Delivered in Sin Read online

  Delivered in Sin

  Nicole Rodrigues

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  Delivered in Sin is an original work of fiction. Names, characters, places, organizations and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, businesses, companies, or locales is entirely coincidental.

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  Copyright © 2020 by Nicole Rodrigues

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  All rights reserved.

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  No part of this book may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, information storage and retrieval systems or other electronic or mechanical means, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

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  Designations used by companies to distinguish their products are often claimed as trademarks. All brand names and product names used within this book are trade names, service marks, trademarks and registered trademarks of their respective owners. The publisher nor the book are associated with any products or vendors mentioned in this book. None of the companies referenced within have endorsed this book. The Devil’s Playground and RISE are fictitious clubs used for entertainment purposes only.

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  Cover Design by: Cara Wade

  Formatting by: Shanna Swenson

  Contents

  Introduction

  Prologue

  1. Magnolia

  2. Landry

  3. Magnolia

  4. Landry

  5. Magnolia

  6. Landry

  7. Magnolia

  8. Magnolia

  9. Landry

  10. Magnolia

  11. Landry

  12. Magnolia

  13. Magnolia

  14. Magnolia

  15. Magnolia

  16. Landry

  17. Landry

  18. Magnolia

  19. Landry

  20. Landry

  21. Magnolia

  22. Landry

  23. Magnolia

  24. Magnolia

  25. Landry

  26. Magnolia

  27. Magnolia

  28. Magnolia

  Epilogue

  Extended Epilogue

  Blurb for Star-Crossed Secrets by Kali Brixton

  Sneak peek at Star-Crossed Secrets by Kali Brixton

  Stay Tuned…

  About Nicole Rodrigues

  Also by Nicole Rodrigues

  Introduction

  Magnolia

  Seven Years Ago…

  “Ok, don’t freak... just hear me out, ok?” Eden says softly as we watch The Devil’s Playground burn to the ground. I’m half paying attention, watching the flames suck up my penitentiary yet my freedom right in front of my eyes. That place in all its horrors and filth gave me something I was unsure I would ever have again, yet I feel a sense of relief as the beams start to fall to the ground, burning and broken. “We should take all this money and open our own club.”

  “What?” I whisper, stunned. “Eden, we just...how...why would you wanna do that?”

  “It doesn’t have to be anything like Vince’s place. It can be...different.”

  “Different how?” I ask, looking at Addison and Everleigh, their shocked faces, unable to even voice an opinion on it.

  “However we want. It’ll be ours. Ours to run, as equal owners. A place where we can have our freedom, a safe haven for little birdies like we were.”

  I mull the idea over, knowing as terrible as The Devil’s Playground was, the feeling I felt when I was on the stage, dancing, pretending it was a different type of stage, one where I didn’t have disgusting men thinking of doing unspeakable things to me, sometimes even trying to act on it was a truly incredible feeling. A stage where I could dance and be free, embrace what a woman’s body was made of with pride and a feeling of safety.

  I do want that. I want to know what that would feel like.

  “We don’t have to strip if we don’t wanna,” I blurt out. “And we don’t have to...we don’t have to do anything with any of the men if we don’t wanna either.”

  A look of heartbreak crosses Eden’s features as she slowly nods her head. “Exactly. It would be completely up to us what we do and who we do it with or not at all. We control everything. No one can make us do anything ever again.””

  “If you can guarantee that, I’ll...I’m...I’m in.”

  Prologue

  Magnolia

  Present Day

  “I want that one! Look at that thing! That's a big bitch. Hand me the saw," Eden instructs, pointing to a massive Frasier Fir, probably about eight feet tall.

  Addison walks over, handing her the saw, and then steps back next to Everleigh and me, watching Eden struggle to cut down the tree.

  "Y'all just gonna watch me? Come on!"

  Everleigh laughs, walking over to hold the tree as Eden goes back to cutting it, the sound of the saw against the wood echoing off the quiet atmosphere of the Christmas tree farm.

  Everleigh and Addison both have their tree already cut, laying on the ground behind us, and I glance around, knowing I'm next.

  It's been exactly seven years since I left everything I've ever known behind. My family, my brother, my ex-husband. Seven years since I've celebrated Christmas because the memories from the last one just destroy me.

  "Timber!" Eden yells with a laugh.

  The tree falls to the ground as Eden lifts the trunk, and Everleigh holds onto the middle of it. They walk it over and drop it next to the other two.

  "All right, girl, your turn. Has to be a good one," Addison says, handing me the saw.

  I nod, taking it as we walk down the row of trees, and I zero in on a White Pine tree around five feet tall. I don't have any lights or ornaments, so the smaller, the better.

  "This is a good one," I say, pointing to it with the saw.

  "This is way too tiny!" Eden says.

  "That's what she said," Everleigh laughs.

  "I like it. Baby steps, okay?" I bend down on my knees, taking the saw to the bottom of the tree, and start to move it back and forth, the movement freeing and soothing.

  I never got to pick out the tree when I was younger, and I never got to pick it out married to Giacomo either. Come to think of it, I didn't get to do anything. The tree was already up and decorated by our housekeeper; we never did it together.

  It's time to move on, a suggestion from my therapist I see every other week due to the hounding my best friends gave me. Apparently, shutting down the gym every night and punching the heavy bag until my knuckles bruise—and sometimes bleed—wasn't considered “healthy.” I still do that most nights I'm not working, but now I just have someone to talk to about it.

  Control. Something I lacked my entire life now has become something I can't breathe without.

  Before I know what's happening, the tree is falling to the ground, and I feel a weight lift off my shoulder, but the pit in my stomach still sits there. Maybe after I decorate it, it'll feel different.

  We summon over a few of the guys working the farm to carry our trees over, shaking them out and wrap them to put in the bed of Eden's pickup truck.

  "Let me just go get a stand. I'll meet y'all at the car," I say, putting my gloved hands in my pockets.

  They nod, looking at the eye candy putting the trees up in the truck as I walk back toward the shop. Opening the door, the bell on the top of the door rings, the smell of pine trees and cinnamon immediately assaulting my senses.

  "Do y'all have Christmas tree stands?" I ask the woman behind the register.

  "Yes, ma'am. Head toward the back. We may have one or two left."
/>
  "Thank you."

  Walking toward the back of the shop, I spot an aisle of lights and ornaments and grab a few boxes of both. Further on, I see one Christmas tree stand against the wall in the back, and a memory from my last Christmas with my family and Giacomo barrels into me.

  "Magnolia, have a glass of wine."

  My mother's voice is soothing, as soothing as it can be, and I want so badly to tell her everything that's happened. She wouldn't do anything about it, though. An Italian wife always stands behind her husband.

  "I don't want one, Mama."

  "Why, baby? Oh gosh, is it...are you…"

  She smiles, covering her mouth, and I shake my head.

  "No, she's still not pregnant," Giacomo spits out from behind me. "God knows if she ever will be."

  He finishes his tumbler, knocking back the contents in one gulp, and I try not to flinch.

  "It's in God's hands, G. If God wanted—"

  "Fuck God," he spits, interrupting me. "'I'm tired of waiting for this. How long do I have to fucking wait, Magnolia?"

  He slaps his hand toward the tree. An ornament falls to the floor, shattering into a million pieces, and I feel like it's my heart. I hate him. I hate him with every fiber of my being, but I can’t say a damn thing back to him. My head is such a mess. I close my eyes, pressing my lips together, and hold back the tears.

  "What happened in here?" my father asks, walking into the living room with my brother, Luca.

  "Magnolia is a little clumsy after a glass of wine," Giacomo says with a laugh.

  "But I didn't—"

  My mother's hand on my knee shuts me up, and I press my lips together again, nodding. I make eye contact with my brother, who stares angrily at Giacomo, yet remains silent. He doesn’t know the full extent of what this man’s done to me, but he’s still my brother, and his silence speaks volumes. It doesn’t take a genius to figure out I haven't had one glass of wine, and Giacomo's outburst isn't the first, but Luca won’t dare cross our parents. The coward. Swearing to kill any boy that hurts me when we were younger sure cowers at the opportunity.

  "I'm sorry, I'll clean it up." I get to my feet, walking toward the hall closet as I fetch the broom, and my brother puts a hand on my arm.

  "Nolie…"

  His voice is laced with uncertainty and hurt as I brush him off.

  "Don't, Luca. It’s too late to pretend you care; please don't fake it now."

  I pull my arm away from him as he protests and walk back to the living room, cleaning up the mess. This can't be it. This can't be my life.

  Something brushes against my arm, breaking me out of my memory, and I shake my head, looking at the culprit. A man reaches for the tree stand as I jump forward, reaching for it too.

  "Wait, this was mine!"

  He turns, looking at me, and I have to remember how to breathe. I'm frozen in place, unsure what to do or say. He’s gorgeous. So, so handsome, and my sleeping body snaps awake after all these years.

  "Didn't see your name on it," he says with a smile.

  My God, his voice. His voice is deep and smooth, like a talk show radio host on a late-night, after-hours, eighteen-and-over type show. He’s blonde with blue eyes, his face is covered with a short dirty blonde beard, and my fingers itch to run through it.

  "I...it's not, but I was gonna buy it. I just got distracted."

  His smile drops, and he passes the stand to me.

  "Don't cry. I was just messing with you. You can take it."

  I didn't realize I was crying as I take my glove off and wipe my eyes underneath my glasses.

  "No, no, I was...just thinkin' about somethin' else. It's not because of the stand; it's fine, you can take it."

  I push it back toward him, and he glances at my hand, maybe to check for a ring? His eyes turn from playful to pity, and I slowly pull my hand down, quickly examining them.

  My knuckles.

  "I insist, ma'am. Wouldn't be very gentleman-like if I stole the last tree stand from a lady."

  I close my eyes, not wanting to see that look in his eyes. I hesitate for a minute and take the stand, trying to muster up a smile before I scurry away.

  "Well, thank you. I appreciate it. Merry Christmas."

  I turn and walk back toward the register, putting the lights, ornaments, and tree stand on the counter. I pay, taking my things, and walk out to the parking lot, searching for Eden's car.

  "Hey! Tree stand girl!"

  I stop walking and turn around, watching blonde hair and blue eyes jogging to catch up to me.

  "Forgot your wallet!"

  "Oh my gosh, thank you so much!"

  I juggle everything in one hand as I reach for my wallet but then bring it back to catch the falling lights.

  "I got it. Let me just slip it in your pocket, okay?"

  I nod as I look down, watching him slip my wallet in my coat pocket and lift my head, colliding with something hard.

  "Shit!" he groans, holding his forehead.

  "Oh, gosh, I'm so sorry! Are you okay?"

  "Fine, fine," he laughs.

  I instinctively lift my hand to him, the red and swollen bump already forming. Our eyes lock, my breathing slows, almost like I'm not even breathing at all.

  "S-sorry, I'm a nurse. It's just a habit."

  I pull my hand back quickly and shake my head, adjusting all my things in my arms.

  "How about coffee? I gave you the last stand, returned your wallet, got a shot to the head. I mean, it's the least you can do, right?"

  His smile is so beautiful, one of those smiles that take up his whole face as his eyes squint, smiling wider. The pity is gone, or maybe I just imagined it. Still, I don't do this. I wouldn't even know the first thing about it.

  "I...can't. I...don't do coffee."

  "Tea, then?"

  "I don't...I'm kind of busy at the moment. I work a lot and—"

  A horn beeps from the parking lot, and I jump, looking to my side. Eden is standing on the step of her truck, waving to me, and I look back to Mr. Handsome.

  "I gotta go. Thank you for the stand and my wallet—and I'm sorry about your head."

  "Don't mention it. Merry Christmas."

  He smiles at me and waves as I turn and walk toward Eden's truck, tossing my stuff in the bed of it, and hop in the back seat.

  "Who the hell was that cutie?" Everleigh asks from the front seat.

  "N-no one. He...he found my wallet, I left it at the counter, that's all."

  "Well, how are you repaying him? Did you get his number?" Addison asks with a playful smirk.

  "No! I don't even know his name. Don't start. None of y'all better start. It’s been enough emotional craziness for one day, so let me just put up this tree, pour a glass of wine, and go to sleep!" My voice is harsher than I intended, and I sigh, shaking my head. "I'm sorry. I'm stressed, I shouldn't have—"

  "You know I hate when you do that shit, Lia. Don't apologize for your feelings, don't apologize for reactin' and especially not to us. They fucked you up bad, babe, but it's been seven years. You need to start growin' a backbone and give less fucks,” Eden demands.

  "Noted. Then I'm not sorry. I just want to be in my own apartment, put up my tree, and be alone. Can I do that? No, I am gonna do that. Better?"

  "Better. We'll get there," Addison says with a smile. She pushes her shoulder into mine from the back seat, and I wrap my arm around her back, hugging her.

  One day at a time, Magnolia, one day at a time.

  I whip the jump rope around faster, my feet skipping left then right as the music in my ear pushes me harder. Sweat drops down into my eye, but I ignore it, panting as I twist the rope as fast as I possibly can, shuffling my feet.

  Suddenly, the jump rope smacks against my face, knocking my glasses off my nose and my headphone out of my ear as I stumble back.

  "Dammit," I mumble, dropping down to my feet, picking up my glasses before I step on them.

  I put them back on my face as I hear a groan from behin
d me and turn around.

  "What the…"

  "Tree stand girl? Damn, you were whipping that thing fast," the man from the tree farm says, cradling his shoulder.

  My mouth goes dry as air comes in and out of my lungs quickly, my head dizzy, trying to catch my breath.

  I take in his attire; a light blue tank top, turning dark blue against his chest from sweat, gray shorts, not leaving anything to the imagination, and Jesus, his arms. His arms are cut and muscular, one long, thick vein protruding from his shoulder down to his wrist.

  "I...hi. Crap your arm," I gasp, glancing down at the top of his shoulder. "Did I do that?"

  "It's fine. I got too close to you, wondering if you were the same girl from the tree farm. It was my fault."

  I see the raised skin, the pink area around the slash mark, and I wince, knowing full well how painful that can be.

  "This is the second time I hurt you. Please let me take a look. This is a leather jump rope. It's gonna leave a mark."

  "I'm fine, really. It was my fault."

  I sigh, reaching for my towel as I wipe my face and drop it into my bag.

  "At least let me buy you a protein shake then. It's not coffee, but...I'm gettin’ one anyway."

  His smile is victorious, and he nods, opening his arm for me to lead the way. I saunter in front of him in my sports bra and yoga pants, waving to some of the employees. The gym owner Ramon is a regular at RISE, the elite gentlemen's club I own and dance at with my best friends, Everleigh, Eden, and Addison. We get to work out here whenever we want, take whatever classes we want, and for free in exchange for Ramon's club membership. He even put a few poles in the backroom specifically for our use.