Corruption - Leigh Lennon Page 0,79
over in fifteen minutes.” I’ve flown into Seattle to get answers from Calla, and I’m not going back to London until I get what I want. Maddox is over the construction of the Seattle Club, and I’m needed in London for the finishing touches on the Dungeon Elite about ready to open in a month.
“Do you have the address to my hotel?” I ask.
“Yep, I do.” Her answers are short in her tone.
“Do you have Rain with you?” I need to look at her baby. I need to see her in case I have to let go.
“Yeah, I just got back from the doctor. It was the only way I could get away from Dennis.” Dennis, her boyfriend. I hate him, for obvious reasons, but for so much more. He’s an overbearing asshole.
Her pitch isn’t the normal Calla, and my heart breaks for her. She’s trying to do the right thing, giving her newborn daughter a family, but not with Dennis. He will never be the husband Calla needs or the father Rain deserves.
Rain is her name. It’s so perfect. I’ve only seen a picture of her from Maddox, but I can’t imagine Calla’s baby girl being named anything different.
I pace the hotel room, waiting for her arrival, losing track of time. I should pack up, just in case I’m not needed here after our little chat, but I can’t think that way. I’ve never wanted something so much before in my life.
A light knock on the door has me almost running to it. I pull it back to Calla’s deep ebony hair and the beauty on her face, though it looks as if she hasn’t slept in days. The sweet squeaks coming from the baby carrier in her left hand have my heart thumping a mile a minute.
“Hey, Lil.” It’s what I’ve always called her. Not too original with her name being Calla, but I’ve known her my whole life, and since we grew up together, I think I’ve loved her this long, too.
“I only have a couple of minutes.” She doesn’t stop to give me a peck on the cheek. I guess last time she did, it got a little out of hand. “I have the envelope in my purse.” She places Rain’s carrier on the bed as she rifles through her purse to grab the whole reason she’s here.
I push the blanket off the carrier to the beauty of Calla’s baby. She’s so beautiful. Dark spiky hair and an olive complexion, but Dennis is Latino, too, so I don’t think much of it.
She hands me the envelope. “I’ve not looked at it yet. I thought I’d wait until I was with you to find out for sure.”
What I’m holding is more like a boulder, but I can’t look, not yet. “Lil, babe, it’s me. Are you okay? You look…”
“Yeah, I know I look like shit, Anton. I haven’t slept. My boobs hurt and…” She stops to point at my hand. “Can we just get on with this?” she pleads.
My heart pounds at the idea of these life-changing results, and I know what I want. I want them; I’ve always wanted them.
I read it out loud, so Calla finds out the same time I do.
In the case of Rain Anna Sobota, Anton Rivera is excluded as the biological father.
I let the results slip from my fingers. My heart instantly breaks. This hadn’t been the results I’d hoped for.
Devotion—Anton and Calla’s story—coming Fall of 2020.
A Note to my Readers
I write in many different genres within romance.
I hope you have enjoyed Maddox and his precious gem. There will be more books, in this series, coming soon!
If you loved Jewel and Maddox, please leave me a review for me on Goodreads at https://bit.ly/2xMznth
And Amazon at:
Other books and people mentioned in this story:
Luke Staudle is first mentioned in Unfiltered. He’s a Navy Seal and is the brother of the main character Justine Hernandez. Luke doesn’t have his story yet, but don’t worry, he has one to tell but until then, you can check him out in Unfiltered at: https://amzn.to/2WTP21O
What I have learned along the way
I grew up in the Pacific Northwest and I loved it there. I find it easier to write about Seattle than other areas my books take place in. In this story, I wanted to show a broken father, in the way of Jewel’s dad who was so shattered, some may have been upset that he was forgiven at the end of the book.
But what I found when I wrote this book, as I really considered how his restoration would play out—good people mess up for awful reasons. I’d done research, about honorable men and women who screwed up and atoned for their sins, as Jewel’s father had. And because Jewel truly was such a forgiving person, it was certainly in her nature. Maddox on the other hand, would have never forgiven Mr. Atkins.
I really hope you loved Maddox and his precious gem.
Until the next book,
Leigh
Other Books by Leigh Lennon
The Unbreakable Stand Alone Series:
Unfiltered: https://amzn.to/2SozxQW
Unacquainted: https://amzn.to/2SruHCg
Unwanted: https://amzn.to/2GkqV7g
The Jake Davis Novella Series
The Holiday Package and The Sweetest Package Box Set in the Complete Package: https://amzn.to/2Nfc3J4
The Power of Three Love Series
Foundations: https://amzn.to/2UW0bxn
Fahrenheit: https://amzn.to/2Dgbn1k
Famous: https://amzn.to/31FxAPT
Forgiven: http://bit.ly/2tWRnzi
Fans of Football Series
Color Blind: https://amzn.to/2RnEGmC
Rules of Submission: https://amzn.to/2THGlWp
Father/Son Duet
Like Father Like Son: https://amzn.to/2Wbfrbb
Different as Night and Day: https://amzn.to/33W0Xi5
425 Madison Avenue Series (Multi Author Series)
Must Love Coffee: https://amzn.to/2GAPv3h
Must Love Forever: https://amzn.to/38Fms9f
With Me in Seattle Universe Novel
Forbidden with Me: https://amzn.to/3cHE6fc
Dungeon Elite
Temptation:
Corruption:
Devotion: Coming Soon October 2020
Stand Alone Books
Stockholm: https://amzn.to/2GCnnMT
The Last Breath: https://amzn.to/2I0l4Wm
Acknowledgments
It Takes a Village!
Thanks to everyone!
First and foremost, to the women who take the very rough draft of my words in the rawest form and treat it with the utmost care and respect. Nancy George—you’ve become my friend and I treasure you! Kelly—you are wonderful and I count myself lucky to have met you. Ashley—I adore you so much and am so glad you’re now part of my team! Megan—you are so sweet and wonderful and the best vomit sister a girl could ask for. And Rebecca- you are the sweetest! I can’t tell you how much I appreciate the time and effort you all take to help make this book a success.
Auden, you are my writing bestie and my person in this book world! Thanks for being you!
Jenny Sims—Thanks for the commitment to the book, to make it the best it could be.
Julie— As always, I couldn’t do this without you! You’re professional and sweet and so good at your job! Thanks for everything you do for me.
Liz— These covers are everything! You have become such a wonderful friend to me, and I adore you!
Kelly—I can’t even begin to express how wonderful you are! Thanks for all you do, and attempting to keep me organized, dealing with a little bit of my crazy.
Thanks to my dear friend, Elizabeth. I tell her every story so many times, she knows my characters as well as I do. I love you!
Dawn—My best friend after twenty-five plus years! I love how much I shock you by my subject matter and how my ideas make you laugh.
Amie and Miranda: I have to say I can’t imagine not having you crazy ladies as part of my life. Y’all are sometimes a little more than crazy but in a good way and that’s probably why we get along so well!
I can’t say enough to my Facebook group page: Succulent and Sassy Reads! You all are so awesome and I am humbled you follow me and encourage me to continue writing.
Thanks so much to my incredible arc team and to everyone who read an advance copy and posted a review. You ladies are so valuable to me!
I want to thank my readers because without you, this would not be possible!
Of course, none of this would be a possibility without the hubs and our little ones who call me Mom. I love you more than I can express.
~Leigh
About the Author
Leigh Lennon is a mother, a veteran and a wife of a cancer survivor. Originally with a degree in education, she started writing as an outlet that has led to a deep passion, writing twelve books. Now ready to publish all of them, she lugs her computer with her as she crafts her next story. Her imaginary friends become real on her pages as she creates a world for them. She loves pretty nails, spikey hair and large earrings. Leigh can be found drinking coffee or wine, depending on the time of the day.
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