Forever Tomorrow
Kingsley Series Book 4
Haylee Thorne
Copyright © 2019 Haylee Thorne
All rights reserved worldwide. No part of this book may be reproduced, copied or transmitted in any medium, whether electronic, internet or otherwise, without the expressed permission of the author.
This is a work of fiction. All characters, events, locations, and names occurring in this book are the product of the author’s imagination, or are the property of their respective owners and are used fictitiously. Any resemblances to actual events, locations, or persons (living or dead), is entirely coincidental and not intended by the author. All trademarks and names are used in a fictitious manner and are in no way endorsed by or an endorsement of their respective owners. Contains sexual situations, violence, sensitive and taboo subjects, offensive language and/or mature topics.
Recommended for age 18 years and up.
Contents
Prologue
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Acknowledgements
About the Author
Also by Haylee Thorne
Tempting Tricks Excerpt - Michelle Windsor
It’s Complicated Excerpt - Sonnie Wolf
“There is no life like this beat up old guitar.
Music and the bars and traveling this honky tonk road” ~ Justin Edwards.
It’s so strange. It feels as if everything is moving in slow-motion. The woman that walked in with my father. I recognize her the second my eyes fall upon her. How could I not? My eyes dart to my brother and I watch him rise to his feet.
“Mom?” Mika says. “Is that you?”
My mouth is dry and I struggle to take a breath. I want to stand up. But my legs are so wobbly, I am not sure they can carry me. This can’t be, this must be another one of dad’s scams. The woman smiles warmly as her eyes roam over Mika and then over me. Tears begin to stream down her face and she gracefully moves toward my brother. She moves with such elegance, it’s as if she floats across the floor. She throws her arms around Mika’s neck and pulls him closer. Mika is stiff and barely moves with her. Tears are streaming down her face in earnest now.
“Yes, sweetie, it’s me.” She finally answers.
I can hear the voices of everyone around me, but my mind like my gaze is fixed upon my mother. I don’t even know what is being said, all I can hear is her answer. Her words echo through my brain, like a record that is skipping. I feel foggy, and it feels as if my spirit has left my body. It’s not until I drop onto my knees that I realize that I had risen to my feet. Eric makes his way to me and wraps me into his strong arms. He lifts me up and onto my feet once more. The smell of him, all clean and spicy, surrounds me, settles in my nostrils and comforts me instantly. My eyes are still glued to my mother, and her eyes meet mine.
“Mikaela.” She sobs. “My beautiful girl.”
She releases Mika and starts to walk towards me. My grip on Eric tightens and he immediately holds me tighter. She moves closer and holds her arms out to me. The hollow organ inside my chest cavity is beating against my ribcage, so rapidly and loud, that I can hear the rhythmic thumping of my heart in my eardrums. Eric kisses the top of my head and releases his hold on me. Hesitantly, I step forward. My eyes flicker to Mika, his expression is stoic as ever. He nods, understanding that I need this nudge from him. I close the distance between my mother and me, when I reach her I shove aside any doubt or suspicion and embrace her.
“Mommy has missed you, love bug.” She murmurs softly into my ear.
When she calls me that, I melt into her and the weeping starts. She squeezes tightly and I relish the feel of her. My mind is spinning out of control, and I am somewhere between wanting to ask a million questions and wanting to savor this moment. But as much as I want to relish in this moment, one burning question takes priority here.
“Where have you been all this time, Mom? Why haven’t you contacted us before?”
She takes my face into her hands and smiles at me kindly. “We can talk about all of that later, bug. Let’s just enjoy the moment and be happy we are reunited.”
I turn my head when I hear the scoff coming from my brother.
“I don’t want to ruin the moment here, but before we start celebrating, I’d like some answers.” Mika says.
“Never one to beat around the bush,” our father says with an amused chuckle.
“I am not in the mood for your bullshit. I want to know what the fuck is going on here,” Mika says harshly.
“Mika James Kingsley, you watch your mouth. That is no way to speak to your father.” Mom admonishes him.
“If you are who you say you are, and quite frankly that is at this point a very big if. I know you’ve not been around for quite some time, but even you should remember that the word father doesn’t apply to that man. He’s a sperm donor, nothing more,” Mika responds coldly.
I can’t say that I disagree with his assessment, but the way he just spoke to our mom makes my blood boil. “Mika! You can’t talk to her like that.”
“Don’t start with me Mik. We don’t even know if this woman is our mother. The woman I remember would have never left us alone with this human trash.”
He’s barely uttered the words when Eric hand encircles my wrist and tugs me against him. He swiftly pulls me behind him and moves in front of me, as if to shield me from my parents. Rae and Phoenix move to Eric’s side, one on the left, one on the right, effectively walling me off. I am conflicted. I know that they are trying to protect me here, but if that is really our mom, it would break my heart to have her treated like this.
“We will talk about the how and why. But for now, let’s talk about the ramifications of your mother’s return. Clearly she is entitled to what my father left her.”
Mika’s eyebrow shoots up.
“Interesting that you would think that the most important thing to you, not to mention the very first thing the very first thing you want to discuss is what she will inherit.”
“Interesting indeed.” Eric chimes in.
“I am sure that you guys want your mother to have everything she needs.”
I can see the flash of rage in my brother’s eyes before he opens his mouth.
“What’s it to you, old man?”
My father takes a step forward, the corners of his mouth curled upwards. “I simply want to ensure that your mother gets what’s she’s entitled to.”
“So, she can hand it over to you?” Mika snaps.
Dad shrugs his shoulders as he makes his way to mom. “We’re married. What’s mine is hers and what’s hers is mine.”
“It’s funny how you only acknowledge that you’re a married man when it suits you. You weren’t too worried about being married when you screwed around with half of New York and beyond.”
“Let’s not start tossing around insults when it comes to screwing women.” Dad bites back.
“At least I was single when I sowed my wild oats. Besides, I may have been a goddamned man whore, but I have never been a vile piece of shit like you.”
“Maybe we all just need to take a moment and let this settle in. We don’t want to start saying things we all might regret later.” Raeva interjects as she moves toward my brother.
“I’ve said nothing I regret,” Mika mutters.
“Yet.” She replies smiling at him kindly.
Raeva reaches Mika and as soon as she takes his hand in hers he seems to calm down.
“I ag
ree with Rae. If this woman is indeed your mom, you don’t want to remember her return like this, I’m sure.” Phoenix says.
“Already stepping into your role as big sister, Phoenix? The voice of reason? Or are you worried that you will lose all that money you thought you’d have just moments ago?” our father says.
Phoenix scoffs. “Frankly, largely thanks to you, I have grown up with almost no money. But unlike my siblings, I grew up happy. I never needed this money then, nor do I need it now,” she bites back.
“Weren’t you the one dangling the money in front of her in the first place? You’re the one insisting that she could take everything from us,” I tell him annoyed.
Phoenix turns to face Mika. “Listen, I know none of this is my business but maybe—.”
“You’re damn right, this is none of your business,” Dad interjects.
“You don’t get to talk to my sister like that. Besides, this is very much her business.”
“Enough of this,” Mika bellows.
The room falls silent and all eyes are directed at my brother.
“If the two of you won’t give any answers, then this conversation is done. I’m not going to entertain the charade any longer.”
“Mika, sweetheart. It’s not that I don’t want to tell you. It’s just that I can’t.”
“You can’t? You clearly have the ability to speak,” Mika snaps.
“Mika,” I warn.
“What Mikaela? Clearly, you are ready to accept this bullshit, no questions asked. But I am not. Somebody has to look out for the rest of us.”
“Aren’t you happy to see me, Mika? You’re acting like I’m just some stranger off the street. I don’t understand why you’re being so hostile,” Mom chokes out.
“Hostile?” Mika scoffs. “Hostile? I’m here trying to protect my family. Which, even if you are who you claim to be, it’ll be a long time before I consider you part of that again. And frankly, you better have a damn good reason for leaving us the way you did.”
Mika walks over to the wet bar and pours himself a few fingers of bourbon. He doesn’t bother with ice, he simply fills the glass with a generous amount of the amber liquid and tosses it back. Draining the glass in one large gulp before slamming it back down. I’ve never seen him do anything like that and it takes me by surprise. My brother has always been a pillar of control. He turns around and takes a few steps toward our mother. He stops a few feet away from her, but he searches her face as he shoves a hand through his hair.
“And then you ask me if I’m not happy to see you? What kind of person doesn’t just leave her children, but leave them with a known sociopath? So yeah lady, excuse me for not exactly jumping for joy here,” Mika says, voice eerily calm.
“I don’t care if this woman turns out to be a liar or what, Mika. But you will talk to her with a little more respect. Until we know either way what to make of this, she deserves that,” I snap.
“And we deserve answers,” Mika bites back.
My gaze falls upon mom’s sad expression and flickers to Mika’s angry face. I’m so torn right now. We have always been blindly loyal towards one another and while I know I should be taking his side right now, there is a real possibility that this woman is our mother. And that possibility, no matter how small it may be, has left me wavering between what I know is right and what I want to be right.
“Mika, can we talk for a second, in your office? Just you and me,” I ask.
He raises a brow and I return the gesture. I catch the corner of his mouth twitching as I do. Glad to see that I amuse you. I think, a little annoyed.
“Fine,” He states simply.
“Fine.”
Eric squeezes my hand and I appreciate the silent gesture of support. Mika walks over to Raeva, whispers something in her ear before brushing his lips across her temple. Then he stalks out of the room without another word.
“Excuse us for a moment, please,” I mutter apologetically before hastily following him.
We head down the hall and the fact that Mika is sprinting ahead of me without bothering to wait for me shows me just how pissed off he really is. When we reach his office door, he fishes a set of keys from his pocket and inserts a key into the lock. He mumbles something I can’t quite make out as he pushes the door open. The fact that the office door is locked is strange, I can’t remember this door ever being locked.
“Why was the door locked?” I ask, unable to hide my curiosity.
Mika stalks towards his desk and answers me as he lowers himself into his seat.
“I’ve instructed the staff that if Mason Kingsley was to enter this house that he should not be allowed entry until my office is locked. I’m pleased to see that they followed my instructions. I would hate for someone to lose their job today.”
I frown. “You knew he was coming.”
“I wasn’t exactly expecting him today, if that’s what you’re asking. But I knew it would only be a matter of time. I already asked River to start installing the new security system he’s developed into all our properties. Starting with our penthouses.”
Typical Mika, always one step ahead. Always insanely overboard when it comes to our safety. The reminder of his unwavering pursuit to keep us all safe softens me toward him.
“And what about mom? Did you expect that?” I ask.
“Why are you so easily convinced that it’s her?”
“Mika, come on! Have you looked at her?”
“She looks like mom,” he concedes.
“Then what’s the problem?” I demand.
“I don’t just have a problem, Mik. I have a plethora of issues with this and the first one being the fact that she may look like mom, doesn’t automatically make her mom. There are scores of possibilities of why she looks like her.”
“Like what?”
“Plastic surgery,” he replies.
I roll my eyes.
“Fine. Doppelganger.”
“Doppelganger, Mika? Really?”
“Yeah don’t they say that everyone has a fucking twin out there? Maybe he’s found mom’s?”
“You don’t think that’s a little far-fetched?”
“Have you forgotten who we are dealing with here?”
Touché.
“Of course not, but—.”
“But what, Mikaela?” he barks.
“But what if she is mom?” I snap back. “I get what you’re saying but doesn’t part of you hope that it’s true? That mom isn’t dead?”
“I have scoured the earth looking for her. I have spent a small fortune on trying to find any trace. Of course, I would want it to be true. But unlike you, I need cold hard facts. And the only thing I know for a fact right now is that this woman isn’t willing to answer even the simplest of questions.”
“Maybe we should give her time.”
“What more time so they can get their stories straight? She won’t even tell us where she’s been all this time, for fuck sake.” He yells as his fist loudly makes contact with his desk.
“That’s not because I don’t want to, sweetheart.”
I turn when I hear her voice behind me. She steps further into the room and locks eyes with Mika.
“It’s because I can’t. I’m not even supposed to be here. I’m in the witness protection
I know that something is up the second Mika walks back into the room with Mikaela and their alleged mother in tow. Between the thunderous look on Mika’s face and the elated look on Mikaela’s, it’s not hard to see that they are not on the same page. Mikaela drags her mom toward Raeva and Phoenix, and the four of them start to talk. I glance over at Mason who’s watching them like a hawk with an enigmatic smirk on his face. When I turn my attention to Mika I can see he was looking at the same thing. He turns to me and starts making his way toward me.
“What’s going on?” I ask as he reaches me.
“She gave an explanation for her disappearing act,” Mika says dryly.
I raise a brow. “Which was?”
&
nbsp; “Witness protection.”
I frown. “Witness protection?”
“Yup.”
“Hmmm.”
“Yup.”
I watch as Mason proceeds over to the women and my inner caveman awakens. I don’t want that piece of shit anywhere near my woman. I make my way over there with big strides. I reach them the same time he does. Mikaela smiles at me big as she slips her arm around mine.
“Do you remember Eric, mom?”
Audrey looks up at me and smiles kindly.
“Of course I do, it’s nice to see you again, Eric.”
I return her smile. “It’s nice to see you again, and in one piece at that.”
“Isn’t it great babe? I have a new sister and by some miracle, I have my mom back too.”
I kiss the top of her head while I mutter a non-committal answer. She doesn’t seem to notice, she’s too excited. I don’t want to rain on her parade, but I definitely have questions.
“Where have you been all this time? If you don’t mind me asking?”
I don’t miss the glance she throws Mason’s way before she answers. “I can’t really talk about any specifics.”
“She is still in witness protection, she can’t talk about where she has been, because it’s likely that she’ll have to go back,” Mason answers.
“So, it’s dangerous for her to be here?” Mikaela asks.
“Yes,” Mason says.
“If she’s in so much danger, why did you bring her here?” Mika asks.
“Mika,” Mikaela warns.
“What?”
“Stop.”
“It’s a legitimate question. If she’s in danger, it stands to reason that her being here puts all of us in danger,” he grumbles.
Makes sense to me.
“Exactly who is she in danger from?” I interject.
“I, I, um I can’t—.” Audrey stutters before Mason interjects.
Forever Tomorrow: Kingsley Series Book 4 Page 1
