Zack was grinning like a loon. “You’re forgiven if I am. I was worried that I had lost you before I even had the chance to have you in my life.”
“You are definitely forgiven. I am so glad we were able to work this out.”
The waiter came to take our orders. I think between the four of us, we ordered half the menu. We all like different things, plus some of the same things. We ordered several appetizers to share and our meals. Since the guys were here, Marie and I ordered a pitcher of frozen margaritas. Since it was supposed to be a ladies’ night out and the guys crashed our party, they have to drink soda so they can drive us home. Zack left his truck at Ryan’s house, so he is going to drive me home in my car. Ryan and Marie will follow us so they can pick Zack up and take him back to their place for his truck.
We spent the evening eating, drinking, and laughing. I haven’t felt this good in such a long time. Every once in a while, I catch Zack staring at me out of the corner of my eye. I can’t help but grin even bigger each time I catch him. We stayed so long that we actually closed the place down.
I have to say I was impressed when Zack picked up the tab for the whole evening. He told everyone it was his way of saying he was sorry. We all told him it was unnecessary, but of course, Zack being who he is wouldn’t listen.
Poor Ryan, he may not even make it home before Marie jumps his bones. I forgot that tequila makes her horny. I start giggling as I watch her playing grab-ass with him on the way out of the restaurant. Zack looked at me kind of funny until I pointed out what I was laughing at. Of course, when Zack happened to look, Marie was grabbing something, just not Ryan’s butt. His face turned red, which made me laugh that much harder.
For the day starting out really crappy, it’s ended better than I could have imagined. Zack opened my door for me. He is always a gentleman— I really like that a lot. Zack goes around to the driver's side to get in. Not thinking about me being shorter, he cracks his knee on the steering column. The look on his face has me cracking up laughing. Zack slides the seat back then leans over, starting to tickle me.
Oh God, I’ve been laughing so hard that I can’t catch my breath and the tears are running down my face. How in the world did Zack know that I am so ticklish? Deciding that turnabout is fair play, I reach over to start tickling him. He chuckles a little bit but isn’t as affected by it as I am.
While he is leaned over, I decide on a sneak attack, one that I know he won’t be expecting. With his face so close to mine, I leaned in and kissed him on the lips. The tickling stopped immediately upon the impact of my lips on his. His hand quickly went from my waist to his fingers being wrapped in my hair, pulling me closer. For a brief moment in time, all cares in the world disappeared as we had our first kiss. Sitting back in my seat, I can’t help but smile at Zack as the lights twinkle off his eyes.
“Well, I see someone gets mischievous when they drink margaritas.”
“No, if you paid attention, I only had one glass. I let Marie drink it. I knew she was stressed and needed to relax. Plus, she was so mad at Ryan, I knew the quickest way to get her to forgive him was to pump her full of tequila. Hence her playing grab-ass on the way out of the restaurant.”
“So, you’re telling me that kiss was just because you wanted to?”
“If I’m completely honest, I’ve wanted to do that since you dropped me off at my home after our second date. I didn’t do it that night because I was worried you would think I was too forward. Let’s make a deal with each other right now. I don’t want any more accidental upsets like we just went through between us. Let’s agree to two critical things right now. One, no matter what, we always tell each other the truth. No trying to spare the other's feelings. Better for a little upset than a colossal misunderstanding. Two, I learned the hard way how very short life can be. I don’t want to waste a second not doing what we want to do. I’ve had enough regrets to last me a lifetime. What do you think?”
“I couldn’t agree with you more on both points. We will always be honest with each other, plus we will do what we want with each other when we want. To hell with what the world or others expect. It’s our lives, not theirs. I, too, have lived with my share of regrets.”
“With that being said, how would you feel about spending the night tonight? I can always take you to get your truck in the morning after we have coffee.”
“Lisa, are you sure about this? I don’t want you to feel rushed or pressured. I want things to happen between us in their own time and pace.”
“Zack, I’ve never been surer of anything in my life. I know it’s only been a few days since we met, but I feel like I have known you a lifetime. I want to take advantage of every opportunity that we are blessed with.”
“Can you message Ryan and Marie? Tell them not to bother following us and I will get my truck tomorrow.”
I quickly send Marie a text.
Don’t bother following us. I’m keeping Zack to myself tonight. I will bring him over in the morning to get his truck. Have a good night and we will talk tomorrow. Love you both!
Marie responded rather quickly.
You got it, Lisa. Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do tonight. We both know there isn’t much that I won’t do . . . lol.
They said good night and not to do anything that they wouldn’t do. That made both of us laugh. I was so nervous, yet I felt more alive than I had in a long time. If I have my way, there won’t be many more mornings of waking up all alone. If Zack can’t stay with me some nights, I will just have to go stay with him. No more regrets or lost opportunities. Starting tonight, I am going to live my life as if there is no tomorrow. You just never know when there won’t be.
Epilogue
It’s been a year since Zack and I first met. We owe Marie and Ryan so much for pushing us together. It’s been the best year of either of our lives. Zack and I decided we wanted to take them on a weekend vacation. We are leaving Thursday night and coming back Sunday night. Zack already bought all four plane tickets and paid for the hotel in Las Vegas. They took a gamble that we would like each other, so what better place to go than the gambling capital.
We have a big surprise for them on Friday after we have had a chance to rest up from the flight. I can’t wait. It’s been so hard to keep this secret from Marie. She is going to cry, but it can’t be helped.
Our rooms are adjoined so that way Marie and I can get ready Friday for the big occasion. Zack rented two of the best suites at The Venetian Resort. The staff has everything prepared for an afternoon wedding. We had my dress and Zack’s tux sent out last week. There is a shop right in the hotel for Marie to buy a dress and Ryan to get a tux.
It wouldn’t be the same without our best friends there to be my maid of honor and Zack’s best man. I spent a couple of hours going over the flowers that I want in the rooms and in the chapel for our nuptials. The most minute detail has been gone over. This is the start of the rest of our lives together— everything has to be perfect.
I tried to talk Zack into going to the courthouse here and getting married. All I need is him by my side. Of course, he refused, saying that we only get married once and he wants it to be unique. Zack already gave me my engagement ring. For now, it’s on an expensive chain around my neck. We haven’t even told them that we are engaged.
I know Marie is going to pout a little bit at first, but that won’t last long. She spent three years trying to help me get my life back together after losing John. I don’t talk to him as often as I used to, only when I have exciting news or just think about him. He is still my first love, holding a piece of my heart that will never be another’s. I’ve come to realize that he had to be taken from me for me to suffer so that when the time was right for Zack to enter my life, I would be ready.
Zack and I have had many long talks about the pain and suffering that we each went through. We both believe it was meant to be so that when the time was right, we would appreciate what and who we have in our lives. Together we cherish each moment for everyth
ing that it’s worth. We don’t hold back our feelings. Our lives are fuller and more vibrant than they have ever been.
We’ve decided that we are going to start trying to get pregnant right after the wedding. Neither of us wants to wait to complete our family. I want a little boy that looks just like his father. Zack says he wants a little girl that not only looks but acts just like me. Honestly, all we really care about is them being healthy and happy.
It’s time to finish packing. I can’t wait. Soon I will be Mrs. Donald Zackarelli. Always live to the fullest. Love each day as though there is no tomorrow. Dance like no one is watching and if they are you just don’t care. That’s our philosophy on life.
The end.
Deceptive Love
A Mackenzie Series Prequel
Elizabeth Knox
Available Now
From Elizabeth Knox
Series: Skulls Renegade
Reign
Redemption
Revenge
Relentless
Reckoning
Reclaimed
Regret
Reckless
Reclusive
Retribution
First Generation: A Skulls Renegade MC Boxset
Series: Steele Bros.
Tough as Steele
Stripping a Steele
Protecting a Steele
Series: Reapers MC
Scarred
Blackjack
Here Kitty, Kitty
Booger
Widow
Kade
Hawk
Bull
Cobra
Series: Iron Vex MC
Enraged
Series: The Clans with Iris Sweetwater
Promised
The Trade
Cherished
Deceit
Love is War
Defiant
Shattered
Ruthless
Covert
Sin City Fets with Linny Lawless & Aubree Valentine
Switched
Coming Soon
From Elizabeth Knox
Leave Me Breathless: The Black Rose Collection
Steele Her Heart
(Steele Bros #4)
Bet on Me
(Royal Bastards MC: Baltimore Charter #1)
Playlist
I Don’t Like You — Grace VanderWaal
Somebody Else — Katelyn Tarver
Now I’m In It — HAIM
You Mean The World To Me — Freya Ridings
Priest — Julia Michaels
Before You Go — Lewis Capaldi
Pretty Much — Phases
Starting Over — Niykee Heaton
Acknowledgments
My Betas, Courtnay, E.C., Jai, Chas, Tania, Janet, Taneesha, Michaela, Laura, Kim, Isabelle & Lisa— You guys keep me accountable as hell, whether it’s with my writing or taking a break so I don’t kill myself trying to meet deadlines. I can wholeheartedly say that I have the best cheerleaders an author can ask for. Thank you all for being here on my best days, and my worst.
My Blogger Team— I say this time and time again, but I’ll never stop saying how much I appreciate y’all. Thank you for sticking with me, regardless of genre and supporting me in any way you can.
A.C., Rae, E.C., and Raven— Thank you for your motivational chats when I need them. You guys know how to keep a girl going. I appreciate your friendships more than I can express.
The Hopeless Romantics:
No matter what happens in your life, continue to follow your heart. Don’t let your experiences in this cruel world make you bitter. Continue to be sweet and shine your light.
Trigger Warning
This book is intended for mature audiences only. If darker books are not for you, please do not move forward. After re-adjusting my trigger warning system, I will not be giving any spoilers. Please understand that this is not your run of the mill romance and tough subjects will be spoken about in this storyline. These characters are flawed and aren’t your average mafia romance. Proceed with caution.
Timeline Note
This book takes place twenty-three years before Forbidden Love, and all of my other works. If you’ve read my other series which include the: Skulls Renegade MC, Reapers MC, The Clans and Steele Bros, you may see names brought up that tie into those series, specifically the Skulls Renegade MC.
Prologue
A soulmate isn’t someone who completes you. No, a soulmate is someone who inspires you to complete yourself. A soulmate is someone who loves you with so much conviction, and so much heart, that it is nearly impossible to doubt just how capable you are of becoming exactly who you have always wanted to be.
B.S.
6 months ago . . .
Sofia
“Sofia!” My stepmother calls from the open window of the kitchen. I’m down on the beach with my brothers Rafael and Alejandro. Rafael is sitting on a chair down by the water while Alejandro sits next to me under the cabana.
He snickers lowly, “You’d best get up there. You know the puta will have a fit if you don’t.”
I roll my eyes, not wanting to trek up all those stairs and go speak to her. She is as dumb as a doornail and frustrating as a mule. My father only married her so he wouldn’t be alone. She’s an ex-beauty queen. She’s basically a trophy wife. All the men in the cartel have women who are like her. My mother on the other hand wasn’t anything similar. She was a good woman who captured my father’s heart when they were young. When I was a little girl, they would tell me the story of their love. So much so they’d make me believe I’d experience something similar. Fast forward a few years and the beautiful love my parents had for one another was traded for a murderous hate.
My madre literally tried to kill my father. She was lucky the knife she stabbed him with didn’t sever an artery. Now she lives in America with our younger half-brother, Roman, who is about sixteen now.
Because of the lifestyle we live in I assumed I’d be introduced to many potential suitors and someday have a beautiful love story. Only, I haven’t been so lucky. Here I am at twenty-two with not so much as even a kiss. My father has kept his perfect little virgin princess locked up in our beach house of a castle. We live right on the beach. Our home is surrounded by a fifteen-foot high stone wall.
“I don’t want to see that witch,” I inform him, keeping my butt firmly planted on the sand.
“Sofia, your father wants to see you!” she screams out.
“Fuck. Looks like I have no choice now,” I grumble, starting to stand up. Alejandro grabs me by my arm and tugs me against him. Wrapping his arms around me, my brother whispers in my ear.
“If you ever need anything from me, you let me know. Okay?”
Narrowing my eyes, I pull away from Alejandro’s embrace. “What?” Something isn’t right. My stomach turns as a gut feeling hits me from out of nowhere.
Alejandro gives me a half-smile, “It’s nothing to worry about, but you remember what I have said to you always. Okay?”
His words are bullshit. If he’s assuring me he’s always here for me of course something should be worrying me. It’s as if everything starts slowly coming together. “What did he tell you?” I question, demanding an answer from my older brother.
Alejandro sucks in a deep breath and somehow the burning rays of the sun seem to heat me up. It’s either that, or my anxiety is besting me at the moment. “I’m not at liberty to discuss any business moves the family is making.”
Oh my God.
The day has finally come. My family has arranged a marriage for me with some sort of prominent man. It feels like I’ve been waiting for this day for an eternity. I turn on my heel and immediately head up the stairs, thinking about the type of love which can blossom from such a union. In all honesty sometimes I feel like there isn’t a place for me here. I’m a woman which means I’m not useful, at least, not in this business. The only use I have is in my marriage and extending our lineage. It’s sad, but ultimately true.
I rush up the sand-colored stairs, broken up by bits of blue and white tile until I reach our veranda and walk in through our back door. Glancing over to my right I see my stepmother, Teresa, giving me a smug smile. She only smiles when she’s been up to no good. Suddenly all the butterflies that were floating around in my stomach dissipate and I only feel one thing— fear.
I go around the corner and walk into the foyer, walk up the stairs and make a sharp right down the narrow hallway which leads to my father’s office. Putting my hand up against the door I take a moment to gather myself before I knock lightly, waiting to be allowed in.
“Come in, mija,” he calls from the other side of the door. I place my hand on it and push it open, walk inside and shut the door behind me. Once when I was a little girl, I made the grave mistake of not shutting the door to his office when he called me in. My ass was blood red for about a week.
“Hola, papá.”
He leans back in his chunky black office chair, places his arms in his lap and gives me a stern look. “The day we have been waiting for has finally come, darling. An offer was made for your hand in marriage. One that I simply cannot refuse.”
Web of Lies Page 17
