"I guess so. I hate leaving."
"I know. We will come back, I promise. We need to fly out before you can't do it safely anymore. Liddy and Ace are waiting for us."
I reluctantly came back inside, leaving the beautiful view I had fallen in love with behind. Atlas would keep his promise so it made waking away a little easier. I hoped to love the view at our new lake house just as much.
When Atlas asked where I wanted to go to have our child, the lake house was first place I thought of. But I couldn't go back with all the blood that I knew was on the floors and the pain inside those walls. Atlas built us a new one in the area. I wanted to be close to the city so he could still work, but far enough from the corruption and poison.
I should have been scared to bring a child into this world. I was. I was terrified of what could happen, but that wouldn't stop me from trying to give him or her the best life ever. Atlas had saved my life many times over, and he would do so for his baby. He would never turn into his father, that much I knew. Ace teased that the baby would make him soft. I didn't think that would ever happen. Not in any one else’s eyes anyways.
"The plane is waiting," Atlas told me, taking my hand and leading me out the door.
This penthouse had been my home for the last six months. While Atlas and Ace had trailed leads about the trafficking ring and had made alliances, I had enjoyed Paris and the art here. I no longer felt in danger, although I probably was now more than ever. I was the boss's woman and just as hated or respected as he was.
There was no doubt Atlas would keep us safe. Even as we get into our car to travel to the airport, I was surrounded. Sal and Tony were in the car with us and were never too far away. Ace was with Liddy in the states and would be joining us at the lake house. Knowing I would see them soon made our departure less bittersweet.
Our car parked on the runway and we boarded our small plane. I would never get used to the money Atlas seemed to have. I knew not all this money was earned legally, but this was the life I had chosen for myself. I would like to think my dad was proud that I had found someone to take care of me, and who was good on the inside, despite what he'd done on the outside.
"I think the belt is buckled," I told Atlas who was still checking the seat belt on my lap.
"Just making sure," he mumbled. He still didn't look satisfied with the hold.
"Atlas." I waited until I had his full attention. "I love you."
"I love you too, Little Star."
Forgetting about buckling me in so tight I couldn't breathe, he stood to tell the pilot we were ready.
"Let's go. Uncle Ace and Aunt Liddy are waiting for us at home!"
I smiled during takeoff with excitement and squeezed Atlas's hand tightly. I missed my brother and my best friend. I was anxious to see how Liddy was doing. Ace was trying to help her and get her revenge, but I knew she hadn't healed yet. Maybe she never would. Maybe none of us would ever be the same.
I knew I still had wounds and cuts that would never close. Some pain would never go away and some nightmares would always come back. Certain things would forever haunt me and I wasn’t sure I could get rid of them. I might always see the death of my parents when I slept or the way it felt to shoot and kill a man. Those nightmares might not go away, but I wouldn’t let them consume me again. The only thing I could do was to fill the holes with enough happiness and love to make the bad worth it.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Thank you for reading. If you enjoyed Atlas, please consider leaving a review.
Thank you
Atlas is the sixth book I wrote. I am lucky enough to say that I have a few people that stuck with me through most of them. Atlas, and the others, would not be here without my little support system. The people that stood by me, virtually and physically.
My husband rocks because put up with me when I was crabby, tired and stressed out as I worked on Atlas. He deserves a medal for that. I was a witch. My fur babies never left my side either.
My family never stopped believing in me. Thank you for your never-ending support and love.
Thank you Steph. I love you and you were always there to talk me down or just keep me company. I needed that. I have no idea what I do without you.
Tiffany. You are amazing and came into my life when I needed you the most. Thank you for your kind words, support and loyal pimping.
Thank you to the small group of Alyne’s Angels for your help spreading the word. [Jordan: you are a superstar!]
Huge thanks to R.B.A. Designs. Thank you for making the perfect cover for Atlas. You never cease to amaze me with your talent!
Thank you Jen at Beyond the Cover Editing. You fixed my hot mess. I don’t know how you sorted it all out.
Thank you to my beta readers, Missy and Ashley. You ladies have been with me though every book now!
Thank you to every blog, reader and reviewer that has shared or will share Atlas. It means the word to me and I would be invisible without you!
Most of alclass="underline" Thank you for picking up this book and taking a chance!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Alyne lives in Ohio with her husband, two dogs and cat. Working full time in an office all day, she spends her nights reading, writing or watching an entire TV series in a night. She refuses to grow up and loves Disney movies and anything with owls. She couldn't live without her coffee or her furry "children".
Alyne wrote her first novel titled "Light to the Darkness" in 2014, followed by the Conflicted Encounters Series.
To stay up to date on what Alyne is working on, teasers and more: Sign up for the newsletter.
She loves to connect with readers so feel free to stalk her!
Website: www.AlyneRoberts.com
Like Her on Facebook: www.Facebook.com/AlyneRoberts
Books By Alyne Roberts:
Light to the Darkness
Memorized
Conflicted Encounters Series:
Jolted
Impacted
Shaken
IN MY HEAD
S.L. Schiefer
Prologue
It’s amazing, looking back, what all I missed. Things that were obviously right in front of me. I couldn’t see how things looked from the outside, because I was in my own world of denial. I had no idea how I got to where I did.