From the Cover:
After almost losing
her Uncle Phen during the investigation of her mother’s murder,
Felicia “Lucky” Fascino cut all ties and ran away, hoping her
family would move on and forget the promises they made. Putting the
past behind her has never been easy, but Lucky knows the job is
slowly destroying her already fractured psyche. Staying away,
especially now that her family is in danger, is the only way to keep
everyone safe.
Kenji Zinn,
determined to locate his ex-lover, tracks Lucky to a small island
with her family’s help, and finds her in a miserable and
self-destructive condition. His connection to her is strained after
months apart but his feelings haven’t change, and he attempts to
persuade her to come home, to protect her family and keep her
promise. Despite her obvious mental fatigue, only Phen is able to
convince her that the way to get closure is finding an elusive man
named Quimby and take him out permanently.
Once home, Lucky
breaks it off with Kenji, and agrees to go back to work if Phen
promises to let her go when it’s done. While her family continues
to track their target, Lucky returns to work for the
network—struggling through each job, aware that pushing her family
away won’t bring anyone the peace they deserve. As she begins to
repair her shattered relationships, her true feelings for Kenji are
tested when she almost loses him completely. Before it’s too late,
Lucky realizes he’s her best ally to help her finish what she
started and find Quimby before he strikes again.
Excerpt:
Kenji is at ‘the
compound’ recovering…
Kenji jerked up,
waking the instant the doors shut. Looking over, he saw her walk in.
His heart thumped. His stomach churned, causing the wound to throb.
It felt like he was dying a slow, poisonous death.Wearing a sports bra
and tight spandex shorts, Felicia moved to the mat and stretched. The
thick, curly locks pulled back to reveal her stunning face and bright
golden, catlike eyes. She appeared healthier, vibrant again. Filled
out, with the curves he loved to trace.
Kenji
shuddered, attempting to ignore his natural response to her as he
stood up. Noticing immediately, she spun around and gawked at him.
“Didn’t
know anyone was here.” She turned, picked up her towel, and went
for the door.
“Felicia,”
he said and crossed the room, forcing his body to move faster than it
liked. He winced near the treadmill, paused, and grabbed the rail.
She lurched forward.
“Easy,”
she chided and bit her lip.
“I
am fine,” he said. “I will be leaving shortly.”
“Okay,”
she said while hanging her head. “As long as you’re well enough.”
“Irrelevant.
I have stayed too long.”
“Don’t
let me being here stop you from getting better. You won’t see me
again.” Her tone turned tight, sharp.
He
bridged the distance slowly, nearing the weight bench. “Until you
sneak into my room again.”
Felicia whipped around, storming toward
the exit.
“How long will you ignore what you feel for me?”
“What?”
She seemed genuinely shocked by his question but didn’t miss a beat
with her retort: “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Why
did you come to my room?” He followed her to the exit.
“To
say good-bye,” she said.
“Every
word you speak is a lie. You do not want me to leave anymore than I
want to go.”
“Keep
telling yourself that, maybe you’ll believe it one day.”
“Is it so hard to
admit you care?” She paused at the door and stared at him,
emotionless. “No, you are too stubborn. You will
realize you want me, and it will be too late. I hope you are willing
to live with your choice.”
“I
am,” she said.
“Go.
All you do is run away.” He wave at hand to the door and shook his
head.
“Fuck you.”
“Do you fear what
I make you feel that much?”
“Listen, I just
wanted to tell you my side, okay? That’s all. I know what I did was
wrong. I tried to make that perfectly clear. It was despicable and
hurtful. The drinking wasn’t an excuse; it’s just an explanation.
I wasn’t myself. I don’t expect you to accept my apology. I just
wanted you to have it because it’s the right thing to do. Gives us
both a clean break.”
Kenji
wasn’t getting through; Felicia ignored everything he said. He
didn’t care about that anymore. He wanted her to admit the truth.
Confess what he saw in her eyes. Want him to stay. “You think a few
words etched on a sheet of paper are a proper apology? Why not tell
me to my face?”
Her
pitch rose. “You didn’t want me to know you were here. Why would
I think you’d want to see me?”
“You
were on assignment. I know you did not need another
disruption.”
He looked knowingly into her eyes; she glanced away. “I said I
would never trouble you again, and I have stayed true to my word. You
approached me."
“You
barged in on my
family!”
“They
offered help if I ever needed it. I left you alone,” he said, the
anger seething like an overcooked broth, rising to the rim. “If not
for you, this injury would not be here!”
“Oh,
so it’s my fault you did a shitty job?” She placed both hands on
her hips in defiance. His blood boiled, but he didn’t dare move
closer. Then she laughed. Kenji almost snapped. “It’s all over
your face; you fucked up all on your own, fella.”
“You
know that is a lie. Have you been flawless these last few months?”
“I’m
fine,” she said, slapping her thighs.
“You
have wanted to tell me how sorry
you are, for this long, and I am supposed to believe you are fine?
The shame must have been torture for you; a confession only helps so
much.”“It was an
explanation.”
“How long have you
wallowed in your suffering?” When she glared at him, he smirked. He
had
ammunition to use as well. “I know you, Felicia.”
“You
used to.” She crossed her arms over her chest.
“I
see through your armor, remember?”
Felicia
tilted her chin higher, eyes narrowing. “I’m bulletproof now.”
“I
waste my words on you,” he said and approached. The slight trembles
in her body told him the truth. Yet she stood there, resistant as
ever. He looked down at her before passing. “Sayōnara,
Felicia.”
Author
Bio: Jenn’s love of writing started the year she received her first
diary and Nancy Drew novel. Throughout her teenage years, she kept a
diary of her personal thoughts and feelings but graduated from Nancy
Drew to other mystery suspense novels.
Jenn
often adds a thriller and suspense element to anything she writes be
it Romance, Science Fiction, or Fantasy. When not writing, she spends
her time reading, observing pop culture, playing with her two dogs,
and working on various charitable projects in her home state of New
Jersey.
Website:
www.jennnixon.com
Facebook:
facebook.com/JennNixonAuthor
Twitter: http://twitter.com/jennnixon
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