Cousins: An Alpha Bad Boy Romance (Book 1) (24 page)

She was right about one thing. I do like control. I definitely like knowing exactly what I’m dealing with at all times. I don’t like surprises, and I don’t like chaos.

And while I'm sure it's no big deal in many circles that I have hooked up with a family member who is only my cousin by marriage, in my world it's a big fucking deal. It's messy.
 

None of my friends or family would ever understand this. In our world, she's still very much family. They'd probably come up with many creative names for what I am: perverted, distorted, warped, depraved, pathetic.
 
I know this because I would probably think the same about someone close to me.
 

Problem is right now … I just don't give a fuck. And the only reason why I've been holding back as much as I have with Elizabeth is because I know that she definitely
does
give a fuck.

I've swallowed four Extra-Strength Excedrin and drank at least three highballs of Jack Daniels over the last hour, but my head is still fucking pounding and my gut is still wickedly churning. Probably because over the last twenty-four hours the same questions have been running through my head; gnawing at me.
 

What is Elizabeth doing? Who is she talking to? Why hasn't she returned my texts or calls? Is she okay? Is that prick Ethan in between her legs right now? Will Joseph be able to bail my ass out if I kill a motherfucker in the Bahamas?

I'm checking and cleaning the slide and barrel of my gun for the third time now, because it's one of my rituals, and also because I really want to figure out a seriously creative way to transport an unregistered gun across international waters and into Paradise Island. I'm not fucking playing. It's a good thing federal laws are in place to prevent me from actually acting on it. Of course no law will stop me from breaking Ethan's jaw.
 

I was already pissed when I discovered that Elizabeth left the country without even as much as a good-bye to me, but ever since Jade told me that Elizabeth's ex-boyfriend could possibly be exactly in the same place, I've been in a
I want to kick someone's ass
mode.
 

I want to break some shit up.

I'm pissed that Elizabeth is responsible for the state that I'm in, and once I calm myself down enough, I'm going to have to do something about this situation. I just have to be very careful about how I approach this. No one can know just how twisted up I am. I'm going to have to reign my crazy in, or it's going to look like I'm going ape-shit over my cousin, which I am, but that's besides the point.

"Earth to Roman." Jade speaks to me with the tone of a perturbed elementary school teacher as she taps me on the forehead. "I asked what the hell is wrong with you?"

"Why are you still here Jade?" For a minute I forgot she was even in my house.

“I literally just told you that your cousin who’s over a thousand miles away may be in some trouble. I've watched you zone out on me, play with your gun, and eat more yellow M&Ms than any one person should be allowed to over the last few minutes. What gives? You should be going all bad ass right about now. Calling in the troops. Making shit happen."

"All I said was research her ex for me. I never said that she was in any trouble."

Jade looks at me incredulously. I can’t even blame her.
 

“Are you freaking kidding me? You didn't have to say it. All I said to you was that the Ethan kid
may
be in the Bahamas and now you look like you want to kill somebody. I mean look at you. What don't I know? Why are you acting this way?"

"I didn't want–" I stop myself from saying the words.

"You didn't what?"

I grunt and shake my head no so that Jade will shut the fuck up, but she isn't the type to take a hint. She's like a tiny little
Chihuahua
that latches on and doesn't let go until she gets what she came for.

"I don't know."

"I've known you a long time Roman, and I've never seen you like this. So indecisive. So torn up about something. You do realize that there's no room in your world for whatever
this
is you’re going through?”

"I know that Jade." I say with tension in my voice. I'm ten seconds away from throwing a yellow M&M at her head. They're both about the same size.
 

"I'm not indecisive about shit Jade. Elizabeth's a big girl. If she decides to hook back up with her ex in the Bahamas then that's her business. She'll call if there's any trouble."

Jade gives me a lengthy sidelong glance.

"Is that what this is about? A little worried she may be hooking back up with the ex?"

I turn my head and glare hard at Jade. I already know that she knows about my unhealthy attraction towards Elizabeth, because of how I was acting at the club, but saying the shit out loud is a whole other matter.
 

"Don't give me the stink eye boss man. I get it. I had a crush on one of my cousins when I was fourteen and had no problems letting the whole entire family know about it either. I use to follow him all over the house during family dinners like a little puppy dog. But being attracted to your cousin is just like having the hots for your best friend's boyfriend. It's completely fine and totally normal as long as you don't act on it; and you haven't acted on it right?"

I don't answer Jade, because I know that she means that as a rhetorical question. One that she wouldn't like the honest answer to. She takes my silence and my blank face to mean that I haven't crossed any lines and continues on with her spiel.

"I don't see how you can just sit here playing with guns and candy knowing that her douchebag ex may be knocking on her hotel room door right this minute. You asked me to look into him and I did. I know he has some drug issues, and Elizabeth doesn't seem the type to be with someone like that. So why aren't you doing anything about it? Imagine Joseph's reaction if something does happen to her, while you sit here paralyzed with some sort of misplaced guilt. What a fantastic fixer you've turned out to be."

Okay now her sarcastic ass is fucking pushing it.

"Watch it Jade." I growl.

"Do you want me to book your ticket to the island or not?"

Of course I do.
 

That little fucker is there.

I can feel it.

Once Jade said the words, I knew right then and there that it was true. And if he's there, he could only be there for her. There's no fucking way it's a coincidence. I know sneaky, lying drug addicts. I grew up with and around a shit load of them, and he is definitely one. He just goes to fancier schools and dresses better.

I lock the magazine clip of my gun into the receiver for the final time, lay my piece down on the table with a quiet thump, and swallow my last yellow M&M. I'm the hell done with self-soothing. I work better with an edge to me anyway.

"Book me a one-way ticket to Nassau and a room at the Atlantis."

I practically roll my eyes at the smirk that spreads across Jade's face. She loves it when she
wins
.

"How do you know she's staying there?"

"Juliette mentioned it."

"So you want one of the penthouse suites?"

I usually get the best that my money can buy when I travel, but not this time.

"No. Find out what tower she's staying in and book me the best room they have on her floor. It has to be on the same floor."

"What about Joseph and the Kings?"

"It's none of their business."

"You are working cases right now Roman. You've got the clubs too. You're going to have to say something to them."

She's right as usual. That's why I have her around. She gives me shit, and drives me crazy, but she keeps me on point. She knows my business is everything to me.

"Joseph and Juliette know that she's in the Bahamas on business, so there's no point in telling them anything different. I'll have Cutter cover the clubs and Camden can work the DUI job. Just tell Cam' and Cutter the truth. Tell them that Elizabeth may be in some trouble, and that I have to go out of town to handle it. Play it down though. No red alerts. No telling the old man that I went there. You feel me?"

Jade nods with satisfaction. "I'm glad you've finally come to your senses. While I know that it's possible that Elizabeth may be sitting on a beach, catching a tan, and reading a novel; there's also the small chance that this Ethan guy is up to something. Once upon a time you helped me out of a jacked up situation that nobody gave a shit about, and I just think someone should have Elizabeth's back too."

"Understood."

"What about killer over there?"
 

Jade points over to the corner at Mr. Tibbs. Jade is
not
a dog person. Usually I have someone house sit him if I travel, but this is too last minute. Plus I like giving Jade shit sometimes.
 

It
completes
me.

"Raw chicken backs and turkey necks are portioned in zipper lock bags in the freezer. Feed him twice a day. No treats. He also gets three walks a day. And water my plant while you're at it. Juliette gave it to me.”

"Raw chicken backs and turkey necks!”
 

I'm walking away grinning like a cheshire cat as I hear Jade's cries of protest behind me.
 

It's a pleasure to piss her off as I head to my bedroom to pack, and go see about kicking some ass and bringing my cousin the fuck home.

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Dear Reader,

Thank you for reading Cousins and taking a chance with a new indie author. I hope you enjoyed Roman & Elizabeth's story so far. I really enjoyed writing about those two; and stay tuned because the drama unfolds further between the two of them in the conclusion of their story–Book Two.
 

I am someone who has always dreamed of publishing fiction but allowed life to get in the way. Writing this series has been one of the most rewarding and challenging experiences of my life, and I look forward to bringing more stories to you as quickly as I can. When I came up with the concept of Cousins and started having people read sample chapters, a lot of people had strong opinions about Roman, Elizabeth, Ethan, Sloan and even Jagger. As an author I CRAVE feedback, so if you'd like to share what you liked, loved or even hated about this story, I'd love to hear from you. You can write me at
[email protected]
and visit me on the web at
http://LisaLangBlakeney.com
 

Also, I need a favor. If you enjoyed Cousins, I humbly ask to please leave a review and recommend the book to your friends. This really helps me as an author, as those ratings are so very important to us independent authors and allows other readers to find our books.
 

-Lisa

P.S. Make sure to
join my VIP mailing list
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Acknowledgements

SO WHERE DO I START? When I was 17 years old and trying to figure out my future, my mother strongly advised me to NOT major in English, because there was no way that she was going to pay for a college degree that would lead me to being homeless and on the streets (her words not mine English majors:). I ended up majoring in print journalism and spending many, many years of my life writing for newspapers, magazines and websites.
 

Now that I've married, have children, and my mother is ill with dementia, I see just how fragile life is and how important it is to spend every minute of it hopefully loving what you do. So here I am full circle. Doing what I truly believe I was meant to do. Writing fiction and enjoying every minute of it. And of course there are many people who have helped me get here.

First, I want to thank my
amazing husband
who has been my best friend since I was 18 years old, and who has supported any and everything that I've ever wanted out of life. Without him in my life, I doubt that I would have ever made it back here. Writing strictly for the love of it and not for profit. I also want to thank my daughters who inspire and influence every decision I make in my life. While they can't read any of my work quite yet (or maybe ever!), they support me in all other ways imaginable. I love each of you EQUALLY. I swear:)

Next I want to thank one of my dearest and closest friends
Kelly Green
who has listened to me talk about writing this book endlessly for the last few years and has been nothing but supportive and encouraging. Although she doesn't buy into my obsession with romance (If there's no romantic HEA in a book or a movie, I want no parts of it!), she still gets me, and I love you for that Kelly Boo.

I want to also thank another one of my besties,
Donna Kinard
, who is my quasi beta reader. She reads all the important parts I need read and gives me honest feedback that always works and makes me a better author.

When I first finished writing this book, I thought to myself that my acknowledgements page would end right about here. I am a total new fish out of water in the world of romance writing. I am also an introvert. I didn't know any fiction authors or bloggers. Not one. Little did I now that there would be several people very willing to help a newbie along. Support me. Encourage me. And without them I know that I would have felt desperately alone.

Thank you to my editor
Marla Esposito
. (Shout out to all NYU alumni!) You are much more than an editor to me. Let's face it, without you I would have been writing ellipses … 'til the cows came home, and Elizabeth would have had very chunky hands:) Thank you so much for all that you do and in the nurturing way that you do it.

Thank you to
Liv Morris
a.k.a. Obie-Wan Kenobi, an author with a million other things to do other than help me– I'm so sure:) But she took time out of her day to have an actual conversation with me and talk about my career, my book, my writing and just shoot the sh*t. You are a wealth of knowledge and are hands down responsible for me making smarter decisions about my writing and my marketing.