The Brothers of Blood Gully

PROLOGUE

Kristen Bedford survived the suicide of her father, the death of her husband, and several attempts on her own life. But, could she survive falling for the rakish Roman DuValiere?

AFTER THE DEATH OF her husband, Kristen craves the peace of her hometown, Blood Gully, Louisiana. But peace was the last thing she found.

Meeting her as Kristen Bedford, Roman DuValiere is unaware that the honey-colored beauty is the wife of his family’s long-time nemesis, Duncan Steele, and the stepmother of the man he suspects of killing his wife, Daisy, a decade ago.

Discovering who she really was gave Roman every reason to do everything in his power to destroy her. But her striking resemblance to his dead wife stirs emotions he can’t resist, especially when she finds herself in danger from the very man who may have gotten away with murdering Daisy.

Unbeknownst to her, Kristen’s inheritance from her late husband landed her smack dab in the middle of a politically charged fight between the DuValieres and the Steeles, two of the most powerful families in the oil-rich parish of Blood Gully.

She was practically the sole heir to the Steele fortune, which gave her a deciding hand in the proposed pipeline coming to the bayou – a pipeline Roman had vowed to die to stop if he had to.

With millions at stake and danger slithering around every corner, Kristen has no choice but to turn to the one known as ‘The Emperor’ for protection: Roman DuValiere, one of the infamous brothers of Blood Gully.

Kristen dared not trust him, but did she really have a choice? Could she afford to trust him with her life without risking her heart?

Chapter 1

Kristen stepped onto the elevator, pushed the number four for her floor, and started to dig into her purse for her keys.

A hand stopped the door from closing. A man got on. He looked at her. She didn’t know him. She averted her gaze. A very real feeling of panic sliced through her.

I’m being silly, she thought. It’s New York City for heaven’s sake. Broad daylight. Still, she pressed herself into the corner of the elevator as far away from the stranger as possible. She noticed he hadn’t pressed a floor number.

Was he getting off on her floor? Panic swelled once again.

The hairs on her arms stood up as the elevator stopped on the third floor. An older woman she recognized by face only stepped on. She pressed the button for the top floor.

Kristen struck up a conversation with her, much to the older woman’s delight. Headed to the rooftop terrace? It’s a fine day for it.

Yes it is, the older woman replied. I don’t think I’ve ever seen you up there dear? When was the last time you took in the incredible views? You know that’s one of the best parts about living in this building, don’t you?

I did know that, but you’re right, I don’t get up there nearly enough, Kristen replied.

You should. It’s lovely, especially this time of day because it’s not crowded. Sometimes in the evening around sunset, it’s too busy, but now is perfect, the older woman chattered on. Just lovely.

Kristen listened to her with one ear. She lowered her lashes and cut her eyes at the man on the opposite side of the elevator. While he wasn’t looking at her with his eyes, she knew he was ‘seeing her,’ taking in her every move.

Since you put it that way, I think I can spare a few minutes to take in the view today. Who knows when I’ll have time again, Kristen smiled at her elderly neighbor, who was beaming at the prospect of some company during her afternoon ritual. 

The elevator stopped on the fourth floor. The man got off, looking back at Kristen.

His gaze sent a chill down her spine.

Who was he, and what did he want with her?

TWENTY MINUTES LATER, Kristen poked her head out before stepping off the elevator, checking the hallway. All clear.

Keys in hand, she quickly walked three doors down the empty hallway to her apartment, ramming the key into the lock.

She closed the door quickly behind her, clicked the deadbolt and slid the chain lock home. She sagged against the locked door. Her hand went to the center of her chest, as if to still the hammering of her heart.

As she stepped forward, she noticed a folded piece of white paper that had been slid under her door. She picked it up and opened it.

‘Next time’ was all it said.

Her heart started hammering again.

Chapter 2

10 Months Earlier

Kristen sat in the stiff leather of the chair, her back ram-rod straight, legs crossed perfectly at the ankles. Her black Chanel suit with white blouse and three-inch, patent leather pumps completed the picture of a grieving widow.

Three feet away, her two grown stepsons sat, eagerly perched forward in the same kind of leather chair.

Now that everyone’s here, we can begin, the estate attorney in charge of executing her late husband’s will said.

THAT CAN’T BE RIGHT!, Ben, Kristen’s oldest stepson, spat at the end of the reading of the will.

Kristen gasped, in total agreement with her stepson’s assessment. There just no way it could be right. She knew Duncan would take care of her. He’d promised. But she never dreamed she’d become practically his sole heir. 

All of the money and all of the land? Ben continued to question Seth Kragen, her late husband’s estate attorney. He left me and Marcus a measly fifty grand each?! Ben screeched, foam forming at the corners of his mouth as his cheeks turned a ruddy color of purplish red.

Yes, attorney Kragen answered concisely.

That land has been in our family for generations. It’s my ... our legacy – Steele legacy, Ben said, standing and pointing his finger at the attorney. There’s no way in hell he would have left it to her. No fucking way! Ben insisted, the angry finger now pointing in Kristen’s direction.

I’m afraid those were his wishes, the attorney said. It’s laid out here in black and white.

I don’t give a damn what it says. I ... we won’t stand for it, Ben said, looking at his younger brother, who had remained quiet throughout the proceedings. Hate-filled eyes trained on Kristen again. Ben continued, You will never live to spend a dime of my old man’s money! Not one red cent you fucking cunt! he swore, his black eyes as evil as a snake about to strike unsuspecting prey.

Only, Kristen was fully aware that she was about to be preyed upon.

Ben! Seth Kragen objected. I know this is a shock, but there’s no need for that kind of language.

You won’t get away with this you know, her youngest stepson, Marcus, added. Never in a million years will you get away with it, he said, as silently and composed as his brother had been animated and rageful. 

Kristen wasn’t sure which reaction frightened her more.

Marcus followed his older brother Ben, who’d stormed out of the attorney’s office a few seconds ago.

I think Duncan prepared you for this reaction, Mr. Kragen said to Kristen’s outwardly unflappable profile.

Not exactly, Kristen said, releasing a pent-up breath.

Chapter 3

Present Day

Kristen inhaled her childhood home of Blood Gully, Louisiana.

Soil so black, she swore it could grow anything.

People so humble, you felt at home everywhere.

Culture so rich, it was a rich jambalaya; you never quite knew what you were going to get, but you knew it’d be good when you tasted it.

Blood Gully got – and stayed – in your blood. You may leave it, but it never left you. This is what Kristen was celebrating on her move back. After living in New York for the last 15 years, she was glad to be back where you could smell the earth, hear the trees and breathe in the scent of things growing.

The only thing that seemed to grow in New York was speed. You had to barrel head-first into life to make things work there. In Blood Gully, you could slow down, and that’s just what she intended to do now that she was back for good.

Chapter 4

Roman stopped mid-stride , going pale at the sight of the petite black woman. The conscious part of him knew that she wasn’t her , but she looked so much like her.

He couldn’t stop himself. He entered the store. He had to see her again. He had to.

Chapter 5

As she mosied over lunch, Kristen thought about how things had panned out these last few months. The word rollercoaster came to mind.

She had hoped to have things settled in New York before she left. Close a chapter, so to speak, so she didn’t have to look back. But the contesting of her late husband’s will by his sons was taking forever, and New York was an expensive city to wait things out in.

Kristen was glad she’d made the decision to move back to Blood Gully, especially since her financial situation wasn’t optimal. Her only regret was that she hadn’t done it sooner, as she had desperately tried to make her mother understand.

NOT ONLY DO FINANCES dictate that I move mother, there’s just been too much going on here. First the guy in the elevator. Then the strange phone calls in the middle of the night. And the feeling I can’t shake that someone’s always following me. Finally, there are the veiled threats from Ben. I don’t feel safe.

And you think you’ll be safer in a place like Blood Gully? If the NYPD can’t do anything, what do you think those bumbling bayou idiots are gonna do?

I’m hoping they won’t have to do anything. I know Ben is behind all of the crap that’s been going on. I know that if he really wanted to hurt me, he could have, obviously. I just think he wants to scare me into taking that settlement offer and  and scoot off somewhere.

Not a lot of people would have turned down five million dollars, Margaret said.

Maybe, Kristen said. But it isn’t even that. Ben’s main goal is having a say in whether that pipeline goes through. When Duncan left me his land, that decision automatically fell to me, and I promised him that I’d do the right thing – whatever that is. Duncan was adamant that what he left me stayed with me, and I intend to keep that promise.

Thank god, or I’m inclined to believe that you would have accepted Ben’s offer.

Maybe so, Kristen said. I hate conflict, particularly over something I don’t feel deserve. And not for nothing, but with five million dollars, I could live like royalty in a place like Blood Gully, especially compared to New York. I’ve never needed much. But again, I promised Duncan.

Well you couldn’t pay me to live there, not even five million dollars, Margaret shivered in disgust. But back to Ben. You don’t have to give him the satisfaction of running you out of town.

He’s not running me out of town mother. He’s backed off, which makes now the perfect time to move – put some distance between us. I think turning the tables on him did the trick.  After I told the detectives everything and they questioned him, he knows that if anything happens to me, he’s going to be the first one they look at – hard. Since then, nothing’s happened.  And to be honest, I’m just ready mother. I’ve done New York. I’m over New York. It’s time to go home.

"But you’ve lived in New York longer than you