Richie's Promise (Riley's Pride Book 2) Read online

  Contents

  Cover Credit

  Title Page

  Copyright

  Dedication

  About this Book

  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

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Chapter 27

  Chapter 28

  Chapter 29

  Chapter 30

  Chapter 31

  Chapter 32

  Chapter 33

  Chapter 34

  Chapter 35

  Chapter 36

  From The Author

  About the Author

  Cover Credit

  Christopher Coyle

  darkandstormyknight.com

  Thank you for adorning my words so beautifully.

  Your talent knows no bounds!

  Sandra R Neeley

  P. O. Box 127

  Franklinton, LA 70438

  [email protected]

  Independently published

  By Sandra R Neeley

  93,381 words.

  Richie’s Promise

  Riley’s Pride

  Book 2

  by Sandra R Neeley

  Copyright © 2020 SANDRA R NEELEY

  All rights reserved.

  Thank you for purchasing and/or downloading this book. It is the copyrighted property of the author, and may not be reproduced, copied and/or distributed for commercial or non-commercial purposes without express written permission from the author.

  Your support and respect for the property of this author is appreciated. This book is a work of fiction and any resemblance to persons, living or dead, or places, events or locales, is purely coincidental. The characters are creations of the author’s imagination and are used fictitiously. The author acknowledges the trademarked status and trademarked ownership of all trademarks and word marks mentioned in this book.

  For my dear friend, Connie. I hope you can find a smile within these pages whenever you need one.

  About this Book

  Richie made a break from a Pride and an Alpha that were both abusive and dangerous. He’s had time to overcome the insecurities and damage done during his youth. Now he’s found a new Pride, a new home, a new Alpha, and he’s flourishing. But he’s never forgotten the young girl that he knew as a child. The girl that even then, he knew was meant to be his. She was sent away, along with Richie’s mother for their protection from his former Alpha — his father — and Richie hasn’t seen them since. He keeps up with her through his mother. She’s happy and married, and all Richie can do is wish her well. But an early morning phone call from his mother has him dropping everything in a rush to bring them both back into his world to the safety and security his new Pride provides. His mother is ready and willing, but will his childhood friend — his mate — accept his offer to come along? Or will he have to throw her over his shoulder and carry her away in the night?

  Yvette lost both her parents when she was a young child. Her former Alpha murdered them. She is alive today only because she was fortunate enough to be spirited away with her true mate’s mother for their own safety. Constance raised Yvette as her own, knowing that one day her son, Yvette’s mate, would come for them both. But Yvette grew tired of waiting. A man with pretty words and flashy possessions caught her eye, and now she’s at his mercy — a virtue he doesn’t have much of. She lays in the bed she made because the man she chose as husband threatens Constance’s safety, if she ever tries to leave him. She’s lost so much of herself she doubts she’d be able to adapt to a life outside abuse, anyway. Little does she know, Constance has already called in reinforcements. Her mate is on his way, and he doesn’t give a damn what came before him. He’s coming for what’s his and won’t take no for an answer.

  Warning: Intended for mature audiences. This book contains intimate love scenes, violence, and some abuse both real and inferred that may be disturbing for some readers. If you are offended by these subjects, please do not buy this book.

  Chapter 1

  “I can’t protect her anymore, mijo. I’ve tried. I’ve talked to her, and talked to her. I don’t know if she’s in denial, or just trying to protect me by taking it all on herself. But, it’s gotten too bad. And now, she’s just completely becoming someone else. I rarely see her anymore. And when I do, she’s quiet — I can barely get her to talk. And the bruises… the makeup doesn’t even hide them anymore.”

  “I’m coming, Mom. I’m coming,” Richie said, standing up and pacing the room.

  “I don’t want you to get in trouble. I just don’t know who else to turn to. It’s selfish of me, but I was hoping that maybe your new Alpha… he sounds like such a good male. Maybe he could let you come up here. Talk to him. Maybe make him stop hitting her.”

  “It’s okay, Mom. I should have come before, but I thought she was happy. Didn’t want to ruin anything for her.”

  “She’s not happy anymore, mijo. It’s bad. It’s really bad. And I’m afraid he’s going to kill her if she doesn’t get away from him.”

  “I’m coming,” Richie answered emphatically.

  >>>>>>

  Riley sat at the table flicking blueberries at Cristie as she flicked blueberries at him.

  “Hey! You two stop that!” Maia said, laughing.

  “What? We’re just eating breakfast. Right, Cristie?” Riley asked.

  “Yep. And flicking booberries,” she admitted.

  “Awww, that is so wrong. You ratted us out to Momma,” Riley said, teasingly.

  “Momma already knowed,” Cristie said, stuffing another bite of pancake in her mouth.

  “Gonna call my dad later, remind him about why he should never instigate foodfights with the kids,” Maia mumbled, as she plated the last pancake and carried it to the table with the thirty or so she’d already put on the platter she carried. She handed the platter to Roman and took her seat, pressing a hand to the small of her back to take some pressure off the muscles there. She had a lot of back pain lately, her stomach was huge, though she was only four months into her pregnancy. Shifters usually only carried for about five months.

  “You feeling okay, baby?” Riley asked, leaning over to massage her lower back with his strong fingers.

  Maia nodded. “I’m good, just sore muscles.”

  Riley kissed her cheek before straightening up and getting back to his own breakfast.

  “I love blueberry pancakes,” Roman said, still holding the platter he’d taken from Maia and holding it out for the rest of the Pride to take their choices from it before he put some on his own plate and reached for the syrup.

  “Me, too,” Cristie said, launching a blueberry in Roman’s direction.

  Cristie laughed so hard tears ran down her little face when Roman, reacting so quickly not everyone saw it, turned his face toward the blueberry coming his way, leaned toward it and opened his mouth before snapping his jaws shut and snatching the berry out of the air. He waggled his eyebrows at Cristie and went back to cutting his pancakes.

  “Everybody have enough sausage?” Maia asked, lifting the platter of sausage she’d placed
on the table a little earlier and handing it to Lucas. “It’s andouille,” she said. “Aunt Avaleigh sent it to me.”

  “Don’t mind if I do,” Lucas said, putting another sausage link on his plate.

  “Where’s Lazarus?” Riley asked.

  “He and Alex were having a bit of a disagreement last night. She left and he shifted and ran for quite a while, didn’t come home ‘til just before sunrise. He’s probably knocked out,” Lucas said.

  “I really wish they’d just get with it and stop dancing around the issues,” Maia said.

  “Nobody can make you settle down until you’re ready. Even if your mate is staring you in the face,” Riley said meaningfully, setting his fork down and reaching for Maia’s hand.

  Maia looked up at Riley’s comment and smiled at him, with a wealth of understanding showing in her eyes.

  “It’ll happen when it’s supposed to. Right, my Reigna?” Riley asked, bringing her hand to his lips to kiss her knuckles.

  Maia nodded. “Right,” she agreed softly.

  “I love you,” he mouthed to her.

  “Love you right back,” she answered aloud, turning her hand in his to squeeze his fingers.

  “I’d pay money for my mate to stare me in the face,” Roman commented, looking down at his plate as he sliced through a huge pile of pancakes. “Probably have to pay her to even consider me if I ever find her,” he added to no one in particular. He finished cutting up his pancakes and stuffed a huge bite in his mouth. He chewed appreciatively, then looked up because all the talking around him had stopped.

  Every face was looking at him. “What?” he asked around his food, using the back of his hand to block his mouth when he spoke so no one would see him talking with his mouth full.

  “Why would you say that you’ll have to pay your mate to even give you a chance?” Maia asked.

  Roman shrugged. “Look at me. I’m big. Ain't got much to offer a female. I’m pretty simple, not a smooth talker like some males. Just don’t have much to attract her, ya know?” he said, his voice quiet, but matter-of-fact.

  “Roman?” Maia said.

  Roman looked up at her. “Yes?”

  “If I ever hear you speak about yourself like that again, I will whip your ass. And if I can’t catch you, I’m sure a couple of the males around here will, then hold you while I beat you!” Maia said emphatically, taking a page out of her Aunt Delilah’s book. “You are a good male. And I’m not sure, but I think maybe we should get your eyes checked. You are gorgeous. You’re sexy, and big, and absolutely beautiful. And you’re kind. And any female would be lucky to have you as her mate. If she doesn’t agree, then I’ll whip her ass, too. And like I said, I got friends that can help me if need be,” Maia said, glaring at Roman.

  Roman’s eyebrows were raised, his mouth was hanging open. He’d never had anyone tell him he was sexy or beautiful.

  “Stop looking at me like that! You know you’re attractive!” Maia demanded.

  Lucas had gone back to eating, and looked back and forth between Maia and Roman. “I think maybe he really don’t know, Maia,” Lucas contributed.

  “Then he better get to learning,” Maia said. Since she’d not taken her eyes off Roman waiting for him to agree with her, she nodded at him. “Do not put yourself down again. Okay?”

  Slowly Roman nodded. “Okay.”

  “Try to see yourself through other’s eyes. I don’t know what’s made you think you are less than, but you certainly are not, in any way, less than,” Maia finished.

  “Okay,” Roman answered, smiling shyly and nodding just slightly.

  Riley had let go of Maia’s hand and started to eat his food again. When she finished building up Roman’s esteem, or trying to, he cleared his throat.

  Maia looked over to him.

  “You best not be thinking anybody but me is sexy. Or else, I’ll have to remind you of just who you belong to so’s you don’t notice anybody’s sexy but mine.”

  “Don’t worry, my Alpha. I don’t want anybody’s sexy but yours. Just had to point out to Roman that he’s grossly underestimating himself,” Maia said, patting Riley’s leg and winking at him.

  “Mmmhmm,” Riley said, a sarcastic smirk on his face.

  “All our males are pretty,” Maia stated as she started to eat again.

  “Pretty?” Lucas asked, laughing.

  “Yes. You’re all pretty. Very attractive, can’t believe you’re not mated yet.”

  “I’m not pretty,” Lucas said definitively. “Oh, don’t get me wrong. I’m sexy. I’m just not pretty.”

  “Yes, you are,” Maia insisted. She heard footsteps jogging down the stairs and heading their way. “So’s he,” she said, waving her fork over her head toward the male coming their way.

  “So’s he what?” Richie asked, coming into the kitchen where the dining table sat off to the opposite side in an open kind of floor plan.

  “Pretty. Maia says all our males are pretty. I am not a party to this conversation,” Riley answered.

  “Pretty? I’m pretty?” Richie asked.

  “Yes. And sexy. We all are. Don’t say you’re not, or she might beat you,” Roman added.

  “Well, okay then,” Richie answered. He was fidgety. He poured himself a cup of coffee and took his seat, still distracted.

  Riley watched him. His usual good humor and mood was not with him this morning. He was on edge, and the tension he felt was picked up on by Riley the moment he stepped into the room. “What’s the problem, Rich?” Riley asked.

  Richie looked up from his coffee cup. He wasn’t quite sure how to say it, and though he was very, very happy with Riley and the rest of the Pride, sometimes he couldn’t quite shake the habits he’d formed in his father’s Pride. You couldn’t come and go as you wanted there, you had to ask permission. Richie took a deep breath. “I spoke to my mother this morning. She called upset, worried about my mate.”

  Riley put his fork and knife down. He sat forward. “What can I do?” he asked.

  Richie shook his head. “I need to go to them. I need to bring them both back here. If you don’t mind, that is. I need to… I need….” Richie wasn’t sure what he needed. He just needed them here, with him, safe and part of this Pride so they could decide for themselves what they wanted and needed for their futures. He stopped playing with his coffee cup and leaned forward to face Riley as Riley faced him. “I request sanctuary for my mother and my mate. As long as they need it, or want it. Until they can decide what they need to do next, but at least long enough for me to go get them and bring them back here. Please, Alpha,” Richie said, his heart pounding as he begged for sanctuary on behalf of two females that weren’t even here to ask for themselves.

  Riley didn’t hesitate, he didn’t even pause. “Granted,” he said firmly, with force.

  “I… thank you, Riley,” Richie said, surprised that all it took was asking.

  “Anything else?” Riley asked.

  Richie shook his head. “I didn’t even explain to you what the situation is,” Richie said.

  “Don’t need to know. They’re your people. They need help and a safe place. Go get them,” Riley said.

  Richie nodded. “Okay. Okay!” he said, getting to his feet. He got halfway out of the room, then turned and faced them. “How am I going to get them? I can’t bring them both back on my bike.”

  “You ride a bike, Lucas? Roman?” Riley asked.

  “I can!” Lucas answered.

  “Been a while, but yeah,” Roman answered.

  “You’re taking the work truck and leaving your bike here. They’ll use it if they need to. If they need a truck, they can use mine,” Riley answered.

  “I don’t know what to say, Riley. Thank you,” Richie answered.

  “You’re welcome. When you leaving?” Riley asked.

  “Now. Right now. Yvette’s husband has started beating her, badly. And she’s trying to hide it from my mother. She’s stopped coming around as much, and my mom’s worried he’s gon
na hurt her really bad, or worse. He’s some kind of badass up north. Has his boys backing him up so Yvette’s afraid to call the cops on him. My mom was going to call, but Yvette begged her not to. Said he’d hurt them both if she did.”

  “He ain’t seen badass,” Lucas said, getting to his feet.

  “I’m going with him,” Roman said, standing. “I got this. You stay here. You know more construction than I do and can help out more when I’m gone. You stay here and hold down the fort for Riley. I’m going with Number 2.”

  “You sure?” Lucas said.

  “I’m sure,” Roman said, picking up his now empty plate and putting it in the sink. “I’m going to throw a few things in a duffle. I’ll be ready in ten, Rich. That quick enough?” Roman asked.

  “Yeah. That’s quick enough. Thank you. Both of you,” he finished.

  “Is that alright, Alpha?” Roman asked, pausing before he headed out of the room.

  “Yeah, it is. A good choice,” Riley said. “Ya’ll call if you need anything. How long you think you’ll be gone,” Riley asked, turning around to look at Richie.

  “Three, four days. Maybe five if we have to handle any crap before we can get them out of there,” Richie answered.

  “Ya’ll call. Keep me updated. If you need anything, let me know,” Riley said.

  “We will,” Richie answered.

  “Ya’ll stay together. You’re each other’s back up with the rest of us back here at home,” Riley said.

  “We know. We got this,” Roman answered.

  “We will,” Richie said.

  “Going home to pack,” Roman said, jogging down the hallway and out the front door.

  “Me, too,” Richie said. He started to leave the room, then turned back to Riley. “Thank you, Riley.”

  “I haven’t done anything,” Riley answered.

  “Yeah, you have. More than you know,” Richie answered.