Penance and Promises: A Chastity Falls Novella Read online

  “It’s really time?” He gulped.

  “It’s really time.” I smiled resting my hand on my stomach.

  It was time.

  Time to meet our daughter.

  ~ JACKSON ~

  “Congratulations, chica,” Elena’s musical voice filled the room, and Ana’s whole face lit up.

  “Elena?” she shrieked. Her eyes met mine, and I nodded. Elena and Tyson couldn’t make it out in time for the wedding, but there were other ways to reunite my wife with her best friend at one of the most important moments of her life.

  “And how is my goddaughter? Beautiful just like her mother?”

  Ana motioned for me to take Emma so she could talk with her friend. I cradled my daughter against my chest and sat in the guest chair in the corner of the room.

  It had been nonstop since Emma was born. Otis and V were the first ones to stop by since they had a flight to catch. And then Betsy and Jim had visited. Poor Jim burst through the doors with his hands full of gift bags and balloons. But it made Ana smile in a way that made me hope she was finally ready to heal where her family was concerned. Braiden and Cara were still in the hospital somewhere. Probably seeking an empty side room if my suspicions were right. Cara had taken one look at Emma, and her ovaries literally exploded in front of us. She all but dragged Braiden out of the room.

  “... birth to a small cow.”

  I tore my eyes away from Emma as she slept peacefully in my arms. Ana looked exhausted, but hearing her friend’s voice had animated her as she retold the birth story for the third time today.

  After her water had broken in the hotel room, I’d driven us straight to the hospital where Dr. Benns was on call. Ana still had three weeks to go, but three hours after we arrived, Emma Caitlin Pierce was born with no complications. She was seven pounds two ounces of perfect. And as I held her in my arms, watching my wife talk on the phone, I made a silent promise to them both.

  No matter what tomorrow held, I would always choose them.

  Playlist

  Two Weeks – FKA Twigs

  You and I Forever – Jessie Ware

  One Last Time – Ariana Grande

  Demons – Boyce Avenue ft. Jennel Garcia

  The Past Should Stay Dead – Emarosa

  A Beautiful Lie – Thirty Seconds to Mars

  Wish That You Were Here – Florence and the Machine

  The Blackest Day – Lana Del Ray

  Weight of Living pt. 1 - Bastille

  Final Song - MØ

  About the Author

  ADDICTIVE ROMANCE

  Author of mature young adult and new adult novels, L A is happiest writing the kind of books she loves to read: addictive stories full of teenage angst, tension, twists and turns.

  Home is a small town in the middle of England where she currently juggles being a full-time writer with being a mother/referee to two little people. In her spare time (and when she’s not camped out in front of the laptop) you’ll most likely find L A immersed in a book, escaping the chaos that is life.

  L A loves connecting with readers, and you can find her at:

  Official Website

  Or you can connect with her at:

  Facebook

  Twitter

  Instagram

  Or email her at:

  [email protected]

  Author’s Note

  When I published Redemption and Regrets, I thought that was the end of the Chastity Falls series. I guess, in my head, I imagined them all living out their happily-ever-afters … but then readers started asking for more. And, for a while, I ignored them. Chastity Falls was done, wasn’t it?

  Turns out, the story was there all along, I just had to start writing it. I should have known that the past didn’t just disappear, that old demons didn’t just lay to rest. Braiden fought hard for redemption in Redemption and Regrets but he still needed to pay penance.

  Like all series finales, there will be those of you that love it and those of you that want more or, even, a different outcome. And that’s okay. I wrote the story the characters had to tell, and I hope it does justice to them.

  This is the end of an incredible journey and I’m sad to say goodbye my favourite set of characters.

  … although, is goodbye ever really goodbye!

  This is the point I usually thank a long list of people, but in the spirit of keeping it short – to everyone that has been involved with the Chastity Falls Series, thank you! I write stories, but it takes a whole team to get them published and in the hands of readers, and I appreciate each and every one of you.

  Table of Contents

  Penance and Promises

  Titles by L. A. Cotton

  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

  Epilogue

  Playlist

  About the Author

  Acknowledgments