Not-So Temporarily Married(28)

“I’m sorry I waited to tell you,” I whispered. “I figured this would probably be the only time it would work out so I could share something like this with my whole family too.”

“No apology needed, baby. I’m just so damn happy you’re pregnant again.”

I didn’t know it then, but I was wrong about it being my only chance to share this experience with my family—we found out I was pregnant the third time around a couple years later on another visit to my parents’ house.

Continue reading for a bonus book—Pursuit (Mafia Ties: Brandon & Carly #1)!





Pursuit


Mafia Ties: Brandon & Carly #1


Brandon DeLuca’s relentless pursuit of Carly O’Reilly after she flees New York isn’t really due to the orders of his mafia boss cousin. The feisty redhead is his, and he’s done trying to pretend otherwise. Now that he’s admitted the truth to himself, he just needs to convince her to put her life in his hands—and her body in his bed.

Please note: Brandon & Carly’s romance is a three part story, but there are no relationship cliffhangers. Their story can be read as a standalone separate from Nic & Anna's books.





You are the love that came

without warning.

~Obvious, Westlife~





Prologue


Brandon


I sat in my car and stared at the quiet, unassuming house across the little residential street. It was dark, the inhabitants out for the night or already in bed. I happened to know it was the latter. After a couple of months of searching, I’d finally caught up to my target and I wasn’t about to let her get away again.

Still, I continued to sit there and watch, taking no action. I told myself I was simply being cautious; I didn’t need any more trouble. But, Nic had asked me to keep her safe. I was obligated. It was my job. It was complete and utter bullshit, that’s what it was.

The phone I was holding up to my ear began ringing, and I waited until the recipient picked up.

“Brandon?” Nic answered, his question implied.

“I found her.”

“Great. I’ll send—”

“No!” I snapped, cutting him off and shocking the fuck out of myself. “She’s mine.”





Chapter 1


Brandon


My best friend and cousin Nic, who also happened to be the new head of the Deluca crime family, was silent for a moment. Just the thought that he might disagree with me had possessive fury bubbling to the surface.

“Your call,” he said with an odd inflection in his voice. Relief flowed through me until I realized ... he sounded weird because he was trying not to laugh.

“What the fuck, Nic?” I growled.

The laughter burst free, and I heard a female voice admonishing him. Thank you, Anna, I thought, figuring it was his new bride. He said something back, but it was muffled, his hand clearly over the receiver. She yelped and he laughed harder. I mentally banged my head against the steering wheel. I didn’t want to know.

“Gianna says it’s rude for me to say ‘I told you so,’ so I’ll just say, good luck, man.”

I hung up to the sound of more laughter. Jackass. Nic had seen the sparks flying between me and Carly early on. She’d been our inside source in the New York City Irish mob and when things got dicey, Nic asked me to make sure she stayed safe. The moment I saw her tall, lithe body, her long, lush red hair, emerald eyes, and creamy skin, I was doomed to walk around with a constant erection. It was impossible to deny; she was fucking gorgeous. She was also a major pain in the ass. Her stubborn streak was a mile wide, almost rivaling my own. Following orders wasn’t a talent of hers, and I tried to convince myself the package wasn’t worth the trouble. Yeah, I was in complete denial.

The night stretched out before me, dark and silent, but my mind and body were having a shouting match. Then my heart decided to join the game and with two against one, my mind never stood a chance.

Not wanting to alert her, I kept my car parked where it was and climbed out, shutting the door soundlessly behind me. She’d been raised in the mob and had learned a lot of useful skills; some by design through training, and some through necessity. She clearly knew how to run. Even so, the fact that she’d been able to stay one step ahead of me, someone known for their tracking skills, was a hit to my ego. Until I cut off communication with everyone and went dark. No one knew my moves, which meant there was no way for anyone to alert her.

I went through every trick in my arsenal to unbury where she was hiding. Within a week, it paid off and there I was, circling the house where I knew she was holed up, looking for a weak entrance point. It was locked up tight. Good girl. Only, there has never been a lock I’ve come across that I couldn’t pick. I chose the back door since it only had one deadbolt and while it was under a motion-activated alarm; the door itself wasn’t connected to the security system.