Smoke and Mistletoe (Best Wishes Book 3)
Page 15
“Happy New Years, Babe,” Nik told me, his voice completely normal still, his smile brighter than it had ever been as he kissed me.
New year, new start.
With my friends, boys, and family in tow… and for now, life is good.
Epilogue
January 1st
Tuesday Early Morning
Lucienne
It was cold outside, the snow swirling around gently as it fell to the ground. The guys were inside, partying and celebrating with Charlie, Sadie, Benji, and everyone who’d somehow packed inside of my house this evening. Me, though? I needed a bit of fresh air and some alone time. This last week and a half had been amazing, more than amazing, but while I loved my friends, I found I needed some solace amongst the crazy hustle and bustle. So, here I was, standing out on the patio staring at the snowmen we had built earlier in the week that had somehow survived my practice session. The sound of the sliding door opening caught my attention, and, glancing over my shoulder, I saw Alex stepping outside.
“Lucie?” he started. “Everything all right? This isn’t exactly the most welcoming weather to be standing outside in.”
“Yeah, I’m good. It’s just a lot of people in a small space, and as much as I love them all, I needed some quiet. Besides, it’s not so bad out here. The snow’s pretty.” I looked over at him as he stepped up next to me. “Why are you out here?”
“Jonathon and I were going to be heading out soon, and I wanted to talk to you before we did.” There was something in his tone that set me on edge, and his lips thinning made my eyes narrow.
“It’s not good news, is it?” I whispered, my body tensing up in response to the pending adrenaline dump I felt building.
“Some of it, no, but some of it I hope will help,” he tried to reassure, his smile forced as his light blue eyes fell on me. “Before I tell you, I should preface that you’re still safe and that we’re monitoring the state of Washington at any given time.”
“Oh, god,” I mumbled, already feeling nauseated. There was only one thing that I needed to be kept safe from.
Well, one person to be specific.
“Noah’s gone, isn’t he?” I whispered, fearing the worst.
“Yes, he escaped with the help of at least one supe. Troy was killed in the escape, but I think initially he was supposed to go with whoever was helping Noah. Bren, the Tracker from FSID, has around the clock monitoring set for Washington, so if he crosses the border, we’ll know.”
I couldn’t breathe, my mind racing. Why is it when I seemed finally to get a break, life would throw more at me? But I couldn’t focus on anything else, my head a swirling muddle of unintelligible thoughts. Cold fingers gripping my shoulders lightly, and the low cadence of Alex’s voice kept the panic at bay as he dipped his head to look at me.
“Lucie, honey, take a deep breath for me.” At his prompting, I took a shuddering inhale, my body trembling as it finally started to work again. “The Director of FSID has personally promised me that you’ll be safe.”
“How’d you get him to do that?” I whispered, my breath flaring in the air in front of me as I huffed a single laugh. “Do you just know everyone?”
“Everyone? No, but I do know a lot of people, and Director Carlson is an old friend. I also have something else for you, something that will hopefully make up for the utterly terrible news I just had to drop on you.” Alex reached into his jacket, pulling out a crinkled piece of paper, but upon closer inspection I realized it was a photograph. “I found this when I was looking into some stuff.” Holding it out, Alex gave me the one thing I never thought I’d have.
“Is this… who I think it is?” I stuttered.
“Adelaide Darragh, yes.”
My birth mother.
She was young, about my age in the picture if I guessed correctly. Her deep blue eyes sparkled as she smiled brightly. She had red hair and fair skin, freckles scattered across the bridge of her nose. The photo had faded slightly around the edges over the years, but she was seated on a rock somewhere on a grassy hill, the breeze eternally blowing her hair.
“I’ll leave you to it, Lucie,” Alex murmured, squeezing my shoulder gently as he walked away. I opened my mouth to say something, but by the time I did, he was already back in the house. Turning back to the picture, I studied it some more before flipping it over.
“Wait…” I trailed off, my brows drawing together, the remnants of some precise, cursive writing on the bottom.
Adelaide and Alexandre’s one-year anniversary trip to France and Ireland, 1998
“Holy shit,” I gasped. Adelaide and Alexandre… Addie and… “Alex is my dad.”
Smoke and Betrayal
Book 4 of the Best Wishes Series
Coming Spring/Summer 2020
Special Thanks
Huge thank you to Sanibel Randolph for participating in on of my takeovers on social media!
Acknowledgments
Jake, my amazing husband, who supported me and cheered me on even when I doubted myself!
To my mom who reads everything I write and is my biggest fan- I love you!
To Jaresif for being the best friend I could ever ask for as well as Cas and Ash who have been behind me through this book’s rough journey
My beta readers-Michelle, Jessica, and Cassie—you guys are awesome and are the best, forever #AJsAlphabets!
Finally, for all of my readers, this wouldn’t be possible without you.
About the Author
A.J. Macey has a B.S. in Criminology and Criminal Justice, and previous coursework in Forensic Science, Behavioral Psychology, and Cybersecurity. Before becoming an author, A.J. worked as a Correctional Officer in a jail where she met her husband. She has a daughter and two cats named Thor and Loki, an addiction to coffee and swearing. Sucks at adulting and talking to people, so she’ll frequently be lost in a book or running away with her imagination.
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Also by A.J. Macey
Best Wishes Series:
Book 1: Smoke and Wishes
Book 2: Smoke and Survival
Book 3: Smoke and Mistletoe
Book 4: Smoke and Betrayal (Coming Spring/Summer 2020)
FSID Agents Series (Spin-Off to Best Wishes):
Book 1: Whisper of Spirits
High School Clowns & Coffee Grounds:
Book 1: Lads & Lattes
Book 2: Misters & Mochas
Book 3: Chaps & Cappuccinos (Coming Spring, 2020)
The Aces Series:
Book 1: Rival
Book 2: Adversary
Book 3: Enemy (Coming January 25th, 2020)
Vega City Vigilantes:
Book 1: Masked by Vengeance
Book 2: Cloaked by Conspiracy (Coming Spring 2020)
Arcadia Reformatory Academy Series:
Book 1: Arcadia Reformatory Academy for the Sick and Sinister (Coming Early 2020)
Not Your Basic Witch co-write series with Jarica James:
Book 1: Witch, Please
Book 2: Resting Witch Face (Coming Early 2020)