Broken - A Pieces Of One Novella (The Dark Life Collection)

By SVC Ricketts

They say there are five stages of loss. In a way, that’s what I’m going through of sorts. But I find myself stuck in two of them, anger and depression.

1)Denial
I lived there when she left with Seviride at the airport. Thinking she loved me like a sappy sack of dumb sh*t.
2)Anger
Blew past denial when I found her listless body on the beach. To say I was pissed when I found out she was pregnant would be an understatement.
3)Bargaining
Didn’t get a chance for that one since the FBI took her away, hiding them both from the Croatian Mob.
4)Depression
Some would say this is the reason for my perpetual day-drunk state. What they don’t understand is, I like it. It helps welcome the night and numbs me from my unending sex-fest. I suppose those people think I should shower too.
5)Acceptance
Everyone keeps telling me to move on. Are you f*cking kidding me? If they only knew she’s not even freaking dead!

For me, that final stage would be elusive anyway. She was my rush. With every second that ticks away, I live day-by-stinking-day in the rotting pit of my Hell without her.

• Language: English
• Publisher: SVC Ricketts
• Release date: Dec 22, 2015
• ISBN: 9781518840159

SVC Ricketts

SVC Ricketts is a Contemporary Romance author and professional smart alec (self-professed). Her work has been recognized by the Pacific Northwest Writers Association and was selected as a finalist for the 2013 PNWA Literary Competition in the Romance category. Raised between Southern California and Oahu, she moved to the Pacific Northwest in 1993 and although she loves it here, her heart belongs to the Islands - it always will. When she's not in, what she loving calls "book-mode," she multitasks her life between her hilarious adult special needs daughter, super smexy husband of 11 years, two dogs, and sweating out her stress in a hot yoga studio. She's also an avid Twitter (@SVC_Ricketts) and Facebook (SVC Ricketts) addict (again, self-professed). If you want to check out her other ramblings, you can visit her at www.SmexyIndieAuthor.com.

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Broken – A Pieces Of One Novella (The Dark Life Collection)

Copyright © 2015 by SVC Ricketts

This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental (maybe).

This eBook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This eBook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient.

All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, scanned, or distributed in any printed or electronic form without the express consent of the copyright owner. If you have downloaded this book illegally, you are a complete and total idiot as this is a FREE eBook.

Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

Cover Art by Judi Perkins/Concierge Literary Promotions

Formatting by Champagne Formats

First Edition: November 2015

Table of Contents

Title Page

Copyright

Dedication

Note from author

Quote

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Other Books by SVC Ricketts

Acknowledgments

This little piece of me is for all the readers and fans of Pieces Of One, Parts 1 and Part 2. Thank you for your support and sticking with me as I pave my path on the published author road.

Luvz y’all mucho!

Note to readers: If you read this and are confused, you should read Parts 1 and 2 first in order to better understand this novella. I wrote this on a whim as I felt Alex/Xander needed more flesh and bone. Plus it gives you needed insight and solidly gives him additional presence in Pieces Of One. If you decide to write a review (which I’d appreciate), please don’t tell me it’s short…I’m fully aware, but thanks.

Note to writers/self: To all the budding and/or struggling writers out there: Keep on keeping on! If you aren’t writing because you love it, you’re living the wrong dream.

THE COMPACT INTENSITY of pain reminds me of Masao’s strength as I rub the throbbing ache in my jaw. The high pitched tone remains unchanged and persistent in my ears as well. Although I have an inch or two over the huge Samoan man, he is a mountain of muscle—he just looks fat. I’ve seen him wrestle though and even though I’m very inebriated, I know he was holding back. I wish he wouldn’t.

When I saw him coming at me from the corner of my eye, hope lifted my heart from its black prison. A silent prayer faintly whispered he would send me to a place where I would forget the last year. A heaven of beautiful amnesia. A peace without knowing where Trista was. A nirvana of not knowing her at all.

But that’s not the case as I sit on the floor in the corner of my filthy nightclub nursing my hurting face. I don’t know which smells worse, this floor or me. Dillon would argue it was me since I haven’t showered in a few days and my organs are anesthetized with my own personal stash of bourbon. He stopped serving me all together months ago, or was it a few weeks? I don’t fucking know. But what I do know is that I am the fucking owner of The Rush and I do what I want.

A few weeks ago, my sister, Tessa, and one of her general managers, came into town when things started to go downhill. Rainie, the GM of Tessa’s Club Up, recommended changing all the locks to keep me away from Rush’s alcohol stock. Fucking bitch. I ended up breaking everything I could get my hands on and we had to shut down the club for a few