Don't Say Goodbye

Copyright © 2023 Nola Marie & Black Heart Publishing All rights reserved Ebook for Amazon Kindle 03K!nd[D0N’T+$@Y-17g00dby3@m@z0n2023 The characters and events portrayed in this book are fictitious. Any similarity to real persons, living or dead, is coincidental and not intended by the author. No part of this book may be reproduced, or stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without express written permission of the publisher or author. Violators will be prosecuted. River City Series Violent Life A friends to lovers romance Violent Night A second chance, secret baby romance Violent Truth An enemies to lovers romance Violent Victory A sister’s best friend romance Sons of Sin Goodbye is a Second Chance A second chance romance Bed of Nails A friends to lovers romance Shooting Star in the Rain A best friend’s little sister romance, single dad romance Break Me Down A second chance, secret baby romance Shed My Skin A soul mates/accidental pregnancy romance Breathe Again A soul mates/accidental pregnancy romance Cruel Fate Almost Goodbye Age gap/secret baby romance WARNING: This book features a twelve-year age gap between the MMC and the FMC. When he meets her, she is under 18. There are also secret babies, lies, and manipulative parents. If any of that offends you, don’t read it. Contents Dedication Henry Ashleigh Henry Ashleigh Henry Ashleigh Henry Ashleigh Henry Henry Ashleigh Henry Henry Ashleigh Henry Ashleigh Henry Ashleigh Ashleigh Henry Ashleigh Henry Ashleigh Henry Acknowledgments About the author Other books by Nola Marie Coming 2023 Dedication To Henry and Trouble: You’re a pain in my ass. I hate you both. Henry I sit in the hotel armchair, propping my head, listening to the ringing on the other end of the phone. It’s a dick move calling Christmas day, but it’s an emergency. Except this is the third time I’ve tried in fifteen minutes, but the asshole won’t answer. A knock at the door distracts me for a second. I walk across the worn, faded carpet, growling my frustration when I sling the door open without looking, and return to the chair, ignoring Liam’s questioning glare. My call goes unanswered again, and I curse, tossing my phone on the bed. “He didn’t answer me either,” Liam, my oldest and best friend, tells me, sitting in the chair at the desk. I rub my temples, my irritation from the last twenty-four hours at its breaking point. No, that’s not true. I’ve not been irritated. I’ve been pissed. And that breaking point was reached about two hours ago. “He’ll answer,” he assures me. “If not, Angel has his dad on standby.” “You called them?” I’m not surprised. Liam always has my back, willing to do anything for me. Including calling his employers for a favor. Fortunately, those employers are also our friends. “Better than Jonathan’s bitch ass, but I hate to bother the man.” He chuckles, leaning back in the flimsy desk chair, wincing when it creaks. “You know Jonathan is just as busy, right? And this isn’t exactly his field of expertise, whereas Angel’s dad does this all day, every day, for everyone in Hollywood.” I shrug and look up at the ceiling with a grunt. “Michael has a family he returns to. Jonathan chases pussy.” “True.” I rake my hands down my face, trying to scrub away… Fuck! “What the hell happened?” I grumble to myself. A day ago, I learned I’m a father. Have been for almost five years. And I didn’t fucking know. The crazy thing is that I understand why she didn’t tell me. Young, scared, and worried I would get in trouble. Trouble thought I would get in trouble. Looking at things from her perspective, I can see why she was so worried. In another state, she would’ve been right. There’s still no guarantee I won’t face some jail time since the entire judicial system in this town is against me. It’s why I need Jonathan. But she should’ve told me. She’s had five years to tell me. We could’ve figured this out together. I could’ve put her mind at ease. And she wouldn’t have needed to subject herself to her father’s blackmail. “This is a fucking mess, you know?” I throw myself against the chair, lacing my fingers over my head. “Knocking up a teenage girl usually is. Been there, done that, got the kid to prove it.” My middle finger shoots up because our situations are not the same. He got his ex pregnant when he was a teenager, too. And he knew the moment she did. I remember it all like yesterday. The guy was scared shitless, as any fifteen-year-old boy would be. Terrified to tell his parents—her parents. Afraid to be a dad. Good thing he was born for it. I bet Trouble had the same thoughts and reactions as Liam did. She was seventeen, for fuck’s sake. Had a night with a man she had no idea if she would see again in the backseat of a truck. Then, instead of telling anyone about it, pretended she didn’t know who her child’s father was. Got labeled a whore, despite being a virgin before that night. It’s a hard life in any town but in this town… She did it to protect me—which I’m still struggling with—because she wasn’t honest about her age, and I was too drunk to notice. Too drunk to remember I fucked her, even if I didn’t forget her. In Kentucky, twenty-eight and seventeen means jail time in most situations. Ours is the exception. Trouble didn’t know that. Never took the time to learn beyond the bare minimum. If she had only told me, but she chose to keep her secret—our daughter. Her heart was in the right place, but it didn’t ease the ache in my chest. My little girl is almost five. I’ve missed so much. After a while, Liam must grow tired of my grumbling silence because he shakes his head