Sin (20 page)

To my beloved sister Holly—thank you for being so wonderful.

I’m blessed with the best agent, Jill Marsal, and an editor who believes in me—thank you so much, Sue Grimshaw.

Thanks to all my readers—none of this is possible without you.

Big hugs to Jessica Jefferson, Kelly Graham, B. J. Scott, J.J., Dan Skrzynski, Kathryn Le Veque, my beloved husband Jeff, and Milisa.

Listening is the greatest gift you can give an author.

Surrender

Seduction

Sin

Loving Lucas
(coming soon)

PHOTO: DAVID JENSEN PHOTOGRAPHY, ANCHORAGE, ALASKA

V
IOLETTA
R
AND
holds a bachelor’s degree in environmental policy and a master’s degree in environmental management. Having served as an environmental scientist in the state of Alaska for over seven years, she enjoys the privilege of traveling to remote places few people have the opportunity to see.

Violetta has been in love with writing since childhood. Struck with an
entrepreneurial
spirit at a young age, at five she wrote short stories illustrated by her best friend and sold them in her neighborhood. The only thing she loves more than writing is her wonderful relationship with her husband, Jeff. She enjoys outdoor activities, reading whatever she can get her hands on, music, and losing herself in the worlds she loves bringing to life in the pages of her stories.

www.violettarandromance.com

Facebook.com/ViolettaRandRomance

@ViolettaRand

May flowers are abloom and so are our fabulous Loveswept
romances—beautiful
covers and stories to fill your eReaders to the brim!

New this month is
New York Times
bestselling author Tracy Wolff’s next Ethan Frost installment,
Exposed
—the more time I can spend with Chloe and Ethan the more “happy-happy-happy” I am
.
Next up is a new storyteller we’ve added to our list, Gina Gordon, and her risqué love affair,
Rush,
where a bad boy shows a straitlaced law student how to slow down and savor the good things. And what happens when you start falling for your worst enemy?
New York Times
bestselling author Missy Johnson and debut author Ashley Suzanne tell you all about it in
Breaking Noah.
The final installment of the Devil’s Den dancers by Violetta Rand also comes out this month, so look for
Sin
. The third book in Cecy Robson’s Shattered Past series,
Once Pure,
will be on sale as well, where true love lands a knockout punch
.

Western contemporary fans will be thrilled to know
USA Today
bestselling author Tina Leonard’s
Last of the Red-Hot Riders
will be available, featuring the toughest rodeo rider in Hell, Texas.

And, PNR fans, never fear—
Witches Be Burned,
a Magic & Mayhem novel releases from
USA Today
bestselling author Stacey Kennedy, in which a rookie guardian sworn to combat the undead risks life and love in a world of violence, witchcraft, and seduction.

New Adult audiences will enjoy Amber Hart’s
Captured by You,
the sequel to
Until You Find Me,
in which Raven and Jospin must fight for each other in a world where love is never safe—and power is deadly.

Meet new friends this month with Loveswept books—stories that invite you on fabulous journeys with some pretty amazing characters. Who knows, you may find a new book boyfriend, too!

Until next month ~Happy Romance!

Gina Wachtel

Associate Publisher

by Violetta Rand

Available from Loveswept

I’m a prisoner. And although my cage is a luxurious thirty-two-foot Thor Motor Coach, Connor is stretched out on the leather couch by the only exit. If I try to sneak out, he’ll wake up. And I don’t want to suffer the humiliation of another one of his explosive tantrums. I’m standing between the bedroom door and living area, arms crossed over my chest, music and laughter filtering through the open windows. It’s ten o’clock, the races are officially over, but the party just started.

I peek out the closest window, catching sight of the bonfire. It lights up the nighttime sky like fireworks. My friends are out there, drinking and having fun. And I’m stuck inside with my homicidal boyfriend who loses it when I smile at another guy. I carefully weigh my options, considering the consequences. With Connor, everything comes with a price.

I sniff the air, smelling cigar smoke and barbecue. A tradition I hate missing. Michael Samos travels to Cuba every year and smuggles the finest cigars over the border, saving a box for the last weekend of the races. I can taste the citrusy tang already. However, what I crave most is the camaraderie, feeling like I belong somewhere. Sitting in utter silence while Connor sleeps off his postrace buzz sucks. And I’ve already exhausted the DVD collection in the bedroom. If I watch
The Fast and the Furious
one more time I’ll puke.

I edge closer to the door. Connor flips onto his right side. There’s a nightlight on in the kitchen. I gaze at his angelic face. That’s what initially attracted me. And his sense of humor. But after thirteen months, I know what lurks beneath his tranquil features.

I don’t like him.

I take another silent step, then stop. So far so good. Another. I touch the latch, turn it, and the lock pops.

“Karlie?”

I cringe, not facing him.
“Yes?”
My voice wavers.

“Where the fuck are you going?”

I hear him sit up. “Outside.”

“Get over here.”

The fine hairs on the back of my neck stand on end. And my fight-or-flight instincts insist I obey. But I don’t want to. Instead, I push the door open.

Everything happens so fast. He clamps onto my hips, snapping me backward. I let out a little cry as he lifts me off my feet, then slams me onto the couch. My back hits the padding so hard it knocks the breath out of me. But I still try to roll onto the floor—maybe I can crawl between his legs, making it outside.

“Settle down,” he hisses, gripping my right ankle. “Now.” His nails dig into my flesh.

Tears sting my eyes, more out of fear than pain. “Please,” I beg. “Let me go.”

He laughs, wrapping his fingers around my throat. He applies just enough pressure to let me know he’s in control. “Where, Karlie?”

I raise my chin, my last attempt at defiance. “Wherever I want.”

He squeezes harder now, depriving me of enough oxygen that I get light-headed. I kick my feet so hard my sandals fly off. I dig my fingernails into the sides of his face.

“Bitch…” He lets go accidently and I take full advantage, launching off the couch.

I land on my knees near the steps and fall forward, hanging onto the edge of the first one, ready to scramble out the half-open door. He grips both of my ankles and flips me over, and the back of my head smacks the tiled floor with a sickening thud. It hurts more than brain freeze. I grit my teeth, praying the pain away, only to have it replaced by something far worse. He bends my big toe forward, and fire shoots up my foot.
Oh. My. God.
I bite my bottom lip so hard I taste blood.

I kick frantically. He twists my toe. “Stop or I’ll break it.”

He means it. I’ve been to the hospital twice in the last year with a broken wrist and a concussion. When the doctors asked what happened, Connor turned on the local-boy charm and told them I crashed at practice. He’s a local celebrity, so no one challenges him. No one suspects him of abuse. Except Marie. But she’s outside with her boyfriend…

“What-what do you want?” I ask.

“Where’s the goddamned phone number that prick from Colorado gave you?”

“In-in the trash.”

“Not in your pocket?”

I threw it away the minute we got back to the RV tonight. “No.”

“I don’t believe you.” He lets go of my foot, kneeling beside me.

His angry face gets closer and closer. Survival instinct takes over, and I fist my hand and punch him in the nose with all the strength I have. He growls, falling back. Somehow I scramble to my feet and fall down the steps, landing on the hard ground outside. Cool air fills my lungs. I shake my head. That pain at the base of my skull quickly reminds me where I am. I get up, then run for the fire. Halfway there I hear Connor’s heavy footsteps somewhere behind me.
Oh God.
This is it. I’m going to die tonight.

Breathless and exhausted, I fall to my knees. I hear voices, see dozens of feet standing around me. The heat from the flames feels so good against my chilled skin. That’s the effect my boyfriend has on me. It’s 60 degrees outside and I’m as cold as a corpse.

“Karlie,” Connor calls, his boots coming into my peripheral vision. “Don’t make this into something it doesn’t need to be. Get up—we’ll talk this out. In private.”

I don’t move. I can’t speak. I’m too busy worshipping the goddamned ground I’m kneeling on, thrilled to be free. Happy to be in public. We’re a tight-knit group. But certain things are taboo in the racing community, interfering-with-relationship stuff being one of the biggest. And Connor Seville is a hero. Three-time AMA champion. The fact that he graces these unsanctioned races with his presence is reason enough for everyone to overlook his temper.

He slides around me, resting his hand on my shoulder. I look up, meeting his blue gaze. The firelight makes him look ominous. “No,” I say confidently. “We’ll never discuss anything again.”

He chuckles, assessing the small crowd around us. I do the same, wishing Marie were nearby. All I see are
Connor’s
friends. “Never say never,” he adds, then palms the top of my head. “You’re all alone, Karlie. Without me, you’re shit.”

He forces my face to the ground and I get a mouthful of dirt. I spit it out, wiping my mouth with the back of my hand. When he finally lets go, I wobble to my feet, shocked and disappointed that no one intervenes on my behalf. Cowards. All of them. “Don’t touch me again, Connor.”

He raises his hand suddenly and I flinch. Then he runs his fingers through his hair, a smug look on his face—pleased he psyched me. “Scared of your own shadow.” He spits on the ground, inches from my bare feet. “Come on.”

I shake my head, refusing. Going with him would be like shooting myself. “Fuck off.”

He growls, stalking forward, forcing me back another foot. I’m too close to the flames—my butt feels like it’s roasting.

“Karlie?”

I shut my eyes, relieved to hear that familiar voice. Marie. And where she goes, Brandon follows.

“What the hell, Seville? Karlie’s lip is bleeding.” She’s next to me in seconds, her reassuring arms wrapped around me. She pulls me away from the fire.

I snuggle into her, my heart rate starting to return to normal. I’m not really helpless, but Connor has this way of shutting me down. I feel stupid around him, ugly, and worthless. That’s what he tells me I am. After six months of being bombarded with insults, I finally started to believe him.

“Go.” Marie flicks her fingers at him like she’s shooing a fly. “You okay?” she whispers near my ear. She’s blessed with Connor antibodies.

I nod, knowing I’m not.

“Stay out of it, Marie,” Connor shoots back.

“Maybe we should all take a break,” Brandon adds judiciously. “Let Karlie stay here with us. We’ll bring her home in the morning.”

That offer elicits an evil laugh. “Like I’d trust you with her.” Connor lurches at me, but he’s quickly snapped backward by someone I’ve never seen before. “What the fuck?”

Connor whirls around, eye level with the stranger’s chest. “I think the lady wants to stay here.” That’s all the leather-clad god says, his penetrating eyes fixed on Connor.

Connor retreats a foot, squaring his shoulders, ready to challenge him. Inside, I’m jumping for joy, wishing I were doing actual somersaults.

“Who is that?” I ask Marie.

“Not sure…”

We’re captivated by his bravery, but Connor’s minions are closing in. The odds are heavily in Connor’s favor. Everyone is looking at me now. Perhaps waiting for me to say something. But I can’t.

“I suggest
you
leave, brother,” Connor warns, unafraid because he’s got a dozen guys to back him up. “This is a private party.”

“Like intimidating women?” My protector closes the distance between him and Connor. “Like smacking them around?”

Silence. I nearly faint. That man is heaven-sent. Suddenly I find my voice, break away from Marie, and rush to Connor’s side. He gazes down at me, a triumphant look on his face.

“Seems my girl
disagrees—she’s
coming with me.”

“Not a chance,” I say, thrusting my hands onto my hips. “We’re done, Connor.” I can’t believe I just dumped him in front of everyone. I hear whispering behind me. I don’t need anyone’s approval to stand up for myself. I should have done this months ago. “I’m getting my bags.”

I turn to go, but he grabs me by the neck. “The hell you are.”

I go limp, helpless
again—humiliated
beyond expression. My shoulders sag, and I stare at the ground.

“Karlie, look out!” Marie’s voice penetrates my thoughts and I manage to look up just in time. The stranger smashes into Connor, knocking me down.

I crawl to safety, and when I gaze up again Connor is on his back, with the stranger straddling his chest. “Get your bags—I’ll hold him until you get back.”

Marie reacts instantly, offering me her hand. I take it and she tugs me to my feet. “You heard the guy—let’s go.”

We run to the RV and head straight to the bedroom. I open the closet and grab my backpack and suitcase. Then I unplug my iPhone and stuff it and the charger in my bag. Next I find my sandals and put them on.

Marie opens the glove box. “Where’s the cash, Karlie?”

“In the compartment above the driver’s seat.” Connor carries cash whenever we travel.

She opens it, takes the money, and stashes it in her pocket. “Ready?”

My hands shake uncontrollably as my gaze sweeps the area, searching for anything I might have forgotten. I’m overwhelmed, but grateful. “Ready,” I confirm, kicking the door open.