Unless (Jagger & Poppy Book 2) Read online

  However, that wasn’t the case anymore. With every month that passed, and she wasn’t pregnant, he’d become more and more violent. If he knew about the birth control she was taking, there would be retribution for her betrayal.

  The day she stopped in at the shelter, a volunteer named Patricia befriended her. They’d talked for hours, and by the time Rachelle had left, she’d felt a small amount of hope. That day, Rachelle had purchased her first burner phone. With each visit, hope had grown until finally they’d begun planning how to leave Trey safely. This wasn’t something that would happen overnight but that was fine. Patricia had agreed to help her escape when she was ready. Those plans were accelerated after the fundraiser.

  Now, though, it was time. She couldn’t stay and continue to be his punching bag, and there was no way she was ever going to bring a child into this fucked up life.

  Although she wanted nothing more than to leave right now, memories of the last time she’d tried played in her mind. Two years ago, she’d run with no plan and no help. It hadn’t taken long for Trey to find her and drag her back to their home. The memories of that period were ones she tried to forget. This time she had help and she’d get away.

  The next six weeks were spent planning, practicing, and preparing. There was no going back. Rachelle had to be careful and smart.

  * * *

  Today was the day. Rachelle was on edge and wanted this to be over. All the planning she’d done, over the last month and a half, was about to be put into play.

  Standing in the woods about a mile from her house, she opened the small bag that she had filled with essentials—burner phone, money, and a gun. She traced her fingers along the small pistol, which Patricia had insisted she learn how to shoot. Rachelle sent up a silent prayer that she wouldn’t need to use it. All that she wanted to do was get away. Taking a deep breath, she called her friend.

  The reception in the woods wasn’t the greatest, but she didn’t want to risk hiding this bag anywhere on their property. Luckily, there was just enough strength in the signal to get the call to connect.

  “Hello?” Patricia’s voice was broken from the bad reception, but she was there.

  “It’s me,” she said, determination creeping into her tone.

  “You ready?”

  “Yes. Tonight I break free.” A lump formed in her throat, her emotions getting the better of her. She couldn’t go on like this any longer. The only way to have the life she dreamt of as a child was to leave and escape this prison.

  “Good. See you later.” Patricia hung up.

  Rachelle shut the phone off and closed up the bag. She hid it underneath a bunch of branches and headed back to her house. Tonight, if all went well, the hell that had become her life would just be a memory. The excitement of that idea made her smile. It was the first genuine smile she had in quite some time.

  She hauled ass through the woods, timing again how long it took her to make it back to the house. Rachelle had practiced, tweaked, and planned everything down to the last possible detail. In two hours, Trey would be home, so she didn’t have much time to get everything in order.

  * * *

  If you’d like to find out what happens to Rachelle pick up the complete story in the anthology: A Love For Romance. To read other titles by Debra Presley and to learn about upcoming releases, please visit her website.

  Debra Presley is a USA Today Bestselling author and native New Yorker who made her escape to the suburbs. She often returns to her hometown to visit her favorite deli for a bagel with butter, because there’s no better bagel than a New York bagel. When not in search of bagels, Debra spends her time running Book Enthusiast Promotions, an online promotions company that helps indie authors spread the word about their books. She’s also the owner of The Book Enthusiast blog.

  She started writing lyrics in her wall-to-wall NKOTB bedroom at the tender age of thirteen while dreaming of the day she’d become Mrs. Jordan Knight. That dream never came to fruition, but she has continued to write.

  Connect with Debra Presley

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  In the Jagger & Poppy series

  Undercover

  Unless

  Unlucky

  In The Manhattanites series

  Unscrupulous

  Undressed

  Unsaid

  Unconventional

  Unique

  A Manhattanite's Christmas

  Uncensored

  In The Undergrad Years series

  Love, Lex

  Yours Truly, Taddy

  XO, Blake

  Always & Forever, Vive

  Call Me, Poppy

  New York Times bestselling author Avery Aster pens The Manhattanites, a contemporary erotic romance series of full-length, stand-alone novels, and the naughty new adult prequel companion series The Undergrad Years.

  As a resident of New York City and a graduate from New York University, Avery gives readers an inside look at the city’s glitzy nightlife, socialite sexcapades and tall tales of the über-rich and ultra-famous.

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  Table of Contents

  Author's Note

  Chapter Six: Pussy Lickin’

  Chapter Seven: Seeing Stars

  Chapter Eight: Total Fakeness

  Chapter Nine: Bonjour

  Bonus Excerpt – Dirty Talk, Secret Pleasure by Opal Carew

  Bonus Excerpt – The Break by Debra Presley

  Also By Avery Aster

  About Avery Aster

  Connect With Avery