Damned mafia wives!
Nixon’s grin grew wider.
Serena came running into the room and then rolled her eyes. “Not this again, Daddy… why, so uncool…”
“Daddy’s busy.” Nixon didn’t even blink.
Junior followed her took one look at us and held his hands up. “So much for gun control.”
Phoenix grabbed him by the neck of the shirt causing him to clothesline himself and then fall back against his dad. “Hey, I wasn’t talking back this time!”
“No, you were just being a smart-ass.” Phoenix said in a calm tone. “Tell Uncle Chase you’re sorry.”
Junior sighed and looked at me. “Uncle Chase, I’m sorry I was being a smart-ass.”
“Don’t say ass,” Bee yelled from across the room.
Luckily, the rest of the kids were either in the playroom or napping. Then again, mine were probably going to be running in here anytime since they needed a fire to roast marshmallows.
“Daddy!” Violet yelled, the door slammed.
“Bastard.” I hissed under my breath and lowered my gun, then turned around and bent down to her level. “Yes sweetheart?”
“I just wanted to tell you I loved you.” She shrugged like it wasn’t a big deal. Kissed me on the cheek and walked back outside.
When I turned around, Luc was grinning at me like she’d just won the lottery, and I could have sworn every single female in the room had misty eyes while the guys all softened their looks like they knew.
And they did.
They knew my pain.
They knew I kept my monster fed well.
They knew the shit.
The darkness.
And they knew that there was something about this family this blood that kept me grounded, kept me from doing the unthinkable.
“Luc.” I crooked my finger. “Casserole?”
“They just descended like wolves.” She shrugged. “In my defense, I didn’t even have time to pull a gun.”
“This is true.” Frank nodded his head. “It smelled too good, and we’re starving!”
“My wife, I’m starving!” I pulled her against my chest and then captured her lips with my teeth. “Mmmm, that’s better.”
“All right then,” Val elbowed El, “Time to campfire before they start ripping each other’s clothes off. I’ll just bring the food outside.”
I loved tasting her on my tongue, my wife, my light.
Chaos ensued when Tex whistled for all the awake kids to eat dinner. People ran around us, kids screamed, one of them was crying, and in all that chaos.
I found my perfect.
And didn’t miss the look Nixon gave me as he walked past, or the hand he pressed briefly on my shoulder, like maybe, just maybe, everything would really turn out okay.
One more day in this life.
One more gift.
I would live it to the fullest.
“Chase!” Dom yelled. “Marco just set me on fire!”
“You’re up.” I slapped Luc on the ass. “I’ll just go grab the wine.”
She sighed. “How does he even know how to make fire?”
I didn’t answer.
It was safer that way.
“Marco Chase Abandonato!” Luc had the mom yell down perfect. Even I winced and then laughed as Marco shuffled toward her and then burst into tears. “It was an accident.”
I grabbed the wine and brought it outside.
Dom grinned over at me. “I want the new Bugatti.”
“Son of a bitch!” I burst out laughing. “You actually did it?”
“How else do you think the little shit lit me on fire?”
I grabbed the key fob from my pocket and flicked it into the air. “Think of it as a late wedding present.”
Dom’s eyes were wide as saucers.
He had enough money to buy a shit ton of cars.
But this one was custom.
I had pre-ordered for two years.
My chest tightened.
It was the sort of car that had defined my past. Ten years ago, I would have driven that car as fast as it would go, I would have needed it to soothe my soul after another fight with Mil.
After that worthless feeling as she loosened her grip on me, on our family. As she told me that she didn’t want to bring kids into the world when all I wanted was a legacy.
Funny, because ten years ago that car seemed to fit me, my lifestyle, and now? Now I was really leaning toward a badass SUV that I could stick my family in.
I’d take it to my grave.
The fact that I didn’t give two shits about a sports car I couldn’t put a car seat in.
The guys would think I’d gone soft.
I shared a look with Luc.
Maybe, in a way… I had.
THE END!
ENVY
EXCERPT
“Renee, Vic isn’t…You’re here because…” She shook her head and tried again. “Vic is here to protect the families, to protect you, us, the kids. He’s the best we have, and he can’t lose focus.”
“Then I promise not to seduce him in my sleep,” I said sarcastically. “Scout’s honor.”
Her eyes narrowed. “Really? Because I was under the impression that something happened between you two.”
“Why would you be under any sort of impression when you don’t know what happened?”
Trace opened her mouth then closed it. “Just…” She patted my leg. “Just… God, if I can’t even talk to you about this, how am I going to talk to my little girl?”
“Ah.” It dawned on me in a painfully clear and amusing way. “Just don’t let him take my pants off? Is that where this is going?”
She grinned. “I was going for more like ‘just be careful because he’s not who you think he is and could end up hurting you’.” Her smile fell. “And the opposite could happen too, where you hurt him and he can’t work for us anymore. He took an oath.”
“What sort of oath?”
“The binding sort.” She stood and wiped her hands on her jeans and then hung her head. “I’m sorry, Renee, I really am.”
“For what? There are lots of things to be sorry for.”
She grimaced. “Let’s just say I’m sorry for what happened and even more sorry for what’s to come.”
My heart thundered in my chest. “What are you talking about?”
“Get some rest.” She rubbed her hands together then walked over to the light and flipped the switch, blanketing me in darkness.
I didn’t move.
I sat on the bed, my feet touching the floor, my hands folded in my lap. My heart beat louder than my thoughts, my thoughts a jumbled mix of terror and fear.
“Hey.” The sound of Vic’s gravelly voice made me jump. He pushed the door open a bit more, and light from the hallway spilled in. “Why don’t you get some sleep?”
“Right.” I stared down at my shaking hands even though I could barely see them. No matter how hard I tried, they trembled. “I’ll just stop thinking about all the blood and the fact that I’m in a stranger’s house. That one parent is God knows where while the other’s in Vegas—don’t get me wrong. I’m glad they weren’t at the house, but still.”
He sighed. “Sometimes you just want your parents—the people closest to you.”
“Yeah.” For having the physique of a competitive body builder he sure moved fast. One minute he was in the doorway, the next he was on his knees in front of me.
He pressed his massive hands over mine. They were warm to the touch, comforting. Slowly he raised his head and locked eyes on me. “Don’t force the fear away, Renee.”
“I don’t understand.”
“The best way to get over fear is to embrace it head on. Don’t try to push the thoughts away, let your mind replay them, let your soul feel them, deal with it now so you don’t deal with it later.”
“Is that what you do?”
He looked away. “Some of us have seen too much for it to work anymore.”
“What do you do then?”
He grimaced. “I replace it with a new memory—a fresh kill—and it takes care of the last one. Each memory replaces the last [FC1] until everything’s just a blur.”
“That wasn’t very encouraging,” I murmured, staring at his mouth.
His lips twitched. “Yeah, I had good intentions coming in here. I took a wrong turn when I told you it didn’t work—I should have lied.”
“No.” I gripped his hands in mine. “I’d rather have your truth.”
He swallowed. I watched the movement with heavy eyes. Even his massive neck was pretty. He bowed his head a bit then inhaled, fast and deep, and stood. “Sleep.”
“You’ll be watching?” I asked in a hopeful voice.
“I’ll be watching.”
“But not in a creepy way,” I added.
His smile was faint, but it was there. “In the least creepy way I can muster.”
“Thanks, Vic.”
“You don’t have to thank me for doing my job.” He tilted his head and then closed the door behind him.
I could see the shadow of his feet in the light from the hall. He was quite literally standing in front of the door like a prison guard.
With a frown, I hurried and got ready for bed in the dark, then crawled under the covers.
It was an immaculate room.
The bed was soft.
The sheets felt silky against my skin.
But I wasn’t home.
I squeezed my eyes shut and wondered if I’d ever be able to utter that word and mean it again.
PRE-ORDER ENVY HERE
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Rachel Van Dyken is a New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today bestselling author. When she’s not writing about hot hunks for her Regency romance or New Adult fiction books, Rachel is dreaming up new hunks. (The more hunks, the merrier!) While Rachel writes a lot, she also makes sure she enjoys the finer things in life — like The Bachelor and strong coffee.
Rachel lives in Idaho with her husband, son, and two boxers. Fans can follow her writing journey at www.RachelVanDykenAuthor.com and www.facebook.com/rachelvandyken.
ALSO BY RACHEL VAN DYKEN
Eagle Elite
Elite
Elect
Entice
Elicit
Bang Bang
Enchant
Enforce
Ember
Elude
Empire
Enrage
Eulogy
Envy
The Bet Series
The Bet
The Wager
The Dare
Seaside Series
Tear
Pull
Shatter
Forever
Fall
Strung
Eternal
Seaside Pictures
Capture
Keep
Steal
Waltzing With The Wallflower
Waltzing with the Wallflower
Beguiling Bridget
Taming Wilde
London Fairy Tales
Upon a Midnight Dream
Whispered Music
The Wolf's Pursuit
When Ash Falls
Renwick House
The Ugly Duckling Debutante
The Seduction of Sebastian St. James
The Redemption of Lord Rawlings
An Unlikely Alliance
The Devil Duke Takes a Bride
Ruin Series
Ruin
Toxic
Fearless
Shame
The Consequence Series
The Consequence of Loving Colton
The Consequence of Revenge
The Consequence of Seduction
The Consequence of Rejection
The Dark Ones Series
The Dark Ones
Untouchable Darkness
Dark Surrender
Darkest Temptation
Wingmen Inc.
The Matchmaker’s Playbook
The Matchmaker’s Replacement
The Bachelors of Arizona
The Bachelor Auction
The Playboy Bachelor
The Bachelor Contract
Curious Liaisons
Cheater
Cheater’s Regret
Players Game
Fraternize
Infraction
Liars, Inc
Dirty Exes
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The Parting Gift
Compromising Kessen
Savage Winter
Divine Uprising
Every Girl Does It
RIP
Co-Ed
www.rachelvandykenauthor.com
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