by Ford, Brynn
"Call me every day, V. Every fucking day, okay? I'm coming to visitation hours on Monday. I'll come as much as they'll let me."
"I wouldn't miss a day talking to you for anything. You're the most important person in the world to me, Desi."
"I'm yours, V."
We said goodbye and ended the call and I felt the weight of the world settle itself back on my shoulders. Feeling suddenly too heavy to stay upright, I melted once again to the carpet, lying back down on the floor.
I held my phone against my chest, wishing he could feel the beating of my heart pulsing my love through the imaginary connection between my phone and his. If he could feel it, I prayed it would be enough to last him the next twenty-four hours until we could speak again.
Playlist for "Blue"
Ordinary World by Joy Williams
Shot Down by Khalid
Heaven by Julia Michaels
Mr. Brightside by The Killers
All Time Low by Jon Bellion
PILLOWTALK by Zayn
Back To You by Selena Gomez
Kissing Strangers by DNCE, Nicki Minaj
Youngblood by 5 Seconds of Summer
Dance Inside by The All-American Rejects
Mercy by Shawn Mendes
Save Tonight by Eagle-Eye Cherry
Butterfly by Crazy Town
Only One by Yellowcard
Body Say by Demi Lovato
Power Over Me by Dermot Kennedy
Lights Down Low by MAX
Million Reasons by Lady Gaga
City of Stars by Gavin James
Palace (Cover) by Cam
About the Author
Brynn Ford is an independent author of romance in all of its beautiful and sensually taboo forms. She is a lover of the dark, twisted, and playful and strives to bring the unmentionable aspects of passionate romance into her stories.
Brynn resides in the Midwest with her husband and sons, whom she expects will someday be embarrassed by their mom's books. When she isn't obsessively writing, you may find her binge-watching favorite shows while eating far too much junk food or fanatically reading, always seeking to lose herself in the emotional roller coaster of a damn good story.
She is quite the idealist, despite her fascination with the wicked and warped aspects of humanity. Some of her stories may run out of words before a happily ever after, but she’s a firm believer that her characters continue to live on outside the pages in the minds of her readers. Stories don’t end just because there aren’t any more pages to turn.
Keep reading for a preview of the Prologue for
Book 2 of the Black Ties Duet
Available Now!
Buy it Here
www.brynnford.com
www.amazon.com/author/brynnford
Book 2 Preview
Prologue
Ris
January 4
* * *
Asher was sorely mistaken if he thought he was getting past security to see me. The fake relationships he'd built on false pretenses with my colleagues disintegrated the moment I told them what he'd done to me. None of them were signing off on letting him pass as a visitor and he was a moron if he thought they would.
I was grateful that I worked in a large city building that housed so many other businesses and a security checkpoint before the elevator bank. It meant I could fall into a crowd of people leaving for the day at five o'clock. Even if Asher were to notice me leaving, knowing there were other people around at least gave me the illusionary feeling of safety.
I knew I should've called Law the moment I saw Asher downstairs, trying to schmooze his way past Nathan, my favorite security guard. Law would have come to meet me. He would've walked me home, made sure I was safe.
Nathan offered to call the police for me, but what good would that have done? Asher was allowed to be in a public place. He'd posted bail on his charges. I'd been so preoccupied with Vaughn's case that I hadn't taken the time I should have to get a personal protective order issued against him.
That was a stupid, tragic fucking mistake on my part.
The angry, bitter, resentful side of me wanted him to try something. I recklessly hoped he would approach me, say something to me, so I could eviscerate him with a verbal lashing. I wanted to swear at him, hit him, tell him about all of the additional charges I was getting ready to press against him for the abuse I suffered at his hand over the last year. The deeper I dived into Vaughn's case, the more pissed off I'd become about everything Asher had done to me and gotten away with.
I knew that Vaughn Cooper was gold the moment I met him, but he'd really sealed the deal defending my honor and attacking Asher for nearly killing me at Black Ties four days ago. Though I knew Vaughn's strength of character, his record didn't reflect the truth.
Vaughn had two separate assault charges prior to the ones Asher was pressing against him. Asher had a squeaky-clean record, but he was a piece of shit. Vaughn was the good, honorable man in all of this and was about to get the final nail hammered into his coffin by a justice system that Asher could afford to pay off.
The further I studied Vaughn's prior convictions, the more I learned about where he'd come from and why he'd taken the actions he had. It had always been in defense of his older sister, Hazel, who needed a good man like him to rescue her from an abusive relationship. He'd done the same for me, beating Asher into beautiful shades of black and blue because of what he'd done to me.
Of course, Vaughn didn't know all of the other horrible things Asher had done to me before that.
No one knew.
Though maybe Vaughn sensed enough of what might have happened to me to keep swinging long after he should have stopped.
It was cases like Vaughn's that reminded me why I became a public defender rather than a prosecutor. I'd chosen my role to protect the innocent from a broken justice system. Yes, perhaps Vaughn had assaulted Asher, but it was in defense of the innocent.
In defense of me.
Asher's inherent privilege and ability to afford the most expensive private lawyer a person could buy set my soul on fire to give Vaughn the best defense possible.
That's exactly what I would do.
And I'll win.
Engulfed in the blaze of justice-seeking for the husband of a girl who was quickly becoming my new best friend, I felt falsely safe in the cocoon of fire. It was stupid to think I could ever be safe when Asher was involved. Especially with the hammer of justice I was about to bring crashing down on him.
I shouldn’t have left the building alone.
I spotted Asher just outside as I exited, sitting on the concrete edge of the large fountain that was frozen over in the January cold. His face was bruised from Vaughn’s brutal beating, black and blue shades that could easily become my new favorite colors. My chest swelled with indignation for his presence but also with sinister glee at the broken state of him. He saw me and stood, teetering in an obviously inebriated state.
Drunken fucking prick.
I picked up my pace, glaring at him with intent as I strode past in my black heels. I just wanted to get home as quickly as I could, get a locked door between us, and get back to work on my case files for Vaughn. I passed the fountain and moved forward, disappearing into the crowd. I glanced behind me to find Asher was following me, rushing to keep up. He looked determined.
His expression was downright frightening.
Shit, shit, shit.
I was thankful, at least, for the sunshine that made the world seem a little brighter, even if falsely so, knowing that darkness was following me. It was already fading quickly with the short winter day, disappearing behind the skyscrapers and tall city buildings, all of the light around me slowly creeping away, gradually dimming to dark.
I hurried to the street corner.
I pushed forward into the crowd of people who were standing, waiting for the light to change so they could cross the busy intersection. I pushed right to the front of the pack, hoping I could distance myself from Asher, or at least put s
ome people between us.
I looked back and spotted him, noting he was far too close. The look on his face was unnerving, twisted drunkenly in a wicked smirk that made my skin hum with fearful energy. I begged the light to change in my mind. I wasn't often afraid, but something about his demeanor had me on high alert.
I took slow breaths and counted, trying to focus and calm my nerves. I hoped the crowd would deter him from coming nearer, from threatening me, from putting his hands on me.
I didn’t have to look back to know when he was right behind me.
My body felt it.
I froze, every muscle rigid in fear. Then, his breath brushed across my neck, too hot on this cold, cold day. The words he whispered in my ear made me wonder how I ever could have believed he was the one for me.
How could I ever have been in love with this man?
"If I can't have you, Angel, then no one can."
I felt his hand land between my shoulder blades and shove me forward without warning.
I stumbled off the curb, tripping over my heels and falling onto my hands and knees in the street.
As I scrambled to get to my feet, I heard gasps from people nearby, shouts in warning, shrieks of impending doom.
I wasn’t quick enough to get back on the sidewalk.
I looked up just in time to see the yellow cab barreling toward me, going too fast to stop in time. I heard the horn blare but it was too late.
The last thing I heard were screams from the nearby pedestrians as the car slammed into me head on.
Acknowledgments
For the first time since starting this new venture into the world of writing, I am at a loss for words. That's not true, of course. I've had more than my fair share of writing days where words evaded me. Though if it weren't for the amazing people in my life who have supported me and kept me going, I might never have pummeled through the road blocks and nearly overwhelming anxiety of writing and publishing my first book.
First, I must thank my best friend and true soulmate, Sara, without whom I would never have developed a passion for storytelling. Thank God for you, Sara. I promise to wonder "What Would Sara Do?" with every bout of writer's block and with every anxious moment I fear spilling the truth about the world through my words. You will live in my heart forever, love.
To my husband, Chris, you have no idea the depth of my love for you. You shouldered the burden of the masses during my inward retreats with such grace and care. You lifted me up and gave me the push I needed to make this book happen. I know that lifting me up has been a task equal to carrying the weight of the heavens on your shoulders, my dear Atlas, but I am forever grateful that you continue to hold me up with such strength and dignity and unconditional love.
My girls. My tribe. You beautiful woman warriors. You fierce, determined, foul-mouthed, incredible ladies. You are everything.
Carrie, your brilliance and insight in understanding human behavior knows no bounds. You have helped me not only to learn more about my characters, but about myself and who I want to be. And a big thank you to you, Carrie, for coming up with the name Black Ties for this duet – I knew it was the perfect name from the moment you wrote it in our group chat!
Rachel, I know you'll hate me using this word, but you have been my biggest cheerleader (yep) through this whole process. Your consistent encouragement and pride for my work have kept me moving, pushing myself to keep going and get this out there to the world.
Kaylan, you tough bastard. If anyone tries to bring me down after I publish this first work of art, I know you are going to take them out and tell them what's what. You've always had my back.
You three ladies were my first fans (top 3, baby!) and I have so much love for you.
To my mom, who reluctantly turned page after page, shocked at the kind of stories running through my mind - thank you for your love and support and (hesitant) proofreading of words you never expected your daughter to write.
A shout out to Ari over at Cover It! Designs for the beautiful cover design – your work is incredible!
A final note of thanks to my readers (my readers?). You took a chance and purchased a book from an unknown author. I truly hope you have enjoyed the story, connected with a character on a deeper level, learned something about yourself, or considered trying something new (riding crop, anyone?). This story is a work of art from my soul and I'm so happy I found the courage to share it with you. I'm even happier that you took a leap of faith to give this story a shot.
Thank you, readers. All of you.
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