Cold Summer: A Savage Love Story

© 2019

Published by Leo Sullivan Presents

www.leolsullivan.com

All rights reserved.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental. Unauthorized reproduction, in any manner, is prohibited.

Contents

Acknowledgments

Check out these other books by me:

Prologue

Summer

Autumn

Andrea

Adriana

Julian aka Fatz

Nyla

Andrea

Adriana

Summer

Adriana

Julian aka Fatz

Zavian

Autumn

Andrea

Summer

Autumn

Zavian

Adriana

Nyla

Fatz

Summer

Deja

Autumn

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My message to the Little black girl that used to be me:

Little black girl, I know what you’re going through because I’ve been there myself. Little black girl, I’m here to tell you that it will get better, but please don’t give up. Little black girl, you can be anything that you want in this world. Little black girl, don’t let anybody ever tell you that you are inadequate. Little black girl, don’t allow people to judge you based on the way you look. Little black girl, you are loved, you are beautiful, smart, important and most of all, you are enough. Little black girl, don’t ever be ashamed of your blackness because it is beautiful. Little black girl, if I can make it, then so can you. Little black girl, remember that you are powerful and can do anything that you put your mind to. Little black girl, I LOVE YOU, and this is dedicated to you!

Acknowledgments

First and foremost I want to thank God for this gift that he’s given me. The road hasn’t been easy, and I’ve wanted to give up along the way, but my passion won’t allow me to, so Lord, I thank you for giving me a gift I never knew I had.

Ky’Shawn Syncere, you, my son, have made life worth living. I grind hard because of you, I never give up because of you, I try to accomplish every single thing I start because I want you to know that you can do anything you put your mind to.

I don’t wanna single anybody out in my family because it’s soooo many of you guys, so I’ll just say this. To the ones who support me and buy my books, thank you so much. To the ones who don’t believe in what I do and don’t consider it a real job, thank you as well. I go harder because of that. No matter what the case, I love you all to the moon and back!

My best friend, Jettina, we’ve been through some of everything, yet you still stay ten toes down, and that’s how I know our friendship is real. Over twenty years of riding, and I’m gon’ keep riding ’til the wheels fall off! Love you, girl!

Nikia, my cousin, my sister, one of my best friends, I swear I love you to the moon and back. From day one, you’ve been supporting me and holding me down. You believed in me when nobody else did, and for that, I’ll forever be grateful and thankful.

Ebony Johnson, what’s understood ain’t never had to be explained, and you already know how we rockin’! Tragedy brought us together, but our bond and love for not only each another, but our love for Quel is what kept us together. I admire your strength and how you’ve been able to hold your head up high after Quel left us. I know it’s hard on you, I know it’s even harder for you to move on completely, but you know that he’s watching over you and he wants you to be happy. You’ve become much more than a friend to me, you’ve become my sister, and I love you so much!

Eric, my brother, my best friend, and a piece of my heart. I love you soooo much! From day one, you’ve had my back, from day one you’ve been my brother, from day one you’ve looked out for me, and even as adults, you still look out for me. I don’t say it enough, but I’m grateful and thankful that you were placed in my life all those years ago. There is nothing I won’t do for you, big brother!

Quel, it’s so hard to believe that it’s been three years since you were taken from us, but I can say that the pain hasn’t eased at all. My little big brother is what I always called you because, even though you were short, you had the heart of a giant. There was nothing that you wouldn’t have done for anybody. You never met a stranger, and there isn’t anything bad that anybody can say about you. My mind always goes back to the last day I saw you alive, you popped up over my house out the blue and stayed for hours. You told me that you were proud of me and not to put you in none of my books (lol), then you said if I did, it would be a best seller. Your right hand man, Heavy, said the same thing damn near, but don’t worry, baby, you know I gotta pen an epic novel about two JOCO legends! I know y’all up there watching over us, baby, but don’t get into no trouble (lol). I miss you so much, bro, and I love you even more. Fly high, my baby!

Da’Shawn, my baby brother taken away from us way too soon. My heart hurts every time I see DJ, and you don’t come in the house behind him. You would’ve been entering your senior year next year, and it hurts that I won’t be able to see you graduate, see you go to prom, see you get married, or see you become a father. There were so many times that I wanted to question God, but I know that he doesn’t make mistakes. Granddaddy is up there with you now, and I know that you’re both okay, so it makes the loss a little easier to deal with but doesn’t quite ease the hurt. I damn near raised you, and it hurt like hell to have to bury you at 14. Just know that I love you so much, and I miss you even more!

Granddaddy (Daddy) I haven’t been to your house or even on the street of your house since the day you left us. I would give anything to have another day with you because I would cherish it. I wish I would’ve spent more time with you, I wish I would’ve hugged you more, and I wish I would’ve told you I loved you more. You raised me and showed me what a man was supposed to be, for that, I thank you. I’m thankful that we were given 80+ years to spend with you, and I’m so grateful that my son got eight wonderful years with you. Daddy, I miss you soooo much, and the pain I feel every time I think about it just makes me wanna break down. However, I know that you’re okay, I know that you’re safe in the arms of the king and reunited with your family. Your parents, your siblings, grandkids, nieces, nephews, and cousins, you all are back together again. I love you so much, Daddy, take your rest now!

Veleka (Leka), man, cuz, I miss you so much out here! I’m happy because you don’t have any more pain, suffering or stress, but it doesn’t make the hurt any less. Uncle Maurice hasn’t been the same since you left, and I know if he had one wish, it would be to bring you back for just one day. Your boys are lost without you, and I just hope that they get back on track. But we know you’re okay now, we know that you’re safe in his arms, and I know that you were glad to see Granddaddy walk through those gates. I would give anything just to hear you call me Piggy, even though you know I hated that name (lol). Damn, cuz, I miss you so much and I love you even more! Take your rest!

Leo Sullivan, thank you for just being patient with me first and foremost. With all the losses I’ve taken, writing seemed like such a task that I didn’t wanna complete, but you never gave up on me. If anything, you pushed me harder and gave me a kick in the ass whenever I needed it. People can say whatever they wanna say about you, but you’re one hell of a publisher, and you give a damn about your people!

For anybody that I may have forgotten, please charge it to my head and not my heart. Know that I love every single one of you from the bottom of my heart.

My readers, man y’all are the definition of loyal! Thank y’all so much for riding with me and supporting me when you didn’t have to, it means so much to me. I promise y’all that I ain’t falling back off and the books that you’re waiting on are definitely coming soon. I love each and every one of y’all so much!

Check out these other books by me:

Love Is Blind

Can’t Trust Her

Still Can’t Trust Her

Who Can You Trust

Real Gold Diggers of North Carolina

My Saving Grace 1 & 2

Would you catch me if I Fall?

Nai and Rari: A Forbidden Love Story

The Beautii Behind Magic 1-3

Slick Luvin’ You 1 & 2

She Gotta Be The Dopest To Ride With The Coldest 1 & 2

If I ain’t Got You 1 (2 is coming soon)

His Love Saved Me

Zyon & Gianna: A North Carolina Love Story 1-3

Prologue

Inever thought I’d be here, but as I stared at myself in the white wedding dress with hand stitched red roses leading down to the train, I was reminded that this moment was very real. Today April 21 st, 2018, I was marrying the man that I swore I would never even date. He never gave up, and I’m so glad that he didn’t.

Aww, look at my sissy, my twin sister Autumn beamed as she came into the room.

Hey, you look pretty too, sis. I smiled.

I swear, I’m so proud of you, sis. You’ve come a long way. Hell, we all have. She laughed, and I had to agree.

If you had told me a few years ago that I would be here marrying him, I would’ve laughed in your face after I cussed your ass out. Like my sister said, though, we’ve come a long way.

Bitch, you better slay for the children! My best friend, Adriana, joked like we weren’t in church as she walked into the room followed by her twin, Andrea.

Playfully rolling my eyes at her, I smiled at the two of them and thought back to all the shit we had been through. They never switched up on me. Even when shit got bad, they stayed ten toes down, and I would forever love them for that.

Let’s get you married. My sister grinned.

Nodding my head, I allowed her to place the veil over my face. Before she placed it all the way down, she kissed my cheek and winked at me. Andrea handed me my bouquet just as the wedding coordinator knocked on the door and told us that it was time.

The twins grabbed their flowers, hugged me, and followed her out the door. Since Autumn was walking me down the aisle, she stayed back with me. Shortly after, we walked out of the room, and my stomach started to flutter.

I couldn’t tell if it was a bad feeling or just my nerves, but I shook it off and made my way to the doors of the church. I wasn’t a spiritual person. Shit, with all the hell I’ve caused, I was surprised that the church didn’t catch on fire the moment I walked in, but I