The right kind of wrong, p.1
The Right Kind of Wrong, page 1
CREDITS
Written by
Daniele Lanzarotta
Edited by Amanda Sorrells-Larsen
Front cover photography © Heather Almendarez / HeatherLynn Portraits
Cover Design by Daniel Haefner
© Copyright 2017 Daniele Lanzarotta
All rights reserved
Disclaimer: This book is intended for ages 18 and older.
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to actual events, locales or persons, living or deceased, is entirely coincidental.
DEDICATION
This book started with a unique request from a special reader, Tara, who fell in love with Owen Crawford in the Mermaid’s Curse Trilogy. She said that Owen NEEDED to have his own book, and soon, other readers followed her lead. I thank every one of you for the love and support.
To my editor, Amanda, for loving Owen as much as I do, and for knowing little things about him like, the type of underwear he should have on. (Yes, you can thank her for that…)
To Heather and Joe (a.k.a. restaurant guy… a.k.a. book cover Owen). Heather – Thank you so much everything, from randomly finding the perfect Owen, to taking so many amazing pictures, and for helping with the cover reveal. Keep going to those restaurants! Joe – Thank you for being on the cover and for doing the cover reveal! Welcome to the world of book boyfriends.
To Daniel, for the amazing cover design. It is perfect!
To Jen, for being an awesome beta reader. Owen appreciated the therapy sessions.
To my hubs and daughters. Thank you for the support.
“Hell is empty and all the devils are here.”
- William Shakespeare
PROLOGUE
OWEN
“Are you really going to do this?”
I looked over at Amy sitting by my side at the pool. We were only sixteen then and I sure didn’t know any better.
“Yeah. I know he isn’t working in the middle of the night. You can’t tell me you’re not curious.”
“Honestly?” She looked away and stared at the water. “I think I’m more scared than curious.”
I chuckled. “Scared, why?”
“I don’t know. It’s just a gut feeling, I guess.”
I laughed it off. “It’ll be okay. I promise. I won’t get caught.”
She looked up at me, her green eyes full of concern, begging me to drop yet another one of my crazy ideas. “Owen, but what if you do get caught? I’ve seen the bruises,” she hesitated, “and the scars. He has gotten mad for a lot less before. I don’t understand why, no matter what he does, you still have this obsession with trying to impress him,” she shook her head and held back the tears. “I just don’t get it,” she said in a low tone.
I remember thinking that she’d never understand. To us, that was normal. He was raising us to be tough, and impressing him was the best way to be on his good side for a while.
I stood up and extended my hand to her. “I’m not worried about me. I can handle myself. I am however, worried about you. I need to get you home before he finds out we’re just hanging out in the middle of the week.”
She took my hand and I helped her up. Then I pulled her into a hug and kissed her neck. It must have been 100 degrees out, but she was tense to the point where she was shivering. “It’ll be okay. Trust me,” I whispered in her ear.
“Always do,” she whispered back, while hugging me tighter.
Hours later, in the middle of the night, I was hiding in the trunk of his car. It wasn’t a long drive before the car stopped. I waited a few minutes after I heard the door shut before I reached for the release button and opened the trunk. I was surprised to recognize the house. It was Amy’s. “What the hell is he doing here?” I mumbled. I walked to the front door and grabbed the hidden spare key from under a rock by the window. I was just about to open the door and sneak in when I heard something in the backyard. I rushed to the side of the house and peeked around the corner. Amy’s dad was sitting on a chair, trying to get out, but he couldn’t get up. The weird thing, or so I thought at the time, was that there was nothing tying him to the chair. Looking at him, I could tell he was in pain and screaming, but there was no sound coming from him. I watched curiously until my dad quickly turned around and glanced in my direction. He then whispered something to one of his man. Next thing I knew, two of the guys who worked for him came up behind me, one put his hand over my mouth, and they dragged me to the car. I could maybe get away if it was just one of them, but two… I didn’t stand a chance.
They shoved me in the back seat and they both ended up in the back, too, one on each side of me.
“What the hell are you doing to him? Where is Amy?” I demanded.
“Relax. She’s fine - sleeping in her room. And he’ll live. Now shut up and wait,” he warned. I knew I was stuck there, so I didn’t waste any energy trying to get out.
Dad walked toward the car a few minutes later. He was holding a white rag that he was using to clean the blood off his hands. He got in the driver’s seat while I stayed stuck in the back with his men. Dad threw the rag on the passenger’s seat and glared back at me. He was pissed, but that look didn’t intimidate me anymore. Besides, it wasn’t like he could do much to me from where he was sitting.
“What did you do to him?” I asked.
He gave me a warning look. “He’s alive. That’s all you need to know.” He turned around and started to drive.
We didn’t go home. He stopped at his office building.
“Let’s go!” He said, and I followed him along with the two men. Both walked right behind me as if they thought I’d run away.
We walked into a room I had never seen before. There was only a large round table and chairs. Dad pulled one of the chairs to the side. One of the guys pushed me down and dad stood in front of me. He scratched his chin while I stared at his hand, just waiting for it to come in my direction. I wondered where he would hit me this time, as if trying to anticipate it would make it hurt any less.
“What happened back there?” I asked and he gave me this look of amusement.
“Always a curious little brat. You couldn’t handle what was happening there no matter how much I wish one of my sons was man enough to.”
To his surprise, I stood up and looked him right in his eyes.
“I can handle it. Whatever it is. I’m your blood. If you can do it, I can, too.”
He laughed, but I stood there, squared my shoulders, and just stared at him until he stopped laughing, and it was as if he had seen something in me for the first time.
He looked at his two men, who gave him a short nod.
“Well then. I’m going to give you a task. If you prove to me that you can do it, you’ll earn my respect. And you’re in this with me for life, son. Not a word of this to anyone. Not even your brother.”
I proudly grinned back at him. “I’ll do it. Anything you want.”
He smiled back at me. “Very well. I want you to break up with that little girlfriend of yours.”
I gave him a confused look. “Why? What does she have to do with this?”
He shook his head. “I always wonder where I went wrong with you and your brother.” He sighed. “If you want to be part of this, Owen, you don’t ask questions. You do as you’re told. This requires discipline and you’ll have to prove that you have it, and trust me, son, the rewards are well worth it. So, what’s it going to be? Are you going to do this or are you going to disappoint me yet again?” He asked and crossed his arms, waiting on an answer.
A million things crossed through my mind. I was curious. I wanted that bond with him. I wanted his respect, and at the moment, I thought I’d still be able to see Amy behind his back. I was so, so wrong.
“Okay,” I agreed.
He nodded.
“Very well. And son,” he grinned and there was this wicked gleam in his eyes, “make it painful.”
CHAPTER ONE
SIXTEEN YEARS LATER
EMILY
I push through the warm bodies on the dance floor as I try to run out of the nightclub. My hand aches from slapping his face and I have tears running down my cheeks.
“EMILY!” I hear Sarah call after me, but I keep going until I’m finally outside.
I hate the weather in the city during this time of the year, but tonight, I welcome the cold air against my face. I take a deep breath as I lean against the wall to the left side of the entrance, the side that is not lined with people laughing while they wait to get into the club.
I can’t believe I was this stupid. I shake my head. Actually, I can. This wasn’t the first time he did this to me. I take a deep breath. I am thankful that I wore jeans and a nice top - instead of the short dress that Sarah tried to get me to wear - and I end up sitting down right on the ground. I feel miserable. My feet ache from walking around in these heels that I’m not used to. I just want to get to my dorm, crawl into my warm bed and stay there.
I wipe the tears away and, when I look up, a guy is staring down at me. He’s wearing dress pants and a white shirt, but the top two buttons of his shirt are undone, and his dark brown hair is a mess. He has this smug look on his face… I can already tell he’s no better than Craig.
I’m about to ask what he wants, when his lips part and he says, “Okay. Whose ass do I have to kick for making you cry, sweetheart?”
I roll my eyes at him, and I see Sarah come up right behind him. She heard what he said and she’s laughing. Loudly. He quickly turns around and tilts his head to the side as if waiting for her to elaborate on what could possibly be so funny, and she does. “That has got to be the worst pick-up line I’ve ever heard,” Sarah says in a sarcastic tone.
He gives her this half smile that I can see women falling for. “Oh, trust me, sweetheart, if I was throwing a pick-up line at either one of you, you wouldn’t be able to tell. You’d be in my bed faster than you think possible.”
My jaw drops as Sarah rolls her eyes at him before approaching me and grabbing my hand. She pulls me up. “Come on, Emily. Let’s get out of here. You’ve dealt with enough assholes for one night.”
He grins. He's actually smiling like this is entertaining, or maybe because he’s getting a reaction out of Sarah. Guys love when she plays hard to get. Yeah, I bet that is it.
I catch him staring at me as if trying to figure something out, and then his gaze lowers to the club’s stamp on my hand.
“How old are you?” he asks.
“Twenty-one,” I say, just as Sarah tells him it’s none of his business.
He raises an eyebrow at me, and I hear the bouncer behind him say, “I checked her ID. She’s twenty-one.”
He shrugs. “I’m going inside,” he says with a smile. “If you want to go back in and have a drink, it’s on me.”
“I’ll pass,” says Sarah.
He cocks his head to the side. “Not your drink. Hers,” he looks at me and winks.
Ugh. That is exactly something that Craig would say. “Thank you, but I think I should leave.”
He shrugs. He doesn’t seem to care either way. I turn around and start to walk away with Sarah.
“Hey, jailbait,” he says and for some stupid reason, I turn around. He chuckles, then his smile disappears and he looks serious. “I think whoever made you cry should suffer a little. I’ll be at your service if you’d like to make him a little jealous.”
The bouncer, who seems more interested in our conversation than anything else, shakes his head. Sarah looks at me, shakes her head, and whispers, “What an ass. Let’s go.”
But I can’t take another step forward. I’m tired of being the ‘bigger person’. This is not the first time that Craig cheated on me and the idea of making him a little jealous suddenly seems satisfying. I turn around and look at him, intrigued by why someone like him would even waste his time doing this.
I cross my arms. “What’s in it for you?” I ask.
He shrugs. “Free entertainment. I get to piss off someone, and maybe get a kiss or two from a gorgeous woman.”
Sarah looks at me in disbelief. “Are you really considering this?” she asks in an annoyed tone.
Without taking my eyes off him, I tilt my head to the side and really consider it. Maybe this is the nudge that Craig needs to get it together. I give him a small smile. “I think I am.”
He grins from ear to ear, closes the distance between us, and extends his hand to me. My gaze goes straight to the black dragon tattoo on his forearm, then down to the leather wristband he’s wearing. I put my hand in his and ignore Sarah’s shocked look.
I glance at the line, and then at his hand. He doesn’t have a stamp on it. I sigh. “Were you in there before?”
He shakes his head.
“It’ll be a while before you can go in. Look at the line.”
“I don’t do lines, jailbait,” he says and I roll my eyes at him.
He turns around and we walk right into the club, with Sarah reluctantly following us.
“What’s your name?” I yell into his ear over the loud music.
“Owen.”
He waves over at the bartender who waves back at him.
“Do you come here a lot?”
He leans into me. “Not as much as I’d like.”
“How so?”
“I tend to be around more when my dad is in town.”
“How cute,” Sarah yells over the music. “He has daddy issues,” she assumes.
Owen looks at her and I can tell she’s annoying him. “Sweetheart, there’s nothing cute about that at all.” He looks back at me. “Do you see him anywhere?”
I start to look around.
“Not so obvious. Let’s take a walk. Squeeze my hand if you see him.”
We start to make our way to the back when I spot Craig dancing with some girl. My heart starts racing and all I can think about is that this time, he didn’t even bother coming after me. I squeeze Owen’s hand and look toward Craig.
Owen looks at Sarah. “If you want to go to the bar, just tell the guy working it, Justin, that your order is on him.”
She rolls her eyes and leaves.
“Dance with me,” he says.
I hate dancing, but I find myself saying yes.
He leans into me. “But before we start,” he says, “I have to warn you that whatever perception you have of me right now is all wrong. I’m likely more of an ass than your boyfriend.”
I nod once and he puts his arms around me. I feel his hand on the small of my back, and then, he pulls me close to his body. The place is crowded and hot! We barely have room to move, which is one of the many reasons why I hate dancing. I feel like I’m practically on top of him and somehow, he manages to pull me even closer. We start moving to the sound of the music. He starts moving us closer and closer to Craig. “Don’t look in his direction,” he whispers in my ear. “Just focus on me, Emily.”
“Okay.” Oddly, I don’t even feel the need to look toward Craig, but for a split second, I get a flash of memories from just about every time he cheated on me before. I start to look down, but I can then feel Owen’s fingers against my chin. I look up at him. Owen leans in and I can feel the warmth of his breath against me. “He’s looking. I’m going to pull away. Put your hands on the back of my neck, pull me toward you, and kiss me. He needs to see that you’re coming on to me and not the other way around.”
I hesitate. This is not like me at all, but something in me wants this. By the time I hear Craig screaming over the music, “What the F—”, Owen’s lips are already on mine.
Owen doesn’t pull away until Craig grabs my wrist and pulls me toward him. By then, there are two bouncers already freeing my wrist and holding Craig back. One of them looks at Owen, “What do you want me to do?”
Owen doesn’t answer right away. He grabs my hand, and whispers in my ear, “I’m going to take you to the office in the back. I want you to look back at him and grin before we turn around.”
I nod once. Owen lets go of my hand and puts his arm around my waist. Craig looks furious and the woman he was with looks disgusted.
“It’s your call,” Owen says to the bouncer. “You know where I’ll be if you need me.”
We turn around and walk toward the office. I do look back at Craig. I can’t make myself grin at him like Owen suggested, but I can see that he’s frustrated and trying to get to me as the bouncers kick him out. Once Owen closes the office door behind us, I welcome the silence. I feel like my head is spinning.
He pins me against the door and lowers his head like he’s about to kiss me.
“Why can’t I say ‘no’ to you?” I ask.
He gives me that sexy as hell half-smile, before he kisses me again.
CHAPTER TWO
OWEN
“I need to get out of here,” she says when I pull away. I still have one of my hands tangled in her dark blonde hair. She’s out of breath, and when I look into those green eyes, I see something that I haven’t seen in years… regret.
I take a few steps back, giving her space.
“I’m sorry. I don’t know what I was thinking,” she says before she slowly turns around and opens the door. The sound of the music blasts into the office. Her friend Sarah stands at the door and even with the music, I can still hear her yapping, “What the hell are you doing here with her?”
Emily shakes her head and says something to Sarah, and they both walk away, but not before Sarah gives me the death stare. I shrug, and reach to close the door again, when I spot a phone on the floor. The picture of her cheating boyfriend on the screen confirms that it’s her phone.
