Broken Vows: A Bad Boy Motorcycle Club Romance: Mad Jackals MC, #2

By Evelyn Glass

Broken Vows is book 2 of the Mad Jackals MC trilogy. Book 3, Broken Hearts, is available everywhere now!

He promised me that he’d always be there for me. But that was before he was gunned down in the streets and left to die. Since that terrible day, he was gone—alive only in my memory.

Until I saw him again—heard his booming laugh, and traced the irresistible smile on his lips.

He’d gone through hell, but behind those eyes was the same man whom I gave my heart to years ago. The same man who held me in his strong hands as his heart beat in time with mine. The same man who promised me he’d never let go.

Or so I thought.

He wasn’t the same Ray Nolan of my memories.

Not anymore. 

And beneath all the excitement and pleasure lies a darkness that I’m not ready to face.

A darkness that remembers the promise he made:

To hold me tight.
And never let go.

• Language: English
• Publisher: eBook Publishing World
• Release date: Jan 15, 2018
• ISBN: 9781386059110

Book preview

BROKEN VOWS: Mad Jackals MC (Book 2)

By Evelyn Glass

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HE PROMISED ME THAT he’d always be there for me. But that was before he was gunned down in the streets and left to die. Since that terrible day, he was gone—alive only in my memory.

Until I saw him again—heard his booming laugh, and traced the irresistible smile on his lips.

He’d gone through hell, but behind those eyes was the same man whom I gave my heart to years ago. The same man who held me in his strong hands as his heart beat in time with mine. The same man who promised me he’d never let go.

Or so I thought.

He wasn’t the same Ray Nolan of my memories.

Not anymore.

And beneath all the excitement and pleasure lies a darkness that I’m not ready to face.

A darkness that remembers the promise he made:

To hold me tight.

And never let go.

Chapter 1

She puts her head in hands and takes a few deep breaths, trying to get to grips with all the thoughts and emotions buzzing around her mind. Eli had lied to her about Ray’s death; he’d admitted it. But he was just trying to save her from the realization that Ray wasn’t coming back for her, not because he couldn’t, but because he didn’t want to. Eli wanted to make things work between them; he wanted to marry her, for them to have a life together. Ray wanted...well, that was part of the problem. She has no idea what Ray wanted. Eli picks fights, but at least he talks to her, at least she doesn’t have to guess at what’s going on in his mind.

Mia, don’t cry. Ray’s voice comes from behind her and she whirls around, her heart hammering in her chest to find him standing just inside her doorway, hands jammed into his pockets, a stricken expression on his face.

Jesus, you scared me! Mia puts a hand over her beating heart, breathing hard. Are you making a habit now of spying on me in my own office? The nervousness has gone, replaced by anger.

Your door was open. I didn’t know you were on the phone until I walked in. Ray shifts uncomfortably, looking at the floor.

How much did you hear? She narrows her eyes at him, suspiciously.

Enough. Ray meets her eyes then, his gaze piercing. Enough to know he doesn’t deserve you.

Mia shakes her head, suddenly feeling so tired of mixed messages and being pulled in two different directions. You don’t know anything about our relationship, Ray. One eavesdropped conversation doesn’t make you an expert. Besides, what do you care? You’re the one that left...again.

I needed some time to think. Ray looks like he’s going to take a step towards her and then decides not to, keeping his feet firmly planted where they are. When I’m around you, I can’t get my head on straight; there are too many...emotions, too much distraction.

Mia watches him as he struggles to give voice to his own sentiments. I know the feeling. She smiles humorlessly before turning back to the window, not wanting him to see how much she wants to reach out and touch him, not wanting him to see the power that he has over her. Why are you here, Ray?

She waits for the inevitable evasion to her question. I came to check that you were all right. The simplicity of the truth is almost worse than if he’d lied. Damn him for making her care about him again. Damn him for making it so hard to walk away from him.

How did you know I was here? The logistics are irrelevant really, but it gives her some time to pull herself together.

Figured you had to come pick up your car sometime. When I still saw it in the lot, I figured you were hiding out in here. The security code for the door is the number of the building, not exactly hard to break. She hears Ray walk up behind her, but he stays at a fair distance, far enough to give her some space but close enough for her to feel the heat emanating from him.

Hiding, that’s a good word for it. She chuckles mirthlessly.

He doesn’t deserve you, Mia. He can’t give you what you need. The conviction in Ray’s voice is enough to make her turn around and the steeliness in his tone is matched in his eyes.

It wasn’t always like this. He just seems so mad at me all the time. But he has a lot on his plate; he’s stressed with work. I know it’s my fault, I’m not around as much as he’d like. To her horror Mia feels a tear track down her cheek and she pushes it away, not wanting to allow herself to be vulnerable again in front of Ray. What had happened between them was all too fresh.

It’s not your fault, Mia. Ray jams his hands harder into his pockets, like it’s the only thing stopping him from touching her. It’s not your fault that Eli’s an asshole.

Mia frowns at him. That’s not fair, Ray. Whatever happened between the two of you, you were friends once or don’t you remember that?

I remember. His voice is grim. But that was a long time ago. A lot has changed.

That would be the understatement of the century. Her tone drips with sarcasm.

Don’t go back to him, Mia. Don’t go to him because it’s easy or because you think it’s the ‘right’ thing to do. You deserve more than that. Ray clenches his jaw, hard.

I’ve been holding onto you for such a long time, Ray. Mia shakes her head, frustrated with herself that she can’t do what she counsels all the women in the shelter to do: let go. Now it was time. She steps around him, careful not to touch him, knowing that if she does that she’ll unravel and she can’t afford that right now. She goes to her desk, pulling out a book she’d kept with her for such a long time. When she opens it and pulls the material out, she hears Ray’s sharp intake of breath. This is yours, Ray. You said your dad would have wanted you to give it to someone special. So here you go. Mia holds out the angel wing patch with trembling hands, watching as his eyes dart from the patch to her face and back again.

You kept it. All this time, you kept it. The wonder in Ray’s voice and the way he looks at her, as if she were the best thing he’s ever seen, make her heart swell.

It was yours. She shrugs as if it were as simple as that. If only, she thinks to herself. It was the only thing I had left of you, the last piece of you. Of course I kept it. She breathes deeply, sighing as she feels like she’s just put down a heavy bag that she’s been carrying for too long. And now it’s time to let it go.

And what if I don’t want you to? What if I don’t want you to let it go, to let me go? Ray’s voice is quiet, but his blue eyes say more than she would know how to put into words.

We’ve been through this, Ray. There are too many secrets, too many things that you don’t want to tell me. There’s a whole part of yourself that you won’t let me into. I can’t live like that. Mia shakes her head and holds the patch out further towards him. Please, take it.

Goddammit, Mia! What do you want from me? My body? My heart? My soul? He throws his hands up in despair, as if she were asking for the moon.

All three would be nice. I’m an all or nothing kind of girl. She smiles sadly at him.

You already have it, Mimi. You always have. You’ve always had all of me; don’t you see that? He frowns down at her, his hands reaching out and cupping her face.

She knows she should step away, knows that she shouldn’t let him in, not when she knows how much it hurts. But as soon as he touched her it was like her feet became frozen to the ground.

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