Love Resisted (Entwined Hearts #2) (28 page)

“Dane, I just need to know you’re okay. You’ve been gone for five days,” Pea speaks in hushed tones down the phone. Baby Eleanor must be sleeping. “I need you, Dane. Eleanor needs her uncle,” she whispers and I feel it like a physical blow. I hang my head.

“I know, Sunshine, I’m sorry. It’s just work. I have some business to deal with, and I swear I’ll be back,” I explain softly. I hate it when she’s upset. The last thing I want to do is be the cause of any pain for her. She’s had enough in her life. Fuck. We’ve all had enough.

“Do you know when you’ll be back?”

I sigh at her words and look toward the barn I’m standing outside of. “Tomorrow. I’ll be back tomorrow, Pea. I swear.”

I hear her exhale of breath. “Good. That’s good to hear, Dane. I love you, big brother.”

“Love you too, Sunshine,” I reply before hanging up the phone. I close my eyes and feel a wash of emotion run through my whole body. I love my family. I’m just not sure if I can be what they need anymore. I’m not sure if I can survive much longer.

How long am I supposed to fight?

Ever since Nova entered my life again, I’ve been broken. I tried to fix it, but I’m not sure there’s anything to be fixed. I don’t even know what’s broken because she wouldn’t ever be alone with me.

“Fuck!” I roar.

“Mr. Matthews,” I hear behind me and I spin around. My face I know is now completely expressionless and hard. “Everything is ready for you,” Dex informs me looking away. Even he is unsure of me these days.

I nod. “Thank you, Dex. This will be quick. Have the car ready to go and clean-up on speed-dial.”

He nods and moves away. “Of course.”

I take the few strides to the barn pulling back the door and letting in what is probably the first ray of light in a week. I can smell urine and shit and what I assume is probably sick. I step inside and shut the door behind me. Unbuttoning my cuffs and rolling up my sleeves, I wonder for a second why I put a shirt on. I stop in front of the limp body that sags forward in the chair, the only thing holding him in place are the ropes.

“Patrick,” I say and his eyes dart up to mine, his face blanching.

“So, you think you’re a surgeon? Let see what you think of my skills. I’m sure you’ll be aware that there are many places you can cut into a body before the person dies?” I smirk as fresh piss runs down his leg and tears stream from his eyes. “You think it’s okay to harm young girls.” His body jerks. “Oh, you think I don’t know what you’ve done? Tut, tut, Patrick. I investigate people thoroughly, and I’m saddened to find out that Soph seems to have been the lucky one when she was younger. Getting away from your more abusive ways because her mother needed her alive and well. I have, however, found out about the other girls.” I start circling his chair. He has a gag in his mouth because I don’t want to hear his excuses.

They all have excuses.
And I have a headache so his screams wouldn’t be welcomed either.

“So Patrick, back to my first question. You think you’re a surgeon? Well, tell me, when I do this…” I push the knife I had in my back pocket into his shoulder, where he stabbed Soph, but I run it in really slowly, trying to cause optimal pain. He screams out, thankfully it’s muffled, so it doesn’t bother my head. “Will that kill you?” I ask laughing. I think he’s sick, but thankfully the gag keeps it in.

“I wanted to make this last, Patrick, but I have to be somewhere tomorrow, and you’ve been waiting for our date for a week already. So this will have to be quicker than I intended. Still I have a few hours.” I pull the knife out of one shoulder and run it into the other.

I have nothing to worry about anymore.

I have nobody to be pure for.

Knowing that I’ll be getting a child molester off the streets?
At that thought, I close my eyes and relax clicking my head from side to side.

“I’m going to enjoy this,” I tell Patrick with a smile.

Nicole Scherzinger – ‘Run’

Paramore – ‘The Only Exception’

John Legend – ‘All Of Me’

Hoobastank – ‘The Reason’

Madonna – ‘Crazy For You’

Avril Lavigne – ‘When You’re Gone’

Lionel Richie – ‘Truly’

Kelly Clarkson – ‘My Life Would Suck Without You’

En Vogue – ‘Giving Him Something He Can Feel’

En Vogue – ‘Don’t Let Go (Love)’

The Saturdays – ‘Issues’

Justin Timberlake – ‘Not a Bad Thing’

David Guetta Ft Usher – ‘Without You (Boyce Avenue acoustic cover)’

Sam Smith – ‘Not In That Way’

Britney Spears – ‘Everytime’

Ella Henderson – ‘Yours’

Color Me Badd – ‘I Wanna Sex You Up’

DJ Fresh Ft Ella Eyre – ‘Gravity’

Jason Derulo – ‘Want To Want Me’

Justin Timberlake – ‘Mirrors’

Girl Named Toby – ‘Holding a Heart’

R. Kelly & Public Announcement – ‘She’s Got That Vibe’

I want to start as always by thanking my husband and daughters, for putting up with me. I’m constantly writing or promoting and I basically sit in my PJ’s with my laptop and shut the world out sometimes. They support me unwaveringly in everything I do. If it weren't for you, then I would never have been able to achieve this dream. I love you all unconditionally.

To the rest of my family, for all your encouragement and support and for being proud of me. Love you.

To my Beta's – Beth Lemilliere, Amanda Johnson, Kerry Adamson, Heidi Bocarisa, Kelly O’Connor, Stacey Tester and Donna Tutin for reading my book chapter by chapter, giving me feedback and loving my characters as much as I do. For supporting me wholeheartedly and believing in me but most of all, for just being my friends. <3

To Kelly O’Connor (chief cutter) and Stacey Tester (my cat loving friend) from Our Kindle Konfessions and Donna Tutin (my level-headed friend) from Literary Lust. Thank you for reading my books, for giving me feedback, for not blocking me when I keep messaging you. Thank you for wanting more of my stories, for giving me a kick up the bum. For listening to me on the phone (Kelly) when I needed to vent or ask questions or just to chat. Thank you for being Admin in Maria’s Misfits and thank you for just telling me I’m okay. I think the world of you.

As always a special thank you to Beth Lemilliere. Love you girl. You are a rock for me, always ready with some advice and always having my back. You are that friend that walks alongside me, with the shovel ready to kick someone's arse, rather than the one trying to talk me out of it, which is what we all need in life. You understand my stories and you give me ideas. Pea and Soph are so like us when they’re together it's scary. You are one of my two soul sisters and you are the skittles. I butterflying love you!

To Amanda Johnson, you have the kindest heart. I know I said that last time, but I think I will say it in every acknowledgement because it’s the damn truth. You feel my pain and my happiness through being an author alongside me. You have listened to me cry and helped me on so many occasions I couldn’t count, and I know you have my back, even when I’m acting crazy. You're my other soul sister. And I love travelling this journey with you. Bring on Dublin 2016. Love you always!

To my blog partner Marie ‘Maz’ Mason, who always listens to my crazy and who I love loads. We don’t have all the time in the world anymore to chat, but we’re always there for each other when we need to be and I think you’re amazing.

To my Instagram family. My goodness, what a rollercoaster. I haven’t ever been a real Instagrammer, but these few ladies have taken me under their wings and absolutely supported me, one hundred percent. I don’t want to miss anyone so I’ll try not too but if I do, please forgive me.

bookobsessedgirl,

am_johnson_author,

sucker_for_books,

piamayi_bibliophile,

mt.readsandhikes,

booksandbandanas,

beautyandthebooks83,

whiskeysoakedwords,

naliia_,

Book_ish_life,

readingwhore

To my work colleagues. For listening to me talking about my book, when I should be working. For supporting me and buying my books and for giving me inspiration and quotes or sayings that sometimes end up in my books (Kaz).

To the All for the <3 <3 <3 team. For backing me, helping me and encouraging me. You girls are an excellent source of support.

I want to add another thank you to Kelly, Stacey and Donna, because they keep me laughing and I wish they all lived nearer. <3

Once again to my author friends who have shown support – thank you. I want to give virtual thanks with hugs included to Rochelle Paige and Kirsty Moseley who have listened to me and given me support and help throughout. I think you’re both amazing and want to be you when I grow up. Also Andie. M. Long, who is always there when I need her and is my honorary sister! I’ve had such a lot of support from so many different authors, I would be listing names forever. What I want to say though and this is more important than listing specific names is that every author I have had contact with in any capacity has been nothing but lovely. Whether they are new or established authors, indie or traditionally published. Knowing I can make that statement with one hundred percent honesty is probably the most fulfilling and heartwarming part of being in this crazy environment sometimes. The knowledge that there are so many authors out there that are happy to support each other rather than bring others down is truly astounding. Remember what I always say…Karma rules!

Francessca Webster from Francessca’s Romance Reviews, you rock! You are my cover designer and my promoter all in one, but more than that, you’re my friend. You make beautiful covers that people adore and you have been with me all the way, supporting me and you cope with my crazy. Love you!

Kaylene Osborn from Swish Design & Editing. Thank you for not taking one look at my manuscripts and sending them straight back to me and telling me to buggar off. I know I don’t send you even half decent words before you perform your magic…I keep telling you I just write, I can’t edit haha. But you’re always there backing me. Love you!

To Maria’s Misfits - my Street Team. Well, what can I say? You are an absolutely amazing bunch of people. You make me amazing teasers when I ask you and join me for takeovers. You love me sharing snippets of my upcoming book or other books I’m writing. We have so much fun chatting about anything and everything. You support and pimp me like no one else. But mostly, the thing that I’m most proud and humbled by is how much you support each other, interacting with one another and having a laugh and chat. I love you guys!

To every single blogger who has been willing to promote me in one way or another, I know how busy you all are. I know that sometimes you are sent things at the last minute. I know you take time away from your children and partners to read and review books, to promote to keep people up to date with all the goings on in the book world and to share and support authors. I think what you do is truly amazing. So thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Lastly thank you to all the readers that have taken, and will take a chance on me. You are the ones who will truly make my dreams come true.