Sinful Vows

Contents 1. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 2. FROM THE AUTHOR: 3. PROLOGUE 4. CHAPTER ONE 5. CHAPTER TWO 6. CHAPTER THREE 7. CHAPTER FOUR 8. CHAPTER FIVE 9. CHAPTER SIX 10. CHAPTER SEVEN 11. CHAPTER EIGHT 12. CHAPTER NINE 13. CHAPTER TEN 14. CHAPTER ELEVEN 15. CHAPTER TWELVE 16. CHAPTER THIRTEEN 17. CHAPTER FOURTEEN 18. CHAPTER FIFTEEN 19. CHAPTER SIXTEEN 20. CHAPTER SEVENTEEN 21. CHAPTER EIGHTEEN 22. CHAPTER NINETEEN 23. CHAPTER TWENTY 24. CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE 25. CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO 26. CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE 27. CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR 28. CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE 29. SAVAGE KING EXCERPT ASTORIA ROYALS MORE BOOKS BY DEBORAH GARLAND HERE’S DEBORAH ALL RIGHTS RESERVED Sinful Vows Copyright ©2023 Deborah Garland Savage King Sample Copyright ©2023 Deborah Garland WARNING: The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. No part of this book may be used or reproduced electronically or in print without written permission, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in reviews. This is a work of fiction. All names, characters, and places are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, organizations, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental. Edits by: Julie K. Cohen Suzanne McKenna-Link The Ryter's Proof Editing Services Cover Designed by Bookin’ It Designs Published by Deborah A. Garland www.deborahgarlandauthor.com FROM THE AUTHOR: You are about to meet Ewan Quinlan, lead investigator for Quinlan Investigations. Ewan and his brothers originally appeared in Rebel Billionaire. Ewan had promised his sister to Irish Mob Boss, Kieran O’Rourke, but Sabine ran off and found love elsewhere. I planned to give Kieran his own story eventually. That sparked the idea for the Astoria Royals Mafia Romance series. While this prequel, Sinful Vows, is Ewan Quinlan’s story, it introduces the series arc of a missing Russian princess that will feature Kieran and his brothers, starting with Savage King. The setting is Astoria, New York, the sprawling waterfront incorporated village of Queens County. It is named for John Jacob Astor, the richest man in America at the time, who was considered royalty. The Astoria Royals romances are based on fictional characters, and, in some cases, locations are made up for storytelling enjoyment and drama. About this story… Ewan and Darcy’s story is not conventional. He’s fifteen years older and, technically, her uncle. But… Darcy’s father is Ewan’s half-brother, and Darcy is adopted. There is no blood relation between them, and they are essentially strangers when the story begins. Darcy, however, keeps the truth from Ewan for her own reasons. This is a dark romance because Ewan doesn’t know Darcy is adopted and takes what he wants anyway, then commits violence to protect her. Other triggers, past sexual assault of Darcy (not by Ewan), grief from the death of a sibling, death of parents, extreme weather with forced proximity, and health deterioration of a parent. If these themes bother you, please skip this one, or read with caution. I love hearing from readers and always welcome feedback. Contact me through my WEBSITE. PROLOGUE Darcy - 5 Years Earlier - Waterford, Ireland“Here’s your shot of whiskey.” I slide the tumbler across the scarred high-top table and watch it wobble. Ciara, my bestie and study partner for the nursing boards, downs her shot in one fiery gulp. With one open, watery eye, she says, “You talk to that bloke you’ve been salivating over all night?”The man she’s referring to has my virgin lady parts aching and vibrating the floorboards of this crowded, smoke-filled pub. I’m days away from turning eighteen and haven’t yet left my hometown, but I’ve watched The Bachelor on satellite television. I’ve never seen a man with such blue eyes, sharp jawline, and chiseled cheekbones. “I heard him tell that blonde floozy, Lola, he’s from New York. Just got here yesterday.” I glance that way again, annoyed she’s still hanging all over him.“What he’s doing here in Waterford?” “No idea. No one’s died, so he’s not here for a family funeral,” I say with authority because there’s not much to do here. Wakes and burials are often our only entertainment.“If he’s from New York, he may be mafia.”I scoff, but I’d heard rumors of local families having connected relatives in America. No one’s ever confirmed who. Or possibly, they didn’t live to repeat it.“What time is it?” Ciara asks. “My phone died.”“Because you never charge it.” I take mine out. Catching my reflection, I frown at what I did to myself last week when I was bored. Bleached my long, dark hair, then butchered it because the dye job burnt off most of the ends.My parents are furious with me. After that mess, I got a tattoo before my birthday when they specifically told me not to. And now I ‘look like Andy Warhol,’ according to my father. I had to google the guy, then dropped the phone when I saw the resemblance, too.“It’s nearly ten.” I put my cell away. “We should get going. You have enough gas to get us home in that clunker of yours, right?”“Aye, Miss Darcy Quinlan.” She smiles, but bites her lower lip like she’s not sure. “You’re a meanie.”“I’m gonna hit the bean-jacks.” I hop off the stool and weave my way through the crowd so Callum, the sleazy bouncer, doesn’t see me. He’s always on the lookout for underage hookups, and when he finds a girl he likes, instead of making her leave, he tells her he’ll let her stay if she sucks him off in the office, which many girls do. Since he found out I’m a virgin, he’s been laying the charm on thick. I’ve been avoiding him at all costs. There’s no queue for the loo in the long, dim hallway, which is strange. There is just a man standing next to the door to the ladies’ room. “Hold up,” he says, pushing his arm out.“That’s the ladies’ toilet, bucko.” I fold my arms.“It’s occupied.” He grins wickedly.“All four stalls?”“Maybe.” His brogue sounds rich, but it’s not as sharp as us locals. I glance at the bar area, and