I really wanted to tell his story, and when the opportunity presented itself, I jumped at it! I thoroughly enjoyed telling their tale, and it has opened me up to writing more about this Rosewood pack. So, without further ado, Snow Bound.
Excerpt:
I’ll always find you.
Amity shot up in bed with a gasp. Pain ricocheted through her body, causing her
to groan and reach for her head. The incessant throbbing returned with a
vengeance, something she’d grown accustomed to. She peeled open her eyes,
trying to figure out where the hell she was, but the bright light increased the
sharp stabbing ache. The room spun momentarily, then righted itself as she
tried again to figure out where she had ended up.
The
last thing she remembered was the slick, icy road and a vehicle following too
close behind her. Javier. Her heart
started to pound. She needed to get out of there. She needed to run. He had
found her. Yet, when she opened her eyes once more, the light, not as bright as
before, made her realize she wasn’t home.
Where am I?
The harder she tried to remember what happened, the more her brain put the
brakes on her memories. She glanced down at her arm wrapped in a sling and
noticed the gray T-shirt she wore. How in
the world? On the table next to her sat a glass of water and two white
pills. The idea of taking both didn’t sit well with her. She needed to be able
to think and move if Javier showed up, or worse, waited for her somewhere in
this house.
Amity
took one pill, then pushed back the covers of the bed. Had she been so out of
it, she hadn’t realized someone had undressed her and put her to bed? Her legs
were dotted with bruises of various sizes. The hand print on her upper thigh
from where Javier had grabbed her during their last fight, turned green and
yellow around the edges. Tears stung her nose, and gathered in the corners of
her eyes. How had her life become such a shit pile? Why her?
She
had never thrown herself a pity party before, but now it seemed appropriate.
She hurt from head to toe, and her injuries from the last attack hadn’t even
healed before he came after her again. She ran a shaky hand through her hair
and hissed when she came in contact with glass. Great. Just fucking great.
Whoever had her hadn’t even cleaned her up. What
the fuck is wrong with people.
The
fight or flight instincts she’d relied on for the last six months kicked in.
She needed to get dressed and get the hell out of there. Amity glanced over at
the chair across from her and found a stack of clothes. They weren’t hers by
any means, but they’d do in a pinch. And
where do you think you’ll go? Her car had to have been trashed. Plus, she
didn’t even know where it was. She didn’t have her purse or her phone, though
the chance of it working was between slim and none.
A
knock at the door pulled her from her thoughts. She covered herself and slipped
down into the blankets, pretending to be asleep. The less she said, the better
off she’d be in this situation, at least until she could get her bearings. The
door opened and the heavy cadence of footfalls grew near. “I know you’re awake,
Miss. I’m a friend.”
Bullshit.
No one was her friend. They could be bought off by Javier and pumped for
information on where she was and how she got there. She didn’t move.
“I’m
Sheriff Lance Wingham. I found you last night on the side of Highway 35. You’re
at my home. The doctor said you should be fine, and I see you’ve already taken
one of the pain pills the doctor left. I brought a breakfast tray for you, if
you’re hungry.”
Her
belly gave an appreciative growl. She cursed her wayward stomach for giving her
away. “Where’s Javier?”
“Who?”
She
opened her eyes, ready to give him a tongue lashing about playing stupid, when
she paused. The man was a sight to behold and overwhelming. Short sandy-blond
hair framed ruggedly handsome features. His cool, gray eyes assessed her, while
his full lips were pursed and the muscle at his jaw ticked with tension. Broad
shoulders gave way to a tapered waist and legs build for power. Heat licked at
her insides as arousal fluttered low in her belly. This man was dangerous, and
she didn’t care. “Javier. He…he’s trying to kill me.” She dipped her head,
unable to hold the man’s commanding stare. “I’m Amity…Amity Jones.”
“It’s
good to meet you, Amity.” He sat on the edge of the bed, the tray of food still
in his hands. “I haven’t found him yet. But he won’t get far.” He placed the
tray in front of her. “Eat. You need your strength.”
She
glanced at the platter on the tray before her and groaned. Pancakes, eggs,
bacon, and potatoes. Along with juice and coffee. A home-cooked meal, something
she hadn’t had in months. “Thank you. Where am I?” She grabbed a piece of bacon
and began to eat. The involuntary moan falling from her lips embarrassed her,
but if he noticed, he didn’t say a word.
“You’re
in Rosewood.”
An
image of a snow covered wooden sign flashed through her mind. “I saw the sign.”
“Well…the
storm.” She shrugged. “I had to stop or get stuck in it.”
“You’ve
been here three days.”
The
bacon settled in her stomach like a lead weight. “Three days?”
“Caleb
said to let you sleep as much as you needed. Darlin’, you looked rough when I
got you here.”
The
way “darlin’” rolled off his tongue had her insides turning to goo. “I see.
And, my car?”
“Totaled.
It’s a mangled pile of metal.”
Despair
filled her. Now, what would she do? “Oh.”
“Thorne
did happen to bring your bag. Is there anyone I can call for you?”
She
shook her head. “No. I don’t have anyone.”
A
low sound, almost like a growl emanated from him. Or at least she thought it
had. “You’re alone?”
“Yes.”
He
cursed. “My home is your home. You may stay here if you wish. I’ll have Thorne
assess your vehicle again. Maybe he can fix it or has something suitable to
replace it with.”
“Thank
you.” But where would she go? Even if she had a car, Javier was out there
somewhere, waiting for her to make her next move. She glanced over at the man,
then back down at her plate, as she began to eat again. “Do you have any idea
of where Javier went?” She didn’t understand her willingness to trust this man
in front of her. Javi paid off most of his friends with bribes and kickbacks.
For all she knew, this man had been on the take too. Yet, when she met his gaze
once more, all she saw in his gray depths was a sense of safety and warmth.
“I
have my men scouring the area as we speak. If he’s still around here, we’ll
find him.” He shifted closer to her and laid his hand on her leg. “You need not
be afraid of me, or my deputies. We will protect you.”
Javier
said the same thing to her in the beginning, before beating the shit out of
her. “No disrespect, Lance, but I’ve heard it before, and look at the situation
I’m in.”
He
grunted. “Point taken.” Instead of backing up, he got into her personal space.
His gaze locked with hers. His lips mere inches from her mouth. “I aim to prove
you can trust me, Amity.”
Her
breath hitched. The scent of his aftershave swirled around her, ensnaring her
in the heady smell of wilderness and spice. She licked her lips and swore she
heard that rumbled sound again. “Trust is hard to come by.”
Buy Links:
iBooks: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/id1171907995
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01MXCIM4M/
Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01MXCIM4M/
Amazon CA: https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B01MXCIM4M/
Amazon AU: https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B01MXCIM4M/
Kobo: https://store.kobobooks.com/e…/ebook/snowy-knights-anthology
Nook: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/1125069378
Buy Links:
iBooks: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/id1171907995
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01MXCIM4M/
Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01MXCIM4M/
Amazon CA: https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B01MXCIM4M/
Amazon AU: https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B01MXCIM4M/
Kobo: https://store.kobobooks.com/e…/ebook/snowy-knights-anthology
Nook: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/1125069378
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