RIDING THE EDGE
by Janine Infante Bosco
A Satan’s Knights Novel
Publication Date: August 21, 2018
Cover Designer: JB’s Cover Obsession Design
Models: Darrin James Dedmon and Michelle Lynn McLeod
Photographer: JW Photography
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Erotic, MC, Romantic Suspense, Standalone
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SYNOPSIS
Once in a while, right in the middle of an ordinary life, something extraordinary comes along that knocks you on your ass…
“Wolf”
I’m a simple man with simple values. You either love me or you hate me, but the ones who need me, always got me. I’m the self-proclaimed Wolf of the Satan’s Knights MC, the beast who will fight his way out of any dark alley to defend your honor. The brother you call upon when you’ve lost your faith in humanity.
However, secrets and lies are the cancer of a man’s soul. Exposed, they will eat away all that is good and leave nothing but destruction in their wake. They’ll prove the best intentions sometimes fail and leave you questioning your life’s choices.
Now, searching for a purpose, I find myself facing the ride of my existence with a woman just as jaded as me. As she fights the biggest battle of her life, I want to be the man who stands by her side. The man who ain’t afraid to ride the edge of misery because he knows there is something beautiful on the other side…
“Maria”
I’ve prevailed against the mob, a deadbeat ex-husband and the woes of being a single mother. While someone else may have wished for a different life, I believe I’m stronger for everything I’ve endured. I’m someone who speaks her mind and fights for what is right. A woman who will smack you upside the head with a frying pan and ask questions later.
Terrified of love, I’m an otherwise fearless woman.
Until a doctor solemnly diagnoses me and my strength falters.
Now as fear engulfs me, an unexpected man dressed in leather, holds out his hand.
As a woman who never needed anyone, I suddenly need him.
His assurance.
His strength.
His love.
***NOTE: Contains explicit sexual situations, violence, offensive language, and mature topics. Not recommended for people under the age of 18***
Excerpt
Every sinner has their day of judgment and apparently, today was my day in the Lord’s court.
Running my hand down Maria’s arm, I glance down at her, memorizing her soft features. Thankfully, she stopped crying a little while ago. There are few things in this world that I can’t bear to stand, and a woman’s tears isone of them. I used to think God had kept that in mind when he gave me three sons instead of a daughter. I was no match for a crying woman yet, Maria’s tears didn’t scare me. If anything, they compelled me to do right by her, to give what I knew very few had given her. I held her and let her be. I took her tears and gave her my shoulder while silently vowing to give her my ear when and if she felt like sharing.
“I’m sorry,” she whispers, lifting her head from my chest.
“Got nothing to be sorry for, Lady,” I reply, brushing my knuckles over her cheek. Lifting a hand, her fingers close around my wrist and for the briefest moment,she closes her eyes. I try not to read too much into it or allow myself to wonder falsely if I can help her through this. Going by experience, I’m the last man any woman wants in her life during the trying times.
“It’s just a lot, you know?”
Dropping her hand, she pulls away and turns her head. Keeping her eyes pinned to the cross, she draws in a deep breath. “I’m not telling anyone so if you could keep this between us, I’d appreciate that.”
Stretching my arms over the back of the pew, I stare at her in bewilderment.
“Your kids don’t know you had a biopsy?”
“No, they don’t.”
Snapping her gaze back to me, she gives me the same look she did when she told me to take off my boots, making it clear there is no room for argument.
“There is no sense in worrying them when it might be nothing,” she continues. “The earliest the pathology report will be available is Monday. After that, I’ll decide whether I need to tell them or not.”
Biting the inside of my cheek, I ignore the objection resting on my tongue and weigh my options. I’m not an expert on parenthood, far from it, but, knowing Lauren and Anthony, I think they would want to be made aware of the situation. Yeah, they’ll be devastated by the possibility but after the shock subsides, I think they’d want to be there for their mother.
On the other hand, Maria is going to do what Maria wants and damn anyone who stands in her way. If I took anything from the conversation we shared last night, it’s that she isn’t a woman who leans on others. She stands alone in a storm and if I hadn’t walked into this chapel, I would be in the dark just like her children.
My eyes dart to the cross and I can’t help but wonder if finding her in here was more than a simple coincidence. Maybe he does exist. Maybe he speaks to us in ways we don’t understand.
Turning my attention back to her, I watch her rise toher feet.
“What are you doing?”
“I’ve taken up enough of your time and I should be getting home. The local anesthesia is starting to wear off and I should be taking it easy.”
“I’ll take you home.”
“No, I have my car here.”
“Lady, I wasn’t asking,” I say, pushing myself off the pew. Standing before her, I watch her lift her chin and stare up at me. The vast change in our height leaves me confused and I divert my eyes to the sensible flats covering her feet, needing validation as to why she suddenly seems fragile in my eyes.
“I appreciate that—”
“I’m taking you home, Maria and I’ll come back later for your car.”
“I swear I’m fine,” she starts to argue.
Placing a finger to her lips, I silence her.
“I know you’re fine,” I tell her. “But you can’t give me what you gave me and expect me to turn my cheek, Lady. I’m not wired like that just like you’re not wired to depend on anyone. Now, I know you’re used to doing things on your own and I respect that but, I’m here. Here, to hold you when you’re crying in a chapel. Here, to listen if you want to talk and here, whether you like it or not, I’m here to drive you home. There ain’t much I’m good at, but the ones who need me, always got me and you, Lady, you got me for as long as you need me.”
“Why?”
“Why what?”
“You…” she whispers, swallowing. “Why now?”
Understanding the question, I bend my head and brush my lips gently over hers.
“Now seems like just as good of a time as any,” I murmur, taking her hand in mine.
Interlocking our fingers, I lead her out of the pew. Freezing in her tracks, she gives my hand a squeeze and causes me to turn my head. Releasing her hold on me, she walks towards the row of candles in front of the chapel. I lean against the door and watch as she makes the sign of the cross and lights a candle. Sending a prayer to God, she bows her head and my eyes sweep back to the cross.
Make me a believer again.
Once she’s finished, she joins me at the back of the chapel and reaches for my hand. There are no words spoken between us as we leave the hospital and make our way to the Charger. I watch her wince as she draws the seatbelt against her chest and leansin to adjust the strap. She thanks me with her eyes and I move behind the wheel. The drive back to her house is just as quiet and when we reach her door, she breaks the silence.
“Thank you,” she says, leaning against the door. “I—what’re you doing?” she questions, diverting her eyes to my feet.
Bending my knees, I pull the laces on my boots.
“Open the door, Lady.”
It takes a moment for her to get her ass in gear but eventually she does as she’s told and opens the door. Stepping inside, she turns and watches as I follow her into the house. Closing the door behind me, I remove my boots and neatly set them on the mat before taking her hand.
“What are you doing, Al?”
What feels right.
Pulling her away from the door, I lead her through the house and towards her bedroom. Standing at the foot of the bed, I grunt as I take in the mountain of fancy pillows.
“Jesus Christ, Lady, you sure like your pillows,” I mutter, plucking them from the mattress.
“Al—”
“Is there a ritual or something you do with these things?”
“They’re pretty,” she answers.
“Yeah, they’re fucking stunning,” I grunt, piling them on the chair in the corner of the room. Done with that task, I turn down the comforter and lift my gaze to hers. “You got a nightgown or something you want to change into?”
“Al, I appreciate the ride—”
“I bet,” I tease.
“Funny,” she fires back.
“I thought so. Now, which drawer do you keep your nightgowns in?”
Sighing, she cocks her head to the side, drawing her bottom lip between her teeth.
“You’re not going to quit, are you?”
“No.”
“Will you leave after you tuck me in?”
“No.”
Truthfully, I had no intention of walking intothe house. I thought I’d drive her home, get rid of the rental and go back to the hospital to get her car. Maybe I’d check on her but that was it. It wasn’t until she was standing at the door, ready to dismiss me that I realized I couldn’t leave, that I didn’t want to.
Accepting my answer, she steps around me and opens the top drawer of her dresser. I watch her pull out a silk nightgown and step out of her shoes.
“Can you give me a minute?” she questions, twisting the silk between her fingers.
“Yeah,” I nod.
Swiping a hand over my face, I respect her need for privacy and start for the door. As I’m about to step into the hallway,a thought hits me and forces me to turn back to her.
“I don’t care.”
“Excuse me?”
“Had you under me, Lady, and I saw every inch of you,” I explain, standing in the doorway. “You don’t gotto hide from me. If you want your privacy, I’ll give that to you but don’t send me out of the room because you think I’m going to look at you any differently than I did last night. Trust when I say I’m itching to throw you up against that wall and fuck your brains out.”
In all my years, no truer words have left my lips.
I don’t know what this thing is between usif we’re just two lonely people finding comfort in one another or if it’s more. What I do know is that I’m not willing to forget last night happened. As far as I’m concerned, it was a prelude and there is more of that to be found—plenty more. Am I the right guy for Maria—probably not, but I don’t want to walk out this door with just another notch in my belt.
I have a lot of adjectives I could use for this book but the one that come back to me time and time again was refreshing. Refreshing because not only does Ms. Bosco give you a love story but also a story full of suspense and hot, hot, hot love.
A couple of things that stand out for me the most in this book. First, the characters are in their forties, which I find amazing. This allows for them to know exactly what they want from life and it really pulls away from the nonsense that is found in some romantic books. Second, Wolf and Maria truly have “real life” problems that are sad and ugly but it is amazing how they deal with them. Which brings me to the third thing, not only do you get an Alpha male but Maria is strong and not at all backing down from any fight.
Janine Infante Bosco has this great ability to write a romance with suspense. It is not just about the sex scenes and the quick falling in love. I feel sometimes some authors throw in suspense or a mystery to add more to a book, which makes it seem like it was a second thought. Not with Janine’s stories. The romance and suspense go together like peanut butter and jelly. It flows.
She also writes the “ugly” side of a character in a beautiful way. They are flawed and you’ll love them for being flawed. You will love it more when the two come together.
I think this is such a great series that truly makes you feel invested in each character. Wolf and Maria are an amazing story.
#RidingtheEdge
MEET AND GREET!
Come meet Author, Janine Infante Bosco and models, Darrin James Dedmon (“Wolf”) and Michelle Lynn McLeod (“Maria”) “Tempted & Tantalizing Author Event” in Staten Island, New York this October!
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DON’T MISS THE OTHER BOOKS IN THE #SATANSKNIGHTSMC SERIES!
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ABOUT JANINE INFANTE BOSCO
Janine Infante Bosco lives in New York City, she has always loved reading and writing. When she was thirteen, she began to write her own stories and her passion for writing took off as the years went on. At eighteen, she even wrote a full screenplay with dreams of one day becoming a member of the Screen Actors Guild.
Janine writes emotionally charged novels with an emphasis on family bonds, strong willed female characters, and alpha male men who will do anything for the women they love. She loves to interact with fans and fellow avid romance readers like herself.
She is proud of her success as an author and the friendships she’s made in the book community but her greatest accomplishment to date would be her two sons Joseph and Paul.
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