Title: Promises
The Next Generation
Series: Bounty Hunters Series
Book Five
M/M ROMANCE
Edited by: Sue Laybourn
Cover Artist – Jay Aheer
PAGE COUNT – 285
Release Date: August 31, 2018
“That’s the new vision for Dukes. Veterans operating and tracking behind the scenes with a new powerhouse apprehension team on the streets.”
Brian and Quick are the first to offer up two new recruits.
Kellam Knight has studied martial arts under his sensei, Quick, since he was eight years old. A tossed-out reject from high-society, Kell has a problem fighting on the right side of the law. If he sees an injustice, he has to correct it. He doesn’t have to run and cower from his enemies anymore, he’s a fighter who can protect himself and others. When Quick offers Kell the opportunity to join Duke’s training program, he’s all in. Except he’s not prepared for the straight, over-confident, extremely disciplined, sexy man Brian has recruited to be his partner.
Tyrell Jenkins’ world was flipped upside down when his father never returned home from his last deployment. He’d been Ty’s teacher, mentor, his guide to living a righteous life as a good man. His father didn’t raise him to be like every other young, stereotypical male in Atlanta. Instead, he’s been taught to be respectful, to speak the language of real men. When Brian King – his father’s most trusted comrade – finally comes to him with the truth, he doesn’t come alone. He comes with trained men hidden in the shadows… and a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to join a brotherhood unlike any other.
This novel is a part of a series but can be read as a standalone. No cliffhangers.
Trigger Warning: This story contains mild acts of bond recovery agent violence.
Now, how to explain Kellam. You will either love him or be indifferent to him as you meet, bt the more you learn about him, the more he will endear himself deep inside. Kellam is rather the hot head, and has been in countless fights, much to the dismay of his Sensei Quick. He seems to try and be the saviour for the people he considers weaker than himself, and will wade in without giving things proper thought. His being rejected by his father for being gay, and his time at school I think has a lot to do with this.
Tyrell is the same. I wasn't sure what to make of him at first, but as you read on, the more you realise that he is being exactly how he was taught by his father, teachings he will never forget. He just seems to be biding his time, but for what I wasn't sure of, until he met Duke, Quick and the rest of the team. Tyrell does have a cloud hanging over him, and that was the loss of his father on his last deployment, and not knowing what actually happened - but one person does have answers and that is Brian King.
Duke has decided to bring in fresh blood into his bail recovery agency. When Quick and Brian hear this, they both put forward a name of someone they believe will be a good fit - namely Kellam and Tyrell. I have to admit, when I first met Kellam and Tyrell, I had no idea how they would be together, they seemed to be so different.... but there was something there.
As Tyrell and Kellam start their training, they find out they are to be partners, and need to get to know each other better. They begin spending more time together, although at times I am sure Tyrell thinks that Kellam is small and weak - but nothing could be further from the truth, and this is something that Tyrell learns very fast.
As the two spend more time together, the attraction between them grows, and I have to say the dynamic between the two is wonderful. You start to see a side of Tyrell you don't usually see, and this is saved exclusively for Kellam. What I love most about this relationship, was that they were learning about the other, taking their time to do this, and just being accepting that they were both so different, but they fit so well together.
The whole story kept you hooked, just to see what would happen. Kellam and Tyrell just suited each other, and you could feel that their connection run really deep. In some ways it was a privilege to read their story, to be let inside their world, to see things how they saw them, and watch their relationship go from strength to strength. I am looking forward to reading more in The New Generation series in the future.
They were silent. Neither of them speaking, just watching each other.
“What are you doing to me?” Ty whispered.
“I could ask you the same thing,” Kell responded. He had no clue what was happening between them but whatever it was it was fast and it was consuming.
“Hey! You two need a ride? Kell?” Quick called out, walking beside Duke. Kell turned to see all the lights out in the building. They’d locked up and Ty and Kell had been lost in each other.
It was almost nine. He hated the MARTA at night. The next one to his neighborhood would be at ten-fifteen. Damnnit. He didn’t have money for a cab. He also didn’t want to leave, just when he thought Ty was about to reveal something important; but he couldn’t walk home either. He was about to tell Ty goodnight when he spoke up for them.
“We’ll split a Lyft. Thanks,” Ty called back, still facing him.
“Says who?” Kell lifted a brow in challenge.
“Says me,” Ty said it so freely, as if it was obvious.
“All right. Dana will be here at eight for you,” Duke said, slamming his truck door.
When the parking lot was finally empty Ty asked him, “Are you hungry?”
“Do you think that’s your new duty?” Kell said sternly. “Because it’s not. I can feed myself, Tyrell.”
Ty didn’t blink, he didn’t smile. Their teasing banter faded as he crowded into Kell until he not only felt the power of his glare, but the heat of his sexy body too. Ty’s voice was like dark chocolate. Decadent. But it made Kell tremble at its force, “Do not form your pretty lips to say my name like that again.”
Kell opened his mouth, but Ty silenced him with fingers to his lips. He pulled him closer and replaced Kell’s hood over his head. If it hadn’t been so endearing it would have been emasculating.
“Do not say my name like I’ve offended you. I offered you food because I want to talk with you. I need to talk with you. You are defensive towards me and I need that to stop. I’m not your enemy, Kell. Don’t speak to me like I am. I’ve shown you nothing but respect, have I not?”
Kell could only nod, caught up in Ty’s staggering masculinity.
“Then show it back,” Ty demanded.
He liked the way Ty was speaking to him. Oh god, he loved it. He was burning inside for more. To anyone else, it could appear that Ty was short and abrupt with him, but he was a disciplined man conversing with another. Kell didn’t know why he kept snapping at Ty. He unnerved him and made him question his touches. Ty’s body had been giving him amazing rhythm, but his mouth had contradicted his actions, or so Kell made himself believe. Because there was no way he could just accept that he was falling for his partner. A man he’d only met a few days ago, but had him waking each day after with a stronger urge to see him than before.
“I want to eat with you. But, I don’t. I um… I…” Kell stuttered.
“Keep it real with me, shorty.” Ty pulled Kell to his chest, “Say what you want to say.”
Shorty. Kell swallowed roughly. “Look. I live on a tight budget. I don’t have any money on me, so I was thinking I can give it back to you when I get my check. I don’t want you to think I can’t pay my own way,” Kell answered. His body betrayed his fake composure. He hoped Ty thought the sudden redness appearing on his cheeks was from the cold temperature.
“Okay. I can understand that. But, I will be honest, as well. I won’t feel comfortable turning our meals into a debt you owe me.”
Kell wished he knew where the hell Ty came from. He was the kind of man he only read or dreamed about. The one with looks, brains, self-control, goal-oriented, charming, generous, honest. Kell could keep going. And he’d seen all these amazing characteristics in mere days. He couldn’t wait to see what Ty would show him in a month… a year! Ty’s behavior wasn’t fake. This wasn’t an act. Kell had lived in some rough neighborhoods after leaving his father, and he’d met a lot of men, black, white and every race in between. Not one of them was comparable to Ty Jenkins. According to Brian—regarding Ty’s father—Ty really had it honest. He’d even seen Brian staring at Ty a few times when he’d say something profound. As if he was reminded of a precious memory of his fallen friend.
“Are we at an impasse?” Kell smirked.
“Oh no. Never that. Let me think.” Ty put some space between them.
Kell frowned.
“I can’t think clearly with you that close.” Ty’s expression was serious.
Kell blushed again. Crap.
“You are a master. A teacher. And, from what I’ve heard you’re a really good one. Patient even.” Ty’s smile brightened the night. “For every meal I pay for, you give me a lesson. I’m sure your classes aren’t cheap.”
“You are already a trained fighter.” Kell wasn’t fooled.
“True. But I’m not even close to being on the level of the company I’m in, or the other hunters. There’s room for improvement. I can also use some help with my knife throwing. I’m a bit rusty in that area.” Ty walked toward him, “In the hood I live in they don’t use knives. That’s a weapon for close combat. If a man’s got beef on the block, he’s gonna come at me like a coward from yards away. Blasting from a distance.”
“How can that man blast at you if he has a blade embedded in his hand?” Kell questioned. “Or in his eye?”
Ty slid his hand into Kell’s and began moving them down the street, “Exactly. So you’ll teach me.”
A.E. has a Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice from Virginia Wesleyan College that she used to start her own paralegal firm after she graduated in 2008. She spent five years preparing and filing bankruptcy petitions for struggling blue collar workers who couldn’t afford to file with a lawyer. It was a rewarding and satisfying career… but another path called to me. Writing.
A.E.’s writing embodies everything from hopelessly romantic to adventure, to scandalous. Her stories often include intriguing edges and twists that take readers to new, thought-provoking depths.
Now that she’s gotten over her 10 books published hump, she’s kind of known now for her play rough and love hard, bad boy, alphas. However, I do like to push myself to step out of my comfort zone and explore with different tropes, but I never push myself into a whole other genre. I’m head over heels for gay romance and I have tons of more hot stories to tell.
Be sure to visit Adrienne on her social media pages and subscribe to her newsletter to never miss another release date! https://goo.gl/GbfCyk or Go to A.E. Via’s official website http://authoraevia.com for more detailed information on how to contact her, follow her, or a sneak peek on upcoming work, free reads, VSWB submissions, and where she’ll appear next.