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  Anger & Arrogance

  The Smoke & Fire Series

  Adult Paranormal Romance

  Book #3

  Michele Wesley

  Copyright © 2016 by Michele Wesley

  ISBN: eBook 978-0-9961554-8-9

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

  This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or used fictitiously, and any resemblance to any actual person, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

  Warning: This book depicts scenes of violence, interracial romance, and strong sexual content that is intended for Adults 18+.

  CONTENTS

  Chapter 1 Wedding Day Blues

  Chapter 2 Gladiators

  Chapter 3 Bullet Proof Vest

  Chapter 4 The Devil’s Daughter

  Chapter 5 Rusty Spoon

  Chapter 6 Humbling Experience

  Chapter 7 Padre

  Chapter 8 Why did we get Married?

  Chapter 9 Armed with Explosives

  Chapter 10 Hot Body

  Chapter 11 Stay in your Place

  Chapter 12 Cousin Kevin

  Chapter 13 The Jealous Type

  Chapter 14 Kissing

  Chapter 15 Family Secrets

  Chapter 16 Argumentative Foreplay

  Chapter 17 Family Time

  Chapter 18 Trapped by Temptation

  Chapter 19 Stalled Arrogance

  Chapter 20 Dating

  Chapter 21 Story Teller

  Chapter 22 The Naked Truth

  Chapter 23 Taken

  Chapter 24 Second Sight

  Chapter 25 Semiconscious

  Chapter 26 El Diablo

  Chapter 27 Search and Rescue

  Chapter 28 Kiss Kiss Kiss

  Epilogue

  Author Thank-you

  Read the first six books and any prequel of this series in any order.

  Coming soon in the Smoke & Fire Series

  Sevyn

  Guardian Sixx

  Dreams Whisper

  Available Now in the Smoke & Fire Series

  Smoke & Fire – Book #1

  Body Box – Book #2

  Sparks – Novelette Prequel to Book #1

  Chapter 1

  Wedding Day Blues

  The powdery blue silk dress clung pleasantly to Alana Santos, but she was not a blushing June bride. Her reflection stared sarcastically from her bedroom mirror as she waited for the car that would carry her to an undisclosed location. Jittery hands slid down the sides of her dress as she forced her mind to beat back thoughts of marrying a man she’d never met.

  An hour and a half was all the time she had left to plan her escape or face one of the most challenging days of her life. Now that this day had finally arrived, she regretted agreeing to the arrangement. Am I this desperate? Grudgingly, she stepped away from her building and headed towards the black stretched limo that awaited her. She clumped across the short expanse of pavement dragging a suitcase containing bits and pieces of her old life. Her forced smile melted away as she tugged at the train of her dress and took in the driver awaiting her.

  The driver tilted his head in greeting, “Ma’am. My name is Walter, very nice to meet you.” “Nice to meet you as well,” was all Alana could muster. Ensuring she was seated comfortably, he stored her suitcase before climbing in and driving away.

  That she had no idea where she was going bothered Alana, and the driver wasn’t volunteering any information. She had yet to meet or be introduced to her soon-to-be husband or his family.

  Sadly, she had agreed to this arrangement when it was so urgently thrust upon her by her father, Randall Santos. His reasoning seemed logical enough. He didn’t want her alone and this marriage would give her a name and financial stability. In return, the receiving family needed a political bride—a woman cultured and educated enough to ensure political correctness in the public’s eye. “Political families do this sort of thing all the time,” her father had said.

  The reality of what she’d agreed to had finally set in and Alana was having second thoughts. Why did I agree to this? How did I let my father talk me into this? She wanted to scream, curse and cry, but refused to give anyone the satisfaction of seeing her lose her mind.

  Her father called informing he would meet her at the ceremony. She hadn’t seen him this excited over an event in a long time. Now, she wondered if she were appeasing her father’s wishes while ignoring stabbing doubt. The longer she sat in the back of the car, the more her nerves unraveled.

  Thankfully, she had been given a chance to sign a “get out of jail free” clause to the marriage. If she wanted out, she would be free to exit the marriage provided she remain wedded a full year and remain under the same roof as her husband for at least six months.

  Think about something else, she reminded taking in a deep breath. Her hand swept the soft fabric of her dress. Accepting its beauty, the strapless work of perfection had been sent by the mother-in-law she had yet to meet. Despite cold-feet and doubt, she couldn’t help admiring the beauty of the garment, cut to fit her body perfectly.

  Remarkable, the dress wasn’t an off the rack purchase. She was certain it was an expensive tailor-made original. Its soft and sturdy built-in corset held her in place as if two delicately placed hands pushed her breasts up enough to keep the look classy.

  The front of the dress was fairly simple compared to the intricacy of the back. The majority of her back was exposed, but the covered parts were adorned with asymmetric cuts of material that contained hand-stitched beads. The waist of the dress was an illusion of a small belt crafted of what looked to be time-consuming bead-work. The blue color of the gown complimented her brown skin, making it shimmer. This would have been her dream dress if it were a wedding she would have actually planned. She shifted one of the pins holding her veil in place and prayed her unruly mass of thick curls stayed in the bun that had taken her a half hour to place.

  Other than her gorgeous wedding dress, Alana had also received a necklace chocked with diamonds and a platinum and diamond wedding ring shaped like a flower. The ring was so massive and exquisite she was afraid she might get mugged wearing it.

  The slowing of the car pulled her from her thoughts. It took her a moment to recognize her new surroundings. She was being driven into the Pelican Hills area of Southern California. The neighborhood alone proved that her father had set her financial future to great new heights. Who in the hell does my father have me marrying?

  Having lived in California her entire life, this was the closest she had been to a neighborhood this upscale. The beautiful blue waters of Newport Beach peeked at her through breeze kissed trees and perfectly manicured landscapes.

  Walter shoved a card into a magnetic reader that opened huge gates. He waved knowingly at two guards sitting inside a bricked guard station as he drove forward. Alana’s head was on a constant shrivel as she took in estates that looked like resorts. The trees and shrubs were perfectly manicured and provided the area a fresh appealing quality.

  After driving over a street clean enough to eat from, Walter turned the car into a private shrub filled cove and punched in a combination of numbers that opened a tall metal fence. As the car rounded the driveway, the house came into view.

  Coming to a stop in front of huge gold and crystal doors, Alana gazed in disbelief at the three story bricked house that resembled a modernized castle. She was out and walking before Walter made it around to her door. Being single for more than three years,
she had grown accustomed to her independence. She’d warned her father she may not have been ready for this, but he’d insisted so vehemently she’d finally given in to his request.

  An energetic woman greeted, “Hi I am Maggie. Wow. You’re beautiful.”

  “I'm Alana and thank you,” she said, as Walter’s movement pulled her attention. He grabbed her luggage, gave a parting smile and disappeared. Ushering her forward, Maggie’s black and white uniformed pantsuit indicated maid or hostess.

  Alana’s arm rested gently atop Maggie’s as she was escorted up wide steps, through oversized doors, and into the depths of the sophisticated house. Maggie’s cheerful voice screeched with excitement. “I think you will love living here Ma’am. It’s always peaceful and quiet unless the Nazaris are having an event. They are the nicest people you would ever want to meet.” Maggie’s statement confirmed for Alana that she would be living in this big beautiful house. Some of her tension eased after Maggie’s comment about her in-laws being nice people.

  Exquisitely crafted vases, statues and art pieces probably worth more than her condo passed quickly across Alana’s view as Maggie led her towards their destination. Family photos were on display, but they breezed by them way too fast to be fully observed.

  Stepping into a large foyer, the vague sound of music and chatter found her. Alana happened to glance back far enough to see another lady walking behind them holding her train. She wondered if the woman had been there the entire time.

  Smiling, Alana welcomed her father’s stoic face as he stood awaiting her arrival. She enjoyed seeing him dressed in a suit. The only other time she remembered seeing him look so nice and handsome was when her mother was alive. Seeing her mother and father preparing to attend some event her mother had forced him into was among Alana’s fondest memories.

  Giving her one of his flat hugs, her father kissed her on the cheek and flashed a reassuring smile. “You’re almost there. I promise you won’t regret this.” Pulling her veil over her head, he secured her arm and knocked twice on slightly cracked large wooden doors.

  He hadn’t given her time to reply or make one last ditch effort to protest. Ticked off, it seemed her father couldn’t wait to give her away. He hadn’t even bothered to give her a heads up on what to expect. She understood his urgency. He blamed himself for her shortcomings. She’d nearly succeeded in taking her own life after an abusive relationship drove her over the edge. Now, she fought daily to rebuild herself into the charismatic and outgoing woman she used to be. Agreeing to this arrangement would force her to face the fear of reconnecting with a man. She hoped it did at least. This was the first spontaneous decision she’d made since the incident and she feared she was forcing too much too fast.

  Once the doors were completely opened, the wedding theme music started. Hundreds of people stood at her arrival, none Alana knew. Her mind was stolen by hanging confections of thinly cut silk that matched her dress. Velvety flowers of blue and white were displayed lavishly throughout the room. The fragrance drifted into her nose and kindled her senses. Blue and white shards fluttered over her feet as she walked across a sea of confetti. Scanning the room for her soon-to-be husband, she realized he could have been anyone. Is it too late for me to turn and run?

  Alana assumed her new groom looked like a bullfrog. What kind of man is willing to marry a woman he’s never met? Why did I allow myself to be talked into this?

  A name, financial stability and despite what her father said, someone to keep an eye on her. None of it seemed that important anymore. All Alana knew of her new husband was that his father was a Congressman.

  Taking a closer look at the crowd, she regretted she hadn’t insisted on knowing who she would be marrying. Ninety percent of the crowd was either Caucasian or other. The realization of what it meant made her stumble. Her father tightened the hold he had on her arm and urged her forward.

  Alana was walking into trouble; she felt it in her bones.

  Chapter 2

  Gladiators

  Devin Nazari stood on the slightly raised stage awaiting his new bride. He couldn’t get a good look at her because of the veil, but it didn’t hide that she had a nice body. Considering she agreed to marry a man she never met, she was likely homely looking in the face. It didn’t matter to him either way. He wasn’t marrying for love, so marrying a moose would make his life easier.

  He still found it hard to believe his parents had saddled him with marriage to benefit his father’s political career. All in the name of support, Devin bit the bullet and agreed to the marriage. The media and his playboy ways didn’t help his father’s career, so Devin expected that some type of ultimatum would come eventually.

  As his new bride and her father stepped closer, her features started coming into view. Surprised, Devin realized his bride was a hell of a lot more attractive then he imagined. Maybe his family had done him a solid. Having met his new bride’s father, he was surprised to find that she was African-American.

  At this point it didn’t matter; he wasn’t doing it for companionship or love. He hoped his parents knew what they were doing.

  ***

  The closer Alana got to the stage the heavier her body became. Her father was a tug away from dragging her. She wondered which of the three men standing next to the pastor was her intended husband.

  Surprised, she found them all handsome, therefore her original assumption that her groom might look like a bullfrog was wrong. Although she had no expectation of having a real marriage, she was relieved that she wasn’t marrying Frankenstein’s monster.

  She took her place in front of the pastor and watched her groom step into place. He had an arrogant look on his face like he thought he was the finest thing walking. Alana wrinkled her nose hoping he noticed that she wasn’t impressed.

  His neat closely shaved beard gave the appearance as if it had been feathered on. His haircut was buzzed low. He showcased a handsome face with a set of sexy attention getting lips. His eyes were light green and acted as perfectly distracting centerpieces to a face that probably got him anything he wanted. From afar he looked Caucasian, but up close she couldn’t actually be certain. She could tell just with a glace that the rest of him was just as exquisite. Her new groom was devastatingly handsome and he knew it.

  Alana scrutinized her groom, and she watched him study her in turn. No smiling, no handshakes, no hugs, or hellos. It was clear that her groom was sizing her up like a gladiator preparing for battle—she did the same.

  When he reached towards her, she instinctively took a step back. It took a moment to realize he intended to lift her veil.

  He paused, giving her time to gather herself. The crowd was so quiet she’d forgotten about their assessing eyes. She allowed her groom to lift her veil. His silent gasp and perusing eyes gave way to an appreciative smile. His surprise assured her he was expecting a wildebeest.

  He flashed the silly look men get when they decide they want to sleep with a woman. Alana decided then and there that she had no intention of allowing their relationship to go that far. The family wanted a prop and an actress and that was exactly what she planned to be. As far as she was concerned, this marriage was never getting consummated.

  ***

  Devin preferred big chested blondes, but his bride was pretty enough to make him change his mind. Her personality be damned; he would date her off looks alone. She had a lovely set of thick lashed big brown eyes, created specifically for seduction. Like living art, her beautiful round baby face was uniquely gorgeous. And that mouth. The lush tilt of her lips drove his gaze towards her mouth and kept it there. Devin had to drag his eyes away from a natural pout with lush slightly turned down lips that begged to be kissed.

  Her physical featured pleased him. He flashed a smile and watched her return a horrifying face that would have been lethal as a weapon.

  Throughout the ceremony, Devin sensed her sizing him up. Although she didn’t show it, he knew she was impressed with him. He wondered if he was going to be ab
le to have his cake and wife too. He had no intention of leaving his long-time, on-again off-again girlfriend of three years: Amber. His parents expressed in not so many words that this marriage was for show, and he had every intention of treating it as such.

  Used to getting his way where women were concerned, having a wife and women on the side seemed like the next logical step. His bride’s insidious stare forced him to rein in his thoughts.

  I do’s were exchanged. When the priest instructed Devin to kiss his bride, Alana’s glare stopped his approach. Quickly, he gave her a peck on the cheek instead and backed away because she seemed poised to strike.

  Walking down the aisle, they faked smiles in front of a crowd that clapped, cheered and threw multicolored rose pedals at them.

  ***

  Alana allowed her new husband to escort her to the huge back yard, her back yard. It had been transformed into a botanical garden. The beach backdrop made the scene a bride’s fantasy. The sunset called her attention as the remainder of its refreshing warm rays licked her skin. The breeze from the ocean closed her eyes despite her complicated situation. There was a live band, food, drinks and servers everywhere. The set-up was absolutely breathtaking and Alana couldn’t deny that someone had invested some serious time and planning.

  Cameras flashed sporadically as she fought to keep her eyes opened and focused. Professional photographers had equipment set-up at various locations. It was safe to assume they would eventually flash brilliant smiles at each station and pretend this to be the happiest day of their lives.

  Devin’s right hand lay planted in the small of Alana’s back. To her, it seemed he used the hand to push her along instead of guide. She reached behind her back and pushed at the irritating hand.