by J. J. McAvoy
“It took even God six days to create the world, Mel. Let’s not get ahead of ourselves.” Neal acted like this was a joke.
“We may be all powerful, but we are not God. We do not want to create the world, we want to own it.” Liam rose from his chair. With the end of the fighting, and wars, we could finally do what we did best—make money. We had a whole shipment of drugs pouring in, and we needed to focus on the business.
By the end, we would be untouchable, and what better way to do it than having the President of the United States in your back pocket?
LIAM
When they all left, only Declan and I remained in the study as the sunlight slowly started to creep in through the blinds as it rose over the forest. A new year, a whole new brand of problems, and I wasn’t sure how to even begin to tell Melody.
“Check it again, Declan,” I commanded pouring the brown liquid in to the crystal glass, this was just . . . fuck.
“Liam, I’ve checked more than ten dozen times in the last two weeks. Nothing is going to change the fact that—”
“Don’t you dare fucking say,” I snapped, squeezing the glass. “If you say it with that much conviction then it’s true. And if it’s true, I’m going to be the one who has to explain it. I do not want to fucking explain it.”
“Liam, it’s time we face this head on. You know it. I know it. It’s time Melody knows it.”
Easier said than done. I pinched the bridge of my nose and cracked my knuckles trying to ease the tension through my body.
“We’ve been so happy, Declan,” I whispered, staring at the sun as I drank slowly. “She’s been happy. How do I tell her that everything she knows is a lie?”
He paused, taking a deep breath as he walked up beside me at the mirror. “It’s better that she hears it from you, than finds out on her own.”
He handed me the folder once again, and I stared at the woman with short black hair and warm olive skin. Standing tall and proud with her sunglasses on.
“They look so much alike.”
“They are alike Liam, and all the evidence shows Vance was right. There is much more to this than we knew. Not only that Aviela Giovanni, Melody’s mother, isn’t dead, but that she’s been behind it all. She wants to kill not only you, but her own daughter.”
“And Orlando knew?”
“He did what you’re trying to do now and protect her. But I doubt that’s going to work much longer. Aviela Giovanni just entered the States.”
And just like that, I could feel the floodgates of hell beginning to open.
“May God have mercy on all our souls when Mel finds out.”
Thank you for your purchase. Please long onto Amazon.com or Goodreads.com and leave a review for this title. We would love to hear from you.
I would like to thank all the ruthless people who made this book possible. From my Internet readers and best friends—to my publishing house and editors.
You all are absolutely amazing.
I know if it weren’t for you, I would have never made it to this point.
All of you have made me feel incredibly special!
Ruthlessly Yours,
J.J. McAvoy
Just a 20 something year-old-girl
screaming from behind a computer screen.
About the Author
J. J. McAvoy first started working on Ruthless People during a Morality and Ethics lecture her freshman year of college. Two years later, she is an insomniac who has changed her major three times, and is a master in the art of procrastination. If you ask her why she began writing, she will simply tell you “They wanted to get their story out.”
Acknowledgments
It takes one person to actually write a book.
However, it takes an army to keep that person sane.
So to the
FIVE amazing teachers who let me paint the sky red,
FOUR insane friends who told me to listen to the voices in my head,
THREE nosey brothers—Jodd, Justin, and yes you Alex—who brought me Oreos,
TWO awe-inspiring parents who always told me just do it, and really believed I could,
ONE publishing company, TWCS, that took a diamond in the rough and made it “reflect,”
Thank you all so much.
Notes
1. We are lagging behind.
2. Oh, my sweet girl.
3. Goodbye.
4. Welcome to the family, Callahans.
5. Sweet little girl.
6. Without respect.
7. Hello my little pretties.
8. Welcome aboard, ma’am.
9. Who are you fuckers? Drop the guns.
10. I am Liam Callahan. This is my fiancée, and you two are dead.
11. All the fucking drugs are gone. Damn those cunts to hell. Vance is going to kill us.
12. My lovely, Mel.
13. Hello, my sweet child.
14. Hello, my sweet father.
15. You look so beautiful, Melody. I’m sorry I was not strong enough for you.
16. You are, and will always be strong enough.
17. Be good to her, Liam.
18. Be good to him, Mel.
19. I will,
20. You all make me sick.