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//-->THE MOGUL’S RELUCTANT BRIDEANA E ROSSTHE MOGUL’S RELUCTANT BRIDECopyright © 2012 by Ana E RossAll rights reserved. Except for brief quotes used in reviews, no portion of this story may be used orreproduced in any form by any electronic, mechanical, or any other device now known or inventedhereafter without the written permission of the author. These forms include, but are not limited toxerography, photocopying, scanning, recording, distributing via Internet means, informational storageor retrieval system.This story is a work of fiction. All names, characters, places, and incidents are the products of theauthor’s imagination and are used fictitiously. Similarities to actual events, locales, businessestablishments, or persons living or dead, are purely coincidental.You can learn more about Ana, purchase her books, and contact her via her website:www.anaeross.comCover Design byNiina CordDEDICATIONI dedicate this book to my fabulous team of Beta Readers whose honest opinions, insights, andsuggestions helped to craft this story. Kudos to:Dinah Johnson GilliardShirlyn MarshallRenita MetcalfMonica Sias-MitchellLena P NeelySharon PorchShunta SmithAngie WashburnYou’re the best, Ladies!PROLOGUEKaya cupped her little hands over her ears and hummed the tune to her favorite song, “You Are MySunshine”. But as hard as she tried to drown the noise, she could still hear her mother’s angryscreams and her father’s booming voice coming from inside.Finally, her father’s heavy footsteps thumped across the floor. As he opened the door, shejumped up from the front step of the apartment where they’d made her sit while they yelled at eachother.He smiled at her. He always smiled at her, even when he was mad with everybody else.“Are we going to the zoo now, Daddy?” She’d waited all week to go to the zoo with him.She’d waited all week to see him.He crouched down beside her. “No, baby. We’re not going to the zoo today.”Tears filled her eyes and her lips trembled. “But you promised. You promised you’d take me tothe zoo. Please, Daddy.” She placed her hands on his broad shoulders.“I’m sorry, Kaya, baby. But your—”“Kay! Kay! Get in here before I whip your behind.”Kaya’s heart beat hard and fast inside her chest when her mother appeared at the door with acigarette between her fingers.Her father stood up. “Go on,” he said. “You heard your momma.”Kaya balled her fists and glared at her mother. “No!” Her long braids slapped across her faceas she shook her head in defiance. “I won’t go inside. I want to go with my daddy.”“Get out of here!” her mother screamed at her father. “Don’t talk to her. Don’t you ever talk toher again or I’ll have your—”“Okay, Nadine. I’m going.” William Brehna smiled at his little girl again. “Bye Kaya, baby.Daddy loves you.”“Daddy!” Kaya screamed as he walked down the steps.“You stay away from that man.” Her mother grabbed her arm, hauled her inside, and kicked thedoor shut. “He’s a no good—”“He’s good. He’s my daddy. He’s my daddy.” Tears spilled down her cheeks as she glared atthe puffy-eyed dragon with a curly stream of smoke oozing out of her mouth.Nadine Brehna glared at her daughter then marched into the only bedroom in the apartment andslammed the door.Kaya ran to the window in the living room and watched her father get into his car. But instead ofdriving off, he just sat there.It could have been seconds, minutes, hours—a five-year-old had no concept of time, only thereality of abuse and loneliness.She jumped up with joy when he got out of the car and came back up the walkway. She ran tothe door, threw it open, and leaped into his arms. “Oh, Daddy, we’re going to the zoo.” She didn’treally care if they went to the zoo, or the park, or if they only went for a walk around the block. Sheneeded so much to be with her daddy.He was the only happiness she had.He pried her arms from around his neck and pressed a cold metal object into her hand. “This isfor you, Kaya.” He set her on the step and knelt in front of her, his big white teeth sparkling in themorning sun. “It belonged to your great-great-grandfather.” [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

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