But I didn’t care.
Because if I didn’t fight, this was over. Here and now.
“Let me talk to them—”
Jethro spun to face me, his temper blazing. “You want to talk to them? To tell them what, exactly? The truth?”
“Enough!” Cut yelled. Looking at Bonnie, he frowned. “You want her gone?”
Bonnie nodded, her red lipstick smeared on thin lips. “Immediately.”
Cut sighed, his leather jacket creaking as anger wisped off him. “Fine,” he said sharply. “Nila Weaver, get the fuck out of my house.”
My heart crumbled.
Jethro crossed his arms, still shielding me. His ice slid back into place turning him impenetrable. “I’m the firstborn, and I say she isn’t fucking leaving.”
Cut moved around the table, his fists clenching. “You dare do this here, son? You know you’ll lose—”
“Wait!”
A feminine voice whipped through the aching tension in the room.
“Jaz? What the hell are you doing in here?” Jethro asked, his mask slipping as he looked at his wheelchair bound sister.
She rolled into the dining room with the aid of a blonde-curled maid. Jasmine’s bronze eyes met Cut’s. “She can’t go, Father. It’s not finished.”
Cut breathed hard through his nose, his temper throbbing beneath his frayed self-control. “Don’t speak of things you don’t understand. Jethro didn’t control the situation. This is his mess. He’s failed.” Cut looked piercingly at Jethro, sending goosebumps and terror down my spine. “It’s over. He’s done.”
The way he spoke…it sounded like a death sentence.
Jethro gasped, true fear coating his face. “It’s not over—”
“Shut. Up.” Cut sliced the air with his arm, silencing him. Looking at me, he snapped, “Leave, Ms. Weaver. Your time is up. I won’t tell you again.”
Jasmine’s gaze shot to Jethro’s. “Don’t let her go, Kite.”
Kite.
My soul splintered.
Bonnie shuffled forward. “I see what you’re doing, girl. Your family have been clever with their tricks and treachery, but I won’t let you spin any more of your filth.” Her wrinkly skin furrowed deeper with rage. “Get. Out. Now.”
“Was this always your plan, Father?” Jethro looked at Cut, panic and rage twisted his face. “You set me up to fail?” The depth of confusion and agony in his voice broke my heart.
My eyes flared wide. I didn’t understand.
“Jethro…he doesn’t matter. None of them do.” I squeezed his arm. “Believe in us. Believe in me.”
“Hush, stupid girl,” Bonnie snapped. “You’re the same as all the rest. Get out.” Pointing at the door, she hissed, “Go!”
The other bikers didn’t do a thing. Just sat and watched.
Jethro never tore his eyes off his father—they were clouded and strained. He was a trebuchet straining to release his tension.
“Don’t do this,” I whispered. “Don’t let them ruin what we have.”
We were damned to our fates, brought together by a ridiculous vendetta. Yet…something right had come out of something so wrong. We’d somehow found the one person we were meant to find.
I can’t go.
“You don’t understand, Nila. It’s not that easy.” Jethro looked at me, running his newly inked finger along the inside of my wrist. “Go, before it’s too late.”
Memories of the way he’d thrust inside me last night filled my mind. I’d meant what I said—I felt him—not just inside me, but what he hid inside him.
It was more than truth.
It had been gospel in its legitimacy.
“Jethro…it’s too late already. I’m meant to stay. With you.”
“She’s right, Kite. Tell the police to leave. Find a way,” Jasmine said.
I looked at Jethro’s sister in her navy wool dress and white pashmina in her lap. Her face was pinched and full of concern. What did she know? Why was she fighting on my side?
Cut slammed his fist onto the table with a resounding thump. “Get your hands off my son and get the fuck out!”
Jethro's face darkened. His gaze sent a brutally painful message.
Leave…at least one of us will be free.
My body wound tighter and tighter.
Tears clogged my throat. “I can’t. I won’t.”
I won’t be free without you.
Cut suddenly barked, “Daniel, seeing as Ms. Weaver refuses to leave, escort her off the premises.”
Daniel chuckled, his eyes glittering as he moved quickly around the table. “With pleasure, Pop.”
“Stop! All of you!” Jasmine shouted, but it didn’t do any good.
In a flash, Daniel grabbed my elbow, hauling me away from Jethro, from our bond, from the only existence I ever wanted.
“No!”
Daniel’s voice licked into my ear. “Fight me and I’ll do something un-fucking-forgivable. Do you want me to do that?”
I tried to stomp on his foot. “You’re a bastard.”
“Thanks for the compliment.”
Jethro lunged, grabbing me and punching Daniel in the jaw. “Get your fucking hands off her.” Whipping me behind his body, he glowered at Cut. “I’ll get rid of her.”
Cut breathed hard. “Good. Then I can deal with you.”
Jethro jolted, every inch tight and breaking.
Without a word, he dragged me toward the exit. He trembled as if he’d shatter at any moment, buckling under the weight.
I squirmed, fighting my aching body. “Let me go! I’m not going anywhere.”
“You’re leaving. If it’s the last thing I do, at least I can keep you safe.”
I struggled harder. “Safe? I don’t want to be safe. I want to be with you.”
“Quiet,” he choked, his face ashen. “It’s better this way.”
“You’re choosing them over me!” I tried to punch him. “Stand up to them. Leave with me. Don’t stay here, Jethro.”
He clenched his jaw and didn’t reply.
He wasn’t strong enough to fight for what we had.
He’s choosing his family over me.
I rolled my arm, twisting out of his hold. Scurrying from his hands, I turned to face Cut. “I don’t know what power you hold over him, but it isn’t enough. He’s mine, not yours.”
“Nila—don’t!” Jethro grabbed me, dragging me backward. “You don’t know what you’re doing. For fuck’s sake, don’t make this worse than it already is.”
Cut grinned broadly. “Congratulations, Nila. You’ve successfully just changed the future.” His eyes fell frigid and evil on Jethro. “I thought there was hope. But you were just too fucking weak.”
The men shifted in their seats. Cut never moved. “Get rid of the girl, Jet. You and I have something we need to discuss.”
Life seemed to siphon from Jethro’s limbs, growing colder by the second.
“No!” Jasmine screeched, rolling forward. “You can’t. You promised!” Tears slid from her eyes, looking at her brother. “Stop this, Kite. I’m sorry. I’m so sorry for making you change, for causing—” She stopped, unable to speak through her sobs.
The worst horror I’d ever felt slithered through my blood.
I’m hollow. I’m hurting. What the hell is happening?
Something darker was at work. This wasn’t about me anymore. This was about Jethro. His father.
What would they do to him the moment I left?
I wouldn’t leave him behind.
Linking my fingers with his, I pulled. “Jethro, come with me.”
But he just stood there, rooted to the spot. His eyes wild, lips parted.
I hovered…waiting. Waiting for one tiny sign that he was still alive beneath whatever fear had struck him mute.
Bonnie sidled up to me, bringing the sickening scent of rosewater and biscuits. “Goodbye, Ms. Weaver. You’ve earned your freedom today at the cost of another.” Leaning closer, she whispered, “You’
re free, but this is far from over, girl. Mark my words; you’ll pay for what your family has done.”
I stood taller, ready to fight even if Jethro wouldn’t. “Stop it, I’m stay—”
Jethro suddenly yelled, “Go! Just fucking go.”
The room froze, all eyes pinned on him.
He pointed at the door, shattering my heart into dust. “Leave.”
His eyes screamed the truth.
If you love me at all, you’ll go.
I need you to go.
“You can’t ask me to do this,” I said, wiping away a fallen tear.
“I can and I will.” Striding forward, he grabbed my face and kissed me in front of everyone. His hands shook, his lips trembled.
He broke me completely.
“Please, Nila. Do this for me. Let me make this right.”
Pushing me gently to the door, he commanded, “Go and don’t look back.”
My world crumbled.
My legs didn’t want to move.
My heart didn’t want to beat.
His eyes begged me to obey.
Please…go.
Stumbling, I did the impossible.
I didn’t look at Jasmine.
I didn’t look at Jethro.
I kept moving.
I would honour him.
I would obey him.
Even though every inch of me bled.
Even though every part of me was dead.
I would go home.
I would find a way to fix this.
It wasn’t over.
Two seconds later…
…
I was gone.
“She healed me. She broke me. I set her free. But we are in this together. We will end this together. The rules of this ancient game can’t be broken.”
Nila Weaver no longer recognises herself. She’s left her lover, her courage, and her promise. Two debts down. Too many to go.
Jethro Hawk no longer recognises himself. He’s embraced what he always ran from, and now faces punishment far greater than he feared.
It’s almost time. It’s demanding to be paid.
The Third Debt will be the ultimate test of all.
Add to Goodreads
Pepper Winters is a NYT and USA Today International Bestseller. She wears many roles. Some of them include writer, reader, sometimes wife. She loves dark, taboo stories that twist with your head. The more tortured the hero, the better, and she constantly thinks up ways to break and fix her characters.
She loves to travel and has an amazing, fabulous hubby who puts up with her love affair with her book boyfriends. She’s also honoured to wear the IndieReader Badge for being a Top 10 Indie Bestsellers, best BDSM series voted by the SmutClub, best Dark Romance, best Dark Hero, and recently signed a two book deal with Grand Central. Her books are currently being translated into numerous languages and will be in bookstores in the near future.
Her Dark Romance books include (click for buylinks from numerous online sites):
Tears of Tess (Monsters in the Dark #1)
Quintessentially Q (Monsters in the Dark #2)
Twisted Together (Monsters in the Dark #3)
Debt Inheritance (Indebted #1)
First Debt (Indebted Series #2)
Second Debt (Indebted Series #3)
Her Grey Romance books include (click for buylinks from numerous online sites):
Destroyed
Upcoming releases are (click the link to add to Goodreads)
Ruin & Rule (Motorcycle romance)
Je Suis a Toi (Monsters in the Dark Novella)
Forbidden Flaws (Contemporary Romance)
To be the first to know of upcoming releases, please join Pepper’s Newsletter (she promises never to spam or annoy you.)
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All other titles and updates can be found on her Goodreads Page.
My Demons by Starset
Bleeding out by Imagine Dragons
Somebody I used to Know by Gotye
Lost Cause by Imagine Dragons
Monster by Lady Gaga
I like it Rough by Lady Gaga
Point of No Return by Starset
Bad Romance by Lady Gaga
ET by Katy Perry
I Won’t Let You Go by Snow Patrol
Run by Snow Patrol
Beating Heart by Ellie Goulding
Silhouettes by Monsters and Men
Weak by Seether
Suffer Well by Depeche Mode
Break Free by Ariana Grande
I like you the way you are by She the Monsters
Angel by Theory of a Deadman
Saving me by Nickelback
Seven books and acknowledgements down, and they still don’t get any easier. Along with the typical gratefulness, I’m going to answer a few personal questions that relate to the creation of the Indebted Series. First, the acknowledgements.
Thank you to Ari from Cover it! Designs. I’m still awed by the covers for this series.
Thank you to Aussie Lisa and Nina for being so amazingly supportive and awesome friends. I seriously couldn’t have done this without you. From our daily PM’s to just knowing you’re there for my mini-breakdowns. Love your faces.
Thank you to Katrina, Kiki, Mandi, Yaya, Vicki, Tami, Vickie, Ellen, and Natasha for reading the first copy of Second Debt, typos and all. Especially a big thanks to Yaya for being brutal even when she doesn’t want to hurt my feelings, Mandi and Tami for inviting me into an incredible friendship, and Kiki for searching the world’s music for the best songs.
Thanks to Jenny from Editing4Indies. You have my back and put up with my crazy deadlines and urgent emails. I love knowing you’re in my corner.
Thanks to Nadine for running my street team and the amazing girls who help spread the word, and for organising one of the best events in 2015 in San Francisco.
Thank you for my Pepper Pimpettes who do a fabulous job sharing and reviewing.
Thank you to The Rock Stars of Romance for hosting the review and blog tour and for getting me drunk one night so we could finally gossip about the good stuff.
Thank you to my readers who just make me feel so loved and appreciated in all things that I write.
Thank you to hubby for cooking me dinner, keeping me alive, and overlooking the fact I now work entirely in pyjamas.
And finally, thank you universe for making my dreams come true.
Now, onto the questions:
The main question I get asked is: Where did your inspiration come from for this series? That isn’t an easy one to answer. I’ve always been a HUGE lover of historical romance and find it brutal, dark, and in some ways beyond the realm of comfortable behaviour in many circumstances. That’s because it isn’t fiction. That sort of stuff happened. Honour was an unbreakable vow. Tradition was an enforceable law. The Debt Inheritance is so wrapped up in things that happened in the past, that at first it seems unbelievable. How something like that could come about and how it could be guarded and continued doesn’t makes sense, but it does if you’re steeped in history and family feuds. It’s the way of law—the only law. And I hope as the plot is uncovered that it makes a lot more sense why it’s so layered.
I also get asked: Was I worried that Jethro would be unredeemable? No. I’ve always known what sort of man Jethro Hawk is. And I’ve hinted at that in this book. The answers will be delivered very soon and then…it should all make sense. I always knew his affliction and it plays perfectly into his inner conflict of the sort of life he’s been made to live.
Right, that’s enough. I have to go write the next book. Hope you all enjoyed Second Debt and w
ill continue to follow Jethro and Nila’s tale.
Happy 2015 everybody x
Destroyed
This book enticed & enthralled me completely. Pepper's stories are like a fine piece of art. They are profound, unique, raw and beautiful—Kristina, Amazon Review
Pepper Winters has a ridiculous level of talent, and I'm in awe of how deeply she delves into her characters. There are not enough stars, seriously—K Dawn, Amazon Reviewer
If you like a bit of grey in your romance then you need to get this book because it's one of the best books I've read this year—Bookfreak
*
USA Today, #1 Erotica and Romantic Suspense Bestseller.
She has a secret.
I'm complicated. Not broken or ruined or running from a past I can't face. Just complicated.
I thought my life couldn't get any more tangled in deceit and confusion. But I hadn't met him. I hadn't realized how far I could fall or what I'd have to do to get free.
He has a secret.
I've never pretended to be good or deserving. I chase who I want, do what I want, act how I want.
I didn't have time to lust after a woman I had no right to lust after. I told myself to shut up and stay hidden. But then she tried to run. I'd tasted what she could offer me and damned if I would let her go.
Secrets destroy them.
Buy Now on All Major Online Stores
***
Tears of Tess (Book one of Monsters in the Dark)
Book two: Quintessentially Q, and Book Three: Twisted Together, are available now
6 Holy Wow This Author Took Me On A Ride I Never Saw Coming and Left Me Speechless Stars. I've never rated a book 6 stars before so this gives you an idea of just how good I believe this book to be. This story will take you by the hand and show you how both darkness and light exist within all of us. It will ultimately take you by the heart and you will be so glad that you read it—Hook Me Up Book Blog
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