Desperate Victory, page 1
Desperate Victory
BAY RIDGE ROYALS
BOOK SIX
HEATHER LONG
Contents
Desperate Victory
Series so Far
Foreword
Bay Ridge Royals
Prologue
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
Epilogue
Afterword
Benedict Family
Hardigan Family
Reed Family
Graham Family
Cavendish Family
Marlowe Family
About Heather Long
Also by Heather Long
Desperate Victory
BAY RIDGE ROYALS BOOK 6
Grandfather tried to prepare me for everything…
Yet, how could anyone prepare me for this?
Kidnapping.
Blackmail.
Deception.
Grief.
Vengeance.
The Royals have always been about blood. Blood lines, blood relations, and the spilling of blood. I didn’t ask for this war. I didn’t go looking for it.
But I will let nothing and no one keep me from the men I love and we will find what was taken from us. No one will ever steal from us again.
They say desperation makes for strange bedfellows, fortunately, the men in my bed are far more dangerous to everyone else.
It’s time for a change in leadership, one way or another, the Bay Ridge Royals are going down in flames. Once it’s all ashes—then we can rebuild.
Copyright © 2024 by Heather Long
Cover: Vicious Desires Design
Photography: CJC
Model: Lauren Summer
Editing: Leavens Editing
All rights reserved.
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This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, brands, media, and incidents are either the product of the authors imagination or are used fictitiously. The author acknowledges the trademark status and trademark owners of various products referred to in this work of fiction, which have been used without permission. The publication/ use of these trademarks is not authorized, associated with, or sponsored by the trademark owners.
Desperate Victory/Heather Long – 1st ed.
Honestly, I had no idea how this was all gonna work either. Thankfully, the characters did.
Series so Far
Shamelessly Loyal (Novella)
Battle Lines
Deceptive Truce
Wicked Surrender
Violent Chaos
Desperate Victory
Foreword
Dear Reader,
Welcome to Desperate Victory, the sixth and final novel in the Bay Ridge Royals saga. If you have not read any of the books in this series, please set this aside and go grab them. This series is best read in order.
All of that said, what do you need to know? Let’s talk, previously, for the Bay Ridge Royals…
So much happened in Violent Chaos…
So, so much.
Let’s start with the TL:DR: Dude. Harper kidnapped Lainey planning to marry her to get her inheritance whether she liked it or not. Adam, Milo, and Bodhi rescue Ezra, first from a marriage he didn’t want, then a poisoning. In turn, the are swift to go after Lainey. They begin to take account of all their enemies and inflict harm on them. The rest of the book details their hunt for information even as they grow their personal relationship and connections. The guys aren’t fighting over Lainey anymore, they are working together.
That’s a little simplified, but here’s the longer look:
Lainey was kidnapped at the end of the previous book (Wicked Surrender) so we open Violent Chaos with her waking up in a strange place, nude, with no idea where she is. While she sorts that out, Milo, Adam, and Bodhi go after Ezra who is trying to fall on his sword to save Lainey and Adam. The boys prevent the wedding, marching out with Ezra only to have him collapse.
Poisoned by Oksana (who didn’t want to marry him either), Ezra is stuck in the hospital while the others hunt for Lainey. At the Reed estate, Adam, Bodhi and Milo find Lainey climbing out the window to “rescue” herself. They then go and seek retribution on Harper Reed, Adam and Andrea’s father. They also discover that Andrea is more than missing, Harper has sold her.
Milo and Bodhi torture the information out of Harper, also extracting their pound of flesh for his “plans” for Lainey. He wants access to her inheritance. To that end, he sold her sister (his daughter) and arranged to kill his wife (Lainey’s mother).
Once Harper is dead, they return to the hospital for Ezra. When Adam was there before, he discovered Melissa Benedict Reed had also been admitted, gravely ill. Lainey spends time checking on her mother, but they are desperate to find Andrea.
Margareta Waldemar meets with them, the enigmatic woman tells them about her son. Her hatred for King is because she blames him for her son’s death. She is also trying to build alliances with Lainey and the guys, but Lainey isn’t sure about her.
They reach out to Em, because she knows people in Eastern Europe. Also, Lainey is investigating everyone around them. She is suspicious of her best friend Tally’s secret lover and by book’s end, Bodhi has identified him: It’s King.
Lainey, Adam, and Ezra share an intimate moment that involves Ezra sucking off Adam while Ezra is also sinking into Lainey. It’s Adam’s attempt to build the bridges and understand the emotion and attraction.
In the meanwhile, Bodhi also gives Lainey a present in the form of an emerald gemmed butt plug that vibrates. He experiments with her varying levels of pleasure and then invites Milo to join in as the men are growing more and more to accept each other.
As the Vandals come to town to help, the group is digging more and more into King and his ties to the various families. A DNA test among them reveals that Milo and Ezra are cousins. That makes Julius King aka Jeff Hartigan, Wallace Graham’s brother from another mother (literally).
Lainey and Adam also confront Jason Reed, Adam’s uncle about what he may know regarding Lainey’s parentage and the rumor that Jason was her father. (Spoiler: he’s not). He does know who is and gives them a name: Yuri Leistung.
Finally, Lainey is there when her mother passes though Melissa warns her with her last breath to not look for her biological father. he is too dangerous.
Lainey and Adam have a heart to heart as he admits he isn’t sure about being bisexual or not. He’s never been interested in guys, but he is interested in Ezra. She points out he might be pansexual, he’s attracted to individuals, not gender. In this case, he wants her and he wants Ezra.
The book ends with Lainey more determined than ever to find her sister, right the wrongs done to her men, and find all of their missing siblings.
This brings us to Desperate Victory. Whew… right, here we are. From the day Lainey first appeared on the page in Vandals, I loved and admired her. She was so damn loyal and there was nothing she wouldn’t do for Em. Over the course of the Vandals series we got to know Adam, Ezra, Milo, and Bodhi.
These four men are at once absolutely nothing alike and don’t even seem like they would get along (in fact for huge portions they don’t), but they are all in love with the same woman. For her? They’ll do what they have to not only to protect her but to stay in her life.
I had no idea when I first started this how any of it would be possible. I didn’t know if Ezra’s chaotic bi energy would result in a relationship with Adam or heartbreak. I didn’t know if Milo would be able to accept other guys in her life. Frankly, I was almost positive I’d have bind and gag Adam to get him to accept it. Then Bodhi walked in and let me know he was here too and… they figured it out.
The characters sorted it out themselves. This journey has been an amazing one and I can’t wait to share this final chapter. Be sure to check the afterword when you’re done.
As stated previously, this series contains some spoilers for 82nd Street Vandals, there’s no way to get around that. If
For a little housekeeping. Bay Ridge Royals is a why choose romance with characters exploring and coming to terms with their evolving sexuality including a possible bi-awakening, identities, and relationships.
TWs: Mentions of SA. Kidnapping. Intimidation. Car accidents. Threats of violence. Discussion of trafficking. Smuggling. Be kind to yourself, this is a dark romance series.
Thanks for reading the Bay Ridge Royals!
Happy reading.
xoxo
Heather
P.S. Human voices only. All the work involved in this and all my novels from the stories themselves to the covers, to editing, to the audio are human-produced materials and voices only.
Bay Ridge Royals
Main Characters
Elaine “Lainey” Benedict
Milo Hardigan
Adam Reed
Ezra Graham
Bohdi Cavendish
The Families
Benedict
Reed
Graham
Adley
Clifton
Marlowe
Cavendish
Prologue
LAINEY
We’re dying from the moment we’re born, Grandfather told me not long after my fourteenth birthday. I can’t even remember what prompted the comment. It could have been anything really. That had been a difficult year for us. Grandmother had been getting sicker, she’d been forgetting more. Watching the light go out in her eyes haunted me.
Worse, watching the light in Grandfather’s eyes as hers dimmed. “We’re dying from the moment we’re born, sweet girl. You have to remember that. You have to remember that we only get pieces of the people we love. A sliver of their life, a partial print of their soul, the gift of their time. Never mistake time for anything but a gift.”
My heart broke for him. He loved her so fiercely and the feeling had been deeply mutual. Some days, she acted like they were young again, even teased him about being her boyfriend. Other days, she stared through him as if she couldn’t quite imagine who he was.
“Those pieces,” Grandfather told me. “They kindle the fire in us. We keep each other warm. Over the years, your grandmother has been there for me when my temper was too much or my judgment too harsh. She kept me stable, she helped me find a better way. I’ve never been an easy man.”
The wistfulness and pragmatism were so much a part of him that I couldn’t imagine Grandfather being any other way.
“Your grandmother told me over and over, she never asked for easy. She never wanted it. She only wanted me. So yes, this is difficult. But I’m not asking for easy, I’m asking for her and every moment we can have. Some candles… they go out slowly, guttering bit by bit until they extinguish.”
I heard what he wasn’t saying. The unspoken truths sliding under his words. The ferocious love he had for her.
“Your grandmother loved me in spite of my flaws,” Grandfather said. “She made me more human. She kept me honest. She gave me something to fight for… and I wouldn’t be your grandfather without her.”
He loved her so much. I couldn’t imagine loving someone that much. Not at fourteen. Probably not at sixteen either. I’d loved Adam and Ezra for a long time by then, but was I in love with them?
I had no idea. Their light always seemed to smother mine. Their darkness shrouded me and isolated me as much as it protected me. Did they care? Yes. But Adam had been right.
I’d been too young to fully grasp it all. I still needed to grow and to learn and to become myself.
Now? I understood my grandparents on a level I never thought possible. My grandfather would tear the world apart for her, and he’d build it back up again. All she ever had to do was ask.
He had one woman. I have four men.
There’s nothing I won’t do for them. If we have to destroy everything in our path to make our future happen… it will be a pleasure to burn.
Chapter
One
LAINEY
The clip of my heels as I crossed the tiled lobby offered a staccato beat to the morning’s agenda. Karagiani followed in my wake. Bringing him with me had been a choice. The guys needed the peace of mind that I had backup, while I also preferred to know that each of them were not out there running alone.
The list of tasks we needed to accomplish had grown longer, while the window in order to complete them had narrowed even further. I’d chosen today’s outfit with care. Word of my mother’s death was practically front page news for the gossips among us.
The black pantsuit and blazer set the right tone for “mourning,” even if I could barely register grief for Melissa Benedict Reed’s death when almost all of my focus was on Andrea. Where was she? Who was she with? What was happening to her?
Appearances, however, had to be kept. The fact Tally was at a woman’s power breakfast meant this was an ideal location to corner her. King wouldn’t be with her, nor most of her family.
“Miss Benedict,” a familiar voice said, equal parts solicitation and sympathy. It took a moment for me to register the woman approaching with her hand outstretched. It was the salt-and-pepper hair pulled fiercely back from her face and secured into a tight chignon that gave her away.
All hard angles and high cheekbones, Mrs. Johanna Thorpe had been born an Adler, however, I didn’t hold that against her. She’d been a very good friend to my grandmother. I was well-aware that she sent her thoughtful gifts of her favorite flowers and the occasional treat basket though more and more, Grandmother didn’t recognize any of us.
I accepted her offered hand and summoned a wan smile. The part I needed to play as a grieving daughter had some specific requirements. The gloves covered my hands and added to the atmospheric black I wore as did the equally opaque sunglasses. Grief, as with all things, needed to be fashionable.
“Mrs. Thorpe,” I greeted her and tilted my head easily as she leaned in to press air kisses to each of my cheeks.
“Darling girl, what are you doing here? I assure you, everyone would have understood if you skipped the event.”
I lifted my shoulders in the most careless of shrugs. “Mother had many interests, as you know.”
None of which was the power of women entrepreneurs or the development of future leaders. Then again, a large number of the donors in attendance didn’t do more than pay lip service and arrive promptly for the breakfast and the mimosas.
“She would be so very proud of you,” Mrs. Thorpe said, her sympathetic smile turning a bit maudlin. “I wish—”
“So do I,” I said, cutting her off before she brought Grandmother into it. “But if you’ll allow me, I’m just going to make an appearance, listen to the introductory speaker and then slip out quietly so I don’t distract from the rest of the event.”
“You won’t be a distraction at all.” Despite her firm words, some of the worry around her eyes eased. “But if you need anything, anything at all. Let me know? I’m sure you will release the funeral and memorial service plans soon.”
Well, this was as good a time as any to begin spreading the word. “Perhaps. Though with the crash and all…” I just let it trail off and Mrs. Thorpe nodded swiftly.
“Of course, of course. That makes so much sense. That poor family and your sister…” Genuine sorrow inhabited her voice and my heart wrenched at the open display. “Is she home…?”
“Not yet,” I told her. “I’m going to her soon. We thought it best we keep her out of the immediate fray.” I hated this lie more than any other. While we would absolutely have kept her out of the “fray”, committing to the lie was a soul deep bruise that throbbed more with every passing moment. “If you’ll forgive me, Mrs. Thorpe…”
I needed to escape this conversation before her pity drowned me. She squeezed my hand once more but nodded, murmuring, “of course, of course. Do let me know if I can do anything…”
Not lingering, I withdrew my hand and continued down the hall to where the marble tile gave way to carpeted floors. The lush hotel was an ideal location for the gathering of this size. The conference center meeting rooms easily accommodated more than twice the number I expected to see inside. The tables were spread out, with the more prominent members up front.
