Iconic (Adrenaline Series Book 6)
Page 20
“Hands are for protecting,” M.J. answers.
Don't get me started. Just don't.
“Dinner,” I call to the active bunch.
“You heard your mom,” he removes them all from his body and in the same swift motion lifts them like sacks of giggling groceries. “Dinner time.”
Madden helps get them settled in their chairs at the table just as I enter the dining area.
For Christmas, that magical Christmas in which I found I was pregnant with M.J., which does stand for Madden Mathew McCoy Junior, Merrick gave Madden the second best gift. It turns out years before he permanently rented their childhood apartment, painted family murals on the wall, and kept it maintained. As soon as he saw it Madden declared this was where we would be raising our family. Mind you, it was a one bedroom, one bath, so renovations had to be made. Madden bought the apartment building. Turns out they were destroying the other buildings to put a brand new strip mall shopping center. He also bought the adjacent apartment and remodeled to connect the two creating a brand new living space. Madden also had the area underneath cleared out to expand the mechanic business to include custom paint jobs and detailing. He let's Wrench oversee it for the most part. Believe it or not that asshole knows more about that shit than any of us realized. It's been a lucrative addition, plus it's given Madden something new to learn to do with cars. Another obvious benefit is the two of us living right above where we work. For the most part, I do stay home with the kids, but I still love it in the shop. Besides we all know it'd fall apart without me.
M.J. pushes his bowl away from him. “I don't want it.”
“Who asked?” Madden questions as he helps me into my chair.
M.J. folds his arms across his chest.
“That's fine.” He says calmly to his mini me. “You sit there and be hungry while we finish Mom's dinner and then the chocolate cookies aunt Mel sent us.”
“Cookies!” The twins yell, pasta already spread on their faces.
Ugh. They've had like two bites.
“Aim for your mouths,” I scold them.
“I want cookies,” M.J. whines reaching for his bowl Madden has moved out of the way.
“No.”
“Daddy!”
“No.”
“But Daddy!” M.J. starts to whine.
He's entered that stage of defiance, can you tell? Problem with a stubborn child is having two equally or even more so stubborn parents. Compromise is definitely an ongoing lesson for all of us.
“Here's what you're gonna do,” Madden starts after having a bite. “Face your mistakes.”
M.J. nods and looks at me, big blue eyes soft. “I sorry Mommy.”
Awww...he looks just like Madden when he gives me that expression.
“Forgiven,” I reply.
“Daddy. I try better now.”
“Alright,” my husband says sliding him back his food. “Always try for better. It's what a McCoy does.”
Over the years I've spent my life surrounded by them, I have to say, that is the truest of the McCoy statements that's ever been made. No matter the case, no matter the horrific situation, we are put in, we always strive to do better. To be better. Because that's the McCoy way.
Thank Yous
Crazy Lady- Not a bad way to wrap up the year right?
Her Husband- Love you.
The Law Student- May you enjoy these books as much as the others.
The Lumberjack- Thank you for laughing with me while I write.
Sissy B- Keep reading! Lol
Katniss- You only get one McCoy, choose wisely! Lol
Throwback- Sorry I'm a total slave driver, lmao
The Real Life Erin- For your endless support, thanks babe.
The PAs- Left and Right brain, this year has been awesome, looking forward to a new year!
The Editor- You rock. Keep rocking with me even if I become Oprah style famous!
Boss Lady- If you thought this year was cray cray wait 'til next year.
Genie- You've got magic, make sure the world never forgets that.
Dream Team- You ladies are little miracles that I love to see every day.
Shannon G- Thanks for all the effort you put into me and my life's work. I notice and I appreciate it.
Erica P.- Stay amazing and wonderful!
Bloggers- Thank you for reviewing and never turning your backs on me or other indies. We appreciate it.
Readers- Thank you for helping my dream job spiral towards my biggest fantasies. You are wonderful.
Until next time.....
Curious about how this all started?
Curious how the other McCoys fell in love?
Check out the rest of the Adrenaline Series today!
Classic
Vintage
Masterpiece
Unmask
Error
Now that The Devil is dead, do you think you've seen the last of the McCoys?
Think again. They'll be back next year...(2016)
Other books by Xavier Neal
Senses Series:
Vital (Prequel) Found in Interwoven
Blind (Book 1)
Deaf (Book 2
Numb (Book 3)
Hush (Book 4)
Savor (Book 5)
Callous (Book 6)
Agonize (Book 7)
Suffocate (Book 8)
Mollify (Book 9)
Senses Series Box Set (Books 1-5)
Havoc Series
Havoc (Book 1)
Chaos (Book 2)
Insantity (Book 3)
Collapse (Book 4)
Devastate (Book 5)
Havoc Series Box Set (Books 1-3)
Never Say Neverland
Get Lost
Lost in Lies
Lies Mistrust and Fairy Dust
Adrenaline Series
Classic
Vintage
Masterpiece
Unmask
Error
Iconic
Connect with Xavier Neal
Links: www.xavierneal.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/XavierNealAuthorPage
Twitter: @XavierNeal87
Goodreads:https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4990135.Xavier_Neal
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Like fast paced love stories? Try Temper book two in the Masters of Destruction series by Salice Rodgers.
Temper
Masters of Destruction 2
© Salice Rodgers
All Rights Reserved
Available on Amazon and Free of KU
Chapter One
I walk down the sidewalk with my eyes scanning all around me watching, waiting. I know he is watching me. I can feel eyes on me each time I move. Even in the walls of my house I can feel him watching me. Under my jacket at the small of my back, I have my Derringer in its holster. I learned really fast how to protect myself. I spent countless hours in a self-defense class.
He might kill me but I’ll be damned if I was going to die without putting up one hell of a fight. I make it to my car and slam and lock the door. Jacob is a lot of things but stupid is not one of them. He wouldn’t risk jail by shooting me in public. Once I am in my car he and I both know all bets are off.
As soon as I pull out from my parking spot a black SUV pulls out behind me. As prepared as I am my hands still start to shake and get sweaty. I reach into the console beside me, dig out my throw away cell phone and dial Paige’s phone number. She has been my best friend for years now and is tech savvy – she knows everything.
“Tatum?” Paige says in a hushed voice.
“He’s tailing me, Paige. I am never going to make it out of this town alive.”
“Okay, listen I have been doing some research and there is a small town in Alabama called Buckerville.”
“Fuck Alabama? I am southern, Paige, but shit that’s seven hours from here.”
“You want to die her
e or live there?”
“Fine guess I am going to Buckerville, Alabama,” I say and sigh.
I look up and check my rearview mirror once again. The SUV is doing nothing to hide the fact that it is following me. I can see a male behind the wheel, his bald head shining in the light of the sun coming through the window. I knew he had hired others to help him.
“There’s one more thing,” she says quietly like she knows I am not going to like what she is about to say.
I roll my eyes and press the brake to slow down at the stop light. I know he won’t do anything if we’re stopped and running the light doesn’t seem like a good idea since there’s a chance I could get pulled over.
“What?” I ask and check my rearview mirror again.
The man in the SUV is on the phone, and I can see his eyes are on me. I know as soon as he gets me in a dark place alone, he is going to hurt me.
“There is a motorcycle club there, maybe they can help you.”
“Seriously? What the fuck is an MC going to do to help someone they don’t even know?”
“Get in good with them, Tatum. Damn, use your fucking head for once! Why else would I pick a town in the middle of nowhere that has more trees than people? If you get in good with one of the guys in the MC then you have the protection of the whole MC.”
“So you want me to use them?”
I press the accelerator and head towards the interstate. There is no point in me going home and trying to pack my things, Jacob and his goonies would be there so fast I would never make it out of town alive. Paige will figure out what to do with my things, so until then I will have to start over…completely, in the middle of nowhereville.
“I want you to stay alive! Now get off the phone and go. I will send you money to your offshore account and figure out how to get you your stuff. I love you, Tatum, please stay alive. I will see you soon.” And with that she hangs up.
I can’t help but growl under my breath. I have lived in Townsend my whole life and the thought of having to move because my “mistake” is trying to kill me really pisses me off. I speed up as I turn on the on ramp and weave in front of a car. The SUV gets in the lane next to me. It slowly makes its way to the middle of the road and tries to push my car into the median. I look behind me and see the car behind me has slowed down so I do the same thing.
My whole body starts to shake as the SUV speeds past me and I get in the lane behind it. One thing self-defense never taught me was how not to get nervous but it seems like no matter what, I am always scared. That one thing I do wrong could mean the end of my life.
I take a deep breath through my nose and out of my mouth and get back in the right lane. I have a seven hour drive ahead of me and I am not going to make it away from the SUV if I try to stay behind it the whole time. So I turn the radio up and spend the next hour weaving in and out of cars trying to put as much distance between the SUV and myself as possible. I look in my rearview mirror and see the SUV about ten cars back and smile.
I relax in my seat and loosen my grip on the wheel. I can do this I think to myself.