Ruined: A Contemporary Bad Boy Romance Read online

  Table of Contents

  Prologue

  Epilogue

  Epilogue

  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

  Chapter Twenty

  Ruined

  A Contemporary Bad Boy Romance

  Lisa Lace

  Contents

  1. Edward

  2. Mia

  3. Edward

  4. Edward

  5. Mia

  6. Edward

  7. Mia

  8. Edward

  9. Mia

  10. Edward

  11. Mia

  12. Edward

  13. Mia

  14. Edward

  15. Edward

  16. Mia

  17. Edward

  18. Mia

  19. Edward

  20. Mia

  21. Mia

  22. Edward

  23. Mia

  24. Edward

  25. Mia

  26. Mia

  27. Edward

  28. Mia

  29. Edward

  30. Mia

  Exposed

  1. Maxwell

  2. Laura

  3. Maxwell

  4. Laura

  5. Laura

  6. Maxwell

  7. Laura

  8. Maxwell

  9. Maxwell

  10. Laura

  11. Maxwell

  12. Laura

  13. Maxwell

  14. Laura

  15. Maxwell

  16. Laura

  17. Maxwell

  18. Laura

  19. Maxwell

  20. Laura

  21. Maxwell

  22. Laura

  23. Laura

  24. Maxwell

  25. Laura

  26. Maxwell

  27. Laura

  28. Maxwell

  29. Laura

  30. Maxwell

  31. Laura

  32. Maxwell

  Epilogue: Laura

  Blaze

  Prologue

  1. Nate

  2. Jenna

  3. Nate

  4. Jenna

  5. Nate

  6. Jenna

  7. Nate

  8. Jenna

  9. Nate

  10. Jenna

  11. Nate

  12. Jenna

  13. Nate

  14. Jenna

  15. Nate

  16. Jenna

  17. Nate

  18. Jenna

  19. Nate

  20. Jenna

  21. Nate

  22. Jenna

  23. Nate

  24. Jenna

  25. Nate

  26. Jenna

  27. Nate

  28. Jenna

  29. Nate

  30. Jenna

  31. Nate

  32. Jenna

  Epilogue

  Unwrapping Daddy

  1. Zoe

  2. Tom

  3. Zoe

  4. Tom

  5. Zoe

  6. Tom

  7. Zoe

  8. Tom

  9. Zoe

  10. Tom

  11. Zoe

  12. Tom

  13. Zoe

  14. Tom

  15. Zoe

  16. Tom

  17. Zoe

  18. Tom

  19. Zoe

  20. Tom

  21. Zoe

  22. Tom

  23. Zoe

  24. Tom

  25. Zoe

  26. Tom

  27. Zoe

  28. Tom

  29. Zoe

  30. Tom

  31. Zoe

  32. Tom

  33. Zoe

  34. Tom

  35. Zoe

  36. Tom

  37. Zoe

  Epilogue

  Mismatch

  1. Ethan

  2. Lily

  3. Ethan

  4. Lily

  5. Ethan

  6. Lily

  7. Ethan

  8. Lily

  9. Ethan

  10. Lily

  11. Ethan

  12. Lily

  13. Ethan

  14. Lily

  15. Ethan

  16. Lily

  17. Ethan

  18. Lily

  19. Ethan

  20. Lily

  21. Ethan

  22. Lily

  23. Ethan

  24. Lily

  25. Ethan

  26. Lily

  27. Ethan

  28. Lily

  29. Ethan

  30. Lily

  31. Ethan

  32. Lily

  33. Lily

  34. Ethan

  Abduction

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Your Free Audio Book

  Newsletter

  Also by Lisa Lace

  Edward

  Keeping his eye on the doorway, Edward furiously typed his codes into the computer, hacking into the mainframe at Central Federal Bank. If you knew what you were doing, new banks were easy targets for the first few months of operation.

  Edward wasn’t especially proud of hacking into other companies’ computer networks, but it guaranteed business for his father’s company. It seemed that when a company found out how vulnerable their information was, they were willing to pay almost anything for additional security. Since Donovan Technologies offered just that, Edward continued to help with that area of his expertise. His father might not understand it, but one day, Edward would make the ex-marine proud of him.

  When the Central Federal Bank logo appeared on his computer, Edward sat back and smiled, pressing his fingertips together in front of him. He worked a little of his magic, transferring large amounts of money from one account to another and then back again, just to let them know he had access.

  He opened an email in their system and left an anonymous note, letting them know how easy it had been to access their information. He hovered the cursor on the send button, quickly scanning the email before clicking the button.

  When he tried to escape out, his screen froze and then went black. He worked on hacking back in to be sure his connection was severed completely. Then his father interrupted, walking into his office. Edward quickly but nonchalantly closed the program and leaned back in his chair.

  “To what do I owe the pleasure?” Edward said, looking his father dead in the eyes.

  Reese Donovan dressed to impress, and his good looks and intelligence had paved the way for his success. Edward was the spitting image of his father as a young man—but his intentions were different. A little more altruistic—to his father, a little too soft.

  “Edward,” his father prodded. “What are you working on?�
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  “A possible new account.” Edward briefly glanced at his computer before looking back at his father. Although his father was casual about the question, Edward knew better. He had a way of reading into little gestures of others very well. Edward was quite aware his father knew he was lying. But he’d rather be deemed a liar than a felon. “It seems the new bank that opened last week has some interest in ramping up security for their system. I don’t have all of the information yet, but I should by week’s end.”

  “I wasn’t aware you worked in sales.” Reese’s sarcasm suffocated his words.

  “Well, you know me. I try to help out where I’m needed.”

  “Excuse me, Mr. Donovan?” Edward and Reese looked toward the door simultaneously.

  Claire stood with her hand ready to knock, her eyes on Reese.

  Edward noticed how Reese’s face relaxed. The ridges in his disposition smoothed out and a smile formed on his lips. A rare sight indeed.

  “Yes, Claire?”

  For a woman in her sixties, Claire’s beauty was timeless. She exuded sophistication and class, and her endless patience made her a perfect fit as Reese’s executive assistant. She reminded Edward of his mother—the way she carried herself and lent a helping hand wherever needed. Edward had no questions about why Reese kept her in his company and close to his side.

  “You have your luncheon meeting today. If you want to be timely, you should get ready to go. The media will be there.”

  “Ah, yes. Of course. Thank you, Claire.” Reese walked toward her, only speaking up once more before disappearing with Claire by his side. “Edward, I suggest you stop pimping the company like a flirtatious car dealer and get back to work. I’m going to need your reports by tomorrow.”

  Edward didn’t remove his eyes from his father until he disappeared out the door. He should have been used to it, but the cutting tone still speared his heart.

  He reached up and turned his screen back on, wanting to undo everything he just accomplished.

  Armed with an impressive portfolio of client companies, Donovan Technologies provided firewalls, security protocols, and other cyber defenses to thwart people like Edward. But most people like Edward weren’t peeking into accounts to show off. Donovan Technologies provided not only cybersecurity but also an array of multi-level support for the businesses under their umbrella. Business Lenders Inc. had helped finance them, and Merge Inc. swooped in when they were failing, bought them, and sold them for parts. The three heads of Donovan Technologies snatched companies up by the mouthful, and if they weren’t strong enough to pass muster, devoured them whole.

  He glanced over at a picture of his mother and father from when they were first married. They looked so happy. Edward was sure it was an act: his father standing straight and tall in his dress blues, his expression stern. The woman next to him wore an elaborate white wedding gown, her arm linked through his. A sunny smile that reached her eyes as she leaned into him for the photographer. He wondered how long she’d needed to rehearse for such a perfect pose.

  He leaned back and thought back to a childhood nothing like the happy image on his desk. You obeyed him or suffered the consequences. Reese had always been stern. He hadn’t been a monster, but he was never affectionate, loving, or soft. More than once, he remembered watching his mother love that man and go out of her way to take care of him. She never begged him for affection, but Edward knew what the pain in her eyes meant. By the time Edward was twelve years old, she was done trying to win him over. Edward watched her leave.

  When she left Reese standing in the living room next to his two boys, old enough to understand but still too young to change things, Edward knew his life had been forever changed. He was glad for his mother that she was finally going to find happiness. But it didn’t stop him from crying himself to sleep that night and wishing he had the courage to beat his father down.

  The truth was, he would never be able to take that first swing—and not because he was afraid of him. Yes, he knew Reese would throw him in a corner any time he came at him, but Edward loved his father to a fault.

  No matter how Reese treated him and his brother Jack, he always looked up to Reese and admired his accomplishments. He liked to think his father had taught him how not to treat people by example, but even after so many years of the same struggles, Edward longed to impress Reese.

  It was times like this that he admired his older brother. Jack didn’t give a shit. He seemed unbothered by the lack of affection. In fact, Jack was becoming just like their father.

  Edward got up from his desk and took a break to clear his head. Grabbing his suit coat, he breezed out the door and headed uptown.

  After a sandwich and a couple of beers, he was back in the office, with a better sense of direction. He settled back behind his desk just as a text came through on his phone. He lifted it from his pocket and opened it.

  Reese: We need to talk. I’ll be back at two. Be there.

  “You got it, sergeant.” He stared at the text, angry at his father’s disrespect.

  He pre-screened his emails, then closed them down. Once he’d navigated to his favorite financial newsfeed, he saw what his father needed to talk to him about.

  BROADEN MARKETS HACKED – SET TO RESTRUCTURE AND REBUILD

  “Shit.”

  They were only supposed to increase security, not change their entire system. Edward made a phone call to Broaden’s security team to make sure they were still closing the deal.

  Edward looked up just as Reese walked in. “Okay, well, listen,” Edward said over the phone. “If anything changes, give me a call. I’ll give you priority status. I understand how vulnerable it can be. Good luck.” As he hung up the phone, he looked at his father, who was standing over him.

  “Broaden?” Reese was not pleased.

  “Yeah. They backed out.”

  “That account was potentially worth a hundred grand.”

  “I know.”

  “I put off two other accounts because of the work we were going to put into this one.”

  “I’m sorry. It happens. We can’t win every account every time.”

  “You’re right, Edward. We can’t. But I can. I know what you’re doing, and I want it to stop now.”

  “What I’ve been doing? What do you mean?”

  “Don’t play stupid, Edward. Your hacking and worming your way into other companies’ networks is going to catch up with you. When you go to prison because of it, I will not be there to bail you out. I will deny everything and wash my hands of it, of you.”

  “Do you have any idea what I’ve done for—”

  “Not for, Edward. To. What you have done to my company. You just cost me a hundred thousand dollars.”

  “A lot of the accounts we currently have are because of me,” he said, beginning to raise his voice. “Compared to the millions you’ve already made, a hundred grand isn’t that big of a deal. Companies change their minds. Broaden overreacted and freaked out. That is all. They’ve decided to revamp their whole system, which will cost them a lot more. I’m working on it, though.”

  “Don’t.”

  “What?”

  Reese leaned over Edward’s desk, his face inches from his son’s. “If you want me to show you how serious I am, continue what you are doing. The next time you try to so much as pull twenty bucks out of an ATM machine, you’ll be denied. Do you understand me?”

  Edward could feel his blood pressure rise. He wanted nothing more than to rip into his father. “You’re kidding me, right?”

  “Try me. I’ll freeze your financial assets so fast, you won’t have time to fill your gas tank to leave the city.”

  “Why not? You freeze everything else you give me. What’s stopping you from this?”