Kai’s father was found dead in his cell two days ago. No one knows who carved him up, but I doubt anyone is looking too hard. I don’t ask questions, but I’m not stupid enough to believe his murder is a coincidence.
Life has moved forward, but I don’t think we’ll ever really escape everything we’ve been through. This whole mess has been the type of shit that lingers for life. Even so, I’m happy. I’m still working at the diner, but my earnings go toward the classes I’m taking at the local college while I figure out what I actually want to do with my life. My first semester of classes ended yesterday. Some courses are better than others, but each one has helped me learn at least one thing about myself.
I no longer feel like a guest in Burke’s home. This is my home. I love it here.
Burke and Kai have been ignoring the Teagan-shaped elephant in the room, but things seem to be getting back to normal with them, too. I’m sure, eventually, the issue will come to a head, but they’ll survive it.
Teagan’s still quiet and mostly withdrawn, and Burke’s been forcing her to go see someone about everything she’s been struggling with. Well, he thinks he’s forcing her. She really skips most of her therapy appointments. Instead, she confides in me. At some point he’ll figure it out, but my telling him won’t help her, and he will understand that.
Andrew and I have texted back and forth a few times, and we even made plans to meet for coffee sometime soon. He’s been great about taking things slow for me, but I’m ready to get to know him. We missed a lot of years, and I don’t want to miss any more.
Braelyn is in jail, and she will be for a long time, thanks to the backpack full of evidence linking her to the kidnapping of Teagan and me. The police picked up Braelyn real quick after the anonymous tip on her whereabouts. Her trial ended last week where a jury of her peers convicted her after only two hours of deliberation. Guilty as charged. She’ll be an old woman before she gets out.
It’s strangely quiet today. I woke to an empty bed and an even emptier house. I have no idea where anybody is. I enjoy the alone time while sipping coffee with my hair an unruly mess. I must jinx myself because, as the thought crosses my mind, the doorbell rings.
All the Jacoby drama left me with a healthy bit of caution about my surroundings, so I check the peephole before I open the door. A group of people dressed all in black, holding loads of equipment, stand on the other side of the door. I am reaching for my phone to call Burke when it chimes with an incoming text.
Burke: Open the door. It’s surprise number one.
Paisley: Surprise number one? What’s going on?
Burke: Congrats on finishing your first semester. Enjoy. I’ll see you in a little bit.
I open the door and smile at the group of people. I really have no idea what is going on, but my surprise guests hustle into the house as soon as the door opens.
“Hello! We’re with Infiniti Oasis. Where would you like us to set up?”
“Uh, set up what exactly?”
“We’re an at-home spa experience. Massage, facial, nails, the works.”
“Seriously?” I’m beaming at the girl, who looks just as happy as I feel, as she nods. “Oh, okay. I guess the living room is fine. I’ll move a couple of things around.”
Burke has sent over a team to pamper me apparently, and this is only surprise number one. I get giddy, thinking about what’s next.
Burke thought he wasn’t the man I deserved, but he couldn’t have been more wrong. He’s constantly doing little things that mean so much more than sending over a team to do girlie things to me. He brews me coffee in the morning. Writes crude notes in the margins of my textbooks. He listens to me ramble on about the books I’ve read, and he is interested. Or at least he pretends to be. He’s more than I ever imagined finding someone would be like.
He couldn’t be more perfect for me.
I’m pampered for the next two hours. My skin feels brand-new, my muscles are at ease, and my nails are freshly painted with a bright, bold red. The crew is packing up as Burke strolls into the house. He kisses my forehead and abruptly moves through our home. I close the door behind the departing workers and go off in search of my man.
He’s up to something. I find him in our room with two suitcases on the bed. He’s throwing things at random from his side of the closet into the smaller bag.
“What’re you doing?” I can see what he’s doing, but I guess I mean, why?
“Get packed. We’re leaving in an hour.”
“Leaving for where? What’re you talking about?”
Burke stops throwing unfolded clothes into his bag and takes me in his arms. His tongue invades my mouth, and I forget about my line of questioning. His lips lock with mine. My hands go to his chest. His go to my ass. I get swept away in his kiss. His demanding lips weaken my knees.
He pulls back. “You’re off work for the next two weeks. I gave them plenty of notice. We’re going on a trip to celebrate the end of your first semester. You have less than an hour to get packed. Let’s go!”
He smacks my ass, and I jump into motion.
He plans spontaneous trips to indulge my adventurous side.
“Where are we going?”
“Where aren’t we going? We have a lifetime to see everything, but for now, I think I’ll leave our travel agenda a surprise. Why would you stick around if I revealed all my secrets?”
I’m not going anywhere. The man with intense eyes has captured my heart. I’ve seen the dark and twisted side of secrets since I met Burke, but I’m ready for a lot more secrets like this that turn me into a swooning girl, head over heels for the man I never knew I wanted. The one I couldn’t have dreamed existed. My dark hero.
Vengeance won.
It’s our time to give a big middle finger to the dark parts of the world.
The End
The light to my dark ♥
Jen, thank you for being a friend to me and for encouraging me when I needed the push.
Dottie, thank you for always going above and beyond for me.
Ashley, thank you for being everything I hoped to find in an editor. You are full of all kinds of knowledge I pretend to understand. One day, maybe I’ll even understand the things you’ve explained to me.
To my BETAs—Jen, Dottie, Betsy, and Angie—each one of you was pivotal in my journey. You made Vengeance in Bloom better and gave me encouragement to share it with the world. I couldn’t have asked for a better team. I’ll forever be grateful for your honesty and advice.
Bloggers, I came from your world. I know how hard each and every one of you works. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for everything you do. It’s a never-ending job that often doesn’t get enough thanks. You are the backbone of this indie community.
To the readers, I sat on my first release, so once again, I am writing this before ever anyone has bought my first novel, but if you’re here, reading this . . . thank you. It’s strange for me to think that strangers might be reading my books, but I’m forever grateful to you. I hope any part of it has resonated with you. I hope you’ve enjoyed the journey and that I made up for that giant cliffy from book one. Thank you for sticking with me after that.
Reviews are crucial to an author’s survival. Each and every word left on book review sites is important and appreciated. If you enjoyed Vengeance in Bloom, I would love for you to give me your honest words. Your review could help others discover this story. Thank you.
I would love to get to know you! In my reader group, Jennifer Michael’s Book World, you’ll be privy to first look at content of upcoming projects. Members also qualify for exclusive giveaways. This private Facebook group is a place for us to chat about fun, steamy subjects and for me to get to know my readers. To join, click HERE.
As a child, Jennifer Michael dreamed of being an author. Life and adulting pushed that dream down to a mere fantasy. Then, as a reader, she found the indie romance world, and the dream that had been long ago deemed unattainable became a reality.
Wr
iting fulfills pieces of Jennifer she lost. She writes stories that range from sweet and sultry to dark and daring. Behind her computer, she’s constantly dreaming up where she’ll go next, not wanting to be put in a specific romance genre box. Pushing limits and striving to conquer wherever the characters take her is the ultimate methods to her madness.
Jennifer resides in southwest Florida where she wishes she spent much more time at the beach. She’s an avid reader of gritty books with deep emotion or dark, twisty plots and fond of more than a few guilty-pleasure television shows. She gets sucked into the world of characters from all mediums.
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Vengeance in Bloom (The Love Unauthorized Series Book 2) Page 22
