Jagged Salvation: A Dark Contemporary Romance Novel (Salvation Trilogy Book 1) Read online

  Jagged Salvation

  Salvation Trilogy Book One

  Cadyn James

  © 2021 Cadyn James

  All rights reserved. This book or parts thereof may not be reproduced in any form, stored in any retrieval system, or transmitted in any form by any means—electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or otherwise—without prior written permission of the publisher, except as provided by United States of America copyright law. For permission requests, write to the publisher, at “Attention: Permissions Coordinator,” at [email protected]

  Cover by Cadyn James

  Editing by Niki Trento-Spencer

  1st Edition

  Dedication

  There are so many people to name in producing a book. Just a few of them who helped me with this book: Becky, Lindsay, Niki, Sam, Shannon, Tanya. You ladies have been the absolute best and I can’t thank you enough!

  Big shoutout to God, my personal Lord and Savior. None of this would matter if it weren’t for your gift of salvation.

  To my parents…all the love for all time.

  TRIGGER WARNING

  This book is for mature readers. Please be aware that there is talk of potentially triggering topics within this book with references and/or detailed descriptions of violence, physical, mental abuse, rape, suicide, murder, and other sensitive topics that some readers may find offensive.

  Chapter 1

  Zale

  Blowing out a breath, I looked at my reflection. Today was a good day. At least on the better side of neutral. That was saying something.

  My brown hair was pulled back in a low, sleek ponytail, my blue eyes weren’t sparkling. But they weren’t dull, either. I was counting it as a win.

  “Z, come on. You’re going to be late, and I’ve gotta pee,” Mak said as she knocked on the door.

  A smile tugged at my mouth. She was one of the reasons I was still here, still alive.

  Giving myself one last look over, I brushed a stray piece of fuzz from my black dress. Nodding, I turned from the mirror. Opening the door, I felt the rush of vibrant energy that was Mak almost knock me over.

  Her tightly coiled blonde curls bounced around her head like little happy cartoon birds in a frenzy. Shoving me gently out of the way, she raced in. Turning, she sat on the toilet and let out a long sigh. “Oh, sweet heavens, that’s amazing.”

  “You do have your own bathroom, you know? You didn’t have to use mine.” I walked into my room and picked up my bag and purse. Sliding into my low walking shoes, I listened as she finished and washed up.

  “Yeah, but you would have snuck out of here without saying anything. You’ve been waiting for this day forever.” She propped a hip against the door frame. “How are you doing?”

  I bumped a shoulder into the air as I looked at her. Her smile was bittersweet. Mak was the one person I didn’t have to hide from. For her, I didn’t have to slide a happy face onto my grief or depression. “Better than yesterday.”

  She nodded. “I’m so proud of you, babe. You’re my own version of Wonder Woman. Even if you hate sparkly tights and whips.” She pumped her thick, perfect brows up and down a few times, a wicked smile on her face.

  A bubble of laughter escaped. Mak was the person I wanted to be when I grew up. “Well, when I’m feeling particularly Linda Carter-y today, I’ll send you a message.”

  She smiled. “That’s the spirit. And you can send me a message anytime you want. The life of an unemployed society heiress slash retired model does leave some time for the rando text.”

  I nodded. She was so much more than that, but I knew now wasn’t the time for the familiar long conversation we’d had millions of times. “Want to do lunch if I get one?”

  She bounced up and down on her toes. “Yes, please! Thai?”

  I smiled. “Sure.” As long as I had my toothbrush and toothpaste, I was fine. And I already had my emergency bathroom bag packed. It was one of the few things I’d made doubly sure was in my bag.

  “Sweet. Just shoot me a text when you’re ready and I’ll be there.” She lurched towards me. Then stumbled as she stopped herself before she actually touched. “Hug or no?”

  I nodded. I needed a little something extra to ground me to the here and now.

  She pulled me slowly into her arms and gripped me. It was less than what she probably wanted and definitely more than I could handle. But she stepped back almost immediately. “Gold star proud. Go show those dinosaurs how marketing is done in the twenty-first century.”

  Blowing out a low breath, I settled my shoulders and nodded. “I’m going to make them my bitches.”

  She belted out her gregarious laugh, and it brightened my heart to hear it. “That’s the ticket. Now get going. You’re really going to be late.”

  I nodded and walked to the front door of our shared penthouse apartment. We were on the outside edges of Midtown, but it was less than a twenty-minute walk. I would be there in plenty of time, even if I had to wait for every single traffic light between my stops.

  Pulling the door shut behind me, I didn’t look back as I walked down the hall to the service elevator. If I looked back, I wouldn’t leave. And I hadn’t practiced and rehearsed for my three-month interview, or lost countless hours of sleep thinking up pitches, or dedicated a full year to hard therapy to bail on the first day of my dream job.

  Today was a new day, and I was going to finally take my therapist’s advice and grab it by the balls. “I will make you my bitch,” I said as I stabbed the button for the freight elevator. I’d had to pay through the nose for the privilege, but it was better than trying to walk up and down seventy-four flights of stairs.

  The elevator grinding on the other side of the wall called me a fraud, but it didn’t know me. When the doors slid open, I felt the breath back up in my chest and my vision go black at the edges. Forcing myself to put one foot in front of the other, I stood in that car and prayed every second until it came to a gentle stop.

  My head was a little dizzy and my chest felt like a boa constrictor was making me into dinner, but I was finally on the ground floor. I pushed open the fire door and moved out into the foyer. Blowing out a breath, I felt my vision right itself.

  It was wide and open and airy. Beautiful and posh, it made me feel safe. I could see every angle of it from any position.

  “Ms. Griffin, good morning,” Henry said as he held the door open for me. “First day. You ready?” His weathered face and gray hair were almost as familiar as my own.

  I smiled and dipped my chin. “More than ready, Henry.” Passing in front of him, I raised up to my tiptoes and kissed his cheek. “Tell Vera hello for me. I’ll be by on Saturday morning, like usual.”

  His blue eyes twinkled. “I’ll do that. Mind the traffic, Zale.” He placed special emphasis on my name by pitching his voice a little louder. Zay-lee. He grinned as he tipped his head towards the front desk.

  I turned to look. We had a new concierge. She was watching me carefully as I interacted with the doorman who’d gotten the job the same day I moved in. Money did some great things.

  I smiled and rolled my eyes. “She would have learned.”

  Henry chuckled. “This way she’ll learn faster.” He studied me for a moment. “Your daddy and momma would be so proud of you, Z.”

  Grief choked me, but I smiled through the pain. “I hope so, Henry. I’ll see you tonight.”

  One of my rocks over the last three years, stepped back and nodded. “I’ll be waiting right here for you.”

  Lifting my hand in a wave, I wa
lked away from the oppressive reminders of what I’d lost. Shaking it off, I looked out into the busy world around me. Life went on. And I wasn’t going to let it slip me by.

  I’d done too much of that already. With my new job demanding all of my attention, I felt like I could actually focus on something more than the accident. More than the day my life ripped to shreds like the cable that had —

  I shook my head. Pushing the thoughts aside, I moved into the flow of foot traffic. Today was for the future.

  It didn’t take me long to make it to the office building. Everything in Manhattan was so crammed together, walking was the easiest. Nothing like the wide, one mile square blocks I was more accustomed to.

  Walking into the foyer of the tall glass building, I slid to the side and pulled my Louboutin heels out of my bag. My feet already hurt just looking at them, but I wasn’t going to walk through the door of the biggest marketing agency in New York with my comfy shoes on my feet. Hopefully, I’d be sitting most of the first couple days anyway.

  I passed through the metal detectors, purposely keeping my attention from the milling people. The building was huge and was home to some of the highest revenue businesses in New York. One of the reasons I wanted to work here was the excellent security on site.

  With a smile, the security guard waved me through. There was nowhere else to go but the lobby. A flop sweat started as I saw the crowd of people waiting for the elevators in the alcove. My palms got all clammy and my dress tried to stick to my lower back.

  I could do this. Blowing out a heavy exhale, I clenched my fingers around the handle of my bag. I would do this.

  The subtle ding of the elevator sounded, and it was like a bell for Pavlov’s dogs. Everyone lifted their heads to check which light had come on. Gold-tinted doors opened—one on either side of the elevator lobby. It was a football lineup between those exiting the elevators and those needing to ride up.

  I was just lucky Patrick Mahomes wasn’t firing footballs down the hallway. Although, I wouldn’t have minded Travis Kelce trying to pick me up. A wave of nostalgia pinged through me. I hadn’t been to see a KC Chiefs game in a hot minute.

  Waiting to the side, my heartrate somewhat back under control, I felt like I could finally breathe as the first couple waves of people flung themselves into the sky. Checking my watch, I saw I still had some time. Cursing the fact that the office was on the thirtieth floor, I knew I needed to put my ass in one of the cars. If I couldn’t make it past the foyer, I might as well go home now.

  Walking to the far side of the lobby, I waited and gauged the crowd. The last huge group of people had just started filling up the elevator lobby when I heard a low ding from an adjoining hallway. Leaning backwards slightly, I saw an elevator that looked empty.

  With all the strength I could muster, I spun on my heel and made a mad dash for it. Maybe it wouldn’t be so bad if I were in the car by myself. No people pressing in on me. No one breathing my air as we stood in awkward silences.

  The doors were starting to close as I made a wild leap. My bag slid against the door as I smashed into the far wall. “Sweet crackers,” I said as I hugged the wall, trying to get my breath back.

  My pulse was thundering through my ears in a heavy whoosh, whoosh, whoosh. My toes went a little numb just as I remembered I needed to turn and punch the button. Gathering my courage, I turned on wobbly knees.

  Thankfully, the elevator was empty. No one had witnessed my epic neurotic blunder. With a shaking hand, I hit the right button for the floor I needed. I pressed my back against the wall and counted the numbers. It was better than counting my heartbeats. Well, at least it was a lot slower.

  “This is a private elevator,” a hard male voice said from nowhere.

  I almost peed myself as I jumped. “I-I-I-I’m sorry. No one was in here. I won’t take it again. I promise.” My voice was thin and high.

  I swallowed a couple times, trying to settle my nerves. Closing my eyes, I envisioned my ‘happy place.’ Sitting on a giant raft, I was in the middle of a lake. Nothing but sunshine, birds chirping, and warm breezes.

  “If you’re done meditating, I think you’ve arrived at your floor.” Blatant condescension drenched every single syllable.

  I opened my eyes and glared. Looking around near the ceiling, I found the little camera. “You don’t have to be a shit, you know?” But the speaker was right. The doors were open. A brightly painted sign with 30 hung on the wall opposite the doors. “Asshole.”

  Moving into the hallway, I turned right and saw the familiar doors. I’d worked so hard and so long for this job, I was pretty sure I saw these doors in my nightmares. But today was definitely a fantasy come to life.

  Shaking back my shoulders, I moved forward. The high-profile agency name was emblazoned on the glass doors. With one last prayer, I walked into the first day of the rest of my life. Hopefully.

  Chapter 2

  Isak

  With my hand wrapped in long blonde curls, I forced her head down until I felt her gag. I grunted as my cock jerked and the load of cum I’d been holding back shot forward into the woman’s mouth. But it wasn’t the woman on her knees under my desk I was thinking about. She was skilled, but she wasn’t that important.

  No. The woman I’d watched on my security monitor held my attention. When my private alarm went off saying my elevator was moving again, I’d opened the security camera feed.

  Dark hair, crystalline blue eyes, and a striking face held my attention. Not to mention the shuddering frailty superimposed over the bite in her voice when she’d spoken the second time. She was fascinating. Hell, I should probably send the mystery woman a gift. I hadn’t been close to going off until she snapped at me.

  Reaching down, I wiped off my dick and smeared it over Carina’s cheek. She could take care of it later. Or not. I didn’t really care. “You can go now.” I pushed back and walked to the private bathroom attached to my office.

  Shutting the door behind me, I cleaned up. Splashing some water on my face, I dried it with a towel. Making sure everything was in order, I nodded and walked back out.

  Carina was gone. But her bra was still on my desk.

  Rolling my eyes at her antics, I picked it up and put it to the side. But I’d make sure it got back to her. Two could play that game—and I never lost.

  Leaning forward, I hit a button on my phone. “Ben, I need you in here.”

  “Yes, Mr. Hardin,” he replied. Within moments, he was standing on the other side of my desk. “What can I help you with, Mr. Hardin?”

  “I need the latest numbers for the MasCo acquisition. See if Thomason sent them over. If not, he has twenty-four hours.”

  Ben nodded and marked it down on his iPad. “Anything else?”

  The unknown woman’s face sprang to mind, but I shoved it away. I had better things to do than chase after a contradictory woman. “That’s it. When’s my next meeting?” I already knew, but wanted to see if he did.

  Without looking down at his tablet, he said, “Fourteen minutes until it starts. Catering has come in, set up, and left. West Coast is already on the call and waiting.”

  I nodded. “Good. I’ll join them in the conference room momentarily. Make sure you’re ready as well.”

  Ben nodded and walked out. He’d been with me for four years now, but complacency was the beginning of substandard work. And I didn’t accept either. But he’d settled in nicely and never slacked off that I’d seen.

  Just as I was getting everything gathered for the meeting, my phone buzzed. Pulling it from my pants pocket, I hit the speaker button as a smile spread across my face. “What do you want?” I barked, my tone like a whip.

  “What bear crawled up your ass?” Adrian Crawford said. I could imagine the way his face screwed up. His pretty boy good looks marred, however briefly.

  I laughed at the picture. “It didn’t. I just gave Carina a mouthful though.”

  Adrian grunted. “That’s disgusting. You’re disgusting.” He sighed.
“And they continue to throw themselves at you. They’re disgusting.”

  “Well, now that we have that out of the way, what do you want? I do actually have things to do.”

  “Dinner, Friday night. Mom, Sarah, and Grammy June want to see you. And since I’ve somehow been relegated to the role of your social calendar organizer, you’ll show up.”

  A true smile pulled at my mouth for the first time today. “Fine. Call Ben and he’ll get it set. What brings your ladies back to town?” I shrugged my suit jacket on. I slid one of my earbuds in and slid my phone into my pocket. Grabbing up my small pile of stuff, I headed for the conference room.

  “Sarah is engaged. She’s in town for dress shopping.”

  I grimaced. “Gods save us all.”

  Adrian chuckled. “I’m just glad I’m not going to be paraded around town for it. I told them dinner or nothing.”

  I laughed. “Good for you. Tell Ben he can bump anything he needs to. Grammy June gets first booking in my calendar.”

  “If only she knew who you truly were.”

  The spitfire would pass to the next world if she ever found out who I truly was. “Then she’ll never find out. I’ve got a meeting. Talk later.” I ended the call before he could say anything else. He might be my best friend, but I didn’t take shit from anyone…except Grammy June.

  “Expect a call from Adrian,” I said as I passed Ben’s desk.

  “Yes, sir.”

  Moving into the conference room, I got everything situated how I wanted it. Once I was sure of my presentation, I told Ben to let everyone else in. Sitting in my position at the head of the table, I was ready and waiting as the prospective business partners came in.

  And they came ready to do some serious business. At least three lawyers, the CEO, CFO, and COO. Not to mention two administrative assistants.

  Good, I hated wasting time. “Welcome to Hardin Industries.” I waved them forward. “My lawyers are here as well.” I hit the button and the TV behind me flared to life.