by Alora Kate
I went back to the obituary for Lucas’ mom and read that her funeral was tomorrow. I read that she was in a car accident a few days back and that the car had two other occupants, but they weren’t listed in the article.
Ki was tugging on her ear, our way to get Lucas’s attention, but I had a feeling that Lucas wouldn’t be the one to respond.
She opened the door, and when she saw Mac he shook his head like he knew what she was going to ask. “Sorry, love,” he said, shaking his head, “he’s not here.”
I hope you loved Tapper and Alexa because you haven’t read the last of them.
Flip a page to read Chapter 1 of A Beautiful Forgiveness, book 3 in the NYC series from Lucas and London’s POV.
Chapter 1 – Lucas
“Lucas.” The sweetest voice I’ve ever heard, and could never have, was standing in front of me with tears in her eyes. I saw her every day. I heard her voice every day. And every day I missed her more. I thought after she rejected me, I would eventually get desensitized to her beauty, to the love I had for her in my heart. I haven’t; her beauty still takes my breath away, she still stars in my dreams. “I’m so sorry about your mom.” She engulfed me in a hug—her sling gone—and Prescot nodded to me out of respect as she hugged me.
“Thank you for coming, Ki.”
With my words whispered softly in her ear, she pulled away, and Prescot was there to comfort her. Prescot. I should hate him; hell, I want to hate him, but I can’t. He’s the best damn man for Ki—I know it, he knows it.
“I heard you were in the car with her. Are you doing okay?”
“Banged up, but fine.”
Our cars were going sixty miles per hour at the time of impact. I’m surprised my mom was the only fatality. I heard the driver of the other car lived, and the police were still investigating it. It sounded like it was just an accident, and those things happen every day.
Lex was next to hug me, telling me the same thing Ki did, and I saw Tapper was here also.
“I really do appreciate you all being here.”
This was the awkward part; what to say to each other now that everyone said what they needed to say.
Thankfully, Ki had to talk to her father and her and Prescot walked off. I watched them hold hands as they made their way across the living room; Lex and Tapper followed them.
I looked at the mantel above the fire place in our family’s living room and saw the urn sitting on it, next to a beautiful bouquet of sunflowers, my mother’s favorites. The reading room had the rest of the flowers that had been coming in since word got out about her passing. Our housekeeper, Carrie, had her work cut out for her. I knew she’d place them around the house, in the best spots possible, where they would shine like Mom did.
“Son.”
My father was at my side, also looking at the fireplace. He had been out of town for the past month and now regrets his travels. Shortly after I had made contact with Ki, I contacted my mother so she wouldn’t worry or hire another investigator to find me. I’d been seeing her once a week since then, sometimes twice. I had to be careful, just in case I was being followed, so I always had her meet me in public for lunch or dinner, and she never suspected a thing.
My father and mother both came from money, which meant I had money, which was the root of all the troubles in my past.
Our house was currently full of wealthy people, all pretending to care about my mother when really, she didn’t have that many friends. They were more like acquaintances in my opinion. They were always asking her for money, wanting donations to their charities and most of the time, my mother donated. She was very thoughtful and always wanted to give back, and help others. These people were parasites. Preying on my mom while she lived, making sure to make an appearance in her death. I’m not as giving as my mom was. I want more than anything to go up to them and ask them about my mother, make them admit that they didn’t know her. That her passing won’t impact them like it will for me.
“Are you okay, Son?”
“Yes.”
“Do you need to go to a meeting?”
I felt my insides clench. Of course he would immediately think I needed a meeting. “No.”
“What about calling your sponsor?”
“Dad,” I warned, not wanting to get into it right now, “I’ve been sober for two years and my sponsor moved a few months ago.”
“You and your mother were very close, Lucas, I’d hate for you to relapse. She’d be devastated.”
“Don’t, Dad. I miss her, and there won’t be a day that goes by that I won’t think of her . . . but I’m not going to fuck up, Dad. I have a good thing going now, and I won’t mess it up.”
“I’m here if you need me.” He patted me on the arm and then walked off to talk to his brother, my uncle Tom.
Right, Dad. We’ll just pal around like we used to. Oh wait, we never did that. You were always too busy for me, for mom. And now that she’s gone, you want to be close?
Slipping out of the room, I went upstairs to my room and shut the door. My room hasn’t changed, and just a year ago, I was still living here, but my mom refused to make any changes—it was as if I never left. She knew my recovery was going well, but she still worried, like all good mothers did. She made sure Carrie kept my room clean and the sheets fresh just in case I wanted to come home.
When I first started working for Donovan, following Ki around, I knew I had to get my own place. I found a small shack of an apartment within three blocks from Ki’s and paid for a year upfront. I rented it under a pseudonym, I didn’t want anything traceable back to my family. I barely furnished it. I had to play the part, live the part. A dirty mattress found on the street on garbage day—though I Lysol’d the hell out of it. I didn’t have a table, there was no need as no one ever came to my apartment. I did keep my apartment stocked with food though, because hell, I could eat as well as I could cook. Another thing Mom taught me, ‘keep your belly full and things will always look better in the morning.’
There was a soft knock on my door, making me sit up to greet whoever had followed me up here.
“Hey, Lucas,” Tallia said, shutting the door. “It’s been awhile.”
Yes, it’s been awhile and I never thought I’d see her again, especially today. Tallia and I grew up together, went to the same boarding schools, and got high together for years.
“What are you doing up here?”
I was in recovery.
She wasn’t.
Standing from the bed I said, “I’m taking a break.”
“I can help with that.”
“I haven’t seen you in years, Tallia. I’m good.”
She wiggled her purse and leaned into me. “I’ve got lots of ways to help you, Lucas.”
“I’m sober now.”
“That’s no fun.” She ran her finger down my cheek. “Don’t you remember the good old days?”
“I remember them.” How can I forget them? They were such a huge part of my life. Fuckin in a hazy stupor, blowing all my money up my nose.
“Then let’s have a little fun.”
“I remember them to remind me of my journey. To remind me that I’m a better person now. To remind me never to go back.”
She smiled and ran her hand down my stomach, ignoring everything I said. Her pupils were dilated and her nose was a tad red. “Do you remember the last time we were together?”
“Tallia, that life is over. Anything to do with us is over.” I stepped around her and opened the door. “Please leave.”
“You’re no fun.” She pouted.
“No, I’m afraid I’m not.”
She grabbed my cock on the way out and licked my cheek. “You know how to find me.”
I shut the door after her and sat back down on my bed, and groaned at the dull pain in my ribs.
I laid on my bed and cried for the first time since I got sober.
I cried for my mom.
For Ki.
For all the fucked-up things I did in my l
ife.
For being alone.
I cried to wash the pain out and away.
To cleanse myself of the pain.
To keep myself from relapsing.
My mother died, and all I had was a few bruised ribs.
It wasn’t fair.
Loving someone who didn’t love you back.
It wasn’t fair.
Life just wasn’t fair.
Book 3, A Beautiful Forgiveness coming 11/16/17
Follow me on Bookbub or subscribe to my newsletter to be the first to know when its released! https://www.bookbub.com/authors/alora-kate
http://facebook.us11.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=5646dd7d1ed70d318fe749d9a&id=ab96ee8a31
Thanks for reading, please don’t forget to leave a review!
Copyright © 2017 by Alora Kate
All about Alora Kate
Alora Kate – Pen Name
Alora Kate is a multi-genre author who likes
to be bold and original; stepping outside
of the box and bringing her readers
fresh characters from all parts of life.
She’s a mother, college student, photographer,
and graphic designer. She resides in
northern MN with her son, where she plans to stay
for a long time despite the cold winters.
Connect with Alora
[email protected]
https://www.facebook.com/alorakateauthor
Other Series by Alora Kate
The Four Seasons Series
The Aster Lake Series
Standalones by Alora Kate
The Price We Pay
A Flaw So Beautiful
Crash Burn Sting
