The sixth book in the internationally bestselling Eagle
Elite Series.
*Interconnected Stand Alone*
Twenty-Four hours before we were to be married--I offered to
shoot her.
Ten hours before our wedding--I made a mockery of her dying
wish.
Five hours before we were going to say our vows--I promised
I'd never love her.
One hour before I said I do--I vowed I'd never shed a tear
over her death.
But the minute we were pronounced man and wife--I knew.
I'd only use my gun to protect her.
I'd give my life for hers.
I'd cry.
And I would, most definitely, lose my heart, to a dying
girl---a girl who by all accounts should have never been mine in the first
place.
I always believed the mafia would be my end game--where I'd
lose my heart, while it claimed my soul. I could have never imagined. It would
be my redemption.
Or the beginning of something beautiful.
The beginning of her.
The end of us.
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4.5 Star Review by Jennifer Hagen
Sergio messed up…He played two entities and now he has to
pay the price. His punishment is to
protect Andi, the daughter of a Russian enemy.
The best way to offer protection is by way of marriage. Sergio will be getting married! It won’t be forever though as Andi has
leukemia and has about 6 months to live. Both of them always saw themselves
getting married only once in life, to somebody that held their heart. This is a little awkward for both of them,
but at least Andi is trying to make the best of the situation. Sergio, on the other hand, makes it very
obvious that he is not happy. Even
though Andi knows her time is limited, she makes the best of it. I would have to say if I knew I had limited
time, I would want to live like Andi and be happy. She has everybody pulled into her aura and
has a beautiful personality.
It may be cliché, but little by little Andi is able to
get Sergio to break down any walls he has.
Sergio even smiles and laughs when around her. Andi wants Sergio to promise her one thing…
“Promise.” The word was out of my mouth before I could
stop it.
“What?” His perfect eyebrows know together in
confusion. “Promise you what?”
I licked my
suddenly dry lips. “Promise me you won’t
cry over me.”
Sounds easy enough for Sergio, especially since he has no
intention of feeling anything towards Andi.
This is just a means to an end of his punishment with the family.
Sergio was a difficult character to bond with considering
that we really know very little of him even though he has been mentioned in all
the books. He was always a secondary
character summoned to come in and attempt to clean up whatever mess the family
needed tended to. We were never given a glimpse into his personal life, but now
with the chance to see him spotlighted we are able to see the darkness of his
job is beginning to effect him. Andi is
a bright light for Sergio and he can’t resist her snake-charming ways. He’s fallen for her.
Personality wise I found Sergion to be comparable to
Phoenix – having had to do things he may not agree with and now having to deal
with his conscience. Sergio and Phoenix can relate to one another
more so than any other characters in the series and I think that is why Sergio
can finally let go of what he is holding inside.
I had no words.
So, for the first
time since my promise to Andi, I let it go.
I collapsed against my enemy – the one guy I probably hated just as much
as Tex.
And I cried.
Big heaving sobs
wracked my body.
And Phoenix De Lange
of all people…
Held me.
And told me it was
going to be okay.
I just wish I
believed him.
I love that excerpt.
I feel like I read just a little bit of poetry the way it was
written. The broken, heart-shredding,
fragmented thoughts lets us feel exactly what Sergio was feeling.
Andi’s thoughts also very well versed.
“You give me
moments, moments where I don’t remember I’m sick, moments where only we
exist. They’re like tiny presents
sprinkled throughout my life.”
Both Sergio and I were holding onto hope – hope that a
last chance effort would mean a different ending. My pajama neck line was wet , so wet that I
had to find a dry spot inches below.
This is not an easy read. I tried
to distance myself, but I couldn’t. I
became invested wholeheartedly and I needed Sergio and Andi to be together
forever. I needed Sergio to find that
tiny ray of happiness along with finally being at peace with himself.
It’s odd, when you
face death every day, when you elude it, when you finally come to terms with
the fact that you won’t be on earth forever – that’s when you think you’re at
peace. I’d thought I was okay with
dying. Until I met her.
Does he find peace?
And what about that promise he made to Andi?
“Andi…”My voice
broke. “…I broke my promise.”
She shifted in my lap
and faced me. “What?”
“I cried…I cried
over you.”
Andi’s eyes welled
with tears as she cupped my face with her hands. “That’s okay…I cried too.”
Ms. Van Dyken is a very, very talented author. She can have me laughing at these crazy
gun-toting guys only to next have me wiping my eyes. I like her writing style. I find her books to be a quick read, but yet
full of quality. It is rare to find that
in many authors. I have lost count of
how many books of Rachel’s I have read, but I have never once been
disappointed. This Eagle Elite series
has developed so much in terms of characters, depth and emotions since the very
first book released 2 years ago and it shows by the upward star ratings I have
given the last few books.
EXCERPT
"You weren't kidding about those mimosas." Andi yawned
behind her hand as we walked through Lincoln Park. I'd originally thought to
take her to the zoo since she had that odd fascination with animals, but after
seeing how tired she was, I decided to save it for another day.
"Well…" I held in my chuckle. "…when you have
five of them…"
"I had three." She held up four fingers.
"Good to know you're just fine." I laughed.
"Should I carry you?"
"Probably." She gave me a dopey grin. "But I
think I can at least make it to the car."
"It's about a mile away."
"Oh." Her face fell.
"How about a piggyback ride?" I offered lamely, hating
that a simple walk to the car was making her sad because she was so exhausted.
She stopped walking and crossed her arms. "Riding a cowboy
was on the list."
"I'm not following."
"Talk to me in a southern accent, and I'll imagine a cowboy
hat on that gorgeous head of hair and boom… I'm riding a cowboy."
I pinched the bridge of my nose. "Andi, I have so many
different scenarios that would fit perfectly with that statement. None of them,
however, include me carrying you through the park while singing 'Achy Breaky
Heart.'"
"Oh good. You know it then?"
"I need to learn the art of silence."
"Probably true." She nodded.
"And teach it to you," I added.
"Aw, come on cowboy…"
I rolled my eyes and turned around so she could jump onto my
back. "Should I find a park bench, or can you actually jump this
high?"
"Never ask a ninja if she can jump — it's degrading."
"My mistake. I thought you were a short Russian
masquerading as a baker. Go ahead, ninja. Jump."
She did, probably using the rest of the energy she had left. Her
arms wrapped around my neck tightly. "Mush."
"I thought I was a horse."
"I changed my mind. Girls can do that on occasion."
Damn, the girl made me smile. The afternoon sun was starting to
set as we walked along the path. Andi was encouraging me to use a southern
accent in her most Russian accent.
And I was trying to pay attention to our surroundings, just in
case we'd somehow been followed.
I thought we were in the clear until we reached the edge of the
park. I could see the street, and immediately regretted that simple fact the
minute two black sedans pulled up to the curb.
Five men got out.
Two from the first car.
Three from the second.
Andi tensed behind me.
"Andi." I kept my smile in place like there wasn't
anything wrong. "Got any energy left?"
"Enough." She shuddered behind me.
"My gun," I whispered. "It's in the back of my
pants. Reach between your legs and slide it up so nobody sees."
"You know in any other situation…" she muttered as I
felt the gun slide up my back.
"Good," I encouraged. "The minute I put you down
I want you to aim for the guy to the left. Don't shoot for the head. Hit his
kneecap so he goes down. If he reaches for his gun—"
"This isn't my first rodeo, cowboy."
"You're right. I forget."
"I'm good. Don't worry about me."
The tension left my body. "I won't. Just don't get shot. I
hate having to sew up bullet wounds."
"Please." I could feel the energy riding off her body.
"You owe me a massage if my body count's higher."
"So now it's a competition?"
"Russians rarely lose."
"Well, you should get used to it. Because this Italian's
going to hand you your ass."
"I'd like to see you try."
The men were trying to look nonchalant, outside their cars,
smoking cigars like they weren't waiting for the perfect opportunity to attack.
"One," I whispered.
Andi slid farther down my back. "Two."
"Three." The word fell from my lips just as I ducked
to the right. Andi went to my left and popped off two rounds directly into the
guy's kneecaps — not just one, but both of them. A crunching sound broke out
across the park as he fell on bones, cracking them further. He wailed in pain
and surprisingly didn't reach for his gun.
Three of the men started charging me. Gun less, I could only
rely on the fact that my fists were just as deadly as any gun could be, and I
punched the first man in the throat then turned and elbowed the next. They
stumbled back. Another gunshot went off. Andi was seriously picking them off
like she was shooting fish in a bucket.
The three men turned their heads to glare at her. Then, rather
than attacking, came at me again.
Surprised, I was knocked in the face by the first guy but
sidestepped the next hit then landed a hard blow to his stomach followed by a
knee to the groin. With a growl, I head-butted the next guy then punched him in
the jaw; the sound of teeth breaking was my only indication that he'd be down
for the count.
The final man circled me.
"Let me get him," Andi pleaded behind me.
"He's mine," I barked.
The man shrugged and held up his hands. "You should let
girl do your work."
I rolled my eyes. "I'll never hear the end of it."
"Andi," the man called, "why not come with us,
huh? You've done job. Time to come home."
"Job?" I repeated.
Andi came up beside me and aimed the gun for his forehead.
"I've never worked for you."
"Oh?" The man chuckled and glanced at me. "He
knows as well as I know… you are never out."
"Please let me pull the trigger."
The man ran at us.
I ducked then heaved my body into his, sending him backward
against the park bench. Punch after punch I landed to his face, his blood
mixing with the slices breaking out on my knuckles.
The sound of sirens interrupted my blatant mutilation of his
body.
"Serg…" Andi kicked me. "…gotta disappear."
I backed up, chest heaving. "Right."
With one last kick to his body, I grabbed her hand and ran like
hell toward our car, our very easy-to-spot car.
She keeps her home in Idaho with her Husband, adorable son, and two snoring boxers! She loves to hear from readers!
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Links:
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