Refusing to ever let a woman—or his brother for that matter—get to him, Vince wagged a finger at Alex. “Oh, that’s right…you never experienced the challenge of sleeping alone. Unlike you, if I wanted a woman in my bed nightly, I had to put a ring on her finger.”
“It’s gonna be like that, is it?” Alex grumbled good-humoredly, a smile lifting his cheeks. It was all part of the act they’d rehearsed. Alex had ad-libbed the married-at-nineteen part, though, initiating Vince’s counterattack. “Not that you have a woman I can reveal all your secrets to,” Alex continued, “but I’ll make sure I remember your antics for the day you do. As for me, my past is behind me.” He tugged Irene closer, planting a kiss on the top of her head. “My lady already knows my deep, dark secrets. So nice try, brother, but she’s all mine.”
Vince leaned behind Alex, scooping up Irene’s hand from around his brother’s waist. “You sure, honey. He’s a wild one, that one. It’s not too late. You haven’t said I do.”
Irene laughed, then stood on her tiptoes, kissing Alex on the cheek. “Thanks for the warning, Vince, but it’s way past too late. Besides,” she winked, “I’m not so tame either.”
“Really?” Vince wiggled his brows. “Then while you’re still single…how ’bout you and I get a little wild?” He lifted her hand over Alex’s head and led her to the dance floor.
Alex set down his full mug and followed noisily, his heavy boots shuffling on the scuffed planks. “I know women are scarce in Falcon Run, Vince, but come on… Don’t show Irene how great you are. She might not want me,” he teased.
Vince glanced back and winked. “A little challenge never hurt no one. Good to keep Alex on his toes, huh, Irene?” He gently squeezed her dainty hand, zigzagging his way.
At the framed section of wood floor designated as the dance floor, Sam pulled up a chair and nudged Irene down. “Have a seat, honey. You’re gonna love this.”
“Oh!” Irene giggled. “What’s going on?”
Vince stepped onto the floor and started clapping a 2/4 meter. The crowd quickly followed suit, maintaining a perfect marching beat. It wasn’t the first time the town had cheered him on. The DJ started the CD Vince had given him earlier. Ukrainian folk music flooded the usual honky-tonk bar, and more drunk locals joined in, clapping, stomping, and tapping their mugs.
“As most of you know…” Vince intoned, voice booming. He’d never needed a microphone. He classically walked, center stage, with steps that would make many a ballerino jealous. “…my father was a good-for-nothing son of a bitch who never gave me anything but a black eye. But that bastard could dance.” Vince bowed, held Irene’s enthusiastic grin. “Alex said the night you met…you had to persuade him to dance. Before you commit to my spider-monkey brother, let me assure you that I’m the dancer in the family.”
Vince started slowly with his father’s version of the Gopak dance. Arms crossed, he crossed the dance floor with low squats and high kicks, then spun into a pirouette.
Irene cheered. Barflies stomped. The rhythm of the claps increased as Vince dropped into deep squats, kicking his legs out repeatedly. Between each kick, he clapped, spread his arms wide, pointed his toes. For his grand finale, he jumped up, literally doing what his brothers called the Russian, as he touched his toes with outstretched arms.
Vince bowed in front of Irene, leaning over to kiss her hand when Erik tapped him on the shoulder. The music changed to a popping beat.
Erik, the wiriest of his brothers, began what he called Locking. With fast and exaggerated movements, he kicked and popped his arms, jumped, landing in a hurdle stance. The dance reminded Vince of a cross between a Native American ritual dance and hip hop.
Sam stepped onto the floor, sliding Erik out of the way as a rock version of Smooth Criminal started. “Not sure what they’re trying to prove, Irene. Everyone knows I’m the dancer in the family.” Sam shifted his ball cap low on his head, then did his version of the moonwalk. The crowd screamed. Irene hooted, punching her fists to the moderate tempo.
Daire marched onto the floor with high steps, knocking Sam back with a fake shove as a hip-hop beat pounded through the speakers, the bass rattling the hanging glassware. He hopped in front of Irene, fake-licked his hand, drew his fingers down his eyebrows, then stepped forward with one foot, pushing his hands up and out. He knocked out his right knee, rolled back, and knocked out his left knee.
Alex mean-mugged his brothers as he stepped in front of Daire. He waved his hands, speaking to the crowd, “Uh-uh. Ain’t happening, brothers.”
On cue, the music changed, and Alex sang, changing the words of the 1930s song to: “I will dance…just ask me. I will dance, Irene, with you.” The track segued into Dancing Queen, and Alex sidestepped backward, shifting his arms as if he were repeatedly pulling a crossbow, and wiggling his hips to the beat. He and Alex had worked on the three simple moves for days. Alex definitely wasn’t a born dancer.
Irene hopped up, rocking her hips back and forth, blowing kisses at Alex. Thankfully, she didn’t care that Alex couldn’t dance. Irene loved his brother for everything he was, not his shortcomings.
The music transformed into a lively folk tune again, and Vince and his brothers joined Alex on the floor, clasped arms, and continued Vince’s Gopak dance, kicking in perfect rhythm. They unlocked arms, and Alex reached for Irene, pulling her onto the dance floor, wrapping his arm across her waist, showing her where to place her arm, and then spinning her in a circle, arms up.
“Oh, my God!” Irene howled. “You guys are crazy! I love it! Another checkmark on my bucket list.”
Alex laughed as he spun his fiancée around, smacking Vince on the back mid-rotation. “Vince really is the dancer in the family. He’s been working on this for weeks, as an engagement gift to us.”
Irene blew Vince a kiss. “Thank you, Vince!”
Vince laughed and returned the air kiss. “Just be grateful I drink too much, Alex. If I hadn’t been passed out drunk after Sam and Nora’s reception, I would have been the one keeping Irene company, and believe me, I wouldn’t have questioned her dance request.”
“I’m thankful every day, Vince!” Alex called, twirling Irene away.
Nora, her baby bump clearly pronounced at seven months, joined Sam. Erik and Daire reached for the closest women; there were always eager women waiting for men who were willing to dance in the dive bar.
Vince danced his way toward his quasi-adopted mother, Claire Belgarde. He had no desire to lead on local women by dancing with them. Too many desperate singletons in Falcon Run, and he was too jaded. It’d be a cold day in hell before he let another woman sink her claws into him. Sure, he liked to play, but like Alex used to do, he now only dated tourists.
Nope, his only goal was buying a new fishing boat and heading back out to sea, away from all the reminders of his biological family.
Just as he neared his mother, a woman stepped into his path. His legs locked in place, refusing to move.
Valery Yura, the woman he hadn’t seen since their high school graduation, smiled and stepped into his arms with practiced precision. She turned him back toward the dance floor, pressing her body against his as though she hadn’t left Alaska twelve years ago without even a Dear John letter.
“Hello, Vikentiy.”
Thank you for reading Alex’s Atonement. I hope you enjoyed Alex and Irene’s story and will want to jump right into Vince’s Chance.
Also, if you enjoyed reading Alex's Atonement, please consider posting a review on Amazon.com, BookBub.com, and/or Goodreads.com.
Find links to continue the Midnight Sons series on www.CarmenDeSousBooks.com/MidnightSons.
Thank You!
Dear friend, thank you so much for taking the time to read Alex’s Atonement. I hope you enjoyed Alex and Irene’s journey. They will return in the other Midnight Sons books, as I know readers love to see what happens after the story ends.
All the books in the Midnight Sons series are stand-alone stories — NO CLIFFHANGERS �
�� but I hope you’ll want to read them all, so you can personally meet each member of the team.
Find links to continue the series on www.CarmenDeSousaBooks.com/MidnightSons
Midnight Sons
Sam’s Folly
Alex’s Atonement
Vince’s Chance
Erik’s Revelation
Daire’s Resolution
More Series by Genre:
Romantic Suspense
The Southern Collection
Paranormal Romantic Suspense
The Creatus Series
American Haunts Collection
Romantic Women’s Fiction & Chick Lit
What’s Luck Got to Do with It
Crazy Love
You can find all my books on my website: www.CarmenDeSousaBooks.com.
About the Author
I love writing. As far back as I can remember I created stories — no, not to my parents — with my best friend. We would sit for hours playing with Barbie dolls, creating new adventures with the iconic toy. Then when I was eight, I actually wrote my first story. A horror story about gigantic fleas of all things; I guess I had a fear of fleas. Who knew I’d grow up to be a romantic suspense writer?
When I was in college, I wrote my first novella. My professor wanted something that entailed drinking and fishing — he was a huge Hemingway fan. Well, he sure received a surprise when he read my short story. It entailed drinking and fishing all right, but there was nothing funny about it. It was sad; it was real life. Luckily, he enjoyed it, even admitted I was the first student who’d ever made him cry and that I had potential.
Unfortunately, it wasn’t in my future at the time. After all, I needed a roof over my head and food on my plate. I was on my own and a career as an author wasn’t feasible at that juncture in my life. At that time, if you didn’t live in the Mecca — aka New York — you didn’t stand a chance, or at least that is what my peers insisted. So, I shelved my dreams and set out for a career. I spent the next twenty-five years in the business world, rising to the top of a Fortune 500 company.
Now I’m back, seeking my dream. And guess what, it’s a new world where dreams really do come true. My first novel, She Belongs to Me, was first published in December 2011. Since then, I’ve shared many of the stories I’d been writing, and I have many more to come. I waited twenty-some years to share my love of the written word, so I hope you will want to read all my stories.
Until next time, happy reading!
Carmen
Acknowledgments
My journey as a writer has been a long one. Although my first book took two years to write and publish, the story took twenty-five years to compile, as life tends to get in the way of dreams.
If it weren’t for my wonderful, supportive husband, my writing would not be possible. He truly made me believe in a happily-ever-after. Without my husband and two wonderful sons, there would be no reason to write.
I would also like to thank a friend who has cheered me on from the beginning, Tina Wainscott. Tina’s books were an inspiration, but more so, her words of encouragement kept me going.
A big thank you to my best friend and cousin, who endure the first drafts of all my books and provide much-needed feedback. Without their insight and support, my novels never would see the light of day.
A thank you to my biggest fan — my youngest son — he has stood by me longer than any other person, championing me constantly through every rough turn in the road. And now, nearly ten years after I wrote my first book, my son is now writing his first series. I can’t wait to introduce him to the world. SOON!!!
And lastly, a heartfelt thank you to my avid-reading friends who continually cheer me on and encourage me to finish my stories. You can never know how much it means to me when I read your reviews and see your wonderful comments on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. I truly enjoy are fun conversations.
A warm thank you again to everyone! I love you all.
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