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Austin Macauley Publishers - Lori Flynn

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205 pages

English

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In the southernmost part of Florida, Olivia Harding is born privileged. Her father gives her endless love. The silver knife in her back is courtesy of her mother, whose cruel torture plagues Olivia and shatters her mind. She survives her childhood and strives for a normal life: college, a job, and a thrilling romance. But it's all a lie. There's nothing normal about Olivia--so much she can't explain away. Like going to bed after drinking nothing stronger than tea only to wake vomiting what reeks of alcohol, and smelling of cigarettes and floral perfume. After a late-season hurricane threatens the city, Olivia is charged with murder. In jeopardy of losing what's left of her sanity, the man she loves, and possibly her life, she'll have to share her secrets. But to what end?

Sujets

Love

Love (disambiguation)

Thriller

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Publié par	Austin Macauley Publishers
Date de parution	28 juin 2019
Nombre de lectures	0
EAN13	9781528965620
Langue	English

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I Love You to Pieces
Lori Flynn
Austin Macauley Publishers
2019-06-28
I Love You to Pieces About the Author Dedication Copyright Information Acknowledgments Part One Chapter One Chapter Two Chapter Three Chapter Four Chapter Five Chapter Six Chapter Seven Chapter Eight Chapter Nine Part Two Chapter Ten Chapter Eleven Chapter Twelve Chapter Thirteen Chapter Fourteen Chapter Fifteen Chapter Sixteen Chapter Seventeen Chapter Eighteen Chapter Nineteen Chapter Twenty Chapter Twenty-One Chapter Twenty-Two Chapter Twenty-Three Chapter Twenty-Four Chapter Twenty-Five Chapter Twenty-Six Chapter Twenty-Seven Chapter Twenty-Eight Chapter Twenty-Nine Chapter Thirty Chapter Thirty-One Chapter Thirty-Two Chapter Thirty-Three Chapter Thirty-Four Chapter Thirty-Five Chapter Thirty-Six Chapter Thirty-Seven Chapter Thirty-Eight Part Three Chapter Thirty-Nine Chapter Forty Chapter Forty-One Chapter Forty-Two Chapter Forty-Three Chapter Forty-Four Chapter Forty-Five Chapter Forty-Six Chapter Forty-Seven Chapter Forty-Eight Chapter Forty-Nine Chapter Fifty Chapter Fifty-One Chapter Fifty-Two Chapter Fifty-Three Chapter Fifty-Four Chapter Fifty-Five Chapter Fifty-Six Chapter Fifty-Seven Chapter Fifty-Eight Chapter Fifty-Nine Chapter Sixty Chapter Sixty-One Chapter Sixty-Two Chapter Sixty-Three Chapter Sixty-Four Chapter Sixty-Five Chapter Sixty-Six Chapter Sixty-Seven Chapter Sixty-Eight
About the Author
Born into a large Italian, New York family, Lori Flynn began writing at a young age rather than vie for talk-time with her numerous siblings. She currently resides in South Florida, is a mother to two, a wife to one, and a protector to a very special-needs Beagle named Pennington, who fears most things, including thunder, wheels, and tinfoil. This is Lori’s second novel.
Dedication
To Joe.
Love you always, and to pieces.
Copyright Information
Copyright © Lori Flynn (2019)
The right of Lori Flynn to be identified as author of this work has been asserted by her in accordance with section 77 and 78 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior permission of the publishers.
Any person who commits any unauthorized act in relation to this publication may be liable to criminal prosecution and civil claims for damages.
A CIP catalogue record for this title is available from the British Library.
ISBN 9781528928762 (Paperback)
ISBN 9781528928779 (Hardback)
ISBN 9781528928786 (E-Book)
www.austinmacauley.com
First Published (2019)
Austin Macauley Publishers Ltd
25 Canada Square
Canary Wharf
London
E14 5LQ
Acknowledgments
I’d like to acknowledge the Royal Palm Beach Library’s Critique group who, twice every month, listened to my words, and sent it home for me to revise. Thank you.
Part One

Chapter One

Elizabeth
“Since your mother’s away from the manor, why don’t we go skinny-dipping? It’ll be sexy under all those twinkle lights,” Elizabeth Harding whispered, moving behind her husband where he sat by their infant daughter’s cradle. She encircled his neck, while her lips seared a wet path to his earlobe.
“Regretfully, I have to turn you down.”
“Why? Are you afraid the lights will trigger a seizure?”
He faced her as he answered. Alexander’s eyebrows rose with amusement.
“While you were out back earlier, my office called. We finalized the deal in Milan. The jet is fueled and ready to go. Harris is upstairs packing my bag.”
“You informed your valet of your plans before your wife? Why can’t I go with you? I’d love to see Milan. I’ve never been.”
“It just happened, Elizabeth, and I’m telling you now. This is a business trip. Perhaps you’ve forgotten your job, the welfare of our daughter.”
Her eyes dropped to the floor, her tone quick to follow. “Of course, Alexander, I was just disappointed you were leaving.”
Elizabeth had devoted her day to supervising the preparation of the Harding estate for the Christmas edition of Your Florida Home Magazine , even if it was only early October in Florida’s southernmost region. That was until her dismissal by the official head of the family, her mother-in-law, Catherine Harding.
“Alexander, I was planning on talking to you about your mother. Her approval is unobtainable.”
“Why would you say that?” His eyes narrowed.
“The woman treats her houseplants better than me. If you were home more than a few days at a time, you’d see it yourself.”
“I’m sure you’re exaggerating.”
“No, I’m not. Just last week your mother held a dinner party in this very house. Not only was I not invited, but she posted her maid outside the door to keep me out. And the look she gives me when she disapproves of my clothes, starting at my shoes and working her way to my neck. I feel like one of us should burst into flames! Then there’s my name—your mother never uses it. She calls me ‘that girl.’ We both know she’d be happier if I weren’t here.”
“But you are here.” Alexander’s hands caressed her shoulders.
Elizabeth’s marine-blue eyes studied her husband, and she held her tongue. She’d been looked down on as penniless trailer-trash out of high school, being taken advantage of by a less-than-reputable producer. He’d promised to whisk her away to Hollywood and teach her more than an alluring way to toss her hair. In a way, he’d held his promise, taking her as far as Hollywood, Florida, and then leaving with her innocence. The memory caused her to shudder.
Alexander was different, cultured. When her practiced ways sparked his obsession and enticed him to offer a weekend in Vegas, it had culminated in a small wedding chapel. It wasn’t until she announced her pregnancy, not long after, that her mother-in-law had awarded her permanent gold digger status.
Harris appeared in the doorway and, with a simple nod, alerted Alexander it was time to go.
“I hate to leave my two girls. You take good care of each other while I’m gone.” His kiss was warm and sweet.
Left behind, alone in the massive room, Elizabeth fought the urge to throw her head back and scream; only, she wasn’t alone. Smiling up at her, nestled in mounds of pink blankets, was Olivia. Oh, how she’d detested every moment of her calculated pregnancy and loathed the hard work it was taking to return her sleek body even more. The baby didn’t even look like her. Its resemblance to Alexander, down to the dimple in its right cheek, was uncanny. Elizabeth smoldered thinking of the deviant deeds she’d performed to procure Alexander’s attention. All Olivia had to do was grin and leak.
Elizabeth paced the room, plucking a crystal angel ornament crafted with pointed wings from a carton of family heirlooms. Before she could reach to place it on the Frasier fir, in the room and waiting for its decorations, she was breathless with rage.
“I can’t come up with one good reason to stick around and play nursemaid when Nanny’s already paid to do it. A few days at the spa will do more for my morale than staying locked in this mausoleum with that succubus—my baby.”
Without thought, she dropped the sharp-edged treasure into the cradle and then turned to take her leave. From the corner of her eye, she saw Nanny hurrying to respond to Olivia’s thundering cry. Elizabeth offered a sudden, arresting smile and then pushed through the door without looking back.

Chapter Two

Olivia
Olivia raced to the front door. With her third birthday just days away, she smiled, happy to have her daddy home from his business trip. She held her doll’s arm tight as he lifted her.
“Let me take a good look at you. You’ve grown so much in just a few weeks.” He kissed her cheek while holding her close, stroking her long hair.
“Sally fell. She got a booboo here. But Nanny fixed it, see?” Olivia held the doll to her father’s face. “Can we get a big girl bed now?”
“You’ve been busy while I’ve been away. Does Nanny agree with you about the new bed?” He looked over at Nanny.
“I think it may be warranted, Mr. Harding.” Olivia’s doll had fallen through the short railings of her baby bed, making it difficult for her to retrieve it. The repairman, nevertheless, reported the injury to the doll’s porcelain face hadn’t occurred from a fall but blunt force. Elizabeth’s stiletto heel came to Nanny’s mind.
“There’s a big birthday party planned for you at Grandma Catherine’s beach house on Saturday. I promise to think about the new bed idea before then,” her father said.
Olivia’s eyes widened as a workman placed an antique white, two-foot high birdcage on the foyer table. “Daddy, are the birdies for me?”
“Those are lovebirds, and yes, Olivia, I bought them for you.”
Her mother entered, still wet from the pool, dropping water onto the hardwood floor. With strands of gold hair held loosely at her crown, she walked as though she were modeling a designer gown. The snippets of neon green that gloved her oiled body could hardly be considered a swimsuit.
“Welcome home, Mr. Harding,” her mother said, stepping into his arms, kissing him. “I must have lost track of time.”
As Elizabeth arrived in the room, Olivia’s breathing increased. She panted in short, labored gasps. Her body trembled, shaking her, stealing her voice. She squeezed her eyes shut before forcing them open to search for Nanny. Rubbery legs moved her to where she could disappear into the pleats of her protector’s long skirt—her sanctuary.
“Are those for me?” her mother asked, eyeing the birds from over her father’s shoulder.
“They’re for our daughter. I’ll give you your gift later.”
“Oh, I’m sure you will,” Elizabeth broadcast before tossing her head back to laugh, cackle, at his startled expression. She stopped abruptly, taking note of the puddle pooling about Olivia’s feet. “I thought that woman had her potty trained.”
Nanny lifted Olivia and carried her from the room. In their wake, Elizabeth berated a maid on her meth