Page 1 of Fighting With Light
Prologue
Liam
13 years old
“Hurry, Kai. We haveto go. Your father could come back any minute,” Mom says. I rush to keep up with my brothers and try to ignore the way my stomach rolls. Dad came after Mom again tonight and it was the last straw for her. In all of his anger and drunken stupor, he grabbed her neck and squeezed. The three of us fought to get him away from her. Then it struck me that my father hated my mother so much he wanted to kill her. He wanted to take her from us and that didn’t make sense to me. I hoped that something would eventually change because he always yelled about being stressed or his constituents being difficult. I thought that was temporary…it wasn’t because he got worse.
I’m the youngest of my three brothers, and they have done their best to protect me, but they don’t seem to understand that I need to fight back, too. My father shouldn’t hurt us like this, but he’s my dad. Isn’t he supposed to love his family? I was willing to take the beatings like the rest of my brothers, if it meant we could be a happy family. The older I got, the clearer it was that he would never change, but a little part of me always hoped he would. That part of me has turned to ashes now.
The only reason we have stayed here is because my father stole the fortune my grandpa left to my mother, the last remaining Astor of the family, and she swore she would get it all back. My grandfather wouldn’t be happy with what my dad did. But I also understand that we won’t get far from a man like my father and his connections without money. For years, she promised to get us out after she got the money back, but I think our time is up.
We get our bags into the Expedition and Mom backs out of the driveway. I stare at the only home I’ve ever known as we pass it because I have a feeling that this will be the last time I ever see it. We’re not coming back.
Our father is a United States Congressman and if people knew what he did behind closed doors, he would be in jail. People tend to look at only the pretty things that don’t inconvenience them. They refuse to see the pain behind the smiles because they don’t want to. No one has noticed what my father does to us, so I can only assume that they will continue to ignore it long after we’re gone.
I don’t think it matters where we end up, but I understand that I’ll have to play my part in our survival. It won’t be easy, and there’s a feeling deep in my gut that we will be forced to do things none of us ever thought we would be capable of.
1
Liam
The bright Bali blueocean bobs my surfboard up and down. I love the sea and the way it calms my soul. I got into surfing when Mom settled us in Steel Creek, California. It’s a great place to learn, and it’s why I started competing as a kid. I didn’t intend to go professional—that part just happened—but I wanted to commit myself to something else that wasn’t constantly waiting, for my father to jump out of the shadows.
Despite my father, I’m competing against the world’s best surfers, which makes me one, too. I’m on a break right now before the final championship starts, which I’m looking forward to because this year ismine.
About four months ago, my mother was shot, all I could do was shield her with my body, and even that wasn’t enough to keep her from the bullet. We found out my father called the hit on her. The mere thought makes me lose my mind again. It makes me want to make him pay in innumerable ways. But my brothers said no, and I understand that…for the moment. Plus, I have a nephew now and my brother, Kai, and his wife, Cordelia, don’t need any additional stress on them at the moment.
When Mom got home from the hospital, I got restless. I felt terrible about it, but Mom told me to go; she knew I needed to step away. I wanted to go somewhere no one knew my family and could get my mind right, so I picked Bali. There are some days I wonder about my own sanity, but I may have lost it a long time ago. It could be from almost drowning too many times, or falling off rock faces, or it’s because I was hit too much as a kid, who knows. I try not to think about it.
When I get to shore, I spot a woman laying out on her towel. I’m living at a resort I’ve stayed at many times before and I always seem to find a lady friend here. It’s part of the reason I like it. Glancing at her hands, there are no rings on her fingers, so I push my wet hair back off my face and saunter up to her. “Hey.”
She looks up at me and smiles. I can feel her eyes trailing my body and she sits up. “Hey.”
I plop down next to her with my board and flash her my award-winning smile. No, really, I haven’t met a single woman who doesn’t love it.
“So, what brings you to Bali?”
2
Aelia
The thrum of thebase beats against my chest, making my limbs tingle with the energy surrounding me. I drank too much, and can’t find it in myself to care because I feelgood. My friend, Violet, is making out with some tree of a man, holding her up so her feet dangle in the air. I shake my head, smiling at my wild friend, and close my eyes again, feeling everything roll over me like the ocean in its constant, somewhat overwhelming, yet comforting swell.
The guy I’ve been hanging out with comes up behind me and grips my hips as we sway. Ben, my bodyguard, is seething in the corner of the club, but I couldn’t care less. My father, Marco Costa, is the head of the Italian mob, the Cosa Nostra in America. The Costa family is from Italy where my uncle runs it with a few other families. I was born and raised here in the States, but my father believes his enemies are everywhere, so I can’t go anywhere without Ben. Violet and I have dodged him a few times, but it doesn’t take him long to find us. I throw him a wink and spin around in my date’s arms.
I’m pretty sure his name is Luca, but I don’t remember, and I don’t particularly care. He grins down at me with his pretty, dark eyes, high cheekbones, and his close-cropped, dark hair. Luca is trim, fit, and forever kissed by the sun—an Italian woman’s dream—he will do for tonight.
“You are so beautiful,” he says into my ear.
I lick my lips, and his eyes drop to my mouth. Gets them every time. The song transitions into another with a Salsa flair. The Miami clubs are some of my favorites, so I try to come here often. It’s also home to the Cosa Nostra’s rival, the Mexican cartel, which is guaranteed to make my father angrier. I live for the thrill of pissing him off in whatever way I can. I don’t care if it endangers me.
Luca’s hips move like a practiced dancer, and he gathers me closer to his body, slipping his thigh between my legs and dipping me. I grin, feeling the blood rush to my head before his large hand at my spine brings me back to standing straight. He leans in to kiss me, and I let him because he will be gone by morning. I’m here for a good time, period.
“Do you want to get out of here, mi amor?” I glance over my shoulder at Violet. They finally stopped sucking face and are back to dancing. Violet makes eyes at me and I nod. She leans up to tell her guy she wants to go and I turn to Luca, telling him yes.
We don’t get to see each other often since Violet is from Portugal, but she comes to the States or we meet somewhere else. Miami is the perfect stop for both of us, so when we are together, we’re attached at the hip. I spot Ben following us as we push our way off the dance floor.
When we exit the club, we slide right into the limo that’s waiting for us. Luca tosses his arm around my neck and pulls me in for another kiss. It feels nice to be wanted this way. I may not know him, but he’s making me feel literally anything other than numb or guilt, so that’s got to be worth something. Violet is already straddling her man again and I roll my eyes.
