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Saying Goodbye
Last Updated:
2023-12-09 01:56:49Related chapters
Jaded A Mistake
DrakeD helped get Drake to the car and drove them back to the hotel without more than a few words. He promised to call later that night. Sicily slid her arm around Drake's back as they walked into the hotel. He leaned down and kissed the top of her head."Thank you for staying with me today.""Of course.""About the killing stuff..." He pushed the button for the elevator."We can talk about that later, Drake." Sicily shook her head at him and moved into the elevator as it opened."No. I need to get it off my chest now." He turned and pulled her flush against him. Heavy emotion sat on him and she wanted to wipe it all away no matter what it took."Okay, but you've been through a lot.""Yeah, but if I'm going to lose you... I'd rather it be now, so I know where I stand in life after this weekend." He bent down and kissed the side of her face. "I meant what I said to my momma, Sis. I want you forever."Sicily nodded and moved back from him, reaching for his arm as the door opened. "Come
Last Updated : 2023-12-09Jaded Ghosts From the Past
DrakeDrake reached out and squeezed his brother’s shoulders as worry rolled over him. Not only had they lost their mother the day before, but someone took out Vivian Castaletta in a dark alley later that day. Demetri was pacing a whole in front of the fire place at his apartment."Hey. We'll figure out who did it, D." Drake moved his hands as D tugged away from him."No. I'll figure it out. This is my fucking problem. You can't get involved or all hell's going to break lose." He shrugged and slumped down into a chair as Drake's heart ached.D was right. Getting involved in figuring out who killed Izzy's mother in cold blood wasn't something he could do. It would mean turning his back on his new life, including Sicily, which wasn’t happening. He was too selfish of a bastard to let it."Did you tell the girl where you were going?" D snapped around, his eyes filled with hard emotion."No, D. I did as you told me to. I'm sure she's pissed, but I'll deal with that later." Drake let out a
Last Updated : 2023-12-09Jaded Need You
SicilySicily pressed a cold rag to her face as she leaned over and studied herself in the mirror. Maybe Drake had left her in Chicago because he'd realized after losing his mother that his life was there. D needed him, which was obvious. Maybe having her and the gym wasn't enough?"Let it go. He said he would be back today. Stop unwinding every good thing that's happened between you. The man cares for you and was talking about houses and babies to his dying mom." Sicily moved back and turned in the mirror, comparing herself to Izzy and coming up lacking – severely."I'm off to show a house. You sure you're okay?" Lisa poked her head into the bedroom and lifted her eyebrow at Sicily. "Get that cardigan off. You look great. Stop hiding behind your clothing.""Do you think people can change? Like really stave off their pasts and become entirely new people?" Sicily turned and pressed her butt against the counter."God, I hope so. Otherwise Marc and I are in a world of trouble." Lisa smil
Last Updated : 2023-12-09Jaded It's True Love
SicilyHer workout went quickly and Violet stopped by and chatted for a while. The other girl seemed amazed that Sicily had snagged Drake so fast."We met six months ago, so I'm not sure fast is the right word." Sicily stepped off the treadmill and took the rag Violet extended to her."Well, he's like a brother to all of us now, but we all tried for more with him when we first met him. He's just the full package deal, which is hard as hell to find in a small town like this.""I can imagine. I wasn't looking, to be honest. I figured I would focus on my business and eventually the right man would show up. He just arrived early." Sicily smiled and glanced behind her. "I think one of the things I'm going to have to work on is not being jealous that he's around all these fit women all the time.""You're fit, Sicily." Violet leaned against the nearest machine to her. "You're beautiful and so what if you have more curves than you want. Men like curves. It’s something to remind them that you’
Last Updated : 2023-12-09Jaded Epilogue to Sicily and Drake's Story
Six Weeks LaterSicily"Do we really need two cups of sugar in this pie? Can't we work on making our recipes a little healthier?" Drake glanced over at Sicily as they worked to wrap up their holiday baking. He had agreed to work the bakery with her from five in the morning to two in the afternoon, and then they would work at the gym together until the evening shift.It was a lot of time around each other, but he couldn't seem to get enough of her. He'd asked her to move in with him, but she wasn't ready for that just yet. After Christmas... that's what she had promised. It was almost Thanksgiving and he was counting down the days."Yes, baby. Stop trying to jack with my recipes. Do you want me to go remove some of the bolts on your exercise machines?" She passed by him and swatted his ass – hard.He groaned and turned to go after her as she yelped and ran for the back of the store. "If you remove a bolt, you could kill someone.""If you don't add the sugar to a pecan pie, you can..."
Last Updated : 2023-12-09Jaded Jake and Kari's Christmas Story
Jake"It's freezing out here." Marc pulled his hands to his face as Jake glanced around at him."It's not even that bad, yet." He smirked and glanced over at Drake. "You're quiet today. What's up, man?""I lost my mom a month or so ago." He shrugged and averted his eyes toward the ground.Jake stopped and reached out to grab Drake's shoulder. "What? Your mom died?""Yeah." He shrugged and pulled out of Jake's touch as Marc moved up beside them."You better not be kidding, fucker." Marc crossed his arms over his chest, the playboy a few years younger than the others. "We're supposed to be having a good time, and you're gonna just casually throw out that you-""Hey. Shut it," Jake barked at Marc. Drake wasn't kidding. The sadness that Jake had seen sitting on his friend over the last few weeks had been real. Something was off, but they all figured it was just him and Sicily trying to work through some of their differences, or maybe even some of the shit they'd been through during late O
Last Updated : 2023-12-13Jaded Catching Up
Kari"So you excited about going to Texas?" Lisa moved up beside Kari and wrapped her arms around the top of Kari's shoulders."Yes. Very." She reached down and picked up a blank canvas pad as they stood in the small art store in the center of town. "I really want to start doodling again, but I don't want to dream too big, you know?""Dream too big?" Sicily moved up beside them and picked up a pack of colored pencils. "Is there such a thing?"Kari smiled. "This coming from the girl that was terrified to move to Maine and start her bakery. And now it's doing great.""Fear is always a sign of moving in the right direction. If it wasn't a little hard, we would all be doing it." Lisa released her and snatched the pad from Kari's hands. "Let me get this for you. I don't have a gift picked out for you yet.""That's just asinine." Sicily leaned around Kari and gave Lisa a motherly look. "She's right here. At least put it down and we'll come back and get it. Christmas is supposed to be filled
Last Updated : 2023-12-13Jaded Like a Family
Jake"Hey." Jake smiled as he walked into the kitchen at Kari's place. She was in a fluffy white sweater and a tight pair of jeans, her dark hair draped down her back. Every cell in his body lit on fire for the beautiful woman who turned and smiled shyly at him."There you are. I was worried that a bear might have gotten you." She turned fully around and slid her hands up his chest before locking them behind his head."Bears? You're crazy woman." He leaned down and brushed his lips by hers as he ran his hands down her back and pressed his fingers into the top of her rear."Crazy about you," she mumbled against his lips before licking at them.He growled and went in for another long kiss. The groans of their friends were irrelevant. There was no way in hell he was hiding just how into her he was. No matter who was around."You sound like a bear. Hot." Lisa walked by them, and Jake pulled back and glanced over his shoulder at the saucy redhead."Speaking of animals. Ask Marc what he did
Last Updated : 2023-12-13
Latest chapter
Jaded Easter Proposal
Drake"You sure you don't mind stopping by my momma's house real quick? I just want to give everyone a hug before we head back to Maine." She leaned over and puckered up, looking too cute for her own damn good."I don't mind at all, plus, we're already here." He kissed her. "Tease.""You don't have to come in." She kissed him once more and got out of the truck, jogging toward the door. Her white coat fit her well, her jeans beautiful on her pert little butt.He smiled, letting his thoughts dive into the night they would have when they got back to his place.A knock right beside his head on the window had him stifling the need to jump. He turned to find Johnny standing out in the snow.Drake rolled down his window and nodded. "What's up, man?""I was thinking about what you said the other day about loving my sister." He glanced around, obviously uncomfortable. "I can't do anything about who she falls in love with, and I know I don't need to do the 'kick your ass if you hurt her' spiel,
Jaded You're My Gift
Drake"You sure you don't mind stopping by my momma's house real quick? I just want to give everyone a hug before we head back to Maine." She leaned over and puckered up, looking too cute for her own damn good."I don't mind at all, plus, we're already here." He kissed her. "Tease.""You don't have to come in." She kissed him once more and got out of the truck, jogging toward the door. Her white coat fit her well, her jeans beautiful on her pert little butt.He smiled, letting his thoughts dive into the night they would have when they got back to his place.A knock right beside his head on the window had him stifling the need to jump. He turned to find Johnny standing out in the snow.Drake rolled down his window and nodded. "What's up, man?""I was thinking about what you said the other day about loving my sister." He glanced around, obviously uncomfortable. "I can't do anything about who she falls in love with, and I know I don't need to do the 'kick your ass if you hurt her' spiel,
Jaded Perfect Christmas
DrakeDrake woke up the next morning before Sicily, realizing it was Christmas and he had everything he needed. He rolled onto his side and reached out, brushing his hand down her back as gratefulness washed over him in suffocating waves.D and Michael Carrington had gone to great lengths to help him restart his life. They'd helped fake his death in a warehouse explosion, put on the funeral and D had played the part beautifully through the event. It was horrifying to think he let his brother go through that shit, but D wouldn't have had it any other way.Drake rolled out of bed, his heart aching in his chest. He'd been wrong the night before. He and Sicily couldn't just look away from D and Izzy's bullshit situation. Where he wasn't sure he could get involved in the syndicate again, he could browbeat his brother into being a man and taking Izzy as his woman. There was no other girl for Demetri.After ordering a huge Christmas morning breakfast, Drake wrapped up in an extra blanket, sl
Jaded Kadia
Sicily"That was fun tonight." Sicily squeezed Drake's hand as they walked toward Kadia in downtown New York. The sign lit up the night, taking attention from anyone who passed by. It was magnificent, the largest club she'd seen."Yeah. I had a good time," he glanced down at her, "and I was serious about what I said. We can go back and join your family after we spend a little bit of time with D and Izzy. I doubt they’re staying long. We just wanted to see each other, and it's safer if we do it in the middle of a large crowd."The line was wrapped around the building, people huddling together and singing Christmas songs with all sorts of odd costumes for the event that night. Sicily smiled and snuggled closer to Drake as they walked to the front of the line."The line is back there, man. Go get in it." A sexy bouncer with a great smile and beautiful aqua-colored eyes barked at them. She let her eyes move down to his name tag, wondering who he was for some reason. Had she seem him befor
Jaded Tradition
DrakeDrake let his eyes run across Sicily as she stood in front of the mirror in the hotel bedroom and turned slowly, checking herself out."You look amazing."She walked toward him as he fiddled with his tie, taking over and working on it for him."My brothers never could get a tie on right. The last time I did this for someone, it was at Momma’s funeral." Her hands shook a little. "I did it multiple times that day."He reached up and ran his hands over her hips, enjoying the soft silky black material of her dress. "I'm really good at it. I just wanted you closer."She laughed as a tear ran down her nose. "I'm sorry.""Don't be sorry." He stood and pulled her into a hug, kissing the top of her head as he brushed her hair back. "You can be sensitive over your mom anytime you want, for as long as you want. I'm right here to hold you up."She nodded and pressed her face to his chest. "I just have so many memories of Christmas Eve with her. My chest hurts so bad it feels like acid is ea
Jaded Live with Me
Sicily"What did you do while I was shopping?" Sicily stood beside Drake later that afternoon as he loaded up the truck with her packages."I was taking a nap honestly." He put the last of them in the truck and gave her a look. "What in the world did you get?""Presents for all of our friends and something for you." She shrugged and walked around the truck, getting in on her side.He got in and buckled up as the scent of his cologne filled her nose. She breathed in deeper and let out an appreciative growl.Drake chuckled. "What was that for?""You smell good.""Stop diverting. You shouldn't have gotten all those gifts, baby.""Why not? We didn't fly. We'll just put them all in the back seat when we go back home, right?""It's not about where to put them on the ride home, Sis. It's about you spending your hard-earned money on gifts for us. We don't need anything, at least I don't. I have you, baby. That's more than enough." He pulled out his wallet. "Let me give you some money so you c
Jaded Just the Siblings
Sicily"You sure you don't want to come with me?" Sicily forced a pout on her face. She knew without a doubt that Drake would do anything she wanted him to, but shopping was too much. Having some time with her brother and sister for the afternoon would be fun for her, but most likely a drag of sorts. Especially seeing that the brother going was Johnny."I’m sure, beautiful girl." He pulled up to her mother's house. "I'll catch up with you this afternoon.""Will you take me out to see my momma’s grave before we have to get ready for dinner and church?" She leaned over and touched the side of his handsome face. Butterflies danced in her stomach, which seemed silly, but she hoped that he would always have such a strong pull on her."Of course I will." He leaned in and kissed her softly before deepening it a little. She opened herself up, letting him in as he rolled his tongue past her, dominating the kiss in a way that made her blood boil."Behave." She pulled back and smiled."You're th
Jaded It's Going Down
DrakeThe night was filled with him and Sicily taking turns to explore each other. By the end of it, he was weak, exhausted and completely infatuated with the beautiful woman tucked against him. Not ever being able to sleep well, he was shocked when he woke the next morning to the smell of bacon and the sound of Sicily talking.He jolted up in the bed, worried that he had missed something. "Baby?""Right here." She opened the various trays sitting on the counter by the TV. "I ordered room service because I didn't want to get dressed yet. Besides, it's snowing like crazy out there."He dropped back down and ran his hand over his chest, watching her as she moved around in a large fluffy white robe. She looked adorable. Sexy."Mine," he grumbled and pulled the covers up. "You know that? You're mine.""I know, you gorilla. You made that more than obvious last night." She nibbled on a piece of bacon and walked over to sit down on the edge of the bed. "You want some?""Of course I do." He r
Jaded A Night on the Town
Sicily"Wow. This place is...""Fancy?" Drake asked as he pulled out her chair. "I heard they have the best steaks in New York.""Something tells me that you're probably right." Sicily sat down, feeling way underdressed for the steakhouse Drake had brought her to. He had on a sports coat over his jeans and white polo, and looked like a million bucks. The best thing in her suitcase was a plain white skirt and a blue sweater with winter boots. She felt cute, but that didn't seem like enough."Evening, folks. Glad to have you in the city and here with us tonight for dinner. May I make some suggestions?" The server wore a white pressed shirt, black slacks and a tux jacket.Sicily sat quietly as Drake encouraged the guy to give his spiel. Once he was done, Drake ordered their drinks and an appetizer. He moved his seat closer to hers and draped his arm over the back of her chair. "You look amazing.""You're just being sweet." She smiled and worked to get her napkin in her lap, not wanting t
