Protecting My Hart (Protectors Series Book 1)

Protecting My Hart

Copyright ©2015 Danielle Wright

KINDLE EDITION

Cover Design: Rebecca Pau at The Final Wrap

Edited and Formatted by: Wendi Temporado of Ready, Set, Edit

Image: iStock.com under standard license

Book Publication February 2016.

All Rights Reserved: This literary work may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means including electronic or photographic reproduction in whole or in part, without express written permission of the Author.

This book is pure fiction. Name, characters, places, and plots are a product of the author’s imagination. Any similarity or resemblance to real persons living or dead is purely coincidental and not intended by the Author.

To my parents Chris & Francie
, Thank you for your support. I was very happy that you got excited along with me. You both always encouraged us to go for our dreams and to do something we enjoyed. To have you understand this passion and to have your support means more to me then you will ever know and I’m so lucky to get to share this with you. I love you both! Mom thank you so much for editing for me, I appreciate it so much. Thank you for holding my hand when things are new and I just need my mommy. Dad, you get all the credit for naming these characters! Thank you for your strength and support. None of this would be possible without you both.

Brady,
we all know you were first ;) Thank you for still letting me talk your ear off about this and the support. I know at times you were probably bored listening to me, and I know at times you thought I was crazy, well maybe I am, but you listened regardless and offered advice when needed so for that, Thank. You. So. Very. Much!!!! Love you!

Savanna & Leia,
what is there to say. I have no idea what I would ever do without you both. You are my anchors, my rocks, you keep me grounded in reality. Yes, the three of us are crazy and completely insane but there isn’t anyone else in this world that I would want to be crazy with. I now know what it’s like to have sisters and I have found the very best in you. Thank you for all of your encouragement and support. Thank you for letting me freak out, and cry, and laugh with you both. I know I can count on you both to be there for me and there isn’t anything that I wouldn’t do for you. Our bond runs deep and can’t be broken. I love you both with all my heart, Y’all complete me!!

Jacqui
& Dana
, Thank you to you both for reading every word of every chapter. Your guidance is amazing. I’m so grateful for your feedback. Your comments and reactions always let me know when I’m on track. Thank you for helping me keep my stories consistent and for keeping me sane!! I am so glad that we became friends and I feel like we are all on this journey together, you know figuring out this writing stuff. I am so glad that we can bounce ideas off one another and learn from each other. I love our little support system and I can’t imagine going through any of this without you. Thank you and love you!!!

Tiffany
, Thank you my dear for the support. I always knew I could call you and just chat, vent or ramble and you were there to listen even if I wasn’t making sense. I know I can always count on you when I need to. I want you to know that our friendship means so much to me, and I don’t know what I would do without you! Thank you again for the encouragement and support! Love you!

Rebecca
, thank you once again for making me a BEAUTIFUL cover. You are the only one I trust to bring my books to life. You have the patience of a saint, simply because you helped me go through thousands of stock photos when I had to choose a new couple, and for when neither one of us liked the concepts you created. And finally for deciphering my vague descriptions of what I kinda, sorta, maybe, wanted. I’m blessed to have you in my life. I love you sweets!!! Thank you, Thank you Thank you!!! I’m so glad we are friends.

Ashley L.,
You. Are. Amazing! Thank you so much for taking on the task of helping me edit. I know that it takes a lot of time, and I’m so thankful that you took the time for me. I can’t wait to finally hug you! We are going to have to make this happen soon!! <3

Wendi,
Thank you for helping me get this book ready to publish! Thank you for answering all my questions. Thank you for crying with me when we lost everything and for your patience when we had to start all over. Thank you for helping me get this published on time.

Kathryn
& Tabitha
, Thank you for helping to proofread this story and providing the feedback I needed to make this story better!

Ladies of Controlled,
Ladies, I love you all. I love our family and the close friendships we have all made. We are there for one another no matter what the cause, and for that I could not be more grateful for what we have found. I know that there are a lot of that I will never meet and that makes me sad, but I know regardless of whether I get to give you a real hug or a virtual one. I can count on you ladies always.

Other Book Goddesses,
There are so many other authors out there that I look up to, who inspire and lead without really knowing they are doing so. You ladies continue to be positive and never sink low into the drama. You handle yourselves with grace, poise and kindness. Believe me, the reader’s notice which is why you have the following you do. Please continue to inspire, helping others reach their dreams and leading by example. J.M., C.H., R.O., J.A.M., C.S., F.A., K.A., I want to be just like you when I grow up.

To the rest of my friends and family thank you so much for your support.

My hope for you all is that you can find an escape from reality for a small amount of time. I hope that this story makes you feel something. I hope that if you are struggling with something in your life, you can find comfort in knowing that you are not alone.

My hope is that you:

Live every moment; you never know which one will change your life.

Love completely with all you have; you owe it to yourself and there is no other way.

Go after your dreams; the journey may be hard, but it’s worth it.

Blue.

The color of the sky on a perfectly-clear, warm sunny day.

Blue.

The color of the ocean on a tropical beach where the only word that comes to mind is paradise.

Blue.

The color of the most mesmerizing set of eyes that belong to a man who has always seen me for who I am. A man, who for one amazing, forbidden night, I was his. A man who I can never have because I belong to someone else, and I will never be worth the fight.

Blue.

The color of my heart, knowing that I can never have the man I choose, because I have already been chosen.

Blue.

The color that has just changed my entire life, as I stare down at the bold blue plus sign on the test.

SHIT!

Now what do I do?

“How long are you going to be gone?” I ask softly as he gets out of bed.

“Not your concern.” His tone is irritated.

“Sorry, I was just wondering.” I’m careful to keep the sheet wrapped around my naked body as I sit up slowly and wince. JD was rougher than normal this time and not exactly in a good way.

“Well stop wondering! What I do, where I go, and how long I’m gone is not your fucking concern,” he snaps, getting angrier.

“Sorry, JD,” I whisper and scoot back on the bed.

“Just stay out of the way. Don’t bother the guys and don’t cause any trouble. I get any bad reports, you’re gonna be sorry.”

I stay quiet; I never cause trouble. Truth is, I stay in this room most of the time. I don’t like being left here alone. Never knowing who is here makes me nervous and JD refuses to put a lock on the door. Most of the guys here make me nervous. Some of them are all right, a few will say hi. There is only one man here though, that actually speaks to me like I really exist. He’s the only one who never makes me uncomfortable. Truth be told, he is the only one I really feel safe with, and that’s including JD.

SMACK!
Hot pain spreads across my cheek. “Did you hear me, bitch?” JD yells.

“Yes, JD, I heard you. I won’t cause any trouble. I will stay out of the way, I promise.” I do my best to keep the quiver out of my voice and the tears at bay. JD gets pissed when I cry, and crying only makes things worse.

“Don’t start with the motherfucking tears! I swear Hart, you cause any problems and you’re gonna be out on your ass, livin’ on the streets with nothin’ to do but try to sell your ugly pathetic self to whoever you can get to feel sorry for you.”

“I won’t, JD. I promise. I’m grateful to be here.”

“Good. Now I’m leaving and I mean it, Hartley. No shit.” With that, he walks out of the room, slamming the door behind him. The all too familiar feeling of being alone consumes me, and like so many other times, fear is its friend. I have no idea how long JD will be gone, and I have no clue who’s left here to run things. Because I am alone, I gingerly crawl out of bed and put on pajamas, and since I’m alone, my pajamas consist of an overlarge t-shirt and yoga pants. OK, so that’s not really any different, but the less skin, the better. I curl up in my bed and listen to the noises from the other side of the door. No way in hell am I leaving this room tonight.