by T. Aleo
His body moves with such ease, the feel of his coat against my face, his muscles beneath my fingertips, and the scent of dog teasing my senses. I hear shouts, I hear gunshots, and I worry that I’ll be hit, but Ryland moves at speeds I thought only vampires could muster. He really is a magnificent creature. When I do look up, it’s to find we are heading straight for the east window. I brace myself for impact, holding tightly as I hear a crash and then the burn of my skin being cut. When he hits the ground, it jerks me back, but my grip is firm as he runs in the cool air. Blinking, I look up as the sun warms my face, and I can hear birds chirping and the sounds of the river as he runs right for it. Looking behind me, I watch as guards are running toward us, but Ryland is fast. And when I look forward once more, he is propelling us, jumping with ease over the last gap of the river.
Breathless, I hold on, in complete awe of this beast beneath me. I don’t know this part of Ryland, but from what I’ve seen, I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t impressed. I always knew he would do big things, be something great, but I never thought that would include getting captured, ending up in my father’s bastille, and then ultimately running away with me.
But I have to admit, I’m elated that he did.
As I hold on, I know I am doing the right thing. I don’t know what our future holds. I’m unsure what will happen to my eye, my immortality, or if I’ll die in a few weeks. I don’t even know if either of our families will find us, but at least we’ll be together. The unknown is a very scary thing, and the fear is there, vibrating my soul, but I have to take care of me. I have to live for me, and to do that, I have to be with Ryland.
With him, I can be happy.
That’s all I want.
Looking around as he runs, I don’t know where we’re going. I don’t know what he has planned or what will happen next, but I’m excited.
And at once, all I feel is my freedom.
The big question, though, is will I be able to keep it?
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A message to you, the reader:
Now, before you send a lynch mob after me, I really don’t think this is a true CLIFFHANGER. I mean, we know she’s alive, and so is Ryland, so that’s always a good thing! Don’t be too upset with me. Above all, though, I hope you enjoyed this world I have created. I love it, and I am so excited to share it with the world. The next book, “Pieced Together,” should be out early winter 2016, and I hope you look forward to that.
If this is your first time reading me, Hi! I’m Toni! It’s wonderful to meet you. Please make sure to check out all my social media and maybe check out some of my other romance books.
To everyone who has been there for me, thank you.
My husband and kids, I love you, thank you.
My life manager, Lisa, thank you for everything you do. I would be lost and disorganized without you. I love you.
To my marketing girl, Kellie, thank you. You rock, girl.
All my betas, thank you. I trusted you guys to help me make this story what I wanted, and it is. Thank you.
Thank you, Regina, for an amazing cover and for being the best cover designer in the biz.
Thank you to anyone else I missed, but above all, thank you to all my loyal Toni Aleo readers. I know you guys are used to my hockey romance, and for you to take a chance on this means the world to me. I hope I didn’t let y’all down. Thank you!
Love, Toni
Copyright © 2016 by Toni Aleo writing as T. Aleo
This book, “Pieces,” is a work of fiction. Any names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the author’s imagination or used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
All rights reserved. Except as permitted under the U.S. Copyright Act of 1976, no part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, or stored in a database or retrieval system, without the prior written permission of the author.
Editing by Lisa A. Hollett, Silently Correcting Your Grammar.
Cover & Photo by Regina Wamba
Interior design and formatting by:
www.emtippettsbookdesigns.com
Table of Contents
Title Page
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About PIECES
Dedication
Prologue
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty-One
Chapter Twenty-Two
Chapter Twenty-Three
Chapter Twenty-Four
Chapter Twenty-Five
Chapter Twenty-Six
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Reader Message
Copyright Notice