Cautious (Sequel to Disastrous) (31 page)

“You look amazing.” She breathed out as she tried to catch her
breath.

“You do too.” We quickly hugged and walked into the elevator as
it opened.

We traveled down to the lobby and headed to where the ceremony
was held. Once we reached the doors, the wedding planner pulled me aside
against the wall. “No peeking. We wouldn’t want the groom to see you early.” I
nodded and began fidgeting with my hands as my breathing grew unsteady.

After a few minutes, I was able to calm my breathing. Then I
caught sight of Elle running down the hall toward me. She was absolutely
beautiful in a white dress with a red sash. The basket she held was filled with
yellow rose petals. Once she approached me, her eyes glistened as her lips
curled into a huge smile. “Wow, Mia. You look like a princess.”

I laughed and leaned down to pull her into a hug. “No, you look
like a princess. You’re beautiful.”

“Thank you. I’m here to perform the flower girl duties. Daddy
said it’s a very important job.”

I burst into laughter. “Oh yes, very important. Without the
flower girl, the wedding would be a catastrophe.”

With a hand on her hip, she nodded. “Yes, we can’t let that
happen.”

“Alright, everyone in place. The wedding will begin in a few
seconds.” The wedding planner clapped his hands together.

I straightened at his announcement and wrapped my hand snugly
through my grandfather’s crooked arm.

Right on time, the planner hurried Elle along the aisle. Before
walking down the aisle, she winked at me, adjusted her shoulders, and smiled
brightly for the guests.

I loved that little girl.

Megan was up next. “See you in a few!” She squealed and waved her
hand, showing off her diamond engagement ring, and headed down the same path as
Elle. In a few months, she and Jeremy would be reciting their own vows. I
couldn’t have been happier for them.

“Okay, in about ten seconds, the wedding bells will go off, and
then you can walk down.”

I nodded at the planner and took in another deep breath.

Right on time, I heard the bells go off. My grandfather moved
forward, and I followed beside him as he guided me down the aisle. My head was
bowed at first. I heard shoes shuffling as the guests stood the moment we entered.
As we continued in a slow pace down the aisle, in the midst of it all, I had
the courage to finally look up.

First, I saw my mother standing beside my grandmother with their
eyes filled with joyous tears. Second, Jeremy, with a wide smile, gave me one
nod. I returned the gesture and then let out a soft laugh. Third, I saw
Theresa. She was beautiful in a cream silk gown as her eyes glowed at the sight
of me. I looked straight ahead and found Jimmie as the best man with his smile
wide and bright. I remembered the talk I had with him the previous night, when
he told me that he couldn’t have picked a more suitable wife for his brother. I
told him one day he’d find love and that, when it came, it would hit him hard.
He disagreed, but I knew one day he would.

After I smiled at Jimmie, I turned my head slightly to the left, and
then I saw him: my soon-to-be husband. My heart expanded with more love than I ever
thought possible. Marcus stood at the other end of the aisle, looking more
handsome than ever in a black tuxedo. With a wide dimpled smile, he tilted his
arm so I could get a better look of our six-month-old baby boy he held. Michael
was dressed in a matching tiny tux. My eyes swelled as I saw my two boys
waiting for me at the end of the aisle. I laughed as tears escaped me when
Marcus lifted our baby’s tiny hand to wave at me.

Once I made my way up to them, Marcus leaned in and kissed my
forehead. “You look so beautiful.”

“You too.” I whispered through my cracked voice.

Marcus chuckled and kissed our baby boy’s soft head before
handing him over to me. I grabbed him and looked down at the big brown eyes and
tiny lips that curled into a small grin, which showed off his dimple just like
his daddy’s. It was right then that I knew I wouldn’t change any of the past
couple of years. I’d never been happier. My life was complete as I held my baby
and looked up at the man that gave me more than just happiness. He gave me love
and a life full of unexpected turns that brought us to where we were now—a life
that only a few could dream of, but this wasn’t a fantasy. This was real.

We stood before all of our family and friends and promised to
love, trust, and be honest for the rest of our lives. There might be rocky
times, but we would get past them together and never give up, because love—and not
just any love, but
our
love—was worth fighting for.

He leaned down and gave me my first kiss as Mrs. Marcus DeLuca.

THE END

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

First and foremost, I want to thank my readers. I didn’t
think anyone would actually like my first book, Disastrous, let alone fall in
love with the characters. Thank you for the support and love you’ve given me.
If it weren’t for your continued support, Cautious would’ve never met its
deadline. You guys are the reason why I’ll continue my passion. I have so much
more and can’t wait to give you.

To my husband, Alex, words cannot express how much I love
you. Although, we’re not perfect, (What relationship is?) I can’t picture life
without you. Thank you for always supporting me, for being there when I cried
because I thought I couldn’t meet my deadline, and for picking-up laundry duty
along with the take-out dinners. I know you haven’t had a good home-cooked meal
in months. I owe you one or a few. ;-) Love you, babe.

To my family and friends, I’m sorry I haven’t been around as
much as I used to. I was always a phone call away or jumped in my car when I
was needed, but you still stuck by me and supported me the entire way! I love
you all! Seriously, from the bottom of my heart, thank you! <3

Mom! You’re the reason for all of this. It’ll never get old
for me to remind you! Thank you for pushing me to publish Disastrous; it
started my new beginning. Love you!

To Christine Martinez, thank you for sending me different
medical terms to help with the “shooting scene.” You’re the best!

To my beta readers, Jennifer Diaz, Lori Francis, and Karinna
Baez, thank you ladies for the feedback and for going through this process with
me. *Heart hand motions*

To Jennifer Wolfel, you’re simply awesome. Thank you for
dealing with my anxiety and slapping me a few times to get me out of my
depression. Your honest feedback helped improve my story, so thank you for that
as well!

To
Ashley Hartigan Tkachyk
,
AHH! I love you! I’m so happy you stalked me *inside joke* because we would’ve
never become great friends. I’m certain if you were not with me throughout this
entire process Cautious would not be what it is and I probably would’ve been
admitted into an insane asylum. Also, thank you for listening to me cry and
whine over the phone or through private message. I know you rolled your eyes a
few times, even though you said you didn’t. LOL. You’re the best, and your
feedback on Cautious was amazing.

To Melissa L. Delgado, are there enough words to express to
my CP/soul sister/awesome sauce friend how much I love her? Nope, not enough
words! Melis, thank you so much, for everything. Not just for the feedback on
Cautious but for being a friend. You showed me that there are still sincere and
genuine people out there. Ending a Broken Journey is going to touch so many
readers, and I can’t wait to ride that journey with you! Love you, honey bunny!
;-)

To Becca Manuel, thank you for the amazing Cautious trailer;
you’re very talented. I can’t wait to see you shoot for the stars. Also, thank
you for being simply sweet!

To David Goldhahn, again thanks for a wonderful job on the
cover. I can’t wait to continue to work with you on my future covers.

Theresa Wegand, it was amazing working with you again. Thank
you for beta reading, editing, and formatting Cautious.

To Miranda Petrillo, wow, you did such an amazing job
proofreading Cautious! I couldn’t be happier with the end result and will be
working with you in the future! Thank you so much for your hard work.

To all book bloggers, there are so many of you that it would
have taken ten pages, but I just want to say thank you so much, from the bottom
of my heart. You take time out of your work life, family life, and personal
life to support and spread the word of your favorite authors. I’m in awe of
you, for just being so committed and loving a story that has touched you and
all you want to do is simply share your passion about the story with others.
Thank you for that! If not for you, many readers would lose out on the
opportunity of finding a story that they might fall in love with as well. Thank
you!

Last, but certainly not least, to my author group; you girls
keep me sane. Seriously, you girls made me laugh when I wanted to cry, allowed
me to feel pride when I was discouraged, and allowed me to believe in myself
when I had doubts. A special thank you to Syreeta, Gail, Madeline, Claire,
Cindy, Trevlyn, Karina and Laura—you girls rock! Thank you for listening to my
everyday rants. <3

COMING SOON

By E.L. Montes

PERFECTLY DAMAGED

This is a standalone scheduled to be released: Fall
2013/Spring 2014

Sometimes in life we are confronted by unforeseen hurdles.
Other times there are people introduced in our lives for unexpected reasons:
reasons beyond our control or desire. No matter the differences, sometimes two
people find one another when they are most needed, even when not searching.

When Jenna McDaniel meets Josh Lewis, she begins to slowly
discover herself. Josh Lewis wasn’t looking for love or even a girlfriend.
Trying to make ends meet and help care for his nephew, his already screwed
up-life goes downhill the moment he is confronted by Jenna.

No one deserves to be alone, no one deserves to be judged,
and no one certainly deserves to be unloved. For more reasons than one,
sometimes we find something perfect—even when it has flaws.

Beaten, stomped, or simply thrown away, anything could be
perfect even when damaged.

FIGHTING TO STAND (a novella)

This is a spin off from the
Disastrous
Series—Jimmie
DeLuca’s story.

To be released: Fall 2013/Spring 2014

Synopsis coming soon.

Sneak Peek of
Undeniable
by Madeline Sheehan

To read an excerpt of
Undeniable
by Madeline Sheehan, turn
the page and enjoy.

UNDENIABLE

By Madeline Sheehan

© Madeline Sheehan Books 2012

There will always be a reason why you meet
people. Either you need them to change your life or you’re the one that will
change theirs.

—Angel Flonis Harefa

PROLOGUE

Mark Twain said, “The two most important days in your
life are the day you were born and the day you find out why.”

I don’t remember the day I was born, but I remember the day I
found out why.

His name was Deuce.

He was my “why.”

And this is our story.

It is not a pretty one.

Some parts of it are downright ugly.

But it’s ours.

And because I believe everything happens for a reason, I wouldn’t
change a thing.

CHAPTER ONE

I was five years old when I met Deuce. He was
twenty-three, and it was visiting day at Rikers Island. My father, Damon Fox or
“Preacher”—the President of the infamous Silver Demons motorcycle club (mother
chapter) in East Village, New York City—was doing a five-year stint for
aggravated assault and battery with a deadly weapon. It was not the first time
my father had been in prison, and it wouldn’t be the last. The Silver Demons MC
was a notorious group of criminals who lived by the code of the road and gave
modern society and all it entailed a great big fuck you.

My father was a powerful and dangerous man who ruled over all
Silver Demons worldwide and was highly respected but mostly feared by other
MCs. He had government connections and ties to the mafias, but what made him
the most dangerous and most feared was his many connections to average,
everyday people. People who didn’t run in his circle. People who were off the
grid. People who could get things done quietly.

His way with words and his killer smile made him friends
everywhere he went—and considering he’d been riding since he was in my
grandmother’s womb, when I say everywhere, I mean everywhere.

My father’s shortcomings, the constant crime, and the club
lifestyle weren’t strange to me; it was all I knew.

I was holding my Uncle “One-Eyed” Joe’s hand as we walked through
Rikers family visiting room. Since my father was my only parent, my Uncle Joe
and Aunt Sylvia had been given temporary custody of me. My mother, Deborah
“Darling” Reynolds, had split a few weeks after I was born. Many men would have
crumbled under the responsibility of a newborn baby, especially a biker who couldn’t
handle more than a few weeks without needing the open road.

But not Preacher.

Aside from going to prison every once in a while, my father was a
good dad, and I’d never wanted for a thing.

Dressed in an orange jumpsuit and his long brown hair pulled back
in a ponytail at his nape, Preacher spotted us immediately and jumped up. He
was hindered slightly by the handcuffs around his wrists, ankles looped
together by a chain, and the prison guard standing behind him who shoved him
back down.