But I wouldn’t stay quiet.
I’d be his voice if he needed me.
The war that was started when he was left behind that bar to bleed out on the cold, dirty pavement was a war I would finish.
I might not have been able to help him like I wanted to back when we were kids, but I was more than able to now.
I was ready to burn this town to the ground, smoke the evil fucker out of his hiding place, and show everyone what a low-life scumbag he really was for hurting Finn.
It was time for Finn’s voice to be heard.
Time for his retribution.
The broken boy.
That’s what they called me in school.
I didn’t speak.
I couldn’t.
What was I supposed to say?
Words wouldn’t help me.
Nothing could.
I lived a life of chaos, but on the surface, I was a picture of calmness. Serenity. Silence.
Kind of like a swan. Everyone sees the perfection, the grace. No one thinks about the effort it takes to keep that up. The work that goes on below the surface to maintain the illusion.
My life was full of illusions.
The loving parents who couldn’t figure out why their son wouldn’t talk.
The puzzled professionals who tried everything in their journals and research to try and coax me out of it.
I was a riddle they couldn’t figure out. And after a time, nobody wanted to.
I was the tree that fell in the middle of the empty, barren woods. Nobody heard my branches break because no one wanted to acknowledge the real problem.
I was the forgotten boy.
Until them.
The Renaissance men.
They accepted me for what I was. They didn’t push me to be anything else. If I wanted to draw fucked up shit that would’ve had my Mum screaming and running off to the nearest psychologist, they let me. There was no judgement. I could finally be me.
But life likes to knock you back down sometimes. Remind you there is no happy ever after for boys like me.
I wanted to be free to love her.
But how could I?
When there was a devil breathing down my neck.
A devil from my past, who was ready to take the last shreds of my life and crush them in his deceitful, ugly, pain-riddled grasp.
I’d spent my whole childhood living in his hell. Now, he wanted to drag me back there and I had the fight of my life ahead of me to try and survive the unspeakable.
Would I survive?
I didn’t think so.
All I could do now was pray.
Finn’s story is coming in Early 2021.
Thank you so much for reading. If you enjoyed Brandon and Harper’s story, then please spread the word and leave a review.
Leave a written review if you have the time, or just click on those stars that too will be fine!
Writing this during a global pandemic and being in lockdown was certainly challenging. I need to say a huge thank you to my family for letting me escape the crazy world we live in and indulge in the crazier minds of my characters. You are my rocks and I would be lost without you.
Next, I need to give a massive shout-out to my book besties who have kept my sanity in check and pulled me off the ledge more times than I care to admit. Lindsey Powell, Ashlee Rose, L. G. (Lauren) Campbell, and Robyn Warner Greenwood, you ladies are amazing. You make me laugh every day and I value your friendship so so much. Thank you for always being there and for beta reading Tortured Souls. If you haven’t read their books yet, you need to. They are amazing authors.
Robyn, the best PA ever! Thank you for being totally awesome and organising everything. Without you, I’d be lost. Your teasers are to die for and you work so hard to get our books out there. You’re an angel, and I’m truly grateful for your hard work and friendship. If you aren’t following her, then get to it. You’ll find her at @books4days_with_robyn or @robynpa_
A special thank you to Karen and Leanne for being utterly brilliant and polishing this story for me. I’m so glad I found you. You’ve helped to make my little book shine brighter. Thank you ladies.
To Michelle Lancaster, for taking the perfect photograph of my character inspiration, Brandon. Chase Cassels for being that inspiration. This cover is freaking hot. And last but not least, Lori Jackson, for designing a kick ass cover. You guys rock!
I will always be indebted to the hard work and support of all the bloggers and bookstagrammers on social media. Your posts and graphics are amazing and you always go above and beyond. Thank you for every single post, share and comment. It means the world. Special thanks to Natalie @allireadislove, Suny @bookslover09, Natalie @fromreader.withlove, @enchantedreads_ and many, many more for the amazing teaser graphics. You guys are always the first to share anything. Thank you! Also Annie @emotionallyunhingedromantic. Your videos blow me away every single time. You are awesome! And of course the fabulous Robyn @books4days_with_robyn. I wish I could list everyone. You all do such a fantastic job.
To the indie author community, I love how encouraging, supportive, and utterly amazing you are. I feel proud to be a part of such an amazing community. #indieauthorsrock
Last but not least, to all the readers out there who’ve taken the time to download, read, and review my book. Thank you for taking a chance on me. I’m always immensely grateful for every read and review. Reviews are the lifeline of every author, especially us smaller indies. You guys make my day and make it all worthwhile.
Thank you for reading Brandon and Harper’s story.
Lots of Love
Nikki x
Chloe Ellis
What you're about to read is my story, my truth. A truth that spans over twenty years of a love for two brothers. A love that was cruel, sometimes harsh and raw, but for me always honest and true. An adopted little sister to one, but to the other so much more. Ours was a love that defied all reason. It pushed us to our limits. It was never easy, but nothing worth having ever is; and Luca Marquez is so worth having. He's mine, he always has been and no one will take him away from me.
Luca Marquez
I’ve loved her forever, but I couldn’t make her mine. Not until the day she walked into my club and needed my protection. She brought light into my darkness and warmed my stone-cold heart. Chloe Ellis is my whole world, but she doesn’t know that yet.
Luca’s world stops on the day his precious Chloe is taken from him. Faced with an impossible situation, he will stop at nothing to save her. Even if that means slaughtering anyone who gets in his way, or tearing down whole cities to find her. He’ll do anything for her and he’ll never let her go again.
This Cruel Love
Ryley
Don’t trust the fairy tales. They trick you into believing true love will appear on the back of a white horse, in the form of a perfect, handsome Prince Charming. Most of the time, Prince Charming turns out to be even more deceptive and evil than the wolf himself. I thought I’d met my soul mate at high school. Turned out my Mr Wright was so very wrong.
Jackson
I live in a cruel and unforgiving world. I learnt from an early age how vicious life can be, but I’m a survivor. Life may have dragged me down to the depths of hell, but I know how to dance with the devil. Sometimes bad things happen to good people for no other reason than to remind us that this life is cruel. Sometimes good people are pushed to do very bad things to right the wrongs of another. But when all is said and done, we need to ask ourselves… how far would you go to protect the ones you love?