Savage's Buck & Doe #2
Adult Romance
Date Published: March 3rd, 2019
There is a turning point in everyone’s life. Luca Savage knew his was the day his dad and brother were gunned down.
Nobody could live in North America and not hear about a mass shooting, whether it was in a school, a bar, or a shopping mall. It was sad, but Luca had been like most of society—desensitized. He always felt horrible for the victims and donated to their families, but once the initial shock settled and the money was sent, he moved on to the next headlining tragedy. That was before Ground Zero was Luca’s own family.
Tragedy has a way of changing people. When someone you love dies before their time, it torments those left behind. Part of Luca’s torment is that he can’t find beauty in the world anymore. That is, until he meets Brooklyn, a woman with no words who teaches him beauty is there, you just have to see it through the right eyes.
Brooklyn is stunning. To look at her, you would think she has the world on a string. If she wasn’t mute, she would tell you things aren’t always as they appear.
Sins, hers or not, and disillusionment have been her constant companions for most of her life. She can’t change people’s perceptions of her, but she can keep them at arm’s length to validate herself and the family she loves.
Can these two lost souls find peace in each other’s arms? Can the lascivious be overlooked to teach the most meaningful lessons in life? Luca and Brooklyn have to learn together that the people you meet on the journey are as important as the ones you end up with at the destination.
EXCERPT:
Brooklyn lay back, just enjoying the peace and quiet.
Closing her eyes, she imagined all the things she wanted to say. What would her
first conversation with Eli be like? Would he like her voice and find it
comforting?
She could hear Eli’s and Luca’s voices carrying
through the woods, and she could also hear the birds and insects singing out a
melody, when she suddenly felt the coolness of someone blocking the sun from
her face. She opened her eyes, instant trepidation sending her heart racing.
It was him, the face from the forest.
She tried to roll over, but it was too late. He had
her by the throat.
Her eyes darted from side to side, looking for the
agent who was supposed to be watching her.
“Don’t worry; your guard decided to lie down for a
while. It’s just you and me, and you’re going to listen if you don’t want that
yappy kid to end up like your brother. I know you can’t scream, and I wish we
had more time, because the things I could do to you . . . ” He squeezed her
breast, hard. “You’re going to get an offer on the club. It’s more than you
deserve, but we don’t want to raise suspicion. You’re going to accept that
offer, and if you tell anyone about our little chat, the kid is dead. Nod if
you understand.”
Brooklyn nodded, struggling for breath.
He lessened the grip on her throat, smashing his mouth
down on hers. She thrashed back and forth, trying to get away, panicking for
oxygen.
When the man pulled back, he ran his tongue up her
face. Then, raising a finger to his lips, he showed her his gun. “Not a word,
or the kid dies.” Ever so calmly, he released her, got up, and sauntered into
the forest as Brooklyn flipped over, gasping for breath.
She couldn’t stand his grossness on her, and even
though she was struggling for breath, she grabbed a water bottle and poured
some in her hands, washing the saliva off her cheek and lips. She went through
one bottle, scrubbing her skin, and then another before she felt remotely
clean.
It hit her that the agent was somewhere, hurt. She had
to find him. She ran frantically, looking around. Suddenly, she didn’t hear Eli
or Luca. Oh God, did he hurt her family? She had to find them.
Running in the direction they had headed, branches
whipped at her face, but she was beyond feeling anything. She wasn’t strong
enough to survive losing them. She needed help. It hit her that she had people
she could text. With shaking hands, she sent a group text to Sabastian,
Alessandro, Santino, and Grant.
9-1-1 on the mountain. Hurry!!
Santino was the first to respond. We’re on our way.
What happened?
Brooklyn: There was a
man. I don’t know where anyone is. Please, help me find them. Please, Santino,
I’m so scared.
Sabastian: Hide yourself. We’ll find you.
Grant: Brooklyn, stay calm. We’re tracing your
phone. We’ll find your location. You and I are going to keep conversing until
we get to you. Is Jared missing too?
Brooklyn: Yes!
Grant:
Don’t anyone else interrupt. Brooklyn, I’m going to continue to ask you
questions. Alessandro’s going to type them from his phone and read me your
answers so I can also talk to my team. Answer with as much detail as possible.
Brooklyn: Okay.
Alessandro: What
happened?
Brooklyn: Eli
and Luca, I can’t find them or hear them. Help, God, please help me.
Alessandro: I
know you’re scared, but you need to answer so we can find everyone. Now tell me
what happened.
Brooklyn: Luca
and Eli went looking for bugs. I was lying down, and I woke up with the man
from the forest, his hands around my throat. Now I can’t find anyone.
Alessandro: Did
he hurt you? Do you need an ambulance?
Brooklyn: No,
but I don’t know about anyone else.
Alessandro: Good.
What did the man say?
Brooklyn: I
can’t tell anyone.
Alessandro: Please,
Brooklyn, tell me. I can’t help if I don’t know who did this.
Brooklyn: No,
they’ll kill Eli!
Alessandro: I’ll
protect Eli. Tell me.
Brooklyn: No,
you can’t protect us. Look at what happened. No!!
Grant needed to distract
her so she didn’t lose it, so he changed the subject.
Alessandro: I
want you to stop, look around, and listen. Can you hear or see anything?
Brooklyn was crouched
behind a tree. She pulled the phone close to her chest with one hand and leaned
around the tree, looking around to see if she could see or hear anything. The
ironic thing was that all she could hear was the roaring of blood flowing through
her body. It was so loud it was muting the sound of the birds and insects. She
forgot about her phone as her mind went places it shouldn’t.
About the Author
Anne Marie Citro grew born and raised in the greater Toronto area of Ontario, Canada. She grew up in a large, loving family. Anne Marie is married to a very patient man. He is the love of her life. They have four very cool sons, and the girls they brought into their family that have become daughters of her heart. She has been blessed enough to finally have two beautiful granddaughters after four sons. She has her own personal gaggle of girlfriends, who enrich her life on a daily basis and make her laugh. Caesar Friday is her favorite day of the week. Caesars with the girls and date night with her hubby. She worked with special-needs teenagers, that taught her how to appreciate life and see it through gentler eyes. Anne Marie was encouraged by her husband to follow her lifelong dream to write. She loves the characters that take over imagination and haunts her dreams. She loves the arts and she has tried her hand at painting, wood sculpting, chainsaw carving, wood burning, metal and wire sculptures. Yes, her husband is a very patient man! Anne Marie is an avid reader and enjoys about three books per week. But nothing makes her happier than riding on the back of her husband's Harley and throwing her arms out and feeling the wind race by. Anne Marie and her husband take a few weeks every year to travel to spectacular destination around the world. Anne Marie is excited and can't wait to see what the next chapter holds for her life.
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This sounds emotional.
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