Tempting Fate

TEMPTING FATE BELLA FAUST CONTENTS Get the Faust 411 Reading order Playlist About this book Content guidance Prologue 1. Lily 2. Zeke 3. Lily 4. Zeke 5. Lily 6. Zeke 7. Lily 8. Zeke 9. Lily 10. Zeke 11. Lily 12. Zeke 13. Lily 14. Zeke 15. Lily 16. Zeke 17. Lily 18. Zeke 19. Lily 20. Zeke 21. Lily 22. Zeke 23. Lily 24. Zeke 25. Lily 26. Zeke 27. Lily 28. Zeke 29. Lily 30. Zeke 31. Lily 32. Zeke 33. Lily 34. Zeke 35. Lily 36. Zeke Sneak peek ~ Making Choices Prologue ~ Making Choices One ~ Making Choices Two ~ Making Choices About the Author Tempting Fate A Black Shamrocks MC (Australia) novel Copyright © 2023 DyMi Ink All rights reserved. Parts of this story were previously published in 2015 and 2022 under the titles “Seizing Control” by Kylie Hillman and “Pain & Punishment” by Bella Faust. The stories have been consolidated into this new version and republished in 2023. Please see the author’s website bellafaust.com for further information about the original versions of this story. Edited by Amanda Howard Proofed by Between the Lines Cover design and formatting by Bella Faust While every effort is made to ensure this story is properly edited, proofed, and formatted, mistakes can still slip through. If you notice anything wrong with this book, the author would be beyond grateful if you alert her via this google form so she can fix the error ASAP. * * * No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form, including electronic or mechanical, without written permission from the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews. This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events, and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental. This book is licenced for your personal enjoyment only. Thank you for respecting the author’s work. GET THE FAUST 411 Sign up to the Faust 411 reader bulletin to receive bonus content, the occasional free book, pre-order and release date information, access to her sales, and other exclusive goodies directly in your inbox. M, D, and M You are the only reason I haven’t quit already. Thank you for always believing in me xxxooo READING ORDER BLACK SHAMROCKS MC (AUSTRALIA) Prequel Craving Control Duplicity trilogy Tempting Fate Making Choices Seizing Control PLAYLIST Music is a major source of inspiration for me. If you’d like to listen to the songs that helped form this story, the Duplicity Trilogy playlist is available on Spotify. ABOUT THIS BOOK “When something bad happens, you have three choices. You can let it define you, let it destroy you, or you can let it strengthen you.” ~Unknown~ FREE. She tried to move on. LIES. Too many to count. BETRAYED. By the last person she expected. Lilianna Mayberry killed for her freedom. So why is she still caught in a web of the Kingsley family’s making? Tempting Fate is the first book in the Duplicity trilogy. A dark psychological romance story, set within Bella Faust’s Black Shamrocks MC (Australia) series, the trilogy consists of three full-length novels that must be read in order—Tempting Fate, Making Choices, and Seizing Control. A prequel told from the antagonist’s point-of-view, Craving Control, is also available. Reader discretion is advised as this story contains potentially triggering content. CONTENT GUIDANCE This story isn’t suitable for those who do not enjoy dark romance, so readers are advised to exercise discretion. A detailed list of content warnings is available at bellafaust.com/content-warnings. Tempting Fate is book one in the Duplicity trilogy. There is also a full-length prequel, Craving Control, that can be read before this book. This prequel offers the reader a better understanding of the events that occur in the series, however, this story can be skipped altogether should the reader be triggered by graphic depictions of violence against women told from the perpetrator’s POV. Whilst most of Bella Faust’s books can be read as standalones, the Duplicity trilogy must be read in sequential order—Tempting Fate, Making Choices, and Seizing Control. Please note that this story is set in Australia and is written in UK English. “When something bad happens, you have three choices. You can let it define you, let it destroy you, or you can let it strengthen you.” ~Unknown~ PROLOGUE LILY Aged: Nineteen “Angel, angel… are you going to forgive Alex?” The woman trots alongside the barricade that’s been set up to separate us from the crazies lined up outside the courthouse. She yells her questions like a reporter, but I know she’s one of them. “Will you finally admit that you’re lying about him? That this is a love triangle gone wrong.” “Fuckin’ psychos,” Sander grumbles from behind me. “Needa be put outta their misery.” I squeeze Zeke’s hand to remind him that he can’t act on his lethal inclinations. “What kinda bitch thinks a rapist needs defendin’?” “Sad bitches, that’s who.” Slash keeps his arm around my neck and my face pressed into his wide chest as he helps Zeke lead me inside. Sandwiched between my boyfriend and our gigantic bestie I can barely see a thing. “Like to see them survive the bullshit they’re throwin’ at little Cherub.” Their determination to shield me from this mess is futile. After a year of attacks by the media, haranguing depositions from lawyers employed by Joseph Kingsley, invasive medical tests, and four major surgeries, I know that this isn’t the end. This is simply another interlude. A new way for Alex to taunt me. Because he refuses to exit my life. Notwithstanding his guilty plea, my tormentor has done his best to drag out the legal process. He’s fought his mental health diagnosis. Broken his bail conditions by sending me letters. Leveraged the blackmail photographs of Sander by anonymously releasing them on social media two days