The Tower (The Tarot Series Book 1)
Page 31
An evil grin spreads across Taylor’s face as she provokes her. “What’s the matter, Katrina? One man’s not enough for you? I didn’t think you’d mind sharing since they both share you with each other. Do you have them on a schedule? I guess tonight is Gage’s turn and tomorrow night is Tony’s? Or do you like them both at the same time? A boy toy sandwich? Answer me this, which one gets your ass and which one gets your cunt? ”
Kat lunges at her. “Shut up, you skank, before I knock that grin right off your face.”
Having had enough, Gage grabs Katrina around the waist and shoves her back towards the couch, breaking up the catfight about to ensue. “Kat, go downstairs. Now!”
“No way, I’m staying,” she hollers back and sits down.
Turning to Taylor, he grabs her by the shoulders and forcefully ushers her to one of the chairs located in front of the desk. “Take a seat and stay a while. We have a lot to talk about,” he says, pushing her down into the hard seat.
“What’s this all about, Gage? I know it’s not over a kiss and I’m sure you’re not upset that I slept with Tony,” she says as she shifts her eyes and glances over at Kat.
“No, I don’t give a shit who you sleep with, but what I do care about is being fucked with. So tell me Taylor, why did you cut the brake lines on my bike?”
Breaking out in a sweat, Taylor tries to deny it. “What? I don’t know what you are talking about.” She stands up to leave.
“Sit your ass back in that chair. I know you were the person who cut my brake lines, Taylor. What I don’t know, is why. So tell me, why did you do it? What do you want from me? Who sent you?”
As Taylor sweats, the smell of her perfume dissipates and another scent starts filling the room. Knitting his brow together, he draws a deep breath into his lungs and sniffs at the air. Looking down at her, his eyes widen and for a split second, the flare of a bright green flame burning inside them can be seen. He’s picked up on that scent before. She is something more than human — an animal, a beast — like him.
Picking up on the glint of recognition on his face, Taylor grins up at him and responds, “I don’t think your perfect little girlfriend can handle the truth of why I’m here. Are you sure you want me to answer that question, Gage?”
Panicked that she is going to reveal the truth about him, he points towards the door ordering through gritted teeth, “Kat, go down stairs I said. Do it now!”
“No! I want to hear what this bitch has to say.”
Gage glares at Taylor with murder in his eyes. She smiles up at him and responds, “Fine. The truth is, nobody sent me and I’m not here for you, Gage.” For a brief moment, he begins to relax.
“I’m here on my own little mission. I’m here for her,” she says, turning and grinning at Katrina. Alarmed, Gage reacts, reaching for Taylor and roughly lifting her out of the chair.
“Get your damn hands off me,” she exclaims.
“If you lay one hand on her,” he warns, then leans in, quietly whispering in her ear, “or paw, or do anything else to hurt her, I’ll rip your heart from your chest and enjoy doing it.”
Glaring up at him, Taylor smiles. “Don’t threaten me, Gage. This is none of your business. I’m here on family business, so I suggest you stay the hell out of it.”
Gage and Katrina turn towards one another with confusion written on both of their faces. Looking like the cat that just swallowed the canary, Taylor focuses in on Katrina. “I have every right to be here. I’m Kat’s sister.”
That’s all, for now. Watch for the story to continue, questions to be answered, and new mysteries to ensue in The Queen of Swords, Book 2 of the Tarot Series.
Thank you all for reading The Tower. I hope you enjoyed it! The next book in the Tarot Series will be out soon.
AUTHOR NOTES
The idea for this series came not only out of my love for Tarot, but it also helped me work through one of the toughest times in my life. Around the age of forty, I found myself alone with my son, in the middle of a nasty divorce, without a job, and had no idea what life held in store for us or how to even get started figuring it out. I felt weak and useless. Not good enough. A complete and utter failure. After six weeks of walking around in a fog, crying, feeling dazed and confused, I decided it was time to pick myself up, dust myself off, put my messy house and empty refrigerator back together and take that first step forward. It was time to get my shit together if not for me, for my son’s sake. I wanted him to see that no matter how bad life gets, you’re never too old, too young, too down, or too broken to come out the other side better and stronger than before. I spent many a night pacing, smoking and repeatedly saying, “what am I going to do?” I formulated a plan that included going back to college and finishing the degree I had abandoned in my twenties.
Of course, at my age this was both scary and exciting at the same time. I was never the academic type, but to my surprise, I found that I loved school and couldn’t get enough. I guess age really does have its benefits. I was now an accounting major, had always been a math freak, but found that I had a knack for writing. In one year, taking eighteen to twenty-four credits a semester, (including going all summer long), I received my degree. It was something I could be proud of and hoped my son would be as well. There’s a lot more to this story, but that’s for another time.
While dealing with years of sleepless nights, I decided to pick up my laptop and start writing. Women are famous for giving themselves over to being the caregivers of everyone. We go from being daughters and sisters, to mothers and wives. We seem to be the ones who readily change our career choices, friends, education and everything that makes us who we are for others. Katrina is no mirror image of me, but I wanted to portray a young woman who didn’t recognize her strength, made herself into what everyone else wanted her to be, had been through heartache and one day realized she didn’t really like or know who she was anymore. I also wanted to show her journey to find her strength. This series is dedicated to all of those girls and women out there who find themselves feeling the same way Katrina does. Just know, it’s never too soon or too late to find yourself. Don’t be afraid of what others say or think of you. Go out there and just be you. You’re worth it!
MY LINKS
Authors put our blood, sweat and tears into our writing. Please take a moment to leave an honest review on Amazon, Bookbub or wherever you made your book purchase. If you would like to know more about me, release dates, and what I am working on, you can contact me at the links below. You can also be the first to get the latest information by becoming one of Rhylees Readers! You will get a copy of my Newsletter about once every two months. I will not share your information or spam your inbox (I hate that too). There will be opportunities to win ARC copies of books, some cool swag and even to become one of my valued beta readers.
Please take a minute to visit my website, like me on Twitter and friend me on Facebook.
Website
Twitter
Facebook
Rhylees Readers!