Luca I left him behind because I had no choice…That’s what I keep telling myself, but it doesn’t make it any easier to sleep at night… or to drown out the words he kept repeating over and over the day we’d met: I just want to go home.
That was eight long years ago and I’d only known him as Billy, a terrified fourteen-year-old I’d had to leave behind to save someone else.But his name wasn’t … leave behind to save someone else.
But his name wasn’t Billy and he’s no longer a frightened kid lost in a world where he was nothing more than a possession. His name is Remy, and while I didn’t recognize him upon meeting him again, he sure as hell remembers me.
It would be easier just to turn my back on him a second time, especially since that’s exactly what he wants, but there’s no way I can let the tormented young man go. At least not without trying to make things right first. The problem is, even if I can make up for leaving Remy behind so long ago, I’m not sure I’ll be able to walk away from him twice.
I don’t know what that means, but I do know that it scares the hell out of me.
Because needing in my world comes at a heavy price… one that not even I can afford to pay.
Remy
I fight. That’s what I do. It’s who I am.
But when Luca Covello walked into the dark, dirty room my captors were keeping me in so long ago, I’d already decided to do the one thing I hadn’t in the three years since I’d been taken from my home and family.
Give up.
Then he’d been there, like a bright light in a sea of darkness, and I’d had something new to fight for, to stay alive for… the day Luca came back to get me like he’d promised.
Except he never came.
And now, eight years later, he’s decided he wants to play the hero and save me. Well, I don’t need saving.
Not anymore… not ever.
Along with two years of sobriety under my belt, I’ve got a good job, a decent apartment, and I’ve managed to put my past where it belongs… in the past. No one, not even the gorgeous, mysterious businessman, is going to mess things up for me. If he’s come seeking forgiveness, I’m fresh out.
And if he’s come seeking something else… well, let’s just say that when I’m done with him, there’s no way he’ll forget me this time around.
Trigger Warning: For those who would like to see the trigger warnings associated with this book, please either download the sample or use the “look inside” feature and go to Trigger Warning page for more information.
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The heartbreak and heart wrenching moments are large in this story.
Remy is a character that will make you want to hold your kids closer and make you feel!
Luca is a character that will make you want to hug him and help him to realize each choice you make has another you didn’t but life is always about choices and it doesn’t mean it was wrong.
Together they learn about forgiveness, letting go and not giving up!
Wonderful story but this was one of the hardest stories to read because Luca was so damaged and his story is tragic and enraging. ends on a hopeful note.
5 stars
This story deals with child human trafficking. This subject is so beyond anything anyone wants to think about let alone read but where some actually live and experience this horrendous life.
I believe there is truth to this story.
My heart broke during the reading of this whole story. There may be a taboo subject but it’s minor and definitely not worth not reading this emotionally touching story.
It’s wow!!
I loved Luca’s and Remy’s story. Both men are damaged by circumstances beyond their control, but they finally discover that they need each other to move forward with their lives. This story is filled with angst, sorrow, sweetness, and vengeance. I felt every emotion – something I have come to expect from Sloane’s writing. I highly recommend this book.
Borrowed via KU.
This is a spin-off of Protectors/Baretti Security. Dom (“Logan’s Need”) is mentioned and you definitely don’t need to read his book, Ronan (“Salvation”) is featured several times and again his book can be skipped but “Unbroken” characters (especially Vaughn & Aleks, but a few others) feature heavily here… so much so that events in “Unbroken” set up readers for this series. If I hadn’t read that, I think I wouldn’t have rated this as high though.
This was angst and hard topics like most Sloane Kennedy. I will say, if some of the Protectors bordered on too much for me ~ this took a little step back in graphically detailing the traumas. It still packed a punch though. This was also much more a “slow burn” situation with significantly fewer sex scenes. No complaints, just different and it totally worked. Luca & Remy bring a lot of their own baggage and struggles to the table, but it didn’t feel juvenile or petty in any way.
These guys get their HEA and I’m left looking forward to Lex’s story as well as King & Con’s. Because it’s Sloane Kennedy, I can’t help but think I’ll also be seeing Gio’s book/series in a few years…
Finally getting to this from my KU reading list, and what a brilliant read as always from Sloane. Luca and Remy grab your attention right from the start and i couldn’t put this book down. And oh Violet is a lil cutie. Brilliant start to a new off spin series.
I was looking forward to this book and couldn’t wait to dive in. I have totally enjoyed all of Sloane Kennedy’s books so far, but this one fell a little short for me. I loved Luca and Remy’s characters. They fit so well together. The storyline, however, seemed to drag for me. I thought this was going to be different and it really wasn’t. I’m not sure if that’s what the problem for me was or not. I loved the character crossover with Ronan and Dante from her Protector series. Dom makes an appearance too. I totally enjoy it when authors do that. All in all, this wasn’t a bad read and I highly recommend giving it a try. In my opinion, you do need to read Sloane’s Protector series before you dive into this one. If you’re a fan of Sloane Kennedy’s books, I do recommend giving this one a try.
I was so excited for this story because you met Remy back in Dante’s book as the boy who helped find Aleks and he always intrigued me. I was happy to see that Luca was able to finally keep his promise to save Remy after all the years he first met the boy while searching for his own son. Adding in Violet to the mix and Gio as well was just icing on the cake especially once Gio started to make progress at remembering his life prior to the abduction. I cannot wait to read more stories about Luca’s brother and am especially excited to see how Con turns out.
This was one of the angstiest stories that I’ve read in a while, and considering that it comes from Ms Kennedy, the Queen of Angst, that’s saying something. This is not fluffy, and romantic aspect is explored way later in the book because most of it deals with trigger issues as both Luca and Remy try to cope with their past and present as well as try to heal and move on. At times Remy’s story broke my heart. That young man went through something that no one ever should have. And his resilience and will to live , frankly speaking, are astounding and a little humbling. And even despite his own pain, he was willing to drop everything and be there for a little girl with no one to turn to. Remy needed time to see his own worth since not even his own family saw any in him. He in a way needed Luca to heal even when he didn’t know it himself.
Luca may show a tough silent attitude to the world but on the inside he is one big bleeding wound. The situation with his son is so painful, the guilt over his past mistakes is almost crippling that he barely lives – he merely exists in wait of something to change. So when he comes face to face with one person who is starring in his nightmares every night, he needs to make amends. What starts as an attempt for an apology brings new awareness for Remy’s beauty and strength of character. Luca together with Remy races to save Violet, little girl who unwittingly bridges a gap between them wider than Grand Canyon. Little by little they are able to let go until no hatred is left but desire for more.
I honestly loved the budding romance between them. It was a bit awkward, at times shy and so very cute. A world weary Remy and a befuddled Luca were learning each other from scratch. All of Luca’s brothers chipped in with their “helpful” advice and good-natured ribbing that just made me want to know more about them all. The breakthrough with Luca’s son Gio was just heart-wrenching, but I am so glad it happened because it really needed to happen for Gio’s sanity and ability to start to heal. The ending was happy and yet a little sad since the mystery of Luca’s brother Lex was finally revealed. And, OMG I can’t wait to read about what happened to him. I loved this very angsty and emotionally charged book sprinkled with romance and familial bonds. Some characters from the Protectors made an appearance which made this book even sweeter. I highly recommend it!
Forgotten: Luca is the first book in the The Four series by Sloane Kennedy. It is also a The Protectors spin-off series but you can follow it without reading that series. It’s exactly what I did and I wasn’t lost at all. It did however make me want to read it. I will have to do just that one day. Ok…the synopsis explains a lot so I will make this fast.
Luca walked away from Remy eight years ago. He only knew him as Billy, a boy who wanted to go home. A boy he promised to come back for and never got the chance to. Luca thought of him every day for the last eight years and he was someone he would never forget. How could he? His words were ingrained into his very soul. The guilt was heavy so when he unexpectedly saw him, he knew he had to try to make it right. Not just for himself but for the boy he left behind. For the man who was here now. A man who wanted him to walk away this time and wouldn’t.
Remy never forgot. The stranger gave him hope. Hope that he would be saved for the hellhole called his life. Two years ago changed everything. He was ready. Ready to start over. New job, new apartment, and new friends. He will always be an addict but he was sober. And now, the stranger was back and he didn’t know how to handle it. What he didn’t expect was to feel what he did. Wanted.
I can’t really get more into it. I will say that it is an emotional ride. It’s not a story involving a meet cute, rainbows and butterflies, or candy on V-Day. It’s raw. It deals with darkness, addiction, and loss. At the same time it deals with hope, love, and family.
Overall…It’s an emotional, kickass ride. I loved the characters. The writing. The hope. I am excited about what is coming up next. I know who is up next…and I can’t wait!
Quotes:
“You’re late,” he said softly. “By about eight years.”
“Who are you calling?”
“Information,” I sniped. Something in his tone bit at the last little reserves of patience I had left. “To ask them why you’re being such a dick.”
“You don’t ever call yourself those things again, do you hear me?” he growled at me. “You are none of those things.” He gave my hands a little bit of a shake and repeated, “You. Are. None. Of. Those. Things.”