by J. L. Beck
We get married on a Sunday. The sun hangs high in the sky, shining down on us. Waves crash against the private sandy beach, and the wind blows through my hair. There couldn’t be a more picturesque moment. My dress is perfect, white, and elegant. Markus looks dapper in his tux, his hair sculpted perfectly against his head.
He looks as much the growly bear now as he did the day of the auction.
My parents, sister, Felix, Julie, and Markus’s close friends, Julian, Elena, and their daughter, join us in our celebration.
With our hands joined, we stare into each other’s eyes. We recite our vows, and Markus grabs onto me, pulling me into his chest, planting a possessive kiss against my lips when we are announced as husband and wife.
Everyone smiles, and I’m sure I’m going to implode with happiness.
“Now you’re never going to get away,” Markus whispers into my ear.
I shiver from the possessive tone he takes.
“I wouldn’t even try to leave. I was yours before I even realized it,” I reply, my eyes catching on the diamond ring on my finger.
“You’ve always been mine.” He pulls me even closer to his side, and I squeal as I trip over the end of my dress, only for him to catch me around the waist.
It’s still surreal and crazy how our lives have changed over the last year. We walk up the beach and toward the condo where we have dinner and drinks set up. We both agreed that something small and private would be perfect.
“I can’t believe we’re married and that this year passed by so fast,” I announce when we reach the entrance to the small reception area. There are light decorations, flowers, and candles lit. It’s intimate and totally us.
“This year has been a wild one.” Markus hands me a flute of champagne. “I personally can’t believe I convinced you to marry me.”
“There was no convincing,” I reply just as everyone else comes walking into the backyard.
My parents are the first to arrive. They don’t know that I know about the adoption. Amelie doesn’t know either, and I don’t want her to. I don’t want anything in my life to change. They might not be my family by blood, but they are my family in every way that counts.
Everyone takes a seat, and we have a buffet-style dinner. There are laughs, tears, and joy. The sun starts to set, the sky turning a hazy orange as it kisses the horizon.
Felix and Julie end up leaving right after we eat. Not that a fight would break out or anything, but the tension between Felix and Julian is noticeable.
“Let’s make lunch plans,” Julie says as she wraps her arms around my middle.
“Yes, let’s go next week. We need to catch up, and I have no idea when Felix is going to run back to the island with you.”
Julie laughs, and it makes me happy to see her smile. She’s healthy, cared for, and I’m so happy for her. “Who knows, but yes. We will catch up.”
“You’re so fucking beautiful. Have I told you that?” Markus’s voice dips seductively, and my core tightens. I swear I could get pregnant just from the things he says some days.
“Only a handful of times, but please, tell me again because there is nothing like being told how beautiful you are by the man you love.”
Markus chuckles, and we move on to cut the cake.
My parents leave not long after that, and though it saddens me, I know they don’t approve. My mother said I was too young to get married when she found out, and my father told me he didn’t feel Markus was good enough for me. Little did he know, the man he claimed wasn’t good enough had saved both his daughters on more than one occasion.
We part ways, me kissing them goodbye and sending them on their way. Amelie, of course, stays behind. For the most part, she is stuck to my side. She’s attending college downtown, and even though she’s never really spoken about her time in captivity, I know something happened. I can tell just from the constant paranoia she exhibits. Always glancing over her shoulder as if someone is going to come for her.
Markus squeezes my hand, and his deep voice drags me back to reality. “I’m going to step away and talk to Julian for a couple minutes. I’ll be right back.”
“Okay.”
Grabbing my fork, I slice through the piece of marble cake in front of me.
Elena, Julian’s wife, catches my eye as I shove a forkful into my mouth. She’s beautiful with long dark brown, almost black hair, and piercing green eyes. Markus told me a little about how she and Julian came to be.
Julian took her as revenge, forcing her to marry him. Obviously, it all worked out, judging by the happiness that radiates off her. She cradles their sleeping daughter in her arms.
“Congratulations.” Elena smiles sweetly.
“Thank you. Your family is beautiful.”
The fact that they have a daughter and seem to have overcome their circumstances, giving in to love, gives me hope. I’m not sure if Markus and I will ever have children. We’ve discussed it briefly but decided now wasn’t a good time. We want to have some time for us before we add any small little humans to the mix.
“Thank you. She is a true blessing, and don’t tell Julian I told you this, but she definitely has her daddy wrapped around her finger.”
We both smile at her reply.
“I am not surprised. She is beautiful.”
Elena strokes her full head of hair. “Thank you. With Christmas coming up, we’re going to be going to a few fundraisers. It will be our first time without her.” Elena frowns.
In the world we live in, I cannot imagine leaving any kids we might have with someone even for a few hours.
“I can’t even imagine how scary that is going to be,” I say. “Markus and I aren’t sure if we will have children yet. We just want to enjoy each other.”
Elena nods and smiles. “Of course. Enjoy your new marriage and time together.”
Right on cue, Markus and Julian come walking back into the room. They are both smiling, and when they reach the table, Julian slaps a hand on Markus’s back and looks me right in the eyes. His gaze is penetrating, powerful, frightening, and I have to stop myself from looking away.
“I want to congratulate you. One for reeling this guy in, and two for putting up with his shit. He’s a tough son of a bit—”
“Julian!” Elena scolds, cutting him off.
He looks away for a second and winks at her. “Sorry, beautiful.” Julian is the kind of man that could convince you that the sky wasn’t blue. He’s dangerous and decadent, and he only has eyes for one woman.
Elena merely shakes her head, but I can tell they’re in love; that one look makes her weak in the knees. She loves him wholeheartedly.
He continues, “Like I was saying, congratulations. He’s your responsibility now.”
Markus chuckles, his eyes sparkling with joy, and his happiness is contagious.
What started as someone’s revenge bloomed into love between two unlikely people, and I couldn’t have asked for a better outcome. He’s everything I could ever hope or wish for. He takes his seat beside me, and I lean into his side.
“I love you,” I whisper.
“I love you too, beautiful.”
And there is nothing like hearing him say, I love you. Especially when I was sure he could never love again.
Thank you for reading Violent Beginnings. Lucca’s story is coming soon.
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In the meantime, you can read about Julian and Elena’s night out for FREE in Savage Christmas. (Lucca will make an appearance too!)
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Cruel Obsession Sneak Peek
I made a vow to protect her when we were just kids. First, from the monsters hiding under the bed and then the ones roaming the world freely.
My obsession with Dove wasn’t normal, it toed the line on psychotic, but my love for her overshadowed that. I’d killed, destroyed, and hurt those that had done her wrong. I’d watched her for years wanting to claim her but refu
sing to. I was both her guardian angel and a demon lurking in the shadows.
She was mine, even though she didn’t know it yet.
I had planned to let her live her life while I watched from afar. Until one night, everything changes, and I’m forced to kidnap her.
She doesn’t remember me.
She doesn’t know me.
She begs me to let her go.
But I can’t. I won’t.
Chapter One
Dove
Paranoia skates down my spine as I walk a little bit faster down the sidewalk. The cold night air fills my lungs, and my heartbeat thuds loudly in my ears. All I can see and feel is that creeper from the party coming up to me and grabbing my wrist. His fingers biting into my flesh. The smell of alcohol on his breath as he spoke into my face.
“Dance with me…” He didn’t ask, he demanded, and there was no way I was going anywhere with him, so I kicked him in the nuts and left the party. But now I can’t help but feel like he’s following me.
Reaching the end of the sidewalk, I chance looking over my shoulder. My gaze falls on nothing but darkness. The light pole above my head does very little to illuminate the street, and when I look back again before crossing the street, I find someone walking toward me.
Panic bubbles up inside of me, and this time, I start running. The air rips through my hair, and my lungs burn as fear implants itself deep in my gut.
Run. Don’t look back. Just keep running.
Cutting down a side street, I hope to throw the guy off, but as I continue running, I can still hear his footfalls behind me. This has to be a nightmare, something I’ll wake up from any second now.
Glancing over my shoulder, I realize it’s anything but a dream. My eyes catch on the plaid pattern of the man’s shirt. Instantly, I know this is the creep from the party. Shit. Instinct tells me to run, but deep in my gut, I know what I should do.
My hands shake as I try and pull my phone out to dial 9-1-1, but my fingers slip over the sleek device, and I keep putting the wrong passcode in. Panting, I make it underneath an illuminating streetlamp and force shallow breaths into my lungs.
A grunting sound meets my ears, and when I look over my shoulder again, the man is gone. Just gone, vanished like he wasn’t there at all.
Dazed, I stare at the exact spot he was in, fearing he’ll reappear any second, but he doesn’t. A strange calmness washes over me. It makes zero sense, but I don’t dwell on it long enough to digest it. Instead, I shove my phone back into my pocket and run the rest of the way home.
By the time I reach my apartment, the exertion is evident, I’m gasping, and a sheen of sweat has formed against my forehead. I fumble with my keys, almost dropping them before finally getting the damn door open. Once inside, I slam the door closed and lock it before turning and sagging against the door.
A moment later, Max is by my side. The eleven-year-old cat I rescued from being euthanized last year has been my most trusted friend. I sink my fingers into his long fur and let his low purring calm me.
You’re okay, everything is okay… I repeat to myself.
It’s been years since I’d felt fear like that, not since I was a little girl living in foster care. My skin crawls, and I suppress the thought.
All that matters is that I’m safe. That I’m in my apartment and nothing happened to me.
Everything is going to be okay…
Chapter Two
Zane
Slamming my fist into the fucker’s face, I watch with glee as agony overtakes his features. He should’ve known he would die, especially after touching what was mine.
An image of my beautiful Dove fighting to get away from him. Her big, blue eyes brimmed with fear, her plump bottom lip trembling. Clenching my fist, I let the anger from that memory sink deep into my bones.
“What were you planning to do when you got her alone? Huh? Why were you following her?” I growl, my patience withering away with every passing second. Part of me doesn’t want to know what he had planned, but the other, bigger part does. I want to hear the words, want them to fuel my anger even more.
“I don’t know what the fuck you’re talking about,” the bastard sneers, playing stupid.
I cock my head to the side and give him a bemused expression. “You must think I’m a fucking idiot, huh? That I didn’t see her tell you no. That she didn’t push you away? Or that I didn’t watch her run out of the house and down the street? That I didn’t see you follow a short while later.”
If it wasn’t for me, he would’ve hurt her, but I was there, just as I’ve always been. And just like all the others who have tried to hurt Dove, he too will die at my hands.
“You’re fucking crazy!” he spits. Blood drips down his lip from the punch I landed against it, and all I can do is stare at it. I can’t stop the cruel smile that splits across my face. My blood sings with joy, and the dark beast inside me cheers with elation at the sight of his blood.
Grabbing him by the hair, I tip his head back, reveling in the scream that pierces the air. Ahhh, there is nothing like when they scream or beg for me to let them go. The hope that shows in their faces before all is lost. Before I snuff the light out of their eyes with my hands.
“Crazy? You haven’t seen anything yet,” I sneer.
Clenching my fist a little tighter, I pull back my arm and land another punch, this time, my knuckles meet the bridge of his nose and the satisfying crunch of bone cracking fills my ears.
The monster inside me is terrifying, real, and it consumes me. I don’t stop as his screams continue to echo through the warehouse. They all cry and beg, but at the end of the day, it’s their own fault. Had they made a better choice, they wouldn’t be here.
By the time I’m done, his face is unrecognizable, and he’s slumped over in the chair I’ve tied him to. Turning, I grab a knife and lift his chin, or what’s left of it. Then I slice him from ear to ear. I feel nothing as I do this, no that’s not true. I feel something. Joy, happiness, relief. His death makes the weight on my chest a little lighter.
Dove is safer now that I’ve extinguished him. Safer now that another worthless person is gone from her life. Another person wanting to hurt her that won’t ever get the chance.
I was put on this Earth to protect her, to ensure her safety as long as I lived.
I might never have her in the way I want, but at least I can always make certain no one hurts her. She will forever be mine, even if she doesn’t know it.
Walking away from the body, I head to the sink and wash the blood from my hands. I spend way too long watching the reddened water swirl down the drain. When it finally runs clear, I scrub my hands with soap, rinse, and dry them. Pulling out my cell, I text Rob to tell him to get the cleanup crew together.
Most people would probably feel guilt or at least some type of emotion after doing what I just did, but I don’t feel anything.
Not that I can’t feel at all, because I can, I just chose not to. Feeling all the time would make it hard for me to kill people for the mob, on top of protecting Dove.
My phone chimes and I see Rob’s name flash across the screen, letting me know that he’s gotten my message. When he arrives, I walk out to my car like nothing ever happened. I consider just driving home, but at the last second turn onto the street to Dove’s place.
She lives in a relatively safe area, but that didn’t stop me from putting cameras and motion sensors in her house. I would go to any length to ensure her complete safety. Even in the safest neighborhood in the country, no one knows what happens behind closed doors.
Parking on the street a few houses down, I shut the car off, and look up at the apartment building. How much longer can I do this?
Subject myself to her sweet scent, soft murmurs, and beautiful face. How much longer can I go on before I’m forced to claim her? My need for her is starting to consume me, eating away at every single rational thought that I have. Every day I’m forced to tamp it down, but I’m not a saint, and soon enough, I
’ll break.
Forcing the thoughts away before they take root, I exit the car and walk across the street at a leisurely pace. It’s quiet, and if you look hard enough, you might see a few stars hanging in the night sky. When I reach the door to the apartment building, I slide my keycard into the door, waiting for the click to push it open. No one even glances my way as I walk inside. I’ve been here so many times most people probably think I live here.
In fact, I know one of Dove’s neighbors actually thinks I do. Of course, I don’t correct her. What would be the fun in that? I use the walk upstairs to clear my mind, and by the time I reach Dove’s door, I’m a little more composed. Pulling out my phone, I check the surveillance feed in her bedroom one last time. The image confirms that she’s sound asleep, tucked nicely into her bed. Unlocking her door, I enter her apartment slowly. I’ve done this so many times it’s like riding a bike to me.
Quietly, I close the door behind me. I’m welcomed by the darkness of the apartment, feeling at home in more than one way. The dark is where I thrive and the shadows my best friend. It’s the only place I can be myself. But Dove, she is light, pure, vibrant, and innocent. My darkness threatens to taint that light, to snuff it out... and that reminder alone keeps me away, but never too far.
I’ve only taken one small step inside, but Max is right there, curling his fury body around my leg, purring loud enough to wake the dead. He, too, thinks I live here. Bending down, I pat the top of his head before shushing him away.
The soles of my shoes make little noise as I move through the house like a ghost. I know where every corner, every creak, and every piece of furniture is. I know about every window and every door, and even what’s hidden in each cupboard. I know how she likes her coffee, what her favorite books are, and what time she gets up every morning.
There isn’t one thing about Dove that I don’t know about. I know her inside and out, maybe even better than I know myself.