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Chapter 22
Last Updated:
2024-10-29 19:42:56Related chapters
Reciprocity Chapter 23
The day was long, and I was ready to get home. My workout with Jared left me exhausted and in desperate need of a shower. He was pushing me harder, to beat all the pain, fear, and anxiety that consumed me out and into the pads and the bag.It helped a lot, and I was thankful for another physical release, but it didn’t change the truth. Marconi was coming for us.In the back of my mind, I’d been working on a contingency plan—a getaway. Working it out in real life without them finding out was harder than I imagined. Who could I trust, and of those few, who wasn’t being watched?When I stepped into our condo, dread washed over me.Silent.Black.Nothing.“Lila?”I closed and locked the door behind me, then set my bag down. Silence remained. Her car was in the parking lot, so I knew she had to be here.The echo of my footsteps on the tile accentuated the quiet, along with the hammering in my chest. I flipped light switches as I moved through the condo, scanning rooms for a
Last Updated : 2024-10-29Reciprocity Chapter 24
LilaI stared at my reflection in the mirror, at the dark circles that needed more makeup every day. Insomnia had taken control again, and sleep eluded me. I took comfort in my husband’s arms, but I couldn’t shut my brain off.What were we going to do? Over a week had passed since we had the pregnancy mishap, and things were only getting worse.Life was hard for everyone, but it was incredibly atrocious to others. Nathan and I qualified as others. I knew with every cell in my body he was my soul mate. I also knew that fate was a cruel mistress.“Honeybear, you almost ready?” Nathan called from the bedroom.“Almost.” I closed up the concealer and brushed on some powder.My hand trembled, and I clenched it into a tight fist, trying to stop it. I had to keep calm, had to show calm, no matter how badly I was breaking on the inside. Nathan needed me to be strong, and I would be his pillar.“Ready.” I smiled at him and held out my hand to take his.I didn’t want to di
Last Updated : 2024-10-29Reciprocity Chapter 25
Nathan was silent, his grip on my hand tight on the walk back to the office. It all began to settle in that we’d reached the finale. My chest clenched and I leaned into him as we rode the elevator up.He refused to let go of me. The office exploded in murmurs—hushed whispers, scared faces, and pointed fingers.Nathan stopped mid-step and let go of my hand, reaching across my body instead and gripping my arm. It was too tight, panicked. I looked up, and in front of his office door stood a figure.The man had slick-backed, midnight black hair, deep age lines carved into his clean-shaven face. He had to be at least sixty, if not seventy. The black suit he wore was not off the rack and probably cost a small fortune.Nathan positioned himself in front of me, blocking me from the stranger, but I could still see. The man’s stance screamed elite—legs apart, spine straight, hands in his pockets. He radiated arrogance as his cold eyes surveyed me with an odd curiosity. Our eyes met a
Last Updated : 2024-10-29Reciprocity Chapter 26
I vibrated with anger and fear as I stared at Nathan. We weren’t right. There was an element that was off in both of us. We weren’t working together as a unit, as a family, and it was hurting us.I picked up a shoe he’d just dumped into the suitcase and hurled it against the wall. “No. This ends now. Stop with the bullshit!”He stopped packing and looked at me. “Bullshit?”“Yes. Bullshit.” I was seething. Not working together made us weaker, and it’d become obvious we were falling apart because of it. “You’ve kept things from me. I’ve kept things from you, as well. We can’t do that, not now. Especially not in this moment.”He blinked at me, stunned. “What are you keeping from me?”“What are you keeping from me? I’m your wife, remember? Partner in this life we have together, including impending doom.”He stepped forward, towering over me, and snarled. “What are you keeping from me?”I blew out a breath and bit my bottom lip before looking him in the eye, my jaw jutting fo
Last Updated : 2024-10-29Reciprocity Chapter 27
When we got down to the parking lot, Nathan popped open the trunk to my car and not his own. I glanced at him in curiosity, but understood. Switching to mine could buy us some time, because we were always in his car.The air was heavy as we made our way through downtown to Meridian Street and north a mile to pick up I65. We were both stiff, unable to relax. I watched the Indianapolis skyline disappear in the rearview mirror when the interstate angled west. The IMA sat off to the right overlooking the White River as we passed, streetlamps filling the car with alternating light to dark.“Shit.”I turned to him. “What?”His jaw clenched tight, eyes flickered between the road and the mirror. “They’ve already found us.” The engine revved as he pressed on the gas pedal.I looked into the rearview mirror, but only saw the bright headlights from all the other cars. My heart fluttered in my chest, the beat seeming to increase with our speed. Every time I took a breath, it echoed in
Last Updated : 2024-10-29Reciprocity Chapter 28
My eyes were still sealed tight, waiting for the pain, waiting for the nothingness to consume me. The concussive sound of the gun firing exploded in my ears. Warm droplets landed on my skin.I waited.One heartbeat…Two heartbeats…The beating continued on.The ringing grew louder, making me cringe, then was gone, replaced by the thud of something heavy dropping to the ground in front of me.My breath was ragged as my heart raced, still waiting for the bullet to hit me. I forced my eyes to open, half expecting to see the nothingness of death or the shiny leather shoes of my killer splattered with my blood.I saw neither.Vincent Marconi’s body lay sprawled out in front of me, his eyes open, the light fading from them. Blood seeped out of his chest, pooling beneath him. I wiped my hand against my forehead and found no hole, but thick, sticky, dark red blood instead.It wasn’t mine.Everything was silent, or seemed to be. I began to shake, my body trembling and convulsi
Last Updated : 2024-10-29Reciprocity Epilogue
RELEASEOur story was never rainbows and sunshine. It was gritty and raw, and a force neither of us were able to deter.But that’s what a true love is—an undeniable power—and that was exactly what captured us. As close to love at first sight as two fucked-up people could get.It started with two broken people, and ended with a love worth dying for.But love isn’t perfect. Love isn’t without sacrifice and struggle.Especially with all that we’ve been through.
Last Updated : 2024-10-29Reciprocity Chapter 1
Two months after the end of Reciprocity…The glare-down entered its fifth minute with neither of us backing down. My jaw twitched. Lila’s jutted forward. A bottle of wine sat between us on the counter. The kitchen was a disaster, we both looked wrecked, and we hadn’t had sex in five days.Five fucking days.Weeks of small spats were building, and the blowout was bound to happen at any moment. What bothered me, what hurt the most, was the reason why my wife and I were having such difficulties.It wasn’t because of someone coming after us, my overbearing protectiveness, or her family. No, it was us.Us.Me.Her.The reality of life without looking over our shoulders.Who were Nathan and Delilah Thorne?What did they like? What did they do in their spare time? Hobbies?The only hobby I had was fucking her, and that wasn’t happening lately because one or both of us was constantly angry at the other for sometimes unknown, irrational reasons.Sex was no longer pro
Last Updated : 2024-10-29
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Reciprocity More books from K.I. Lynn!
Welcome to the Cameo HotelI get what I want.When I walked through the door of the Cameo Hotel I didn’t expect such a beauty to be working the front desk.The effect she has on me is intense, and I make her life a living hell because of it.I love her spirit, her internal defiance when completing the most inane task I assign her. My two week stay has turned into unending, just to be near her.She’s under my every command if she wants to keep me happy.There’s one last thing I want.Her.Find out more hereBecoming Mrs. LockwoodEvery girl has dreams of meeting Prince Charming, or at least I know I did.A fairy tale-like meeting of love at first site.Real life and fairy tales are very different.I’m just a small town Indiana girl that had a chance encounter with one of Hollywood’s golden boys. You may think you know where this story goes—not even close.Life is different. Marriage is hard. It’s even
Reciprocity About the Author
K.I. Lynn is the USA Today Bestselling Author from The Bend Anthology and the Amazon Bestsellers, Breach and Becoming Mrs Lockwood. She spent her life in the arts, everything from music to painting and ceramics, then to writing. Characters have always run around in her head, acting out their stories, but it wasn’t until later in life she would put them to pen. It would turn out to be the one thing she was really passionate about.Since she began posting stories online, she’s garnered acclaim for her diverse stories and hard hitting writing style. Two stories and characters are never the same, her brain moving through different ideas faster than she can write them down as it also plots its quest for world domination…or cheese. Whichever is easier to obtain… Usually it’s cheese.WebsiteFacebookTwitterInstagramGet my Newsletter
Reciprocity Acknowledgements
Special thanks to:My husband, David, for putting up with me and the madness of writing.To Massy, the voice of clarity in my chaotic mind and one who understands it all. Forever my twifey and BFF.To Crystal, my pervy twin, for everything.To Nyddi, for her support, friendship, and big heart.To all the fans. Thank you for loving Nathan and Lila, and for joining them on their journey. Your support, pimping, and love for the series keeps me going. Words can never express my gratitude and love to you all.
Reciprocity Chapter 6
Year 7…The house was an odd and eerie quiet. So much that I could actually hear the ticking of the clock above the mantle.Lila was out with Anna and Jackson in an effort to wear them down some for my parents and nephew. They were going to babysit for the night while we went out to celebrate our anniversary.Seven years.Seven years ago, I pledged my love and life to my Lila.Laying on the couch, my leg ached, stiff from being stuck in the same position for so long. I stretched it while trying not to disturb the bundle on my chest. My little Kayla was curled on me, her soft, sweet breath blowing across my skin. I leaned down and kissed the soft spot on her head and marveled at the miracle that she was. Only three months old, and she already had us all wrapped around her tiny fingers.My eyes flickered around the room, and I took stock of how much my life had changed over the prior nine years. In that period of time, I had moved from a large, quite literally empty
Reciprocity Chapter 5
Year 6…The week had been long and tiring. Then again, every week was beginning to be like that. Anna and Jackson were in so many activities there wasn’t a night in over a month we were home at a regular time.I rubbed my face and glanced over to the clock with a sigh. The day was minutes from being over, and my to-do list was barely checked off.Closing up, I settled my desk, readying it for the next day to start the cycle over again.“Night, Nathan,” Angie, my shared secretary, said as I stepped out of my office, locking the door behind me.“Night.” I set a file in her inbox. “Don’t stay too late.”“I’ve got to pick the boys up from their dad’s, so no worry there.”I swung by Lila’s office and waved to Owen. The poor guy looked swamped as usual. I was surprised that he continued on with the position for so long. Perhaps he, like Lila, found a sort of peace in the chaos. The more stringent requirements, double checking everything.He had a little one of his own
Reciprocity Chapter 4
Year 4…“Lila, have you seen my other shoe?” I asked, holding up my one running shoe.She bounced Jackson in her arms, rubbing his back to get him to burp. “No.”There was a little giggle coming from under the bed, and we both looked in the direction of the sound.I smiled and gestured with my head to the bed. “Oh, I wonder where it could be. Maybe it’s in the closet.”Another giggle.“In the bathroom?” Lila suggested with a wide smile and a shake of her head as she tried not to laugh at our toddler.A loud laugh—my daughter thought she was so sneaky.“Maybe…” I laid down on the floor and reached. “It’s under the bed!” Screeches of laughter as I grabbed hold of a toddler leg. “Gotcha!”She wasn’t very far under, and I was able to pull her out. I tickled her sides, making her squeal before reaching back under for my shoe.Anna smiled wide, little giggles coming from her. “Again!”I stood and pulled Jackson from Lila’s arms so she could finish getting dressed.
Reciprocity Chapter 3
Year Two…“Oh my God, look how adorable you are!” Caroline held Anna high up in the air, then brought her little baby belly to her mouth and blew on it, making Anna squeal in delight.Our little bundle arrived without issue, just an exhausting delivery, with my hair and Lila’s eyes. At nine months old, she was already exhibiting signs of the rambunctious child she would grow into.Lila smiled at them. “You say that every time you see her.”“Can’t blame her. She got her looks from her mom.”I turned in my seat. “Drew, are you saying I’ve got an ugly mug?”He gave a snort and shook his head. “You still have women in the office chasing your ass. So, no. Just saying Lila is beautiful.”I pointed my finger at him. “Hey, that’s my wife.”Lila rolled her eyes and swatted my arm before going over to Drew and giving him a hug.“Thanks, Drew, I needed that.”“Needed that? Is Nate falling down on the job?” He gave me a mock glare, and I flipped him off.She shook her he
Reciprocity Chapter 2
Year One…After a six-month search, Lila and I found a home in Carmel—land of the roundabouts—and had settled in to suburban living. With the lives we’d led, it was quite an adjustment. Being neighborly was a foreign concept for Lila, leaving some of our neighbors a little put off.She wasn’t the stereotypical suburban housewife like many of the nearby residents.There was a good chance we would never fit in well, but it didn’t bother me. She was all I needed.We had a beautiful lot overlooking a small lake. It made for wonderful nights sitting on the deck, watching the sun set.I stared at her, my eyes wide in surprise at her sudden burst of anger. My wife was livid—pissed beyond belief at me—and I had no idea why. Her face resembled the same shade of red as the Twizzler dangling out of my mouth. I held up my hands in surrender, never having seen the she-devil before me, and I had no idea how to handle her.“Why?” Her hands were balled into fists at her sides, sh
Reciprocity Chapter 1
Two months after the end of Reciprocity…The glare-down entered its fifth minute with neither of us backing down. My jaw twitched. Lila’s jutted forward. A bottle of wine sat between us on the counter. The kitchen was a disaster, we both looked wrecked, and we hadn’t had sex in five days.Five fucking days.Weeks of small spats were building, and the blowout was bound to happen at any moment. What bothered me, what hurt the most, was the reason why my wife and I were having such difficulties.It wasn’t because of someone coming after us, my overbearing protectiveness, or her family. No, it was us.Us.Me.Her.The reality of life without looking over our shoulders.Who were Nathan and Delilah Thorne?What did they like? What did they do in their spare time? Hobbies?The only hobby I had was fucking her, and that wasn’t happening lately because one or both of us was constantly angry at the other for sometimes unknown, irrational reasons.Sex was no longer pro
