Rome: A Marked Men Novel (42 page)
Read Rome: A Marked Men Novel Online
Authors: Jay Crownover
make sure your dirty laundry is spread all across the Front Range.”
The small woman bristled in that way only someone who thought they were inherently better than you
could do.
“I don’t owe you an explanation, Rule. I don’t owe any of you anything.” Her husband shoved past me
and went to stand by her side. They both glared at us like we had something to do with this life-changing
secret coming to light.
Cora came back over to me and curled back into my side.
“You’re wrong. Nash is ours, not yours. We love him, we take care of him, and we’re going to be the
ones that help him through this. You didn’t want him, we do. I think you need to go. You are not wanted,
or needed, here.”
The couple bristled and I could see they were going to put up a fight, when Cora’s father stepped
around our motley crew and got between us and them.
“I know you don’t know me, but my name is Joe Lewis and Phil and I go way back.” They might not
have known the sailor but they both had clearly heard of him. The fight visibly drained out of them. “I
know all about you, Ruby, and you, too, Grant. I know your story, I know about the boy, and trust me, if
you want any chance at making this right with your child, you will turn around and leave his family to take
care of him. Am I making myself clear?”
Apparently he was, because with one last haughty look they turned and walked out of the waiting room
without a backward glance.
Shaw let out a little whistle and fake-whispered, “Your dad is a serious badass.”
I snickered a little and dropped a kiss on top of Cora’s wild hair. “You come by it naturally.”
“So what now?” Shaw propped herself in one of the uncomfortable plastic chairs and took out her
phone.
“If Phil pulls through, they can work it out. If he doesn’t, I don’t know.” Rule’s voice sounded strained.
Cora kissed me on the cheek and wandered over to sit next to her friend. My brother arched one of his
dark eyebrows and nudged me with his shoulder.
“So what was up with the hottie nurse? They know each other or something?”
“You guys went to school with her.”
“Ah … no, I didn’t. If I went to school with a chick that looked like that, I would’ve remembered …
don’t tell Shaw I just said that.”
I snorted because that was typical Rule. “She’s Saint.”
He frowned in confusion. “She’s a saint?”
“No, her name is Saint, but she might
be
a saint as well.”
I sure hoped she was because it looked like Nash was going to need all the help he could get dealing
with this particular mess. Sure, he had all of us in his corner and at his back, but there was no denying that
a saint might come in handy.
Deer Tick: “
Twenty Miles
”
(Do yourself a favor and listen to this song before you start reading the story … This is totally Rome’s
song for Cora … it’s perfect!)
The Gaslight Anthem: “
Boxer
”
(This song doesn’t fit with Rome’s classic-rock theme, but when I was writing, for some reason every
time I got stuck, or was wondering about what direction the big guy would go, this song made it make
sense.)
Creedence Clearwater Revival: “
Fortunate Son
”
The Rolling Stones: “
You Can’t Always Get What You Want
”
AC/DC: “
You Shook Me All Night Long
”
The Weeks: “
Sailor Song
”
The Clash: “
Should I Stay or Should I Go?
”
The Eagles: “
Take It Easy
”
Neil Young: “
Rockin’ in the Free World
”
The Kinks: “
You Really Got Me
”
Pink Floyd: “
Comfortably Numb
”
Tom Petty: “
Free Fallin’
”
Nikki Lane: “
Walk of Shame
”
The Detroit Cobras: “
Can’t Do Without You
”
Devil Doll: “
You Are the Best Thing and the Worst Thing
”
Sleater-Kinney: “
You’re No Rock n’ Roll Fun
”
Le Tigre: “
Nanny Nanny Boo Boo
”
Bikini Kill: “
Rebel Girl
”
Spinnerette: “
Ghetto Love
”
The Pretenders: “
I’ll Stand by You
”
Naked Aggression: “
Pros and Cons of Dying
”
I have a bunch of people who help me do what I do on a professional level. My agent, Stacey; my
editor, Amanda; an entire team at HarperCollins that is dedicated to making sure whatever I create gets
polished and put out to the reader in the best way possible. It’s been an interesting and often challenging
process to learn how the publishing world works. I have a publicity team whom I work with to try to get
my boys all the love and exposure they deserve. They are wonderful ladies, kind, easy to work with, fun,
and a great source of information and support, and I can’t tell you how grateful I am to be able to pass the
ball occasionally … remember I am a complete spaz. Check them out if you are in the market for some
promo, marketing, have questions, and even if you want to venture a toe in the big bad writing water:
http://literatiauthorservices.com/
At times I frankly want to run away from it all because it’s new and can be intimidating. But it’s also
humbling and at times overwhelming to have so many different people believing that I have the talent to
create something memorable and meaningful. I can never express how grateful I am for all the exciting
experiences this journey has brought me and the fabulous people it has given me the opportunity to work
with. I am very fortunate and I have to remind myself every day to take a minute and enjoy it because I am
such a spaz, and I let all the good things that go with being thrust into a new experience pass me right by.
My usual cast of characters who I couldn’t live without. My family, my bestie, my dear friend Melanie,
who goes by many names and wears many hats but really is the kindest, most thoughtful person I have had
the pleasure to meet. We don’t always agree, but I trust her to be honest, and she is an awesome sounding
board for all the crazy characters and stories rolling around in my head. She is and probably always will be
my book bestie … she just gets it. And she lets me borrow her husband and his awesome design skills.
I have to thank my mom specifically for being such a trouper. She’s let me drag her all across the
country this year as I get used to being in public and meeting readers. I hate to fly … HATE it. So she’s the
best because she comes with me and that makes traveling less of a nightmare. She also tolerates me when
my nerves get the best of me and I turn into a snappy, sarcastic monster. She’s just the best mom out there
and it’s always nice to know after a long day working, meeting people, moving and shaking, that I always
have someone to keep my head in the game and grab a drink at the hotel bar with. That’s right: I’m totally a
grown-up, a professional with a busy and crazy life of my own, but I still want my mommy at the end of a
long day!
I couldn’t do what I do without my wonderful readers. I just think you’re all spectacular, and there isn’t
a way to express my gratitude to you without sounding like a complete sissy. Really the only part of this
new career I’ve taken on that I understand inside and out is the role of an avid reader. I love a good book,
great characters, and moments in a story that you just can’t stop thinking about as much as the next book
lover. Every time I start a book, or think about a story line, I run it through my reader brain and ask myself
if it is a book I would read, is it a story that needs to be told? If the answer is yes, I tell it in the best way I
possibly can. Those of you who have contacted me or left stunning reviews, it touches me every time and
makes me feel like we are kindred spirits. I never thought I would be on the other side of the pages of a
book. Have no doubt that all readers are invaluable to authors; we wouldn’t exist without you, so thank
you. You rule!!!
Last year at this time, I had no idea what a blog was. True story. Now I know that blogs and the
bloggers behind them are a serious driving force behind the word-of-mouth success of a book. It seems
pretty selfless to operate a blog just to share your love of reading and books with the world, because you
love reading and interacting with other readers. It’s where like minds can meet and collude, which I wish I
had known about back when I wanted to talk about this book or that book and my friends looked at me
like I was a nut. I cannot imagine investing my time and energy in something like that when I didn’t get
paid for it! Anyway, I thank all the bloggers who had a hand in taking my boys from the small time to the
big time, for pimping the series out, and for wanting to have anything to do with me, frankly. It’s been a
delight working with and learning from you; those of you who had my back and supported me from the
beginning know who you are and I hope my gratitude is evident. If it’s not, I heart your faces off and
appreciate everything all of you have done for me.
Lastly I’m shouting out to my pack. It doesn’t matter how long I’m on the road for, how long I’m
sitting at the computer, if a walk gets missed or a ball doesn’t get thrown, they just love me endlessly. They
make my day and my heart smile, and really they are my fuzzy, furry little family.
If you wanna talk at me you can. I always welcome hearing from my readers:
E-mail: [email protected]
Twitter:
@jaycrownover
Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/AuthorJayCrownover
Loved Rome? Want more from Jay Crownover? Then keep reading …
Opposites don’t just attract … They catch fire and burn the city down
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here
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CHAPTER 1
Rule
At first I thought the pounding in my head was my brain trying to fight its way out of my skull after the
ten or so shots of Crown Royal I had downed last night, but then I realized the noise was someone storming
around in my apartment.
She
was here, and with dread I remembered that it was Sunday. No matter how
many times I told her, or how rude I was to her, or whatever kind of debauched and unsavory condition
she found me in, she showed up every Sunday morning to drag me home for brunch.
A soft moan from the other side of the bed reminded me that I hadn’t come home alone from the bar
last night. Not that I remembered the girl’s name or what she looked like, or if it had even been worth her
while to stumble into my apartment with me. I ran a hand over my face and swung my legs over the edge of
the bed just as the bedroom door swung open. I never should have given the little brat a key. I didn’t bother
to cover up; she was used to walking in and finding me hungover and naked—I didn’t see why today
should be any different. The girl on the other side of the bed rolled over and narrowed her eyes at the new
addition to our awkward little party.