Deserving You (A McCord Family Novel Book 3) Read online

  Table of Contents

  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

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

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  About the Author

  Deserving You

  A McCord Family Novel

  By Amanda Siegrist

  Copyright © 2017 Amanda Siegrist

  All Rights Reserved.

  This ebook may not be re-sold or re-distributed to another person unless consent is given by this author. If you wish to share this book, please purchase an additional copy. It may not be re-produced in any format for your own rights. If you did not purchase this book, please return to the retailer to purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

  All characters in this book are a product of the author’s imagination. Places, events, and locations mentioned are created to either help inspire the story, or are real and used in a fictitious manner.

  Table of Contents

  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

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Sign up for my newsletter

  More Books

  About the Author

  Chapter 1

  The slow, deep breath didn’t help to diminish the anxiety rushing through her veins like a raging river crashing against the shoreline. She’d like to say it was just another day.

  Today was anything but normal. Today would either fill her up with intense joy, or bring her down to the lowest pits of hell. Throwing her phone, lip gloss, and keys in her purse, she took another scanning glance at her desk as one more shaky breath escaped.

  The present.

  She couldn’t forget that.

  Opening the top drawer, she yanked out the small gift bag hidden in the back and tossed it into her purse as well.

  She had no idea why she hid it. It wasn’t as if Emmett went digging through her desk. He knew better. She’d likely bite his head off for doing such a thing.

  So why did she hide it?

  Pretending today wasn’t finally here, maybe.

  She jumped as a roll of thunder echoed in the distance. Today, of all days, it had to storm. It was a sign. A bad sign. Today wasn’t going to be a happy, joyous day as she planned.

  “Hey, Deja.”

  Jumping again, this time almost falling backwards, she shivered at Emmett’s warm touch as he grabbed her arm, preventing her from falling.

  “Are you okay? I didn’t mean to scare you.” He smiled. The sweet one she wished she didn’t like.

  “I’m fine. I’m running late, and I don’t want to be late.” She gently shrugged his hand off.

  She couldn’t stand it when he touched her. Not that he touched her often. But on rare occasions like this, when he did, his touch did things to her that were best not to think about. Those emotions needed to stay locked away. She didn’t deserve a good man like Emmett. She didn’t deserve to feel the aching need that rushed through her body.

  “You work too much. I told you to take the entire day off. I have no idea why you came in today.”

  She rolled her eyes. “Because I didn’t need the whole day off. Just the afternoon. Honestly, what would you do without me running the office? You’d be lost without me.” She grinned as she threw the strap of her purse over her shoulder.

  His eyes sparkled with what she swore was heated desire. “I would be lost without you.” He cleared his throat as the desire melted away. Or maybe she just imagined it. “Where are you going?”

  “I have an appointment.” She averted her eyes, unwilling to share anything else.

  He might think she was the best secretary he ever had to run his business as smoothly as possible, but if he really knew her, he wouldn’t like her. Most likely, he’d fire her without blinking an eye.

  “Gotta run, E-man. See you tomorrow.” Walking around him as quickly as possible before he could say anything else, she prayed she wouldn’t be late.

  “Have a great day, Deja.”

  Her hand rested on the handle of the door. She turned around to look at him. He had that sweet smile back on his face. She wished he’d stop looking at her like that.

  “You, too, E-man.” She ran out of the building and ducked into her car before the rain decided to appear. Bursts of thunder still pounded in the distance. A nasty storm was headed their way.

  How bad would the storm be when she arrived at her destination? Would he be happy to see her? Would he ignore her as he had the past ten years? Would he like the gift she bought him?

  Well, she’d find out soon enough.

  Turning out of the parking lot, more thunder rolled in the distance.

  Yep, the storm was making its way with a vengeance. A very bad sign.

  “He’ll be happy to see me. He will.” Or not.

  No amount of pep talk would change the fact her brother didn’t want to see her. He ignored her the past ten years while sitting behind bars.

  Well, tough. He was her brother. He was finally free. She’d welcome him with open arms, whether he liked it or not.

  Lightning flashed before her eyes, thunder crashing alongside it. She wished she could consider this the eye of the storm. It wasn’t.

  Seeing her brother again would be the eye. The real test of her strength. She loved him. No matter what.

  He killed their parents. But she still loved him.

  ♡

  “You slept with Brad, didn’t you? He said you did.” Chelsea cackled as she rolled her eyes.

  At least, it sounded like a cackle. An evil laugh that said she was about to decimate Deja into a tiny million pieces. Chelsea was such a snob. She couldn’t stand her.

  Deja grabbed her backpack from the floor and slung it onto her back. Chelsea stepped in front of her when she tried to walk away. Why did she think coming to the mall was a good idea? On a Friday night, she knew half the school would be here. Maybe she was a glutton for punishment.

  “What, cat got your tongue? Who's next on your list? Gonna sleep with the entire class?” Chelsea laughed, glancing at the other three girls behind her, who laughed in unison.

  Deja squared her shoulders, refusing to let these bitches get to her. “You’re just jealous Brad wanted to go out with me and not you. Get over yourself, Chelsea.”

  Deja walked around Chelsea, ignoring the continued teasing they were dishing out. It didn’t matter. None of what they said mattered. She didn’t sleep with Brad the Ass. That’s exactly what he was—an ass. No more Brad Bear, just a complete asshole.

  She wasn’t ready for sex. When she told him that, he dumped her and immediately started to spread she slept with him—and wasn’t very good either. It was one thing to brag she had sex with him, but the asshole h
ad to say she wasn’t good.

  Wiping a tear from her cheek, she steeled her shoulders. She wouldn’t cry. None of them mattered.

  Brad better watch out. One little word to her brother, Dare, and he’d be a dead man. Dare didn’t tolerate anyone messing with her. It’d serve him right if she did.

  Deja took her time walking home, grateful the mall was less than a mile away. Enough time for her to get her emotions in check, but short enough that she wouldn’t be exhausted by the time she got home.

  Why did she go to the dumb mall?

  Maybe she had hoped they wouldn’t tease her. That they’d know Brad was a liar. Of course, she shouldn’t be surprised. She never got along with Chelsea, especially after she started to date Brad. With Chelsea fueling the rumor she slept with him, everyone now believed it.

  One more year.

  One more year, then she’d be sixteen and she could get her license and disappear. Drive far, far away from all these stupid people. She hated them all.

  Swiping another lone tear away, she sucked in a deep breath as she climbed the porch steps. The house was dark.

  Strange.

  Her parents never mentioned going out tonight. Her brother liked to party on Friday nights, but he normally didn’t leave until later. Where was everybody?

  She turned on the living room lights, then tossed on each light as she walked to the kitchen. For some reason, the dark was giving her the heebie jeebies.

  A roll of thunder echoed in the distance.

  Well, at least the night was kind in that regard. She didn’t have to walk in the rain. After dealing with Chelsea’s cruelness that would’ve been too much. The ground had been wet, telling her it rained before she left the mall. She could only thank her lucky stars it stopped when she decided to leave. Apparently it was gearing for another round.

  She looked at the clock on the microwave.

  8:10 P.M.

  Where were her parents and brother?

  She opened the fridge and grabbed a pop, gulping half of it before heading to the pantry for a snack. She’d eat her misery away. At least for a little while. Then she’d scour her closet for the best damn outfit she owned and show Chelsea, Brad, and all the other jerks who liked to tease her exactly who they were messing with.

  They could call her a slut. They could tease her up and down until they turned blue. But no one would make her feel useless and pitiful. She was stronger than that. She’d put on her armor and show everyone she wasn’t fazed by their words. They couldn’t hurt her.

  A knock sounded on the door.

  She tossed the bag of chips she grabbed from the pantry onto the counter. Opening the door, her heart nearly fell out of her chest.

  Two officers stood on her porch step wearing solemn expressions that didn’t bode well for her.

  “Deja Wilson?” the officer with pitch-black hair asked, a frown molded permanently on his face.

  Nodding, unable to form words, she almost slammed the door in their faces. She didn’t want to hear what they had to say.

  “Is anyone else here with you?” the other officer with bright blonde hair, making her think he bleached it recently, asked. His softer expression displayed too much sympathy.

  Why did they both look at her so forlorn?

  “No. My parents aren’t home. Neither is my brother. I don’t know where they went. What’s going on?”

  The officer with the blonde hair twisted his hands, then suddenly dropped them to his sides. “We have some terrible news.”

  ♡

  “Oh, shit!” Deja swerved her car to the right. Her heart pounded as her body jerked roughly against the seatbelt, then her head snapped painfully as the car lurched into the ditch.

  The deer came out of nowhere, but she couldn’t blame the dumb animal. Her mind had wandered, thinking about the day her life changed forever. Changed to loneliness and despair for the longest time.

  Until she met Sophie.

  “Oh, Soph, shit! I’m so sorry.” Deja rested her head on the steering wheel as she thought about how she’d tell Sophie she just crashed her car.

  Saving money was a daily struggle. Since Emmett hired her, she had been making decent money, but it still took time to save up. It had been only nine months since she met Sophie. The first person in her life to ever look the other way and help her instead of blaming her. Berating her. Teasing her. Mocking her. Using her.

  She refused to be treated like a charity case. She almost had enough money to buy her own vehicle. Now, she’d have to use all her savings to fix Sophie’s car.

  Normally she walked to work, considering the office was only two miles away from the house. It was a long walk, but she enjoyed the fresh air and the energy boost the jaunt gave her. On occasion, she got a ride from Sophie. Rarely did she borrow her car. Today was important. Sophie never asked why she needed to borrow her car. She just handed the keys over with a friendly smile. She never asked questions about Deja’s background. Just as Deja respected her privacy.

  Two wounded souls.

  That’s what Sophie called them when they first met. She had been trying to break into Sophie’s shed, hoping to find something good she could sell for money. Hunger did things to people. She still felt sick and shameful about her actions. The lowest of the lowest she ever acted.

  Instead of calling the cops, something that should’ve happened, Sophie offered refuge. Help. A bit of friendliness that no other person on the planet ever offered her.

  She hadn’t been worthy of Sophie’s kindness. Especially when a few days before she tried to break into the shed, she had broken into her neighbor’s house and stolen two hundred bucks.

  The house of Austin McCord, Emmett’s cousin.

  She still couldn’t believe how that family could accept her with open arms and forgive her. Austin didn’t turn her into the cops. He let her pay him back every cent she took and the amount it cost to fix the window she broke.

  All because of Sophie. Her savior.

  Now she just ruined her car. She was a horrible friend.

  Turning to reach for her purse, she cried out in pain. Her head hurt. A massive headache was already forming. She had insurance, grateful, yet again, to Emmett’s kindness and offering her a job when he did. But she didn’t have time to go to the hospital. She needed to pick up her brother.

  Ignoring the ache, she grabbed the phone from her purse and started to search for a cab. Not exactly how she wanted to greet her brother, but it’d have to do.

  As soon as she got her brother settled, she’d call a tow company and take care of Sophie’s car. Nothing she could do about it now.

  A tap on her window had her dropping the phone in her lap.

  Shit! The police.

  “Ma’am, are you alright?” the officer asked, as he motioned for her to roll down the window.

  She didn’t even try turning the car back on. Would it even start? How bad did she ruin the car? Would Sophie be upset? Probably not. Sophie was an angel. Austin even called her his pixie angel.

  Austin and Sophie’s wedding was only two months away. Sophie asked her to be her maid of honor. She wasn’t worthy of such an honor.

  “Ma’am? Do you need medical attention?”

  What she needed was a magic wand to erase all the bad from her life. Or to disappear. Running away from everything sounded like a lovely idea.

  Instead, she shook her head, ignoring the ache, and opened her door. She didn’t even try to start the car. She knew deep in the pit of her stomach it wouldn’t start. If it wouldn’t start, she couldn’t roll down the window. Here’s to hoping the officer understood that predicament as she stepped out of the vehicle. “I’m fine, Officer. A deer jumped in front of me. I tried not to hit it.”

  The officer glanced around the road, then nodded. “Doesn’t look like you did. Hit the ditch hard, though. Gonna need a tow truck. Are you sure you’re okay? The front end is pretty banged up. Doesn’t look like your airbag went off.”

  Deja smiled,
hoping to give off reassurance. “I’m fine.”

  “Well, let me help you call a tow truck. Can I see your license, registration, and insurance card?” He smiled back. A friendly smile. Not one that indicated trouble.

  She still felt like she was in so much trouble. Dealing with cops never put her at ease. They never had. Not since the day two cops turned her world upside down.

  This officer wasn’t so bad. In fact, he was downright amazing. Regardless, she went through the motions with him, barely containing her edginess. She would be late. No doubt about it now.

  Thirty minutes later, the officer had written a report for her accident, called a tow truck, and waited until her cab arrived. He shyly smiled at her before she hopped into the cab. That made her jump in even quicker. She knew what that smile meant. Only when a man wanted to ask her out did they exhibit that kind of smile.

  She didn’t need a man in her life right now.

  He was the wrong one, anyway.

  Only one man had a chance…

  Nope. She wouldn’t even think about it.

  She was late. That’s what mattered. The last thing she wanted to do today was be late. Would her brother still be there?

  Only one way to find out. She rattled off the address to the St. Cloud Prison to the cab driver, and twenty minutes later, they arrived.

  The parking lot wasn’t full of cars or people. It helped her to see everything so clearly.

  “Wait here, please.” Deja hopped out of the cab and started to run. “Dare, stop.”

  Walking toward the road, head hanging down, was her brother. He turned around, eyed her warily and dismissed her with one simple glance.

  Deja ran faster. Grabbing a hold of his arm, she turned him around. “Where are you going? I’m sorry I was late.”

  Dare’s face was impassive. No expression whatsoever. “Go home, Deja.”

  “My home is your home. I came here to pick you up.”

  “Just forget about me.” Dare shrugged her hand off and continued to walk.

  Oh, hell, no. He wasn’t about to walk away from her.

  Deja caught up to him again and quickly stepped in front of him. “You can’t just walk away from me. What’s wrong with you? You’ve shut me out for the past ten years. I thought it was because you didn’t want me to see you behind bars. Why can’t I get a hug? Or a simple hello? Why are you treating me like I don’t matter?”