Red Hot Alphas: 11 Novels of Sexy, Bad Boy, Alpha Males (Red Hot Boxed Sets Book 2)
Page 135
I step out of my car and head up the sidewalk to his front door and press the doorbell. It chimes and only takes a couple seconds before my niece and nephew are shouting behind the door. I hear my brother telling them to calm down so he can open it.
He looks surprised to see me. “What are you doing in the neighborhood?” He furrows his brow and looks me over. I let him kiss me on the cheek and step inside.
In their excitement to see me, Finn and Lilac nearly knock me over.
“I’ve been practicing my skateboard,” Finn tells me.
I kiss his little cheek and squeeze. “I am so glad you’re enjoying your present.”
Lilac shoves her newest Barbie doll in my face. “She has pink nails, Aunt Savy.”
“I see that.” I look her over and hand her back. “That is awesome.”
My brother corrals them out into the backyard and pours me a cup of coffee. “So, what brings you into my neighborhood?”
I take a seat, watching out the sliding doors as Finn and Lilac play in the yard. They have all the things they need, including a happy home life--the same way I have all these years.
Ben is three years older than me. So, I’m pretty sure he would have been old enough to remember something.
So I have to say something to him. “Ben, I’ve been thinking a lot about our childhood. And I just want to ask you a few questions about things back then.”
He keeps his eyes on the yard and nods. “Okay. So ask me.”
“Do you remember when I was born?”
His hand immediately goes to the back of his neck. “I was like … three. What would I remember at that age?” He laughs it off.
“So you don’t?”
“No, the first thing that comes to mind is when I started school. I came home that afternoon, and there was an old van in the driveway.” He sighs. “There’s this man…” His voice falters.
I cross my arms, suddenly feeling the chill from the goose bumps crawling up them. My brother has been holding something in for a long time, and I think he finally has recall.
“There’s a man, and mom and dad sit me down at the table and explain to me that I now have a sister. And that you will be living here. The man doesn’t stay long; he never said anything to me. He just kissed you on the forehead and handed you over to Dad.”
I can’t believe what I am hearing. I release a breath. “Why didn’t you ever tell me this?”
“I guess I didn’t know that it wasn’t normal. By the time I realized that wasn’t the typical way babies come into a family, I didn’t know what to say or think about any of it.” He stands up, pacing the room. “I guess I knew we’d be having this conversation sooner or later.” Ben touches my arm trying to comfort me. “Savy, I am so sorry. I didn’t know what to do.”
I wipe my eyes. I look up and see Lilac waving at me from the back yard, and I wave back. She smiles, then dances away to the swing set. “Why wouldn’t they tell me?”
“I don’t know. I’ve struggled to understand it myself.”
“Did Dad have an affair?”
“It sure looks like it. There are no pictures of mom pregnant with you.” He sighs loudly.
“Because she never was. I already know that. I found proof the day I came to help you with the party.” I tell him about finding the birth certificate.
“I had a feeling something was wrong,” he admits. “I just didn’t know what.”
“You mean you didn’t know that she’s not my mother.” I shake my head. “That sounds so strange hearing myself say that.” My life as I knew it had changed—all because of finding that birth certificate in a box of old photos. “Well, that’s why I came here. I just wanted to see if you know anything else about this mess.”
He shakes his head. “I’ve never heard them talk about it if that’s what you’re wondering. The day that man came over was the last memory I have of the day you came to our home.”
I get up and put my purse over my shoulder. “I need to go. I have some stuff to get done.”
“Savy, you’re still my sister.”
“Of course I am. We do have the same dad.” I smirk at my effort to add some humor to the conversation.
I hug Ben, and then head back to Sophie’s.
***
Jackson calls on my drive across town.
“The eighth sin,” he tells me.
“I thought there were only seven?”
“Over twenty-five years ago a group of misguided youth created a kind of gang. They were involved in just about every crime or bad thing to happen to anyone that came in contact with them. If you weren’t with them, you were against them.” He goes on and on. “They went up against cops, lawyers, anyone-- you name it.”
“So what are you saying?” There has to be a reason he’s telling me all this.
“Lee’s daughter, Sara Rose was involved with one of the members. That’s when her life started to take a bad turn. Then she got pregnant with you.”
I swallow down my anxiety and put on my blinker. “Are you trying to tell me my dad was a member of a gang?”
“No. I’m trying to tell you that your dad slept with a gang member’s girlfriend. And it’s believed Sara was killed because she betrayed whoever this guy was.”
I grip the steering wheel. “This is really bizarre.”
“I think that your father paid Sara’s family off to hand you over. Maybe he was trying to protect you.” Jackson sighs. “I’ve been busting my ass trying to get you answers. And so far that’s what I have.”
I smile. “It means a lot, Jackson.”
“Good.”
“So we talk to Lee and we ask him what he knows.”
“I’m not sure how much he’ll understand, but we can try.”
I come to a stop at a light. “I think he knows more than you give him credit for.”
“That could be. I just want you to be careful. This eighth sin is still very much an active part of the community; they’ve just learned how to hide who they are.”
Chapter 20
Lee, my newfound grandfather, is eating in the dining hall when I arrive.
Jackson is at the door waiting for me. “Hey.”
“Hey.” It’s hard to act normal knowing I’m about to confront my grandfather about my birth and how I came to be with my parents.
On top of that, I’ve slept with my boss who no longer feels like a boss; he feels like so much more. I haven’t had a chance to tell him just how much that night meant to me.
I give his hand a squeeze and walk over to Lee’s table.
“Well, if it isn’t the prettiest girl in the entire place.” Lee puts down his fork.
“I’m Savy, but you can call me that if you like.”
“What a pretty name.” He looks me over. “What a pretty girl.” He digs in his pocket pulling out something. “This was my Sara.”
I take the only photograph I’ve ever seen of Sara. It’s like looking at a version of myself, an older more classic version.
“The same brown hair, the same eyes.” He scratches his head.
I sit down. “Lee, I know this is going to sound strange, but did Sara have any children?”
He picks up his fork. “There was a time when she was happy.”
“I bet there was.” I take his hand and stare at him until he looks at me. “I think Sara was my mother. And I think you know that. Do you remember anything about me? Do you remember taking me to Andrew Arnold when I was two…after Sara died?”
Lee looks away. “She was a good girl.”
“Yes, I believe you. And I think you were trying to help her and me.”
He finally turns his head. There’s a twinkle in his eye at the mention of it. “That’s what Sara would have wanted me to do.” He rubs his nose. “That’s what she would have wanted.”
I squeeze his hand. “I think so, too.” I understand that Lee isn’t all there anymore. He’s old and still grieving for the daughter he lost. “Thank you for what you did.”
I open my purse and take out my wallet. “I have something I want you to see.”
I hand him a family picture we took last year. I point at my father. “Do you remember this man?”
His hand trembles and he nods but he doesn’t say anything else.
“This is my father. The man who took care of me my entire life. And this is my brother. And the woman I call mom.”
He smiles at me and studies the picture again.
“You can keep it if you like.” I touch my ear. “Was it you who brought me to them when I was two?”
“Yes. It’s what Sarah would have wanted.” He puts the picture down. “She loved you.”
Chapter 21
Who knew that the car accident I was in four years ago would play such a big part in bringing me to this point in life now? I would have never guessed that Ryker and I would meet up again to discover that our crazy relationship had been waiting for us to give it new life.
Or that I would be sitting here watching him compete in a professional skateboarding competition? I enjoyed watching him and sharing in his success. I like when he looks to find me in the crowd and smiles that special smile just for me. When he’s done and he’s collected his trophy, he walks over to me, lifts me off my feet, and we hug.
“You were amazing.”
He wipes his forehead with a towel he takes from his bag. “Thanks for coming.”
“You’re welcome.” I say, as I follow him back to the lockers. ”I wouldn’t have missed it.”
He drops his bag on the bench and pulls his shirt over his head. “Don’t you have to get back to your boss?”
I roll my eyes. “I do. But before I go I wanted to apologize.”
“For?”
“For hating you for something you had no control over.” I raise my chin. “I’m not proud of how I acted. It wasn’t your fault. And I know that now.”
He stands up and kisses me on the cheek. “I’m always here for you. And I will see you around the next time I come to town.”
“I know,” I say. “No matter what.”
“Don’t let him talk you into marrying him.”
I shake my head. He always says this now. “Marriage is not on my agenda.”
“One day it will be.” He smiles. “Hopefully, it’s with me.”
I laugh. “Yeah, right.”
“Okay, okay. Maybe the thought of marriage makes me sick. But if I were forced into it I’d take you down with me.” He winks.
I wave and leave the locker room. I’ve been invited to have dinner with my parents, so I text my father and tell him I’m on my way.
***
“Mom, Dad, this is Jackson Luckman,” I announce to my father and my mother.
“Nice to meet you, Jackson. We’ve heard a lot of wonderful things about you.” My mother graciously welcomes him into the home.
“This is for you.” He hands over the bottle of wine. “One of my favorites.”
“Let me get some glasses. This is wonderful,” she says. She gives me her look of approval.
After settling in the living room, my dad and Jackson start talking golf. I use that opportunity to excuse myself to help Mom in the kitchen.
I know why I’m here, and I know what I want to tell her.
I help her get the glasses down. “Thank you.”
She makes a face. “For what?”
“For always being there for me.” I watch her search the drawer for a bottle opener. “Because I know that you didn’t have to be there for me.” This is when she looks up at me with glossed-over eyes, realizing what I’m really saying. “But you were and that means a lot. And I don’t care if we never speak what I know we’re both thinking. I just want you to know that I love you no matter what.”
She sets the wine on the counter. “Savy.”
I nod.
“We were doing the right thing.” She comes over to me. “If you should know anything about the situation you should know that. We were doing what we thought was the right thing to do.”
“You were trying to protect me.” I look at her, and she nods. “And you have protected me my entire life. I understand now why you both were so upset with Ryker after our accident.” It wasn’t Ryker they hated. They hated the idea of losing someone they cared so much about.
“I really wish you wouldn’t mention this to your father.” She starts pouring the wine. “He likes to think that part of his life is done, and there isn’t anything to worry about anymore. He doesn’t want to involve you in any of that.”
“I understand. And I won’t say anything.”
“Thank you, Savy.”
I do have one question. “How did this not end your marriage?”
She looks at me. “Most people would think that it would. But we saw it as a new beginning. You need to know that your father never betrayed me. We weren’t together when she became pregnant. When you were two and you came into our lives, we knew we’d made the right choice. And I would do it again, because becoming your mother was the best thing that I ever did.”
I hug her. She smooths my hair and kisses me on the cheek. “Now let’s feed these men.”
***
“Did anyone ever tell you how sexy you look using a calculator?” Jackson asks, coming into his office.
I look up. “No, they haven’t. You do realize you haven’t paid bills here in like three months right?”
He takes a seat on his desk. “I didn’t know you were an accountant.”
I lift a stack of bills. “Someone needs to be one.”
“I might have to give you a raise,” he jokes. “You seem to be taking on so many tasks in my life.”
I stand up, slipping into his arms. “I know what my favorite part is.” I kiss him.
He nods, pressing a kiss into my cheek. “The lunch breaks, right?”
I slap him playfully. “No. How amazing you make me feel.”
“Well, that’s easy to do when you’re amazing.”
I smile, enjoying his blue eyes staring me down.
He takes the calculator. “Let’s do lunch.”
“I can’t. After all you’ve done for me this last month we have seriously neglected this place.” I run a hand through my hair. “Someone needs to clean up this mess.”
He shakes his head. “It can wait.”
“What do you say we indulge in some crab cakes and oysters?”
I nod my head. “I say that sounds amazing--but no oysters.”
“Are you calling it a day, Jackson?” Lisa asks in the hallway.
“I’m calling it a personal day. With my favorite person.” He winks at me.
I don’t know what Jackson and I will become. Or how soon if at all the relationship with Ryker will unravel. I do know that everyone comes into your life for a reason. And I am content with that. And I am happy knowing there’s a lot more of it to come.
Good or bad--it feels good to me.
Do I think there’s more to the secrets of Sara Rose? Of course, I do. I’m also afraid to know what’s behind that door if I ever decide to open it.
So for now I leave that door closed.
***
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She doesn't know why bad feels so good...
What seems like out of nowhere, Hope Zigler’s life transformed: the normal Georgia life of an aspiring singer and student is turned upside down when she moves with her dad to Cherry California, and California is truly bizarre.
Suddenly she's a misfit in a town of rich snobs and cruel teens. After nearly being killed at a rock concert, she's dying to find out more about the guy who saved her...is he trouble? Is Hope in over her head?
Slade Andrews, the tattooed bad boy and lead singer of the Evil Kings of Ink, is haunted by his past. When Hope moves to town, Slade is strangely drawn to her and determined to prove he is not the guy the town paints him to be.
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Table of Contents
Red Hot Alphas
MICAH (DAMAGE CONTROL 1)
by Jo Raven
SOMEBODY TO LOVE
(ROCK STARS IN DISGUISE: TRYP)
by Blair Babylon
HOT PURSUIT
by Olivia Rigal
MEETING MR. STEELE
By Melanie Marchande
MIXED UP
by Sky Corgan
MIDNIGHT MOONLIGHT
by V. J. Chambers
SORORITY SAINT
by Daizie Draper
CROSSED
by Lacey Silks