Amber’s expression doesn’t change, but Matti’s chin drops as if I’ve sucker punched him. “You don’t mean Victor Zhang, the head of the Silent Triad?” Matti prompts with a sickly look. Like his breakfast won’t stay down if my answer is yes.
But unfortunately, I have to reply, “Yes, that’s him. I’m really sorry.” I swallow, wishing that I had a different answer for him, myself, and this baby.
“Who’s the Silent Triad?” Amber asks into the hushed silence that follows my second, even more heartfelt apology.
“Nobody,” Matti answers, jumping to his feet. “Because we’re not taking this case. Sorry to have bothered you about this, Amber. If I’d known—”
“Matti, sit down,” Amber snaps, cutting him off. Though, how she knew he was standing, I have no idea.
Nevertheless, she waits with a stern look, until Matti sits down again, crossing his arms over his chest, like a kid in time out.
“We’re not taking this case, Amber,” he tells her. “Luca isn’t going to let you. I can guarantee you that.”
Her face narrows as if Matti’s challenged her to a duel. “We’ll see about that,” she answers. Then she directs her gaze back to me and repeats her question. “Who’s the Silent Triad?”
Byron answers before I can. “The Silent Triad is an international criminal organization with branches on every continent but Antarctica. Victor Chang is one of their three dragon heads.”
“A dragon head is like a crime boss,” Matti supplies. “And that means if you take this case, you’re not just going up against this guy, but his whole organization.”
“Noted,” Amber answers, her voice tight. But then instead of wavering, she says, “Okay, Dawn, tell me how you got mixed up with this dragon head.”
I swallow. Hard, because she’s exactly what Byron promised she’d be. Fierce, unflinching, and unlike most mafiosos on the Eastern seaboard, unintimidated by Victor’s name.
She’s also going to help me escape my silent owner.
I know that. I know it even before I open my mouth and tell her the story of how I met the man who would eventually destroy my life.
Oh my gosh, guys. As many of you know, Luca’s and Amber’s story started out as a novella that just refused to be one and done. And, little did I know when I set out to tell their tale, that their story would spawn not one, but two books. I’m still kind of mad at them for that, but I’m sincerely happy that they overcame their many, many issues to form this one-of-a-kind loving family with Daniella and Lucky.
On a personal note, this story is particularly close to my heart. You see, before I started writing romance, I was another kind of writer, with one daughter and a wonderful husband. We were struggling with infertility, but I’d hoped to have one more child to make our family complete. However, two heartbreaking miscarriages later, I found myself in a pit of depression and despair, unable to write my usual fare, or read anything more serious than a newspaper article. I started back up with my pre-college habit of reading romance novels because honestly, I couldn’t process anything without a guaranteed HEA for a while.
On a strict and steady diet of romance, I eventually found myself emotionally healed enough to try my hand at writing love stories, and that’s how I came to write my first Theodora Taylor book, THE OWNER OF HIS HEART. I can’t say this emphatically enough. I freaking LOVED writing romance. It saved my mind and gave me a new lease on life. So, if I don’t say this enough, thank you to the readers who’ve been with me since that book. You’ll never know what you did for me by responding so positively to my first story.
After writing two contemporary romance novels, I decided to try my hand at paranormal… and to undergo one last round of IVF to have a second child.
So imagine my surprise when just a few days before releasing my first paranormal novel, HER VIKING WOLF, I discovered I was pregnant with twin girls…who actually made it to a full (for twins) 37 weeks. Just like with Luca and Amber, my unexpected double blessing wasn’t a replacement for the two pregnancies I lost, but the puzzle pieces certainly fit. I’m forever thankful for the grace the universe has shown me in making my family even more complete than I imagined when my husband and I first set out on this love journey together.
And I’m beyond happy for Luca and Amber, who not only gained another child but will give brave Daniella the loving family she deserves.
I super hope this couple touched your hearts like they did mine. If so, please do us the further boon of leaving a review, so that others might find this epic story. And stay tuned for Victor’s and Dawn’s story, HER SILENT OWNER, later in the year.
So much love,
Theodora Taylor
P.S. – I’m still going back and forth with myself about whether Stone Ferraro, the criminal, or Hayato Nakamura, the tech billionaire, should get this year’s winter holiday story spot. Find me on Facebook and let me know what you think. Mwah!
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