Keep (A Gentry Novella) (Gentry Generations Book 3) Read online

  KEEP

  (A Gentry Generations Novella)

  By Cora Brent

  © 2018

  GENTRY FAMILY TREE

  KEEP

  (A Gentry Novella)

  The Gentry boys were never supposed to be a success story.

  In their bleak prison hometown their name was a curse and everyone expected the brothers would follow the same path as the vicious generations that came before them.

  But everyone was proved wrong.

  And on this wedding day of dreams they will all gather to watch one of their beloved daughters marry her prince.

  It was all going to be perfect.

  The day was not supposed to end in tragedy.

  There should have been a honeymoon instead of a funeral.

  And now the family that has been through everything will need to stand together and confront a terrible challenge that no one ever saw coming…

  TABLE OF CONTENTS

  CHAPTER ONE

  CHAPTER TWO

  CHAPTER THREE

  CHAPTER FOUR

  CHAPTER FIVE

  CHAPTER SIX

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  CHAPTER NINE

  CHAPTER TEN

  CHAPTER ELEVEN

  CHAPTER TWELVE

  Book News

  Reading Order

  Mailing List Signup

  AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE

  Gentry Boys Box Set Books 1-4

  GENTRY BOYS (Books 1-4)

  Gentry Boys Series

  DRAW

  RISK

  GAME

  FALL

  HOLD

  CROSS (A Novella)

  WALK

  EDGE

  SNOW (A Christmas Story)

  Gentry Generations

  (A Gentry family spinoff series)

  STRIKE

  TURN

  KEEP (A Novella)

  TEST (Coming Soon)

  Worked Up

  FIRED

  NAILED

  Stand Alones

  UNRULY

  IN THIS LIFE

  HICKEY

  COPYRIGHT

  Please respect the work of this author. No part of this book may be reproduced or copied without permission. This book is licensed for your personal enjoyment only.

  This book is a work of fiction. Any resemblance to persons living or dead is purely coincidental. Any similarity to events or situations is also coincidental.

  The publisher and author acknowledge the trademark status and trademark ownership of all trademarks and locations mentioned in this book. Trademarks and locations are not sponsored or endorsed by trademark owners.

  © 2018 by Cora Brent

  All Rights Reserved

  Cover Design: Sara Eirew

  Cover Photo: Sara Eirew

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  CHAPTER ONE

  Curtis

  “You ready for this?” Cord Gentry asked in the parking lot of the tuxedo rental shop.

  The question came across like a challenge. Maybe it was.

  After all, Cord had a lot of roles to fulfill. Brother, husband, friend, business owner. But I knew him well enough to understand he took no title more seriously than that of father.

  A very overprotective father.

  Dalton had to realize that too so his first response was a wide grin.

  “I’m ready,” he promised and swung his tuxedo around to drape over his right shoulder.

  “You’d better be,” Cord said, his expression serious as his blue eyes appraised the man who would be his son-in-law by this time tomorrow. Cord liked Dalton. I knew he did. It was almost impossible to find a serious flaw in Dalton Tremaine. He was honest, steadfast and successful at everything he did. He treated people with kindness and had a hell of a sense of humor. Most importantly, he was completely smitten with Camille Gentry.

  Still, despite Dalton’s long list of assets, he was marrying Cord’s daughter and that had to be a bittersweet pill for any devoted father to swallow.

  Dalton gave no hint that he minded Cord’s scrutiny. Those of us who loved the Gentry girls understood that meeting the approval of the Gentry men would always come with the territory.

  “You haven’t got a thing to worry about, Cord,” Dalton assured him.

  “Everything about tomorrow is gonna be perfect,” I added. “After all, this has got to be the most carefully planned wedding in history.”

  That was no lie. The extended Gentry family was large and fiercely loyal. Over a year of preparation had been poured into Cami and Dalton’s wedding day. There was no shortage of talent and dedication among the various members of Cord’s family and if I were a betting man I would wager that the Gentry family could rule the world if they felt like it.

  Cord seemed satisfied. “Then I guess I’ll see you boys tomorrow,” he said with confidence. He didn’t wait for a response before heading toward his pickup truck while carrying his own plastic-wrapped rented tuxedo.

  Dalton and I each raised a hand to wave goodbye as Cord drove away in the summer dusk. But when Cord’s taillights disappeared around the corner Dalton exhaled with obvious relief.

  I laughed. “Was it getting a little hot there under the microscope?”

  He snorted. “I should be used to it.”

  “You are.”

  Dalton raised an eyebrow. “Something you and I have in common, huh?”

  I smiled. “Truth.”

  It was kind of an inside joke between the two of us. We both had dicks and we both breathed air but the fact remained that if Dalton and I hadn’t fallen for the Gentry sisters we would never have found ourselves in the same world. He was a charismatic former pro athlete who’d spent years rubbing elbows with the A List crowd, whereas I used to be a high school dropout gang member who’d spent years dodging the law. But I was in love with Cassie Gentry and tomorrow Dalton would be marrying her twin sister so we were accidental allies even if we weren’t in the habit of BFF-ing it up all over the place. Besides, I genuinely liked the guy. He must have felt the same way on some level because he’d asked me to be one of the groomsmen at his wedding, an honor that could have gone to any of his thousand plus friends.

  “I bet Cord’s assuming we were just looking to get rid of him and start the sleazy bachelor party,” I joked.

  Dalton mulled that over. “Possibly.”

  “So what are your pre-wedding plans?”

  “Nothing as exotic as a sleazy bachelor party. Cami’s been busy with last minute prep and I suspect she’d rather keep me out of the way.” He rubbed his jaw while musing about his bride. “She’s been superstitious about certain things, like not allowing me to see her in her wedding dress. Anyway, she’s staying at her folks’ house tonight so I told my brother I’d hang out with him and maybe grab a late dinner.”

  “I thought I’d see Hale here,” I said. “I just figured he’d be picking up his tux at the same time as the rest of us.”

  Dalton scanned the parking lot as if
expecting his brother to materialize on his Harley. On the surface the two of them were as opposite as two brothers could be. Hale was closer to the kind of guy I was used to dealing with. Rough around the edges, unpredictable. Spending my formative years on the streets had sharpened my instincts for dangerous men. I didn’t know Hale all that well but I suspected he had a few unsavory surprises lurking under those hooded dark eyes. Those were thoughts I kept to myself.

  “Hale always does things on his own time,” said Dalton with a shrug. Then he looked at me. “Hey Curtis, you’re welcome to come along if you’re interested in consuming mass quantities of wings and nachos while listening to my sentimental babble about what a lucky guy I am.”

  It was a nice offer. But I had a much better one waiting for me at home. While we were inside the tuxedo shop Cassie had texted with a few words that spoke straight to my dick. Damn, I loved that girl.

  “I’ll take a rain check,” I said. “I’ve got a few errands to run.”

  “Sounds good.” Dalton offered me a fist bump. Normally I wasn’t a fist bump kind of guy but I met him halfway. We might not be two of a kind but he was a friend and he was authentic. Plus if everything worked out the way I intended it to, then we’d technically be brothers sooner or later because I had every intention of marrying Cassidy Gentry and staying right beside her for the rest of my life.

  “Until tomorrow,” I said. “Three o’clock, right?”

  “Three o’clock,” Dalton confirmed and there was no mistaking the eagerness in his voice. This was a man who was obviously counting down the hours until he got to marry the girl of his dreams.

  Once I was in my truck and heading for the freeway I couldn’t get to my apartment fast enough. The week had been a busy one on all fronts between the job and wedding preparations so romance had taken a backseat. And so had sex, except for ten magnificent minutes in an empty back closet at Cord’s tattoo parlor where both Cassie and I worked. We usually tried to keep erotic incidents out of the office but sometimes we slipped. And honestly, the quick and dirty blowjob had been her idea. It usually was. I could never say no to Cassie, especially not when she dropped to her knees, flashed me a sweet smile and took me in her mouth. Cord’s cousin and business partner Deck shot me a look when we crossed paths in the break room five minutes after I came between Cassie’s lips with my hands wrapped in her long blonde hair. Deck was perceptive enough to see through anyone and I started to feel a little guilty but then he just chuckled and elbowed me good-naturedly on his way out the door.

  Cassie must have been tracking my travel progress on her phone. She flung open the apartment door before I had a chance to use my key. She wore a short black robe that slid down to the floor as soon as I closed the door behind me.

  “Breck’s not home?” I asked, tossing the wrapped tux and my keys to the couch before I yanked my t-shirt off. My fifteen-year-old brother lived here with us but he had an active social life.

  Cassie raised an amused eyebrow. “Would I be dressed like this if he was?”

  “You’re not dressed at all.”

  “I know.”

  I dropped my pants and crooked my finger. “Come here.”

  Cassie smirked and sashayed toward our bedroom, figuring I’d follow. Of course I followed. I’d follow her to the end of the earth.

  By this time I needed to fuck her in the worst way but I also needed something else. Cassie’s blue eyes flashed surprise when I cornered her beside the bed, cupped her face in my palms and kissed her gently, savoring the taste of her soft lips and the low moan that escaped her throat as she slipped her arms around my shoulders and melted into me.

  “I love you,” I said when we broke for air.

  Her expression was soft and dreamy now while she gave me the beautiful smile that I lived to see. “I love you too, Curtis.”

  My lips brushed across hers. “Cassie?” I whispered.

  Her breathing grew hard as my hands strayed low. “What?”

  Without warning I lifted her and threw her on the bed. Not too roughly, just hard enough to make her squeal. Then I wasted no time putting my mouth to work, exploring her tits and traveling down her belly. She giggled when I accidentally tickled her sensitive skin but she stopped giggling when my tongue ventured between her legs. Now she was writhing and gasping my name but I didn’t make her come, not yet. Instead I withdrew, propped one of her lovely legs up on each of my shoulders and slid inside her, choosing a slow and teasing rhythm until she whimpered and clutched the bed quilt.

  “You’re so good,” she moaned, her eyes closed.

  I rolled my hips. “You like that?”

  Her back arched. “God, yes. Do it harder.”

  Instead I slowed the pace. “You want to come, don’t you?”

  Her eyes opened, full of blue frustration. “Please!”

  I grinned. “Then tell me what I want to hear.”

  She cursed a string of beautifully filthy words while I pumped faster and in a minute she came apart underneath me. Then I got serious, taking her rougher and without mercy and then when I couldn’t stand it anymore I let myself go. We were both covered in sweat when I collapsed at her side so I wouldn’t crush her with my weight.

  Cassie’s sigh was full of satisfaction and her hand found mine amid the tangle of bed sheets. This was what I thought about all the time. Every fucking day. She was my muse. My queen. I wanted her even when I’d only just finished having her.

  “I’ll miss you tonight,” she said sleepily and burrowed against my side.

  I pushed her hair away and kissed her smooth forehead. “I’ll miss you too. First night in a really long time I’ll be sleeping alone.”

  “I know.” She lifted her head and planted a kiss on my shoulder. “It’s only one night though.”

  Cassie planned to sleep at her parents’ house in the bedroom she and Cami had shared while they were growing up. The twin sisters who had been an inseparable team since the day they were born would share their childhood bedroom one more time, both a nod to nostalgia and also common sense since they planned to get ready for the wedding at Cord and Saylor’s house. Cassie and I hadn’t spent a night apart since we started living together. My bed would be lonely as hell without her but I couldn’t begrudge her one night with her sister. And anyway I’d have her back tomorrow.

  When Cassie hopped off the bed and headed for the shower I was tempted to chase her in there for round two but I knew she was eager to get over to her folks’ house to deal with her maid of honor duties.

  “There’s pasta salad in the fridge,” she called over the noise of the shower. “If Breck’s hungry when he gets home.”

  I yawned and reached for my boxers. “Thanks.”

  I checked my watch, wondering where my little brother was at. Brecken was a responsible kid but he was supposed to let me know if he was going to be out past dinner time. I’d been his guardian ever since our mother got caught up in an embezzlement scheme that ultimately landed her in prison. Our father was murdered years ago and there was no other family capable of stepping up. I didn’t think twice before I put my own reckless ways behind me, left a life of crime and sin and accepted responsibility for my two younger brothers. Despite all the challenges he’d encountered in his young life, Brecken was thriving. He seemed happy, his grades were good and he had a bright future to look forward to. As for my other brother….

  Tristan.

  A cloud passed over my mood and my eyes closed for a second as I thought about Tristan. I didn’t know much about what he was up to these days. He was nearly twenty now and well out of my reach, living somewhere down in the troubled town of Emblem while running around with the kind of people I’d struggled to leave behind. I rarely heard from him and when Tristan did call he didn’t have much to say about himself. I’d wanted so much better for him, better than the dirty gangbanging uncertain kind of life I’d once chosen. My worries over his fate were endless. More than anything I wondered how I could have done things differently,
how I could have avoided failing him.

  “Curtis?” Cassie’s gentle voice made me open my eyes. She was freshly showered and adorable, staring down at me with a little bit of concern. “Were you asleep?”

  I sat up. “No. Just thinking.” I guided her into my lap and buried my face in her neck, inhaling soap and sweetness until I started to get hard again.

  “You’d better get out of here,” I warned. “Before I decide to stop you.”

  Cassie kissed me and slid out of my grasp. “Call me later,” she said, grabbing the overnight bag she’d left beside the bedroom door.

  “You bet I will.”

  My girl blew me a kiss and hurried out of the apartment. I listened to the silence for a moment before opting to shower. When I was toweling off I heard the apartment door open.

  “Breck?” I called.

  There was a thud and the sound of the refrigerator door opening. “I’m fucking starving.”

  “Language,” I growled, locating my jeans and pulling them on.

  A moment later I found my kid brother in the kitchen, leaning against the counter and shoveling Cassie’s pasta salad into his face with a large plastic spoon.

  “This is good,” he said cheerfully with his mouth completely full.

  “How about sharing some then?” I said, grabbing a spoon and digging in.

  I eyed my brother as he continued to scoop food into his mouth as if he hadn’t eaten in a week. He was still in the middle of a growth spurt and he seemed destined to be taller than me. Nowadays his voice was deeper, his muscles thicker and he was starting to look more like a man than a boy. It didn’t matter though. To me he’d always be the baby brother who needed to be told to wipe the food off his mouth.

  “Thanks,” he said when I handed him a napkin.