Forgiven: The Deception Series

By Nicky Jayne

Facing her past head on, Willow struggles to maintain control as she fights her horrific past and her uncertain future.
Her past was riddled with so many lies and deceit. There was no way of knowing which way was up. But her future, one where she feels destined to be alone, is much more harrowing than anything she had faced all those years ago.
A life without the man she loves.
Life is far from normal for Parker Davis. No matter how much he tries to hide himself behind his work, no matter how many miles he puts between him and everything that happened; nothing seems to change. She is all he thinks about. She is everything to him. He just doesn’t know what he needs to do to get her back in his life.
Will Parker and Willow finally put everything behind them?
Will all be, Forgiven?

“I will forever be yours. Always.”

• Language: English
• Publisher: Nicky Jayne
• Release date: Dec 10, 2014
• ISBN: 9781502493910

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Forgiven

Copyright © 2014 by Nicky Jayne

Cover design by Marisa Shor of Cover Me, Darling

Formatting by Cassy Roop of Pink Ink Designs

All rights reserved.

Without limiting the rights under copyright reserved above, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without the prior written permission of both the copyright owner and the above publisher of this book.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, brands, media, and incidents are either the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. The author acknowledges the trademarked status and trademark owners of various products, bands, and/or restaurants referenced in this work of fiction, which have been used without permission. The publication/use of these trademarks is not authorized, associated with, or sponsored by the trademark owners.

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As this is the last book in the series, the list of people I have to thank is a mile long. There is no way I could include them all; my editor would have a field day with the word count. So, I will break it up into categories… if that’s even remotely possible.

My team consists of beta readers, editors, cover models, cover artists, and photographers. Each and every one of them has earned my respect, my love, and my gratitude. I could honestly not do what I do without you. You have excelled in everything, jumped through hoops for me, and sacrificed time to keep me on my toes. So to each and every one of you, I Thank you from the bottom of my heart, and I look forward to working with you real soon.

You’re a gift from God. There is nothing I wouldn’t do for you. I love you more and more every day. Thank you for being patient and dealing with my laptop disasters with grace. You’re my strength, the reason I do what I do, and without you, none of this would be possible. I love you so very much!

There are no words to describe how much I am thankful for you. Thank you for taking a chance on me and reading my work. I hope that Forgiven will not disappoint. I look forward to hearing from you all soon.

From me to you…

Forgiven is the last book in the Deception Series. Tanner, Riley, Willow, and Parker have been a very big part of my life for a year now. As much as I would love to continue to write them, everything must come to an end, and for me, that time has come. I hope you have enjoyed reading the series as much as I have enjoyed writing it. Thank you all for the support. For now though, enjoy what Parker and Willow have in store for you… I promised a happily ever after, but did I follow through?

Turn that page and find out…

Love always,

THEY SAY MURDER, I SAY SELF-DEFENSE. My nerves are shot. My heart skips, my palms are sweaty, and a sea sick stomach wretches through me. I sit and wait in the mahogany-filled room as my lawyer babbles on about what I should expect today. I stare at him. His mouth moves up and down, and his thick, ginger-haired, round fingers run through his slick hair. But for the life of me, I don’t hear a word.

Silence is golden, they say. What I would have given to not have conscious, and stayed silent. But here I am, doing the right thing—facing a panel of eight jurors as the case surrounding Duncan, myself, and what’s left of my estranged family comes to a close.

The team of cognizant yet arbitrary jurors has reached a verdict, so here I sit, waiting for my name to be called, nervously anticipating what will come of me.

A sudden gush of cold air and a barrage of voices hit me like a train on a runaway course.

Willow…

Yes, I counter, temporarily emerging from my dazed state.

It’s time.

I stare at him for just a second longer before pushing myself from the burgundy couch and brushing my shaky, white hands down my charcoal grey pencil skirt.

You look fine, a female voice calls from just in front of me.

I nod at the clerk. Sucking in a deep breath, I follow my lawyer out of the claustrophobic room. Stopping just shy of the door, I turn and look back. Will this be the last time I see something like this? Am I destined for an eight by eight, white cinder block room closed off by metal bars and heavy locks?

I hope not. I pray for different scenery, but the case is overwhelming. I stood in that alleyway, eyeballing the man that took my life away from me and held whatever was left of it firmly in the ball of his hand.

As I pass through the hallway, people seem to stop talking, and all eyes appear to land on me. At least that’s how it feels. Of course, it’s a complete fabrication. My mind is playing tricks on me. I am nothing important, and no one knows who I am. I am not front page news. I am just a simple woman mixed up with a devil of a man, and I happened to pull the trigger.

Ready? he questions.

Yes, I choke.

At my reply, he pulls the door open, and the room falls silent as I take small hesitant steps inside. I look to the crowd behind the barriers; there are no smiling faces. As I round the wooden panels, I look to the jurors’ box. Each seat is empty but not for long.

Breathe, Willow, I say to myself over and over again. I sit, my hands flat against my thin legs, and I wait. It doesn’t take long for everyone to come in and names to be called. The judge says her piece, and once more, we are seated again.

Breathe, Willow.

My heart skips faintly as the familiar voice comes from behind me. I turn slightly, laying my head on my shoulder. I only get a glimpse of him as my lawyer taps