Love this cover sent to me! Whoever you are...thank you!! <3 <3

Song is....How Far I'll Go from Moana! I haven't seen the movie but I am obsessed with this song. 

Happy Reading!!!

Carter's POV

"You are still sulking aren't you?" Macey asked coming into my room. I was trying on my laptop stalking Gage's facebook. He didn't have much on it other than a few pictures but nothing from this year.

"No I'm not." I muttered, shutting my computer screen and setting it aside.

"Yes you are. It has been a week. You need to get out of the house." She came more into my room and looked around.

7 days since I heard from Gage and I may or may not be going crazy. Who knew I was so dependent on the damn boy. I haven't done much but sit around the house, eating or watching tv. I am pretty sure my parents are getting sick of me by now.

"I don't need to get out of the house." I flopped back against my pillows.

"Yes you do. Have you even showered in the last 7 days?" I stayed silent not answering. "Okay that is it. You are going to get your ass out of bed and shower. You stink!" I felt a hand on my arm before I was yanked upwards. I looked at Macey only to be met with angry green eyes.


"Up. Now." Macey looked very angry. With wide eyes, not sure what she will do, I nodded. While she watched me I finally got out of bed and headed for the shower. I glanced over my shoulder to see her standing there, hands on her hips, staring after me with a hard look on her face. Not wanting to face her wrath I picked up my pace and shut the bathroom door behind me.

Glancing in the mirror I groaned. I looked like crap. My brown hair was falling out of its bun and looked disgusting, since I haven't washed it since the night of the party. My face was pale and I had bags under my eyes. No wonder my brother and Ethan kept giving me weird looks.

Sighing I started the water and took of my sweater and sweats, the two things I have been living in lately. When I stepped into the warm shower I closed my eyes. I stood there under the water for a few minutes, already feeling better than I did before.

It took me another good 15 minutes to wash my hair and body before I finally got out. My fingers were pruned but I felt a lot better. I dried off and wrapped the towel around me before I left my bathroom to get dressed. When I came out of the bathroom I noticed Macey was still there. She sat on my bed texting.

"Feel better?" She asked, not even looking up from her phone.

"Actually, yes." I nodded.

"Good. Now lets get you dressed and we can go." She set her phone aside and went over to my closet.

"Go where?" I asked.

"Anywhere. You need to get out of the house for a few hours. Fresh air will do you good." She leafed through my clothing that I left in my closet, which was still a lot.

"Here where these." She tossed pieces of clothing in my direction. I caught them just in time before they fell to the floor. Knowing not to argue I shook my head, going over to my dresser to grab some underwear. Once I had what I needed I went back to the bathroom to change.

I didn't really want to admit it but I was kind of excited to get out of the house. I have been cooped up for 7 days and I was missing the outside world, although that is my fault. I guess I just needed a push from someone to get me going. If not I'd spent my entire winter break staring at my phone willing for it to buzz or drowning myself in food.

I slide on the black leggings, jumping up and down for a good minute as well. Once I had them on I pulled on really cute sweater that had hearts and some other design. I forgot about this sweater honestly; it was one of those ones that I wore none stop last year than forgot about it months later. That was all Macey gave me so once I was done I walked out of the bathroom. 

Macey stood next to my vanity turning a curling wand on and already had makeup out on the table. I raised an eyebrow at that.

"Are we going somewhere fancy or something?" I found myself asking.

"Carter you look like you came back from dying. We need to get some color back into you and cover those bags up." I tried not to be offended and knew she was right about my complexion. I wasn't looking my best.

Not putting any arguments up I plopped down in the seat and let Macey do her thing. I needed a miracle to cover up these bags. About 20 minutes later and a lot of curses from both me and Macey, we were done. Looking at myself I finally looked presentable. My hair looked clean and my face had some color back in it.

"Okay now that you aren't going to embarrass me lets get out of here."

"Thanks for that." I muttered, rolling my eyes at her.

"You are welcome. Make sure to put the jacket and boots on. It is really cold outside." While Mace fixed her own makeup I finished getting dressed. Once the both of us were ready she lead me out of my room.


When we got downstairs my mom was coming out of the kitchen. The moment she saw us she stopped in her tracks and stared at me.


"You are up!" She stared wide eyed at me.

"Mom it isn't like I just came out of a coma."

"With the way you looked, you did."

"Hey!"


"Just telling you the truth honey." My mom sent me a smile. "Anyways, where are you girls off to?"

"I'm taking Carter out for a bit. We won't be too long." Macey said, I didn't notice her sending my mom a wink.

"Okay well have fun and be careful!" My mom suddenly pulled me into a tight hug. I didn't have a chance to hug her back before she pulled away and moved past us.

"That was weird." I commented to which Macey just shrugged.

"Come on." Waving me on, we left the house and started for her car in the driveway. I wanted to ask where we were going but the cold fresh air made me stop. Mace was right that it was cold out. But it was almost refreshing as I stood in the driveway taking deep breathes. The cold was a tale sign that Christmas was just around the corner.

Hearing Macey calling my name I shook my head and quickly walked to her car. The moment I got in I realized I was a lot colder than I realized. The two of us huddled in the car as we waited for it to get warmer. When it finally did we started on our way. Even though I had no clue where we were going I was smiled looking out the window. It felt nice to get out.

As we drove I found myself relaxing and forgetting about everything. Mace and I sung along to everyone song in the radio, having our own little mini concert. It wasn't until Macey pulled into a familiar parking lot did I sit up in my seat.

"Why are we here?" I asked, looking around the empty parking lot. Macey didn't answer. "Macey. Why are we here?" I tried to see if I could find the familiar car but I didn't see it.

"Because I want to be here."

"Well I don't."

"Carter come on."

"Macey, no. I do not want to go inside." I crossed my arms over my chest and stared stubbornly out the front window. I didn't want to go in. I knew what or more like who was inside waiting for me.

Sure I missed Gage and wanted to see him but I was angry. I was angry that he accused me of sleeping with Ethan, again. Accused me of things I never would do and for getting mad at me over this whole Ethan and him being half brothers. I was angry that he hasn't tried to get in touch with me in the last 7 days! He could have at least called or texted me but he didn't. So that is why I didn't want to go in.


I was also scared about going in. I know the minute I saw him I would forgive him and go running into his arms. I didn't want to forgive him so easily either. I wanted to stand my ground for once but seeing Gage's face would just dissolve my plan.

"Okay. Fine then." Macey got out of the car but I sat there. After a minute or two I peeked over to the drivers side, wondering where she went. I didn't see her making me lean over to see if I can see her.

Next thing I know my door opens and multiple pairs of hands come out and grab me. Somehow my seatbelt was undone and I was dragged from the car. I started to kick and yell in the person or persons hold. Whoever had me though had a strong grip for I was going anywhere.

I was lifted up and placed on a very hard shoulder. I grunted as the shoulder went right into my gut. I pounded my fists against the muscular back in front of my eyes.


"Let me go!" I yelled. The person didn't reply. I lifted my head up to see who was holding me but I couldn't see who it was other than a head filled with blonde hair. There was a guy next to the person holding me but he didn't look familiar.

"Who are you? What the hell do you want from me?" I demanded. If I was getting kidnapped I wasn't going to go quietly I tell you.

With each step I was bounced on the shoulder as we headed towards the building. I squirmed in the guys hold and tried to kick my legs out, which only resulted in them getting restrained with an arm. This guy was really strong.

"Seriously! What the hell is wrong with you people! You do not grab innocent girls from their cars and take them somewhere. I will call the cops on you." I ranted. Maybe I could convince them to let me go.

"Come on you don't want to go to prison for this do you? If you let me go right now I will not tell anyone and we will all be happy. What do you say?" I tried to reason. Neither of them responded which pissed me off even more.

"Let. Me. Down!" I kicked and screamed at the guy. We were now inside the old gym building which made me think something bad couldn't really happen, right? Carter you have seen horror movies, you know nothing good comes from being kidnapped and brought into an empty building! I mental screamed at myself.

A thought struck me as we bounced down the steps.

"Wait? Where is Macey? Did you hurt her? I swear to god if you hurt my best friend I will haunt you after I am dead and chop off your balls. I won't be nice about either! I'll come into your room in the middle of the night and use scissors! Imagine the pain! The moment I am free I am going to inflict so much pain on you two you won't know what hit you." I rambled on. I was getting into it too.

"I am going to rain hell down on you!"

"Will you just shut up?" The guy walking next to the guy holding me, said. "God, we aren't going hurt you."

"What?" I stopped moving and looked over at him. He didn't bother saying anything else as we came into the room where I watched Gage fight multiple times before.


The lightly was dark and from my position on this guys shoulder, I could only see flickers of something on the walls. At first it was quiet than soft music started to play. I raised an eyebrow at that. Okay this was weird? Kidnapping me and playing music?

I was about to say something was I was suddenly swung around and set on my feet. The quick movement made my head spin and I stumbled. Arms wrapped around my middle to keep me steady.

When my vision cleared a bit I looked up and noticed it wasn't the two guys that grabbed me. No it was none other than Gage Harper. Upon seeing him I jerked out of his hold and took a step back.

"What the fuck Gage!?" I found myself cursing at him, something I rarely do. I glanced around and noticed the two guys heading back where we came from. Once they were gone I looked around and saw all different kinds of candles were lit around the room. A table sat in the middle with more candles and what looked like Lilies, my favorite flower.

"Did you literally lure me here and have two guys kidnap me?!"

"I wouldn't call it kidnapping..." He started to say but I interrupted him.

"It is kidnapping when I am suddenly grabbed from Macey's car and thrown over a shoulder! How was I suppose to know I wasn't going to get killed." I threw my hands in the air.

"They are just two guys from the gym here that I got to help me out."

"But I didn't know that! For all I knew I was being lead to my death and would never see my family again." I could tell Gage was trying hard not to roll his eyes at me.

"Carter. I brought you here so I could apologize-" Once more I interrupted him.

"You literally lured me down here to apologize?" I placed my hands on my hips and glared at him.

"Yeah. I thought it would maybe be romantic." He rubbed the back of his neck and actually looked embarrassed.

"Romantic? You think throwing a girl over the shoulder of some Shrek dude, and bringing her down here to say you are sorry, is romantic? Man you need to read the dictionary on what that word means!" While I was angry, a part of me was touched that he put a some thought into this. Definitely not how I thought this day would go.

"Carter will you listen to me?" He reached out for me but I took another step back.

"No Gage. A week! A whole week of nothing from you. No texts, no calls, nothing. I even went to your grandmothers house to make sure you were okay and not rotting in a ditch somewhere. You couldn't have texted me letting me know you were okay at least? I was beside myself thinking something happened to you after you left the christmas party! For all I knew you were in an accident or something."

"I'm sorry I shouldn't-"


"I'm not finished yet!" I put my hand in the air and stopped him. "I get that you needed time but you didn't even have the curtesy to text me or anything! I didn't do anything wrong. I found out about the news the same time you did so it wasn't like I knew a whole week and never told you. All I wanted was for you to be okay and have a good night instead of getting it ruin. But I get yelled and accused of things instead!

"Gage, I love you! I wouldn't hurt you but you can't seem to see that. You can't see that I am here for you and that I am not going anywhere. Why can't you see I don't like Ethan anymore? Why can't you trust me to only be in love with you?!" I yelled.

"Because Gage I am not like that. I am not like those girls you have slept with that don't care about you and sleeps with every other guy on the side. When I love someone I-"

This time I was interrupted. A pair of lips pressed against mine and stole the words that were coming out. I stood there frozen for a second as Gage's lips move against mine. It only took a second before I was kissing him back.

My hands came up and gripped his t-shirt in my fist, pushing myself harder against him. The kiss turned rough as we both fought for control. I wanted him to feel how hurt I was that he didn't talk to me for a week. I wanted him to feel what I was feeling at the moment.

After what felt like an eternity we pulled apart. I opened my eyes and looked up at him, panting. Both of us were breathing heavy and just staring at one another.

"Carter I am an idiot. No I am a fucking moron. I shouldn't have said those things and I shouldn't have walked away. But that is what I do, when things get bad I run. I was just so surprised and shocked at what was coming out of Galloway's mouth I didn't know what to do." Gage started to say.

"I needed time to think, to wrap my head around the fact that I now have a half brother and that my father is actually alive. For so long I imagined he died and that is why he stopped coming around. It wasn't until Ethan came around did I realize what I did."

"Wait. Ethan came to see you?" I pulled back a bit to see his face better. That was shocking.

"Yeah. He came by and we...talked." For some reason I didn't believe talking was involved, not when Ethan was sporting a new bruised cheek lately. He said he got hit from a lamp as he was moving his room around; which of course no one believed.

"He made me see this isn't so bad. It won't be that terrible having him as a half brother. And more importantly," He gazed into my blue eyes. "he made me realize I hurt you and that I needed to make it up to you." He sent me a smile.

"I guess getting Reggie and Mark to help out wasn't exactly a good idea but to my defense Macey said it would work and it did." I shook my head at that. Of course Macey was involved. I knew she was apart of something the moment we pulled up here.

"What I am trying to say Princess is that, I love you and that I am an idiot. I will always be an idiot but I hope you are willing to stay by my side when I am. Because I don't know what I'd do without."

All of my resolve of being mad at him disappeared at his words. At least I was able to yell at him for a minute. Of course I forgave him, it was hard not to when he was saying such wonderful things to me.

His arms were wrapped around my waist and my own still gripping his shirt as I stared at him. He was an idiot, an idiot for pushing me aside but....he is my idiot.

"Fine. I guess I will." I said and slowly a smile appeared on my face.

"So you forgive me?" He looked at me hopeful.

"Yes. But...you aren't fully off the hook. For putting me through hell for a week you have to do as I say for a few days."

"But I have a whole romantic thing going on right now. Doesn't that count for anything?" He gestured around the room.

"Only a little. Take it or leave it?" He was quiet for a minute before he sighed.

"Fine." He grunted but I knew he didn't really put up a fight. "Only for you." His head came back down and his lips grazed mine. Smiling I used his shirt to pull him down and pressed my lips harder against his, fully kissing him once more. 

When we pulled away a few minutes later the two of us were grinning like fools at one another. He unwrapped his arms from around me only to grab my hand.

"Now...welcome to 'Please Forgive Me Carter' date." Using his free hand, he swept it at the table set up. He lead me over to it and I noticed there were plates underneath the covers and there was in fact a bouquet of Lilies sitting there. Two seats were set across from one another and it actually looked really thought out. I knew Gage didn't do this all on his own though, Macey definitely had a hand in it.

"Part one is a nice meal."

"Part one? You mean there is more?"

"Of course! I have a lot of making up to do so there has to be more than just food. Although knowing you food would have been enough." He chuckled, letting go of my hand and moving to pull the chair out for me. Raising an eyebrow at his gentlemen act, I slide into the chair.

"Did you make the food?" I asked wanting to peak under the cover that was placed over the food like at a fancy restaurant or something.


"Of course." I looked at him for a second before I lifted up the lid. I couldn't help but laugh at what I saw. Sitting on a plate was different shapes of...pancakes. It looked like he tried to make shapes out of them but they ended up looking like blobs. A few looked a little burnt but a big difference compared to a few weeks ago when him and Dylan helped me make some.

I glanced up and saw Gage staring at me waiting for my reaction. In the candlelight his eyes were sparkling.

"They look amazing." I smiled.


"I know they aren't exactly pretty but I've been working on it. I may or may not have went through a whole box of mix in the last few days." If it wasn't so dark in here I bet his cheeks were pink.


"So you had this all planned then for a while." I commented.

"Kind of. It took me a few days to figure out what to do and how to do it." Gage admitted. I smiled feeling my heart swell. It was very sweet how much thought he put into this.

"Well this is a good step towards me forgiving you." I reached for the syrup that he put on the table, ready to dive into my pancakes. I was starving and even though they looked weird the pancakes smelled good.

Gage leaned forward as I went to take my first bite as if he was afraid I wouldn't like them. Even if it wasn't going I would lie and say they were. Eating a piece I was pleasantly surprised at how good they tasted. Didn't taste of any ingredients that shouldn't be in there.

"Taste good?" He asked impatiently. Swallowing I nodded.

"They taste really good. Like really good."


"Good." He seemed relieved and pour syrup on his own.

Watching him eat I couldn't help but be happy. And to think only 10 minutes ago I was screaming at him for having those two guys kidnap me. I wasn't going to let him off the hook so easily but this was a start. 

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

So that is the first chapter of the new year! I am sorry about the wait! I know it isn't much of a chapter but I wanted to get something out to you guys. As you can probably tell this story is starting to wrap up. I still got some loose ends to tie up and what not but sadly there aren't too many chapters left. I hate that this book is coming to and end but all good things come to and end. 

I hope everyone is enjoying this book so far! I want to thank you guys for the support you have given me with this book. It is by far my favorite I have written and I am so happy you guys like it so much. I love getting messages, tweets, and comments about how much you like it!!!

So because this book is coming to an end soon that means my other book "The Hidden Shadow" will be up soon!! I cannot wait for you guys to read it! I have been working on it for months now and knowing that I can finally post the first chapter soon makes me so excited. I have never written a mafia type of book so I hope you all will enjoy it!

Anyways. I hope everyone is having a good New Year so far and I hope you had a good weekend as well! We got our puppy spayed on Wednesday so I spent the rest of the week and weekend watching her and taking care of her. Surprisingly she has done amazing and was totally fine the next day. 

I hope you all enjoyed this! Comment if you want me to do a Macey/Luke chapter, a Dylan chapter! I want to add them before the book ends so let me know if you would like that. 

ALSO don't forget I am apart of the Winter Block Party again this year! The entire month of February tons of authors from here featured and there are some amazing ones this time around! My day is February 14th, Valentine's Day! I finally was able to send my post in so make sure you add the Block Party to your reading lists so you know when all posts are up and what to do to win the prizes! My prize is a dedication and a review of one of your books. The link to the book is on my profile!!

VOTE, COMMENT, HOPE YOU STAY WARM IF YOU GOT A TON OF SNOW!

P.S I am reading this book called "Throne Of Glass" and it is amazing! I got it for christmas and the book is just so gkaeihgk;angvbgpsa;gnvak;v. It isn't on here and it is apart of a series so I really recommend checking it out! Soooooooooo good!!

<3 <3 <3 

-Ken