Book Title: Easter's Lilly
Author: Judy Serrano
Release Date: December 16, 2010
Genre: Thriller, Romance, Romantic Suspense, Romantic Thriller
Publisher: Black Rose Writing
Presented by: As You Wish Tours
Banner Made by: Camelia Miron Skiba
BLURB
It was Easter Sunday; the day Lilly's life went from safe and comfortable to dangerously unfamiliar. Her transformation takes her from a small town girl having an affair with a low ranked gangster in the Montiago crime syndicate, to a woman of grace and fortitude married to the head of the organization. Easter's Lilly is an inspired journey from the idyllic to the darker side of self-discovery. Read as the over-privileged brothers embark on their journey that twists and turns down the road of unbridled passion in this first book of the series.
“You’re my Easter Lilly, aren’t you.” He smiled again.
“I love you,” I said before I left.
“I love you more,” he replied. I walked to my car and he followed behind. He opened my door and let me in. “Be safe,” he said, “and always remember that I love you more.” I put the keys in the ignition and the car purred. I blew him a kiss as I drove off and he pretended to catch it.
As I drove away I noticed a black sedan following behind me. It was Ray, the man who had been watching me in the bar. Johnny must have sent him to keep an eye on me. This was starting to become a way of life. I wasn’t sure I liked it.
I pulled into my driveway and walked to the front door. The sedan was parked across the street. I breathed in deeply, remembering the events of the evening for my strength. Then, I pushed open the door.
“Lillian Margaret O’Hara!” my father shouted. “Where in the bleeding hell have you been?” My father’s face was a new shade of red. He was standing with his hands folded and my mom was sitting on the couch, equally annoyed.
“Dad, I’m a grown woman!” I shouted in anticipation of the upcoming argument.
“Are you kidding me?” he asked. “Grown women don’t stay out all night.”
“I’m fine,” I insisted. “I was with some friends.”
Suddenly his face changed. “Oh no, no not him!” He began pacing back and forth like a mad man. “Are you sleeping with him, Lilly? Are you part of his harem now?”
I was shocked and mortified that he assumed I would allow myself to be part of a string of women. “It’s not like that, dad.”
“Oh no!” he kept saying. “It’s worse than I thought.” He was still pacing. My mother got up from the couch and stood beside him.
“Do you love him?” she asked.
“He’s a skinny, little drug dealer, of course she doesn’t love him,” my father barked.
“I do love him, dad.” I moved slightly away from him. “I can’t help it, I need him.” My father continued to pace. If it were possible, steam would be coming out of his ears.
“I know this guy, Lil. He has a different girl every night. I know his friends personally. I have arrested all of them at least once but we can’t seem to catch John.”
“Maybe you’re wrong about him!” I shouted. “He’s with me now, dad. Only me.”
“Lilly, why are you being so naive? He sell drugs to kids.”
I didn’t quite know how to win this one. Of course I was suspicious that he was involved in illegal activities. He wouldn’t have people watching me if he wasn’t. But I never asked and he never told. It was just kind of understood that I didn’t want to know. He carried a gun; that much I did knew. He was the first person I had ever known to carry a gun that wasn’t a police officer.
“Have you noticed the Hispanic population growing around you?” he asked. “Roberto and Ray, just to name a few.”
“So what?” I asked.
“John’s superior is a Latino somewhere. We’re trying to find him. He’s having you protected for some reason, Lil. This means you have a purpose. I don’t like it.”
“Purpose?” I asked in surprise. “I don’t have anything they would want.”
“You are now his Achilles’ heel. They’ll keep you safe until they need leverage.” He said that last part very slowly as if to make his warning clear. I began to feel a little sick to my stomach. This was too much for me and my head was beginning to spin.
“Lilly, I may have to move you,” he said. Then there was a pounding on the door.
“Is he coming over here today?” he asked.
“It’s Easter.” I too was surprised. “He works on Easter at the restaurant. I’m not expecting anyone.”
My dad reached for the doorknob and pulled the door open. It was Rudy. He had sweat dripping from his face and his hands were shaking. He pointed a gun at my father and said, “Sorry Mick. Wrong place, wrong time.” We heard a loud BANG! My father dropped to the floor and the vase behind me shattered. His icy blue eyes were blood red. My mother ran into the kitchen screaming. He turned and pointed the gun at me. “You should’ve picked me, Lilly. But they always go for John. It could’ve been different. I would’ve protected you.”
I am sure I had that “deer in the headlights” look as he stood there pointing his gun at me. His sweat was covering the gun as his hands shook involuntarily. I began to think my relationship with Johnny might have been a mistake. How many times was I warned? Why did I continue to see him?
“At first you were just something new to play with. But then you became like an obsession and he couldn’t put you down. You’re now nothing more than a unnecessary distraction.” I bit my bottom lip as I watched him get ready to shoot me. “Goodbye Lilly.” Before I had a chance to move, I heard another loud BANG!
AUTHOR BIO
Judy Serrano graduated from Texas A&M University, Commerce with a BA in English. She is a substitute teacher at her children’s school district and teaches developmental writing at a local college. She is also a freelance writer for certain on-line periodicals. She is the author of The Easter’s Lilly Series, which falls under romantic suspense, and The Linked Series, which is paranormal romance. Although she is originally from New York, she currently resides in Texas with her husband, four children, (all boys) and five dogs. She is also a singer/songwriter in her spare time.
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Thank you so much for posting my excerpt this morning. You have a wonderful blog. I would love for you to stop by my Facebook and "like" it while you are there. This way you can be updated on what is up and coming with my books and articles. Here is the link. https://www.facebook.com/JudySerranoAuthor?ref=ts
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Done! I even shared it on IBF's Facebook page. Plz stop by anytime!
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