Redemption
(The Reckless Rockwoods Series #4)
by Monica Burns
Blurb:
As a Reckless Rockwood, Percy has a tendency to find himself in situations that aren’t good for his health. Unfortunately for him the an dara sealladh (the “sight”) showed him a beautiful pair of violet eyes that he found at the same moment he was shot. Left for dead, he survived the bullet and a year later meets Rhea Bennett and her violet eyes once more. Her connection to the man responsible for his attempted murder makes him determined to find the bastard, but he’s even more resolved to save and protect the woman at the heart of the matter.
Sold into slavery at nineteen, Rhea Bennett escaped the horrors of prostitution and thievery, but there are children she knew during that dark time that need to be saved. Rhea’s rescue operation is well underway, but Percy Rockwood’s reappearance in her life is making matters difficult. Rhea never thought it possible to feel anything when a man touched her, but Percy is different. She feels things when he touches her. Emotions dangerous to her heart and soul, but even more dangerous for Percy if her enemies learn she cares for him.
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Excerpt
“I don’t appreciate being held hostage, Mr. Rockwood. I would like to leave. Now.”
“And I don’t appreciate being shot,” he ground out harshly.
The accusation in his voice sent an icy blasts across the way his skin. Frozen in place, she was grateful for the ability to remain unflinching in the face of his fury. Percy folded his arms across his chest as he studied her coldly. His stance declared he expected an explanation or at the very least a response from her.
“I’ve never shot anyone,” she choked out. It was the truth. She’d never shot or killed anyone. The thought of doing so was abhorrent to her. She’d not even been able to kill Ruckley when she’d had the chance.
“But you did leave me on the floor of the British Museum to die.” The brutal contempt in his voice made her jump. She shook her head vehemently.
“No, it wasn’t like that.”
Her sharp denial made Rhea suck in a sharp breath as she saw the triumphant gleam in his eyes. Horrified, she struggled with the extent of her error. She’d just confessed to a crime. One of the first lessons Ruckley had taught her was to never admit guilt. Rhea stared at her accuser in fear as her heart pounded wildly in her chest. The moment his gaze narrowed on her, she experienced the sensation of being pinned to an lepidopterist’s board of butterflies.
“Then explain your actions,” he bit out tersely. “Explain why you would leave me lying on the museum floor in a pool of blood.”
The bitterness in his voice made her close her eyes. She hadn’t wanted to leave him in that night. Even if all she could have done was to hold him until he took his last breath, she would never have left him if it hadn’t been for Ruckley. But how could she possibly make Percy Rockwood understand what had driven her to ignore every universal law of compassion and kindness. She met his gaze for a long moment then looked away.
“I thought you were already dead. If I’d protested any more than I did, Ruckley would have shot me as well.”
“Your desire to live is something I understand all too well,” he said sardonically. At the suggestion that her life was all that mattered Rhea directed a cold look at him.
“My life wasn’t mine to give away. There were others to consider.”
“And yet, here you are, at my brother’s estate, dressed like a woman of means without any encumbrances.” The sarcasm in his words and expression made her flinch as if he’d slapped her. She didn’t know why, but she didn’t want him to think badly of her.
“Leaving you on that gallery floor that night has haunted me ever since,” she said in a hoarse voice.
“How touching. But the fact is you did leave me, didn’t you, Rhea?” The harsh condemnation made her lift her head slightly. She’d wronged him terribly. She knew that, but he didn’t know her reasons, and any explanation would reveal her shame. It would also open up Arianna to a scandal.
“I’m sorry for what I did. I will have to live with that sin until my dying day,” Rhea said softly.
“And I don’t appreciate being shot,” he ground out harshly.
The accusation in his voice sent an icy blasts across the way his skin. Frozen in place, she was grateful for the ability to remain unflinching in the face of his fury. Percy folded his arms across his chest as he studied her coldly. His stance declared he expected an explanation or at the very least a response from her.
“I’ve never shot anyone,” she choked out. It was the truth. She’d never shot or killed anyone. The thought of doing so was abhorrent to her. She’d not even been able to kill Ruckley when she’d had the chance.
“But you did leave me on the floor of the British Museum to die.” The brutal contempt in his voice made her jump. She shook her head vehemently.
“No, it wasn’t like that.”
Her sharp denial made Rhea suck in a sharp breath as she saw the triumphant gleam in his eyes. Horrified, she struggled with the extent of her error. She’d just confessed to a crime. One of the first lessons Ruckley had taught her was to never admit guilt. Rhea stared at her accuser in fear as her heart pounded wildly in her chest. The moment his gaze narrowed on her, she experienced the sensation of being pinned to an lepidopterist’s board of butterflies.
“Then explain your actions,” he bit out tersely. “Explain why you would leave me lying on the museum floor in a pool of blood.”
The bitterness in his voice made her close her eyes. She hadn’t wanted to leave him in that night. Even if all she could have done was to hold him until he took his last breath, she would never have left him if it hadn’t been for Ruckley. But how could she possibly make Percy Rockwood understand what had driven her to ignore every universal law of compassion and kindness. She met his gaze for a long moment then looked away.
“I thought you were already dead. If I’d protested any more than I did, Ruckley would have shot me as well.”
“Your desire to live is something I understand all too well,” he said sardonically. At the suggestion that her life was all that mattered Rhea directed a cold look at him.
“My life wasn’t mine to give away. There were others to consider.”
“And yet, here you are, at my brother’s estate, dressed like a woman of means without any encumbrances.” The sarcasm in his words and expression made her flinch as if he’d slapped her. She didn’t know why, but she didn’t want him to think badly of her.
“Leaving you on that gallery floor that night has haunted me ever since,” she said in a hoarse voice.
“How touching. But the fact is you did leave me, didn’t you, Rhea?” The harsh condemnation made her lift her head slightly. She’d wronged him terribly. She knew that, but he didn’t know her reasons, and any explanation would reveal her shame. It would also open up Arianna to a scandal.
“I’m sorry for what I did. I will have to live with that sin until my dying day,” Rhea said softly.
The Reckless Rockwoods Series
Available for purchase at
Available for purchase at
Available for purchase at
About the Author
A bestselling author of spicy historical and paranormal romance, Monica Burns penned her first short romance story at the age of nine when she selected the pseudonym she uses today. Her historical book awards include the 2011 RT BookReviews Reviewers Choice Award and the 2012 Gayle Wilson Heart of Excellence Award for Pleasure Me. She is also the recipient of the prestigious paranormal romance award, the 2011 PRISM Best of the Best award for Assassin’s Heart. From the days when she hid her stories from her sisters to her first completed full-length manuscript, she always believed in her dream despite rejections and setbacks. A workaholic wife and mother, Monica believes it’s possible for the good guy to win if they work hard enough.
You can find Monica here:
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