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“I bet he was a great one,” Nora said.

Sebastian snorted as he stood to clean up. “Don’t let him fool you, Nora. He packs a mean wallop to the head when you least expect it. I only keep him around ’cause he can cook.”

And immediately, I felt my jealousy of Sebastian ebb away. He was the only real family I had left. I loved him. Hard. And I had no right to be mad at him for flirting with Nora.

I hugged him and rubbed his head playfully with my knuckles. He was long overdue with all the lip flapping he’d been doing this morning.

“See how he is?” Sebastian said, grinning as he pulled away from me, trying to smooth down his styled hair.

The buzzer pealed from downstairs. “What’s that?” she asked.

“Door bell. Looks like it’s payback time, Nora,” I said.

Her face turned white and her fork clattered down on the table. “Shit. Parents?”

“No, it’s friends of ours, and I want you to come downstairs and meet them,” I said.

She nodded, her face still pale.

I stood there for a moment, wanting to tell her it would be okay. That I wouldn’t let anyone hurt her. But I walked out the door and didn’t look back, leaving her there with Sebastian.

My other books:

Briarcrest Academy Series

Reading Order:

Very Bad Things

Very Wicked Beginnings

Very Wicked Things

Very Twisted Things

Dear Reader,

Hearing from you is very important to me. Honestly, it makes my day because I love to talk about my characters like they are real people (they are in my head!). So please drop me a line on my website or on Facebook. Book reviews are like gold to indie writers, and you have no idea how we relish each one. If you have time, I’d appreciate and love an honest, heartfelt review from you. Thank you for being part of my fictional world.

Ilsa Madden-Mills, NYT and USA Today best-selling author

For more information about the next book and to order signed books,

please visit my social media sites:

http://www.ilsamaddenmills.com/

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NEW YORK TIMES and USA Today best selling author Ilsa Madden-Mills writes about strong heroines and sexy alpha males that sometimes you just want to slap. She's addicted to dystopian books and all things fantasy, including unicorns and sword-wielding females. Other fascinations include frothy coffee beverages, dark chocolate, Instagram, Ian Somerhalder (seriously hot), astronomy (she's a Gemini), Sephora make-up, and tattoos. She has a degree in English and a Master's in Education.

Sign up here for her newsletter to receive a FREE Briarcrest Academy novella ($2.99 value) plus get insider info and exclusive giveaways!

http://www.ilsamaddenmills.com/#!contact/ckws

THERE ARE SO many fantastic people in the indie world that made this journey possible. Please know that my gratitude in no way lessens as the list continues.

For my husband who has stood by me every step of the way. You and me, babe, against the world.

For author Lisa N. Paul—We’re both hardworking writers living similar lives, only we’re too far away from each other, and it drives me crazy. I don’t know what I’d do without your calls each day. Thank you for all the giggles and lunch dates that we’ve never even had in person. Most of all thank you for being my dear friend and being there when I need advice.

For author Tia Louise, my twin brain, and author Scarlett Dawn, my cheerleader—I can’t think about you guys without wanting to sing “It’s Getting’ Hot in Herre” and smoke cigarettes. I adore both of you tremendously, and the next time we get stuck in an elevator together, I plan on bringing more alcohol…and a bikini.

For all the girls in my author group (Fuck That Noise), the best group of writers and storytellers around. We’re small but we are MIGHTY. I appreciate each and every one of you!

For Debi Barnes—you are a gem of a blogger and an even better friend. Thank you for all your help with DE.

For my graphic designer who sacrificed time to make my cover one of a kind—S.k. Hartley, you are the best!

For Rachel Skinner of Romance Refined, my awesome and sweet editor who is extremely tough on content and exactly what I need. She worked with my crazy schedule when she didn’t have to, and I love her for her kindness.

For Jimmy and Jenn Beckham and Tia Louise—thank you for proofreading and helping me polish.

For Miranda Arnold of Red Cheeks Reads: my wonderful and talented PA. HOLLA! Haha! So happy we connected through our love of Very Bad Things. Thank you for being a go-getter for me. Race to the end, baby!

For the admin girls of Racy Readers: Erin Fisher, Tina Morgan, Elizabeth Thiele, Miranda Arnold, Stacey Nickelson, Sarah Griffin, Heather Wish, Heather Reed, Kinsey Taylor. You ladies are responsible for the great reader group we have. It’s one of the best ones ever, and I thank you for your constant support, ideas, and love.

For Julie Titus of JT Formatting: the best formatter out there. I appreciate you so much! :)

For the ladies of The Rock Stars of Romance who worked tirelessly and answered all my questions and offered advice: Lisa and Milasy and Dawn…you are the best!

For my Ilsa’s Racy Readers Group: you may be last on this list, but you are the BEST. You picked me up when I got knocked down and made me laugh when I needed it the most. Thank you all for every shout out and each review you posted. Thank you for sharing a part of yourself in our group.

“I LOVED Kenny and Slade's story! This book has it all.”

–Aleatha Romig, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author

“Kenny and Slayde had that James Dean and Audrey Hepburn kind of feel.

Broken and perfect rolled all into one.”

–Love Between the Sheets

“Kenny and Slayde’s story was heartbreaking, beautiful, passionate and HOT!”

–Blondie’s Little Book Life

Tattoos, bad boys, love…

Boxing, fame, fortune…

Loss.

It’s the one thing Kenny and Slayde have in common. Until the night Fate throws them together and everything changes.

It’s a story about fighting. It’s about falling in love. And it’s about losing everything only to find it again in the least likely place.

A STAND-ALONE New Adult Contemporary Romance: Due to strong language and sexual content, this book is for readers 18+ only.

Get One to Love:

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Print copies on Amazon | Createspace