by Jo Raven
Then Mom is back in the picture, calling and getting together for a coffee with me and Sophie, and she even managed to drag Dad from his artists’ colony once, and we had a Sunday lunch all together, like a family.
Not that she and Dad are getting back together. This isn’t a fairytale. But at least they’re on speaking terms again. As for my sister… She’s quiet. If I could be sure she’s happy too…
“What’s on your mind?” Merc asks, tugging me against his side on the bed. We’re doing a marathon of the Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit movies. “You’ve been quiet.”
I snuggle a bit closer, inhaling his scent of clean sweat and sexy boy. “You. Your family. Lin. You.” I stroke his chest through the thin fabric of his T-shirt. Today it just reads ‘Stay.’ “You, mostly.”
He laughs. “What about me?”
“I like your taste in T-shirts.”
“And I just like your taste.” His eyes darken. “What am I gonna do with you?”
I close my eyes. “Plenty of walls here.”
A growl leaves his throat. His head dips and his mouth brushes over mine. “Now you’re reading my mind.”
“Not that hard.”
“You sure about that?” He takes my hand, places it over the bulge between his legs.
My bad. He’s fully hard, the hot rod of his cock burning through the cotton of his sweats into my palm.
“But I don’t wanna fuck,” he whispers. “I want to make love to you.”
“Merc…” Unexpectedly my eyes fill up.
He lets go of my hand and draws back with a frown. “What is it? Tell me.”
I don’t even know how to say it. It seems stupid, after everything we’ve been through, but it seems impossible not to ask.
“I’ll be here for as long as you want me. If you…” I stop. “If you don’t…?”
I don’t know what I’m asking. If he doesn’t discard me? If he decides his feelings changed? Wouldn’t it be just like Cosima’s Law to have everything I want just to have it snatched away?
That will break me, shatter me, grind me to dust.
But he can read my mind, too, it seems, because he kisses me again and says, “I love you. Don’t you know? I’ve never said that to any girl before.”
I lose the battle, and two lone tears run down my face.
It’s a relief, and a reply. My heart is too full for words.
“Cos…” He hauls me into his arms, face serious and fierce. “Don’t you get it, my CosieCat? I’m yours, and that can’t ever change. I wanna marry you, and have kids with you, and kittens.”
I laugh through my tears. “You wanna have kittens?”
He grins. “And puppies. I wanna have it all, with you. If you want it, too.”
“I do, DreamBoy.”
God, I do. And if the way I throw my arms around him and kiss him as if I can breathe him in isn’t reply enough, then I’ll keep telling him yes until he knows I mean it for real.
Epilogue
Merc
I didn’t think I was ready for commitment and thoughts of a family. Don’t get me wrong, it’d always been in the back of my mind that some day I’d want my own family. A girl to settle down with, kids, a house like the one I grew up in. I simply didn’t think it would happen so soon.
But as I hold my girl and give her that promise, give her what I see in our future, I’m content. It’s as if my life was a puzzle before, the pieces scattered all over the board, some missing, and now they’ve all fallen into place.
The picture is complete.
A movie is playing, but all I can see and hear and feel is the woman in my arms. I’m pretty sure those are happy tears she’s crying, but I tighten my hold a little bit more, to show her I’m here, just like she does for me when I wake up from a nightmare, disoriented and grieving for something I can’t even pin down.
I can’t be grieving for Ross. Losing a brother I hadn’t known I had until a few years ago, and the last person I’d want to be related to…
No way. If not for the dreams, I wouldn’t have talked to him again and wouldn’t have missed it, either.
Speaking of dreams… They’re getting better. I’m not sure Cos or my family believe me when I say that. My fault for refusing to talk about them way too long, for downplaying them, and now I’m like the boy who cried wolf, only… reversed?
Ha. I’m trying to give them the good news that my dark dreams are lightening, and they won’t listen. That’s okay. The great thing about things improving is that there’s no urgency, no end, no limit to how much better you can feel.
How much happier.
And if Jasper, our daddy dear, is in jail awaiting trial for aggravated assault and assault with a deadly weapon, all the better. No affection lost there. In fact, suspecting he’s a goddamn murderer? No affection lost at all.
At the river bend across from the Pagoda they found only those two skeletons, and though the swan pendant means one of them probably belongs to Ross’s mother, the other one is a Jane Doe. Identity Unknown.
And Jasper keeps denying he knows anything about them. The blood on his jacket didn’t match the victims’ DNA. The rust on the ax is just that: rust. And even if Jasper has a golden tooth, like the bogeyman in my nightmares, that proves nothing at all.
So it’s all down to my dreams and possibly memories. Not enough to indict anyone, and they won’t even let me testify, because my story is too unbelievable. John Elba hasn’t given up on finding some real proof that will stand in court, though, something that will get Jasper nailed for the murders.
Not that Jasper is going to walk any time soon. He’s most probably still going to prison for aggravated assault of Ross and assault with a deadly weapon. It’s better than nothing, that’s for sure, though not nearly good enough.
The movie plays on, and Cos relaxes against my side. I kiss her sweet-smelling hair and wonder how I ever mistook her for her sister. She smells like Cos, looks like Cos, sounds like Cos. There’s nobody else like her in the whole wide world.
I think about Gigi getting married. I think about marrying Cosie, standing in front of my family and the world to declare my love for her, and I feel no panic.
I wonder if Matt could help me choose a ring?
Hiccup jumps on the bed and curls on my leg, purring like a toy car engine, small but energetic. I let her be and nod at JC who passes outside my door on his way to his bedroom.
One day I’ll get his story out of him.
One day I’ll marry my girl.
One day I’ll see Jasper locked behind bars for good, held accountable for everything he’s done.
For now, though… tonight, right now, this lost God of the Dead, Mercury Tyson Watson, is right where he wants to be, in every way.
Everything is as it should be, and it’s fucking perfect.
Author Note
As you have probably already guessed, I had a couple of spin-off stories in mind when I wrote Dark Child:
First of all, the story of Sophie and Griffin. This book will be part of the Cards of Love group project I am participating in along with many wonderful authors. Mine is the Tarot card of Strength, historically also called Fortitude, it deals with acquiring the necessary strength to recover from disease or accident, and the journey toward the light.
Then we have Lin and the vanished boy she used to love. This is one of the stories I’ve wanted to write for a long time, aka the “Tarzan or Feral Boy” story.
Finally, we have JC and those he wronged, aka the “Cinderella and the Bully” story that’s been in my plans for years.
Of course, officially, next in the series is the story of Ross, and then that of Evan, and this is probably how it will go…
Dark Child and the shadow self
So this is an idea, a question that I have been working out for myself – as I often do through my stories. Is there a dark counterpart to who we are, either inside of us or outside of us?
Cosima thinks that she is the dark shadow of
her sister Sophie. Sophie is bright, has set goals in her life, and to Cosima she is perfect. Cos feels kind of worthless compared to her, and the fact that she has no real life, stepping in whenever her sister needs her and pretending to be her doesn’t help things – until she decides she needs to stop, to decide what she wants, to give Merc a chance.
Merc believes that he sees a dark side of himself in his dreams. A shadow self, chased by a bogeyman, in a nightmare land with corpses and blood. But later he realizes that his dark shadow is actually his half-brother Ross. All the things Merc dreams about are Ross’s reality – and Merc is in fact his bright side. His bright reflection.
What the Merc, right? *wink*
Main CAST of DARK CHILD:
The Watsons/Hansens:
Mercury (Merc) Tyson Watson
Octavia Ruby (Tay, Tati) Watson
Augusta Claire (Gigi) Watson
Margaret (Maggie) Watson
Matthew Hansen
* * *
The Parkers:
Cosima Parker
Sophie Parker
The Joneses:
Ross Jones
Jasper Jones
(mystery sibling)
What Comes Next
My “To Be Written” list is never getting shorter… always longer, and that’s as it should be. Here is what I think comes next:
My next book will be the story of Cosima’s sister, Sophie, in STRENGTH, a standalone which will be released in a group series name called Cards of Love with many unicorn authors.
After that, I am planning to write Ross’s and Evan’s stories (Octavia and Gigi’s half-brother and Matt Hansen’s friend from Destiny).
Then another book in my M/M (gay) romance series which started with Jagged Edge, and then the third book in the Hot Candy series (MMF romantic comedy).
For next year I have planned The Lost Boys series which is a spin-off of the Inked Brotherhood and Damage Control series has been on my mind a lot and I would love to start working on it.
Also in the plans are books in the Bad Boy Escorts series which started with Riot, the Soulstain trilogy, about the tattoo shop guys who visited Damage Control in Ocean and Jagged Edge – and Jackass and Co.: the trilogy about Jesse Lee’s funny roommates.
Finally, I still want to write Colt’s story (Inked Brotherhood spinoff story. If you read Rafe, you may remember Colt who also fought in the underground fight club).
Any particular story you would like me to write?
Let me know! Also, if you haven’t, join my readers group where we discuss and vote on projects, covers and generally have fun! ▶ http://on.fb.me/1K2LvzO.
Acknowledgments
Every book is a journey. It takes a long time and you are never sure the ship will reach the port. Nobody can sail that ship alone. Even if I write the stories, I have so many people to help for their friendship, their support and help.
Merc’s story was written during a time of some personal turmoil and conflict, as well as physical issues. At some point I wasn’t sure I could do it.
So first of all, I want to thank my friend Sam Destiny for getting me through it. Wouldn’t have done it without you, woman. This book is here thanks to you, and no, I am not exaggerating.
Then I would like to thank Wander Aguiar for the amazing picture that captured Merc so well. Covers are important to me as a writer: I need the write picture and cover before I write a story. Big thanks also to the awesome Letitia Hasser of Romantic Book Affairs for giving me a cover I love so much.
The book was written, but I was unsure whether it worked or not, and so I asked for trusted opinions. Huge thanks to my alpha Sam Destiny, and my amazing betas: Kerry Fletcher, Lainey Da Silva, Ahima Booklover and Rebecca Teem. You ladies rock.
A big shout out to my ARC reviewers who took the time to check the book for more errors: Jessica Elliott, Amanda Campbell, Lisa Turner, Brandy Freeman, Karen Atkinson Lingham, Angie Cody, Maxine McCormick, and Charity Wilson. Extra thanks to Lindsey Davis for discussing JC’s role in the book with me.
Huge thanks to my writing sprint partners: Sam Destiny, Aimie Jenniston, Jamie Summers, Delia Petrano, Deanna Roy, Blair Babylon, Clarissa Wild and Kia Zi Shiru.
Big hugs and thanks to my lovely author friends who listen to my rants and whining throughout the writing and editing processes and keep me sane. Jade West, Isabella Starling, Kia Zi Shiru, Sam Destiny, Michelle Heard, thank you! The romance community is so beautiful, it surprises me every day. Reminds me of Merc’s family, to be honest… warm and caring.
Heartfelt thanks to my editor and my formatters, my teaser and banner designers (Gel Ytayz, looking at you!) and everyone who pitched in to help in one way or another.
And finally, last but not least, huge thanks to all of you for reading!
Author Bio
Jo Raven is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author, best known for her series Inked Brotherhood and Damage Control. She writes edgy, contemporary New Adult romance with sexy bad boys and strong-willed heroines. She writes about MMA fighters and tattoo artists, dark pasts that bleed into the present, loyalty and raw emotion.
Find all my books here ▶ http://joraven.com/books
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Have you read the Inked Brotherhood series?
Five boys brought together by fate. Five young men trying to overcome their troubled pasts. Five tattoos marking them as a brotherhood built on tragedy. Will they find understanding and rise above the pain?
Five girls tied by friendship. Five young women fighting their own demons. Five lives laced with sorrow. Will they be strong enough to save the men they love and make them happy?
* * *
The series comprises five interconnected, stand-alone novels: Asher, Tyler, Zane, Dylan and Rafe.
GET IT HERE
After the Inked Brotherhood, comes DAMAGE CONTROL:
The Damage Control series is set in the same world as Inked Brotherhood. The boys of Damage Control were taken in by Zane Madden and Rafe Vestri and offered apprenticeship and work in the tattoo shop Damage Control.
The series comprises five interconnected, stand-alone novels: Micah, Jesse, Seth, Shane and Ocean.
GET IT HERE
Do you like romantic suspense and bad boy millionaires? How about giving my new series, SEX AND BULLETS, a try?
LINKS HERE
Do you like ménage romance and romantic comedy? How about checking out my series HOT CANDY?
LINKS HERE
And of course, there is Caveman, Mancave, Undone and Bad Wolf—and not to forget, Broken Compass (a reverse harem romance). Have you read them?
LINKS HERE