Read Into the Blackness (Blackness Series Book 4) for Free Online Page A

the room is a large light marble topped island with drawers full of lingerie and sweaters and a whole bunch of other shit my brain is too overwhelmed to deal with right now.
    Moving back out of our room we head across the hall where there’s another home office and a nursery already fully prepared for a newborn’s arrival. Gorgeous pale greens and creams adorn the room.
    “That’s a lot,” Jake whispers in my ear as we make our way to the third floor. Jake’s room is on the opposite side of the house from ours. It’s a typical teenage room for a boy who loves basketball, which Jake does. He’ll play on the team at the high school if all goes well. A black queen-size bed, a desk and chair, two dressers and a TV, it’s very normal and still very high-end. Jake makes his way around the room with an emotion on his face I can’t quite place. He looks pained by whatever he’s thinking.
    “You good, Jake?” I ask trying not to belittle him since he’s really an adult, not my nephew.
    He shakes his head free of wherever he just was and clears his throat before giving me a quiet, “Yeah.”
    The doorbell rings sending us all into op mode instantly. The three of us hurry down the stairs before I move to answer the door. I swing it open wide with a toothy smile plastered on my face.
    “Hi!” the woman says excitedly. “We’re your neighbors from across the street. I’m Trish Booker and this is my husband Tony. These two are Bradford and Annabelle.”
    And so it begins.
    “It’s lovely to meet you. I’m Kat Johnson,” I introduce politely and offer my hand. She grips it limply making my stomach turn at the weak behavior, but I smile through it. Nick slides his arms around my waist from behind as I release her wet noodle.
    “Nicky,” I admonish his forwardness sweetly. I feel his body tense behind me for a millisecond before he’s back on his game. He brushes his lips on my bare shoulder before moving to my side wrapping an arm around my upper arms.
    “Nick Johnson,” he offers his hand to Tony. Tony responds with a warm smile and a firm shake before wrapping an arm around Trish similarly to how Nick’s holding me.
    “This is our nephew Jake,” Nick introduces.
    Jake gifts them a kind smile and a low wave.
    “Well, we won’t keep you. We just wanted to introduce ourselves. Kat, if you’d like, I could introduce you around some, pull you into the Maybelle fold,” Trish offers with a giant smile. Her eyes run down to my left hand, which is sporting a giant radiant cut rock with smaller diamonds running down the band. My wedding band is made of large round diamonds that encircle its entirety. Trish’s smile lets me know she approves of my ostentatious ring.
    “Thank you Trish, I’d like that.”
    “I host a weekly poker game on Thursdays. If you play, you’re more than welcome to join us,” Tony says to Nick.
    “As long as you promise not to steal all his money,” I joke causing everyone to fake snicker.
    “Thanks for the invitation. Maybe next week when we’re good and settled in,” Nick accepts politely.
    “You guys like basketball?” Jake asks the kids.
    “Yeah,” Bradford says with a huge grin. Annabelle frowns and rolls her eyes.
    “We’ve got a court out back if you wanna shoot the ball sometime. It gets old beating Uncle Nick all the time,” Jake teases causing both kids to smile.
    “Hey,” Nick feigns offense.
    “I used to play with the kids that lived here before you. Mother, would it be all right?”
    My stomach turns when he calls her mother. Who does that in the twenty-first century?
    “Of course, dear.” Her response is warm and slightly fake. I’m certain Nick and Jake pick up on it along with me.
    “Welcome to the neighborhood. Let us know if you need anything, we’d be happy to help,” Tony says turning his family and walking down our stone skirted driveway.
    The three of us stand in the doorway watching them go before offering a final family wave as they reach