BAD WICKED TWISTED: A Briarcrest Academy Box Set (85 page)

And along with that came the knowledge that I’d never be lonely again.

I’d never be hungry. For anything.

From across the table, Sarah reached over and threaded her fingers through mine. I don’t know why. Maybe she’d known I’d been contemplating life. Perhaps in her illness, she was more tuned in to people and their emotions. But it was as if she sensed my moment.

My somedays were all coming true.

I’d wanted to fly and I had. In more ways than one.

I gazed at Cuba. He immediately put down his bowl and came over to me.

He titled my chin up, hitting me with those drop-dead gorgeous eyes. “What is it?”

I shook my head, emotional. “You’re never going
anywhere
other than right here, are you?”

He smiled softly and brushed his lips against mine. “Never. I can’t imagine being anywhere else but right here with you and my new family. And someday, I’ll be a doctor, and you’ll dance as a principal. Best part is we’ll be married. We’ll have babies, of course, maybe four; at least three.”

I gaped, and he chuckled.

“Babies,” Sarah called out, and oh, I laughed.

Yes, yes, yes.
Someday.

The End

Bonus Scenes available at
http://www.ilsamaddenmills.com/

Want more Spider or Sebastian? Let me know which one you want. :)

For more information about the next book, please visit my social media sites:

http://www.ilsamaddenmills.com/

Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Author-Ilsa-Madden-Mills/164946810330135?ref=hl

Goodreads
:
http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7059622.Ilsa_Madden_Mills

THERE ARE SO many fantastic people in the indie world that made this journey possible. Please know that my gratitude in no way lessens as the list continues.

For my mom who always believed in me. Since I was small, she told me to fly.

For my father, the ultimate storyteller, who although he is gone, I know he looks down from his perch and chuckles at the scenarios I’ve managed to come up with in my writing.

For my husband who has stood by me every step of the way even when I couldn’t get one stinking agent to look at my work. Now, it’s been six years running, and I made it on my own. You and me, babe…against the world. Forever.

For my author friend Lisa N. Paul who kept me laughing through our daily phone conversations. You are my touchstone in the indie world.

For all the people who sacrificed time to make my cover one of a kind: Toski Covey of Toski Covey Photography, a sweet girl I stumbled across when I admired her work on another novel; Sommer Stein of Perfect Pear Creative who designed my incredible graphics and always answered my one million and one emails; and Elizabeth Copeland, the gorgeous girl who graces the cover of
Very Wicked Things
. You all rock!

For Rachel Skinner of Romance Refined, my awesome editor: You gave me so much more than just an edit. I love your friendship. For Kristin Anders of The Romantic Editor: my other editor who drove home my goals and motivations…someday I’ll learn. Ha. And for Rachel Russell: my copy edit person. Thank you, ladies!

For Ellie at LovenBooks for a wonderful cover reveal; for Stephanie DeLamater Phillips of Stephanie’s Book Reports who took my blog tour and buzz event and made it fabulous; for Heather Davenport of Naughty and Nice Book Blog who worked tirelessly with me on my Release Day and cover reveal for the prequel. Thank you so much for being available to chat with me at the drop of a hat. You have no idea how glad I am that I found all of you!

For Miranda Arnold of Red Cheeks Reads: my wonderful and talented PA. So happy we connected through our love of
Very Bad Things
. Thank you for all your hard work.

For Julie Titus of JT Formatting: the best formatter out there! I love what you did for Cuba and Dovey. Thank you for being patient and walking me through the steps.

For my Briarcrest Academy Chicks: as my street team, you picked me up when I got knocked down and you made me laugh when I needed it the most. And for the all the serious pimpettes out there, I can’t thank you enough for the time and energy you put into getting the word out. Stephanie Locke of Rude Girl Blog; Sandy Roman Borrero, Lesley Hoffman, Jennifer Noe of The Book Blog; Kimberly Kimball and Bobbie Kirby of Two Crazy Girls With a Passion for Books; Ann Moore, Kellie Montgomery, and Carrie Richardson-Horton of Eye Candy Book Store; Stephanie DeLamater Phillips of Stephanie’s Book Reports (who also was my fantastic blog tour organizer); Jennifer Wolfel and Toski Covey of Wolfel’s World of Books; Stacy Nickelson of It Started with Book Blog; Jess Danowski of Inside the Pages of a Book; Selene Malik and Heather Orgeron of The REAL Housewives of Romance Book Blog; Phoebe Lane, my dear friend, Vegas is waiting for us; Jennifer La Rocca, my sprint buddy; Denise Milano Sprung of Shh’s Mom’s Reading. Thank you for sharing the story of your brother with me. I never knew him…but I
know
him; Kahlen Aymes, an author friend and fellow soul mate I met in New York. Thank you for being my age. Ha; The Rock Stars of Romance blog for believing in my work and supporting me; Andrea Booker; Nasha Lama, my foxy friend; Bethany Castaneda; Kandace Lovesbooks; Lori Lovesbooks; Erin Griffin of Lit Slave; Lydia of HeaBook ShelfBlogger; Kerri Mclaughlin of Six Chicks and Their Love of Books; Brandi Franklin of Sugar and Spice Book Reviews; Lisa Pantano Kane of Three Chicks and Their Books; Ali Hymer of Ginger Reads Reviews; Tanya Childress of Bookhooking; Amy at Turn the Page; Gina Alwine; Jennifer Given Leary of Love Between the Sheets; Sarah Griffin of Books to Breathe; Debbie Reads and Blogs of Keep Calm and Read Romance; Jennifer Singh of Bestsellers and Beststellars; Erin Marie Fisher, the girl who read it first in the team; Author Missy Johnson who is always there for me; Sue Stewart and Lisa Rutledge who have both been with me since Day One. Love you, girls; Lisa Marie Kreinheder of Because I Said So Blog; Melanie Marino-Luna of We Like it Big Book Blog; Tori Shriver of Give Me Books; Alexis at Reality Bites; Claudia Juarez of I Love My Book Nerds; Yvette Cervera of Nose Stuck in a Book; Jessica Carter, always a bad-ass chick; Jessica Ramirez of The Lovely Books; Rachel Kee; Jenn Diaz of Sassy Divas Book Blog; Kristine Radgman; Gena Garrard for medical info; and lastly to Shanta Faulkner, a fan I met in New York, and I fell in love with her spirit and enthusiasm.

Thank you all for every shout out, sweet word of encouragement or post.
Very Wicked Things
is my love letter to you. Mwah!

If I’ve left anyone out, please forgive me. I promise to make it up in Book 3. And yes, it will be Sebastian’s book!

I love you all, girlies. :)

by

* * * *

Very Twisted Things

A Briarcrest Academy Novel

Book Three

Copyright © 2015 by Ilsa Madden-Mills

Cover Photography by Scott Hoover

Cover Design by Sommer Stein of Perfect Pear Creative

Cover Model: Drew Leighty

Editing by Rachel Skinner of Romance Refined

Formatting by JT Formatting

ISBN: 978-0-9903684-0-3

All rights reserved.

Without limiting the rights under copyright reserved above, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without the prior written permission of the author of this book.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, brands, media, and incidents are either the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. The author acknowledges the trademarked status and trademark owners of various products referenced in this work of fiction, which have been used without permission. The publication/use of these trademarks is not authorized, associated with, or sponsored by the trademark owners.

For those of you who gaze at the stars and see hope.