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  A tackle took him out, and the pass was ruled incomplete. The stadium mumbled as he bounced back to his feet and gave the player who tackled him a friendly pat on the shoulder as he ran back to the line of scrimmage.

  “He’s fit,” I heard the red-haired one murmur to Ava.

  Leaning over, I smiled at her. “He’s a manwhore.”

  “Okaaay.”

  I didn’t miss the wide-eyed what the fuck look she sent to Ava. I also didn’t care.

  Straightening, I watched as Jett shouted out the play, and then the ball was in his hands. Running back a few steps, he faked the throw, and I saw the handoff to Gray. The running back took off down the field. His speed always surprised people, and I watched him eat up the yards. Urging him on, I heard the stadium yell for him to make it. At the twenty-five, he swerved the oncoming safeties, and then Ash was beside him, blocking any of the defence that rushed them as they both raced down the field.

  They were at the twenty.

  The fifteen.

  Holy shit, he was at the ten.

  Five-yard line.

  And then he was in the end zone.

  The stadium went wild. I saw him bounce off Ash’s chest as Jett ran down to meet him in the end zone. Jett’s hands clutched Gray’s face guard as their helmets clashed and he congratulated his brother, Ash bouncing beside them with excitement.

  The big screen showed the replay, and when the grin spread across Gray’s face as he reached the end zone, my heart stuttered.

  He was so gorgeous. He didn’t have Jett’s hard lines and planes. His face was softer, but his eyes were hard. Always stern, always unyielding, always careful.

  Only when he played football did his mask slip.

  Or the night he told me he loved me, and I walked away from him and broke his heart.

  Since then, football was Gray’s only desire, and the urge for revenge on what was done to me. His revenge would never replace what I’d lost.

  I smiled along with the others as they cheered and clapped for the touchdown. Gray allowed his mask to slip when he played. I couldn’t afford that same luxury. My mask stayed in place even though it no longer had anything to hide. I’d been empty inside for so long the mask protected nothing but a shell.

  Only one man could fill that void, and he turned his back on me the same way as I once turned my back on him. All I had left was my fake smile and a desire in my heart for him to see me once again.

  The way he used to, before I lost it all.

  * * *

  The End

  Quinn’s story is coming soon in Book 2 of the Ruthless Devils Series.

  Preorder now: books2read.com/ruthlessdesire

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  ‘Demons’ - Imagine Dragons

  ‘Ten Million Voices’ - Shamen’s Harvest

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  Click here to listen on Spotify.

  Hello! Thank you so much for reading this book and my word, what a story it was for me to write!

  The Santo boys have been in my head for a long time, playing it cool and biding their time. However, just before Christmas 2020, they started causing Mayhem in their allotted spot in my brain. They wanted their story told, each story completely unique but irrevocably interwoven with each others, which is why these books are not simply standalone books with a common theme. They will, and do need to be read as a series. While I was writing this book, I was also listening to what was happening in books 2 and 3, and it may be that alcohol may be needed going forward.

  Ava and Jett’s story is a classic enemies-to-lovers story, and I did think I was going to write a bully romance. But, I have never been able to tell my characters what to do, they listen to the thought process, they nod at the outline and then as soon as I type Chapter 1, they run and scatter off in different directions and then it’s like herding cats to get them back on the page. By the time they settled down, I was halfway into the book with new grey hairs and no sleep.

  So, it’s not a bully romance but I think I love it even more because of that. They told their story how it was for them and that’s all I can ask of them.

  Although Jett has his asshole moments, for those of you who were looking for a shade darker and more of a complete asshole, I think Gray may fill that role and his book’s next in the series.

  Also I would like to state here, Versed is a drug and it is used for ’twilight sedation’ - the only thing I have used artistic licence on, is the amount of time lapsed before memory returns and of course, the animated state of the recipients, for want of a better term. Wink wink, nudge nudge.

  I really hope you love all of my characters as much as I do, if you feel inclined to do so, a review on your favourite retailers site would be awesome sauce.

  * * *

  Eve x

  I would like to thank everyone who supported me in getting this book out, but first I want to clarify two things. One, it is absolutely possible to get very drunk, and have no recollection of the night before and wake up the next morning with no hangover. I know this firsthand, it’s how I sailed through my late teenage years, twenties and early thirties with never experiencing a hangover. My late thirties…not so much. Also, eating Skittles in colour order and in twos is not insanity, no matter what Ava thinks…and I have no judgement of Quinn in leaving the green ones behind.

  * * *

  Glad we cleared that up! :)

  * * *

  As always, it may be only me that writes the story (with the aid of the maniacs in my head), but it takes so much more than me to present and publish a book.

  * * *

  Firstly, Jay, another fantastic cover, you keep bringing it every time. Thank you so much for seeing my vision and then giving me what I actually want. We make a great team.

  * * *

  To the ladies at the Next Step PR, thanks for all your promotion work and spreading the word about this book. You are incredibly supportive and enthusiastic and I absolutely love that about you all.

  * * *

  To Brenna, for once again listening to my insanity and then sharing your medical knowledge with me. I may have used artistic license but the foundation of the knowledge is all Brenna. You rock Glitter Girl.

  * * *

  To Helayna, thank you for your editing skills. One day I promise I’ll learn about dangling modifiers…maybe. Until then, I know I can count on you. I know I drive you insane, but you know you love me.

  * * *

  To my beta readers, Amber, Julie, Katy & Renee - still rocking it girls, thank you. You read this whole book in one weekend, even though you have families and other commitments and the fact you willing lose sleep just to read my words, it’s the biggest compliment I can receive. I love you all. Thank you so much for being my girls.

  * * *

  To the bloggers, reviewers, and bookstagrammers out there who have supported this launch, thank you so much. I appreciate each and every one of you.

  * * *

  To my readers, thank you always for your support. It means so much to me, and I will never be able to thank you enough.

  * * *

  And finally, Mr M, thank you for the coffee and the snacks and the hours of leaving me alone so I could write this book, but mainly, for just looking after me. For keeping me sane, reminding me how to breathe when
I panic the books aren’t good enough, and for being an endless supplier of hugs. I love you.

  Eve x

  Eve L. Mitchell is a USA Today Bestselling author who writes contemporary romance and urban fantasy.

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  Being an avid reader from a young age, Eve still considers herself to be a reader first. She believes there is nothing better than getting that new book either on your e-reader or in your hands, and the fact she may bring that excitement to a fellow reader, fills her with wonder. She writes under a pen name because otherwise her Secret Agent status will be revoked.

  * * *

  Eve lives in the North East of Scotland, with her three coffee machines and her significant other, Mr. M. She enjoys NFL Football, music and having long conversations with the voices in her head, which sometimes turn into the stories she writes.

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  Contemporary Romance

  The Boulder Series

  Indian Summer (Boulder Series Book 1)

  Cole (Boulder Series Book 1.5)

  Dark Heart (Boulder Series Book 2)

  Unbroken Bonds (Boulder Series Book 3)

  Dark Soul (Boulder Series Book 4)

  * * *

  A Very Boulder Christmas (A holiday novella)

  * * *

  The Denver Series

  Her Greatest Mistake (Book 1)

  Beautifully Broken (Book 2)

  Book 3 in the Denver Series TBA

  * * *

  The Ruthless Devils Series

  Ruthless Heart (Book 1)

  Ruthless Desire (Book 2)

  * * *

  Standalone

  For The Win (A novella)

  * * *

  Urban Fantasy

  The Akrhyn Series

  Into Darkness (The Akrhyn Series Book 1)

  Lost in Darkness (The Akrhyn Series Book 2 )

  From the Darkness (The Akrhyn Series Book 3)

  An Alpha’s Duty (An Akrhyn Series novella)

  * * *

  The Watcher Series

  A Glow of Stars & Dusk (The Watcher Series Book 1)

  Book 2 coming soon!

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