Love & Consequences: A Love & Ruin Standalone Novel Read online

  Love & Consequences

  A Standalone Novel

  J.A. Owenby

  Love & Consequences

  J.A. OWENBY

  Copyright © 2019 by J.A. Owenby

  All rights reserved. In accordance with the U.S. Copyright Act of 1976, the scanning, uploading, and electronic sharing of any part of this book without permission of the publisher constitutes unlawful piracy and theft of the author’s intellectual property. If you would like to use material from the book (other than for review purposes), prior written permission must be obtained by contacting J.A. Owenby. Thank you for your support of the author’s rights.

  This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

  Edited by: Deb Markanton

  Cover Art by: Book Cover Luv

  First Edition

  ISBN-13: 978-1-949414-90-5

  ISBN-10: 1-949414-90-6

  Gain access to previews of J.A. Owenby’s novels before they’re released and to take part in exclusive giveaways. www.authorjaowenby.com

  Created with Vellum

  Contents

  More Books by J.A. Owenby

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Chapter 27

  Chapter 28

  Chapter 29

  Chapter 30

  Chapter 31

  Chapter 32

  Chapter 33

  Join the Fun

  A note from the author

  Other Books By J.A. Owenby

  About the Author

  More Books by J.A. Owenby

  The Love & Ruin Series

  Love & Ruin

  Love & Deception

  Love & Redemption

  The Torn Series

  Fading into Her, a prequel novella

  Torn

  Captured

  Freed

  Standalone Novels

  Where I’ll Find You

  Chapter 1

  If I were into girls, I’d totally want to do my best friend, Gemma.

  I leaned against the door frame of my stepdad Franklin’s kitchen and watched while Gemma rummaged through the bowl of fresh fruit on the counter. Her long wavy hair flowed down her back, and she swayed slightly as she hummed under her breath.

  “You think you can just waltz into someone’s house and take their oranges?” I asked, my tone teasingly accusatory.

  Gemma’s head rose quickly, her brows arched in surprise as she snatched her hand away from a Honeycrisp apple. This girl was absolutely clueless about how gorgeous she was. Not only did she have the red hair and blue eyes that melted all the guys into a hormonal puddle, but she was one of the most genuine people I’d ever met.

  We were in stark contrast to each other in the looks department. My dark brown hair was either in pigtails or hung straight down my back. Unlike Gemma’s, my chocolate brown eyes didn’t change with my mood or the clothes I wore.

  Her entire expression lit up at the sight of the grin spreading across my face.

  “Mac! I’ve missed you so much,” Gemma said, darting across the kitchen, applying my signature move and crushing me in a bear hug. “Even though the tour has been awesome, my heart ached to be home with you and Franklin,” Gemma said softly against my ear.

  “Yeah, me too, bestie. I can’t tell you how happy I am to see you.”

  She pulled away from our embrace, studying me. We hadn’t seen each other since the horrific night that changed our lives, almost a month ago.

  “How have you been?” Gemma asked, resting her hands softly on my shoulders. “And no bullshit,” she added, punctuating her words with a quick squeeze.

  I mentally willed my lip not to quiver as the memories suddenly rushed over me, and my stomach twisted into knots. There was no way I could fall apart in front of her. I didn’t want anyone’s pity or to think of me as weak. Especially her. She’d saved me from my kidnapper, Brandon Montgomery. Gemma had unselfishly traded herself in exchange for my life, and I had no fucking clue how I’d ever repay her for that.

  “Hey,” Hendrix said, waltzing into the kitchen and breaking me away from my inner turmoil. He’d just provided the distraction I needed to avoid lying to my best friend. I wasn’t okay.

  “Hey,” I said, grinning like an idiot at my rock star stepbrother who was also Gemma’s boyfriend. Hendrix’s band, August Clover, had just returned from the first leg of their US tour, and when they left again tomorrow, I’d go with them. He flipped his shoulder-length brown hair out of his face and went straight for the food.

  “Sorry we got in so late last night.” Hendrix opened the fridge door and grabbed the pitcher of fresh squeezed orange juice Ruby, our chef, had made earlier.

  Franklin was a prominent attorney in Spokane, Washington with all the right connections. When I was in grade school, he built a ten bedroom Colonial mansion complete with an indoor pool and guest house that sat on fifteen lush rolling acres. Hendrix and Gemma had their own house ten minutes away, but they also had a room and stayed over often. Even though I understood their need for privacy, I wished they were here all the time.

  “I was hoping to get in soon enough to spend a few days with Franklin, but we need to leave tomorrow morning," he said, grabbing a glass and filling it.

  "Yeah, Franklin was really disappointed," I said sadly. "I was a little bummed too, but this time I'm coming on the road with you!" I did a little happy dance.

  “We can all have dinner together,” Gemma suggested.

  “I’m soooo glad you’re here,” I said, giving her another hug.

  “Me too, Mac. I’ve really missed you. Are you excited to join us on the tour?” Gemma asked.

  I couldn't be prouder of my best bestie. She'd shown up at our dorm room a broken girl, terrified of almost everyone. But in just a year, she'd grown into a confident woman who stared the world straight in the eyes, singing on stage alongside my brother in his band.

  “The bus is everything you could hope for … cramped spaces, no real privacy, sharing one bathroom with four guys, and an overabundance of testosterone.” Gemma rolled her eyes and shot a sideways glance at Hendrix.

  Hendrix responded with a crooked smile.

  “Omigosh. I can’t believe I’m going with you. The first few weeks you were gone flat out sucked monkey toes. I mean, don’t get me wrong, I love spending time with Dad, but it’s not the same without you and Hendrix.” Franklin was technically my stepdad, but he was the only father I’d ever known since my sperm donor skipped right out the front door when I was a baby. “And I haven’t seen Mom since she took off for Europe.” Excited, I tugged on her hand and dragged her behind me to the tan marble breakfast bar. We slid our butts onto the bar stools and faced each other with silly smiles plastered on our faces. “Plus, since I’m single, I doubt you’ll hear me complain about too much test
osterone. It would be a welcome change. Well, I mean Dad has testosterone, but ... Like, dudes that are my age, and I’m not related to or sort of related to or ... You know what I’m trying to say. Anyway, the one thing I’m not looking forward to are the beds on the bus. I’ve gotten spoiled by the California King in my room. Knowing my luck, I’ll roll right out of the bed, land on the floor, and wake up John and Cade.”

  “It won’t be bad,” Gemma replied, taking a bite of the crispy red apple she’d finally selected from the overflowing fruit bowl. “They can actually hold two people, it would just be snug.”

  “Girl, snug only works if I’m getting some action, but thanks for the encouragement,” I said, giggling.

  “Rule number one," Hendrix said firmly, "no hookups on the bus. The guys aren't allowed to do it and neither are you, Mac."

  I scrunched my nose at my brother.

  “Someone needs to loosen up,” I jokingly chided.

  “I don’t think you want the bus smelling like a sex fest, and I seriously doubt you want to hear John and Cade getting busy. If they had a consistent significant other it would be different.”

  “Eww. Okay, I get it,” I said and raised my hands in surrender. “Bestie, I need a favor tonight.” I bit my lip while she and Hendrix both arched an eyebrow at me. I placed my elbows on the marble countertop and leaned on it, inhaling sharply.

  “I need to ditch Hercules, my bodyguard, for the evening.”

  “Hercules?” Gemma barked out a laugh.

  “Yeah, it’s my nickname for Calvin.”

  “What? Why? Mac, you can’t leave without your bodyguard. I mean, I know Brandon is in custody, but his dad is still running loose. And we have no idea if or when he might retaliate. You know none of us are allowed to go anywhere without security.” Gemma placed her half-eaten apple down, concern flickering across her features.

  “I don’t like it,” Hendrix said, frowning.

  “You two need to knock it off already. You’ve not even bothered to hear me out,” I huffed.

  Gemma sighed and glanced at Hendrix. “Sorry.” Her voice softened. “Don’t get me wrong, I know you’re strong, Mac. I just worry you’re bottling up all your emotions and it’s going to backfire. After—after everything with Brandon and his dad, I just need to know you’re working through it and taking the security detail seriously.”

  “Dillon Montgomery can rot in hell along with his son. I’m fine. I realize the FBI is only just now closing in on the Dark Circle Society, but I’ll be glad when they blow it all to pieces.” My stomach had tightened the moment Brandon’s name left Gemma’s lips. “I mean, any sick fuck that orchestrates rape and trafficking of underaged girls …” Not to mention what they’d done to Gemma when she was a teenager. I shook my head, unable to articulate what horror I’d like to personally inflict on them if I had the chance.

  “I wish it were that easy,” Hendrix said. “The FBI has been onto the Society for years, but the organization is large and widespread, which complicates matters. And those sleazy bastards are always one step ahead of the feds. They can't just go for the little guys one by one or it'll tip off the ringleaders and blow the entire op. And now, with Dillon having slipped through their fingers ... It sucks, but we have to stay quiet about it. It also means we’re constantly aware of our surroundings. We have no idea if Dillon might show up or send one of his buffoons.”

  “I get it, but here’s the deal. It’s not that I want to go anywhere alone, but I can’t let Franklin find out.”

  “Find out what?” Hendrix asked, curiosity flashing across his expression.

  “Who I’m meeting tonight. In order to get away with it, I need Gemma and Pierce with me instead of my bodyguard who blabs everything to Dad. You’d think for such a hunky badass he’d not be such a fucking pussy and report every single thing I do to Dad. But it’s my luck.”

  Gemma frowned. “He does? Like you have no privacy, Mac? That’s so not cool.” Her nose wrinkled in disdain.

  “Can’t disagree with you there.” Hendrix strolled over and slipped his arm around Gemma’s waist. These two had met at the university library over a year ago and were now joined at the hip. It was love at first sight for my brother, but Gemma had a shit ton of demons to overcome and their road to a happily-ever-after was rocky. I was happy for them, but sometimes seeing them together made my heart ache. So far, my luck with guys hadn’t turned out too well.

  “Where are we going?” Gemma asked, her eyes sparkling.

  I leaned in closer to them, bridging most of the gap between us. “I’m meeting Asher,” I whispered.

  “What? Are you two working things out? I’ve not even had a chance to talk to you about him or Jeremiah yet. I’m sorry. I’m a bad friend.” Gemma wrapped her arm around me for another hug.

  Asher Weston and I dated our junior and senior years in high school. We were so into each other, no one and nothing else existed. He was my first everything, and I thought he was my forever.

  But I'd been young and naïve. And while I was well aware that life could turn upside down in the blink of an eye, I never thought anything would come between Asher and me. Until I found out I was pregnant.

  Asher's father suddenly decided I wasn't good enough for his son, and without even consulting us, used his money and power to silence the situation. I may not have been ready to be a teenage mom, but it still gutted me when Asher remained silent and did nothing while Mr. Weston arranged and paid for my abortion.

  Hendrix, not Asher, had been the one who stayed with me during it all.

  Shortly after my abortion, I lost Asher too. He didn't have a big enough pair of balls to stand up to his father. Money or not, I refused to be controlled or manipulated by anyone.

  Regardless, when I learned Asher was engaged to a more suitable girl, i.e. a rich one, I was devastated. And that was when I'd tried to move on with a great guy I met during my stay with Gemma in her hometown in Louisiana. Unfortunately, I failed miserably with Jeremiah by not realizing he was merely my rebound fling and not my new forever.

  My attention returned to the present moment with Gemma and Hendrix. They had no idea how happy I was to have them here. Fighting through the darkness on my own had been daunting, to say the least.

  “No, we’ve not been talking, but he mentioned he’d learned the deets the press hadn’t released concerning my kidnapping and Brandon. Apparently he overheard his father talking on the phone about it even though the judge has a gag order in place. Anyway, he wants to meet me. He basically begged, and well, what can I say? I caved, but if you’re with me I won’t jump him and be tempted to have crazy sex in the park, and if Pierce drives us, then Calvin can’t blab to Dad where I was.”

  My attention bounced between Gemma and Hendrix to see if they’d support my plan or not. If I were honest with myself, I wanted to talk to Asher before we left tomorrow. A part of me needed to hear him out. Maybe I was still seeking closure, so I could truly move on. My heart seemed stuck on him.

  “I’m in,” Gemma said, grinning mischievously.

  “I’ll keep Franklin busy when you two are gone,” Hendrix replied.

  “Omigosh! Thank you. You have no idea what it’s been like with a constant tattletale protecting me. Thank God he’s not going on tour with us.”

  “Yeah, Franklin felt like Pierce was enough since Cade and John will also be with us most of the time,” Hendrix added.

  “It’s not like we won’t be moving around, anyway. I mean, if Brandon’s dad is coming after us ...” My words trailed off while a ginormous knot fisted in my stomach.

  “Yeah, I know. Mac, I realize Gemma tried to prepare you, but privacy is a rare commodity these days on the bus,” Hendrix said.

  I grinned. I’d seen the bus when Hendrix had first bought it, and I figured it would be a hunk of junk metal, but not even close. It sported leather couches and recliners along with dark wood floors. The kitchen even had stainless steel appliances. And although Hendrix and Gemma had a bedroom, t
he walls were thin, and the space was smaller than a jail cell.

  “How’s the self-defense training going with Pierce, Gemma?” I asked, redirecting the conversation. Pierce was Hendrix and Gemma’s bodyguard who accompanied them on tour.

  “She can kick my ass, now.” Hendrix beamed proudly at Gemma and placed a kiss on her cheek.

  “I wouldn’t go that far, but I have come a long way. My confidence is up after working with Pierce. There’s a comfort in knowing I can protect myself.”

  “And me,” I blurted. “I mean, you took Brandon down with a single stiletto.”

  “Mac,” Gemma said softly. “I’d do it again, too. You’re not just my bestie. We’re family. The only one I have.” Her eyes misted slightly, and I clenched my jaw in order to fend off my own tears.

  Gemma grew up in a small Louisiana town and was an only child. She'd lost her entire family within the last six months. I never got the chance to meet her mom, but I knew they were super close.

  I did get the chance to know Ada Lynn, Gemma's substitute grandma. She was a major badass! In fact, she helped Hendrix beat down Gemma's piece of crap dad and send him to jail.

  Gemma's dad was involved with the Dark Circle Society that started this entire mess we were currently dealing with. What he subjected his own daughter to was nothing short of despicable. That bastard was now rotting in hell. I spent a few months with Gemma and Ada Lynn in Louisiana, and when we returned to Spokane, we brought Ada Lynn to come live with us in Franklin's house. Sadly, she passed away six weeks ago from a heart attack. But she'd be the first to say we shouldn't be sad because she'd had a good life. I loved her like crazy and we all missed her so much.