Almost Innocent is NOW LIVE!
Blurb
Callaghan. A name synonymous with power and fear. A
family of untouchable criminals.
As a teenager, Gabriella Forte had no intention of
getting to know the town's most dangerous brothers. Once Dustin set his sights
on her, she was trapped. There was only one way out of her personal hell.
Declan was determined to break away from his family's
shadow. Until he fell in love with the one woman he couldn't have. She changed
everything.
Life isn't always kind. Love can hurt. Sometimes
you need to sacrifice yourself to protect the people you care about.
It's been twelve years since Declan did the
unthinkable and went to prison. He promised to stay away from Gabby and his
nephew. That's one vow he can't keep.
Things aren't always what they seem. Facts are
only as credible as the person stating them. The truth doesn't always set you
free.
Warning: This is a dark romance. If domestic
violence bothers you, if you can't read violence in literature, or you are
looking for a light and fluffy read, this book is not for you.
Excerpt
My phone pinged, signaling a new text message, and I looked
down, searching through the pain-in-the-ass gigantic bag that I called a purse.
I didn’t slow my pace though, knowing I needed to get back to the car and on
the road if I wanted to make sure I arrived early. Finally finding my iPhone, I
yanked it out and swiped the screen so I could read the text.
I never saw him.
Instead, I barreled full speed into a wall of muscle, almost
losing my footing as I stumbled backward. A strong hand closed around my upper
arm as the gentleman in front of me steadied me. My head snapped back in
surprise as my free hand landed on his chest, trying to use him to regain my
balance.
The sincere apology died on my lips as my eyes met the light
blue ones I saw every day but never thought I’d look into again. The eyes that
haunted me. “When in the hell did you get out?”
The words were harsh, almost spit at him, and spoken on instinct
alone. If my heart had given my head just one second to adapt to the surprise
of seeing him, I might have been able to form a greeting that didn’t sound as
though I was pissed to find him standing in front of me. Maybe not.
Declan Callaghan stared at me, eyes widening as realization hit
him. “Little G,” he breathed, almost too quiet for me to hear. “Jesus, you’re
still the most…” He trailed off and dropped my arm as if it were scorching him
and stepped back, obviously putting distance between us. His Adam’s apple
bobbed as he swallowed. “July. I got out in July.”
He could have offered a smile, a “Hey, how in the hell are ya?”
But no. He treated me like a leper he was desperate to get away from.
Considering everything that had happened, I guess that made sense.
Then his words sank in. July? My heart pounded so hard, I was
positive he could see it. Four months? He’d been home for four freaking months?
“Seriously?” I snapped, unable to keep my anger in check.
His eyes searched my face for a moment before they narrowed on
my neck, and I had no doubt he could see my pulse racing. Declan had always
seen more than anyone else. At least when it came to me.
“You didn’t know,” he muttered.
I shook my head quickly, more to clear the fog invading my
thoughts than to answer his pathetic statement of fact. Of course I didn’t
know. Very few people in my life even knew I was connected to an infamous
criminal, and the people who did obviously didn’t know he was out either.
Then I realized there were people who would have known and
should have told me.
“I thought they told you.” His eyebrows knitted together before
he jerked his head to the left, the scowl deepening. “It’s mandatory. The DOC
sends a notification of release to all victims.”
Victim. The word had me straightening up to my full height, all
five feet two inches of it, and stepping back as I fisted my empty hand. Screw
him. I couldn’t do this with him. I wouldn’t. Not again.
About Carina Adams
Carina Adams has been writing and creating
characters for as long as she can remember, allowing her to fall in love with
the next man of her dreams with every new story.
Thankfully, fate stepped in and granted her the
ultimate wish - a life full of men. Carina lives in a picturesque New England
town with her husband, the man who ruined the thought of all others, and two
amazing sons who always keep her on her toes.
Carina received her MBA in May, but would much
rather play with her imaginary friends (the voices in her head) than work her 8
to 5. When she isn’t trying to juggle being a working mom with karate and
football practices, surprising her children with her sci-fi movie knowledge, or
writing, you can find her with her nose pressed against her kindle, laughing
with friends, or living life vicariously as her Derby Girl persona, Writers
Block.
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