, let’s start at the beginning.

My first La Famiglia party.

The moment Tino found me in the darkness of a garden maze.

It was magical. Almost as amazing as the mojitos that he introduced me to at the house afterwards.

It started with a dare, to see how we would fare.

I was late, was that fate?

What followed was bad, and he ended up sad.

I’m Brianna Delgato, and here’s how my story unfolds.

C1 Bria

Y ou girls ready for some fun? Carlos asks with a smirk and the raise of an eyebrow.

Running my tongue along my bottom lip, I nip the flesh between my teeth as excitement courses through me. A La Famiglia party, interest from none other than Carlos Mariotti and Anton Proetti.

A million words pass between Carlos and I, not a single one spoken. Some girls come in, no one I know and no one I care for, pushing their way past Elena and I as their appreciative eyes skirt over the boys, despite the interest being sent our way.

Two guys brush past, two that I’ve seen around The Academy with Carlos and Anton. Whispered words are shared between them, a look being thrown to me and Elena as we wait quietly to see what happens next as they slip out of the doors, gesturing for us to follow.

Here, have one of these. Carlos laughs, mischief twinkling in his dark eyes as I catch the small green torch he throws our way. You’re going to need it. He winks.

Wrapping my arm through Elena’s, she snatches a torch from his hand as we pass, much less impressed at being here than I am, as we make our way out of the doors and into the darkness of the gardens.

The steps to the patio disappear quicker than I expected they would, the fresh evening air skirting around us as Carlos crashes down the steps behind us before stalking into the huge maze. This is going to be fun, being called out as he goes.

Anton steps out behind us, his voice ringing out loud and clear in the silence, a million miles from the busyness of the house we’ve just left. The party continues on without us, and the hosts, as his silhouette stands proud against the light of the house.

Just to confirm, you’ve never been here before? he asks.

No, why? Elena asks nervously from beside me, her grip around my arm increasing.

Just checking you don’t have an advantage, that’s all. He chuckles. We’re going to play a little game, a sort of hide-and-seek treasure hunt. The boys are already out there in the maze, and if you make it to the centre before they find you, then you win.

And what do we win? I ask excitedly, the butterflies of nervousness morphing into something else.

The knowledge that you bested us. He shrugs. And a favour of your choice.

A favour from La Famiglia.

The entire world knows who they are and what they can do. Anything. Not that I need anything, want for anything. No, my life is practically perfect. From the outside.

And if we lose? Elena asks, the dread in her voice front and centre.

Well, that depends on who catches you. You’re owned by that person for twenty-four hours to do with, and for, as they please. That might go better for one of you than the other, depending on the catcher. He laughs.

It’s clear who he’s referring to as his eyes narrow in Elena’s direction. There’s been no love lost between the two of them since she started at The Academy just a few weeks ago. And I still can’t figure out why.

I suggest you make this journey alone, ladies. Or there could be some interesting three-way action going on.

With a laugh, I unloop my arm from Elena’s, running away into the darkness. Calling, Good luck, sister, as I disappear into the night.

I flick the torch on, finding the entrance to the maze and making my way in. Excitement bubbles through me, the alcohol I drank on the way in doing its job and loosening any inhabitions I might have had.

There are three of them hidden in here, it’s dark, and I have no idea where I’m going. A giggle bursts forth unexpectedly as I turn left, the sides of the maze looming on both sides ominously.

The torch is shit, but better than nothing in the dark.

Less than two foot in front of me being lit up as I excitedly make my way left and right, weaving an unknown path through the maze.

Anticipation fizzes at the back of my neck, the tingles in my fingers from more than just the alcohol and the biting cold. They’re dangerous, these boys. I’ve always been happy to quietly observe from a distance. Yeah, I’m friends with Tia, but she’s not the same.

She’s got the presence, the Mariotti charm, but she doesn’t have the cloak of darkness that surrounds Carlos and his friends. The invitation he so casually threw in our laps this afternoon is everything I never knew I needed. Life. Excitement. Something new.

Not that entertaining Elena hasn’t been all those things, it is, and having a friend in my home has been fun, different. It’s not like there’s anyone else there that often, so it makes a nice change. But the tension simmering away between her and Anton is going to boil over eventually, and I don’t want to be alone picking those pieces up.

I turn a corner, only half paying attention when I come face to face with a dead end. Shit. I should be paying more attention to where I’m going and what I’m doing and spending less time musing about the impending blow up with my friend.

Turning, I head back the way I came, I think, and dip through an entranceway, hopefully leading closer to the centre and whatever awaits me there. A favour from La Famiglia, with no strings attached, I wonder what one of those would go for?

What would I even ask for?

It’s not like my life is short of anything, my parents have more money than they know what to do with, and I’ve never been without anything I wanted, never mind needed. The stables are testament to that. Could they get my parents to be home more?

The thought flickers, registering and being dismissed just as quickly. Even if they could, would I really want it? I love my life; my freedom, my friends, and now a little mischief. Who in their right mind would want to fuck that up?

Following the trees around, I think I see light ahead, turning on my heel and quickly marching in the opposite direction. My breaths come out in panicked huffs as I keep turning around, checking the light isn’t following me, but I don’t see anyone.

Adrenaline courses through me, a rush I didn’t even know could happen as I lean back against the thick bushes, a giggle breaking free. Fuck that was close. A giggle that stops abruptly when a pair of arms appear from the darkness at my side, wrapping around me.

Gotcha.

Tino

I’m sure everyone else hears the girly screech that cascades from her as my fingers connect with her waist, pulling her out of the bushes and to my chest. Instinctively, my hand wraps over her mouth, cutting off the noise to keep her quiet.

Shh, you don’t want anyone else to find us, do you?

I’m not averse to sharing with the boys, it’s happened once or twice, but I have a feeling this one isn’t that kind of girl. The terrified shake of her head denies it, but the tremble in her body could be anything; interest, excitement, or pure panic.

Calm down, I placate. I’m not gonna do anything. It’s just a game. I shrug, releasing her. But if you run, I’m gonna chase.

Fuck, she says on an exhale, dropping the light of the torch to the ground. I should have known you guys wouldn’t play fair.

Nobody said the torches were a necessity. It’s practically pitch black out here, but her light was enough to follow, hoping and praying there wasn’t anything on the floor for me to trip and fall over. That would take some explaining.

I can’t believe you caught me. She laughs, her disbelief clear. Like getting to the middle of a maze you’ve never been to before in the dark is nothing but a walk in the park. It’s something we’ve done a lot, and even we struggle without the light, sometimes.

I guess that makes you mine, huh? I smirk.

Well, random stranger in the dark, a deal’s a deal. So, I guess it does. She nods, squaring her shoulders, shaking some of that panic out. I’m Brianna Delgato, but just call me Bria, everyone else does, she adds on, more nervously than I anticipated.

I know.

Of course we know everyone that got an invitation. Name, address, contact details. Half their fucking life stories are checked before they’re even considered as an option to party with us. Carlos might make it seem like the parties are free and open, but that’s not how it is behind closed doors. And as much as knowing everything about everyone is safer, it also takes some of the fun out of it.

I’m Tino. Let’s go back and get a drink, shall we?

She tucks a stray lock of hair behind her ear, wrapping her arm through mine with a nod. Lead the way, she whispers.

She’s cute, sweet and a little wary of me. I like it.

With a chuckle, I pull my torch from my pocket, looking left and right to get my bearings, completely distracted by the tiny dimple that pops in her cheek before setting off back through the overgrown hedge and back to the cabin.

I expected her to be louder, chatty, as we head back. Maybe it’s the darkness we’re surrounded with, or maybe it’s the fright I just gave her, but either way, her silence is surprising. She lets me open the door for her, the light blinding as we enter the house.

Franky’s guy still has music going in the living room, and the party has been going on without us, if the half empty bottle of tequila on the side is anything to go by. Pulling a bar stool out for her, I clear a space on the counter, dumping empty plastic cups in the bin as I go.

It only takes a minute to find what I need in the chaos of the kitchen and make some room as she watches on quietly. "You’re a cocktail