Red Willow: Crime Kings, #3

By May Gordon

On the outside, Novak Norwood, the crime king of California, has everything he could need - good looks, money, and friends. He's satisfied with life, at least that's what everyone thinks, but it's a lie. Beneath his fake smile is a pain that will never heal, which Novak believes he deserves. And then he meets Willow.

Willow Walsh is a free spirit, bringing her to L.A. Her whole life changes when she meets Novak, who becomes her focus, her love. But when Novak's past returns with a vengeance, they have to fight as one to stay together, but will either come out unscathed?

This book is a sweet, sexy, and safe read with a happily ever after guaranteed.

• Language: English
• Publisher: May Gordon
• Release date: Nov 9, 2018
• ISBN: 9781386946670

Book preview

PROLOGUE

NOVAK- NINETEEN-YEARS-OLD

I stare at my father, bloody and bruised, just like my mother and younger brother. They all look like death. I don't know why my hand is shaking, as is the gun in it. I've shot people before, but never my own family, yet I am, prepared to kill all three or think I am.

Do it, Kent Booth says from behind me in a sharp voice.

He's the crime king here in California, and I've worked for him since I was fifteen. I've done a lot of shit for him, but I never imagined I'd end up here. I look around the old warehouse, the slaughter box as we call it. We bring people here to torture and ultimately kill, and the three most influential people of my life, my picture-perfect family, are in front of me on the bloodstained floor like standing corpora.

The room is full of Booth's men, fifty at minimum, which means I'm outnumbered and outgunned. There's no way out. I could die with them, but then who would make them pay?

I raise my hand and point the gun at my father's head. I know what will happen if I don't do this; they'll torture them more, hurt them, and die a slow and painful death. I can't let that happen. I see my father weakly nod, telling me it's okay and that he understands. I have no idea how he's so calm; it's taking all my willpower not to fall to my knees and cry like a little bitch. This wasn't the plan, far from it, but we ended up here. I look towards my mother and brother, crying silently, wholly defeated.

I love you all, I tell them, making sure I look them in the eyes one by one.

Then I pull the trigger once, twice, and a third time.

Their bodies fall to the bloody ground, and I want to do the same. I want to aim this gun at my head to join them, but I don't. I have work to do, finishing what my father started.

Good job, Novak. Now we can put this behind us and move on.

Kent slaps my back like some proud father. Sick motherfucker.

Kent doesn't understand that I will never forget this or put it behind me. I will remember this moment every day for the rest of my life and do everything to take him down and make him suffer more than my family did.

But for now, I will wait.

CHAPTER 1

NOVAK

I sit in my usual spot and watch her like always.

Willow Walsh.

My reason for breathing. I should feel guilty, but I don't. I stalk her personally or through the guard, I hired to watch her. They give me constant updates, especially when I'm out of town. She's been my obsession for the last two years.

I was driving home from a club I owned early one morning when I saw her. She was beautiful with her short blonde hair and baby blue eyes in a red coat. For some reason, she'd reminded me of Tinkerbell. I followed her to a piece of the shit diner where she worked as a waitress, and so began my obsession.

I immediately put guards on her around the clock and started eating there once a week, which turned three times before it got to the point I was there every time she was on shift.

It's unbearable when I'm away for work. I want nothing more than to be with her, pull her into my arms, hold her, kiss her, and love her. But I can't. I'm too dark to fucked up for a sweet thing like Willow. So, I've watched from afar, and it's been hard to stay away from her. Lately, it feels utterly impossible.

We talked a lot, something that started as chit-chat as she does with regular customers, but then we moved to more in-depth conversation. From what I know from Willow and the background check I did on her, she's a small-town farm girl from Minnesota who came here to dream of being a painter. She'd been waiting tables at that shitty diner since she'd moved here, and though I've done everything to give her money, she won't take it. I even made up a scholarship fund for her, but she refused. I had to buy the building she lived in and evict her to force her to move to a safe area.

She finally agreed to work at one of my restaurants a few months ago. That, of course, came with a huge pay raise and living arrangements for her. At least the food is better here, and I can see here without some lame excuse.

Over the last few months, I've felt more need to be closer to her. I'm not sure if it's seeing my best friends fall in love or if, after two years, my patience is wearing thin. We exchanged numbers and have been texting a bit lately; nothing too serious as I'm her boss, but it's still not enough for me.

After seeing what Lawson and Quinn have, I fantasized that maybe I could have it too. But Cleo and Molly are different; both were born into this life, where Willow is sweet and soft. How could I ever bring all my darkness onto her? I would never forgive myself if I tainted her, but I'm fighting an uphill battle because my heart and soul know I need her, and I'm tired of fighting it. Especially after this last trip when I was in Ireland, helped save Quinn's ass and attended his wedding.

Willow finally notices me, and a thousand-watt smile crosses her face. God damn, did I ever miss that? She finishes with her customer, and as she walks toward me, I can tell she's very excited to see me. She doesn't realize I feel the same about seeing her. She sits on the other side of the booth, her glow lighting up the whole room.

"Well, hello,