Flawed (Blaze of Glory #2) (18 page)

“Then we can all learn together,” Bethy tells me, and it’s like a flower of hope blooming inside me. Is it possible? Am I really ready for this? I look down at Liz’s photo, but for the first time in fourteen years I don’t feel the same sense of urgency to pay her back for saving my life. Instead, I feel a warmth as it spreads throughout my veins, thawing my frozen heart. Is this what she meant by living? 

Glancing up at the woman in front of me, I feel like I’m finally seeing her for the first time. This kind, generous, loving woman, who travelled through the night to be by my side in my moment of greatest need. Bethy takes out hands and reach them out toward one another, and Nat grasps my hand tightly, her eyes promising to never let me go.

NATALIE

Six months later…

“It’s good to have you back,” Stone says to Keets as he raises his beer in a toast. “You had us all worried for a while.”

“I was worried myself,” Keets replies, hugging me close to his side. “But this beautiful woman right here sure knows how to talk down a hostile situation.” He drops a kiss on my hair and I beam with happiness.

It’s been six months since Keets returned to Ground Zero, and though the time has been anything but easy, he’s out of the hospital and on the antidepressant medication he clearly needs.

“What the hell?” Stone growls, souring the mood of the group as he looks toward the other end of the bar. We all turn our heads as we see Bullet handing a small package to a man under a table. “That son of a bitch. I knew he was trouble.”

“Stone,” Shannon starts, placing a comforting hand on his arm. “You don’t know what that package is. It could be anything.”

Stone scoffs but says nothing, his eyes trained on Bullet as he stands and walks out the door of the bar, not looking at us. “I know he can’t be trusted. He betrayed us,” he says darkly. “One way or another, I’m going to fucking prove it.”

“Natalie?” a voice behind me says. I turn and the smile is wiped from my face. “Luke?” I gasp. “What the hell are you doing here?”

“Nat, what is he doing here?” Keets asks, his arm tightening protectively around my waist. Luke’s eyes widen as they rest on my large baby belly, and Keets rubs his hand across the bump, clearly asserting his dominance.

“I’m afraid I’m here on business,” Luke says, his tone clipped and short as he hands me a large white envelope. “You’ve been served.”

“Served? For what? Natalie, who is he?” Keets demands.

I turn back to the table as Luke walks away and rip open the envelope, my hands shaking as I pull out the papers. “What does it say?” Keets asks impatiently as I scan the letter, feeling the blood rush through my ears like a freight train.

Dropping the paper, I look up at Shannon with tears in my eyes. “It says that an order was made on my behalf when I missed my court date. Troy is to take full custody of my baby from the moment it’s born,” I cry.

“What?” Keets bellows. “Over my dead fucking body.”

“Over
our
dead bodies,” Stone says, his voice like thunder as Shannon hugs me tightly. “We’ll get him, Nat, don’t you worry. He’ll never lay a hand on your baby.”

“
Our
baby,” Keets says vehemently, surprising everyone as he turns to me. He places a lone finger under my chin and turns my terrified eyes his way before planting a long kiss on my lips. “You’re mine babe, and if you’re mine, you better believe I’m claiming that baby in your belly as mine, too.”

“That’s right,” Shannon agrees, her face pulled tight in anger. “Troy hurt me and Daddy for far too long, and I’ll be damned if I’m going to let him hurt you, too.”

“We’re here for you,” Zeke adds, a comforting smile on his face as he sips his Coke through a straw. “We’re going to get the bastard.”

“Zeke, watch your fucking language,” Stone scolds. Shannon just rolls her eyes and holds onto me tighter, my past mistakes forgotten as we unite against a common enemy. Pulling back from my sister, I burst into tears. “We have another problem,” I cry.

“What’s that?” Stone asks.

“My waters just broke.”

Hopelessness closes in on me and I fight to pull myself back up. I can’t afford to lose it now; I have the fight of my life on my hands. If Troy thinks he’s ever getting his hands on my child after what he did to my family, he’s got another thing coming. He is going to be surprised when he realizes what a grave mistake he’s made. I have the best people in the world on my side. Nothing can stop me now.

Our fight is just beginning, and we’ll either win or go down together in a blaze of glory.

Broken

Blaze of glory #3

Coming soon

About The Author

Cherry Shephard writes beautifully tragic romances, that focus on broken alpha men and their strong leading ladies. Ultimately, they are stories of love, loss and redemption.

Cherry lives in Australia with Mr S, her three children and a zoo of animals. When not writing, Cherry loves watching horror movies.

Cherry loves to chat with her readers. You can join her Devil’s group by following the link below:

http://www.facebook.com/groups/CherrysGroupies

acknowledgments

Cherry Shephard wishes to thank the following people…

Kristen Scearce, for once again doing an amazing editing job.

Kristina Hernandez, for all your helpful insight.

Sara Eirew, for yet another beautiful cover.

Darren Birks, for being so sexy and portraying my perfect Keets.

Fiona Wilson, for your beautiful formatting.

Mischelly Velasquez, for being my bitch.

Darlene Tallman, Samantha Bainrot and Karen Mandeville-Steer, for being the best beta readers I could ever ask for.

River Savage, for entertaining me at 3am when we should both be writing.

My Devils, you’re a bunch of hornbags, but I wouldn’t have you any other way.

Mr S, for inspiring
Candie Shizhole: the DVD

My kids, for ALWAYS supporting me, even when I’m driving you nuts and burning dinner.