Her Dad never had so much as raised his voice to Ryleigh in all the years that they had been together. So, to have him yelling now, Ryleigh knew that all the theories her team had come up with were true, at least in part. He hadn’t denied anything yet, but he also hadn’t confirmed it. Her Dad was more than met her eyes.
“Did you know we are related?” Ryleigh sneered. This was the thing she hated most about all that she had learned. Ryleigh could feel her lip pull up and quiver, but she forced her body to remain planted where it was, desperately wanting to see his reaction. They were blood-related, and he had either not known, which she hoped he hadn’t, or kept it from her, which she hated. Didn't she have a right to know? Wasn’t family supposed to be the most important thing? That was what he had taught her.
“Those extra chromosomes led right back to you or at least someone in your family,” Ryleigh declared. “The rest, the standard ones, they lead right back to those people who created me. I have to ask, is that why you took me from that place? Or how about we start with the simple question, what are you?” Ryleigh wanted to be pleased by the flinch those words invoked, but she wasn’t, this all hurt her too much.
Turning his back to her, looking up at the ceiling like it held some answer he was never going to find, Declan was at a loss. Fuck, the hits kept coming. He had no idea he and Ryleigh were related. It wasn’t possible, his brother had died young, and he had no other siblings. His father would have been too old to have created Ryleigh. It was possible, but the old man had been so depressed after Seamus had passed, he was pretty sure he never left his home. Looking at the paperwork Ryleigh had given him, he noticed that he and Ryleigh did share a twenty-five percent DNA match. Not really knowing what that meant, he had to ask.
Turning back to his desk, he moved his chair into place and took a seat. He wouldn’t get anywhere if he kept on ranting and raving. It looked like Ryleigh wasn’t the only one who needed answers.
“What does all this mean, Ryleigh,” he said pointing at the open folder. He was avoiding her questions, and he knew it. She knew it too because her shoulders slumped, and she looked down at her feet.
He wasn’t ready to disclose everything just yet. There was still a chance that some of the secrets could be kept. There was one in particular he would always keep from her. It was better for both of them that way. They had always had a bond; he was really never sure where it came from, it was instant and insistent. Never having children, he assumed it came from his human side. Blowing off what he always knew was true that his dragon had also claimed Ryleigh. It was unheard of, and he couldn’t name a single time it had ever happened in all his years.
He knew the moment he saw her that he needed to protect her. His instincts had always driven him, and that day, they had been screaming at him. His dragon had been clawing at him. Declan had a firm grip on the beast, but now that he really got down to the brass tacks, he realized how much he had already let slip. Ryleigh was family. He had no idea how or why, but knew what she was saying was the truth. It didn’t change his feelings, but it explained so much.
“What that means Ryleigh…” he tried again, still pointing to the paper.
This time she answered, taking her cues from him. She released one of her arms from around her stomach, but kept it close, like it would somehow protect her from what was going to come. She pointed at the papers on his desk like they were going to jump out and bite her. Clearing her throat again, she said, “What that means is you and I are blood-related. More specifically, you are either my Uncle, Grandfather, or Nephew. We had a twenty-five percent match.”
Declan shook his head. He still couldn’t get his mind wrapped around what she was saying. When that didn’t work, he got up and started pacing. Pacing always helped him concentrate, but this time it did nothing. He kept stopping and looking at Ryleigh, wanting her to finish, but at the same time he was unable to accept what she was saying. It didn’t make any sense. Instead of expressing this verbally, because he wasn’t quite sure how it would come out, he gestured at her on his next pass to continue.
God, Ryleigh really hated this. Her dad was agitated and angry. It was instinctive for her to never want him to be that way, but she couldn’t just brush any of this under the rug. She couldn’t pretend she hadn’t seen something like when she was a child. She couldn’t ignore the evidence her team had discovered. She could make him happy and pretend that everything was all right, but it wasn’t. So, she gave him the facts. Sometimes it was easier to deal with data than with emotions.
“I discounted Grandfather because you said that you’ve never had any children. Furthermore, since you are only in your late forties, there is no way that one of your offspring could be my parent. Unless you are way older than I ever knew,” Ryleigh accused. “Same thing goes with Nephew, the timeline doesn’t add up, so Uncle it is,” she said, shrugging her shoulders. The move helped her relieve some of the tightness. She couldn’t resist one more dig, “Or is there more to this than meets the eye here, like everything else I am finding out?”
Declan flinched at her accusations. He had kept things from her, but he never lied and hoped he wouldn’t have to. She had never mentioned any of this before. Not about his shifter traits or even his disappearances from the house. Why had she waited so long to confront him? Shit, he was just as clueless, not even knowing they were related until this very moment. Even hearing and seeing the information didn’t stop him from his duty; protecting her.
“Listen, little girl, you are treading in waters that could get you killed. There are people out there who will hunt you and your team down if this information got out. Shit, even if they get wind that you have knowledge of this information. Do you understand me?” Declan continued his pacing. When he got back to where she was standing he continued. “If not, let me make it clearer; just having my DNA and running it without my knowledge or consent is an act of treason in my world.” More pacing. “Not the kind of treason that gets you put in jail either,” he said, throwing his hands up in the air and quickly turning back and adding, “the kind that gets you eliminated. Do you understand me better now?” he said, perching himself on the edge of his desk.
Ryleigh jerked. Surely the man who had been so loving and raised her as his own wouldn’t eliminate her or allow someone to ‘eliminate her’ as he so eloquently put it. She was confused and angry, but she still loved him as she had prior to this knowledge. She just wanted answers. Was that so bad? This stuff didn’t only affect him, she was right in the middle.
Authors Note:
They say it takes a village to raise a child. I get that. What I didn’t know when I first started writing these stories was that it took a village to write a book. I have had so much support and encouragement. I will always be eternally grateful.
A special thank you needs to go to my editor, Sandy Ebel, with Personal Touch Editing. You have helped me make a good book great. DeAnne, Rachele and Viridiana, thank you so much for being my beta readers. Your feedback helped me more then you will ever know.
To my sister, you always have my back and that is something I will never be able to repay you for, thanks for always being there. Thanks for the encouragement and supporting my dreams.
To my husband, I know I make you want to pull your hair out sometimes, but your unwavering support and confidence in my abilities astounds me every single day.
To my readers, thanks for giving a me a chance. I hope you stick with me and discover all the trials and tribulations yet to come. I hope I leave you guessing, but most of all, I hope I leave you intrigued. Enjoy the ride and happy reading.
Please check out www.chelseahandcock.com for updates and future books. You can also reach me on Facebook at any time, https://www.facebook.com/AuthorChelseaHandcock/.
Turn the page for a peek at Down The Dirt Road!
Down The Dirt Road
Down the dirt road – Book 1
Author: Livell James & Chelsea Handcock
www.chelseahandcock.com
Copyright © 2017, Livell James & Chelsea Handcock
First electronic publication: November 2017
All rights are reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews. The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted works is illegal. No part of this book may be scanned, uploaded or distributed via the internet or any other means, electronic or print, without the author’s permission.
Note from the Author:
This is a work of fiction. Names, character, places and incidents are products of the writer’s imagination or have been used fictitiously and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to person, living or dead, actual events, locale or organizations is entirely coincidental. The author does not have any control over and does not assume any responsibility for third party websites or their content.
Published in the United States of America
Lucas Valentin has been summoned home to fulfil his duty as Guardian of the McClane Coven. He has always known that he cannot interfere with the Coven. That changes when he sees her. Drawn to her curvy beauty, he knows instantly she is his mate. The one person meant just for him but forbidden and for her own safety out of his reach.
Kaylee Smith gets one call from her Grandparents and she quits her job, packs up her things and moves to rural Alabama. She has no clue what she is walking into, never having been told the secrets of her family or that there are Others in the world. When confronted with the truth and one sexy hybrid she jumps in with two feet but he resists her.
Will Kaylee be able to get the battle-wary, sexy-as-sin, hybrid to accept her and what is meant to be? Can she have it all, her place in the Coven and the love of her life? Or will they be forced to run? Or will he run without her?
One thing is certain, life on the dirt road will never be the same.
Content Warning: Explicit love scenes, naughty language. Intended for mature audiences.
Chapter 1
Kaylee sat in her car on the side of the road, just off her exit in nowhere Alabama, staring at the sign in front of her—Eclectic twenty miles. The old wood sign had seen better days; it had bullet holes decorating it, and the paint was chipped and peeling in places. She couldn’t believe she was here. She couldn’t believe she had left behind the only life she had ever known.
This was the right thing to do. That was what Kaylee Smith needed to keep reminding herself of over and over again. Or at least until the words took root and stuck, but there was a part of her which knew they never would. It might be the right thing and something she didn’t have a problem doing, per se, but leaving her life behind was wearing on her like the miles she travelled down this dirt road. This trip wasn’t a simple visit; she was moving her life here, to Eclectic, Alabama. Home of basically nothing, but her grandparents and trees.
Two weeks ago, she had been working her job at the bank as a teller, a typical nine-to-five job. It wasn’t much, but it paid the bills and gave her a sense of independence. The apartment she lived in was nothing special either, but it was hers, filled with the things she loved. Now, most of those things were crammed into her tiny Ford Escape while the rest had been donated or thrown out.
Her Grandma had called and told Kaylee they needed her, and without a second thought, she jumped into action to make that happen. Her grandparents were getting up there in age, and their health wasn’t the best. Kaylee was most concerned about her grandpa. According to her grandma, he hadn't been doing very well lately and that greatly concerned her.
Kaylee’s mom, their only daughter, lived in California and had a killer job, so the responsibility of caring for them fell to Kaylee. At least that’s what she kept telling herself and everyone else; the truth was her mom was selfish and couldn’t be bothered to help out her own parents. No, that responsibility was always laid on Kaylee’s shoulders. Not that she minded, she loved her grandparents and would do anything for them. Even leave behind all her friends and the fantastic nightlife and restaurants of Birmingham. It was a small price to pay for the people who you love and cherish, right?
That was the other reason she was sitting on the side of the road; she had a call to make. Hitting the redial button on her steering wheel, Kaylee tried to keep positive thoughts in her mind. This time her mother would answer her call; she had only been trying to get ahold of the woman for two weeks. On the fourth ring, she slammed her hand down on the button, disconnecting the call. She refused to leave another message which would go unanswered.
She and her mother had a very contentious relationship. The woman was never there when Kaylee needed her that responsibility was always left to her Grandma Ruth. Another reason why she left her life behind and came to Eclectic, of all places; she owed her even though Kaylee knew her grandmother wouldn’t say or feel that way, Kaylee did, so that was that.
Kaylee hated driving long distances, but thankfully most of the drive was behind her now. She knew the rest of the ride would be leisurely. Only long, scenic backroads were ahead with beautiful cotton fields and pastures filled with horses and cows. She could take her time and enjoy the scenery as long as she got to her grandparents sometime today or they would worry. She had her mega sized Diet Coke and she was going to take her time. Plan set, she put her car in drive and pulled back out onto the road; only little longer now she thought. Looking at all the familiar landmarks, she let her mind wander to happier times.
As a child, she visited her grandparents often. Every time she got in trouble or her mother needed a break, she shipped her off to her Grandma Ruth. Kaylee often wondered why the woman had decided to have a child in the first place. Her time spent with her Grandparents, those were memories she cherished. Kaylee could remember getting so excited once they hit the dirt road leading to her grandparents’ home. The feeling was still there, and the closer she got, the excitement bubbling up in her stomach was giving her butterflies.
She was so caught up in her memories of the past, her phone ring loudly in the silent car scared the crap out of her. She jumped, spilling her drink all over the front of her, the cool liquid pooling in her cleavage and seat.
“Son of a pup!” Kaylee yelled. She thought it might be her mother calling her back, so she hit the button on her steering wheel to engage her phone, but ended up hitting the wrong button, disconnecting the call. “Damn it,” Kaylee barked to herself. If it was her mother, she could wait for once.
Kaylee squirmed in her soaked pants and shirt. Looking over in the passenger seat, she tried to find something to wipe herself, but didn’t see anything. Glancing in the back, she saw a sweatshirt she had thrown back there which seemed within reach. Doing some contortionist moves, trying to reach back and still keep her eyes on the road, she managed to get her hands on the garment. But like with all good plans, something went wrong. She must have looked away for just a second because the next thing she knew, she was slamming on the brakes.
“Oh Fuck!”, Kaylee screamed. There was a man standing right in the middle of the road. Well, he had been just a second ago, now, he was laying on the side of the road somewhere. Kaylee jump out of the car, barely putting it in park first, running to the other side of the car. She knew she hadn’t hit him, but he was still on the ground. What was he doing out here in the middle of nowhere, standing in the middle of the road?
“Oh my God, I am so sorry, are you okay?” She offered the prone man her hand, only to pull it back when that small touch produced a massive static shock. She could have sworn she even heard the snap, she sure felt it. Rubbing her hand on her wet jeans, she tried again; this time when he took her hand, it only tingled.
When he finally stood to his full height, Kaylee was pretty sure her mouth was hanging wide open. This man didn’t belong in the middle of rural Alabama. He belonged on a stage somewhere, guitar firmly in hand, stroking and strumming it, while he held it close. That brought a few other thoughts to h
er mind. Shaking her head, Kaylee couldn’t believe she was so all over the place. She had just scared the crap out of both of them, now she was drooling over him, like a groupie.
“Are you okay?” she asked for the second time,
The guy was looking at her with a small grin on his face, but he didn’t say anything, making her more concerned. She must have done something or made a noise because he finally spoke.
“I’m fine ma’am, just a little shaken up, no harm done,” he said releasing her hand and brushing off his extremely tight jeans. Damn, where was her head, she wasn’t acting like herself at all. She didn’t notice how tight strange men’s jeans were. She wasn’t that type of girl.
Sure, she paid attention when a good-looking guy crossed her path, but this was different, this man was different. He was a work of art—from his shiny, long black hair, flipped to the side, framing his face to the brightly colored tattoos decorating his arms, peeking out of his unbuttoned shirt. Argh, she almost wanted to slap herself.
Kaylee couldn’t have stopped looking if she wanted to, the man compelled her eyes to stay on him. It was as if he put a spell on her, it was weird but also comforting, like she had found something she had been looking for all her life. As he walked closer to her, everything else seemed to fade away until they were the only two people in the world. His eyes were a color of blue she had only seen when she visited the ocean and could only be described as piercing, drawing her in further. Kaylee felt a feather light touch on her cheek, drawing her back to reality.
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