Ashamed

The Family, 3

The Family, 3

Luiz has a secret. Seven years ago he got a girl pregnant, and they had a beautiful baby girl together. But his father sent men to kill Luiz’s only tie to anything outside The Family. Too late to save his baby’s mother, Luiz got there just in time to save his daughter, Christie, and her fifteen year old aunt, Raine. Putting Raine and Christie in the protection of a guy he trusted, Luiz knew he had to keep them safe. No one else knows they exist.

Raine has put her life on hold to help protect her niece. In seven years, she hasn’t gotten close to anyone, but with Christie growing older, Raine needs more.

Luiz never expected to be jealous, but he doesn’t want Raine giving any guy the time of day. He wants her for himself, and that is the way it’s going to stay.

When his girls are attacked, Luiz knows it’s time to let his secret out. Will his friends accept his family? Luiz can’t let Raine go. He loves her. Seven years he’s been running and hiding, and the time to stop is now.

But there is still the attack on his girls to deal with, ordered by a mysterious figure from the past. Does he even have time for love? Nothing is ever simple in the mafia, or in The Family. 

Excerpt:

Moving away from the door, she grabbed her stuff, and went to the bathroom. Washing away the night, and the illusion of a future, she changed into her pajamas, and walked back to her bedroom, brushing her hair.

She gasped when she caught sight of Luiz on her bed. He was sitting, staring down at her bear. She still had a bear that she enjoyed, sue her. This was nothing like any of her sexy dreams where Luiz was completely naked, and wanting her.

“What are you doing in here?”

“I don’t want you to be upset.”

“Did Xander send you up here?”

“No. I came here because I know you were really upset.”

“I can’t do this right now. There’s nothing I can say to make you feel better, Luiz.”

“I’m here for you, Raine. Not for me.”

She moved toward him, and took a seat. “It’s nothing that a good’s night sleep won’t fix.”

“You’ve given up so much for Christie, and I really appreciate it.”

“Don’t worry about it.”

“You were hoping for a future though, right? A future of your own.” He took her hand. “You can tell me.”

“I’ll never give up Christie. I promise I’d never do anything to hurt her, but, she’s not going to be a little girl forever. She’s going to be eighteen and twenty-one, wanting to go to prom, to have some fun, fall in love, go on dates.”

“That’s what you want?” he asked.

“I didn’t know what I wanted until tonight. It’s amazing what one date can do.” She chuckled, but it was a forced sound, not natural.

“You’ve never been on a date?”

“Never been on a date. Never kissed a guy before, and I didn’t think it mattered, but it does. I’ll be thirty-three when Raine’s fifteen. I’ll probably still be a virgin.” She shook her head. “Can we leave this? I really don’t want to talk about it with you.”

She didn’t want to be talking about her virginity, or how she was reading dirty books at night, or that she craved being touched. When she took Christie out, or even if she went by herself, she watched couples, and craved the easiness that they all had, and it just wasn’t fair.

“You can come to me for anything.”

“No, I can’t. You cannot just drop everything for us, and I get that. I know you’re busy. I’m just being a girl, so ignore me.” She forced herself to look at him, and groaned when she saw the pity in his eyes. This was not what she wanted.

“A guy has never kissed you?”

“I’ve always kept my distance, Luiz. My first and only priority has been Christie.”

Luiz cupped her cheek, and ran his thumb across her bottom lip.

“What are you doing?”

“Something I should have done a long time ago.”

Before she could question him, Luiz pressed his lips against hers, shocking her still. 

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