Red sin, p.20
Red Sin,
p.20
“I do my homework too,” Butler announced.
All eyes turned to him.
“If you have something to say,” I said, “we’re listening.”
He spoke to Julia. “You want information, I’ll send you information.”
“If you have something to say,” Julia repeated, “say it. I’m done with this fake reconciliation.”
“Sherman is lying to you,” Butler said. “Dad has known him since before his name was Sherman.”
“I’m well aware of his name change,” Julia said. “That isn’t news.”
Mr. McGrath motioned to Butler. “It’s time that we leave.”
After a few more tense goodbyes and Butler whispering something to Julia, she and I stood in the entry and watched as all three got back into the SUV. I wrapped my arm around her. “You did wonderfully.”
Her smile beamed up at me. “Because I knew I wasn’t alone. You were here with me. And my dad actually listened.”
“You are a powerhouse, Julia. I believe in you.”
Julia
Back in the kitchen, I reached for the oven mitts and opened the top wall oven, removing the turkey breast. The second oven contained the casseroles to complete our holiday meal.
“What did Butler whisper before he left?” Van asked.
I shook my head. “It doesn’t matter. Let’s celebrate. My parents are gone and this is our first Christmas.”
Van’s smile returned. “The first item on that list definitely deserves celebration.”
As I arranged the dishes, Van pulled a bottle of wine from the rack and brought down two glasses. My mind was on what Skylar had said.
I knew I shouldn’t give Skylar or his ideas the time of day, but what he’d mentioned wasn’t new. It was something I’d already wondered about. It was also the subject that Mrs. Mayhand had commented about, saying that some questions were better not asked.
Van handed me a glass of wine and lifted his own. “To our guests leaving.”
A smile curled my lips as I stared at him, deep into his emerald eyes, and brought my glass to his. “To us being alone.”
Our glasses clinked before we both took a sip.
A few minutes later before we had the opportunity to sit, our food plated and wine glasses refilled and on the table, Van reached for my hand. “I want to tell you every day that you amaze me because you do.”
“I didn’t make this meal.”
“No,” he said, the gold flecks in his orbs shimmering under the kitchen lights. “You did so much more. You stood up for yourself, and I couldn’t be prouder.”
He wrapped his arms around me, pulling me against his solid strength and to the place I wanted to be. Van had become that to me. He’d become my place of restoration, whether here in this big house, in the cabin, or in the wilderness. Within his presence, I felt at peace.
And yet there was a lingering question.
I looked up. “Van, who is Madison?”
The muscles of his torso tightened as his head tilted to the side. “Why are you asking?”
“Skylar said something. I don’t want to believe him.” I shook my head, still keeping my arms wrapped around Van. “After all, I have all the reason in the world not to believe him. I believe you. Why is your company called Sherman and Madison?”
He inhaled. “Once you go through all the information, you’ll learn that Madison was a friend and I chose to honor that friendship.”
“Just a friend?”
Inhaling, he shook his head.
“I’m not asking as the writer,” I said. “I’m asking as your fiancée. Who is Madison?” I said a silent prayer that Skylar had lied. After all, it couldn’t be true. The pieces didn’t fit.
Van’s voice was deadpan as he answered, shattering our snow globe, “My wife.”
Thank you for beginning the journey on the “White Ribbon” and plunging into RED SIN.
You won’t want to miss a moment of Van and Julia’s story as more twists and turns and sexy times come along with book two of the Sin Series, GREEN ENVY.
* * *
If you enjoyed RED SIN, you can also check out the recently completed DEVIL’S Series Duet, beginning with the free prequel “FATES DEMAND” and book one DEVIL’S DEAL.
* * *
Do you enjoy dangerous, mafia romance? If you do, you don’t want to miss KINGDOM COME, an all new stand-alone romance.
* * *
Turn back to Books by Aleatha for a complete and up-to-date listing of all the stories Aleatha has to offer.
What to do now
LEND IT: Did you enjoy RED SIN? Do you have a friend who'd enjoy RED SIN? RED SIN may be lent one time. Sharing is caring!
RECOMMEND IT: Do you have multiple friends who'd enjoy my dark romance with twists and turns and an all new sexy and mysterious anti-hero? Tell them about the Sin Series! Call, text, post, tweet...your recommendation is the nicest gift you can give to an author!
REVIEW IT: Tell the world. Please go to the retailer where you purchased this book, as well as Goodreads, and write a review. Please share your thoughts about RED SIN on:
*Amazon, RED SIN Customer Reviews
*Barnes & Noble, RED SIN, Customer Reviews
*Apple Books, RED SIN Customer Reviews
* BookBub, RED SIN Customer Reviews
*Goodreads.com/Aleatha Romig
RIBBON SERIES:
WHITE RIBBON
August 2021
* * *
RED SIN
October 2021
* * *
GREEN ENVY
January 2022
UNDERWORLD KINGS:
KINGDOM COME
* * *
DEVIL’S SERIES (Duet):
Prequel: “FATES DEMAND”
March 18
DEVIL’S DEAL
May 2021
ANGEL’S PROMISE
June 2021
WEB OF SIN:
SECRETS
October 2018
LIES
December 2018
PROMISES
January 2019
TANGLED WEB:
TWISTED
May 2019
OBSESSED
July 2019
BOUND
August 2019
WEB OF DESIRE:
SPARK
Jan. 14, 2020
FLAME
February 25, 2020
ASHES
April 7, 2020
DANGEROUS WEB:
Prequel: “Danger’s First Kiss”
DUSK
November 2020
DARK
January 2021
DAWN
February 2021
THE INFIDELITY SERIES:
BETRAYAL
Book #1
October 2015
CUNNING
Book #2
January 2016
DECEPTION
Book #3
May 2016
ENTRAPMENT
Book #4
September 2016
FIDELITY
Book #5
January 2017
THE CONSEQUENCES SERIES:
CONSEQUENCES
(Book #1)
August 2011
TRUTH
(Book #2)
October 2012
CONVICTED
(Book #3)
October 2013
REVEALED
(Book #4)
Previously titled: Behind His Eyes Convicted: The Missing Years
June 2014
BEYOND THE CONSEQUENCES
(Book #5)
January 2015
RIPPLES (Consequences stand-alone)
October 2017
CONSEQUENCES COMPANION READS:
BEHIND HIS EYES-CONSEQUENCES
January 2014
* * *
BEHIND HIS EYES-TRUTH
March 2014
STAND ALONE MAFIA THRILLER:
PRICE OF HONOR
Available Now
THE LIGHT DUET:
Published through Thomas and Mercer Amazon exclusive
INTO THE LIGHT
June 2016
AWAY FROM THE DARK
October 2016
TALES FROM THE DARK SIDE SERIES:
INSIDIOUS
(All books in this series are stand-alone erotic thrillers)
Released October 2014
ALEATHA’S LIGHTER ONES:
PLUS ONE
Stand-alone fun, sexy romance
May 2017
ANOTHER ONE
Stand-alone fun, sexy romance
May 2018
ONE NIGHT
Stand-alone, sexy contemporary romance
September 2017
A SECRET ONE
April 2018
INDULGENCE SERIES:
UNEXPECTED
August 2018
UNCONVENTIONAL
January 2018
UNFORGETTABLE
October 2019
UNDENIABLE
August 2020
Aleatha Romig is a New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today bestselling author who lives in Indiana, USA. She has raised three children with her high school sweetheart and husband of over thirty years. Before she became a full-time author, she worked days as a dental hygienist and spent her nights writing. Now, when she's not imagining mind-blowing twists and turns, she likes to spend her time with her family and friends. Her other pastimes include reading and creating heroes/anti-heroes who haunt your dreams!
* * *
Aleatha impresses with her versatility in writing. She released her first novel, CONSEQUENCES, in August of 2011. CONSEQUENCES, a dark romance, became a bestselling series with five novels and two companions released from 2011 through 2015. The compelling and epic story of Anthony and Claire Rawlings has graced more than half a million e-readers. Her first stand-alone smart, sexy thriller INSIDIOUS was next. Then Aleatha released the five-novel INFIDELITY series, a romantic suspense saga, that took the reading world by storm, the final book landing on three of the top bestseller lists. She ventured into traditional publishing with Thomas and Mercer. Her books INTO THE LIGHT and AWAY FROM THE DARK were published through this mystery/thriller publisher in 2016. In the spring of 2017, Aleatha again ventured into a different genre with her first fun and sexy stand-alone romantic comedy with the USA Today bestseller PLUS ONE. She continued with ONE NIGHT and ANOTHER ONE. If you like fun, sexy, novellas that make your heart pound, try her INDULGENCE SERIES. In 2018 Aleatha returned to her dark romance roots with SPARROW WEBS.
* * *
Aleatha is a "Published Author's Network" member of the Romance Writers of America, PEN America, and NINC. She is represented by Kevan Lyon of Marsal Lyon Literary Agency and Dani Sanchez with Wildfire Marketing.
Aleatha Romig, Red Sin
