Shadows and Whispers

shadows and whispers K.C. MILLS Copyright © 2023 by K.C. Mills All rights reserved. This book may not be reproduced, scanned, distributed in any print, electronic, or audio form without written permission from the author. Please do not participate in or encourage piracy of copyrighted materials in violation of the author’s rights. This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are fictional and the product of the author’s imagination. note to readers: Hello, beautiful people: If you’re returning, welcome back. If you’re new… welcome to my crazy world. Shadows and Whispers is a standalone novel that highlights two families who have a complicated past but are now forced to come together with an intended goal of strengthening their legacies. This novel is not connected to any prior novel/series. All main characters are being newly introduced so you will be meeting them for the first time. Trigger Warning: Mental Health Issues Language Mature Content Please be mindful that the foundation of this story is simply learning how to love and be loved. For those of you that prefer my more urban/street-lit stories, this one might not feed your soul. However, it is not void of my signature style with that alpha male who isn’t afraid to show his heart. If you’re open to falling in love with love, then please proceed! As always, Crafting Romance with an Edge! Sincerely, K.C. Mills ❤️ prologue… ELIAS “This is on you, son. You will have to spend the rest of your life making this up to the family.” My chest constricted. I glanced at the casket that held my baby brother Lucas. At twenty-five, a life was lost and the blood was on my hands. I was there with him that night. I was the one who should have protected him. But he died. “No, I’ll spend the rest of my life knowing that I can’t.” I couldn’t stomach the accusatory looks on my family’s faces so I avoided them altogether. With one last glance at the grave where my brother now rested, I walked away from my family and the only life I’d ever known with no intention of ever returning… ONE elias “Here.” I cringed as I tugged the black tee over my body. My ribs and kidneys hurt like hell and the muscles in my arms were sore as shit but the high had settled my mind. At least temporarily. I accepted the black envelope that held my payout. Thirty grand. Brawler would have cleared at least ten. Not enough for the beating I’d put on him but I understood that everyone’s circumstances were different. He needed the money and likely wanted a chance to try and take down the one person no one had the ability to beat. Me. Wouldn’t happen. I would never lose. The darkness and internal rage that crawled through me would guarantee a win each and every time I stepped in the cage. I didn’t do it for the money. I needed to feel and this was the only way I knew how. At least without damaging anyone in the process. “Boss has a job for you. You gonna be able to manage after that?” Kev smirked and I glared at him briefly before grabbing my hoodie which I pulled on, grinding my teeth from the sharp pains that vibrated through my body. “Yeah, what’s the job?” “Reg. He’s late again. Second time in a month. Needs a reminder of how stupid that is.” So fucking hardheaded. Arrogant and stupid. You didn’t get to be both. Especially not when you relied on others to survive. “How much of a reminder,” I muttered, slipping into my black jean jacket. Fuck, I might need to get my kidneys looked at. “Enough that he can still cover his weekly payments but will be mindful about being late with them.” I tossed my chin and was on my way to the door. The chill of the night air brushed across my face as I made my way to my bike. It was parked near the back of the building like always. No one fucked with my shit. They didn’t want the consequences. Most knew who I was and my role working for Reno. He was a business professional and criminal. Pushed massive quantities of illegal drugs through his legal businesses and I was the reason no one fucked with him or his money. If they tried, they dealt with me, the devil in human form. The menace with no conscience. The dark soul who didn’t mind getting his hands dirty. My father would be so fucking proud. Astride my bike, I pulled my helmet down on my head, then braced through the soreness of my body. I needed a long hot shower then my bed. The last thing I wanted to do was go beat the shit out of Reg but that was where I was going. Reno wouldn’t care if I handled it tonight or tomorrow as long as it was handled. I didn’t like things lingering. My foot hit the kickstand and I leaned forward, balancing my bike while I twisted the throttle, embracing the vibrations of the engine. Twenty-minute drive. Ten minutes with Reg. I could be home in an hour max. * * * “The fuck…” I yanked Reg away from the bar, fisted his shirt with one hand, while my other cracked the shit out of his jaw. His eyes went wide then settled into anger as he tried his best to maneuver his way out of my grasp. Security headed our way but I landed another meaningful punch and growled at the jolt of pain that pierced through me. “Tell them to move the fuck around or this will be worse than it already is.” “Go. I can handle this.” He knew better than to be placed into the position to deal with the consequences of his security’s bad choices. Their faces tensed and I watched as they paused, attempting