by Evans, A. K.
“It’s me, bud.”
I closed the door as he pulled the blanket from his face.
He looked so scared and I knew I felt enough fear for the both of us. I didn’t want him experiencing it too, so I did my best to shake off how I was feeling and instructed, “Hurry up and finish your dinner. It’s game time.”
While Rocco finished eating his dinner, I went about building a tent for us to camp out in. It was really more of a fort, but he loved it regardless. Rocco and I then spent the next little while playing boards games under the fort. Most of them were meant for a kid his age, but I didn’t care. I just wanted his mind focused on something fun and positive.
When he started yawning, I told him to go brush his teeth while I cleaned up the games. I joined him in our bathroom a minute later, brushed my teeth beside him, and followed him back into the bedroom.
“The bed or the tent?” I asked him.
“The tent.”
We climbed under it together, put our pillows side-by-side, and settled ourselves under the blankets. As I laid there beside my brother in silence, I couldn’t stop my mind from replaying what I saw my father do to my mother.
She was a girl.
And he was so much bigger than her.
She wouldn’t ever be able to fight back and win.
But I was a boy.
I’d grown a lot in the last few months.
I was going to get bigger.
And once that happened, I was going to make sure he never hurt her again.
A long time had passed and just when I thought Rocco had fallen asleep, he surprised me when he called, “Enzo?”
“Yeah, bud?”
“Is it wrong for me to not like the bear?” he asked, his voice worried and trembling.
I didn’t know how to respond to his question. I never expected to hear him ask something like that.
Rocco went on, “He scares me. And he makes Mama sad.”
He knew.
I hated that he knew.
“I don’t like him either,” I assured him. “But you don’t have to be scared. I’ll never let the bear get to you and hurt you, Rocky.”
“We need to find a way to keep the bear away forever, Enzo. He hurts Mama.”
“I know, bud,” I sighed, not having any idea what to do. “I know.”
A few minutes later, Rocco fell asleep.
It took me a lot longer to get there.
Get Solitude here!
Gosh! How is this my seventh book?!?!
Before releasing Desperate, I decided to make some changes. The Cunningham Security series needed a facelift, so I pulled out all the stops to make it happen. And I’m so honored that I was able to work with some incredibly gifted people to make it happen.
To S.H. - Even though I gave you nothing to work with because I have zero artistic ability, you knocked the covers out of the park. I literally cried when I saw them. You are amazingly talented and I’m so excited for many, many more.
To E.M. - You are a rock star! Your feedback on this book was priceless. That email you sent with praises made my year. I appreciate you working to get this in for me even when your schedule was already full. I promise to send lots of lip balm for all your troubles!
To S.B. - My books are so pretty now! :heart eyes: Thank you for doing what you do because I have zero patience (and talent) for it. Can’t wait for more!
To J.E. - My husband, my lover. You are the very definition of hard work and perseverance. Even after you spend your days working long hours to support our family, you still put in a hundred percent at home. Thanks for making me breakfast every morning as well as lunch and dinner on the weekends. I’m so lucky that you rarely let me get hangry. I love you.
To J.E. & J.E. - My two beautiful boys. There are not enough words in the world for me to tell you the lengths I’d go to give you the very best life has to offer. I only hope I’m succeeding. I will love you both forever.
To M.B. - Even through a move from one coast to the other, you still managed to read Desperate and give me your input. When I needed to take this project in a different route, you supported me all the way and I know how rare it is to find that. Thank you for showing me that there are still some genuinely good people left in the world.
To N, KP, JC, and the rest of the Inkslinger team - Thank you!! If it were for everything you all do, day in and day out, this would hardly be possible. Thank you for allowing me to be part of such a wonderful family of authors.
To my ARC Team Members - I love you girls! I’m not sure I can tell you just how much your support means to me. And with each book I release, I find myself growing more and more attached to you. I can’t wait to give you all the spotlight. It’s coming!!
To the book bloggers - I haven’t met most of you, but you still take the time to share my work. Saying ‘thank you’ hardly feels like enough when I know that if it weren’t for you, my stories wouldn’t reach nearly as many readers. Book bloggers could totally rule the world!
To my loyal readers - What is an author without readers? I am because you are. Thank you.
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The Everything Series
Everything I Need
Everything I Have
Everything I Want
Everything I Love
The Cunningham Security Series
Obsessed
Overcome
Desperate
Solitude
Burned
Unworthy (Coming September 2019)
A.K. Evans is a married mother of two boys residing in a small town in northeastern Pennsylvania. After graduating from Lafayette College in 2004 with two degrees (one in English and one in Economics & Business), she pursued a career in the insurance and financial services industry. Not long after, Evans realized the career was not for her. She went on to manage her husband’s performance automotive business and drive the shop race cars for the next thirteen years. While the business afforded her freedoms she wouldn’t necessarily have had in a typical 9-5 job, after eleven years she was no longer receiving personal fulfillment from her chosen career path. Following many discussions, lots of thought, and tons of encouragement, Andrea decided to pursue her dream of becoming a writer.
Between her day job, writing, and homeschooling her two boys, Evans is left with very little free time. When she finds scraps of spare time, Evans enjoys reading, doing yoga, watching NY Rangers hockey, dancing, and vacationing with her family. Andrea, her husband, and her children are currently working on taking road trips to visit all 50 states (though, Alaska and Hawaii might require flights).