Kismet (33 page)
Closing the stall door behind me, I take a final glance back at Onyx and her new baby. She’s busy cleaning them both up, but the foal makes eye contact with me and I know that today is the dawn of a new day. Things will only get better now that we’re carrying on Katie’s dream. So much was left unsaid, but the love between Katie and I spoke louder than words ever could. Her heart may have been a deep ocean of secrets, but it was always mine, and I truly believe that all of this happened for a reason. I have to. Because if I didn’t, what would be the sense in it all?
1.
My Immortal
~ Evanescence
2.
Freight Train
~ Sarah Jackson-Holman
3.
Wild Horses
~ The Sundays
4.
Unsaid
~ The Fray
5.
Say Something
~ A Great Big World
6.
Human
~ Christina Perri
7.
Sad Beautiful Tragic
~ Taylor Swift
8.
Look After You
~ The Fray
9.
Kiss Me
~ Ed Sheeran
10.
The Last Time
~ Taylor Swift, Gary Lightbody
11.
Adore You
~ Miley Cyrus
12.
Come To Me
~ The Goo Goo Dolls
13.
Distance
~ Christina Perri
14.
In My Veins
~ Andrew Belle Feat. Erin McCarley
15.
How Long Will I Love You
~ Ellie Goulding
16.
Be Still
~ The Fray
17.
Little Wonders
~ Rob Thomas
18.
The Daylight
~ Andrew Belle
I always have to start off by thanking my family. Firstly, my poor neglected husband. He goes to bed alone so often, and listens to me chatter on incessantly about characters who exist only in my head. But despite all of my craziness he still willingly offers up his ‘nook’ every night. I love you.
To my crazy kiddos, for always keeping me inspired. I thank God for you everyday.
A special thanks to my parents for always believing in me. There has never been a time where I have felt unsupported and for that I am eternally grateful. From my Dad shamelessly advertising for me, to reading my books, to my Mom gifting all her friends signed copies. I couldn’t ask for better parents. Love you guys.
Ryn, Rynny, Hughesy. What can I say that I haven’t already said? There are not enough words in the English language to ever explain how thankful I am for you. Separated by thousands of miles, somehow you manage to always be there. Always. You are truly someone that I can always count on. You’re not just my editor, but one of the few people that I can call ‘my friend’.
Angela thank God for your mad technology skills and for taking my ideas and running with them. You’re the bees knees.
Heather, where do I even begin? It started out simple enough. You, asking for book recommendations, and me shamelessly plugging Imperfectly Perfect to you. Despite it not being your cup of tea, you took a chance on me, and because of that an awesome friendship followed. If that isn’t Kismet, then I don’t know what is. You listened and offered advice, and it was because of you that you introduced me to some pretty bad ass people. Without you this book would not be what it is today. I love you. See you in your dreams ;)
Robin, you wicked woman you. I thank sweet baby Jesus everyday, that Heather pointed me in your direction. You nailed this book cover beyond belief, and that would have been enough in itself but you didn’t stop there. After reading Kismet your love for the story kept me going. I cannot even begin to describe what it felt like to think that you absolutely loved Katie and Parker just as much as me.
To my other Bad Ass Betas. Toski, Stefani, Livvy, Laura, Bec, Allison, Myra, Melissa, Lynetta and Meagan; you guys each contributed something to this story that made it extra special. Each of you welcomed Katie and Parker into your hearts, and we will forever be tied by them.
And lastly, I want to thank all the people that have read my books and supported me whole heartedly. You are why I keep writing, and I am forever grateful for every single one of you. Thank you.
You can stay connected with A.E. by following her on
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http://www.facebook.com/A.E.WoodwardAuthor
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http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6966715.A_E_Woodward
Keep Reading For a Sneak Peek of
Blacked Out
by Avery Quinn.
“Stay down, bitch!”
Pain seared through my head and I fell back to the ground. My mouth filled with warm, metallic liquid and I spat it out. Ignoring the scarlet pattern it made on the concrete floor of the warehouse, I lifted my eyes to Donny. The face that had once seemed so beautiful and so kind was marred by scratches from my fingernails. He bent down and grabbed my chin, pulling my face closer to his own. His eyes were the color of steel, and just as cold. He was angry—no, more than angry.
He was livid.
He closed his eyes and shook his head.
“Don—” I began, but stopped myself when his eyes snapped open. In all the years I’d known him, I’d never seen him look as fearsome as he did in that moment. I met his gaze, reminding myself that this was Donny, and no matter how pissed he was, he wouldn’t hurt me too much. He wouldn’t give me more than I could take.
I was wrong.
His fingers moved and ran across my cheeks toward my ear, until they dropped to my neck. As his thumb pushed into my throat, his fingers tightened, his eyes never leaving mine. A strangled sound escaped my mouth as my lungs expanded to try to get air. But still Donny squeezed, his eyes locked on mine.
Seconds passed as if they were hours, the silence doing nothing to lessen the intensity of the situation. My hands flailed as I tugged at his wrist, trying to loosen his grip.
“Please,” I managed, using the last of the air I had left.
Donny continued to stare and squeezed harder. Suddenly, his fingers relaxed.
I sucked in deep breaths before coughing violently as cold air hit my lungs. The whole time he never spoke a word, and his eyes never left mine. My shoulders slumped and I sat back on my heels, tilting my face to the roof before returning my gaze to him.
He turned and raised his hands to his face, rubbing at his eyes, and began to walk toward the door. Just as my breathing began to return to normal, he spun around and I saw his arms move. Instinctively, I lifted my hands to protect myself. Donny’s eyes narrowed and his lips tipped upward in a sneer. My eyes widened as I watched his hand go to the inside pocket of his jacket. Pulling his gun, he raised his right arm and aimed. My heart raced and my breathing went shallow as I watched him steady his arm with his left hand.
“Did you think I wouldn’t find out it was you?” he spat. “Didn’t think I was smart enough to have you followed as well as the rest of them?”
I shook my head and tried to find my voice, but nothing came.
“You!” he shouted, then narrowed his eyes and lowered his voice. “Of all the people who could have ratted me out to the Feds? I’m not a well-liked man. I could have understood if it was one of our rivals.”
Although spoken quietly, the words that left his lips were audible in the silence. I’d been afraid this would happen. He might have been a crook, but he wasn’t stupid. I had underestimated him.
They
had underestimated him.
“But you? After the crazy shit I’ve pulled just to make something of myself? To make a better life for my family? All that, and the whole time the narc sat at my table, lay in my bed, and was the mother of my fucking child!”
He shouted his last words and punctuated them by pulling the trigger.
The pain in my gut was instant. What little air I had in my lungs left me. My hands went to my stomach as the blood began to saturate my sweater. The pain intensified and a white-hot heat spread through my body. My head began to spin, and I struggled to focus. I fell backward, my head hitting the cold concrete.
Donny’s footsteps echoed through the empty building as he made his way toward me. Crouching by my head, he leaned forward and put his lips to my ear.
“A gut shot is one of the most painful hits you can get, but it won’t kill you. The pain will consume you, but it won’t kill you… if you get help in time.”
Tears welled in my eyes as he dropped a featherlight kiss to my cheek.
“Think of this as my Christmas gift to you. A demonstration of empathy, if you will. I want you to feel like I’ve felt the last few weeks. I want you to feel every ounce of hurt and betrayal that I’ve felt knowing that the woman I loved, the woman who carried my son, the woman I gave my all to, would do this to me. Not only to me, but to my son.”
I tried to focus on what he was saying, but the nausea was overwhelming and although I could hear his words, they made no sense. I’d closed my eyes and was attempting to steady my breathing when he delivered his final blow.
“Most of all, I
want
you to survive. I want you to survive knowing what you had, and what you gave up. Because that’s what you’ve done, Gray. You sold us out and you gave us up. And because of that, you’ll be left alone.”
He took his wallet from his pocket and pulled out a photograph of Jonah. Sneering, he held it in front of my face.
“Take a good look, Gray, because this is the last time you will ever see
my
son.” With that said, he walked toward the door and out of my life.
I’ve only blacked out once in my entire life…
Right then.
