Promises Read online

  * * *

  Patrick looked my way. “The roads are not good and getting worse. The helicopter pilot says if the winds keep up, he can’t fly.”

  Fuck.

  I paced the office of my cabin watching the snow accumulating outside the windows as inside, the staff and others prepared for Araneae’s and my wedding. The living room with the two-story windows had been transformed into a chapel. Sparkling lights and evergreen combined with the view out the windows made it a winter wonderland. No expense was spared.

  It wasn’t that money had ever been an issue, but after the court’s recent ruling that Araneae McCrie was now alive and the cashing in of the stocks her father had purchased, finances were less of a concern. Of course, Araneae had strong opinions about the use of her newfound wealth.

  I wouldn’t have expected any less.

  She had plans for improvements and expansions regarding Sinful Threads. Louisa loved the idea of branching out into bed linens. Even with my limited knowledge of their merchandise, as a businessman I saw the opportunity. Araneae had been right that most people spend a third of their lives in bed. Why not let them sleep on Sinful Threads sheets?

  Then again, it was my goal that when it came to the two of us, we’d increase that percentage. However, the bed wasn’t the most important element of the equation. It was the connection between my soon-to-be wife and me. I’d gladly make love to her in bed or fuck her against the wall or even on the kitchen counter. Thankfully, while I was up for all the possibilities, so was my fiancée.

  Araneae’s other plan for her increased assets involved creating a foundation for victims of child and adult trafficking and exploitation. With Annabelle’s assistance with the legalities, they were working on the best way to help. Araneae’s desires were all-encompassing. She wanted counseling, medical treatment, and education. Dr. Dixon was one hundred percent on board and ready to take on the medical aspect. She herself hadn’t been a victim, but her sister was. While her sister wasn’t saved, I may have had something to do with financing Renita’s education, giving her a means to help others where her sister wasn’t. I financed it, but she was the one who turned hard work into a medical career.

  It’s my observation that sometimes victim was a term that could be expanded beyond the individual who experienced the atrocity and include their support system as well.

  It would take a while to get Araneae’s plans up and running. With her determination and Annabelle’s help, I had no doubt that the Sparrow Institute would one day be a reality.

  As time passed, it was painfully obvious that Araneae’s light had fucked with my dark more than the other way around.

  I looked over at Patrick, dressed in a custom tuxedo. Reid was with us, looking good too in his tuxedo. I had been hidden away from Araneae all day while she was upstairs with her mother, Lorna, Louisa, and Winnie along with a staff of hairdressers and makeup people. In my opinion, the staff wasn’t necessary. Araneae was stunning first thing in the morning with no makeup, sex-mussed hair, and the patches of red on her skin where my beard growth left a trail reminding us both where I’d been. She didn’t need professionals to enhance her beauty in any way.

  My mother, Louisa’s parents, and her sister and Marcel, as well as Jason and baby Kennedy were also here. It was fucking Grand Central Station. Every damn bedroom in this cabin was occupied, including the spare bedrooms above the garages. That was, except one.

  What do you get the woman you love for her wedding when she had the world at her fingertips?

  Araneae Sparrow was about to become the queen of Chicago, and there was nothing she couldn’t have.

  I came up with an idea.

  The name Lucy Nelson provided was the opening to both old and new information. With some detective work from Reid and his men, we’d found the one thing—or should I say the two people—Araneae wanted in her life.

  That discovery also revealed more of the secrets and reasons on how Renee Marsh had become Kennedy Hawkins. Keeping the Marshes, or Currys, a secret from my fiancée was one of the most difficult things I’d done since I brought Araneae into my life. I’d promised her honesty and I’d provided it. I also told her there were things I couldn’t disclose.

  Currently, the Marshes fit in that category.

  It was a needle in a proverbial haystack, but as luck would have it, a few years ago Neal Curry had been photographed. It was for an educational paper published on the subject of secluded communities—a master’s thesis written during the recent nationwide obsession with cults. The paper was published in a little-read refereed journal. Neal happened to be among a group of men from a small community in Maine who visited a town every three months to buy and sell goods. The paper made a point that the candid photographs were taken without the subjects’ knowledge or permission and the names of the community members were provided secondhand by townspeople. Since the members refused interviews, the author could not stand behind the accuracy yet chose to publish the photos as evidence of the community’s existence.

  Being the only lead we’d had in over ten years, Reid, Patrick, and I had to check it out.

  To say that both of the Currys were shocked upon our arrival to their Maine community would be an understatement. We later learned that Neal, aka Byron, had been part of the Sparrow outfit since childhood. Allister had set him and his wife up to raise Araneae. When they learned of McCrie’s death, they were also informed my father was coming after them.

  I don’t know if what they were told or believed was true, but if it had been, these two people saved my fiancée’s life. I owed them an eternal debt, not vengeance as Allister may have planned.

  The woman Araneae remembers as Josey now goes by her legal name, Rebecca. Once I convinced her to talk to me—not an easy process—I showed her a recent picture of Araneae from the many on my phone.

  My fiancée was so fucking beautiful, I’d take her picture constantly if I wasn’t busy showing her how important she was to me. That’s on my agenda for the next fifty or so years.

  Reid looked up from the computer on the table before him. Working from a laptop was a definite downgrade from our lair in Chicago. “This sounds crazy, Sparrow, but I found a man near the airport where the Currys are currently stuck. He drives a snowplow. He guarantees he can get them here. It will just take a little longer.”

  I looked at my watch. The wedding was supposed to start in ninety minutes. “Tell them yes. We’ll wait. I don’t know what I’ll tell Araneae, but we’ll wait.”

  “He said there’d be a fee,” Reid said.

  My eyes opened wider. “I don’t give a fuck. Just get them here.”

  Reid typed out his response. “In good weather the drive is around an hour and fifteen minutes.”

  “Just have them keep us posted. I’ll get Annabelle to help with the delay.” I’d told her about my impending surprise, not wanting the presence of the people who raised her daughter to upset her. As with most things, she was supportive.

  Araneae’s mother was taking our engagement and wedding better than Genevieve. However, even my mother was coming around. It helped when I told her that it was Araneae who contained the casualties of our world to Rubio and his top men. I also think Annabelle helped to convince my mother that the joining of our two families truly was as I’d said—the perfect union.

  Two families in Chicago’s elite.

  The royal wedding was about to occur.

  With Araneae still upstairs, Annabelle greeted the Currys as soon as they arrived.

  “Hello,” Rebecca said meekly, seemingly overwhelmed by the travel and perhaps our home. Her gaze darted around until it landed on Annabelle.

  As I started to speak, to welcome them, Annabelle gasped. “I remember you...from the hospital.”

  Rebecca reached out to Annabelle’s arm. “Please know that we loved her.”

  There were tears in Annabelle’s eyes. “I believe you. It was out of both of our control. She loved you too and speaks highly of you.”


  I’m not fucking emotional, but watching the two women embrace one another was the final chipping away of the rock-hard coating that had covered my heart.

  I didn’t shed a tear.

  Hell no.

  Are there winter allergies?

  I think there could be.

  With all the guests seated, I made my way to the front of the room by the windows with Patrick and Reid at my side. On one side of the aisle was my mother. On the other side were the Currys and Annabelle. I couldn’t help but notice how Rebecca and Annabelle were putting their heads together, whispering, and even holding one another’s hands. It must have been surreal to each of them, to know that together they had been and now would be part of Araneae’s life.

  When the music started, the procession began. Winnie, Lorna, and then Louisa descended the stairs, all smiling as they came closer. It was as the music changed that my vision tunneled. Coming down the stairs in a long white gown, her scooped neckline and long veil trimmed in soft white faux fur, was the woman who was made for me. Her golden hair was up, showcasing her slender neck. Hanging from her ears were the diamond earrings I’d given to her the night she boarded the plane to be mine.

  As our gazes met, I wondered if she’d see her gift—the Marshes—because from where I stood, it seemed as if she too had tunnel vision. We only had eyes for one another.

  The most gorgeous light-chocolate stare looked up at me as the officiant said his words. I couldn’t tell you exactly what they were. I only knew what they meant. Their meaning did more than cement my father’s nearly twenty-year-old proclamation that Araneae was mine. His words gave both Araneae and I more than either of us had ever had on our own.

  Love.

  Security.

  His words obliterated the secrets and lies of the past.

  And assured us promises for a future.

  Beyond my beautiful bride was proof that the union he was performing also gave us family.

  When the final words were spoken and I kissed my bride, she whispered, “I have a gift for you.” The gleam in her eyes was contagious.

  What could she possibly give me that I couldn’t buy?

  “Sunshine, the only gift I want is you.”

  Her cheeks rose. “We’ll see.”

  As Louisa handed her back her bouquet, Araneae turned toward our guests and an audible gasp escaped her lips. This time as she alternated her stare from the Currys to me, the earlier gleam was gone, replaced by an onslaught of tears.

  I reached for her cheeks, wiping away the moisture. “Don’t cry. They didn’t want to miss their daughter’s wedding.”

  Lifting the front of the skirt of her dress, Araneae hurried toward the Currys, wrapping her arms around both of them. “How?” she asked, looking at Mr. Curry. “Daddy, you...died.”

  Annabelle reached out to her daughter’s shoulder. “So did you.”

  Later, as emotions settled and the joyous occasion prevailed, while Araneae and I sat at the center of the table, and foods and wines were being consumed, my wife leaned my way. “With the gift you gave me, I almost forgot to give you yours.”

  “I told you, all I need is you.”

  She reached down to the pearl-covered handbag near her feet and lifted it. Unsnapping the clasp, she reached inside. When she looked back up, the earlier shimmer was back in her soft brown gaze.

  “What is it?” I asked. She had my curiosity piqued.

  Keeping her hand below the table’s edge, she opened her fingers, exposing the small remote control in her grasp—the one to the custom-made vibrator.

  My smile grew. “That only works if you’re wearing...” My eyebrows danced.

  “Then it will work,” she said as pink filled her cheeks.

  Taking the remote and placing it in the pocket of my tuxedo, I knew beyond a shadow of a doubt, Araneae Sparrow was made for me.

  Sterling and Araneae’s story is complete.

  If you’d like to learn more about what the future holds for those they love, you don’t want to miss TWISTED, book 1 of TANGLED WEB. Preorder today by tapping on the title. Turn the page for a sneak peek.

  Tangled Web: book 1

  The underworld of Chicago is far from forgiving. It’s a world where knowledge means power, power money, and money everything.

  My name is Mason Pierce. I paid the ultimate price to have it all. I gave my life.

  That doesn’t mean I ceased to exist, only to live.

  Going where the job takes me and living in the shadows, with deadly accuracy I utilize the skills inherent to me, not knowing from where they came, not recalling what I’d lost.

  And then it came back.

  Not it.

  Her.

  Laurel Carlson.

  I shouldn’t want her, desire her, or need her, yet with each meeting I know she is exactly what I have to have. Laurel has the ability to do what I thought was impossible, to bring me back to life.

  My gut tells me that it’s a deadly mistake to open my world to her, to show her my twisted existence. However, my body won’t take no for an answer.

  I’ve made dangerous mistakes before.

  This time, will the price be too high?

  From New York Times bestselling author Aleatha Romig comes a brand-new dark romance set in the same dangerous underworld as SECRETS. You do not need to read the Web of Sin trilogy to get caught in this new and intriguing saga, Tangled Web.

  * * *

  TWISTED is book one of the TANGLED WEB trilogy.

  Have you been Aleatha’d?

  * * *

  Are you ready for the dangerous and mysterious world of Web of Sin to continue in Tangled Web, a new trilogy, coming May of 2019?

  Preorder TWISTED, book 1, today.

  What to do now

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

  RECOMMEND IT: Do you have multiple friends who'd enjoy my dark romance saga? 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 Promises on:

  *Amazon, PROMISES Customer Reviews

  *Barnes & Noble, PROMISES, Customer Reviews

  *iBooks, PROMISES Customer Reviews

  *Goodreads.com/Aleatha Romig

  Books by New York Times bestselling author Aleatha Romig

  Tangled Web:

  TWISTED

  Coming May 21, 2019

  OBSESSED

  Coming June 25, 2019

  BOUND

  Coming July 30, 2019

  WEB OF SIN:

  SECRETS

  Coming Oct. 30, 2018

  LIES

  Coming Dec. 4, 2018

  PROMISES

  Coming Jan. 8, 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

  RESPECT

  A stand-alone Infidelity novel

  Released January 2018

  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

&nbs
p; (Book #5)

  Released January 2015

  RIPPLES

  Released Oct 2017

  CONSEQUENCES COMPANION READS:

  BEHIND HIS EYES-CONSEQUENCES

  * * *

  Released January 2014

  BEHIND HIS EYES-TRUTH

  Released March 2014

  THE LIGHT DUET:

  Published through Thomas and Mercer Amazon exclusive

  INTO THE LIGHT

  Released 2016

  AWAY FROM THE DARK

  Released 2016

  TALES FROM THE DARK SIDE SERIES:

  INSIDIOUS

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

  Released October 2014

  DUPLICITY

  (Completely unrelated to book #1)

  Release TBA

  ALEATHA’S LIGHTER ONES:

  PLUS ONE

  Stand-alone fun, sexy romance

  Released May 2017

  A SECRET ONE

  Fun, sexy novella

  Released April 2018

  ANOTHER ONE

  Stand-alone fun, sexy romance

  Releasing May 2018

  ONE NIGHT

  Stand-alone, sexy contemporary romance

  September 2017

  THE VAULT:

  UNEXPECTED

  Released August 27, 2018

  UNCONVENTIONAL

  Released individually

  January 1, 2018

  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!