An Act of Salvation (Acts of Honor #2) Read online

  An Act of Salvation

  Acts of Honor book 2

  K.C. LYNN

  Published by K.C. Lynn

  An Act of Salvation Copyright © 2016 K.C. LYNN

  First Edition: 2016

  Cover Art by: Cover to Cover Designs

  Editing: Wild Rose Editing

  Formatting: BB eBooks

  Without limiting the rights under copyright reserved above, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without the prior written permission of the author 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 referenced in this work of fiction, which have been used without permission. The publication and use of these trademarks is not authorized, associated with, or sponsored by the trademark owners.

  Warning: Due to mature subject matter, such as explicit sexual situations and coarse language, this story is not suitable for anyone under the age of 18.

  Dedication

  This story is dedicated to the girl who inspired it. Katelyn, thank you for not only being an amazing esthetician, but also my friend. You’ve supported me since the beginning and that means more than you will ever know. I hope you find your own Nick Stone one day, a man who will love and cherish you the way you deserve. This story is for you.

  Table of Contents

  Title Page

  Copyright Page

  Dedication

  Prologue

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Chapter Fifteen

  Chapter Sixteen

  Chapter Seventeen

  Chapter Eighteen

  Chapter Nineteen

  Chapter Twenty

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  Chapter Twenty-Seven

  Chapter Twenty-Eight

  Chapter Twenty-Nine

  Chapter Thirty

  Chapter Thirty-One

  Chapter Thirty-Two

  Epilogue

  Dear Reader

  Acknowledgements

  PROLOGUE

  Katelyn

  Seven years old

  “Where are you, you little bitch? Get out here, now!”

  My heart pounds in my chest as I look around my room, frantically searching for a hiding spot before my dad can find me. Kolan bursts through the adjoining door of the bathroom that links our bedrooms, wearing nothing but a pair of shorts.

  He waves me over; the terrified look on his face matching my own. “Come on, Kate, hurry.” I run as fast as my shaking legs will allow and he quickly ushers me over to his closet. “Get in here and don’t come out no matter what, okay?”

  “But what about you?” I whisper fearfully.

  Daddy will hurt him bad if he doesn’t hide, too.

  “Don’t worry about me, just get in there.” Before I can argue more he pushes me in and gives me a stern look. “I mean it, Katelyn, don’t come out—no matter what,” he orders before closing the doors, blanketing me in darkness.

  I hate the dark. I’ve spent too much time in it.

  “When I find you, little girl, I’m going to skin you bare!”

  I burrow deeper into the back of the closet, my small body trembling with fear at his threatening voice. The sound of the bedroom door cracking open has me flinching. Through the slats of the closet I see my father—his red, glassy eyes bulging with fury as he grips the thick leather belt in his hands.

  Oh no!

  “She’s not in here!” Kolan yells, standing in front of the closet, protecting me with an intensity far greater than his ten years.

  Daddy knows he’s lying. “Get out of my way, boy.”

  “No!”

  A loud smack echoes through the air before I see Kolan fall to the ground. I cover my mouth, trying to quiet my sob. Terror washes over me as my father reaches for the closet door.

  “No! She didn’t do it,” Kolan shouts, jumping back up. “It was me, I broke your stupid glass.”

  Oh no, what’s he doing?

  I’m the one who broke it, but it was an accident, and Mama already yelled at me for it. Daddy doesn’t care. He looks for any reason to hurt us because he hates us, especially Kolan.

  “You’re lying, but I’ll gladly make you pay for it, you mouthy little shit!”

  “No!” I scream, but he can’t hear me, the only sound that can be heard is my father’s violence as he unleashes it on Kolan, the belt lashing down across his bare back. “Please stop!” I plead with a sob. I want to help, but know I can’t. Kolan will get so mad at me if I leave this spot. I did it once before and it didn’t end well for either of us. Knowing there’s nothing I can do, I helplessly cover my ears and squeeze my eyes shut, trying to quiet the horror of my father hurting my brother.

  “Kolan,” I call out his name, over and over again, wishing I could help him. This is all my fault. I should have been more careful when trying to get a drink of water.

  After a while I hear nothing but the sound of my own cries. I pull my hands away from my ears and listen, only to hear soft, painful groans. With blurry vision I peek through the slats and see my father is gone. I slowly open the door then quietly step out. Kolan lies on his bed, curled in a ball with his back to me, the angry red welts marking his skin makes my heart hurt.

  “Kolan!” I rush over to him. “I’m so sorry.” I sob, kneeling next to the bed.

  “I’m okay,” he assures me through chattering teeth. “Can you get the light?”

  With a sniffle I stand and reach up on my tiptoes to shut off the light, then crawl in on the other side of the bed and pull the blanket over us. This is our usual routine. I never leave my brother’s side after our father does this to him, which happens often.

  Lying down, I face him, only seeing his shadow in the dark, but I feel his entire body tremble in pain.

  “You shouldn’t have said you did it. I’m so sorry,” I whisper.

  “Don’t worry, I’m used to it. It’s nothing I can’t handle.”

  I cry harder, hating that our father hurts him so much.

  “Please don’t cry, Kate. I’m okay, I promise.”

  “I think we should tell Uncle Joshua and Aunt Linda. They will help us, maybe we can even live with them.”

  “No!” he snaps, shutting down the idea right away, like he always does. “We can’t tell anyone. Remember what happened last time, when Uncle Joshua questioned it and called those people to come over to check on us? They didn’t do anything to help and we got it way worse after they left.” I nod, knowing he’s right. “We just need to hang in there, Kate, stick together and stay away as much as we can. When I’m old enough I promise I’m going to get us out of here. We’ll go so far away we’ll never have to see them again.”

  The thought of never having to see our parents again is a peace I often dream about. “I love you,” I whisper.

  I have no idea what I would do without him, besid
es my cousin, Faith, he’s my best friend.

  “I promise I’ll take care of you. I’ll get us out of here one day, and when I do we’ll never look back.”

  I just pray we can survive that long, especially Kolan.

  CHAPTER ONE

  Nick

  Ten years later

  I storm toward the small house vibrating with music; furious about the phone call I received ten minutes ago from Scotty Drummond.

  I am going to spank that girl’s ass red.

  My cock twitches at the thought, which only jacks my anger up another notch. What the hell is she thinking? She knows better. Both Kolan and I told her not to go anywhere near Brett’s party, but does she fucking listen?

  Never!

  She never listens to a goddamn thing we say.

  I pull my phone from my pocket, checking to see if Kolan has responded yet. When I see he still hasn’t I send him another text.

  Where the fuck are you? You need to call me back, now. It’s about your sister.

  Who knows where he is or what he’s doing. For the last few months I feel like I don’t even know my best friend anymore. The fucker is getting caught up in shit he shouldn’t be. It started with the street fighting, something he does to make extra money, which is fine, he’s good at it and can handle himself but then he got hooked up with some asshole who’s a known dealer. I hate to think he’s doing that shit, he told me he wasn’t but I’m not stupid. I lived with a fucking junkie. I know when someone is high, and the last time I saw him he was on something. But good luck arguing with that fucker; he’s as stubborn as his sister. All of it gives me a damn headache.

  I think about the acceptance letter I got the other day. The thought of getting out of here and doing what I’ve wanted to do—what I’ve worked my ass off for—should feel good, but instead I feel guilt. Guilt of not only leaving Pop behind, the one person who took me in when no one else wanted me, but also Kolan and Katelyn. They’re the only people I’ve let myself form any kind of relationship with since I was six years old. Through the years I thought I kept myself detached from them enough, but apparently not because the first thing I thought about was how my leaving would affect them—especially Katelyn.

  I can’t pinpoint the moment things changed between us. One minute she was this annoying yet cute little girl who followed Kolan and me around everywhere, to growing up and becoming a walking bombshell, turning guys’s heads whenever she walked past. It drives Kolan and me fucking crazy—me for a whole different reason than him. I feel like shit for breaking the friend code and having constant thoughts of my best friend’s younger sister with her legs wrapped around my hips while I drive into her but she doesn’t make it easy. Especially when her attraction is apparent, tempting me every chance she gets. It’s getting harder and harder to ignore.

  It’s not only because of my loyalty to Kolan. If I were a different guy then I would give in to the temptation and give her everything she deserves, but I’m not that guy and I never will be. I can’t be who she needs. This is why I need to take the opportunity I’ve been granted and go to Quantico, the FBI academy in Virginia. For as long as I can remember I’ve wanted to be a cop, and I busted my ass through college to get here. I’m the only person Pop has but even he wants me to accept.

  I know what I need to do, but having to leave the people in my life behind is fucking hard. I’m mad I allowed myself to get this attached when I know better.

  There are a few people out on the lawn as I approach the house, but none of them are the girl I’m looking for.

  Scotty comes running out of the front door when he spots me. “Hey, man,” he greets nervously, knowing I’m pissed.

  “Where is she?” I ask, storming past him.

  “In the living room dancing, but I should warn you—”

  I don’t wait to hear what he has to say; I run up the stairs and barge through the front door. Smoke and the smell of beer immediately impale my nostrils. Through the thick cloud and crowded bodies I spot her, shaking her ass just like Scotty said. My dick hardens at the sight of her in the short jean skirt and tight tank top clinging to her like second skin.

  Fury settles in place of my lust when I see Brett fucking Stryker grind against her. I plow through the crowded bodies, pushing past three different chicks who try and stop me to talk. In the midst of the chaos, Katelyn’s warm chocolate eyes find mine, sending that familiar punch to my gut, as always. They flare in shock and something else, something I don’t want to label. Her chin lifts in defiance, as if ready to fight a battle.

  Get ready, baby, because you’re not winning this one.

  “Nick, what a surprise to see you here. Decided to come party with the high school kids tonight?” she asks with a sassy smile.

  I grind my teeth at her casual greeting. She knows exactly why I’m here and I’m not in the mood to play her games. “Let’s go.” I grab her arm firmly and start pulling her through the crowd.

  “Hey, what the hell do you think you’re doing?” She rips out of my grasp. “I’m not going anywhere.”

  I move into her space, her sweet scent masking the overwhelming stench of the party. She visibly swallows, looking as nervous as she should. “Do not fuck with me right now. Get your ass out of this house or I’ll fucking carry you out!”

  Her eyes spark with anger, indicating this is about to turn into a battle. That’s until Brett steps in front of her, trying to act like a big guy when he’s nothing more than a stupid bastard who’s about to get his ass kicked. “If she says she ain’t going, then she ain’t going. Now get the fuck out of my house.”

  “You better back away from her, Stryker, before I knock your ass out.”

  There’s no denying the fear in his eyes, he knows not to fuck with Kolan or me, most people in this town do, but the ballsy motherfucker decides to press his luck. With a smirk he slings an arm around her shoulders. “What are you going to do, huh? You gonna—”

  Grabbing his arm, I twist it back until I hear a crack.

  “Ow, fuck!” he howls.

  Keeping it in the painful hold, I grab the back of his neck and bend down close to his ear. “You’re as stupid as you look. We warned you once about her, you know better. Touch her again and I will break your other arm. Got it?”

  When he doesn’t respond, my grip on his neck tightens.

  “Yes! Fuck, okay!”

  I release him with a shove, sending him crashing into the coffee table. I turn back to Katelyn and see her already storming out of the front door. I haul ass and catch up to her in the front yard. My fingers wrap around her arm but she rips out of my grasp and spins around, looking more pissed than I’ve ever seen her.

  “What the hell is the matter with you?” she snaps.

  “Me? What the hell is the matter with you? We told you not to go anywhere near this party, but do you fucking listen? No, you never do!”

  “Because I am not a damn dog that you and my brother can order around. I have the right to hang out with my friends. You had no business storming in there and embarrassing me like that.”

  “I wouldn’t have come at all if you had fucking listened to what we said.”

  “I’m not a child,” she snaps. “When are you guys going to get it through your heads?” Turning, she storms off, bypassing my truck.

  “Katelyn, come back here and get in the fucking truck!”

  Instead of following the order, she flips me off and continues walking. With a frustrated growl I let my head roll back on my shoulders and dig for patience. Knowing she isn’t going to listen I decide to follow behind her. I try really hard not to notice how good her cowgirl boots compliment her long, smooth legs. Legs that I dream about wrapped around my waist while I’m fucking us both into oblivion.

  Sensing my pursuit she turns back, her eyes dark and narrowed. “Stop following me!”

  “I wouldn’t have to follow you if you would get in the fucking truck and let me drive you.”

  “I don’t want to be anywh
ere near you right now.”

  “Well too bad, sweetheart, you’re stuck with me until your ass is home and I know it’s staying there.”

  Or at least until Kolan gets home…wherever the hell he is.

  “Gah!” She screeches in frustration before bending down and taking off her boots. I frown, thinking they’re hurting her feet or some shit until she whips one at me, hitting me right in the fucking chest. “You are such an asshole, you know that?” She throws the other one but this time I’m prepared and catch it, which pisses her off even more. She continues on to her house in bare-ass feet.

  Shaking my head I follow after her, carrying the fucking boots. I should leave them behind, that would teach her to throw them at me, but of course I don’t. It would be a shame to throw away something that looks so good on her.

  We walk most of the way in silence, except for her mumbling shit I can’t quite catch. I hear a few more ‘assholes’ and ‘pricks’, but I continue to ignore them. As long as she goes home and is safe then she can call me whatever the hell she wants.

  As we approach her driveway I notice Kolan still isn’t back.

  Damn it!

  She comes to a sudden halt and turns on me; her long, brown locks tangling around her pissed off face as she points her finger at me. “You had no right to come there and embarrass me like that.” Her tone is furious but her eyes are lit with pain and it makes me feel like shit. The last thing I want is for her to hurt, but unfortunately that’s how it’s been most of her life, no matter how hard Kolan and I tried stopping it.

  My guilt dissipates when I think about what could have happened to her there, especially at the hands of that asshole Brett. The entire thought makes me see red. Grabbing her wrist, I pull her in closer and ignore her sweet scent that beckons me. “Why can’t you understand this is for your own good? We aren’t doing this to be assholes; we are doing it for your protection. Brett is—”

  “This has nothing to do with Brett,” she screams. “This has to do with me hanging out with my friends and having fun before finishing our last week of high school. You completely humiliated me, Nick, and I’ll never forget it.” She rips away from me and heads to the back door.