Archangels MC: A Reverse Harem Romance (Bad Influence Book 2)
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The Prince
Prologue
Do you remember the first time you fell in love?
How you were walking on cloud nine every time you received a text from him, or you caught a glimpse of him without him realizing it? Or even better, caught him looking at you as if you were the only one for him?
Remember that feeling of utter bliss and contentment? Waking up with a smile on your face, so wide, people thought you were auditioning for the role of the Joker?
Remember that feeling?
Well, if you do, then you also remember the first time someone broke your heart and how it shattered something far more precious than you were willing to give up—your innocence, your naiveté.
Because after that heartbreak nothing hurt you quite the same way ever again.
There’s a reason why they say the first love is always the worst. Because it sucks ass to fall from way up high smack down on the concrete floor.
So if you remember that feeling, I think my story will be pretty easy to explain.
My name is Devina Richardson.
I was considered one of the top twenty most influential people in all of New York City this year, and I’m not even thirty yet, and trust me, love had nothing to do with it.
So you’re probably wondering how did I get here? All the way to the top at such an early age.
The cynical will say “her daddy” of course, and to those I would nod and agree, but I wouldn’t let you leave the room without a big ‘fuck you too’ from me either. I got here with my brains and balls. Yeah, I said balls because you have to have double the size of them to make it as a woman in a man’s world. I worked my ass off to earn my spot at Royal, the most prominent magazine there is, and don’t you dare to give me any other name that would even compare to our savage ‘always on the edge of what’s new in fashion’ magazine.
Royal is what it is now because of me.
Oh yeah, and my business partner Dean Knox. He pulls his own too. Can’t argue there.
It’s not him I have an issue with. But I’m getting ahead of myself, I was telling you how I rule as queen B to this royal empire. I have my loyal subjects, of course. I’m not a fool. A person’s worth is also told by whom she affiliates herself with and I choose to keep my group small.
Well, maybe very small.
Okay, just the one.
I only trust my best friend, Edie, and that’s because not only did we grow up together and love each other like sisters, but also because she’s loyal. And I value loyalty above all things. Because you can’t buy loyalty. Just like love. You either have it, or you don’t. And with Edie, I have both. I can’t say that of anyone else in my life. Nor do I want to.
So let’s go back to why I started this off talking to you about love when it’s probably so obvious to you now—to my way of life that word is as foreign as the designer dress I have on.
I talked about love because, surprisingly enough, that’s what molded me into the powerful woman I am today. Oh, sorry, my bad, not love really, but the heartbreak did the job nicely. I took stock of what I could control and chose that over a sentiment as futile as love.
Love does not build a career and get you on the cover of Forbes magazine.
It does not show your father that you are ten times the better CEO he ever was, even if he resents you for not being born male.
Love will not show your enemies you have conquered it all and look mighty fine doing it.
No, the only thing love does is to make you weak. It makes you doubt yourself and crave touch and warmth over cold dollar bills in your bank account. I would rather wear a crown on my head than be a jester for love ever again.
Because I was tricked once.
Just the once, since I vowed to never let myself be fooled into falling in love again.
And I would not even be having this conversation with you if it wasn’t for one itsy bitsy little snag in my plan for world domination.
The asshole I had given my heart to, the same one who trampled over it with his designer shoes, is the only thorn at my side because I have to look at his smug-perfect face every single day since I work with the shmuck.
And no, I can’t fire him.
I already tried that, but if you think of any other brilliant ideas, keep them coming because I’ll take anything at this point.
Connor Walsh.
They call him the Prince of New York, but to me, he’s nothing but what his namesake entails—a con.
He’s the eyesore in my perfect life. He’s my reminder of the one moment of weakness when I was too young to know any better and too foolish to see that his cocky bright smile lit up more than a room. His swagger and charm got into more panties than a woman like me owns.
Sadly, while I’m the queen of my domain, he’s the prince who still haunts me.
Acknowledgments
Following your dreams is never easy, but when you have the love and support of people who want to see you thrive, it’s not as hard either.
I’d like to thank my family and friends who have been by my side and understand this passion of mine. Those of you who have suffered from my unanswered calls or daydream states but still love me regardless—thank you! I’m truly blessed for having you all in my life!
A big thank you goes out to my editor, Sandy Nguyen, who made sure I dotted my i’s and crossed my t’s, while keeping my writing style intact and letting my voice be heard.
To my lovely Beta, Heather Clark—you girl are incredible! Thank you for your enthusiasm when I’m freaking out and your sharp eye at spotting things that I totally missed. I thank my lucky stars I stumbled upon you when I did.
To all the ladies at HRM—Sarah, Bree, and Tania—thank you for supporting my work and getting Bad Influence ready to go wide in Audio as well. I am so excited to have this in the works, and I know I could not have been able to if you ladies didn’t work yourselves to the bone to make it so. I am truly grateful.
To all the fantastic RH authors out there who have inspired me to take this plunge in the first place, please continue. Each day I am marveled by your talent, and as a reader, I cannot state how happy I am to see this genre grow and evolve, and this all comes down to your hard work and dedication.
To my girl, Tracy Hoyt, who cheers me on my author quest and gets me laughing like a giddy school girl with her excitement of my work. Thank you, babe, for believing in me!
A HUGE thank you to all my girls at Ivy’s Sassy Foxes—Amy, Angela, Bianca, Di, Deborah, Lulu, Marguerite, Stephanie, Melissa, Sheila, Nicole, JL, Consuelo, Amanda, Wendy, Erin, and everyone that joined this incredible group of women.
I adore you all. I hope I made you all proud with Archangels MC. You beautiful ladies have made this journey of mine that much sweeter. I still can’t believe how blessed I am in having you ladies by my side! YOU ROCK!
And last, but in my heart never least, to the two men who make my life complete—my darling husband and my beautiful baby boy. I hope there are people in this world that have such a supportive foundation as I have, and by far, you two are that for me.
To my husband, my best friend, my one, it was your genuine belief in me in the first place that got me thinking I could even try going after my dreams. I can write a love story because I live one every day. That’s all thanks to you, my love.
And to my heart, my best accomplishment in life and the one who makes all my sacrifices worthwhile—kiddo, being your mom was God’s greatest blessing on me, and I love you to the moon and back. I hope I make you as proud of me as I am of you, every single day.
About the Author
Lover of books, coffee, and chocolate ice cream!
Ivy lives a blessed life, surrounded by her two most important men, her husband, and son and also the fictional characters in her head that can’t seem to
shut up. Books and romance are her passion. A strong believer in happy endings and that love will always conquer in the end.
Both in life and in fiction.