THE AFTERMATH by R.J. Prescott (December 15, 2015; Forever E-Book)
The second book in a New Adult fiction series from USA Today bestselling author R.J. Prescott.
Cormac “The Hurricane” O’Connell’s star is on the rise. Billed as the most promising young boxer of his generation, his new career is taking him to places he never dreamed. But O’Connell only needs one thing in life: his wife. In her final year of college, Em cannot follow him around the world but together they make it work. Just when everything they ever wanted is on the horizon, the past resurfaces to haunt them, and O’Connell realizes that justice might not be a part of his happy ever after. He couldn’t protect Em once before, but in the aftermath of the hurricane, he will make sure that never happens again.
Excerpt:
Everything I meant to say went straight out of my head when I walked through the door.
“Arsehole,” was the first thing my wife said as she smacked me on the chest, then surprising the fuck out of me, threw her arms around me.
“I’m sorry, baby. I’m so fucking sorry,” I blurted out, as I held her as tightly to me as I could.
“What’s going on O’Connell?” Em mumbled into my chest.
I took a deep breath, knowing that she needed to know where my head was at. But it went against the grain to do anything but protect her and make her feel safe.
“I’m scared, Em,” I told her.
“Of what?” she asked.
“Of losing you. I promised I’d protect you, and I couldn’t have fucked that up more royally if I tried. Now I’m doing it again. Frank’s finding ways to get to you that I can’t stop. I’m pissed off and frustrated, and I’m hurting anyone in my line of fire because I can’t hurt Frank.”
Bone wearily tired, I sat down on the sofa and pulled Em to sit down in my lap. If she forgave me enough to hold me, then I wasn’t letting her go.
“Why the fuck didn’t you just talk to me about it?” she asked.
“I think you’ve sworn more today than any day since I met you,” I answered.
“Stop changing the subject,” she replied.
“Because husbands are supposed to protect their wives. It’s my job to deal with my shit, not drag you down with me,” I said.
“I didn’t marry you for protection. I married you because I love you. If there’s stuff worrying you, then I’m the one you talk to about it. Because this marriage isn’t going to work if you try and keep me in the dark about important stuff. I get that you want to take care of me, I really do. But don’t you think it worries me more to see you go off the deep end like this?”
“I’m sorry,” I repeated, but I really did mean it. There weren’t enough apologies in the world for the way I’d been acting.
“Don’t be sorry, O’Connell. Do something about it. You promised me once that you’d be a better man. Well, be it. You can’t solve every problem with your fist.
This shit has to end now or you’re going to end up in prison one day, and I really do not want to be visiting you there.”
“And if Frank gets to you again?” I asked her.
“Then I’ll fight him off again and stay alive until you rescue me. I’ve lived life in fear once before, O’Connell. I won’t do it again. You can’t worry about everything. Just take things a day at a time, and what will be will be. And when you get angry, hit punch bags, not people,” she ordered me.
“I can do that,” I agreed. I was so relieved that she hadn’t just up and left me after knocking Earnshaw out, that I’m pretty sure I would have agreed to anything. In all honesty, it felt like a weight had been lifted off me just by sharing with her.
I’m not the only one you need to apologize to either,” she reminded me.
“I know Sunshine,” I agreed, as I rested my forehead against hers. “I’m just really not looking forward to it.”
Enjoy Em & Con’s story from the beginning with THE HURRICANE, available now in e-book and coming to trade paperback February 2, 2016!
Emily McCarthy is living in fear of a dark and dangerous past. A gifted mathematician, she is little more than a hollow, broken shell, trying desperately to make ends meet long enough to finish her degree. Through an unlikely friendship with the aging, cantankerous owner of an old boxing gym, Em is thrown into the path of the most dangerous man that she has ever met.
Cormac “the Hurricane” O’Connell is cut, tattooed and dangerous. He is a lethal weapon with no safety and everyone is waiting for the misfire. He’s never been knocked out before, but when he meets Em he falls, HARD. Unlike any other girl he’s ever met, she doesn’t want anything from him. Just being around her makes him want to be a better person. They are polar opposites who were never meant to find each other, but some things are just worth the fight.
About the author:
USA Today bestselling author R.J. Prescott was born in Cardiff, South Wales, and studied law at the University of Bristol, England. Four weeks before graduation she fell in love, and stayed. Ten years later, she convinced her crazy, wonderful firefighter husband to move back to Cardiff where they now live with their two equally crazy sons.
This series sounds so amazing and I definitely want to read it will definitely be doing this asap! Thanks for contest!