EVERLEIGHI let Ronan lead me back down the stairs and into my kitchen. There were even more men at my dining table than before. There were unfamiliar men everywhere actually. There were two on the kitchen loveseat, three at the kitchen island and four at my dining table. Adding them up there were ten, including Ronan, extremely good looking men crammed in the open kitchen/dining/living space of my apartment.I could feel the walls start to close in and the panic attack I could feel coming, was taking root in my chest. It didn’t help that when they noticed that I was in the room all of their eyes were fixed on me. Out of the corner of my eye I could see Samson slinking his way into the room from the balcony. He must be sensing my uneasiness and is assessing the situation. His ears are pinned back and I’m afraid that sudden movement from any one of these men will send him into attack mode.As calmly as I can, I move into his direct line of sight. As long as he can see me he won’t fee

RONANI'm not sure at what point the morning veered off course but an hour later we finally got to sit down to breakfast. Breakfast with my group of lads is an event any day, but breakfast with the lads and a pretty lady is a full blown spectacle.Embarrassing stories… Check!Heavily embellished stories… Double check!Shameless flirting… Triple check!The flirting isn't just from my guys either. Whatever they're dishing out, she's taking it and giving it right back at them. She's got a rapier wit and a silver tongue.I know I'm sitting here grinning like a lovestruck fool in front of all of my guys, not ashamed in the slightest that they might see. Once upon a time I would never let any of them see me like this. But that was then and this is now.Now we aren't fighting deadly wars on all fronts.Now the dark parts of the city are at peace with one another. Now we can all finally sit back and enjoy the empire my grandfather built from nothing.And enjoying it is what I plan to do.Ev

EVERLEIGH“And you Ms. Logan, are most certainly mine.”It's been a few hours since Ronan left me at the gate to our private entrance, but his words at the park that was dedicated to his grandmother still have my body covered in goosebumps. What does it mean?He’s crazy?Is he laying a claim to me like some kind of caveman?I think so.Do I want him to?Uhh… Yeah! He’s gorgeous!I’m no closer to answers or decisions than I was when he said it. He’s definitely a man that gets what he wants and apparently he has chosen to set his sights on me. I’m just not sure if I’m ready to take that kind of chance or not.I mean he all but confessed to me that he wasn’t the guy I thought he was. But this morning at breakfast I could see the darkness in his eyes when he was challenged by his inner circle. I’ve been laying in my bed for the last few hours guessing, second guessing and making a mess out of the few words spoken. I couldn’t help but think back on the way his hand felt in mine. When he

EVERLEIGH When I first entered the event hall I couldn't believe my eyes. Gone were the drab, boring egg shell walls. In its place were cream colored walls with white wainscoting and gold trim around the top, middle and bottom of the newly transformed walls. The crystal chandeliers sparkle like diamonds with chiffon swags draped elegantly through the arms holding the lights. The same blush pink chiffon adorned the backs of chairs in big, over exaggerated bows.There was a stage setup at what I could only assume is supposed to represent the front of the room. Large bouquet arrangements of Magnolia flowers, Roses, Peonies Cymbidium and Phalaenopsis Orchids stood out as centerpieces on each table. The same arrangement style was used as large draping swags along the front of the table on the stage. The sense of pride that I am feeling is almost euphoric. We generally don't get to see the finished results of how our arrangements are used. And I can't help the feelings of accomplishment

RONANI've been pacing my office for the last half hour waiting for this party to start. I'm nervous as fuck and I don't know why. No, I do know why. Everleigh is why.Inviting her to this shit show was a spur of the moment decision. She isn't ready for this life. Who am I kidding though. She may never be ready for this life. She's too good. Too pure hearted to be involved with someone like me. I'm also on edge about this damn party. The city's elite are invited and that always brings unwelcome guests as well. No doubt the Silvestro's will crash this party just like they have done everyone we have thrown since his damn daughter turned Eighteen.Antonio Silvestro is single handedly responsible for all of the bad in this town. I know the drugs and illegal weapons we deal in are part of the bad but we have strict rules that we deal in. He's also responsible for the trafficking of women. The same traffickers that kidnapped Everleigh three years ago.A light knock at my office door brin

EVERLEIGHThank God for Sean giving me a way out of the ladies room. I could tell that group was going to be trouble from the first moment I saw them. Daddy's little princesses that are spoiled ass rotten and can do no wrong. At one point this evening I heard the guys talking about a group of party crashers. I guess I just met them."Jesus Christ she doesn't know when to stop." Kierian muttered under his breath. I followed his line of sight and what I saw made me see red.That bitch had herself wrapped around Ronan. He stood stiff as a board and I could see the muscle in his jaw ticking from across the room.I'm not sure what came over me, but what happened next I'm jot sure anyone could have predicted. I felt like a woman possessed. I pushed my way through the crowd that was beginning to form around the spectacle that was this spoiled bitch. If I had any doubts that this was something Ronan didn't want, they were squashed the moment I caught the look on his face. One perfect eyebr

EVERLEIGHFive days…It’s been five days since my world changed.My mother is alive.My mother is alive and is married to Antonio Silvestro.My mother is alive and is married to the monster that kidnapped me and was going to sell me.I haven’t spoken to Ronan since that night.I haven’t spoken to anyone actually. When it gets bad like this, and unfortunately this isn’t the first time I’ve shut myself away and gone non verbal, Gran usually calls in the cavalry.That would be why I’m sitting in the middle of Woodland Park, Samson at my feet, drinking coffee with my cousin. Adrianna and I grew up thinking that we were sisters. We were inseparable. She’s a month older than me and has always been my protector. When we turned sixteen, she protected me from her alcoholic father. Her father used to beat the shit out of her on a near daily basis. He blamed her for her mother dying in childbirth. I’m not sure but I think he was sexually abusing her too. Until one he set his sights on me. He co

EVERLEIGHRonan takes Samson's leash from me and practically drags me to the parking lot. He takes me straight to a bright, shiny red truck. I never took him for the truck type, but okay.He opened the back door and Samson jumped right on to the beige leather seats. I winced when he spun a circle and plopped himself down. I haven’t had his nails trimmed in a while and I hope he doesn’t tear up the leather.“Umm…” I point to my dog and the leather seats.“He’s fine. I’ll just buy a new truck. This one is a few years old anyways.” I look at him like he has lost his damn mind. My truck is the same model style and I've had it since Bryan died. He bought it for me a few months before I was taken.“Must be nice to have more money than God. Some of us have to take care of what we have.” With his hand at the small of my back, he led me to the passenger side of the truck, opened the door and helped me in. Because of course it was lifted as well.He closed the door and came around to the drive

EVERLEIGH The drive down to the stables was quick and quiet. I could see his shoulders becoming more and more tense the closer we came to our destination. We were greeted at the gigantic sliding barn door by a man dressed in jeans, boots, a blue plaid shirt and a baseball cap that had seen better days. I could see his ink black hair, streaked with gray, as he pushed his hat back away from his face. No doubt this man was good looking back in his heyday.He greets us with a huge smile and clapps Ronan on the back with his massive hand. Ronan steps out of the side by side, holding his hand out for me to slide across the bench seat."Bradley." He greets the man with a nod. "Everleigh, this is our ranch manager, Bradley Jenkins.""Everleigh Logan." I extend my hand in greeting. "Jenkins… Does that make…"He cut me off with a grin and a far away look. "My Emily and I have been married for going on forty years now. She's still as beautiful as the day I met her."The love he has for his wi

EVERLEIGHHis sky blue eyes sparkled like diamonds in the moonlight as he pressed soft kisses across my shoulder. The heat of his body on top of mine makes my body shiver when his wet kisses are exposed to the cool night air. Who would have thought the lips of the devil could be so gentle? But he isn’t the devil I thought him to be now is he? This man is a contradiction wrapped in the beautiful package of an enigma. It’s going to take more than one afternoon together to figure him out. And after witnessing his utter heartbreak this afternoon, I think I am more than ready to accept the challenge that is Ronan Callaghan.I watch as his hands lightly skim down my body, stopping only to pull my shirt over my hips.Wait… When did I get dressed? And who’s shirt is this? Fuck it. It’s a dream anyway. Even in sleep I can tell the difference. I give myself over to the feel of his hands on my skin and the tenderness of the kisses he litters my body with.The butterflies in my stomach are flutt