by L A Cotton
I’d kissed the girl in my arms at her most fragile; I’d pieced her back together with my lips and then tore her down again with my words and actions. I’d kissed her good morning, good night… and goodbye. Too many times, I kissed her to erase the pain or fear of what was to come.
But in that hotel room on a beach in Tijuana, I kissed Savanah Parry because I was a guy in love with the girl he was going to spend the rest of his life loving.
And nothing would ever come between us again.
… three years later
~ JACKSON ~
“Good to see you, man.” I took Dennis’ hand and pulled him in for a hug. It had been too long.
He stepped out of my hold and glanced me up and down. “Looks like the warm weather suits you.”
“I’m not sure about that, but life’s good. It was strange at first, but we’re finally settled.”
After moving to Tampa, I’d given myself time to figure out what I wanted to do with my life. I had more than enough money stashed away from the years of living with them that neither of us had to rush into finding work after graduation. We had enjoyed a few months of bliss, getting to know each other like a normal couple, before Ana decided she wanted to put her experiences to good use. She wasn’t too happy when I finally decided on my career path.
“And Ana? She’s doing okay?”
“She’s great. Counsels students at the local high school.”
“That’s good, real good. How’s business? I gotta say, man, I didn’t think you’d go that way. Not after everything.” Dennis motioned to the bench in front of us and I followed him over.
“Neither did I.”
Private security wasn’t something I’d even considered back then.
“I just kind of fell into it.”
I’d intervened in a situation at a club one night and the guy I’d stepped in to defend turned out to be a hotshot politician. He’d requested a formal meeting after being impressed with the way I handled myself—and talked down the drunken guy wanting to pound his face in—and wanted to add me to his detail. I worked with him for a year before deciding to open my own business.
“Anyway, how’s life in Stonewood? The old man still giving you shit?” I turned the attention to Dennis.
“I finally moved out. He didn’t like it, but I needed my space.” Dennis dropped his eyes, but I felt the tension radiating off him.
It might have been two years since we last saw each other, but I still knew when my friend was keeping something from me.
“Want to talk about it?” I asked.
He laughed but it was strained. “That is a conversation for another day.”
“I hear you, but you have my number. If you ever need an ear or a sounding board, yeah?”
Dennis nodded, and we both stared out across the ocean.
“So work brings you to my neck of the woods? Don’t suppose you can give me the inside scoop?”
I shook my head. It was a new contract. They had a base in Sacramento and wanted me to fly down and meet with some of their board members personally. It was too near to Dennis not to look him up.
“So what’s it like? Life outside of the business?”
The question blindsided me a little. I hadn’t forgotten my life, far from it, but it was something I buried deep a long time ago.
“It’s different, calmer, but I don’t miss it.”
I didn’t. I had Ana, my business, good friends, and Otis had just celebrated being in remission for a whole year. I had everything I needed.
Dennis murmured something, but I didn’t catch it. When he had made the decision to move back home, he knew he was tethering himself to the business for life. Even with Marcus gone, there was someone else to step into his shoes.
My best friend hadn’t found his happy ending yet.
“Do you ever speak to Frankie?”
“No. He called to check in on us for a while, but I haven’t spoken to him for the last year or so.”
“Things are changing. After Ma- well, after that shit went down, people started to panic. It died down for a while, but I’m hearing things again.”
“What things?” I asked silently cursing myself. I promised myself I wouldn’t get dragged back in.
Dennis stood up and said, “Forget it. You haven’t come all this way to listen to me complain about how shitty my life is. Let’s go get a beer and you can tell me all about that hot piece of counselor ass of yours.”
I leaped up and fake punched Dennis in the stomach. “Watch it, Hayes, I can still take you down.”
We laughed all the way to the bar.
~
I spent the day with Dennis. Neither of us mentioned the past again. I felt bad for him. He was stuck in a life I’d been lucky enough to escape, but he had obligations to his family and refused to walk away.
After meeting with the board members at Pharmacorps, I set off for the long drive. Ana wanted me to fly, as it was quicker, but something about being on the open road calmed me.
I’d been driving for three hours. Nothing but the roar of a car overtaking me or the horn of a semi passing when my cell phone started vibrating in its holster in the console.
I hit the answer button on the wheel. “Hello.”
A familiar voice filled the car. “Jackson, it’s Frankie.”
My blood ran cold and my heart jumped into my throat.
“Jackson, you there, son?”
“I’m here.” It was all I could say.
“I got the call.”
The road closed in around me and I eased off the gas. Time seemed to suspend around me. Until I heard the three words that I prayed would never come.
“Braiden made parole.”
Tribulation and Truths Playlist
You can listen to the playlist at
http://lacotton.com/chastity-falls-series/3-tribulation-and-truths
Demons – Imagine Dragons
The Mother We Share – CHVRCHES
Hold Back The River – James Bay
Did You Hear The Rain – George Ezra
Elastic Heart – Sia
Ship To Wreck – Florence and the Machine
Bloodstream – Ed Sheeran
Little Monster – Royal Blood
The Kill – Thirty Second to Mars
Poison – Rita Ora
Just Tonight – The Pretty Reckless
Young And Beautiful – Lana Del Rey
Airplanes – B.O.B ft. Hayley Williams
Sail – AWOLNATION
Dead Inside – Muse
King And Queens – Thirty Seconds to Mars
Messiah – Prides
Redemption and Regrets
(Chastity Falls #4)
*Coming early 2016*
They say prison changes a man.
I didn’t think it would change me.
I was already bitter, full of anger, and darkness, prison couldn’t taint a soul like mine. All I had to do was keep my head down, wait it out, and do my time. Then I could claim what was rightfully mine.
A lot can happen in four years.
Being a Donohue carried weight outside of the gates. I was feared, respected…worshipped. But inside, it made me a target. Inmates wanted me to fall, guards wanted me to break…and old enemies wanted me dead.
I survived—I have the scars to prove it.
But I changed.
Somewhere along the line, I grew a fucking conscience. Regrets burrowed their way into my mind and haunted me in my sleep, and I started to care.
Prison didn’t just change me.
It ruined me.
About the Author
Swoon worthy and heart stopping New Adult Romance.
L.A is author of the Fate’s Love Series and Chastity Falls Series. Home is a small town in the middle of England where she currently juggles being a full-time mum to two little people with writing. In her spare time (and when she’s not camped out in front of the laptop) you’ll most likely find L. A immersed in a book, escaping th
e chaos that is life.
Official Website
www.lacotton.com
You can connect with her at:
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Or email her at:
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Acknowledgments
Writing this book wasn’t easy. Authors become attached to their characters and their stories… and Ana and Jackson were no different. I wanted to write their story, but I also wanted to write a story that would satisfy readers and tie up all loose ends. I think I found a middle ground. Getting there wasn’t easy, but a handful of people kept me sane, provided me with constructive feedback, and pushed me when I needed it… which was often!!!
Jenny, Jenn, Lucy, and Shannon – I’m not sure I would have ever typed ‘the end’ if it wasn’t for you guys. Thank you for putting up with my incessant anxiety and grumblings, and for reading Ana and Jackson’s final instalment.
My Jacksonette’s… I love you guys! You have brought this series to life. When I’m feeling the pressure or need to step away, I know you’ll be getting up to all kinds of mischief in the fan group. Thank you for loving Jackson the way I do… #teamjacksonforever
To the author friends that keep me sane… the C.O.P.A ladies, my friends over in ‘the writing challenge’ group, and the Chicken Soupers. I feel lucky to have you all in my corner.
Jenny Sims and Natasha Snow, without you my books wouldn’t be beautiful inside and out. Thank you for going above and beyond (and putting up with my total lack of organization). Ginelle, my unofficial official proofreader, your eye for detail astounds me. Thank you for taking the time to proofread for me. And Candice, my P.A, thank you for all of your help with the promo events.
A special mention to my husband for his endless patience with me over the last month. I know I’m not always easy to live with when I’m on deadline, thank you for giving me time and space to do my thing!
Huge thanks to each and every blogger that has shared, pimped, spotlighted, reviewed and supported me. This is my sixth book and I continue to be astounded at the dedication of blogs. The way I see it, without you guys there would be no me.
And finally…
To my readers. There are not enough words to express how thankful I am to anyone that has ever bought and read one (or all) of my books! A million times thank you.
I hope you’ll stick around for the next one!