Prosper (Hells Saints MC Book 7) Page 16

  Dolly, at eighty years old, still looked as glamorous as ever with her auburn curls dressed high upon her head and her legs still sleek in hose and French heels. Gianni stood by her side, dressed in crisp bespoke. Although he still had that elegant demeanor about him, his once straight spine was now slightly stooped and bent, and he walked with a polished ebony cane. Dolly held her son, Reno, in a firm embrace before moving on to her daughter-in-law and grandson.

  Diego was in the corner of the room chatting it up with his sons-in-law and that made Raine smile. All six of the girls were married with children of their own. Willow was the only one of her daughters to marry a club member. She had grown up sporting a serious crush on the oldest son of Crow and Melissa, and at ten years old she announced to the unending embarrassment of Jet that that they would be married someday. Ten years later, Willow made good on that declaration and became Jet Mathison’s wife. She was now pregnant with their second child and had Jet waiting on her hand and foot. Caring for Willow was a job that Jet had taken on willingly and without complaint. Raine could not have asked for a better husband for her oldest and most spoiled daughter. She had taken the death of her beloved grandfather hardest of all the girls, and Raine was happy that Willow had Jet to lean on.

  Raine turned her head to see that Jules and Glory had just walked with their son, James. James was the spitting image of his father. Big, strong, and imposing. He had followed his father’s footsteps and became a Marine. Recently Raine and Diego had accompanied Jules and Glory to Washington where James had been the recipient of a bronze star. Glory caught Raine’s eye and smiled a little as the trio headed right for Prosper’s casket.

  Hal, Valentina, Gia, and Riker had all arrived together. After paying their respects to Prosper, they made their way to Gianni and Dolly.

  “Mom?” Raine turned to find her youngest daughter, Harmony, standing in front of her.

  “We’re ready to say good bye to grandpa now. Auntie Claire would like to know if you want to start the line.”

  “No, honey. I think I’m gonna wait until everyone is done. Tell your dad, I’d like a moment with Grandpa alone once everyone has gone through and to wait for me in the car.”

  “You sure, mom?” Harmony asked gently.

  “I’m sure, sweetheart.”

  Raine watched the line go through as each person stopped and said their own special final goodbyes to the man who had meant so much to them all. Not too long ago they had had to do the same to Pinky. Pinky’s death had been hard for Prosper to bear. Raine wondered if losing his wife had put such a strain on Prosper’s heart that it had just simply stopped beating.

  The last of the small group of mourners had said their goodbyes and the funeral room was now empty. Raine was alone with Prosper. Just the two of them. Raine walked to the casket and laid a gentle hand over the heart that had once beat so strong and fearlessly. Memories of long ago filled her soul and blurred her vision.

  “The thing I learned most about courage is that it’s something brave people call upon when they are so scared to do a thing that they can barely breathe, but they do it anyway because it’s just the right thing to do,” Prosper had told her.

  “Does anyone ever get tired of being brave, Prosper?” Raine had put her tiny hand in his.

  “Sure they do, little darlin’. People get tired of being brave all the time.”

  “What happens then, Prosper?”

  Prosper had thought for a minute and his voice caught in his throat when he answered, “Why, they call on someone who has some brave left over. That’s what they do, honey.”

  “Prosper?”

  “Yes, Raine?”

  “Do you have any brave left over?”

  “Little darlin’, just so happens that I’ve been saving up a bunch of brave just for you,” he’d answered and filled Raine’s tiny heart with relief and hope.

  “So, Prosper?” Raine had asked carefully, “You got this?”

  “Yeah, darlin’. I got this.”

  Tears had begun to flow freely down Raine’s cheeks, and it was getting hard to breathe. Raine could simply not imagine a world that she lived in and Prosper Worthington did not.

  “I don’t know where you are, Prosper,” she whispered brokenly to him. “I don’t know what I believe happens when you die, but I do know that if there is a heaven, and the worth of a man is measured by how much he loved and was loved, those gates will be opened wide for you.”

  Then Raine pulled a chocolate bar out of her pocket, unwrapped it, and broke off a bite. She put the rest of the candy and a small harmonica in the pocket of Prosper’s cut, then she kissed him on the cheek for the very last time and walked out into the sun to where her family was waiting for her.

  My very first memory of school was listening to Mrs. Connors read from the Big Book of Dick and Jane. I remember the feeling of awe and sense of magic that bubbled up inside of me when I realized that those funny shaped symbols were what we called words. And those words told the story of the pictures on the page.

  I thought to myself … I am going to like this.

  A lot.

  As a child, the books I read took me on magical journeys … the enchanting stories of Hans Christian Anderson, the classical works of Louisa May Alcott and the spellbinding mysteries of Agatha Christie and Carolyn Keene.

  As I began to grow, my interests changed as quickly as the subject of my adolescence angst did. The delicious, terrorizing works of Stephen King, Deane Koontz, and Anne Rice warmed me on those cold nights of harsh New England winters.

  Between the pages of books written by Rosemary Rogers, Fern Michaels, Rebecca Brandewyne, and LaVyrle Spencer, I experienced erotic, romantic love for the very first time.

  Marilyn French and her Woman’s Room helped me to find my voice as a fledging feminist while Diana Gabaldon sent me on a thrilling escapade through eighteenth-century Scotland.

  I cannot tell you where Prosper came from. I only know that I am glad he chose me to tell his story.

  Since this journey began, I have received countless emails, messages, and even photographs of readers who have read my stories and, in turn, shared their own. Prosper’s words, Saving Brave, have become a battle cry of validation, courage, self-worth, and determination for readers around the globe. I have tried and failed to adequately express how much that honors and humbles me. I have been forever changed by your sisterhood, love and encouragement.

  Although this series has come to an end, our journey together has not.

  There are more tales to weave and stories to tell … come sit by my fire …

  With infinite love and heartfelt gratitude,

  Paula Marinaro.

  I would like to give a shout out to my Game Changer crew…those wonderful readers who have been with me since the beginning of this journey. You fearlessly overlooked the mistakes of a new author, locked hands together and with steadfast loyalty shared this wild ride! Look how far we have come together!

  Aine O Buadhaigh

  Allison Smith

  Andrea De Palma Florkowski

  Angela Coleman

  Angela Moon

  Angela Nelly Kick

  Annette Allen

  Barbara Barnes

  Becky Baker Parrish

  Brandy Barber

  Carl Ameen

  Chris Paul

  Cim Coats

  Claire Carpenter

  Claurette Landsman

  Dawn Lee

  Donna Smith

  Elizabeth Stevens

  Jan Meldon

  Jeanna Kruczkowski Kuzia

  Jenni Gardner Jackson

  Jenny Knisley

  Jezzie Hughes

  Joanne Nesbitt

  Karen Danny West

  Katherine Genis

  Kathi Zimmerman

  Kelly Enever

  Kendra Sisneros

  Kendra Villarreal

  Krista Morneault

  Laura Hooper Thornton

  Laura Posey-Butler

/>   Linda Stoker

  Lisa Cullinan

  Lisa Venn Sims

  Lynnet Miller Holloway

  Lynette Benjamin

  Malinda Beach

  Mandy Nicolson

  Mariah Oliveira

  Michala Bearman

  Michelle Mayer

  Mindy Stuck

  Nadine Bell

  Nelly May

  Nichola Shaw

  Penny Tindel

  Rachel Christine

  Rose Walton

  Sandi Rutz

  Sara Anne Hassan

  Sarah Jillain

  Shanna Lefevre

  ShannonChris Colin

  Sheena Jones-Swinford

  Shelly Corbishley

  Sonja Goegelein

  Stephanie BookloverSmith

  Stephanie Bordeau

  Tammy Buckley

  Tiffany Singleton

  Tracy Baker

  Voula Vercillo

  Yvonne Lundine

  After a lifetime of uncertainty, Raine Winston shouldn’t be fazed by anything anymore. But she’s terrified. Terrified that her wayward sister, Claire, has gotten into debt dangerously over her head. Terrified that a muscle-clad biker named Diego doesn’t want payment with money—he wants much more. And terrified of the dizzying desire she feels whenever Diego touches her…

  Diego Montesalto spends his days raising hell and his nights in the arms of fast, easy women. Tough, tattooed, and used to taking what he wants, he refuses to get emotionally invested in anyone. But he can’t stop thinking about Raine’s sweet smell, striking blue eyes, and quiet determination. She may have the spirit of a warrior, but she needs someone to guide and protect her.

  When Raine has no choice but to go on the run, she falls straight into the Hells Saints’ mayhem-filled world…and into Diego’s strong arms. But in a life filled with hard choices, raw lust, and blood-soaked violence, is there room for loyalty…or love?

  Revised edition: Previously published as Game Changer, this edition of Raine Falling includes editorial revisions.

  Claire Winston knows she’s lucky to be alive—and even luckier to have the love and protection of a man like Prosper, her adoptive father and leader of the Hells Saints Motorcycle Club. Yet, try as she may, she can’t leave yesterday behind. She’s still haunted by Reno, the bad-boy biker her heart loves but her spirit fears. And she can’t seem to escape the terrifying memories of a night filled with blood, bullets, and brutality.

  Hells Saints soldier Reno has tried everything with liquor and lace to get Claire off his mind. But he just can’t forget her freckles, her fierce fragility, and her tender heart. He knows he’s the only man who can give her the love she truly deserves.

  As Claire and Reno spiral back into each other’s lives, they wonder if happiness is finally in their cards. But when violence once again explodes around them, Claire must decide if she really can trust Reno and commit to life with him—or if she’ll stay chained to her past forever.

  The moment that Melissa Raymoor saw the small, rundown cottage sitting at the edge of the woods looking so neglected and forlorn, she was all in. Melissa knew that the little house needed a family as much as her little family needed it. The young widow longed for the tranquility that she was sure renting the home would provide for herself and her small son. What Melissa did not expect was to have their fragile peace interrupted by the fast living, foul mouthed, larger- than- life landlord who moved in next door.

  Crow Mathison knew that he frightened his tenant and not just a little. He had seen the look of terror written all over her face the moment she saw him. But he couldn’t deny it, thinking of Melissa gave him an adrenalin rush. Prissy, mousy, holier than thou, soccer mom Melissa. She was skinny, uptight and totally immune to the outlaw biker thing he had going on. She avoided him, ignored him and called him out on his bullshit every step of the way.

  And he couldn’t get enough of her.

  In the small town of Havengate, passions will ignite, secrets will be revealed, and the past will come back to threaten the fragile happiness and trust that Melissa and Crow begin to build with one another.

  Old friends reunite while old enemies resurface in the fourth book of the Hells Saints Motorcycle Series.

  Over three years ago, Glory Thomas saved Raine Winston’s life by rescuing her from the hands of Gino Abiatti— kidnapper, killer and all around bad guy. That fateful night set Glory on a path filled with violence, murder and redemption.

  A path that led her straight through the Hells Saints doorway.

  And straight into the arms of Jules Bonny.

  As Sargent at Arms of the Hells Saints MC, Jules has seen a lot of bad things.

  And done a lot worse.

  But nothing plagued his conscience or gnawed at his soul until the day that Glory walked into his life.

  Or, more exactly, until the day that Glory walked out of it.

  And now she is coming back to where it all began.

  Back to Crownsmount.

  Back to the lake house.

  But not back to him.

  Not back to him.

  And he has absolutely no idea what to do with that.

  “It’s crowded places that I find difficult. And places where there’s too much noise or too much quiet. I’m afraid of the dark, too. Oh, and really, really bright light. So basically, it's everything. I’m afraid of everything.”

  Hells Saint soldier, Hallelujah Thomas, would never forget those words or the woman who said them. Brave, Beautiful and Bad-ass—the mob boss’s daughter was everything Hal expected her to be and many things he hadn’t.

  Valentina Abruzzi.

  "I’m afraid of everything"— as soon as those words were out of Valentina’s mouth she knew she shouldn’t have said them, but she just couldn’t seem to think straight when Hal was around. So, of course, Valentina didn’t let that bad decision stop her from making another one. If she had not been driven by a strong desire to see Hal again—if she had allowed herself to take just one moment for clarity of thought— Valentina would not have chosen a wild biker party to test the waters of her still fragile mind.

  Hindsight.

  The bitch of it is—that it always comes too late.

  Amidst a backdrop of violence, death, and destruction, Hallelujah Thomas and Valentina Abruzzi struggle to find redemption for themselves— and for each other.

  Sex with Riker Devlin. The gift that kept on giving.

  Despite having been raised in refined Catholic schools, Gia Bonzini was no angel. She had given her Uncle Gianni a run for his money in more ways than she could count. Uncle G had warned her that one more stunt and he would be done with her. Being an unwed mother to an outlaw biker’s baby would definitely qualify.

  Riker Devlin was Saints to the bone. He rode hard, lived free, and answered only to himself and his president. The last thing he ever expected was to be presented with a choice that would turn the carefree life he knew spinning on its wheels.

  Set against a backdrop of intrigue, violence, and chivalry this sixth installment of the Hells Saints MC series takes you on a wild ride with your favorite band of brothers.

  Paula Marinaro lives in the beautiful Berkshires of Massachusetts with her handsome husband, a green parakeet named Littles and a well- loved purple bunny.

  She loves to travel and especially enjoys visiting the UK…the home of castles, kings, and her brand-new grandson!

  When Paula is not busy exploring new worlds, she is busy creating them.

 

 

 
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