Bronx Read online

  Bronx

  By

  Avery Gale

  BRONX

  Copyright © 2020 by Avery Gale™

  ISBN: 978-1-944472-88-7

  EPUB Edition

  ALL RIGHTS RESERVED: This literary work may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, including electronic or photographic reproduction, in whole or in part, without express written permission.

  All characters and events in this book are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead is strictly coincidental.

  PUBLISHER

  Avery Gale™

  averygale.com

  Editors: Sandy Ebel, Personal Touch Editing, and Karen Bailey

  The Adlers

  The siblings. Their occupations and ages at the beginning of the series:

  Austin – 31 – CEO of the family oil conglomerate based in Austin, TX. Married to magical, Charlotte.

  Asia – 30 – Ruthless legal eagle for the family business. Married to Franklin Cordesi.

  Bronx – 29 – Owns a string of car dealerships in partnership with brother, Cleveland.

  Cleveland – 28 – Race car driver. Astral traveler. Married to Vienna Quan.

  Brooklyn – 27 – Retrieval expert for big insurance companies. Semi-retired in subsequent books. Security consultant. Married to Luke Grayson, lives in New Mexico. Daughter, Crystal.

  Catalina – 26 – Freelance intelligent agent working with the CIA, MI6, Mossad, and others. Travels the world as a successful jewelry designer.

  Israel – 25 – Security expert and tracker. Married to shifter, Dr. Bristol Banks.

  Kensington – 24 – Actor. Married to Denali West.

  London – 23 – Chemist/Researcher. Married to shifters, Elijah & Evan Monroe. They live outside Boston and have twin sons.

  Paris – 22 – Recent College Graduate. Mated with Sheriff Trinity Stone. School Administrator and teacher.

  Watch this page for updates in subsequent books in this series.

  Table of Contents

  Cover

  Title Page

  Copyright Page

  About the Adlers

  Prologue

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Chapter Fifteen

  Chapter Sixteen

  Chapter Seventeen

  Chapter Eighteen

  Chapter Nineteen

  Epilogue

  Other Books by Avery Gale

  Prologue

  Lost in Decade-Old Memories

  Bronx Adler set his phone back on the glass top of his desk and looked out the floor-to-ceiling windows of his office, wondering what his mother was up to. She had called him every day for the past week, asking him to lunch or coffee. Not once had she mentioned his dad, which was odd since the two of them were ordinarily joined at the hip.

  As the third of ten children, Bronx understood his parents’ struggle to divide their attention, and they’d done a remarkable job of making all their children feel important. Bronx and his mother had always been particularly close in part because he was the most interested in the stories she’d been so anxious to share. He’d loved the tales of magicians, shifters, and the countless ways they’d influenced history.

  Brighten Adler walked through the front door of his car dealership, the moon-and-stars print of her flowing skirt teasing the tops of her knee-high leather boots, the heels adding several inches to her petite frame. Bronx and his brothers had teased her relentlessly about using heels to delay the inevitable, but she continued to wear them. Hell, he and his brothers had been pre-teens when they’d passed her in height.

  Bronx always thought her name was perfect because she brightened every room she entered, but studying her expression, he noted something different about her today. Her usual calm countenance was gone, replaced by a tension reflected in her rigid posture. Her watchful gaze searching the room sent a skitter of warning up his spine. Getting to his feet, Bronx moved quickly out of his office to greet his mother when she stepped off the elevator.

  “Mother, you look beautiful, as always. Would you like something to drink, or would you rather leave right away for lunch?” As well as he knew her, she could still surprise him with her unpredictability. Grasping his hands with her small, delicate ones, she pulled him down so she could kiss his cheek.

  “Such a considerate son and easily ensnared once we stopped playing phone tag. It seems as though it was easier to connect with family and friends before cell phones. People were either at work, church, or a school function, easily tracked down if you were so inclined. Now that I think about it, perhaps it was easier because you didn’t know who was calling. When the obnoxious contraption on the wall rang, you got up and answered it.” She frowned and shook her head, sending a shimmer of light over the fall of her jet black hair.

  Bronx couldn’t hold back his smile. Brighten Adler was a gifted witch, a ferocious shifter when anyone she loved was in danger, and as easily side-tracked as anyone he knew.

  “Do you have a minute to sit down and relax before we leave for lunch?”

  “I’m afraid lunch isn’t going to work after all. Your father canceled his second round of golf and asked me to meet him at the Garden Room for lunch. Since he doesn’t feel this meeting is necessary, I’d rather he not know I was here.”

  Bronx blinked in surprise. He knew his parents didn’t always agree, but he’d never known them to keep secrets from each other.

  “Don’t look at me like I’m a criminal, sweetheart. It’s just… well, your father doesn’t want to alarm me about the threat to our safety. He mistakenly believes what I don’t know, won’t hurt me—sweet, but inaccurate.” Her shrug was too deliberate to be convincing. He’d never known his mother’s premonitions to totally miss the mark. His inner alarms start to buzz. There had certainly been times when her suspicions were a tad skewed, but there was always an element of truth that was undeniable.

  “If it’s a safety issue, maybe we should call Israel to sit in on this conversation. After all, this is his area of expertise.” Israel Adler was in the early stages of setting up his security business. So far, it wasn’t paying the bills, but with his brother’s exceptional instincts and relentless determination, success was a given.

  “I didn’t ask to see you because I’m worried. Fate never makes mistakes, and its course is rarely set aside for long.” She gave a small wave of her hand, sending an arc of sparkling glitter into the air. It always amazed him how blasé she was about the less significant elements of her magic. They might have been easy for her to ignore, but he found them utterly remarkable. “Do you remember me telling you about my college friend, Lisa Star?”

  “The one who gave you the amulet you wear?” Bronx could not remember his mother ever taking off the oddly designed necklace. He’d admired it once, and she’d told him it was a gift from a friend who’d entrusted her with one half of the powerful totem. She’d held it out from her skin for him to see, asking him to run a single finger over its surface. He’d been no older than twelve, but he still remembered the strange tingling he’d felt and how quickly the feeling of electrical power rushed through his entire body. His mother hadn’t said anything, simply given him a knowing nod.

  I knew it would be you. When the time is right, I’ll pass it along to you. When you find the one holding the other half, you’ll have found your mate—you will also know you’re holding a powerful magical tool. When the p
ieces are close, those wearing them will have their magic amplified. Her long-ago words echoed through his mind as he saw her slide her hands beneath her hair.

  “The time has come for me to pass this to you. Use it wisely and protect it with your life… that’s what I’m doing now.” With those strange words, she unclasped the chain, and before he could ask any questions, she’d placed it around his neck. Bright Adler’s magical gifts were a light she never tried to hide, but this whispered incantation was one he’d never heard her use before. The chanted words made the charm warm against his skin before it vibrated softly for several seconds.

  “Promise me you’ll never let anyone take it from you and be patient as you wait for your mate—fate will never forget you.” She’d brushed a stray lock of his black hair back into place and smiled. “Remember my words and know that I will always be with you. It may seem as though I’m gone, but I don’t want you to ever forget… I’m only a heartbeat away.” When he opened his mouth to speak, she shook her head, whispered, “I love you,” then disappeared in a cloud of the whitest smoke he’d ever seen.

  It was the last time he’d seen her. The next evening, he’d gotten the phone call that forever changed all their lives. Carrington and Brighten Adler died in a fiery car accident on their way home from a late dinner with friends. Falling to his knees, a wail of anguish wrenched from his chest, but no sooner had his cry of grief echoed through the room than the charm vibrated and warmed against his chest. Despite the crushing sadness, he’d managed to remember her promise. Her words were what got him through the first months of sorrow.

  As one of the older siblings, Bronx understood how important it was to be strong for his younger brothers and sisters. He and his older brother shared the magic of a compelling voice. As businessmen, they both knew it was unethical to use their unique skill for monetary gain, but it didn’t keep its use from creeping into their everyday lives.

  When their parents died, Austin was immediately thrown into the deep end of the family business. Asia had been close to drowning in legal work related to an estate teetering on the brink of bankruptcy. So, looking out for the younger Adler siblings fell to Bronx. Everyone gave Austin credit for saving the business and eventually turning it into the multi-billion-dollar conglomerate it was now, but Bronx knew Asia’s legal maneuvering had been a huge factor as well.

  Over the past several years, the pain of losing his mom and dad was slowly being pushed back by the memories of all the fun and laughter they’d shared. Reminiscing the happier times initially made him feel guilty, but they eventually moved to the forefront. Bronx often marveled at the way they’d all thrown themselves into their careers. Paris had been busy settling into college life, and in many ways, her escape to the west coast had probably been a saving grace for the youngest but fiercely independent young woman. If she’d stayed in Austin, Paris would have been forced to live in Asia’s shadow—it was terrifying to even consider how poorly that would have worked out. Their tenacity and focus on their individuals careers had served them all well, and as strange as it sounded, success was remarkably therapeutic.

  Through the years, Bronx always kept his mother’s words close to his heart—he’d even had them tattooed on his chest…

  I’m only a heartbeat away.

  Chapter One

  Bronx Adler pushed away from the cool brick wall facing the alley and shook his head in frustration. Fucking hell. Another wasted night. The air around him was practically cracking with a change he couldn’t define. The storm predicted to roll in tomorrow morning was going to be early, but it wasn’t solely responsible for how unsettled he felt. Bronx knew he’d be lucky to get home before the sky opened up. He hated being rained on in his human form, another contributing factor to his foul mood. Fucking hell, he was getting tired of trying to anticipate his little burglar’s next move; it was damned humiliating being outplayed by a woman he’d never met. It was even more humbling to realize she was rapidly becoming an obsession.

  Weeks of break-ins without a clear picture of her or a damned clue how she was getting in was pushing his patience past its limit. She was slipping around his newest security system as easily as she had the cheap one his sister, Brooklyn, scoffed about being child’s play. A mountain of money later, state-of-the-art security systems were being installed at each dealership. He was bleeding fucking money, and so far, she’d waltzed past two of the new systems this week. Half the time, she was little more than a blur.

  The whole situation was baffling. Why she was entering the offices when the only thing he’d ever known for certain she touched on his desk was a stapler. She’d slept on the sofas in his offices and used his private shower, but seemed meticulous about leaving things undisturbed. He knew she’d accessed their internet, skirting their system security to access several research sites. From what he could tell, she was finishing up an advanced degree in antiquities and mystical studies.

  Brooklyn Adler spent years working as a retrieval expert for insurance companies around the world. B, as she was known to family and close friends, broke into public and private buildings to retrieve stolen artifacts, artworks, and jewels. To the utter amazement of her family, insurance companies around the world were more than willing to support her unconventional career, paying her more money than she’d be able to spend in a lifetime. Bronx doubted his little sister had touched any of the money generated by her share of Adler Oil.

  When Brooklyn was in Texas for their brother Kensington’s wedding, Bronx asked her to review his security and identify weaknesses. She’d managed to humble two of her brothers in one fell swoop. Israel Adler’s security company designed several options for security systems when Bronx opened his first dealership—being the tight ass he was, Bronx went the cheapest route. His business had expanded so fast, Bronx was barely able to keep up with the exponential growth, and in the absence of any significant security concerns, he’d continued using a system so outdated, his sister had laughed in his face.

  Each of his luxury model car dealerships was undergoing an extensive security review. The current protocols and systems were being updated, and she was still managing to waltz past security checkpoints without pause. Bronx spoke privately with each of his managers a few days ago, giving them vague excuses while emphasizing the importance of notifying him rather than the authorities if they encountered an intruder. Those chats hadn’t been easy. He’d hired smart people, and they weren’t easily fooled. It was easy to see the questions in their eyes—fortunately, they’d kept their inquiries to a minimum.

  Bronx stood in the alley, hands-on-hips, and sighed in frustration. Hell, at this point, I don’t know if I’m pissed because I’ve invested a ton of fucking money on updating security for no apparent reason or because I’m being outplayed by a woman who has captured my attention before we’ve even met.

  Kenya Star stood statue-still in the shadows. Barely breathing, her concentration began to falter, but she wasn’t sure if it was because her damned brain was screaming for oxygen or the proximity of the man she’d been watching for months. The pendant that always laid between her breasts began vibrating as soon as she’d started walking down the alley. Had she been smart enough to back away? Hell no, she’d forged ahead as if she had every right to be there. If she wasn’t well trained in silent movement, Bronx Adler would have heard her coming long before she would have known he was lying in wait.

  Damn, she needed to step up her game or lose the opportunity to steal the other half of the magical totem she’d been looking for since her mother died. The gentle breeze blowing down the alley had been in her favor, but she felt the moment Mother Nature decided to play havoc with her good fortune. The man standing six feet in front of her pushed away from the brick wall, muttering to himself. For the first time, she envied a shifter’s enhanced hearing.

  Biting the inside of her mouth to keep from laughing, Kenya shook her head at the absurdity. Hell, at this point, she’d settle for normal hearing. A childhood infection damaged
her eardrums so severely, she was rapidly losing the diminished hearing she’d dealt with since she was a teen. If the magic of the pendent was as powerful as she’d been told it would be after the halves were once again joined, Kenya’s first spell would be to improve her hearing.

  Great Goddess, what was she doing daydreaming? First, she had to finish her research and get her hands on the other half of the magical artifact. It was taking forever since she had to spend so much time covering her computer tracks, making it look as though she was working on some damned academic paper. Like I have enough money to take classes.

  Kenya always dreamed of going to college, but her mother’s nomadic lifestyle meant she’d never attended a traditional school. Without transcripts, she’d been forced to forge them, and money was always a problem. She’d been in Texas for months and only managed to take a couple of classes before winding up living on the street.

  Once she’d started reading her mother’s diaries and discovered her close friendship with Brighten Adler, Kenya had finally been able to point herself in a specific direction. She wasn’t sure which of the Adlers had the magical pendant, but it only took one trip into Bronx’s car dealership to know she was on the right track.

  Lost in her memories, Kenya missed the first hint of a wind change. Lightning flashed, illuminating the rapidly cooling Texas night. The bright flash startled Kenya, breaking her concentration enough, she would definitely be visible to a shifter with enhanced night vision. Standing deep in the shadows wouldn’t be enough to hide her from Bronx if he turned toward her. Damn it, she should have known better than to tempt fate by predicting the worst possible scenario. It was almost as if she’d wished this disaster into existence.

  She saw his shoulders drop, wondering for half a heartbeat if the small tell was from resignation or if he was bracing for something she couldn’t see. Didn’t take long to figure it out, did it, Ms. Not Paying Enough Attention to what’s happening. Pickle fudge. The storm that had been predicted moved in early, shifting the slight breeze wafting through the alley to a full thunderstorm-worthy gale from the other direction between one heartbeat and the next.