With Ties That Bind

by Trisha Wolfe

  “Donavan. Get a direct line to the medical examiner.” I wrench the girl free of the whores. “Time to send a message to Doctor Avery Johnson.”

  * * *

  I float in a sea of limbo, lost but for the light of your voice, my destination. The haunted undertow of secrets drag me to the depths, drowning but for your saving touch, my anchor. ~Avery Johnson

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  Also by Trisha Wolfe

  (Main links direct to Amazon)

  Living Heartwood Novels

  The Darkest Part: Living Heartwood (Book 1) -iTunes

  Losing Track: Living Heartwood (Book 2) -iTunes

  Fading Out: Living Heartwood (Book 3) -iTunes

  Bad Road: Living Heartwood (Book 4 coming soon)

  Dark Romantic Thriller Series: Broken Bonds

  With Visions of Red: Broken Bonds, Book One -iTunes

  With Visions of Red: Broken Bonds, Book Two -iTunes

  With Visions of Red: Broken Bonds, Book Three -iTunes

  Broken Bonds Boxset: Complete Series

  Fantasy Novels:

  FREE Of Silver and Beasts: Goddess Wars (Book 1) -iTunes

  Of Darkness and Crowns: Goddess Wars (Book 2) -iTunes

  Kythan Guardians

  Destiny’s Fire: (Young Adult) A Kythan Guardians Novel -iTunes

  Astarte’s Wrath: A Kythan Guardians Novel

  Fireblood Series

  Fireblood: Fireblood (Book 1) -iTunes

  Unveiled: Fireblood Novella

  Acknowledgments

  Thank you to:

  My amazingly talented critique partner and friend, P.T. Michelle, for reading so quickly, giving me the much needed pep talks and advice, wonderful notes, and for your friendship.

  My super human beta readers, who read on the fly and offer so much encouragement, I could not write books without your brilliance. Honestly, you are my girls! Katrina Tinnon, Naomi Hopkins, Amy Bosica, Michell Casper, and Melissa Fisher. I really can’t express how much you mean to me—just know that I couldn’t do this without you. Thank you.

  A special shout out to the girls who keep me sane in the Wolfe Club, where it’s perfectly acceptable to be anything but ;) You girls are the best. You make me laugh, keep me motivated, and offer so much support, you have no idea. I adore every single one of you. And a special thank you to my girls in the group for helping me get this book in shape! Thank you!

  My awesome assistant, Naomi Hopkins. I could not get through one book without your insightful input, girl. You go above and beyond an assistant’s duties to help me sort through my chaotic life. Thank you for being a friend.

  To my family. My son, Blue, who is my inspiration, thank you for being you. I love you. And my husband, Daniel, for your support and owning your title as “the husband” at every book event. I love you, too. To my parents, Debbie and Al, for the emotional support, chocolate, and unconditional love—I love you guys right back.

  Najla Qamber of Najla Qamber Designs, thank you for so much for not just creating this stunning, take-my-breath-away cover, but for also just rocking so hard! You were so much fun to worth with; you took the stress right out of the very stressful task of series cover creation, and I cannot wait to work with you again on future projects. This cover is everything I envisioned and more.

  A special acknowledgement to Damaris, thank you for being not only a wonderful friend, who’s there when I just need to call someone, but also a huge support of my career. You mean so much to me.

  There are many, oh, so many people who I have to thank, who have been right beside me during this journey, and who will continue to be there, but I know I can’t thank everyone here, the list would go on and on! So just know that I love you dearly. You know who you are, and I wouldn’t be here without your support. Thank you so much.

  To my readers, you have no idea how much I value and love each and every one of you. If it wasn’t for you, none of this could be possible. As cliché as that sounds, I mean it from the bottom of my heart; I adore you, and hope to always put out books that make you laugh, swoon, and cry.

  I owe everything to God, thank you for everything.

  About the Author

  From an early age, Trisha Wolfe dreamed up fantasy worlds and characters and was accused of talking to herself. Today, she lives in South Carolina with her family and writes full time, using her fantasy worlds as an excuse to continue talking to herself. Get updates on future releases and special bonus material at http://www.trishawolfe.com/

  Want to be the first to hear about new book releases, special promotions, and sale events for all Trisha Wolfe books? Sign up for Trisha Wolfe’s mailing list here.

  Sneak Peek at KL Kreig’s LUKE’S ABSOLUTION

  Luke

  “Thanks again, man,” I tell Bigs, picking up an end of the king-sized mattress and walking backward out of the U-Haul in tandem with him. Moving is a bitch, and doing it by yourself just plain sucks ass. We stop and close up the vehicle, not wanting the rest of my shit stolen. It may not be much, but it’s mine. I’d just as soon keep it that way.

  “No problem. She know you’re movin’ in yet?”

  I let a ghost of a smile turn my mouth. “What? And ruin the surprise? Not a chance in hell.”

  We walk right through the ‘secured’ outer apartment doors that any idiot could prop open, leaving all the occupants of this fine twenty-eight-unit building vulnerable the minute they step foot into what’s theoretically to be their safe haven. The alarm that’s supposed to be attached to the outer door appears not to be working. My first order of business is to call the supe and get the damn alarm fixed, along with securing our apartment with locks that would keep even the most sophisticated burglar out, instead of the current ones any amateur could pick.

  I’ve never liked where Addy and Livia lived. It’s not exactly in the nicest part of south Chicago, but when I moved Livia here, I wasn’t about to let her live alone. I needed to get away from her so she could heal. I couldn’t leave her completely alone either, so when I found out Eric’s sister lived in Chicago and was in need of a roommate, it seemed like the fates were on our side for fucking once.

  “Somehow, I don’t think this is the type of surprise a woman likes.”

  Somehow, I don’t think Addy Monroe would like any kind of surprise. She seems to have her little world in tip-top organized shape. Or so she wants everyone to believe. She needs it shaken up just a bit. And I’m a goddamned walking earthquake.

  “She’ll deal.”

  We navigate the flimsy piece up three flights of stairs, into my new digs and to the bedroom I’ll now be occupying. Flopping it onto the springs that sit on the floor because the bed frame sits in pieces in the corner, I take a look around at my new “home.” Unwelcome memories cause a little pang of hurt in the middle of my chest.

  It’s been almost six months now that I was in this very room, holding Livia in my arms when she was such a goddamn mess over my twin that she couldn’t even function. I look toward the bathroom, where I can still envision her bubble-covered body. It was the first time I’d seen it without bruises or blood or broken bones. I remember the restraint it took to hold back from pulling her to my mouth, begging her to choose me instead.

  I did the right thing, though. Livia clearly belongs with Gray, not with a man like me who has so many fucking ghosts in his closet, I’m surprised people can’t hear them howling.

  My selflessness with regard to Livia is one of the only things in my life I’m truly proud of. I care enough about her to walk away and that was a damn hard thing to do.

  Maybe moving in here was a bad idea. The shit of it is, I’ve actually been making progress in getting ove
r Livia, too. Gray and I have been spending more time together, especially since I moved my business to Chicago six weeks ago, and our relationship is slowly improving. With each new story he tells me about Livia and the babies, strangely, the easier it gets to accept it, them, and the further I can put Livia in my taillights. God knows I don’t want her in my brights anymore.

  Even though I’ve been quietly paying the rent on this place every month, I’ve struggled for the last few weeks with my decision. Is moving in here the right thing to do? Not only do I not need any reminders of Livia Kingsley/Colloway, I haven’t been able to get the mahogany-haired, hazel-eyed knockout—who will be sleeping in the other bedroom just feet away from me—out of my fucking head. All I’ve thought about is how she rebuffed me the night of the Livia and Gray’s wedding and how much I want to change her mind.

  I want to tame the untamable.

  And I shouldn’t, because Addy Monroe is the type of woman you marry, not the type of woman you just fuck and chuck, and husband material, I am not. Regardless of that fact, am I backing off? No. I’m not. I can’t. I can’t explain what I don’t even understand myself, but I’m irrationally drawn to her.

  “How about a beer, then we’ll get the rest of the stuff?” I ask Bigs, needing to get my mind off what a stupid decision I’ve just made. I should have just cut bait and found a place of my own that held neither memories nor the woman I want to throw up against the closest wall and fuck into submission. But what can I say? I’m a poster child for self-destruction. Always have been.

  “Thought you’d never fucking ask,” he replies, already headed toward the kitchen where I’ve stocked the fridge with a case of Heineken. Handing me one and taking one for himself, we pop the tops and clink before each taking a nice long gulp.

  “You sure this is a good idea, boss?”

  Ben “Bigs” Briggs is an old friend of mine and an employee I’ve had on the payroll of my private investigation company for two and a half years strong now. He’s also the one I sent to Chicago to keep an eye on Livia for a month until I could figure out the shit with the video that was leaked. We’ve been through hell and back together and I’d trust the man with my life. He’s my closest confidant and knows almost everything about my past with Livia, and in one drunken night a couple weeks ago, I guess I mentioned my unholy attraction to her best friend. My new roomie.

  “I’m sure I’m tired of listening to you and Hattie’s moaning every fucking night, so yeah.”

  His grin is wide and shameless. “Walls are thin, what can I say.”

  “Oh, I’ve heard plenty of what you’ve had to say. Even through the Kleenex I shoved in my ears. I now know things about you I would rather go to my grave not knowing.”

  That draws a loud laugh from Ben. “Probably taught your sorry ass a few new things.”

  “Yeah, a few new things not to say.”

  “Asshole. Say, I got a tip earlier on the bail jumper. I’m headed to Kankakee tomorrow to check out a lead.”

  “Take Stucky with you. This guy’s bad news.”

  “Lucky for him I’m his worst fucking nightmare.”

  “Bigs, I mean it.”

  “Worried about lil’ ol’ me, are you?”

  “No, I just want Stucky out of my hair.” I laugh, taking a long pull of the bitter hops.

  “I don’t want to be stuck with that whiny bitch any more than you do, LC.” Hence, why we call my newest employee, Jason Stark “Stucky.” He’s proven to be a brilliant investigator, but he’s a bitch baby no one wants to be around for long.

  “When you own your own business, then you get to make the assignments.”

  “Fucker.” He slams the rest of his beer and sets down the empty bottle on the pristine counter before heading toward the front door. “I’m going to grab the last couple of boxes.”

  “Thanks, man.”

  I look at the clock to see it’s after eight and I wonder when the hellcat will be home. I know she owns her own painting studio, although I have no idea what hours she keeps. I have to imagine owning her own business like I do, means she puts in a lot of time. I half expected her to be here when I pulled up in the truck but was kind of relieved when she wasn’t. I didn’t want to get into a pissing match in front of Bigs. He’d never let me live that shit down since he tried talking me out of moving in with Addy in the first place.

  “Never shit where you eat, man.”

  But I already had one father, thank you very much, and God knows I’ve lived under the boot of too many people for too many fucking years, so I’m not about to let anyone hold me back from doing what I want to do when I want to do it.

  And, right or wrong, over these last few months what I’ve decided I want to do is Addy Monroe. Repeatedly and wickedly until I’ve had my fill of her. Wooing a woman like that from afar will never work. She’s going to need constant, daily convincing of the reasons she needs me to explore every inch of her sexy temple.

  I inanely wonder if she’s dating anyone. Guess maybe I should have thought about that before I moved in. Oh well, far as I know, she’s got no ring on her finger and until she does she’s fair game.

  I’m just finishing my beer when I hear a commotion in the hallway. I step out of the kitchen into the living room to a shrill voice yelling, “What the hell?”

  I don’t see her because Bigs takes up the entire doorway with his bulk; I sure do hear her, though. Bigs catches my eye. With a shit-eating grin on his face, he shakes his head and steps to the side, heading down the hallway with two big boxes in hand.

  Watching the space Bigs just vacated, I lock eyes with the woman I’ve ached to see for nearly three long months.

  “Are you fucking kidding me right now?” she shrieks. “What in the hell do you think you’re doing here, Luke?” I’m sure her arms would be flailing if they weren’t filled with folders. I almost wish they weren’t; I’d love to watch her indignant display.

  She opens and closes her mouth several times, no more acidic words falling. The barely leashed fire shooting from her eyes would singe me if I actually gave a shit. As it is, I don’t, so I lean against the counter and drink in my fill of the stunning spitfire I cannot stop thinking about. I let my gaze slowly roam down her tight body, which is sadly hidden underneath a light pink spring jacket.

  Jesus, she is something else. No wonder she’s haunting me. Addy Monroe is the only woman I’ve met in the last five and a half years who has eclipsed all thoughts of Livia, so if I’m honest with myself, that’s the main reason I need to be here with her. She does so many things to my body, to my emotions, but giving my heart and soul a little bit of peace is probably the single biggest one. And while I feel like a rat bastard taking something that she’s not freely offering me, I fucking need that peace like I need air. If only for a little while.

  When my eyes finally collide with hers again, I let a broad, cocky smile turn my lips, as fury further turns down hers. It’s quite apropos, I think. For some reason, we seem to bring out the worst in each other. All that fire will make for one hell of a good fuck, though. She can say otherwise, but she wants me. Plain as day.

  Bigs was probably right. Never shit where you eat. But hell if I care at this particular moment. All I’m doing is planning the hundred ways I’m going to make her moan, scream, and sob my name in pleasure…and maybe even a little in pain. I do keep my promises, after all.

  “Hello, dear. How was your day?” I finally retort sweetly.

  Her eyes light in fury.

  Yeah.

  This is gonna be fun.

  You can now pre-order LUKE’S ABSOLUTION, the third stand alone novel in the Colloway Brothers series! -Amazon Releasing March 28

 

 

 
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