Entwined Read online

  Entwined

  Aligned Hearts Book 2

  E.C. Land

  Contents

  Acknowledgments

  Trigger Warning

  Playlist

  Twining of Two Hearts

  Prologue

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Epilogue

  Author’s Note

  Irish Translations

  Family Connections

  Available Now By E.C. Land

  Coming Soon By E.C. Land

  Fuse’s Hold

  Nora’s Outrage

  Blood and Torment

  Malice’s Soul

  Axe’s Devotion

  Social Media

  Entwined Hearts

  This book is a work of fiction. The names, characters, places, and incidents are all products of the author’s imagination and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblances to persons, organizations, events, or locales are entirely coincidental.

  Entwined Hearts. Copyright © 2021 by E.C. Land. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission from the author, except in the case of brief quotations used in articles or reviews. For information, contact E.C. Land.

  With there being characters mentioned from Elizabeth Knox’s series, I have her permission in using these characters.

  Publisher: Knox Publishing

  Cover Design by Charli Childs, Cosmic Letterz Cover Design

  Editing by Jackie Ziegler, Knox Publishing

  Formatting by E.C. Land, Knox Publishing

  Proofreading by Kim Lubbers, Knox Publishing

  Created with Vellum

  For those who are hopeless romantics and always love a second chance at happiness.

  Acknowledgments

  My Husband and Kiddos – To my husband who has always been the one to support our family. If he didn’t encourage me to follow my dreams and give them a chance, I wouldn’t be where I am now. He’s put up with my ramblings and throwing ideas around no matter how annoying I can be about it. Also, have to be thankful for him being there to send me inspirational music when I need it most. My kiddos, who find what I do, as they put it, cool and want to know how many words I was able to get in each day. They also like to try and help me come up with plot ideas. Some are just as wicked as my own. I also enjoy the fact they come to me when they need help with finding things wrong in their own work wanting to understand better in how things are supposed to be done.

  My Brothers – No matter how much we go through, they’re always there for me. One may not be here in body but is always around in spirit. My oldest brother for being proud of me and not having a problem saying it.

  My Betas – You guys rock! Thank you all for being the first to read the stories as they come alive. It means the world to me. Especially when you all start to get mad. That’s when I know I’m doing something right. And in doing so pushing me to keep going with all the different plots that form in my head. I’m thankful to you all for being ready and willing to read and give your input.

  My Knox Publishing People – If it wasn’t for you all being helpful and encouraging when I need it, I don’t know what I’d do without you all. You’re all wonderful in your own right and I wouldn’t have it any other way. The biggest thing I’ve got to say I’m thankful for most, is the fact I’m able to be around those who understand the way my mind works. Each and every one of you has earned a special place in my life, one way or another.

  Liz – My sister from another mister, my best friend, and Publisher/Boss. You’re my go-to when I need it. If not for you, I don’t know if I’d ever be where I am today with my writing. Thank you for always pushing me and encouraging me.

  Diane – Without you taking everything on for me, I wouldn’t be able to focus the way I do on my writing. Thank you for everything you do. You’re not just my PA, you’re my friend and I couldn’t ask for a better friend than you.

  Kim and Jackie – I know I’m a pain in the rear; however, you both put up with me. Thank you both for taking on all of my work. I love the fact I work with you both on each of them. Also, the fact when it comes to something I miss, you help me understand how to correct it so it doesn’t happen again.

  Trigger Warning

  This content is intended for mature audiences only. It contains material that may be viewed as offensive to some readers, including graphic language, dangerous and sexual situations, murder, rape, and extreme violence.

  Proceed with caution. This book does entail several scenes that may very well be a trigger to some.

  Also, tissues are a must with other scenes.

  Not for the faint at heart.

  If you don’t like violence and cannot handle certain subjects, then this is not a book you’ll want to read.

  Playlist

  Here I Am – Renee Blair

  Like I Knew You Would – Payton Smith

  The Heart Wants What It Wants – Selena Gomez

  Giving You Up – Kameron Marlowe

  I Feel Like I’m Drowning – Two Feet

  Come Back To Bed – Sean Stemaly

  One Of Them Girls – Lee Brice

  Break Things – Kylie Morgan

  Pretty Heart – Parker McCollum

  Chasin’ You – Morgan Wallen

  Twining of Two Hearts

  When two hearts become one

  Their souls form into one

  Twining themselves until there’s no split between the two

  Of the two hearts they must stay strong

  If one feels weak

  The other holds them up

  Nothing can come between the two

  Not when you can have the chance at something undeniable

  Something only in entwined hearts you find

  A true love unlike no other

  One of true passion

  Of truth and compassion

  Nothing is better than that of two twining hearts

  ~ E.C. Land

  Prologue

  Alison

  Age 18

  Two Years Ago

  “Alison, I have a letter here sent to you by your da,” Sister Caitlin announces as she finds me once again in the meadow behind the abbey. It’s been months since arriving here and while I’ve loved being here, at the same time, I miss home. I miss my da, and I miss my sister Bridget. Though she’s no longer at home but in America with her husband, a man my father had her marry, Dean.

  I didn’t think she’d be happy but the last time I spoke with her she seemed genuinely happy to be with Dean. This makes me happy for her, and she deserves all the happiness in the world. I, for one, knew this day would come for me. I knew my father was looking at contracts for me as well. Unlike my sister, my contract seems to have come a lot sooner. Then again, Dean’s father and mine agreed to a specific date.

  Sighing, I stand to my feet and take the letter in hand while thinking of my sister. After my sister’s wedding, my da sent me here to the abbey not wanting me alone in the house while he attended to business. This was perfectly fine with me. I did my studies and continue to read my books. I’ve always preferred the literary world to the real one. Why can’t we have men who act like those in the books? I mean the heroes who show their love and devotion.

  Opening the letter, I read through my da’s words slowly. Seems he’s found me
a match that he deems a good choice for me.

  Closing my eyes, I tilt my head up to the sky.

  “Alison, my dear, you know who your father is, the type of man he is. The sisters and I agree we have our duty as you have yours to your family name,” Sister Caitlin murmurs, taking the letter to read it for herself.

  “Yes, I understand I have a duty for myself, but that doesn’t mean I don’t have my own hopes and dreams to fulfill. I mean, could he possibly at least let me know who this man is?” I murmur. I already know what my job in this family is supposed to be. I’m to marry and be the meek, docile wife that listens to her husband.

  Unlike my sister, I’m not full of drama. I can’t find it in me to make a big fuss about anything. For one, it seems like a lot of work, and two, my sister does enough of it for the both of us. Her escapade of trying to get out of her engagement to Dean is one for the books as she’d tried to get away the very same night he showed up at the house a day or two early.

  Now, if the man, my father has agreed to marry me off to were to look like that my brother-in-law or one of his men, I wouldn’t complain as much. Those men seem to be extremely gorgeous.

  “I understand where you are coming from. Maybe possibly ask him to be able to meet this man and have a long engagement. Get to know him.” I wouldn’t balk at Sister Caitlin’s advice, but I know my father wouldn’t go for it.

  I could possibly speak to him about allowing me to finish my studies here at the abbey until I turned twenty. I’m advanced in school and have been taking university courses online since I turned sixteen. I only have two years left of schooling that I’d like to finish.

  If I’m lucky, my husband will be similar to Dean and at least allow me the freedom to work. To have some independence of my own. Bridget, I admit, was extremely lucky to have been set to marry Dean from the time they were children. Even if she didn’t know about it until right before the marriage.

  “Do you think my da would be angry with me if I were to ask him for time to finish school?” I ask without opening my eyes.

  “I’m sure your da will grant you the time you are asking for. He adores you and would give you the world if he could, but he’s also a powerful man and he does have his limits,” she advises.

  This is true. He does have his limits, even though he loves my sister and me.

  “I will write him. Tell him that I accept but request that the wedding not be until I’m twenty. This way I’m allowed to finish school before going back home. Besides, I won’t know where I’ll be going after, and there’s no way Da will tell me who I’m marrying until right before the day is upon us,” I murmur. This time opening my eyes to gaze up at the beautiful bright sky.

  I’m sure Da would agree to my request, and if he does, that means I’ll have two years to not only finish my schooling but to be driven mad with the knowledge I’m to wed a man I do not know as if I were from the middle ages.

  Maybe I can picture myself being wedded to a Highlander or Viking. Oh, I know, my very own Celtic warrior who would cart me off to the abyss of unknown. Yes, that would be lovely.

  Chapter One

  Mitch

  Present Day

  What the hell was I thinking when I agreed to go along with this contracted wedding bullshit? I swore to never marry again to stick to being a single man for the rest of my life. I didn’t want to ever go through another situation where I could potentially lose someone that I love or care about.

  Maybe that’s why I agreed to this marriage to Bridget’s sister, Alison. She’s young and not the type of woman I’d typically go for. I prefer to stick to women that are blonde, thin, and aren’t all that smart. This way, I can walk away without feeling an ounce of regret.

  Ten years ago, I married the woman I knew I wanted to be with. Michelle, she was the love of my life even if we were only married for two years before she was taken from me. Her and our son both. All in one split second my world was ripped from my grasp. For a long time I’d been furious with Michelle for leaving the house without telling me. She knew the type of man I was and had seen my temper more than once, though it was never aimed at her. That night she’d left to go up to the gas station, I can only assume it was to get one of those damn hot dogs she’d been craving. Weird as fuck but whatever, I would go there to get them for her.

  Little did she know that she’d walk in on a robbery and the motherfucker killed her. She survived long enough to get to the hospital, but during surgery, I lost her and our son both.

  That’s when I swore to never give my heart to another. Entwining a heart to someone like I did Michelle is something I never want to feel again. This is why for the past ten years I’ve stuck to one-night stands and bimbos. Though I do keep to them being blonde like my wife had been.

  A hand glides across the back of my shoulders and I look up to find Sasha, one of the newer strippers for Sinner’s Cove, smiling at me seductively. “Hey Mitch,” she purrs.

  “Hey, darlin’, what can I do for you?” I ask, knowing what she wants but won’t be getting. After the bullshit that went down with a couple of the strippers here, we made it a strict policy to not fuck with the employees. This was one of Bridget’s demands that Dean allowed as he’d given her control of managing the place for him but also because it was an action toward her. She deserved to know she and any other woman any of us ended up with would be safe.

  “More or less the question should be what can I do for you?” She giggles, still touching me.

  “Not gonna happen, Sasha. You know the club’s policy,” I state, lifting the tumbler of Jameson to my lips.

  “Oh, come on, Mitch. I’ve heard about how you screwed some of the other girls here. We don’t have to tell anyone.” Now she’s starting to irritate me.

  I open my mouth to tell her off until I see not only Kit-Kat but Bridget coming into view. “Sasha, I suggest if you want to keep working here, you leave the men who are employed here and work with my husband alone,” Bridget snaps sternly.

  Over the past two years, she’s grown up a hell of a lot. For a while, when I first met her, I felt she was immature and spoiled though she’s always been sweet and loving. Bridget has always had my respect since the day she married Dean O’Connell, who’s not only my boss but my best friend.

  Having been reprimanded, Sasha huffs and storms off.

  “You know I wouldn’t have gone there, right?” I ask, meeting the woman’s gaze.

  “Oh, I know you wouldn’t have; I mean, I get you’re gonna have your fun until you marry Alison, but Sasha knows the rules here and she keeps trying to tread the line and get away with it,” Bridget mutters, waving my comment off as she speaks.

  At the mention of Alison, I inwardly cringe. She’s the complete opposite of what I go for. Dark hair, dark eyes, with barely enough ass or tits to hold on to. Oh, and she’s shorter than my liking. In three-inch heels the woman barely comes up to my nose. I only know this since she had to walk with me down the aisle at Dean and Bridget’s wedding.

  Now she’s gonna be my wife.

  Only because it’s my duty to the Alliance and Dean. He approached me two years ago about marrying Alison to keep her out of the clutches of one of the other men. He didn’t want her to end up with a man like Kean or even Ashton, the brother of Finn Brisbane, who’s also a part of the Alliance and in control of the southwest part of America.

  I lucked out in having two extra years before having to marry her. At her request, she wanted to be able to finish school at the abbey where she’s been living.

  Bridget has told me a lot about her and how she can’t wait to have her sister here finally. Also, there’s the fact she’ll get to meet her nephew, Liam, which thank fuck we all call him by instead of his full first name, Uilliam.

  Sighing, I finish my drink and stand , having tuned both Bridget and Kit-Kat out ready to get away from them both. Since Bridget came and joined us Kit-Kat, though she’s still the same woman, she’s has changed somewhat from her ways to looking
for being in a real relationship. I know she’s been seeing a woman but have yet to meet her.

  “I need to get back to work, ladies,” I announce and turn on my heels to do just that. I don’t want to hear any more about Alison until I officially see her again in two weeks. Doesn’t matter to me if I’d met her at Dean and Bridget’s wedding or not. I didn’t speak to her due to her, in my opinion, had been nothing more than a child still. Even if she were nearly eighteen at the time.

  Until that day, I intend to fuck the bimbos as much as possible because once the vows are said, I’ll only be having sex with one woman, and that’s only when she agrees to it.

  Instead of going to my office, I go to Dean’s to find him sitting there with a sleeping Liam on his chest while he reads through some paperwork. Neither Dean nor Bridget is ready to find someone to help them watch him at their house, so nights they’re both here, which if Bridget’s here, Dean’s here, they bring him with them. He doesn’t let his wife be far from him. I don’t blame him for it. If Michelle were still here, I’d be the same way.

  “You gonna ever let that kid sleep in his own bed at night?” I chuckle, closing the door behind me as I step through.