To Kim BookJunkie, thank you so much for editing Take it Deep. As always, you’ve done a brilliant job. It also helps that you’re such a wonderful person to work with. Love ya, girl!
To my family, thank you for supporting me to the fullest and allowing me to keep my dream alive. I love all you to bits!
And, to the readers, thank you so much for sticking with me through the good and the bad. I know some of my work hasn’t been loved by all, so I’m eternally grateful for your loyalty. I will be bringing out more books as the year progresses, so I hope you will enjoy most of them. Whatever the outcome and whatever you think or feel, please know that I value your opinions. I will always value a reader’s opinion. As I stated above, you are what enables me to grow and develop as an author. I know I can do better. I can always do better.
Love and light,
Jaimie xx
For lovers of dark and taboo, turn the page to read a snippet from TAINTED LOVE…
TAINTED LOVE
BY
JAIMIE ROBERTS
Prologue
8 Years Ago
“I don’t want you to leave me,” I whine, hating how pathetic my voice sounds.
My brother steps forward, a small but sad smile curving his lips. Within touching distance, he loops his fingers through my hair and places a strand behind my ear, lightly cupping my chin with his thumb and forefinger, holding my stare.
“Dad will look after you. And if not him, Uncle will.”
I crane my neck behind me to make sure my parents aren’t within listening distance. My brother, now twenty-one, has decided that I’m old enough in my fifteen years to look after myself—to leave me with a mother who likes to drink herself into a stupor, and a father who—although nice enough to me—enables my mother’s habit because… well, I’m pretty sure he wants her dead. My brother always craved to join the army but stayed because of me. He stayed because he knew he would be the one and only one who could look after me properly. My mother can’t, and my father tries his best, but he once gave me food poisoning when he cooked dinner. My brother, after that, cooked whatever we could gather at the time, until I was old enough to take over that chore myself.
“You know I’ve wanted this for a while, Bri. You’ll be sixteen soon and doing your exams. The world is your oyster after that. Hell, you can even join me… if you want.”
He winks, ruffling my hair like I’m a child. When I complain, he chuckles under his breath.
“Joining the army has been your dream. Not mine.”
My brother glances over my shoulder towards our parents before his eyes land back on me. “It was a dream pushed on me.”
I nod my head, a wave of sadness encasing me. I understand why he wants to leave. I will do the same once I turn sixteen, take my exams, and get myself a job. Seven more months and I will be able to leave home.
I can’t wait.
“Just don’t forget about me.” My slightly raised eyebrows cause him to chuckle.
“Seriously, Bri, how could I ever forget you? You’re my only sister. It’s me who needs to worry about you. Without your protective brother around, all the boys will come flocking, asking you out on dates. You’ll forget all about me soon enough.”
I nudge his arm, scolding him. “Hey, that’ll never happen, and you know it.”
My brother extends his arm out to me and produces his little finger. “Pinky promise?”
I giggle and shake my head before latching my little finger round his. Ever since I was a little girl, about six years old, we have been pinky promising things to each other.
“Pinky promise,” I reply, biting my lip. Fresh tears begin to sting my eyes, but I fight them because no matter how much I don’t want him to leave, I also want him to be free of this shithole life we’re in. When he first told me he was leaving to join the army, I had caused a scene, screaming and shouting, throwing things around the house. It was only when I calmed down that I realised what a selfish brat I was being. Just because I can’t be free just now, doesn’t mean my brother can’t. Besides, if he hadn’t joined now, he would have had to wait a few more months. I couldn’t