Talon (Ashes & Embers Book 4) (38 page)

S
torm - Ashes
& Embers book 1

Vandal - Ashes & Embers book 2

Lukas - Ashes & Embers book 3

P
LANNED BOOKS
:

Loving Storm - a Storm sequel

Vandalized - a Vandal sequel

Mikah’s story

Rayne’s story

Asher’s story

Plunge - a dark romance (stand-alone)

Sevan - a dark romance (stand-alone)

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on upcoming books and giveaways:

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I
HAVE
A
passion for the bad boys -- those covered in tattoos, sexy smirks, ripped jeans, fast cars, motorcycles, and of course, the sweet girls that try to tame them and win their hearts. My debut series, Ashes & Embers, follows the lives of rock band members as they find, and sometimes lose, the loves of their lives.

Born and raised a Jersey girl, I now reside in beautiful New Hampshire with my husband and our multitude of furry pets. I spend most of my time writing, reading, and vacuuming.

Stalk me!

• @CarianCole
  
• cariancoleauthor
  

I
’m not going
to list out names of everyone that I want to thank, because I’m a totally awkward scatterbrain and I’m afraid I’ll accidentally forget to type a name because one of my cats will of course walk across my keyboard and distract me while I’m typing.

That being said, I am overwhelmed by how many people have helped me on this journey. I’m a loner by nature, I’m not used to talking to lots of people, or asking for help, or trying to get myself out there. So many people have reached out to help me, pimp me, beta for me, share my posts, etc. - just to be nice and to help. That blows me away and I am so incredibly grateful and appreciative - I just don’t have the words to describe it. Especially during the writing of this book - I had a handful of people that went above and beyond to make sure this book was as awesome as it could be. It means so much to me that people believe in my writing and invest their own time and efforts into it.

So, huge heartfelt thanks to all of you - whether you read my books, chatted with me, left a review, beta read, edited, proofed, pimped, commented, liked, attended a take over, supported my models, or just listened to me - thank you!!!

A
nd of course
, thank you to my husband, Eddie, for bringing me gelato to keep me happy while I wrote and for being so patient with me. xo

“I love you, but I’m no longer in love with you, Devin.”

The words echo off the hardwood floor I had paid to have put in our home, they bounce off the walls Nina and I had painstakingly painted yellow. I remember the argument we got into about the trim color; an argument I won by tackling her to the, then carpeted, floor and fucking her into submission.
What had happened to that couple? When had that changed?

 “I don’t even know what to say.” And I didn’t. Shock and something akin to anger boil in my gut. I want to scream and punch, ask what the fuck is wrong with her, but those words won’t come. I can’t push them past my lips.

 She sighs. “That’s precisely the problem, Devin; you never know what to say. You never know when you’re going to be home, you never know what your schedule is going to be. I can’t do this. When was the last time we had sex? When was the last time
you
told
me
that you love me? Devin, I’m done.”

 There it is again. My real name. For the past seven years I’ve been Sketch. Through my apprenticeship and now at my own shop. Most people don’t even know my real fuckin’ name, and here she’s used it twice in one conversation.

 “You’re done?” I sound like a parrot, but I can’t help it. This shit is coming out of left field for me. I’m standing here like a chump, holding a bouquet of flowers, a bottle of wine, and a box of chocolates. Following her out to the driveway, I watch as she walks awkwardly, holding duffel bags in each arm.

 “Yeah, Devin. Done.” She rolls her eyes and continues putting her stuff in the car. The car, I might add, I bought her with the first profit that my shop turned.

 “Do you even see what I’m holding, Nina?” I ask, thrusting my hands towards her.

 “It’s too late,” she tells me, finally showing some emotion.

 There are tears in her eyes and I wonder why. It’s not like I’m the one leaving her. I still have no idea where any of this is coming from. “Too late? This is me telling you that I finally have the time. Babe, we’re gonna live our lives.”

 “I’ve
been
living, Devin.” She stomps her foot. “It’s you who’s had your head up your ass at that goddamn tattoo shop.”

 That’s it. My stomach drops, and I see for the first time the ungrateful bitch she’s become. I feel anger overtake me. “That goddamn tattoo shop has provided you with a good life, Nina,” I yell.

 Throwing the stuff down I have in my hands, I let it smash into a million pieces and watch it roll towards the car. Just like my life, it’s a jumbled up mess of shattered hopes and a river full of broken dreams.