Dawn Read online

  Tears rolled down Lorna’s cheeks as she squeezed my hand and she bore down.

  “Your son is almost here. Come on Lorna, another big push.”

  Cries filled the room as the doctor held to our son.

  Was there any way to prepare for this moment?

  If there was, I’d failed miserably.

  Lorna and our son weren’t alone in their tears as my eyes filled with salty moisture. Holding tightly to her hand, I peppered her red hair with kisses. “I fucking love you.”

  The nurse brought our son closer and laid him skin to skin on Lorna’s chest. Even covered in the goo that hadn’t yet been cleaned, our little man settled at the sound of Lorna’s heartbeat.

  “Hi, Jack, I’m your mommy.”

  I ran my finger over his sparse red hair. “I’m your dad.” My gaze met Lorna’s. “Do you want to hear the rest of the story?”

  Lorna looked up at me. “I know the rest. They lived happily ever after.”

  And they lived happily ever after

  Thank you for reading DAWN, the conclusion of Reid and Lorna’s story, Dangerous Web.

  * * *

  If you’d like a little more of the Sparrows, please click here,

  to enjoy a deleted chapter from DAWN and sign up for Aleatha’s newsletter to stay up to date on all things Aleatha.

  * * *

  If you enjoyed DAWN and want to know more about our other Sparrow men:

  * * *

  Web of Sin, Sterling and Araneae’s story, is complete with SECRETS (FREE), LIES, and PROMISES.

  Tangled Web, Mason and Laurel’s story, is also complete with TWISTED, OBSESSED, and BOUND.

  And Web of Desire. Patrick and Madeline’s story, is complete and ready to binge with SPARK, FLAME, and ASHES.

  It’s time to binge Sparrow Webs!

  Are you ready for a new dark and dangerous romantic suspense by Aleatha Romig?

  Get ready for the heat and humidity of New Orleans as Emma North learns her fate from the mysterious Everett Ramses in FATE’S DEMAND, prequel coming March 2021.

  * * *

  Live release: To receive a text alert of FATE’S DEMAND release, text “Aleatha1d” to 21000

  * * *

  Pre-order today:

  DEVIL’S DEAL – full-length novel with Everett Ramses and Emma North coming May 2021.

  * * *

  Following the Acknowledgments, check out a peek at FATE’S DEMAND and DEVIL’S DEAL:

  Acknowledgments

  A special thank-you to my beta readers: Sherry, Angie, Val, Ilona, and Mr.Jeff, my editor, Lisa Aurello, and my sensitivity readers, Renita McKinney and Yulanda Bolton, for their dedication to my Sparrow Web world, the array of characters, and to making Reid and Lorna’s story the best it can be.

  You are all greatly appreciated. Please know, I couldn’t do this without you.

  Another special thank-you to my publicist Danielle Sanchez for never giving up on me and encouraging me to keep going, day after day.

  Thank you to my readers. Whether you’ve been with me since Consequences or Dangerous Web was your first dive into the worlds of Aleatha, I thank you for giving me your time and energy and allowing me to take you away with words.

  Finally, my family, I love you beyond measure and couldn’t pursue this dream without all of your constant support. And to our beautiful granddaughter, you may read Grandma’s books after your thirtieth birthday if your mom and dad approve.

  Thank you.

  Aleatha

  FATE’S DEMAND

  Synopsis

  * * *

  Stepping into the city limits, the vibes of New Orleans infiltrate the thoughts and feelings of each unsuspecting individual.

  Twinkling lights.

  Copious amounts of alcohol.

  And

  Ghost stories of lore.

  As Emma waits for a business meeting, those ingredients are there, in the heavy air and circulating through her bloodstream. Until everything changes.

  * * *

  Everett Ramses is tall, dark, and mysterious.

  He’s more than that.

  According to him...he is Emma’s fate.

  * * *

  And he has a demand.

  * * *

  Will she run, or will she find out what fate’s demand has in store?

  * * *

  “FATE’S DEMAND” is an intriguing meeting to whet readers’ appetite for more of an all-new dark-romance world by New York Times bestselling author Aleatha Romig. Get ready to love and hate, to swoon and swear...Rett Ramses will bring out all the emotions.

  * * *

  “FATE’S DEMAND” first appeared in the Bookworm Box anthology ONE MORE STEP as a short story entitled “THE DEAL.”

  “FATE’S DEMAND”- Exclusive excerpt

  From the side of the courtyard, leaning against a stone archway, a strikingly handsome tall man with a dark gaze stared unblinkingly my direction. I turned from side to side, wondering if I was truly who he was looking at.

  With broad shoulders that tugged at the seams of his white shirt, he remained still, a statue immune to the influx of patrons. The sleeves of his shirt were rolled up near his elbows, revealing powerful forearms. The top buttons were undone, showing a thick neck. His skin was dark, either tanned from Louisiana sun or perhaps his natural pigment. His dark hair was longer than short and shorter than long. It was combed back in soft waves. Unlike most of the men wearing shorts or blue jeans, this man’s long legs were covered with gray dress pants, as if he’d made his way from the business district directly to the happenings of the French Quarter.

  “Yeah?” a voice came from the bar.

  I spun back, my heartbeat unexpectedly racing and my lips dry. “I’d like to order some food.”

  The bartender nodded, reaching for a pad of paper.

  “I’d like an order of—”

  Two large tanned hands and muscular forearms came to either side of me, gripping the bar and caging me. I was trapped between the sticky surface and a solid chest. Heat rose from the ground upward, warming my already-heated skin. The deep voice vibrated his chest as his timbre rumbled through me.

  “The lady is mistaken. She’s dining with me.”

  I didn’t need visual confirmation that the owner of the deep voice was the man from moments ago, the one near the archway. I felt him around me—his presence—as well as within me, confirmed by the way my pulse raced.

  I spun within the cage he’d created with his muscular arms.

  This man, the one I didn’t know, surrounded me, his height dwarfing me and his body electrifying me. The spicy aroma of his cologne mixed with the whiskey on his breath created a concoction that blended perfectly with the Hurricane’s rum in my system.

  He was so close that at first my eyes met his broad chest. Slowly, I brought my chin higher and higher. His wide neck came into view as his Adam’s apple bobbed. Finally, my gaze met his. “I believe you have the wrong—”

  The rest of my sentence disappeared into the black hole of his stare.

  Such as with a true region in space exhibiting gravitational acceleration so strong that nothing can escape from it, I felt myself drawn into the depth of his nearly black eyes. In the crowded courtyard filled with stagnantly hot, humid New Orleans air, a chill covered my skin, bringing goose bumps to life and drawing my nipples taut.

  Why hadn’t I worn an outfit with a bra?

  What would it feel like to fall into this mountain of a man?

  Just another inch forward and my breasts and his chest would collide.

  “Our table is waiting, Emma.”

  Releasing his grip of the bar, the man’s large hand came to the small of my back.

  My forehead furrowed as I tried to make sense of what made no sense. His touch seemed too intimate and his presumption without merit. “Perhaps I’m the wrong Emma?”

  Watch for “FATE’S DEMAND” – Coming for #Free March 2021 (Text Aleatha1d to 21000 for a text alert when Fat
e’s Demand is live)

  * * *

  Pre-order the full-length NEW dark romance novel DEVIL’S DEAL today and be ready to fall in love with danger and mystery May 2021.

  What to do now

  LEND IT: Did you enjoy DAWN? Do you have a friend who'd enjoy DAWN? DAWN may be lent one time. Sharing is caring!

  RECOMMEND IT: Do you have multiple friends who'd enjoy my dark romance with twists and turns and an all new sexy and infuriating anti-hero? Tell them about it! Call, text, post, tweet...your recommendation is the nicest gift you can give to an author!

  REVIEW IT: Tell the world. Please go to the retailer where you purchased this book, as well as Goodreads, and write a review. Please share your thoughts about DAWN on:

  *Amazon, DAWN Customer Reviews

  *Barnes & Noble, DAWN, Customer Reviews

  *iBooks, DAWN Customer Reviews

  * BookBub, DAWN Customer Reviews

  *Goodreads.com/Aleatha Romig

  Books by New York Times bestselling author Aleatha Romig

  NEW STORY COMING:

  DEVIL’S DEAL

  Coming May 2121

  THE SPARROW WEBS:

  DANGEROUS WEB:

  DUSK

  Releasing Nov, 2020

  DARK

  Releasing 2021

  DAWN

  Releasing 2021

  WEB OF DESIRE:

  SPARK

  Released Jan. 14, 2020

  FLAME

  Released February 25, 2020

  ASHES

  Released April 7, 2020

  TANGLED WEB:

  TWISTED

  Released May, 2019

  OBSESSED

  Released July, 2019

  BOUND

  Released August, 2019

  WEB OF SIN:

  SECRETS

  Released October, 2018

  LIES

  Released December, 2018

  PROMISES

  Released January, 2019

  THE INFIDELITY SERIES:

  BETRAYAL

  Book #1

  Released October 2015

  CUNNING

  Book #2

  Released January 2016

  DECEPTION

  Book #3

  Released May 2016

  ENTRAPMENT

  Book #4

  Released September 2016

  FIDELITY

  Book #5

  Released January 2017

  THE CONSEQUENCES SERIES:

  CONSEQUENCES

  (Book #1)

  Released August 2011

  TRUTH

  (Book #2)

  Released October 2012

  CONVICTED

  (Book #3)

  Released October 2013

  REVEALED

  (Book #4)

  Previously titled: Behind His Eyes Convicted: The Missing Years

  Re-released June 2014

  BEYOND THE CONSEQUENCES

  (Book #5)

  Released January 2015

  RIPPLES

  Released October 2017

  CONSEQUENCES COMPANION READS:

  BEHIND HIS EYES-CONSEQUENCES

  * * *

  Released January 2014

  BEHIND HIS EYES-TRUTH

  Released March 2014

  STAND ALONE MAFIA THRILLER:

  PRICE OF HONOR

  Available Now

  THE LIGHT DUET:

  Published through Thomas and Mercer Amazon exclusive

  INTO THE LIGHT

  Released June, 2016

  AWAY FROM THE DARK

  Released October, 2016

  TALES FROM THE DARK SIDE SERIES:

  INSIDIOUS

  (All books in this series are stand-alone erotic thrillers)

  Released October 2014

  ALEATHA’S LIGHTER ONES:

  PLUS ONE

  Stand-alone fun, sexy romance

  May 2017

  ANOTHER ONE

  Stand-alone fun, sexy romance

  May 2018

  ONE NIGHT

  Stand-alone, sexy contemporary romance

  September 2017

  A SECRET ONE

  April 2018

  INDULGENCE SERIES:

  UNEXPECTED

  Released August, 2018

  UNCONVENTIONAL

  Released January, 2018

  UNFORGETTABLE

  Released October, 2019

  UNDENIABLE

  Released August, 2020

  About the Author

  Aleatha Romig is a New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today bestselling author who lives in Indiana, USA. She has raised three children with her high school sweetheart and husband of over thirty years. Before she became a full-time author, she worked days as a dental hygienist and spent her nights writing. Now, when she's not imagining mind-blowing twists and turns, she likes to spend her time with her family and friends. Her other pastimes include reading and creating heroes/anti-heroes who haunt your dreams!

  * * *

  Aleatha impresses with her versatility in writing. She released her first novel, CONSEQUENCES, in August of 2011. CONSEQUENCES, a dark romance, became a bestselling series with five novels and two companions released from 2011 through 2015. The compelling and epic story of Anthony and Claire Rawlings has graced more than half a million e-readers. Her first stand-alone smart, sexy thriller INSIDIOUS was next. Then Aleatha released the five-novel INFIDELITY series, a romantic suspense saga, that took the reading world by storm, the final book landing on three of the top bestseller lists. She ventured into traditional publishing with Thomas and Mercer. Her books INTO THE LIGHT and AWAY FROM THE DARK were published through this mystery/thriller publisher in 2016. In the spring of 2017, Aleatha again ventured into a different genre with her first fun and sexy stand-alone romantic comedy with the USA Today bestseller PLUS ONE. She continued with ONE NIGHT and ANOTHER ONE. If you like fun, sexy, novellas that make your heart pound, try her UNCONVENTIONAL and UNEXPECTED. In 2018 Aleatha returned to her dark romance roots with SPARROW WEBS.

  * * *

  Aleatha is a "Published Author's Network" member of the Romance Writers of America and PEN America. She is represented by Kevan Lyon of Marsal Lyon Literary Agency and Dani Sanchez with Wildfire Marketing.