As everyone resumed eating cake and breaking off into different conversations, laughing at something funny occasionally, I couldn't help but look around the room adoringly at my growing family. My heart took pride in seeing everyone finally together, after everything we had gone through. Deep down, I knew I was lucky to have each of them in my life; because of their guidance and love, I blossomed into the woman I was always meant to be.
I met Paul's gaze through the crowded room, and we beamed at each other. He knew exactly what I was thinking as we watched Ava demolish her cake, blue and white frosting covering her mouth.
There was a truth to the Carmichael gang’s number one rule: every single person who bore the Corbett-Carmichael-Centofanti name in some way - whether by blood, adoption, marriage, or association - was family. Protecting them at all costs meant going the extra mile, and I now knew that I would go to Hell and back if it meant keeping them safe.
In the end, it didn't matter how much time I spent away from the love of my life, or what kind of obstacles were stacked against us; what did matter was the fact that we had always found a way back to each other somehow. Even if I hadn't realized it then, I had accepted his lifestyle five years ago, because I knew deep down to the core of my soul there was no one else for me. Paul was my soulmate, in this lifetime and all the other lives, past and future… I was certain of that, without a trace of doubt in my bones.
I guess it was safe to say that I had a heart of gang after all.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
First and foremost, I would like to express my gratitude for my family, who has shown me unconditional love and support over the years. While I cannot list every single person in my family tree (there really is a lot of us), I want to take a moment to thank my biggest supporters on this particular journey: my mother, Jenny; my grandmother, Jerri; my siblings Jacob, Courtney, and Devin; and my husband, Gregory. Each and every one of you has helped me see my potential, has cheered me on when I felt like giving up, and lent an ear when I needed to vent. To all of my family, I love you all so much, words cannot even begin to describe my appreciation for you.
A special thank you goes out to Jerry, the man who not only inspired the story, but who also rooted for Jade and Paul’s story from start to finish. Without you, there would be no “A Heart of Gang.” I will forever be grateful for you coming up with the prompt that is the beginning of the prologue, and encouraging me to just write on that summer day back in 2012 (holy cow, it’s been 8 years already?!?).
Another special thank you goes out to my best friend and partner in crime, Jasmin. Thank you for being the Skylar to my Jade all these years and for pushing me to be the best version of myself. I couldn’t see myself celebrating this book and celebrating life with anyone else by my side. I love you.
Next I would like to thank my 12th grade English teacher, Mrs. Deanna Moore, for believing in me when I doubted myself; without your support & encouragement, I wouldn’t have pursued writing so seriously after graduation. To my high school Theatre teacher, Mr. Andrew Southwell, who taught me to trust in myself and I will make great things happen; you were right, after all. And to my retired high school guidance counselor, Mr. Ross Winchell, who always had the best advice for me when I needed it the most (and especially when I didn’t know I needed to hear it). Thank you for taking the time to teach me, to give me guidance, & to help me fly on my own.
Of course, I would like to give a heartfelt thank you to my friends who have read rough drafts at every level and gave feedback. Every piece of advice is deeply appreciated & cherished, and I cannot thank you all enough for helping me make this book possible. Without your input and exclaims of “Oh my gosh!”, I wouldn’t have gotten to the final draft nor would I have built the confidence to publish this for the general public.
Finally, I would like to thank God – for putting me on this Earth, giving me a passion for reading and writing, and continuing to bless me with this wonderful gift called life.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Kaitlyn Miller is a dreamer from Saginaw, Michigan, who spent most of her life escaping reality through books. When she is not plotting out her next story to write, Kaitlyn enjoys spending time with her husband and family, finding new things on Pinterest, and reading Nancy Drew for the millionth time. A Heart of Gang is Kaitlyn’s first completed work, making her childhood dream of becoming an author come true.
A Heart of Gang (The Centofanti Gang Book 1) Page 16
