~Synopsis~
It’s
been ten years, and I live every day with the weight of regret on my shoulders.
We’ve
all done bad things, things that we are ashamed of. But those things make us
the people that we are today. And today, I’m Liam Brown. When those closest to
me were killed, I had to kill my former self just to stay alive. My real name
is Micah Lomano, and I left my life fabricating a web of lies along the way to
keep what I had done a secret. But I never forgot about Natalene, and now
nothing matters…because I don’t have her.
After
one fatal night rocked us to the core, everything
changed.
I
had everything I’d ever wanted: the perfect guy, a loving family, and more
money than I knew what to do with. But in an instant, my world stopped. Somehow
I’d survived, but I lost everything I knew, everything I wanted. Including
myself. I knew then that nothing would ever be the same. I waited for Micah to
find me, just like he promised he would. But he never did, and it was when I
needed him most. So I was forced with a choice, one that I didn’t want to make:
Raise his child on the run or give her up?
The
decision wrecked me and what hurt most off all…Micah had no idea that I was
pregnant.
~Buy
links~
Amazon US Buy link- http://amzn.to/1IgxROk
Amazon UK Buy link- http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B018O7259O?*Version*=1&*entries*=0
Amazon CA Buy link- http://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B018O7259O?*Version*=1&*entries*=0
~Review~
So “Skepticism” is
the fourth book in the ‘ism” series, yeah I know it’s not called that but that’s
what I call it. Anyway, LK Collins knows how draw in her readers attention and
keep it there. Every time she writes a book she gives you the right amount of
mystery with the right amount of sex mixed in with it and that’s just what you
get when you read “Skepticism.” Natlene and Liam/Micah’s story is one of mystery
and it will have you on the edge of your seats when you are reading. I really
didn’t know what would happen in the end but Micah being the genius that he is
knew what to do and how to get him and Natalene back on the road to recovering
the past that they had to give up. I’m hoping for Cole’s book in the future and
one with just as much mystery and sex as the rest of the men. But I must
Vincent is still me numero uno favorite, then Abel and after him Troy, dag gone
it I can never choose. I just want more LK, more.
~Excerpt~
PROLOGUE
Micah
The champagne cork shoots
to the ceiling with a resounding pop! It’s a sound I’ve always
loved, a sign of celebration. Nick slings an arm over my dad’s shoulder and
holds the bottle high in the air. I keep myself closely wrapped around
Natalene, never seeming to have her close enough to me. She has the biggest
grin on her face, and I’ll always do whatever it takes to keep it that way.
“To the heist of a
lifetime,” Nick says filling four glasses. We each grab one, and my dad speaks
before we drink. “To my sons and Natalene, thank you all for helping me pull
this one off.” We all clink our glasses together before knocking back the crisp
liquid. I set mine down, just as Nick shakes the rest of the bottle, spraying
the three of us. The liquor streams down my face and I laugh, especially when I
look at Natalene – she is absolutely drenched.
The room is filled with
laughter – laughter from my family. These are the closest people in the world
to me, and I wouldn’t change this moment for anything. We prepared eight months
to hit my dad’s associate after he let my mom die, and finally, today was the
day of retaliation, and we pulled it off flawlessly.
I know there is no amount
of money that will ever bring her back. But we’ve financially hurt the man
responsible and will get enough for a fresh start, a start where we can be new
people and escape our troubles here. We are set to leave the country in the
morning, and from tomorrow forward, I’ll be Liam Brown. Micah Lomano will be
dead.
Natalene grabs my arms,
pulling me closer to her. Her touch alone brings a kick of excitement to my
stomach. She kisses me hard, our lips pressing fiercely together. “Get a room,”
my brother yells. But I can’t stop myself. With Nat, I never can – I’ve always
given into her and always will.
“I have something for you,”
she whispers into my ear. Raising an eyebrow at her, I’m intrigued. “I’ll be
right back.” I take a seat on the couch and watch her walk away from me. Her
short hair bounces with each step.
“Do you want another?” Nick
asks me.
“Nah, I’m good, brother.”
He grabs two beers from the fridge and passes one to our dad as he hangs up his
phone. “Is everything good?” I ask, still worried that Moretti will retaliate
for what we did, not feeling a hundred percent safe as long as we’re still
sitting here and not completely out of his reach.
“Yeah, it’s great.” They
crack open their beers as I wait for Natalene to come back downstairs. That’s
when something catches my eye, even though it’s probably just me being
paranoid. But needing to check things out, I get up and am stopped dead in my
tracks. The room pings with gunfire as shot after shot blazes around. I drop to
my knees, but it’s too late – I’ve been hit. Pain ensues, my worst fears coming
true. I knew Moretti would act fast; I should’ve fucking listened to my gut. I try
to move, willing my body up the stairs – I have to get to Nat. But another
round of bullets blows through me. I look down at my bloody abdomen and
collapse. The pain is like nothing I’ve ever experienced. A fire brews inside
of me, and I can’t imagine my life ending this way. Looking to my left, my
brother is on the floor, blood pooled around his head, his eyes staring
blankly. Lifeless. The sight alone takes me away from the pain I’m feeling. His
life ripped from him so quickly. The gunmen stalk my dad, slowly walking
towards him. My dad stands with a gun on the two men and I lay my head on the
brown carpet closing my eyes, hopelessness washing over me. He won’t win.
“Moretti sends his
condolences to you and your family, Mr. Lomano,” one of the gunmen says in his
thick Italian accent.
My father tries to argue,
pleading, but I’m focused on the stairs. Natalene is at the top of them on her
knees looking down at me. Her hands are covering her mouth, trying to contain
the anguish. It is clearly painted all over her features. Run, I
mouth to her. She still has time to save herself. She nods her head. Pain
etched across her face, I watch her turn and leave, my heart breaking at the
sight, but I shut my eyes with her as my last vision. These fuckers came here
for blood, and they will put another bullet in me, I’m sure of it. They aren’t
leaving here ‘til all of us are dead. Slowing my breathing, I pretend to be
gone; it’s my only chance. Another round of shots ring in the room and then a
body hits the floor. I pray it’s not my dad.
But my nightmare comes
true. Through a tiny slit of one eye, I can see that the two men are still
alive. I’m fading fast, as each pump of blood pushes more and more out of my
body. One of the men walks past me and kicks me on the way up the stairs. It
doesn’t hurt any worse than the bullets that have shredded me to pieces. I
remain quiet, still, terrified they will find Nat. As the seconds go by like
minutes, I wait for screaming and more gun shots, but all is quiet minus their
talking back and forth. Then they both come down the stairs and one of them
says, “She must not be here, let’s clear out.”
I’m still waiting for one
more bullet to my head when I feel their footsteps next to me. But they just
walk past and leave. In the distance, I hear the click of both car doors and
then tires squeal. I won’t last much longer, and I’m struggling to hold on to
consciousness, when Natalene shakes me abruptly.
“Micah! Micah!” she screams
resting her head against the back of mine.
I grunt a little and she
exhales loudly. “You’re going to be okay, baby, hang in there.”
I shake my head, knowing
I’m better off dead. “Go, Nat.”
“What?” she exclaims with
tears in her eyes. “No, please don’t make me go.”
I swallow hard looking her
in the eye the best that I can. She lies next to me on the floor, our faces
mere inches apart. “You know the plan,” I swallow hard, “Six months.” I can
barely choke out the words. In the distance is the faint sound of sirens.
She’ll listen; she knows the rules of this life.
“I love you,” she says.
“I
love you,” I reply as she kisses me. Her warm lips are my solace. I watch her
feet walk away as far as I can see them. Tears well in my eyes as she leaves me
for the last time. I know I won’t ever see her again, regardless of what
happens. It’s the only way to keep her safe.
~Teaser~
~About the Author~
From
bestselling author, LK Collins, comes Skepticism the fourth book in the #1
bestselling Life. Destiny. Fate. series. All though this is a series, each of
these books can be read as a stand alone. LK writes an array of emotionally and
sexy gripping Erotic Romance novels. She’s a lover of the oxford comma and
everything in the writing world. Her stories are compelling and will draw you
in from page one, and with twists and turns, she always keeps her readers
enthralled 'til the end. When LK’s not lost in the minds of her characters, you
can find her on the beach with her family, where her husband and writing
partner, “The Prezident,” are sure to be plotting out her next tale.
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