Ember is finally here
I am a Killer. A Rapist. A Monster.
I know only pain and survival.
That is until the Cappo's sister walked
into my life.
And changed everything.
She's a light who makes my darkness darker,
her smile makes my heart turn to ice, and I can't escape the fear her seductive
looks instill--knowing it's only a matter of time before I fail--again, and
take her for myself.
This is the story of my redemption.
But it's not pretty...I died, and now I'm
alive, but not living, breathing but not surviving. I am Phoenix De Lange, son
to a murdered mob boss, estranged brother, horrible friend, monster in the
making, newest leader to one of the most powerful families in the Cosa Nostra.
And I will have my vengeance.
Or die trying.
I am Phoenix De Lange.
Death is all I know.Until she offers me a piece of life--I
can't resist taking.
EXCERPT
Once
we were on the road, Phoenix chose the correct music for our drive. I say
correct because, according to him, one didn't start the day listening to
hip-hop or anything remotely fun. No. Mr. Rogers had me listening to classical
music.
Classical.
Mozart,
to be exact.
Not
that I wasn't a fan of the arts, but really? It just seemed so against what you
would expect from him. He was the bad boy personified; like, if you put his
name in the dictionary, right next to it would be "And mothers warned
their daughters to stay away, but the heart wants what the heart wants, and
that heart wants that body… bad."
He
was all lean muscle and tight abs.
And
I could have sworn he had a dimple, but I'd never actually seen it. Phoenix's
dimple was like Bigfoot; I'd seen glimpses in pictures and via rumors, but I
had never actually seen it for myself.
One
day.
One
day I'd catch it and take a mental picture or five. Maybe ten. Needless to say,
I knew that if I had one of his smiles, it would be a magical thing.
His
hands gripped the steering wheel so hard I had a brief moment of panic thinking
he was actually going to rip the thing from the dash and have a breakdown. Sad
part? I half-expected it. He wasn't acting normal… well, he was always moody,
but this morning he seemed downright suicidal.
"So…"
I tried to zone out the instruments assaulting my sanity. "You went to
Eagle Elite, right?"
He
was quiet for a minute then gave a swift nod.
"Wow,
don't talk so fast. I almost didn't get all that."
And
crickets. Again.
I
cleared my throat. "You graduate?"
"Sort
of."
"How
do you sort of graduate?"
"Did
you bring lunch money?" He asked in a tight voice.
I
gaped. "Did you just ask me if I brought lunch money?"
He
shrugged.
"You're
driving me to school, forcing Mozart on my poor sensitive morning ears, and
just asked me if I had money for milk."
"I'm
concerned about you eating. Sue me."
"Pretty
sure the Nicolasi boss can afford to spare me a few dollars for a sandwich and
a can of pop."
"No
pop."
"Who
died and made you my grandpa? Seriously. I want to know so I can steal your gun
and point it at them."
"Nobody
touches my gun."
"Which
one?" I smirked, hoping he'd find the humor in my sexual innuendo, but who
was I kidding? It was Phoenix. He simply grunted, rolled his eyes, and kept
driving.
In
a moment of pure rebellion, I undid the first two buttons of my white, collared
shirt.
"What
the hell do you think you're doing?" he asked, his voice calm, his eyes
still on the road.
"Wow,
you really are like a parent. You can see me even when you aren't
looking."
"Button
that shit to your chin before I pull this car over."
"Put
on Jay-Z, and we'll talk."
More
cursing.
I
undid another button.
"Son
of a bitch, you're annoying."
"Is
this our first lovers' spat?"
"Were
there drugs in your toast?" He finally glanced at me, his blue eyes
chilling me to the bone. "Be serious. I don't want to get called into the
dean's office because you're high."
"Do
I look like I'm on drugs?"
"Is
this a trick question?"
Buy it now:
SERIES
Buy Links:
Elite:
Elect:
Entice:
Elicit:
BANG BANG:
ENFORCE
About Rachel Van Dyken:
Rachel Van Dyken is the New York Times,
Wall Street Journal, and USA Today Bestselling author of regency and
contemporary romances. When she's not writing you can find her drinking coffee
at Starbucks and plotting her next book while watching The Bachelor.
She keeps her home in Idaho with her Husband and their snoring Boxer, Sir Winston
Churchill. She loves to hear from readers! You can follow her writing journey
at
www.rachelvandykenauthor.com
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