Paloma Delacroix has suffered greatly for a mistake in her youth. She dreams of a future she wonders if she can ever have. But for all her imagination, Paloma can’t predict what is about to happen. Thomas, Clay, Keith and Quinn McQueen are men with secrets and a past that keeps them on the run. But when life explodes around Paloma, the McQueens will be all that stands between Paloma and death.

Her sweet nature and strength make them believe the universe might not be as awful as they’ve come to believe it. But is it too late for all of them? Or can love win the day?

**Content Warning: Reverse Harem, Intense**

In Crashing Into Destiny, Diana reminisced about her friend Paloma being sent to The Sisters Of The Universe and them writing back and forth. This is Paloma’s story.

As Clay McQueen tries to get the Sister Sovereign to agree to a free robot with the capability to counterattack, to scan the skies around the premises. Paloma is behind the curtain half listening to the exchange while contemplating her own future. She has one more year and then she will be free of this hell her family exiled her to.

She is surprised when the Sister Sovereign instruct to her escort Clay from the premises. Frustrated he tries to engage Paloma in conversation. He needs to convince the Sister an early warning system of an attack would be beneficial to them. When she breaks all the rules and saves him from certain death she is instantly punished for her efforts in spite of the circumstances and her injury.

Appalled Clay tries to stop the beating and later returns with his brothers to try to convince her to leave with them. All to no avail. Then the attack comes and Paloma runs in the direction of the only people she has an acquaintance with, the McQueen brothers.

This is a favorite scene.

I must have run the entire night. Thomas had said to go north, and I did. They were strangers. They’d offered to help. Maybe they would now. I didn’t know where to tell them to send me. But anywhere had to be better than here. I was cold, wet, covered in ash and blood. There was nothing between the Sisterhood and Grayland. I reached the town in the middle of the night. No one was around to ask about the McQueens, but I didn’t need any assistance. I saw a lit cabin atop the hill. I stumbled toward it and managed to knock once before I fell over.

The door swung open, and the twins stood over me. They seemed to react all at once; Keith pulled me into his arms while Quinn touched my forehead.

“Paloma.” Quinn moved out of the way to bring me inside. “Clay and Tommy made their way to the Sisterhood to look for you, to see if they could help. I’m so happy you came here. Put her on the couch, Keith.”

“That’s what I’m doing, Quinn.” He didn’t, exactly. Keith sat on the couch with me in his arms. I wasn’t going to complain. I shook so much I might fall if he put me down. “Are you hurt? She’s shaking really badly.”

Quinn nodded once. “I’m going to get ahold of the doctor. Keep her there with you.”

“Not going anywhere.” Keith smoothed his hand over my cheek. “Does it hurt anywhere?”

“Everywhere. I’m sorry to put you out. I had nowhere to go. I didn’t know what to do.”

He shook his head gently. “This was what you should have done.”

The door swung open with a bang. Thomas and Clay strode into the room, both looking worse for the wear. Seeing me, they stopped.

“Oh thank the universe.” Clay dropped to his knees in front of me. “She’s here. Everyone is dead there. No one lived. They got everyone. And all I could think about was her. How we left her there.”
Rebecca Royce. Meeting Them (Kindle Locations 181-197). After Glows.

Lots of revelations in this one. Especially from the guys, they have a lot of secrets and their obsessions are the product of those.

Paloma herself has to face her past more than once and a surprise comes as their stories coincide.

A journey for all of them to find what they really need and want out of their lives.

5 Contented Purrs for Rebecca!

Rebecca Royce

As a teenager, I would hide in my room to read my favorite romance novels when I was supposed to be doing my homework. I hope, these days, that my parents think it was worth it.

I am the mother of three adorable boys and I am fortunate to be married to my best friend. I live in Austin Texas where I am determined to eat all the barbecue in town.

I am in love with science fiction, fantasy, and the paranormal and try to use all of these elements in my writing. I’ve been told I’m a little bloodthirsty so I hope that when you read my work you’ll enjoy the action packed ride that always ends in romance. I love to write series because I love to see characters develop over time and it always makes me happy to see my favorite characters make guest appearances in other books.

In my world anything is possible, anything can happen, and you should suspect that it will.

I’d love to hear from you!