2025 was even more trying for me than any other year in my life as my mother passed away in January and the entire year just sucked. My reading mojo had slowly returned but not quite pre-Covid levels in 2024 but it left me again in 2025 and I only read 140 books, many were audiobooks and rereads. So once again my Best of lists may be shorter but everything I read/listened to were so brilliant it was still a hard choice because every author I read/listened to in 2025 played a part in the moments of distraction that helped keep me sane throughout the first year of my grief journey. So over the next few weeks I'll be featuring my Best Reads as well as Best ofs for my special day posts which are a combination of best reads and most viewed, I hope my Best of list helps you to find a new read, be it new-new or new-to-you or maybe it will help you to rediscover a forgotten favorite. These lists and posts are done chronologically throughout the years reading not ranking order. Happy Reading and my heartfelt wish for everyone is that 2026 will be a year of recovery, growth, and in the world of reading a year of discovering a new favorite.
👀I try to keep the purchasing links as current as possible but they've been known to change for dozens of reasons, in case any of those links no longer work be sure to check out the author's social media links for updated buying info.👀
The Alphas Santa-Kissed Omega by Lorelei M Hart
Summary:
Alpha Kissed #4
Nothing is simple when you’re dating a single father.
I told myself after my alpha passed away that I might not ever find another. I would raise my son Dane the best I knew how and, when, years later, our family and friends were still acting as if I should mourn forever, I decided to move from The Netherlands to start over in the United States. My little guy deserved a bright future where he wasn’t constantly being asked if he missed a dad he didn’t even remember.
I didn’t do it with the intent of finding another alpha. After all, most omegas were lucky to find one to fall in love with, and I’d had mine. But when I saw Link, I knew he was mine. My true mate.
The moment Gustav walked into the room, and I took in his scent, my heart knew he was mine and there would never be another for me. It was perfect. Except his son disliked me on sight. Now I have no idea how to move on with my mate when someone so important to him disapproves. But I’m not going to give up. I’ve found not only my omega, but my family, my future. One I hope we can all share.
The Alpha’s Santa-Kissed Omega is a MM, Mpreg, non-shifter holiday romance with a strong, kind alpha, an intelligent loving omega, an adorable little boy who isn’t sure about his new situation, and a baby on the way.
Original Review January 2025:
I want to take a second to thank the author for the Netherlands connection, my great grandfather came to America with his parents and siblings in 1910 and I really found the holiday traditions interesting. I also found Link trying to connect with Gustav's son, Dane, through the traditions a lovely little touch.
I won't say too much so as not to spoil anything. I know some don't like an insta-love romance, they don't find them believable but I can attest to the fact that they are very real as my grandparents were just that: insta-love that lasted 48 years until my grandfather passed. Of course when dealing with fated mates tropes, why wouldn't insta-love be involved? Long as the author writes it well it's one of my favorite tropes and Lorelei M Hart definitely writes it well.
When children are involved in the story it can be hard to do them justice, to get the balance right between sugary sweet and obnoxious brat. Dane is a well balanced little boy who is sweet as can be except when it comes to the new man in his daddy's life. The author does a wonderful job when it comes to that balance as well as both Gustav and Link's responses to his moments of defiance. You just want to wrap all three up in huge Mama Bear Hugs to let them know how well they are all handling everything and to let them know it's okay for time to be given to getting all the emotional pieces to fit.
This is only the second story in the author's Alpha Kissed series but I know it won't be my last, a true holiday gem.
Season of Joy by Ellie Thomas
Summary:
In 1920s Cheltenham, Walter Webb has settled into a peacetime existence with relative ease. He's kept busy running the family grocer's shop with his father on Lower High Street, a working-class region of the famous Regency spa town. In his moments of leisure, he meets regularly with his ex-army pals that he served with in the Great War.
But being a respectable grocer means that Walter must keep his occasional liaisons with other men brief and anonymous. When he meets Stanley, the attractive and likeable brother of a customer, who is staying with his sister after a debilitating bout of pneumonia, Walter is tempted to throw caution to the winds on the chance of something more with this particular man.
Can these two men take a risk to find a lasting romance?
Original Review January Book of the Month 2025:
Such a lovely little story of finding happiness. It's hard for me to write a review for Season of Joy, not because I didn't like the story, quite the opposite. I was reading this new Ellie Thomas novella during the time my mother came home for hospice and passed away so I was reading it in small chunks here and there. On one hand that can make a story harder to connect to but on the other it gave me pockets of peace and escape, small pockets to be sure but definitely helped balance my emotions so I could deal with the arrangements and help my dad as well. I know this seems like an odd thing to mention in a book review but I wanted to express to the author how grateful I am for those pockets of peace and balance. Truth is I think bringing up the personal chaos and hurt I am dealing with and still be able to enjoy Walter and Stanley's journey speaks volumes to the amazing talent of the author and the power of the heart within the story. Definitely a warmhearted and winning gem in my mind.
Always You by RJ Scott
Summary:Guardian Hall #1
In the frostbitten heart of Chicago, a scarred and solitary soldier finds a second chance at love with the man who broke his heart.
Twenty years at war have left Sergeant Jasper "Jazz" Brookes battered, scarred, and haunted. His marriage is wrecked, his daughter barely speaks to him, and the world he fought for has moved on without him. Homeless by choice, Jazz manages until the brutal Chicago winter forces him to seek help from a shelter he doesn’t want to need.
The weathered building in Humboldt Park offers veterans a place to rebuild, but Jazz doesn’t expect to find Alex Richardson there—his first love, the boy who chose money over him, the one he left behind. Seeing Alex again cracks open old wounds and stirs feelings Jazz buried long ago.
For Alex, the sight of Jazz reminds him of everything he’s tried to forget. But neither man has moved on. As they grapple with their past and confront the scars they’ve carried for years, they’re forced to decide if the connection between them is strong enough to survive the pain.
This time, it’s all or nothing.
Original Review February 2025:
A new book AND a new series from RJ Scott? Yes, please. Always You, the first entry in the author's new series, Guardian Hall is amazing. I won't say it has a dark element but it definitely has heartwrenching and heartbreaking elements on multiple points. I won't list the points so as not spoil anything but just know this story, these characters will definitely squeeze you through the emotional wringer.
Alex Richardson made a bad choice long ago thinking he'd have a chance to explain it or perhaps manage it the way he planned, needless to say things did not go as the young man planned. Jazz Brookes was left aching after Alex's choice but tried to make the best life possible, unfortunately things also did not go as he planned. Both men had hit their own rock bottom, we learn and see more of Jazz's collapsed state but we learn some of Alex's as well through conversation and internal monologue. Now some might like to have seen more of Alex's but personally I like a little off-page storytelling because there comes a point where it's just too much. Subtlety and readers imagination can be extremely powerful.
When dealing with PTSD in fiction I find there is too often two ways an author goes: short & brief to minimize the angst or highly detailed heavy on medical wordage so you feel like you're studying a medical school book. I'm all for reality in fiction when it comes to health but sometimes less can truly be more but not at all can disconnect a reader from the characters, so balance is key. RJ Scott has found that balance in Always You. As I said above, both characters are dealing with hurt and healing but Jazz is the primary focus on the healing front IMO and we see the hurt, the comfort, and the fallout/side effects but they don't overpower the story and the romance.
To put it bluntly and paraphrase Goldilocks: RJ Scott got it "just right" with Always You. You'll smile, you'll cry, you'll laugh, basically you'll be "ooohing" and "awwwing" all over the place.
The Killer Who Kept Me by Davidson King
Summary:Nothing about Em’s life is simple. He’s treated worse than anyone in the house, punished for every minor infraction, and has zero chance of ever escaping his current situation. He dreams that someday he’ll be free of this nightmare and finally find someone who will want to keep him.
That dream may come true sooner than he thinks.
Saros Tancredi is the most dangerous and powerful man in all of Eastbury. The loyalty he has to his family is unparalleled to anything else. When he wants something, he gets it. He rarely worries and lives without fear. All of that changes one night when he’s faced with his own mortality. When it seems like it will all end, out of nowhere, a stranger jumps in and saves his life.
Saros and Em live separate lives in the underworld. Saros is the most compelling man Em has ever known. Em is the savior Saros never knew he needed. When secrets long buried emerge in the midst of a current war, they threaten to tear away any chance the two men have of finding a happy life together.
One thing Saros and Em know for sure—they’re not going down without a fight.
Original Review February Book of the Month 2025:
I can't begin to express how much I needed this book right now. I'm going to take a few minutes to be a bit personal but I think it helps me express my feelings on the story while sticking to my spoil-free zone reviewing. With my mother's passing in January my reading mojo nosedived even worse than in 2020 with the pandemic so when I started Davidson King's The Killer Who Kept Me, I knew it would take longer than my typical timeframe. I'll be honest, I read the first chapter and as much as I was intrigued and excited to find out what level of dangerous, bordering on sadistic, mayhem the author had in store, it took me 36 hours before I got back to chapter 2 and probably another 24 before chapter 3. Now that had nothing to do with the book or the author but all me.
BUT . . .
When I hit chapter 4, I was having a hard day as it was 6 weeks since my mother's passing so everything brought me to tears but there was something about that chapter that kept me reading and before I knew it I was several chapters in. Not only had I read more than one chapter of anything at a time for the first time in over 3 weeks, I realized I hadn't teared up , Davidson King had done the one thing that normally only Star Wars has ever been able to do: distract me enough to completely shut everything out and feel a little stronger coming out the other side. For that I will forever be grateful, Davidson King, thank you.
Now I'll freely admit it still took another 48 hours before I finished the book but oh what a story. Em(short for November which is absolutely lovely name) and Saros are complete opposites both in nature and nurture. Em has been mistreated(to put it mildly) his whole life and Saros has family(both blood and found) that love and support him. First appearances they shouldn't work but they do, it sounds cliche but they complete each other. You just want to wrap Em up in dangerous levels of bubblewrap and then a soul-crushing Mama Bear hug to keep him safe but I think Saros might do a better job😉. The whole cast of characters is just so perfect, from cute and adorable Maeve to nasty and evil Ramsey, each one plays a part to bring this tale together.
I'm going to end here so I don't reveal too much and spoil any of the dangerous and fun mayhem within the covers of The Killer Who Kept Me. Just so you know, you won't be bored. Even if you have a good inkling of what might be down the road for the characters, it's the journey down said road that is deliciously heart-pounding.
This author has a unique talent, she can create such danger, mayhem, retribution, and revenge and still manages to tell a lovely romance full of heart and strength. I've said it before and I'll say it again(and probably many more times for years to come😉) this is an author that is a true storyteller, a Seanachaidh(Scotland & Ireland), a Dastango(India), a Griot(West Africa), a Skald(Vikings of Norway and Iceland) just to name a few titles around the world. If you've never partook in her creative genius then this is a perfect place to start as it has all the elements that will pull you in and keep you hooked.
Original Audiobook Review August 2025:
I debated about jumping in on the audio already. First, I rarely listen to audios that are only 6-7 months after my initial read. Second, 2025 has sucked in our household since the passing of my mother in January, our air is just so thick with heartache. Third, my dad's health hasn't been the best and is getting worse which has increased my stress levels so it's been hard to concentrate at times. BUT, truth is in a way, it was the second reason that told me to go ahead. This is one of the 3 or 4 books I read shortly after my mom passed and the honestly, Davidson King's words helped me a bit by distracting me with her story, at least while I was reading it so I thought, maybe the audio will do the same.
Sure enough it did!
As for the narration, I don't think I've listened to a book by these two before, Alexander Neal and Parker Douglass. They did a wonderful job bringing Em and Saros journey to life. I may not have felt like I was right there in the room as the mayhem was happening but I was definitely pulled in more than just a reader/listener hearing the tale. Definitely ticked the box I title "feel like listening to Suspense". For those who don't know, Suspense is an old radio show out of the 40s and I've been a huge fan/listener/collector of old radio shows since I was 10 so this ticked box may not mean much to many but for me, it's a huge one when listening and reviewing audiobooks. Setting the scene, grabbing my attention, knowing I would be watching the radio even though there is no picture, yep, these are factors that tell me I found a re-listening experience for years to come.
No spoilers, but if you read or listen to The Killer Who Kept Me, I hope you don't need the emotional distraction I did but if you do, this is the story to help you step outside yourself for awhile(that is if you like mayhem and if you're reading this review I'm guessing you are😉). If you don't need the life distraction I did, you'll still be pulled out of your world so be sure you're prepared for that possibility, you won't be disappointed.
Jared by RJ Scott & Meredith Russell
Summary:Boyfriend for Hire #5
Jared's world is turned upside down after Luka hands over his pocket money to hire him as a friend for his lonely, widowed dad.
Jared is good at his job, but his soft heart means that he often finds himself in the weirdest of situations. A kind-of-threesome, a disappearing swan, and a destroyed hotel room are just the tip of the iceberg, but he is a popular boyfriend-for-hire and always in demand. He dreams of working as a family psychologist one day, and as his work with Bryant & Waites is funding his studies, the last thing he wants is to lose his job. At a make-or-break meeting, Jared vows to focus on being strictly professional. Still, almost immediately, he meets Luka sitting on the office steps with pocket money in hand and with a sadness that melts Jared's resolve. Luka explains that his mom passed away some years ago, and his hardworking father needs a friend. Jared has no intention of taking Luka's pocket money, but he wants to make Luka smile again, and if being hired as a friend for Luka's widowed dad is what it takes, then he's all in.
Being a single dad to eleven-year-old Luka is the best thing in Nate's world, but add running a bar with long hours, and his work-life balance is screwed. There's certainly no time for relationships, and even though Luka worries about his dad's love life daily, romance is the last thing on Nate's agenda. Owning Rhea's Bar and keeping his head above water is second only to his love for Luka. His entire world consists of his son and the bar until Jared stumbles into his life. Even though Nate won't admit it, he's lonely, and Jared is the first friend he's made in a very long time. Could their friendship become something more?
Original March Book of the Month 2025 Review:
I'm not sure how this entry went unread, looking at the original release date I'm guessing it was the fact that my mother was preparing for surgery that would go on to result in a nearly 4 month hospital stay. As to why I never went back before now? Well, I guess time just gets away from us. Frankly, had I not been putting together a blog post for my Saturday Series Spotlight, it probably would have been longer before reading Jared. I guess sometimes things work out in their own way, at any rate I finally got to read Jared. YUMMY!!!!
Jared has a heart of gold where tears, as he called it "his kryptonite", lead to mishap after mishap which in turn has lead to his last chance at work. In comes little Luka looking to pay for a boyfriend for his dad, Nate. Talk about Jared's kryptonite, oh boy! Luka is such an adorable little boy who really only wants a friend for dad and once the two men meet, Jared doesn't want to take the little lad's money but Luka won't not give him his coins so what can the man do?
Since losing Luka's mother, Nate has made Luka his world, not that he wasn't before but you know what I mean. He has an amazing support system but his guilt of having to run the bar he and his wife had which takes time away from Luka-time eats away at him. When he gets a call that Luka isn't where he is suppose to be after school, he starts to try and change things so more Luka-time is front and center. When he first saw Jared walking down the street with his "missing" son you can imagine his response but thankfully between Luka and Jared, the blow-up doesn't last long but I got a feeling it'll become a cute-meet story for years to come😉.
As I've said before, single parenting stories can go either way in regards to the kids. As with most things in HEA romances, the kids are great in the end but getting there can be tricky. In my experience, 90-95% fall in either "super sugary sweet" or "need a good day-long day in the corner time out". Well I can honestly say that Scott & Russell's little Luka fell in the "balanced behavior" that is too-little used. For that alone, I have to offer up a huge "Thank You!" as I know kids who fall in either end of the behavior ruler but most kids are a loveable blend so I'm always thrilled to see them represented in fiction.
As I started with, I understand why I didn't read Jared when it was first released considering everything in my life at the time but what took so long to go back to it, I'll never understand but as the saying goes: "better late than never". I have no idea if RJ Scott & Meredith Russell will ever return to their Boyfriend for Hire series but I know if they do I won't take so long to enjoy it and if not, well they might not make my annual re-read/re-listen list but I know I'll enjoy them again and again down the years. There is just a great blend of humor, drama, heartache, and heart-healing love that brings tears, both sad and happy ones, to the eyes.
RATING:
The Alpha Santa-Kissed Omega by Lorelei M Hart
Chapter One
Gustav Van Dijk
“Papa, I’m scared.”
The words made my heavy heart even more laden. I glanced in the rearview mirror to see my not-quite five-year old in his booster seat, looking out the window. His little cheeks were pale, and his eyelids fluttered, a sure sign he was about to cry. Dane, named after my omega who died giving birth to him, was not responding as well as I’d hoped to our move to the United States.
With the holidays coming soon, I’d decided to wait until January to enroll him in kindergarten, and my own schedule with my new company would be light until then. However, I did need to work online a few hours each afternoon and couldn’t do that easily with a fretful preschooler. Also, my son might adjust better if he made some friends. But I’d seen no other children playing near our rental house, so how?
We’d been strolling down Main Street the day before when we came upon a window covered in gift wrap and a big bow. Dane’s mood lifted and he bounced, asking, “Papa, is that a present?”
A chuckle preceded a pair of men emerging from the store, arms around one another’s waists. “It is indeed, little man,” said one of them. “A surprise present for the town, to be revealed next Saturday. I’m Liam by the way and this is my candy shop, Sugar.” He shook my hand then waved toward the other man. “And this is Edison, my mate.”
“Nice to meet you both,” I replied. “I am Gustav, Gus for short, and this is my son, Dane. So a surprise, huh?”
“We like to do a special window for each holiday, make it really special.”
The other man, Edison, rolled his eyes. “My mate has a flair for the dramatic, but he does run the very best candy store in town.”
“Edison!” protested Liam. “It’s the only candy store in town.”
His mate poked him in the ribs. “It’s the best in the country, but you already know that, and I refuse to contribute to your ego.” A twinkle in his eye offset his words. “Would it be all right to give your son a little something from the store?”
Dane’s smile stretched his chubby cheeks. Since it was the first sign of his happy self I’d seen in weeks, I nodded. “I guess so, if he promises to eat all his broccoli at dinner.”
“Papa, I love the little trees,” Dane protested. “Maybe you should make me eat lima beans instead.” He squinted his eyes and stuck out his tongue. “They’re yucky.”
Liam reached behind him into the store. “I think your son is quite the honest fellow.” He drew out a Santa Claus sucker, dark chocolate with a red suit and white beard. “Here you go!”
“It’s like Sinterklaas.” Dane closed his little fist around the stick and beamed at his new friend. “Thank you, candy-store man.”
“That’s Mr. Liam,” I chided softly.
“Thank you, Mr. Liam,” he echoed. “I promise to eat my broccoli—even if it’s lima beans.”
“You’re welcome,” the man said. “Now, I don’t offer this often, but would you like just the teensiest peek at our window?”
“Or even a bigger one!” Dane thrust out his chest.
Edison tilted his head. “I don’t know, Liam. Do you think he can keep a secret?”
“I can, I can!” my son shouted. “I never even told Daddy I broke his cup.”
A brief silence stretched before the two men burst into laughter.
“Dane!” I chided. “We’ll have to talk about that later. But I think you’ve made your point.
“Okay, little man.” Liam led him into the store and stopped right inside. He tugged back a red velvet curtain and let Dane duck his head under for a few seconds before saying, “Okay, that’s it.”
Dane backed out and straightened, his cheeks flushed, mouth in an O. “I won’t tell anybody! Not even my papa.”
I opened my mouth to speak, but Liam beat me to it. “I think we all agree you shouldn’t have secrets from your papa, so you can tell him, but only in very private, okay? We don’t want to spoil the surprise.”
Dane’s head bobbed. “Okay, Mr. Liam. And thank you for the candy and the secret.”
“Do I detect an accent?” Liam asked. “You aren’t from Holland, are you?” Although nearly everyone learned English in school back home, we by no means sounded like we were born in the USA.
“Exactly right. We just arrived last week.”
“Staying long?”
I flicked a glance at my son, who was busy ripping the plastic off his Santa sucker. “Permanently, if all goes well. I accepted a job here.”
“What do you do?”
“Computer coding.”
“Wow. And why did you choose to come here? I’m sure with your skills you can work almost anywhere.”
I hesitated, and he blushed. “What an ass. It’s none of my business.”
“No, it’s fine.” I didn’t mind answering. Dane had failed at plastic removal, and Edison was now assisting, so I took a step away and the other alpha followed. I lowered my voice. “I was widowed a couple of years ago, and I wanted a change of scenery. Dane barely remembers his other dad, but everywhere we went, people brought him up and it wasn’t good for either of us. So...when this opportunity came along, I decided to give it a shot.”
“Have any friends here in town?” he asked, without the sympathetic tone I’d learned to hate.
“No, not yet.”
“You do now.” He gave me a pat on the arm. “Come by and visit anytime.”
“That means a lot.”
“That’s okay. We have a family ourselves, three and growing. We’ll have to do a playdate.”
“That would be wonderful. Hey, since you are also a dad...do you know of a good babysitter? I need someone for a few hours in the afternoons.”
“Better than that.” He called to his omega, “Edison, do you have any openings at My Brother, My Sister for the afternoon program?”
He did. And Dane had been wildly excited for the past two days, but nerves had gotten hold of him once he was actually on the way.
I braced myself for what was to come.
Season of Joy by Ellie Thomas
Shortly before closing time, Mrs. Harris entered the shop, accompanied by her numerous progeny. It was for good reason that Walter’s father referred to the junior members of the Harris family as “the holy terrors.”
If Dad had known they were coming, he would have delayed nipping out for five minutes.
Walter hid a grimace while keeping a close watch on the arrangements of piled tins, all too tempting an obstacle for small, unruly children.
The three older ones, used to being well-behaved at school, stood quietly enough by their mother as she approached the counter. To Walter’s relief, the two youngest, a boy and a girl, the rambunctious pair of twins, were not running riot but remained contained, each holding the hand of an unfamiliar man.
“I only popped in for a couple of tins of corned beef,” Mrs. Harris said chattily. “I thought I had some put by in the larder. Isn’t it strange how quickly food gets used up when you’ve another mouth to feed?” She smiled and continued, “My brother Stanley is staying with us while he recuperates.”
Walter gave a nod of acknowledgement as he selected the tins of canned meat. He was already aware of the newcomer to the tight-knit streets that comprised old Cheltenham.
Local shops were a mine of ready information. It was surprising what intimate details people revealed to shopkeepers or loudly speculated about to each other in the shop.
Mrs. Harris’ brother’s arrival from the village of Lydbrook in the Forest of Dean, her home before marriage, had inevitably caused a steady stream of gossip.
“He’s not quite right, so I’ve heard,” one lady said, tapping the side of her behatted head sententiously. Another more sympathetic soul had added, “The poor chap has had repeated bouts of pneumonia as a result of the Great War, so I believe.” A final tactless commenter declared, “You’d have thought he’d have got over that by now.”
That remark had caused Walter to grit his teeth and hold back a pithy retort.
Most civilians back in Blighty had no notion of the horrors of trench warfare, often affecting a man for the rest of his days. Walter was mostly grateful that civilians were spared those harrowing experiences, but such ignorance raised his hackles.
“There you are,” he gravely handed the tins to two of Mrs. Harris’ most responsible children.
“Can I help you with anything else?” he enquired politely, as though he wasn’t eager to see the back of the family before the twins wriggled free to wreak havoc.
“A jar of Hartley’s jam would come in handy. It’s Stanley’s favourite.”
She jerked her head towards her brother. Walter naturally glanced in the same direction. Contrary to his first assumptions, rather than clutching the twins to keep them under control, the infants seemed to be helping to hold the man upright.
He’s hardly a heavyweight, more of a bantam in boxing terms.
He wasn’t tall, perhaps a few inches shorter than Walter’s five feet eleven inches and far less robust in build. Walter could hear the slight rasp of his breath from across the shop, confirming that he must suffer with his lungs. His face was downturned, hidden by his cap.
“Strawberry or raspberry?”
Walter addressed Mrs. Harris, but her brother answered.
“Damson, if you have it.”
He looked up as he spoke. Walter blinked.
Blimey, he’s a looker.
He was fine featured, but still managed to be handsome rather than pretty. His large dark eyes were emphasised by his sallow, over-thin face and his lush mouth was accentuated by a pencil moustache. Like a home-grown Rudolph Valentino.
Always You by RJ Scott
Chapter One
JAZZ
Standing across the street, I held the coffee cup close, its warmth providing a brief reprieve from the biting Chicago wind. The old building in Humboldt Park loomed ahead— a weary, weathered structure. Its brickwork was faded and chipped, with windows gleaming on the first floor, but above that, grimy and dark, the windowsills and surrounds needed repairs everywhere. Around the house, the neighborhood stretched out in a patchwork of neglect and survival. Graffiti-covered walls displayed various tags, while trash blew and collected on the snowy sidewalks.
Someone bumped into me, jolting me from my reverie. “Sorry,” I muttered, but the girl glanced back, her nose wrinkling in disdain, before she hurried away, disappearing into the flurry of thickening snow that swirled around streetlamps and piled up in dirty mounds. She might’ve been reacting to the way I looked— homeless, piles of rags, unwanted, and scary. Or maybe the way I smelled— given I hadn’t washed in days— not since leaving the hospital where the cops had dropped me off. My appearance must have been unsettling— hands cracked from the cold, hair unkempt, clothes a mismatched ensemble from some thrift shop clinging to my skinny body, a backpack with all I owned slung over my shoulder. She and other people— the ordinary people of this world— were why I didn’t stay inside the café. I knew no one would want to sit next to me, so I used loose change, ignored the comments, and hurried outside to take my position as a ghost, haunting the fringes of a world that had moved on without me.
Cars inched along the road, their tires crunching over the fresh layer of snow, and I watched them and their drivers, so worried they’d slip and knock their vehicles as if a few scratches mattered. What were they all doing out here, anyway? Didn’t they all have homes to go to, with people who cared about them?
I sipped the dark coffee, its bitterness awful compared to the sugar-laden or salty drinks I’d grown used to in the desert. That arid, endless expanse of sand and heat felt a world away. Here, the air was heavy with the smell of cold— that crisp, almost metallic scent that comes with snow. It mingled with distant whiffs of exhaust fumes and an urban winter's faint, underlying decay.
The desert was silent and had vast open spaces until it was torn apart by explosions and drenched in screams, but here, the city was a constant hum of life, even in its most rundown corners. The sound of distant traffic, the muffled conversations of passersby, the occasional siren in the distance— it was all so alien and tight and close— too much.
I took another sip— my hand shaking, the coffee scalding my tongue— and stared at the building that was supposed to be my refuge. Fear gripped me— not just of the four walls waiting to enclose me, but of what lay beyond them.
I wanted to return to the heat, friends, and having a reason and purpose every day. So, I should head south to Texas, the tip of Florida, the islands, or the ocean. It may not be the desert, but the heat in my bones would be enough to thaw me out, right?
But then, I wouldn’t be near Harper, and whatever my ex-wife, Ava, thought of me now, I deserved to be near my daughter. If only to check in on her from a distance.
She was in Chicago, living her normal teenage life.
I was in Chicago, trying to stay alive any way I knew how.
And maybe one day, I’d talk to her.
One day, when my head wasn’t so messed up and I didn’t smell like five-day-old garbage.
I drew in a lungful of icy air and stepped off the curb, intent on closing the distance between me and the building as the world seemed to slow down. A silver Toyota lost its battle with the slick, snow-covered street, fishtailing wildly. It skidded past me, missing me by mere inches. My heart didn’t race. No adrenaline-fueled shock coursed through me. Instead, there was an eerie calm, a detachment, and I heard music blaring although the car windows were closed. The driver, face twisted in frustration, shot me an angry gesture before steering the car back on track and disappearing around the next corner.
I stood on the road, the cold seeping through my worn shoes, watching the taillights fade into the distance. The lack of fear, the absence of reaction, was unsettling. Once, a moment like that would have sparked a surge of adrenaline, a rush of instincts perfected in far more dangerous situations. But now, there was nothing— just a hollow emptiness, a numbness that had become a constant companion since returning stateside.
“Hey, you’re in the middle of the road, man. You okay?” someone asked, snapping me out of the fugue state I had going on.
I waved a hand as if I were telling him it was okay, then, with one glance left and right, I crossed to the sidewalk and ended up outside the door of Guardian Hall, Private Residence. There was a discreet plate with a button to push, and I stared at it.
Guardian Hall?
I needed to press the buzzer.
I reached for it.
But I didn’t press it.
I couldn’t.
I stared some more, my feet unmoving, my backpack digging into my shoulders, the snow swirling harder around me.
Then, the door opened.
I couldn’t see into the shadows, and until the person stepped into the light, I wasn’t sure it would be him, but I recognized those dark eyes, that ruffled dark hair, and how he dressed was a throwback to twenty years ago. He looked older, wiser, maybe, but, like me he was only a few weeks from his thirty-eighth birthday, so he would never again be the boy I remembered. He was silent and watchful in the way he stared at me.
“Do you want to come in?” he said with a kind, understanding smile.
He didn’t sneer, wrinkle his nose, or judge me; instead, he invited me inside.
“Alex,” I murmured.
He grinned. “That’s me, for my sins.” Then, he held out a hand. “Alex Richardson, manager of Guardian Hall.”
“I know,” I said, and his smile faltered a little, and he seemed puzzled for a moment, probably imagining that I was familiar somehow.
“It’s okay to come in. We don’t ask for names or—”
“Jazz,” I blurted and coughed, remnants of the freaking viral shit that had landed me in the hospital.
He looked confused; then, his hand dropped, his eyes widened, and his mouth fell open. Was he still going to welcome me in after sending me away twenty years ago? Was this the moment he slammed the door in my face again after telling me I was nothing to him? After a moment’s pause, he reached for me, gripped my wet-through coat, and dragged me into the house, closing the door behind me, then setting me back so he could check me out.
He was lost for words.
And I didn’t have a single damn thing to say.
The Killer Who Kept Me by Davidson King
CHAPTER ONE
“Power doesn’t corrupt people; people corrupt power.”
~ William Gaddis
Saros
It was a beautiful November morning. The sun was out, the air was crisp, my coffee was perfect, and most of all, I was enjoying it in silence. That was, until a door slamming from somewhere in my estate echoed off the walls, followed by stomping feet…That must be Cosmo.
I sighed and readied myself.
Three, two, one.
“Were you even going to tell me you were meeting Frazee tonight at The Sky?”
“Good morning, Cosmo. How are you this morning?”
He rolled his eyes and shot me a strained smile. “Morning, Boss. I’m actually irritated this fine fucking morning, if you must know.”
In this situation, if someone were to walk in on us, they’d likely think it was Cosmo who was the head of this family, feared by many, more powerful than anyone that sat behind the desk in a house made of white. But they’d be wrong. Cosmo was my second in command and my brother-in-law. The fact that he was married to my sister was why he wasn’t choking on his own tongue right about now…and he knew it.
“I’m sorry you’re upset—do sit and have some coffee.” I narrowed my gaze and sneered. “I insist.”
Cosmo sat across from me and poured himself coffee from the carafe. I let him have a moment to collect himself before I spoke once more.
“When you married my sister, you became my brother. It gives you more leeway than anyone else, but if you storm into my house like that again, making a scene, you’ll be walking with a limp for the rest of your life. Do I make myself clear?”
Cosmo swallowed loudly and placed the mug on the table. “My apologies; you’re right.”
“I know I’m right. What if I had someone here? I’d have had to explain to Dafni why you had two black eyes and then when she found out the reason, she’d break your nose.”
Dafni wasn’t violent, but she was tough. She understood this life and how everything we said and did mattered. I loved Cosmo, trusted him like no other, and I knew Dafni did too. So if he forced my hand, she’d know her husband had fucked up.
“It won’t happen again.”
“I know.”
We sat in silence for a beat, and after a breath, Cosmo started over. “Are you going to The Sky tonight to meet Frazee?”
“I am.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
I huffed. “Because you have to be at your daughter’s recital tonight. Marco is going with me.”
“This is Frazee, Saros. You can’t just take Marco. He’s a snake.”
I rose from my seat and buttoned my jacket. “We’re all snakes, Cosmo. Frazee isn’t going to try anything seven hundred feet from the ground, in a public place. Marco will be just fine.”
“I’m going.”
I pointed my finger at him. “You’re in more danger if you miss Maeve’s recital.”
“Saros, she’s three. It’s not even going to be dancing—more like little piglets jumping in a circle, smashing into each other. She won’t remember if I’m there or not.”
“Idiot.” I grinned. “Dafni will know, and she’ll serve your balls to you if you’re not there. I’ll be fine. Video the dance for me…but only my niece. I don’t give a shit about all the other little fucklings.”
“Fine, but I’m talking to Marco before you go.”
I waved him away. “Whatever you want.”
He mumbled something under his breath, but I was already out of the room and on my way to the study for a phone call.
The Sky was one of the most luxurious, expensive, and elite restaurants in all of Eastbury. The owner was a friend…well, maybe friend was pushing it. He was a man who’d had a dream and zero money. He’d pitched the idea of The Sky to me, and I’d loved it, loaned him the money, and because of that I was able to eat there whenever I wanted at no cost. Something Fernando wasn’t completely on board with. As the years went by, he’d become quite rich and the bright-eyed man full of hope and wonder had become a pretentious snob. Not to me, never to me, but it was sad to see someone go from beautiful to ugly.
“Mr. Tancredi.” I peered up and saw a grinning Frazee. Technically Barrett Frazee, but for as long as anyone had known the man, he’d simply gone by his last name.
“Frazee, good to see you.” I stood, we embraced, and we settled in.
Marco was near the bar, and I could see one of Frazee’s men close by.
“Shall we get to the business portion of this meeting, or order first?”
I gestured toward the server. “Let’s get food squared away.”
I ordered beef Wellington, lightly seasoned vegetables, and mashed potatoes. I regarded Frazee as he placed his order.
He was forty; his blond hair reached his shoulders and was streaked with gray. He kept himself fit, but the lines on his face weren’t because he smiled a lot. His blue eyes were dim, and the hard life he’d led made many believe he was older than he appeared. He dressed in expensive suits but I knew what he had in the bank didn’t even come close to my fortune.
Frazee and I couldn’t look more different. I was thirty-two, I didn’t have many lines on my face, and the ones I did were definitely from smiling. My hair was black, cut, and styled at all times. My blues eyes were bright because I saw a future that would always bend to my will, and I didn’t let anything enfeeble me.
The server nodded and left us to our beverages. “Let’s cut to the chase, Frazee. You want more territory, money, and power.”
Frazee snorted into his whiskey. “Don’t we all?”
“No. I have all those things already. I don’t call meetings asking for more.”
The other man sat back, the briefest glare crossing his face before he righted it. “You just go and take it.”
I lifted a shoulder. “If I have to. Otherwise, I like to negotiate.”
“Which demands a meeting.”
I snickered ominously and swallowed the rest of my bourbon. “Negotiations happen when the other party wants something from me, and I only agree if they have something I want.”
“And what do I have that you want, Saros?”
Using my first name would be seen as disrespectful if Frazee’s opinion mattered, but it didn’t. He couldn’t bother me because I wouldn’t let him.
“I want accessibility to PTA.”
Frazee’s brows furrowed. “Pell Tennor Airport? But you have other airports.”
I did. But PTA was important. “PTA is a smaller airport, less eyes on it, and as of three months ago started letting flights in from Brazil. A destination I do a lot of business with.”
“I thought you used the ports as well.”
I nodded. “I do.”
Frazee huffed. “PTA is the only area you don’t own, and you want it.”
“I won’t take it from you, Frazee, I just want access to it whenever I require it.”
“I suspected there was something you wanted, otherwise you’d have never agreed to this meeting.”
I beamed at the man. “Now you’re getting it.”
The server arrived and placed our food in front of us and asked if we needed refills, which we accepted. Once she left to get our drinks, Frazee continued.
“There are three abandoned warehouses in Eastbury. You aren’t using them—no one is. I want them.”
“Warehouses are clichéd, Frazee. Not to mention, suspicious as fuck. It’s why no one uses them. They’re watched.”
“If you don’t want them, it shouldn’t be an issue.”
I thought about it as the server brought our beverages. I didn’t answer right away, savoring my delicious meal. Frazee didn’t push me to answer, either.
“What are you using them for?”
He wiped his mouth and met my gaze. “We don’t ask about each other’s businesses.”
I shrugged. “It’s in my territory, and there are certain things I don’t allow.”
“I know what you allow and don’t in your territory; it’s nothing like that. But sharing my business dealings with you isn’t happening.”
I could just tell him no, but I wanted access to PTA and didn’t feel much like going to war over the use of it.
“I’ll give the buildings to you, but if I find out you’re breaking my territory rules, this won’t end well for you, Frazee.”
“And you’ll have access to PTA whenever you need.”
“Deal.”
We finished our meals and spent the rest of the time being cordial, asking about our families…you know, normal things.
One of the reasons I liked doing business at The Sky was that there were no wiretaps. The restaurant was swept every hour. If Fernando got word they’d tapped the place with a warrant, he’d tell me. It was also too high for anyone to listen in unless they hovered with a helicopter, and that would be very noticeable. I had a deal with Fernando: I wouldn’t take a cut after the loan was paid off and he’d keep The Sky however he wanted, and I’d never interfere with the stipulation that my words were safe here.
“Thanks for dinner.” Frazee shook my hand as we stood from the table.
“My pleasure. I’ll get those papers over to you by the end of the week.”
“Good doing business with you, Mr. Tancredi.”
Now I was Mr. Tancredi again. “Same.”
I waited until Frazee had taken the elevator down before approaching Marco. “Tell Benny to bring the car around.”
Marco texted, and we took the elevator to the bottom. Once we got out, I went the opposite direction from the main entrance. I didn’t like being seen unless there was a reason. So, I used the back exit.
Marco and I stepped outside, and the door had just closed when a shot rang out. A second later, Marco fell to the pavement.
Jared by RJ Scott & Meredith Russell
Chapter One
Gideon tapped the paperwork on his desk with a very expensive-looking pen. “I’m just playing devil’s advocate here, but do you think maybe you should have considered the consequences before you acted?”
Jared’s chest tightened because sitting in Gideon’s office at Bryant & Waites reminded him of sitting in the principal’s office. He felt as if a ton of trouble was heading his way, and it didn’t help that Gideon was stony-faced.
“I didn’t know it was going to happen,” Jared defended himself.
“But you had to know it might happen.”
Jared didn’t have a comeback for that at all.
Gideon sighed heavily. “Exactly who do you think will be covering the repair bill?” he asked with absolute calm.
Jared had seen the amount the hotel was asking for, it was the wrong side of two thousand dollars, and even though he’d known that question was coming, he winced. He hadn’t expected the ex-husband of his booked date would cause that much damage to a hotel room, but Gideon was right—maybe he should have thought about it more. He’d been aware of the volatile back story between the ex and the man who’d hired Jared, hence the need to approach Bryant & Waites in the first place, but Jared had never imagined in his wildest dreams he’d be in the middle of a marital feud. Let alone see so much chaos done by one man in a hotel room.
“He looked so sad.”
Gideon raised a single eyebrow. “I’m sorry?”
Shit. “The ex-husband—Bill, his name is Bill—well, he looked sad. He came to the door and when he explained how much he loved Yan, that’s the name of the guy who hired me.”
“I know who Yan is, Jared.”
“Well, I thought Bill was going to cry.”
“So, let’s get this clear. You get hired to be Yan’s date who explicitly said his ex was an asshole. Said ex then cries and you, in your infinite wisdom, let him into the suite that we paid for. The same suite for which we’re now on the hook to cover damages?”
“It’s just… I couldn’t leave a crying man out in the corridor. That wouldn’t be right, and I thought about the company policy of caring.” Jared hoped that would vindicate him, but a nerve twitched next to Gideon’s right eye.
“Company policy is to look after the client.”
“I could see in Bill’s expression that he was missing Yan, and Yan said some things that made me think that he actually loved his ex, and that—”
“And then what happened?” Gideon interrupted.
“Well, then I went down to find Yan, who was waiting for me at dinner—”
“And you left Yan’s ex-husband in the suite. On his own.”
“I thought it was for the best. I’m sorry and I hope we’re insured?” Jared hoped that was true because he couldn’t cover the cost. God, the thought that he might have to find money for a broken television, not to mention the bedclothes shredded on the floor, made him come out in hives. He was only just covering rent and costs for his course, and he had the typical issues of any twenty-eight-year-old late to education where it was a struggle to make ends meet. He’d fucked up a few too many times and he could feel it in his bones that he was on the edge of not being put forward for jobs, or maybe being fired outright.
“That’s not the point Jared, it’s just one thing after another, not to mention the other issues marked in your file,” Gideon continued.
“Which issues?” Jared couldn’t recall anything in the last couple of months. There again he hadn’t seen Gideon since Christmas because Rowan had dealt with the last booking. He didn’t have to be studying psychology to see that Gideon was tense and wondering how to word what he wanted to say. Stress caused Gideon to hunch his shoulders, and Jared felt guilty for what he’d managed to do, but surely Gideon would weigh the problems against the repeat business that Jared had brought in over the past three years. He was good at his job, and he had to remember that and persuade Gideon not to fire him.
He didn’t want to leave.
“New Year and the emergency exit call you made to Rowan to get away from a foursome for a start.”
Oh, that issue. “It wasn’t exactly a foursome. We all had our clothes on, and one of the men was all upset about his dog, and he cried, and… it was just a big misunderstanding.”
“Jared,” he opened a file on his desk. “One missing advent swan, a narrowly avoided foursome, a destroyed room, and that’s in less than three months. If it wasn’t for the positive feedback and the fact that all three of those bookings gave you glowing reviews, despite the issues—”
“Am I fired? I’m sorry, I didn’t know that the swan belonged to the hotel, otherwise when the girl from the table next to me started sobbing I wouldn’t have gotten involved and opened the gate to let it out.”
“No, you’re not fired, but Jared, you have to stop trying to make everything better for everyone and open us up to situations that cost money or reputation. So, this next booking…”
“Is my last chance?” Jared finished and remained hopeful that Gideon wasn’t going to get rid of him.
“End of May we’ve just booked a graduation event for one of our new clients, she’s a CEO and won’t take any drama, tell me I’m not going to get a report that any shit has hit any one of the fans in any room you are in.”
Jared held up a hand. “I solemnly swear.”
Gideon muttered something under his breath and then pressed the intercom. “Rowan, can you bring in the ZenTech Industries file?” There was static, and Gideon frowned at the machine as if it had personally hurt him. “Rowan?”
Just as Gideon stood to find his errant PA, Rowan’s voice came through loud and clear. “I’d love to come in, babe…sir, but we have a slight issue.”
“What kind of issue?”
Despite the ominous mention of an issue, Jared watched Gideon smile at the sound of Rowan’s voice, and how it softened his stern expression—that made it seem less probable that Gideon was going to kill Jared with his stare. It hadn’t taken long for the grapevine to supply the juicy details that Gideon had realized his feelings for Rowan and had spent an interesting Christmas break in Maine. Fifteen months later and they had the same loved-up glow even now, although they attempted to keep things professional around clients, the guys who worked for Gideon could see the change. He was softer, happier, and his hard edges had been smoothed away.
I want that. I want a man who will rub on my hard edges.Jared bit his lip to stop laughing out loud at the thought, and instead assumed the pose of someone who was absolutely a complete professional.
“I think you might want to come out here,” Rowan offered, and Gideon left the room. Unable to do much else, Jared went to the window, looking down at the people hurrying past on Stuyvesant Street, clearly on a mission to go somewhere, along with the tourist types taking photos of the brownstones. The offices of Bryant & Waites were discreet, with a simple brass plaque explaining who they were, but nothing about what they did. The New York day was March-chilled, with blue skies and everyone still bundled up in coats, but spring was promised along with looming exam deadlines.
After this year he had one more semester, and then he was done with the first part of his education, his degree in psychology assured—as long as he didn’t fuck that up as much as he kept messing up his bookings with Bryant & Waites. At least he was good at psychology and it had taken him years to save up to start his degree, a succession of shitty jobs building his pot of money as he lived in his parents’ basement. Now he was nearing the end of stage one in his career, and ready to move onto his work placements.
“Okay where were we?” Gideon came back into the room, took a seat, and ruffled files, which was Jared’s cue to sit down again.
“Is everything okay?”
“Rowan is dealing with it.”
“You agreed you weren’t going to fire me,” Jared reminded him, hoping to get Gideon to crack a smile, but all he did was frown. Not going well.
“No firing. Not today anyway. So, the CEO of ZenTech Industry is a woman called Elisa…”
The rest of the short meeting blurred into details and dates, and by the time Jared left he had a new booking firmly fixed after his exams, which meant he had time to study and get his head straight. No more messing up bookings, no more swans, or ex-husbands, or unforeseen foursomes. When he got out to reception Rowan was standing at the front door staring at something beyond.
“I didn’t get fired,” Jared announced with pride, but Rowan just huffed and didn’t move from the door. “What’s up?”
“There’s a kid on our steps,” Rowan muttered, “and he said his dad was coming but that was ten minutes ago and no sign of the dad.” He shrugged into his coat. “I’m going to get him in and call the cops—a kid that age shouldn’t be on his own. Poor boy is all upset about his dad, and something about his mom. He came in trying to hire a boyfriend.”
“For real?”
“This is ridiculous, Gideon said to watch him and wait for the dad, but it’s not sitting right with me. I’ve tried to bring the kid inside, but the last time I asked he refused to move. I’m going to sit there with him.”
“You want me to talk to him?” Jared didn’t know where that came from, but he could see Rowan was upset and worried, and Jared had slipped easily into his super-helpful mode without even realizing.
“You’re sure?”
“I’m on it.”
“Good luck, shout if you need me.”
Jared zipped his coat and headed out.
Three steps down and he drew level with the kid. “Hey,” he murmured so as not to scare him.
The boy glanced up at him, around ten or so, dark hair sticking out from a beanie, wearing a thick green coat, jeans, and Nikes. He hugged a dark notebook and was on the verge of tears.
My kryptonite.
The boy gave him a tremulous smile. “Hi.”
“What ya doin’, buddy?”
“Sitting.”
Jared considered what to do next, and none of the options included walking off and leaving the kid. At least the March snows had melted away, and the boy wouldn’t be freezing, but still, he was alone.
“What’s your name?”
“Luka.”
“Hey, Luka, I’m Jared.” He offered a fist to bump, and Luka didn’t leave him hanging, his notebook slipping. He caught it and then stared back up at Jared.
“Do you work in there?” he asked.
Jared caught the glint of interest in dark eyes. “Yes. Do you work around here too?”
“I’m only eleven,” he scoffed.
“How about school then?”
“It finished at three.”
“And you thought sitting on a step in the cold was a good idea to pass the time.”
“I’m not cold.” He shivered a little and exposed the lie for what it was.
“Where are your folks?” Jared wondered if Rowan was right and they should take Luka into the office, or just go straight to calling the cops, because there was no way he or Rowan were leaving him sitting here.
“Dad’s at work but I had to come here and see you.”
“Me?” Jared couldn’t recall having met the kid, but there was no doubting Luka’s conviction.
“Not just you, all of you. My dad works a lot, running the bar, and he’s always looking after me, or working, and since my mom died…” He cleared his throat, the words difficult to say. Compassion flooded Jared and he edged a little closer to Luka, offering non-verbal support where he could. “I want him to have a friend, and I want him to go on a date, and it doesn’t matter if it’s a girl or boy, because my Auntie Lee says he’s bri-sextual.”
Bri-sextual?Jared folded his arms and leaned against the stair railing.
“So, I came here to get one for him, but they said that my dad would need to go in, and they wanted me to stay so they could call the cops. But I don’t need to be arrested. Plus, that man, he gave me a card, said Dad could call the number on it if he wanted, but I can’t tell Dad he needs to go in to get a friend, ’cause he’d kill me, not for real, but he’d be angry, and now I don’t know what to do.”
“Do you have your dad’s number?”
“No,” Luka said, but wouldn’t meet his eyes.
Jared read Luka’s lie—this kid was transparent. “Is there someone waiting at home for you? What’s your address?”
“I forget. Look, can I read you something?” Luka asked with a tinge of hope in his voice.
“Once you give me your address, then sure.”
“How about I read this and then give you my address.”
Jared couldn’t help his snort of laughter or admiring that Luka was a fierce negotiator. “Go on then.”
Luka took off his gloves and fiddled with a lock, and then opened it to pages filled with scribbles and doodles. Clearly it was a life journal of some sort and could well hold Luka’s hopes and dreams.
“Dear Mr. or Mrs. Bryant & Waites,” Luka began to read, and then pointed up at the plaque on the building. “I don’t know their real names, so I wrote that.”
“Good call,” Jared praised him.
Luka beamed. “Dear Mr. or Mrs. Bryant & Waites, my Auntie Lee said that you let people borrow boyfriends, and I want one for my dad. It’s his birthday next month and I think it would be a nice present because he’s very lonely and works awfully hard, and he’s always worried about me and I don’t know why because I am the best son. I would be kind to a borrowed boyfriend. I wouldn’t make a lot of noise, and I would stay over at Auntie Lee’s so Dad and his new friend could watch a movie or eat steak.” He glanced up at Jared. “Dad loves steak.”
“Me too.”
“Right, so, eat a steak… okay… thank you very much, love me. I didn’t write me, I wrote Luka.”
“Of course you did.”
“But when I went in there and showed them this they started saying they were calling the police, and one of them was all sappy and patting my head, and I don’t want that, I want a boyfriend for Dad, and I want him to smile again.”
“How about we take you home and talk about this later.”
Luka ignored Jared and instead turned to the back of the journal and pulled out a small plastic bag full of coins and notes. “I have thirty-three dollars and fifty-nine cents to buy a friend for Dad. Is that what you do?”
“What’s your address, Luka?”
“Is it enough money?” He was persistent for sure.
“Address first.”
Luka shrank into his coat, his enthusiasm visibly leaving him, and he shut the journal. Then gave the street name and number. “I go stay with Auntie Lee when Dad’s working. She’s our neighbor.” He stood and with his journal gripped hard, he took the final steps down. “Thank you anyway,” he finished.
Jared was left with a decision to make. An easy one.
He sent a thumbs up to Rowan, then indicated he was going with Luka, and then followed him. Walking Luka wouldn’t take him far out of his way, and as soon as he saw Luka safely back then he’d head home. He fell into step with Luka. What should he talk about? He thought about the few things Luka had mentioned. His mom was dead? That’s what he’d said, right? And his dad ran a bar? They walked for a while and before Jared got around to breaking the silence, to talk some more, someone shouted Luka’s name.
“I’m dead,” Luka groaned. “That’s my dad.”
Lorelei M HartLorelei M. Hart is the cowriting team of USA Today Bestselling Authors Kate Richards and Ever Coming. Friends for years, the duo decided to come together and write one of their favorite guilty pleasures: Mpreg. There is something that just does it for them about smexy men who love each other enough to start a family together in a world where they can do it the old-fashioned way ;).
Ellie ThomasEllie Thomas lives by the sea. She comes from a teaching background and goes for long seaside walks where she daydreams about history. She is a voracious reader especially about anything historical. She mainly writes historical romance.
Ellie also writes historical erotic romance under the pen name L. E. Thomas.
RJ ScottWriting love stories with a happy ever after – cowboys, heroes, family, hockey, single dads, bodyguards
USA Today bestselling author RJ Scott has written over one hundred romance books. Emotional stories of complicated characters, cowboys, single dads, hockey players, millionaires, princes, bodyguards, Navy SEALs, soldiers, doctors, paramedics, firefighters, cops, and the men who get mixed up in their lives, always with a happy ever after.
She lives just outside London and spends every waking minute she isn’t with family either reading or writing. The last time she had a week’s break from writing, she didn’t like it one little bit, and she has yet to meet a box of chocolates she couldn’t defeat.
Davidson King, always had a hope that someday her daydreams would become real-life stories. As a child, you would often find her in her own world, thinking up the most insane situations. It may have taken her awhile, but she made her dream come true with her first published work, Snow Falling.
She managed to wrangle herself a husband who matched her crazy and they hatched three wonderful children.
If you were to ask her what gave her the courage to finally publish, she’d tell you it was her amazing family and friends. Support is vital in all things and when you’re afraid of your dreams, it will be your cheering section that will lift you up.
Meredith Russell lives in the heart of England. An avid fan of many story genres, she enjoys nothing less than a happy ending. She believes in heroes and romance and strives to reflect this in her writing. Sharing her imagination and passion for stories and characters is a dream Meredith is excited to turn into reality.
Lorelei M Hart
Ellie Thomas
Season of Joy by Ellie Thomas
The Killer Who Kept Me by Davidson King
Jared by RJ Scott & Meredith Russell
