The domino effect, p.10
The Domino Effect, page 10
Inside, he escorted me to an island where he helped me lay on top. The woman was yelling about the trail of blood while Tamera pleaded for help to her. Hype closed the front door, pulled out a gun, and aimed it at the woman.
“You’re a doctor, right?”
“I am. But this man needs a hospital. I can’t operate on him here. And why are you aiming that damn gun at me? This isn’t how you convince me to help you!”
I couldn’t see her face, but her tone indicated she was more pissed off than afraid.
“You can, and you will. If he dies, it’s on you. And there’s a bunch of people that will take turns killing you until they feel better. Fix. Him.”
I wanted to hit Hype so that he wouldn’t yell at the lady, but I was too busy trying to stay alert. It wasn’t the way to ask her for help. Plus, she was kind of cute. Not to mention fierce. And there was no reason to anger the woman who held my life in her hands. Even though she stood up to Hype when he was waving an empty gun around at her, she was still a woman.
The woman spoke to Tamera angrily. “Why would you get me caught up in this shit?”
“Please, Kay. As a favor to me. I–I need him to live,” Tamera pleaded.
“Please,” I said to her, but I wasn’t sure if she could hear me.
She sighed before disappearing down the hall. Moments later, she was back with a bag full of supplies. “Go to the bathroom and bring me that first aid kit. I need some more supplies, and they should be in there. Don’t think you’re going anywhere. You’re seeing him through this, and afterward, you’re leaving and taking your friend with you.”
“Deal.” Tamera ran off down the hall.
Kay walked over to me. “I’m going to need to get this vest off.”
“Cut it,” I mumbled.
“That’s a three-thousand-dollar investment!” Hype yelled.
I could get another one. “Cut… it.” And that was the last thing that I remembered before everything went black.
* * *
He's a Savage...
Saint
Kimora took an oath to save lives, but she didn’t want the hassle of healing me. She thinks I’m a hoodlum who gets into trouble, shoots things up, and creates problems. Not me. I’m a king, a peacemaker. The only issues I have are ones brought to my doorstep, like kidnapping my nephew. If she does what I need, kisses it better, and quits complaining about the blood in her house, I can be on my way to finding the culprits.
She’s either immune to my charms or playing hard to get. Because I have never come across anything I couldn’t have, and Kimora isn’t the exception.
Kimora
Saint mixed himself up in a situation. The normalcy he has, I avoid, a life filled with crime, risks, and drugs. I have problems to handle, things he wouldn’t understand. Broken, it’ll take more than a handsome face to fix me. My focus is on getting back to work, not on the sinner who could flip my entire world upside down.
Get it here!
Savage Kings’ Syndicate, Book 1
Sharp
I dropped into a nearby seat, hearing words I never thought I'd hear. The news of death was a lighter pill to swallow. I removed the phone from my ear and searched the air for the whys.
A few months back, I had to make a call on something I wished was in my control. A deal I made thirteen years ago came back to haunt me in a way that forced me to act. Both were bad and included my daughter. One wasn't better than the other. I killed somebody both times, delivering justice.
Back then, we found my daughter on an auction site that my employer, Emilio, listed her on. One wrong move on my part as his hired hand and she would be bought, sold, and delivered. Domino, king of California, made a deal to get her out of it, a job with him as his personal security. I'd get to kill that son of a bitch Emilio, and my daughter went under the Savage King’s protection. Contract accepted. Was it fucked? Sure, but it was what it was. I didn't have the money to front myself, so I signed up for what he offered. Problem solved. Not.
A few months ago, that decision came knocking at our door. The men who wanted my daughter thirteen years ago were back and trying to auction her off again. They found some clause about her needing to be used for passion when Domino purchased her. He had no plans for that, but he would not let her go, lose his investment, and hurt my family. So I had her married. She knew nothing about it, but he ended up being the right man for her. They were already in love. Neither my baby nor her mother were happy about the dangers that Nicole faced, and that's why I was getting my ass chewed out.
"Elijah Norman, are you ignoring me?" Kelsey yelled at me.
My anxiety had decreased only slightly thinking about the past, present, and future. Was she serious right now? I was outside on the patio, but I couldn't breathe. Maybe the oxygen out here was poisoned. Fuck, why is it so hot.
"ELIJAH!" And her screaming at me was making the walls of the enclosed patio close in around me.
"Let me call you back." I hung up the phone, removed my suit jacket, tie, button-down, and looked up at the sun that was beaming at me. Like that call, it was relentless. Sweat beaded on my face, shoulders, and down my back. Maybe I was having a heart attack. Yeah, that was it. Had to be.
"Ay, Sharp, you okay?" Ward asked as he nears me.
I lifted my hand to wave him off, and the world slipped from its axis. Chest heavy, I couldn’t inhale enough air, and the hardwood floor welcomed me as I fell to greet it.
"Call Doc!" Ward shouted just before I passed out.
Almost thirty years of memories assaulted me behind closed eyes. Every time I saw her deep dimples, pearly white teeth, perfect smile, and eyes, it always made me feel safe.
Kelsey, my wife, was the reason I breathed. My daughter was how I seemed to exist. Both were two parts of my soul that I needed. But if I died right there and then, Kelsey couldn't divorce me, right?
"Looks like you had an anxiety attack." Doc had done a full-scale workup on me, and all he could talk about was anxiety.
"There has to be something else wrong. I passed out." I buttoned up my shirt to distract myself. "6'3" and 230 pounds? It's going to take more than a little anxiety to knock me down."
"Yes, the seventy degrees outside contributed to the problem. You overheated, wearing all those clothes, dehydration, and then add pounding in your chest and shortness of breath. There were a lot of factors, but the truth is in whatever jump-started all this. What happened?"
Doc was the doctor who cared for all seven Savage King brothers, Domino's wife and kids, and all the rest of us who worked closer to them. Everything always got back to Domino. I wasn't ready to let him in on what was happening until I got a better sense of things. Plus, things always worked out better when they came from the direct source.
"Just some bad news is all." I side-stepped the question and waited to be released.
Doc pulled a card from his wallet and handed it to me. "I suggest you call her asap. Maybe she can help with your bad news before it blows up to be bigger than you want. Nip it and work through things… whatever they are." Doc patted my shoulder after I took the card. “Dr. Fiddle, Psychologist.” What was I supposed to talk to her about?
“I appreciate all your help.”
Doc had an office set up on the property, much like what you’d see in a hospital. He had all the bells and whistles, pressure cups, scale, cabinets filled with stuff I didn’t know, a computer to track his findings, sink, patient table, chairs, you know… doctor stuff.
“Anxiety is just as serious as anything else. It weighs down on your body physically. Whatever shook you today was something deep-rooted that could resurface. Handle it before it makes you sicker than what you are. Your mental health is important, and that anxiety attack was trying to tell you that something is wrong. Listen to it.” Doc didn’t wait for me to respond before he walked out of the room.
I sat there looking at the card, thinking about what he said. My wife wanted a divorce; that was my problem. We’d been together a long time, and the thought of letting her go didn’t sit right with me. She was mine, and I didn’t take the ‘til death do us part’ lightly.
Space? I gave her that two years ago. We’ve been living separate lives since then, communicating about our daughter Nicole when we needed to. I knew there was a possibility of her messing around, but with us separated, I didn’t care, at least not enough to divorce her. I’d always deemed it temporary. Obviously, we were not on the same page. She wanted out. Why now?
A call from his wife, asking for a divorce, sends Elijah off on a mission to see if his marriage can be saved. Separated for two years, he’s not ready to give up on his first love. Kelsey wants to move on since she has a boyfriend who wants commitment. The checklist is simple: get Elijah to agree to the divorce, get engaged, and then try not to fall for the charms of a man who still controls her heart. Elijah has the opposite objective in mind. The past is stacked against him and nothing in his present has changed to warrant a bright future between them. It’s easier to let her go and continue on without her.
* * *
Mafia ties, a broken heart, and a love triangle aren’t how you start to rebuild something
that was meant to last. Is it strong enough, or will everything crumble around them?
Get it here!
The Savage Kings’ Empire
Savage Kings Series
A black mafia, that originates in California, is taking over. These men are loving to their women but savages everywhere else. Trying to cross them is always a mistake and they don't give second chances. Brothers by creed and loyalty, they’ll do whatever is necessary to protect the people they love.
* * *
Prequel- Guarded Truths
Book 1- The Domino Effect
Book 2- Saint or Sinner
Book 3- Turner’s War
Book 4- Ward of the State
Book 5- The Test of Perc
Book 6- O’ He Have Slain
Book 7- Deer’s Blood
* * *
Savage Kings’ Syndicate Series
The men and women who work for the Kings are just as ruthless. Make sure to check them out too! They have novellas written between the original seven Savage Kings books to help move along the series.
* * *
Prequel- The Entanglements
Book 1- The Surrender
Book 2- The Unforeseen Arrangements
Book 3- The Compromise
Book 4- The Wager
Book 5- The Temptation
Book 6- The Controller
Book 7- Merciful
* * *
Savage Claims Series
The Queens have more to say. They let the seven Kings rule the first series, allowing them to own their hearts. Now that The Threat has been exposed and the situation settled, the ladies are ready to expose their deepest desires no matter the cost. There’s a new war brewing, and this time, it’s inside the gates!
* * *
Prequel- Love Me
Book 1- Choose Me
Book 2- Rapture Me
Book 3- Endure Me
Book 4- Save Me
Book 5- Abide With Me
Book 6- Show Me
Book 7- Tame Me
* * *
Savage Disciples Series
Tommy and the Rojo Disciples joined forces with the Savage Kings. California isn’t big enough for both teams to rule so they’re branching out and conquering new territory. They’re starting with taking over where their common enemy left off. Cincinnati.
* * *
Prequel- Seoul
Book 1- Tommy
Book 2- Gabriel
Book 3- Andre
Book 4- Mateo
Book 5- Kimiko
Book 6- Santiago
Book 7- Blaze
I’d like to say thank you to everybody, friends, and family, who have supported me during this journey. It’s been a long time coming.
A very special thanks to my team; beta readers, editors, assistant, cover, and media designers. Without you guys, who knows what these pages would’ve held.
To the little girl who never thought this day would come, we made it! The journey is here. The time is now.
To my potential readers and loyal supporters, thank you for giving me a reason to breathe life into these words.
Forever bound,
Slave to the Pen,
Jade Royal
When the voices begin to speak, Jade Royal sits down in her lab to tell the tale. Each story unfolds when she listens to her instincts, bringing the words to life. Jade has always expressed her creative nature artistically, especially by writing. She refers to herself as “Slave to the Pen” because it’s difficult for her to resist the call to write.
Jade resides in Cincinnati, Ohio where she was born and raised. Always traveling, she looks for the next adventure in everything she does. Coffee is always part of her plan with shenanigans thrown in the mix and music of all genres blasting from her playlists. Jade Royal has never met a stranger and once you’re part of her pack, she holds on tight keeping those in her fold protected.
Jade Royal is the author of the “Limits of Love Series”. The series focuses on love, romance, and the eroticism of the two combined. She writes interracial romance in lots of sub-genres including; BDSM Romance, Paranormal Romance, Suspenseful Romance, and more. She also dabbles in non-romance genres of Thriller and Suspense.
As an author, Jade pulls her readers in to experience raw stories that readers can relate to on various levels. The emotional roller coaster bestowed will hopefully make her readers stalk her words and indulge in her realm of fun.
Queen of her world, Jade Royal pushes the envelope of idealism, bringing you something a little different than you’re used to. To explore her domain, follow her on her website and social media avenues. www.authorjaderoyal.com
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Love Catered (To You) Series
Exploring Her Truth
Exploring His Truth
Hail Mary
Mending In Paradise
A Reason to Win
Sworn to Secrecy
Blissful Vixen
Heart’s Salvation
* * *
Limits of Love Series:
Unspoken Heartaches
Imperfect Love
Tethered Trust
Broken Intentions (Coming Soon…)
* * *
California Romance Series
Flawed Lies
Country Blues
* * *
Imprinted Mates Series
The Price They Paid
The Sacrifice They Made (Coming Soon…)
* * *
Battle of Legacies Series
For Love, Not War
For Love, Not Lust (Coming Soon…)
* * *
Crowned Ever After Series
Devoted
Trust (Coming Soon)
* * *
Standalone
Chancing Love (Free on all retailers)
The Reaper Collection
* * *
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Jade Royal, The Domino Effect
