Love and Hate (The Pierce Family Trilogy) Read online

  Love

  &

  Hate

  By Chelsea Ballinger

  Love and Hate Copyright © 2013 Chelsea Ballinger

  All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, or stored in a database or retrieval system, without the prior written approval of the author except for the use of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

  Published by Chelsea Ballinger

  Cover image created by Chelsea Ballinger through Kindle Cover Creator

  Cover Image under license from Istockphoto.com

  This is a work of fiction. Names, titles, places, characters, and events are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental. Any trademarks, service marks, product names, or named features are assumed to be the property of their respective owners, and are used only for reference. There is no implied endorsement.

  This novel is dedicated to my grandparents.

  My grandmother, the light of this family

  My grandfather, the spark that created a way for me

  Table of Contents

  Prologue

  1Spark

  2 Forever

  3 I Don’t Know You, But I Miss You

  4 The Consequences Of Fate

  5 Stolen Moments

  6 Defining Moments

  7 Trouble In Paradise

  8 A Moment Of Clarity

  9 Say It First

  10 I Gladly Welcome It

  11 Our Deepest Fear

  12 In This Together

  13 Honorable Sacrifices

  14 Words From The Wise

  15 Truth Be Told

  16 A Killer And A Lover

  Epilogue

  Prologue

  “Christian!” The tall built man yelled out for his son. Out of all his children he knew Christian would be the first to respond, for he was the oldest and the most mature. The man heard his son’s footsteps getting closer and closer as he came toward his office. Once he heard the footsteps stop he looked up to see his equally tall and built son who had sandy brown hair like his mother.

  “Yeah, dad?” Christian asked his father who was going through his wooden bookshelf. He glanced around and admired the elegant room his father had created for himself. He added modern detail through the long, glass desk his mother had talked him into getting. He noticed the books over the charcoal color, marble surround fireplace. His father had a collection of law books and classic novels for example; his father’s favorite book was the Count of Monte Cristo. He never knew why and never bothered to read it himself. He wasn’t a reader like his little brother.

  “What are you doing?” His father asked him.

  “I just finished unpacking and setting up my room.”

  “Where is Donovan?”

  “I don’t know. He said he was going for a walk. I guess he’s in one of those moods again.”

  “Why?” The father looked at his son with a frown. “What’s going on with him? He’s been moping around here like he lost his dog or something.”

  “Well, what did you expect? You did move us back here without any type of warning. Especially since this is the town where all that crap happened even though he chooses not to remember. Besides he’s a brooder.” Christian wondered why his father acted shocked by his brother’s normal behavior. Since birth, Donovan has always acted this way.

  “What is a brooder?” His father increased his frown.

  “You” Christian and his father turned to see his wife standing at the doorway. Her long sandy brown hair looked full and beautiful as always. Her radiant, green eyes brought out her smile as she made fun of her husband. Every time the man saw his wife he couldn’t help but to turn his frown into a crooked grin. He was and forever completely enamored by his wife.

  “You my dear Roman have always been a brooder.” His wife said while brushing her son’s hair and kissing him on the cheek.

  “Of course, Vera. As always, you are right.” Roman said sarcastically to his beautiful wife as she walked up to him and kissed him on his lips.

  Christian watched them feeling grossed out by their affection, but still admiring the love his parents had for each other. His whole life the greatest representation of love he had known was defined by his parents. In spite of everything they have gone through, they never forgot the love and loyalty they have for each other. He hoped to find someone to love like that one day.

  “The fact that you don’t see yourself in your own son is ridiculous because I swear it’s like looking in the mirror.” She chuckled

  “I know he is. This is what worries me.”

  “You and me both.” Vera joked, but was also serious at the same time.

  Roman wrapped his arms around Vera as she smiled and looked at her eldest son. Her family was her pride and joy. Three beautiful children that she would move mountains for and a husband who would always protect them no matter what.

  “Christian, get Ella and look for your brother.”

  “What’s wrong with Donovan?” Vera asked. She too was concerned about her son and hesitant about moving back to Eastbrook because of their past there.

  “Your son likes to leave the house without his phone and not tell anyone where he’s going.” Roman said remembering why he was angry in the first place. He loved Donovan with all his heart, but still annoyed at how much he disobeyed him.

  “Well Roman you know Donovan has been going through a lot. You have to be patient with him.”

  “I still need to know where he’s going Vera.” As he held on tight to Vera, Roman yelled for his daughter. “Ella?!”

  “Dad, you know she’s deaf. I’ll text her.” Christian pulled out his cell phone.

  “Really?” Vera was shocked at her son’s laziness.

  “Ma, its technology, don’t hate.” He sent his sister a message saying their dad wanted to see her.

  A minute later Ella entered the office looking beautiful with long sandy brown hair just like her mother. Ella had blue eyes just like her father and Donovan. She was a good mixture of both parents while Christian resembled their mother and Donovan their father. She stared at her family wondering what they wanted.

  “And what were you doing?” Vera asked her.

  “Texting Dina.”

  “That’s all you kids do is text and text. I don’t get it.”

  “Mom, we are trying to find out what we’re wearing to the party tonight.”

  “Clothing that covers up your whole body.” Roman said. He had been noticing how his daughter was blossoming into a beautiful young girl. Sixteen years old now, which meant she was going to start dating. He was mortified at the thought of it.

  Ella rolled her eyes at her father’s comment. “What do you guys want?”

  “Excuse me?” Vera arched her brow at her daughter’s attitude.

  Ella slouched knowing what her mother meant. She stood up straight and began her question again with polite sarcasm. “Mother? Father? How may I help you?”

  “I need you to go with Christian to find Donovan.” Roman said.

  “Ugh.” Ella slouched again at her father’s order. “I know where he is.”

  Roman’s brow creased. “How?”

  “He’s pretty predictable. He’s a brooder.” Christian and Vera laughed at Ella’s comment agreeing with her.

  “So what does that make me?”

  “Predictable. Love you daddy.” Ella grabbed her brother and left before her father could respond.

  Vera laughed hysterically turning around to face her h
usband. “Aw sweetie I love you’re brooding.”

  “You better love my brooding.” He winks at her.

  She placed her lips on his to confirm how much she really loved his brooding.

  Roman and Vera Pierce were in love. They had been married for twenty years. Roman Pierce had always known the importance of family and loyalty, but never love, at least not until Vera. His father raised him to be strong and a leader. There was never any room for compassion, due to his mother being murdered by an enemy of his father's when he was a child. The man that killed his mother became Roman’s first kill when he was sixteen, which sealed his destiny. He was to become the head of the family business.

  Roman was a gangster, a mob boss, a criminal. He met Vera when he was twenty three and she was twenty. Love at first sight, they always agreed. She was the daughter of his father’s closest friend and employee, a bookie who ran the gambling operations for the Pierce family. Vera never wanted to marry a criminal, but she couldn’t help it after she first laid eyes on the beautiful blonde haired and blue eyed young man when she visited her father in New York that one fateful summer. He was everything to her and she never regretted marrying him. Especially because she received three beautiful children out of her choice. Also, Roman always kept his promise. He would always do what was best for the family. That was all Roman was about, honor and family. He would always say if you didn’t have loyalty or trust, then there was no point in living. People feared Roman, but also respected him. Everyone except the law of course. The police hated Roman because of how he kept getting away with everything. The Pierce family was one of the most untouchable, organized crime families in the state of New York. If a list of most hated criminals in New York existed, Roman would be number one on that list.

  Although still dabbling in some illegal activities, Roman was finally trying to settle down and retire from the crime world. He had made peace with his enemies and even moved his family from the city. He wanted his children to be safe and hopefully break the cycle, not continuing to thrive in the crime world. He wanted Christian to be a doctor, Ella to be a fashion designer, and Donovan to be happy. He knew Donovan was like him, unsure of what he wanted out of life. Roman just prayed that it would be different from the path he chose.

  Word was getting out that Roman Pierce was going legit. People started considering it to be the truth, except for one. He was a man who devoted his whole life to bringing the Pierce family down, who lived by the law, and resided in Eastbrook. He was going to stop at nothing to bring Roman down now that he had returned to Eastbrook. Roman has always known this enemy, in fact he has been his enemy since he took over the family business. He always knew this battle was going to go on, until he ended it someday. He just didn’t know how to end it. Roman has committed many bad acts in his life, but killing a man of the law is not on his list. Roman was a different kind of criminal, people said. He was a mob kingpin who knew of mercy. He studied law books to defeat the police instead of using a gun. Every action and decision he took, he did it with rationality and noetic mentality. The only way he would kill is if the person is attempting to kill him first. Or if they had hurt his family. So the battle continued and Roman remained confident that Henry Stonem, the Assistant State’s Attorney and one of the top prosecuting attorneys for the organized crime unit in the criminal division for the Southern District of New York, would never find enough evidence to put him in prison. What he didn’t know was that the battle with Henry Stonem was about to hit a major turning point.

  Chapter 1

  “Spark”

  Donovan

  I hate this bullshit.

  I know dad’s probably pissed that I left my phone at home, but I need this time to myself. After everything that happened why the hell would he bring us back here? Granted, I don’t remember much about it. Actually, I don’t remember a lot about it. When I was eight years old I was kidnapped. We were living here in Eastbrook at the time for about a year. I was gone for three days and I killed a guy. After that my family moved us back to the city. I was in therapy for a year after that. My then therapist Dr. Reed concluded that I’m blocking the memory out of my mind so I won’t face the cruel realization of knowing that I killed someone. Basically, he said I was cured and my parents didn’t want me to remember so they didn’t push it any further.

  I just needed to get out of the house. We’ve been here for a week and I’m already getting anxiety from this town. I just want to sit on this beach, smoke, and tend to my thoughts.

  I really missed this beach. When we were kids our parents brought us here all the time. People always got scared when we came. I didn’t understand then, but the older I got I figured out the truth. My father is a criminal. When you’re the son of a criminal, people treat you like a criminal. My whole life it’s been that way. It sucks, but I know who I am and that my family is way better than most of these uptight pricks. My dad’s an ass, but he’s a great man. He loves his family and he’ll do anything to protect us.

  Shit! I’m almost done with my joint.

  Anyway, I hate knowing that I’m going to a new school where rich spoiled brats can judge me and my family. Christian says it will be okay, but I just get tired of the same crap all the time.

  “Hey, Edward.” I turn to see my sister, Ella, with that smug look on her face. I hate it when she calls me that. She’s always referencing me to that guy in those books she’s always reading. I turned further to view Christian standing over me looking worried as usual.

  “Very funny” I speak with obvious sarcasm.

  “Dads pissed.”

  No shit, Sherlock. “What else is new?”

  “Well, except for the fact that you continue to mope around, nothing really.” Christian says annoying me.

  My mood is getting on everybody’s nerves and I'm sorry for that, which is why I left the house. But in this family, nobody leaves you alone. Well, at least it shows they care.

  Christian and Ella sit down on both sides of me.

  “I don’t know. I guess moving here.” I’m not trying to get in depth here.

  “Okay you’re going to have to get over it. I’m not that excited about living here either, but we're going to have to make the best of it. At least we have friends here.” My annoying sister is right.

  We do have people here. We have our cousin Jason and my best friend, Emile. He moved out here a couple of months ago after getting busted for breaking into homes. Emile is like a clepto. He comes from money, but he loves to steal because of the rush. Rich people move to Eastbrook because it’s supposed to be a safe town. I guess that is probably why my father moved us out here. So at least we’re going to have back up. Not that we would need it. Most people are intimidated by us. I’m fine with that, less idiots I have to fight.

  “Listen, I know it sucks sometimes being the kid of Roman Pierce, but I wouldn’t change it for the world.” Christian is the positive sibling. Regardless, he's right. In all fairness we are blessed.

  “I know this is cheesy, but as long as we got each other, we'll be okay.” I glance at him to give me that simple nod he always gives me to let me know everything is okay. The first time he gave me that simple nod was when I returned home after the kidnapping. My brother’s my best friend. If there is anyone I know that won't disappoint me, it's him. He's my brother and I love him. I don’t tell him often, but I do.

  “Well, can we leave now? I have to start getting dress.” We both roll our eyes at Ella.

  “Yeah, let me go face dad’s wrath.” We all stand up, wiping the sand off us. I already know what dad is going to do. He’s going to give me a strict look and say one simple sentence in a way like it's a threat.

  We start heading towards Christian’s car. I love that car. It's a black 1965 ford mustang and it's awesome. I want one just like it. Christian is lucky he got his license first because if I had gotten mine, I definitely would have begged mom and dad to get me that car. Also being the golden boy works in Christian's favor. Good in school, g
ood at sports, good at almost everything. I'm good at school, but hate it. I was on the football team back at our old high school. I got kicked off for punching the coach in the face. He kept screaming at me for being late to a bunch of practices. I don’t take too well to authority especially when they scream in my face with breath that smells like raw fish. To be honest my dad made me quit. The coach wasn’t going to kick off the son of Roman Pierce, no matter what I did. I did a lot too, even slept with both of his daughters. I did that for fun of course. They were twins, how could I say no. I can have almost any girl I want, me and Christian. Girls love bad boys. That’s what I am to people. Christian has numbers on him, but he’s also more of a romantic. I mean I want romance, but not now. There are too many beautiful women in the world. He wants to be a doctor too. Can you believe that? The son of Roman Pierce a doctor! Well if any of us can be a doctor, it’s definitely Christian.