And though Annabelle and the others did their best to make sure I was never truly alone, that I knew I had them as family, I wasn’t entirely right yet.
I wasn’t completely whole.
But soon, Marshall would be home, and then my brothers, and then everything would be okay. Finally.
I slid my earrings out of my ears, tossed my shoes onto the floor, and looked around my small home that didn’t feel like mine yet. I was a military wife. I didn’t get to put many things on the walls or put my finishing touches on everything until I knew that we would be in a place for a while. These past two tours had extended Marshall’s duties here, which meant I had been in one place longer than planned. I’d been able to put down some roots with friends, and at least get a decent job. But I still hadn’t made this place a home. I needed to change that, but not until Marshall was here. I didn’t want to make too many changes unless he was back. That way, when he came home, it wasn’t too much of a shock.
He would already have enough stress when he came back stateside. I didn’t need to add to it by changing everything and decorating things he had no chance to voice his opinions on.
It would have been nice to have my big family close, to not feel as though it had been ages since I’d seen them. But soon, that would change. I was only a little jealous of Annabelle and her family, but then again, they’d opened their arms to me, and I was never alone when it came to them. They were always there, Annabelle and Paige and Brenna and the Montgomery brothers. They were loud, boisterous, and always had open arms, even if the older two brothers, the twins, glowered a lot most days.
I was thinking about taking a bath when the doorbell rang. I frowned, wondering if maybe Annabelle had decided to check on me.
Or perhaps it was a salesperson who wanted to sell me exterminator services or water. They seemed to come around more often these days, and it annoyed me to no end. It would annoy Marshall even more, so maybe I should get one of those signs that most solicitors would ignore, but at least I could point at it and scowl instead of having to speak and open the door fully.
I looked through the side window and my knees went weak. But I didn’t say anything. Maybe it wasn’t what I thought it was.
Perhaps this was just a mistake.
I was Mrs. Marshall Strong, Eliza Wilder Strong. I could do this.
I opened the door to the uniformed officer, the man who must be a chaplain, and my knees gave out.
“Mrs. Strong?”
I could hear the words, and I knew what was coming, but everything just echoed as a keening wail sounded.
Mine.
And when the men spoke, I knew it was over.
Marshall was dead.
My husband was gone.
Next up in the Montgomery Ink series?
Beckett Montgomery finds his fate with Eliza in INKED OBSESSION
Want to read a special BONUS EPILOGUE featuring Jacob and Annabelle CLICK HERE!
A Note from Carrie Ann Ryan
Thank you so much for reading INKED PERSUASION!
This book was about second chances, making mistakes, and finding your path. I hope you loved their story as much as I do.
Next up in the Montgomery Ink series?
Beckett Montgomery finds his fate with Eliza in Inked Obsession. I know their book won’t be easy, but it’s what needs to be written.
And if you’re new to my books, you can start anywhere within the my interconnected series and catch up! Each book is a stand alone, so jump around!
Don’t miss out on the Montgomery Ink World!
Montgomery Ink (The Denver Montgomerys)
Montgomery Ink: Colorado Springs (The Colorado Springs Montgomery Cousins)
Montgomery Ink: Boulder (The Boulder Montgomery Cousins)
Gallagher Brothers (Jake’s Brothers from Ink Enduring)
Whiskey and Lies (Tabby’s Brothers from Ink Exposed)
Fractured Connections (Mace’s sisters from Fallen Ink)
Less Than (Dimitri’s siblings from Restless Ink)
Promise Me (Arden’s siblings from Wrapped in Ink)
On My Own (Dillon from the Fractured Connections series.)
If you want to make sure you know what’s coming next from me, you can sign up for my newsletter at www.CarrieAnnRyan.com; follow me on twitter at @CarrieAnnRyan, or like my Facebook page. I also have a Facebook Fan Club where we have trivia, chats, and other goodies. You guys are the reason I get to do what I do and I thank you.
Make sure you’re signed up for my MAILING LIST so you can know when the next releases are available as well as find giveaways and FREE READS.
Happy Reading!
The Montgomery Ink: Fort Collins Series:
Book 1: Inked Persuasion
Book 2: Inked Obsession
Book 3: Inked Devotion
Want to read a special BONUS EPILOGUE featuring Jacob and Annabelle CLICK HERE!
Want to keep up to date with the next Carrie Ann Ryan Release? Receive Text Alerts easily!
Text CARRIE to 210-741-8720
About the Author
Carrie Ann Ryan is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of contemporary, paranormal, and young adult romance. Her works include the Montgomery Ink, Redwood Pack, Fractured Connections, and Elements of Five series, which have sold over 3.0 million books worldwide. She started writing while in graduate school for her advanced degree in chemistry and hasn’t stopped since. Carrie Ann has written over seventy-five novels and novellas with more in the works. When she’s not losing herself in her emotional and action-packed worlds, she’s reading as much as she can while wrangling her clowder of cats who have more followers than she does.
Also from Carrie Ann Ryan
The Montgomery Ink: Fort Collins Series:
Book 1: Inked Persuasion
Book 2: Inked Obsession
Book 3: Inked Devotion
The Promise Me Series:
Book 1: Forever Only Once
Book 2: From That Moment
Book 3: Far From Destined
Book 4: From Our First
The On My Own Series:
Book 1: My One Night
Book 2: My Rebound
Book 3: My Next Play
The Tattered Royals Series:
Book 1: Royal Line
The Ravenwood Coven Series:
Book 1: Dawn Unearthed
Montgomery Ink:
Book 0.5: Ink Inspired
Book 0.6: Ink Reunited
Book 1: Delicate Ink
Book 1.5: Forever Ink
Book 2: Tempting Boundaries
Book 3: Harder than Words
Book 4: Written in Ink
Book 4.5: Hidden Ink
Book 5: Ink Enduring
Book 6: Ink Exposed
Book 6.5: Adoring Ink
Book 6.6: Love, Honor, & Ink
Book 7: Inked Expressions
Book 7.3: Dropout
Book 7.5: Executive Ink
Book 8: Inked Memories
Book 8.5: Inked Nights
Book 8.7: Second Chance Ink
Montgomery Ink: Colorado Springs
Book 1: Fallen Ink
Book 2: Restless Ink
Book 2.5: Ashes to Ink
Book 3: Jagged Ink
Book 3.5: Ink by Numbers
The Montgomery Ink: Boulder Series:
Book 1: Wrapped in Ink
Book 2: Sated in Ink
Book 3: Embraced in Ink
Book 4: Seduced in Ink
Book 4.5: Captured in Ink
The Gallagher Brothers Series:
Book 1: Love Restored
Book 2: Passion Restored
Book 3: Hope Restored
The Whiskey and Lies Series:
Book 1: Whiskey Secrets
Book 2: Whiskey Reveals
Book 3: Whiskey Undone
The Fractured Connections Series:
Book 1: Breaking Without You
Book 2: Shouldn’t Have You
Book 3: Falling With You
Book 4: Taken With You
The Less Than Series:
Book 1: Breathless With Her
Book 2: Reckless With You
Book 3: Shameless With Him
Redwood Pack Series:
Book 1: An Alpha’s Path
Book 2: A Taste for a Mate
Book 3: Trinity Bound
Book 3.5: A Night Away
Book 4: Enforcer’s Redemption
Book 4.5: Blurred Expectations
Book 4.7: Forgiveness
Book 5: Shattered Emotions
Book 6: Hidden Destiny
Book 6.5: A Beta’s Haven
Book 7: Fighting Fate
Book 7.5: Loving the Omega
Book 7.7: The Hunted Heart
Book 8: Wicked Wolf
The Talon Pack:
Book 1: Tattered Loyalties
Book 2: An Alpha’s Choice
Book 3: Mated in Mist
Book 4: Wolf Betrayed
Book 5: Fractured Silence
Book 6: Destiny Disgraced
Book 7: Eternal Mourning
Book 8: Strength Enduring
Book 9: Forever Broken
The Elements of Five Series:
Book 1: From Breath and Ruin
Book 2: From Flame and Ash
Book 3: From Spirit and Binding
Book 4: From Shadow and Silence
The Branded Pack Series:
(Written with Alexandra Ivy)
Book 1: Stolen and Forgiven
Book 2: Abandoned and Unseen
Book 3: Buried and Shadowed
Dante’s Circle Series:
Book 1: Dust of My Wings
Book 2: Her Warriors’ Three Wishes
Book 3: An Unlucky Moon
Book 3.5: His Choice
Book 4: Tangled Innocence
Book 5: Fierce Enchantment
Book 6: An Immortal’s Song
Book 7: Prowled Darkness
Book 8: Dante’s Circle Reborn
Holiday, Montana Series:
Book 1: Charmed Spirits
Book 2: Santa’s Executive
Book 3: Finding Abigail
Book 4: Her Lucky Love
Book 5: Dreams of Ivory
The Happy Ever After Series:
Flame and Ink
Ink Ever After
Single Title:
Finally Found You