The Search For Shattered Pieces *Complete*

Chapter Thirty-One: Missteps and Mistakes

    I swish, and waves a soft fabric caress my legs. I can't believe the image in the mirror is me. I don't think I've ever owned a dress this fancy or this beautiful before. And after Cami had done my hair the reflection staring back at me was of a completely different girl; graceful, lovely...beautiful.

"Crap!" I look at the clock and quickly hurry to take off the gown. I shouldn't have tried it on again when I knew I had practice so soon, but I just couldn't help myself. Now there would be hell to pay. But then again, there would be hell to pay either way. At least this way I got to see myself again in the beautiful gown.

    I change quickly and rush down to the rink. Maksim is waiting.

"You are late."

"Da trener. I am very sorry I was just..."

"More foolishness, little doll?" Maksim skates over to me. Grabs my upper arm and stares into my eyes. "Your hair is different...and your makeup is not competition ready. Are you mine little doll, fully committed or are you thinking of other things?"

"I am yours trener, Maksim. I...I..." the grip on my arm tightens, and I push back a grimace. "I...I...am ready to work."

"We shall see, little doll. We shall see."

             *****

Trenton:

"Hey, hey, you need to see this!" I grab my brother's arm before he can leave. "Where are you going anyway?"

"Back to the office." Zachariah says and I groan.

"You need to see this."

"Can we do this later. I really do need to get back, Trent."

"No we can't do this later, it's about Lyra." Now THAT got his attention. I pull out the the little screen from my pocket and bring up the video feed.

"Okay, exactly what am I looking at except for the fact that you've taken peeping Tom to the whole new level."

"Look at how the Russian bastard holds her. Look at his hands on her arm. Look at the way she flinches."

Zach sighs. He scrubs his face and takes a breath. "Listen I agree that it's a little tough, but you remember, hell you still go through it, hockey practice. Coach grabs us all the time, Trent."

"I'm telling you, Zach, I have a bad feeling about this."

"And I'm telling you that I had a bad feeling invading her privacy in the first place putting cameras all around the rink, but I did it for you, and your gut. But I can't go to him, or Stefan with what you've got. Grabbing her arm doesn't show us anything except that he was trying to get her attention."

"Dammit, Zach."

"I'm sorry, Trent. But there's nothing there."

I narrow my eyes. "So when will you take this seriously? When she's covered in bruises and bleeding?

Zach shoves me against the wall and his eyes are raging. "I will never allow that to happen."

"WE will never allow that to happen, Zach." I say calmly. "Fine, I don't care what you say, peeping Tom or not, I'm going to continue to watch this feed. I'm telling you, something doesn't feel right, and I'm going to prove it to you."

Zach lets me go and closes his eyes and when he opens them their filled with so much emotion I almost stagger back.

"I love her, Trent. I love her. I won't let her get hurt."