“Are you sure you want to know this?” I ask, thinking it would be too much for him to hear. It was the most brutal killing I’ve ever done, and I am still bothered by it as well as how much I enjoyed it. But it had to be that way. Carter was evil and needed to die in an evil fashion.
“Yes, I think I need to hear this. I don’t think I can get over what he did until I know what really happened to him.” Drake runs his hand over his head again and flexes his hands in anger.
“Like I said, the guard lured Carter into the shower area where I was waiting with a homemade shank smuggled in by Victor. We began to fight, going back and forth. A couple of times he punched me and I reciprocated. Then I pulled the shank and plunged it into his stomach and started to slowly slide it up his abdomen.” I remember the blood running out of his mouth as he coughed and choked on it. I had smiled wickedly as I raked the blade up his sternum. I shake my head and continue my story. “I basically gutted him before I stopped and let him feel the pain. It was only for a minute, but I stood over him and watched his face as he suffered, crying for me to stop. Then I took the shank and drug it across his throat so forcefully I almost decapitated him.” The chill on my skin cloaks me.
I walked out of that shower room, buck naked after I washed my body, and then handed the guards my stained clothes. They quickly gave me new pants and a shirt then, as the seven minute mark rolled around, Carter was dead and I was lying in my bunk. I reveled in the images as I took his life over and over again.
Drake stands from the couch and processes what I’ve told him while I look beyond me, really thinking. I remain quiet. I’m sure knowing your brother is a killer is one thing, but the way I killed Carter was sadistic. I’m not proud of who I was, but it was the person I had to be when I was in the underworld and even more so in I-Max. I couldn’t allow any other person to exist; it was pure survival.
When he looks back to me, my brother holds me with his gaze. I’m not sure how to read his look, but I’m ready for anything. However, as he pulls me in and wraps his arms around my body, I remain rigid for a moment before I realize he’s hugging me. My brother is hugging me, something never in my lifetime thought would happen, yet here he is, holding me closely. I can’t help myself; I wrap my arms around him. We don’t say anything, we only hold each other and shed the painful memories one moment at a time.
“I’m sorry,” Drake finally whispers.
I pull myself back to look at him with tears in his eyes. The very strong man he’s become is crumbling down.
“Why?” I ask.
“Because no one should have to live through that, let alone do what you had to do for all those years. I’m not saying I fully understand it, but I can accept it. For now, I will accept it.”
Those are the best words I could have heard, and in that moment, my own emotions break in that garage. The strong façade I’ve worn almost my entire life disappears while we hug one more time. Our relationship is far from perfect because the Evans brothers never have perfect, but I couldn’t have asked for a better outcome. I’ve betrayed him and paid the price. Drake could have chosen to disown me, and for a while, he did, but we came back to the only thing that’s kept us alive through all of our obstacles—family. Our bond may be weakened at moments, however it will never falter.
“Stop hugging each other like women on the rag and get your asses to the table.” Jake’s voice startles both of us and we let out huge laughs. Of all the people to catch us at our weak, emotional moment, it had to be Jake.
We walk from the garage, the smiles still covering over our faces. Then, as we all sit down at the table, I can’t help being grateful, and it makes me think of faith. Cami has always believed in a higher power, believed in God, and I can’t help in this moment believing it myself. Here we all sit, each one of us having gone through hell in our own right, and we are still surviving. We are still here to live another day.
I look at each one of my family members—Reggie, Darcie, Jake, Delilah, Drake, Mia, Zoe, Cami, and Hunter—and feel truly blessed we are all here. Then it dawns on me, it doesn’t matter where we live, whether it’s Sulfur Heights or the safest place on earth, as long as we are all together, then nothing else on the planet matters. Life can blindside us, anger us, or attempt to destroy us, but our family will survive and endure because that’s what we’ve done from the time we were born. When the sun sets day after day, it will be the Evans family who will remain together, strong and happy.
Coming Fall 2014
“Breaking Inside” by Shinedown
“Someone Like You” by Adele
“Ain’t My Bitch” by Metallica
“About Today” by The National
“Boris” by Lo-Fang
“Hero of the Day” by Metallica
“Stitches” by Young Guns
“Family” by Noah Gunderson
“Seven Devils” by Florence + The Machine
“Stand By Me” by KI: Theory
“The Unforgiven” by Metallica
“Until I’m One with You” by Ryan Bingham
“Shooting Star” by Black Stone Cherry
“Say Something” by A Great Big World
“White Suburban” by Skylar Grey
“Uninvited” by Alanis Morissette
“Make Me Wanna Die” by The Pretty Reckless
“Radioactive” by Imagine Dragons
“Salvation” by Citizen Cope
“Release” by Pearl Jam
“Nothing Else Matters” by Smith & Myers
“Make Me Bad” by Korn
“Back From the Dead” by Skylar Grey
“More Human Than the Human” by White Zombie
“Wherever I May Roam” Metallica
“You Ain’t Alone” by Alabama Shakes
“Weight of the World” by Young Guns
“Die With You” by Type O Negative
“Hallelujah” by Jeff Buckley
“All of Me” by John Legend
“Penitentiary” by Citizen Cope
“Freak on a Leash” by Korn
“Dust to Dust” by The Civil Wars
“Fade Into You” by Mazzy Star
“Go Your Own Way” by Lissie
“House of the Rising Sun” by The White Buffalo
“Billie Jean” by Chris Cornell
“Love You to Death” by Type O Negative
Writing this book had some very bittersweet moments because I was going in it thinking it would be my last installment. I have fallen madly in love with all the characters and found it impossible to tell them goodbye. The standalone idea of Scarred Love transformed into a saga I am extremely proud of and couldn't imagine not sharing with my readers.
Thank you so much to all my family and friends. I wouldn't be here without your constant support and cheering me on every step of the way. Thank you for letting me work through idea after idea after idea as I created this monster series.
Special thanks to my PA, aka Media Slut Michele. She works diligently to get my name to the masses, and I hope to continue our relationship for many more years. I’d be lost without her.
Thank you to my proofreaders, Georgette and Christie. You are the epitome of support, and I’m beyond grateful to have such wonderful friends in my life.
Thank you, Alizon and Kris, for being my cheerleaders, supporters, and oh yeah, my editors. I love you, ladies!
M.L. Pahl, with IndieVention, thank you very much for the breathtaking countdown pictures, as well as, formatting my book. Not only did you take the time to make Redeemed Love beautiful, you did it on such short notice. Thank you for always championing my work and spreading the sweet word of the Evans Brothers.
Lastly, another huge thank you to my street team members, beta readers, and of course, my fans. My ass would not be writing this if it wasn’t for all of your love and devotion to the Evans brothers and their stories. We’ve been through a lot together and I couldn’t ask for better people to surround myself with.
M.S.
Brannon was born and raised in the Midwest. She still resides there today with her wonderful husband and son. When she is not writing or reading, M.S. Brannon spends time with her family, goes to the movies, and discovers new music. She writes romance because she believes love and heartache are the rawest emotions one can experience.
FACEBOOK
https://www.facebook.com/pages/MS-Brannon/361712440596820?sk=timeline
TWITTER
@MSBrannonauthor
BLOG
http://msbrannon.wordpress.com/
GOODREADS
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7103293.M_S_Brannon
Other Books by M.S. Brannon
Scarred Love, available for purchase on Amazon, Barnes and Noble and KOBO
Tragic Love, available for purchase on Amazon, Barnes and Noble and KOBO
Blind Love, available for purchase on Amazon, Barnes and Noble and KOBO
Surviving Love, available for purchase on Amazon, Barnes and Noble and KOBO
Redeemed Love, available for purchase on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and KOBO
Everlasting Love, The Evans Family Epilogue, coming in the Fall 2014
Stand Alones
Last Call, coming in July 2014
Forbidden from You, Forbidden for me, coming in Winter 2014
Believe in Brave, YA Novella, coming in Winter of 2014
Redeemed Love Page 32
