EVERLEIGHThe warmth of the sunshine on my face woke me from the best night's sleep I've had in years. Hell, the best sleep of my entire life to date!I slowly opened my eyes, hoping the bright light wouldn't give me an instant migraine. When I was confident that the light wouldn’t gouge my eyes out, I attempted a stretch. I fully expected to feel some discomfort at the very least, but there was none. At all… Even my hip was pain free. Whatever was in that vile smelling concoction worked some kind of magic.I rolled to the side, slightly disappointed that there wasn't a gorgeous God with chocolate brown hair and beautiful blue eyes to greet me this morning.I give my body one final stretch before I throw the covers back and attempt to get out of bed.I could smell breakfast cooking downstairs and the low murmur of voices. Gran must be entertaining Ronan. That gives me the opportunity to shower off the faint odor of that nasty shit he rubbed on my body last night. Thoughts of last n
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